Page 94 of Fame & Rhythm

“No way, baby. You were doing everything right, that’s the problem. It was feeling too good. We should stop and try to work on the song before I strip you naked and your dad finds us,” he says, and I giggle.

I smile because he called me ’baby’ and casually bite my bottom lip. “Wouldn’t that be a joyous occasion,” I joke sarcastically.

He leans in, kissing my lips quickly and then pulling my legs so I fall off him and back on the ground. I pout and bat my eyelids while he rearranges his dick in his pants.

“You are going to make this whole going slow thing really hard for me, aren’t you?” he asks, and I smile and shake my head.

“No, I’m fine with going slow. I was doing what my body was telling me to do. Should I not do that?” I ask, and he leans his forehead against mine and takes my hand.

“No, you keep doing that, and I’ll stop us when it gets a bit much for me to handle. I need to take this slowly with you, Lennox. I can’t fuck this up. I won’t,” he says.

“Well, you’re doing an excellent job so far, so just keep doing what you’re doing, and we’ll be fine.”

He taps my notebook. “I guess we should do some work?”

“What, no more kissing?” I ask incredulously.

“Maybe after. We need something to show for our time out here,” Aston replies, and it suddenly dawns on me.

“Does Dad know you’re out here?”

“No. I slipped out while he was talking to Chad and Caleb, but your Mum saw me come out, so she’s bound to know.”

Damn!

“Oh well, better get to it then,” I say, and he spreads his legs wide as he leans back against the tree trunk. I look at him, raising an eyebrow, wondering what he’s doing.

“Sit between my legs. I can look at your book over your shoulder, and that way I get to hold you for a little while longer.”

I shift and settle between his legs, and he pulls me back so my spine rests against his chest.

God… I love this.

Being this close to him feels… right.

Romantic, maybe? I don’t even know what romance is supposed to feel like, but whatever this is, it has to be it. I glance back over my shoulder, giving him a small look, silently asking for another kiss before we start.

He chuckles and brushes a quick kiss over my lips before gently turning me back around. I grin and open my notebook, showing him the music that’s been running through my head.

“It’s a slow one,” I explain. “Kind of a rock ballad. I don’t have lyrics yet, only the melody.”

He rests his chin on my shoulder, and I lean into him, soaking up the closeness.

This…

This is how writing should always feel.

“All right, let me see,” he murmurs.

I lift the notebook, showing him the messy scribbles scattered across the page. He’s quiet for a moment, then starts humming, soft and low. It sends a strange, warm feeling through me that I can’t quite explain.

I focus on the music, on the way his voice fits so naturally with the melody, but it’s hard not to notice how close he is. The warmth of his breath against my neck, the steady rise and fall of his chest behind me…

It’s distracting.

In the best way.

I tilt my head slightly, and he shifts with me, brushing closer, like he knows exactly what I need without me saying a word.