Page 177 of Fame & Rhythm

I swat his chest. “Say it.”

“I don’t know what you mean.”

“Say it, or I’m not kissing you again tonight.”

He smirks. “Well, in that case… I love you, Annie Slade. I love you more than Edward loves Bella, more than Christian loves Ana, more than Harry loves Sally—”

“Okay, okay, I get it,” I laugh. “Now kiss me again before I change my mind.”

He grins and leans in, pressing a soft kiss to my lips before taking my hand and leading me back into the now very full living room.

We’ve been in the living room for hours, watching endless horror movies and demolishing an embarrassing amount of pizza. I’m curled up on the couch with Aston, tucked into his side while he holds me close.

Everyone’s glued to the screen as the axe murderer chases down the obligatory blonde, but my attention drifts. Suddenly, I’m craving something sweet.

I gently move Aston’s hands from around me and stand.

“You okay?” he murmurs.

“Yeah. Just grabbing something sweet.”

I head into the kitchen, open the cupboard, and scan the shelves until I spot a block of chocolate. Perfect. I grab it, close the door, and turn…

Jumping when I find Aston standing right behind me, smirking.

“Jesus, you scared me! Don’t sneak up on a woman after she’s been watching horror movies,” I say, pressing a hand to my chest.

Aston chuckles as he steps closer, his gaze locking onto mine, heat flaring instantly beneath my skin. He takes the chocolate from my hand and sets it on the counter.

“I think I can give you something sweeter than that,” he says.

My knees weaken at the low, controlled tone of his voice. My pulse spikes, breath catching as I take him in. I know what he wants, and right now, I want it too, a hell of a lot more than chocolate.

“I don’t think they’ll miss us, do you?” he murmurs, resting his forehead against mine.

I shake my head, smiling.

He steps back, takes my hand, and leads me from the kitchen. A flicker of nerves hits me out of nowhere. It feels like the first time again, my heart pounding hard enough to make me breathless.

Aston glances back at me as we pass the living room. No one even notices we’re gone. I stifle a laugh as he picks up the pace.

We hit the stairs, racing up them like idiots, laughing under our breath until we reach my room. He pulls me in, spinning me to face him before crashing his lips against mine.

The kiss is immediate and possessive.

He backs me into the door with purpose, not rough, but firm enough to make my breath hitch. My mouth opens for him without hesitation. My hands slide up his arms, into his hair, gripping. His thigh presses between my legs, parting them, fitting exactly where I need him. A soft moan escapes into his mouth as heat coils low and tight, pulsing insistently.

He breaks the kiss, trailing his lips along my jaw, down my neck, while his thigh shifts against me with deliberate pressure.

I tug his hair, needing more. He comes back up, taking my mouth again, deeper this time.

I feel his cock, hard, solid, against my leg, and it only fuels the ache building inside me.

His hand moves over my breast, firm and sure, while his body keeps me pinned in place. Every touch is intentional, controlled, like he knows exactly what he’s doing… and exactly what it’s doing to me.

I reach behind me, fumbling for the handle, pushing the door open as I stumble back. Aston catches me instantly, steadying me before I can fall. He kicks the door shut behind us and comes straight back in, reclaiming my mouth.

My heart races, that nervous energy shifting into something sharper.