by Erin Noelle
After throwing on a light blue button-down shirt and a pair of khaki cargo shorts, I ran my fingers through my hair and slipped my feet in my brown Rainbow flip-flops. Looking at my reflection in the mirror, I noticed I’d forgotten to shave in my rushed bathroom trip. Oh well. I just hoped that the stubble on my face paired with the dark tan I developed gave me the rugged surfer look instead of favoring the homeless guy under the bridge.
Slipping into my charming, playboy extraordinaire mindset, I made my way down the hall, ready to enjoy myself some Texas girls once again. My cock jerked in excitement at the mere thought, and I could feel the blood start pumping through my body. Jess was right; I needed to get out and have fun with my friends. Release some of the stress that had built up in my day of travel.
As I approached the living room, I overheard Jess say something about someone never having gone to a party or on a date, but I had no clue who or what she was talking about. Being my usual teasing self, I swaggered into the room, a cocky smirk playing at the edges of my mouth, and asked, “What’s this I hear about never having been on a date or to a party?”
Two steps in, and I froze midstride. Nothing in the world could have prepared me for what I saw sitting on my couch, or rather who I saw sitting on my couch, staring back at me. For the first time since I could remember, I was stunned speechless. I couldn’t take my eyes off her. I had to be dreaming. She didn’t exist in real life. She’d always been a product of my imagination.
Jess called out from the kitchen, “It’s about time, Ash, my God! Come meet my cousin Evie and her roommate Scarlett. Hurry up!”
Scarlett. Her name was Scarlett.
Scarlett swiftly turned around toward Evie, probably uncomfortable from my blatant gawking, as I found myself moving closer to her. I needed to see her face again. Immediately.
Unaware of the awkward silence in the living room, Jess turned the corner from the kitchen, carrying a couple beers, and explained how Scarlett lived some crazy sheltered life and had never had any social life. I half-heard what she was saying, but I was more concerned about getting to her.
I first introduced myself to Evie, shaking her hand and using my last name like a fucking idiot. What in the hell? I couldn’t function normally with Scarlett being so close. Her big, brown doe eyes focused on me like she could see straight through the charming outer layer to my dark, tainted soul.
Inhaling a deep breath, I turned my attention toward Scarlett, nervous of what was going to happen when I actually touched her. As our gazes locked, I grabbed her free hand that rested across her lap, holding it delicately in mine. Almost afraid she would disappear if I held her too tightly.
Her skin felt like silk against mine, and forcing myself out of the stupefied spell I’d fallen in, I finally opened my mouth to speak. “Scarlett, it’s a pleasure to meet you as well. I can see why your parents were hesitant about letting you out of their sight. If I had a daughter as stunning as you, I wouldn’t let her leave the house either.”
What the fuck did I just say? Did I use the word stunning? Could I be any lamer? It sounded like such a cheesy pickup line. I knew there was a reason I didn’t want to leave my bed tonight.
I meant to drop her hand and back away, but instead I found myself bringing it up to my mouth, softly kissing her inner wrist. I had no idea what in the hell I was doing. I knew everyone was looking at me like I had lost my damn mind, but I needed to smell and taste her soft flesh. It was like I had to prove with all five of my senses that she was really alive and sitting in front of me.
When my lips touched her, an electric current like I’ve never felt pulsed through my body. With a sharp hiss, she jerked her hand from my hold, confirming she experienced a similar jolt. Then, as she nervously drew her bottom lip between her teeth, I reached up and freed it from her bite with my thumb. And that nearly sent me over the edge. My dick swelled and my pulse leapt.
“Down, boy!” Jess exclaimed as she slapped me on the shoulder, forcing me out my trance.
Releasing her lip, I stumbled backward, realizing how much trouble I was in. I needed to put some space between us.
The girl I had sketched numerous times as my Psyche, the girl who served as my muse in the thesis I was working on, had literally walked out of my head and into my life. And unfortunately, as much as I wanted to explain to her, to show her all my drawings that looked nearly identical to her, to tell her I envisioned her, so it must be some kind of fate that brought us together, I knew I needed to leave her the hell alone.
She was exactly what I always imagined her to be. Beautiful. Pure. Innocent.
I knew by the way she looked at me that she felt a connection too. It was undeniable. But I had to do what was right for her. I had to stay away from her.
I would only corrupt, disappoint, and hurt her. After all, I was my father’s son. I wouldn’t do to her what he had done to my mom. I was the only one who could save her from me.
Bonus Scene ~ Mason POV
The night he met Scarlett…
Tonight’s going to be good, I thought to myself as I glanced at my reflection in the mirror one last time before heading out the door. No, scratch that. Tonight’s going to be fucking fantastic.
Call it a premonition, a hunch, whatever the hell you want, but I felt the nerves in my gut building in anticipation of something. I just wasn’t sure exactly what that something was.
It definitely wasn’t about performing at my brother’s bar. I’d been singing in front of crowds of people since before I could remember. The only time I got nervous when taking the stage now was if I knew someone important might be watching or listening.
Maybe that was it. Maybe a scout or a producer or someone with a connection to the music business would find their way to the old mechanic-shop-turned-bar I considered my home away from home and help Jobu’s Rum get our foot in the door. Or rather, out the door. I could only hope, because I was more than ready to get the fuck out of Texas. There was nothing keeping me here anymore.
Grabbing my keys from the kitchen table, I flew down the two flights of stairs to my car and folded my large frame into the driver seat. This would definitely be the last sports car I ever owned. They were great to look at and fast as shit, but I was way too big to fit inside. At least not comfortably. It was time to break down and go buy the Harley I’d been eyeing for a few months. Yep. Definitely needed to do that soon.
Then, turning on an old school Beastie Boys track with a beat that matched my spry mood, I made the short drive over to the bar where I found Cruz and Sebastian already sitting at our regular table when I walked in. I wasn’t surprised that Aaron wasn’t there yet. Ever since he’d started dating Sophie a few months prior, he was late for everything. They couldn’t keep their hands off each other and apparently often got sidetracked when trying to get dressed to go anywhere.
I was happy for him and all, but if his non-punctuality started to become an issue for the band, I’d have no problem helping him pull his head out of his ass. I knew all too well that the honeymoon phase would wear off quickly, and the next thing we knew, he’d be running late because they were fighting over something irrelevant and petty. Relationships were for the fucking birds.
Seconds after taking my place on the barstool dubbed as mine, a waitress set a beer on the table in front of me, making sure she rubbed her boobs against my back and arm in the process. I was pretty sure her name was Tiffany, but I couldn’t remember if I’d fucked her before or not. I didn’t think so; maybe that would change tonight. I flashed her one of my panty-dropping grins with my “thanks,” and she all but melted onto the floor. A good night indeed.
Led in by a smiling Sophie, Aaron finally showed up about half an hour later, and the four of us guys quickly ran down the lineup for the night as we downed a few beers. Tiffany stopped by to “check on me” a few more times, and I chuckled at her frustrated scowl when several other girls joined the table. To make sure she knew I was interested in hooking up later, at one point I grab
bed her by the waist and pulled her close to me, rubbing my nose along her jawline from chin to ear.
“Hey, beautiful. You got plans when you get off tonight?” I whispered as my fingertips traced the exposed skin between her shirt and shorts.
She shook her head, and I could see the pulse in her neck speed up. “Not yet.”
This was going to be too easy. Maybe I should just take her to one of the dressing rooms now and actually get some sleep tonight. As I pondered the thought, the band on stage announced they were about to play their last song. Well, so much for that bright idea.
“Good, don’t make any,” I replied, lightly kissing her neck before I slid off my stool. Giving the rest of the guys the “let’s go” nod, I smacked Tiffany’s ass as she walked away, eliciting an annoying high-pitched squeal. God, I hope she didn’t make that awful noise when I drove inside her later.
The set was flowing nicely; even Aaron seemed to be concentrating more on the music than watching Sophie. But then she walked in. I don’t know what it was that made me glance up at her the minute she stepped inside the clunky door, but it was like a light beckoning for my attention. And I couldn’t look away.
Momentarily forgetting the words to the song I was singing, I hoped no one except for the band would notice, but I honestly didn’t care. She was my only thought.
After I got back on track with the music, I watched her walk timidly across the room, shoulders hunched, never once looking up at me, almost as if she didn’t hear me at all. She was with two other girls who were pretty hot as well, but she was… angelic. There was no other word to describe her.
I’d seen many beautiful women before; shit, I still had sex with a Victoria’s Secret model on a regular basis. But there was something different about this girl that attracted me, and it wasn’t just about her looks. Her outfit was anything but innocent. The black-and-red sheer top and ass-hugging jeans she had on screamed naughty girl looking for someone to help her undress. And that long, dark, silky hair would be perfect to tangle my hands in and pull while I thrusted inside her.
But there was something about her face that was so completely naïve and vulnerable. The way her eyes darted around the room, looking at everything as if it was the first time she had ever seen anything like the place, trying to soak everything in. One of her friends was holding her hand and practically dragging her along. I chuckled to myself and nearly lost my place again. Okay, Rat. Focus, dumb ass. Stop acting like a little bitch.
Forcing myself to look around the room at the rest of the crowd as that song ended and we began the next, I glanced down at the hoard of groupies taking up the half of the dance floor closest to us. Fake eyelashes and canyons of cleavage stared back at me, and I groaned internally. Most of them were borderline pathetic.
I couldn’t help myself. I needed to see her again, so I visually searched the area where she was headed and found her at the tables of one of the bands that played earlier. She was standing off to the side while the blonde friend appeared to be introducing her and the other friend to the people at the table. Her shyness was adorable even from this distance, and it made me wonder how easily I could make her blush. My dick twitched behind my zipper, and again, I forced myself to look away and make eye contact with some of the other bar patrons.
When Cruz strummed the opening chords of “I Want You” by Kings of Leon, one of our favorite covers to perform, the chicks went wild. I had to admit there was just something about the song that was so much fucking fun to sing. There was nothing like finding a hot-ass girl in the crowd and staring into her eyes when I sang, “A choke and a gag, she spit up and came back for more,” knowing her panties were wet from my voice and gaze alone. It was usually at that point of the night that I claimed my victory; the rest of it was just collecting my prize.
Returning my attention back to where she was, I found her curious eyes fixated directly on me, her mouth hanging slightly open. I flashed her my never-fail-panty-dropping smirk, but instead of smiling seductively back or even blushing, she turned away immediately. What the hell? I kept my focus set in her direction, thinking she’d look back up my way, but she never did.
The blonde friend kept looking up at me and smiling then leaning over and whispering to my angel girl. I was ready for the set to be over with. Quickly. I needed to go meet this girl and figure out what the deal was. Was this all just some hard-to-get play? Something told me no, but I had to find out more. I was captivated.
After we finished up, I showered and changed out of my sweaty clothes then wasted no time in approaching her. She was still sitting in the same place, but just as I got close to the table, she jumped off her stool as I heard her ask the friend, “Do you want to go to the bar with me to get another drink? I’m thirsty and don’t want to wait for the server to come back around.”
Her friend mumbled something about “having company,” causing her to turn around and come face-to-face with me. It was my first good look at her close up, and I was momentarily at a loss for words. Mesmerized in her presence. Sure, she was pretty, gorgeous even, but there was more. Something different. Her big brown eyes held a life in them so vibrant, so pure… almost as if they were untainted by the real world.
“Hey, I’m Mason, but most people call me Rat,” I introduced myself, finally breaking the silence as I stuck my hand out. God, I sounded like such a fucking tool.
Hesitantly placing her hand in mine, her lips curled up in a bashful smile. “Scarlett. Nice to meet you, Mason.”
“I just overheard you saying you were headed to get a drink as I walked up. Would you be interested in joining me for one at my table?”
I hoped that my usual charming instincts, whatever the hell they were, were working, because I felt like the biggest idiot, and I didn’t even know why. Part of me hoped she would say no just so I could go over to Tiffany and the night would be easy. What the hell was I doing over here anyway? It was still fresh in my head what the end result had been the last time I felt like this around a girl.
Scarlett glanced around the table until she made eye contact with her other friend she came in with. They seemed to share some unspoken conversation, and then she grabbed her purse and nodded. “I’d love to.”
I was in so much trouble.
Back at the table, Scarlett met the rest of Jobu’s Rum and Sophie, and her sweet shyness was immediately evident. My friends kept shooting me questioning looks, probably wondering if I’d lost my mind, but I just grinned and shrugged. I wasn’t sure what I was doing either. She was so different from the kind of girl I usually hooked up with. But I couldn’t help myself.
After making our way through introductions, I slid onto my stool and decided to do an initial test of the waters. She’d let me hold her hand as we walked across the bar, but I wasn’t sure how she was going to react to any more touching. Without asking, I grabbed her waist and pulled her onto my lap, leaving one arm wrapped around her waist to hold her in place. She stiffened a bit at first but gradually relaxed and got comfortable on my leg. The content smile on her face, as if she was pleasantly surprised to like the closeness of our bodies, made me even more curious how far she’d let me push.
With a jealous scowl, Tiffany delivered the two beers I’d hand-signaled for her to bring, slamming them on the table. I gave her a warning look not to push her attitude. She knew damn well not to act that way if she wanted to keep her job. I looked at Scarlett to see if she’d noticed the buxom waitress’s behavior, but instead I found her staring over at the pool table area.
I didn’t know if she was just looking around in general or at someone specific, but either way, I didn’t care; I wanted her attention back on me. I wasn’t quite sure what to say or what type of conversation to start up. I usually didn’t do much talking with chicks. So instead, I decided to really push my luck and do what I do best.
Capturing her chin between my thumb and forefinger, I twisted her neck around so our gazes were locked. Nearly nose-to-nose. Then, I couldn’t take it a
ny longer; I had to taste that perfect little mouth. Dropping my lips to hers, I tried to deliver the softest, most tender kiss I possible could, but it was nearly impossible when I just wanted to devour her.
My tongue instinctively found her lips and ran lightly across the seam, silently requesting entrance. I needed some part of my body to be in some part of hers. Fucking stat. She whimpered and her mouth parted, granting me access. Her tongue felt like warm melted butter against mine, and I nearly came in my pants when she flicked my lip ring with it.
Forced to pull away from her before I lost my mind, I sucked in a deep breath as the room slowly stopped spinning. The things I had done with other girls might make a porn star blush, so why in the world a kiss made me feel so out of control was beyond me. Peering up at me through her long, dark lashes, her face lit up with blissful wonder. Then I knew why.
It was because I’d never kissed an angel before.
About the Author
Erin Noelle is a Texas native, where she lives with her husband, two daughters, and three fur babies. When she’s not reading or writing romance novels, she enjoys winning at cards and board games, awkward people-watching in public places, and doing cartwheels at the most random times. She’s usually barefoot, is never without a song in her head, and currently holds the title of World’s Best Procrastinator.
Her titles published include the Book Boyfriend Series, Dusk ‘Til Dawn Series, Luminous Duet, Fire on the Mountain series, and numerous standalone books that range from New Adult to Contemporary romance. Her books have been a part of the USA Today Bestselling list as well as the Amazon and Barnes & Noble overall Top 100. You can follow her on Facebook @ www.facebook.com/erin.noelle.98, on Twitter @authorenoelle, and on Instagram @erinnoelleauthor.
