Ariel's Song (In Bed with the Enemy) (13 page)

“
He hasn’t. Thanks for the idea. Maybe I’ll ask him to do it so I can compare who’s the better lover.” She struggled for breath.

Colin slipped
his hand to her pussy and played with her bud as he plunged in and out of her. “No one but me will lick you or fuck you, do you understand?” He thrust hard and deep.

Heat
crawled up her legs. “Stop playing games, Colin.”

“I’m not playing any games.
The question is, are you?” He increased his pace.

“I’m not
the one forcing someone to play a dirty game where anyone can hear or see.” One more caress, one more thrust, and she’d be shuddering and screaming her orgasm to the wind from the top of the balcony.

“I’m not forcing you. Do you want me to stop?”
Colin slid his cock out of her one inch at a time.

Ariel
wished to have the will power to tell him stop. “No. Don’t stop. Please.”

He thrust back in
, remaining buried deep inside her. “When the drums play, and each cello joins one by one, I want you to come. I want you to scream your orgasm.”

She pushed her ass back, inviting him to move. “
People will hear.”

Colin
pushed his shaft deeper in her, and she whimpered. “No one will hear. Trust me. The music will be so loud your scream will drown in it.” He caressed her clit in a circular motion.

“H
ow am I going to know when it’ll happen?” Ariel closed her eyes.

“Because it’s happen
ing now.” He leaned forward and nuzzled her neck, increasing his pace as the drums shook the place, followed by the cellos. “Come, gorgeous.” Colin drove in harder and deeper each time.

The melody ran in her bloodstream, pumping through her. Ariel
clutched the handrail, letting out a scream. Her ecstasy rocketed through her and his body shook behind hers, letting his own orgasm take him. The loud sound of the song being played down below masked both their shouts. The beat of her heart thrummed in her ears.

When both their bodies stopped shaking, Colin
stepped back and fixed her dress. Ariel turned to him as he adjusted his clothes, then glanced down to her foot and caught sight of the matching black obsidian skulls anklet he’d fastened on her ankle.

Colin
closed the short distance, cupped her face, and brushed his lips over hers. “Let’s go home.” He broke the kiss and rubbed his thumb over her swollen lips.

She
blinked, furrowing her brow. “Let’s go home? Is that all you have to say?” Ariel missed him, she wanted to be with him to make up for the time lost. In her weakness for him, somewhere in the past few minutes, she’d resolved on going home with him. But Colin didn’t say the two words she longed to hear,
I’m sorry
. It all crashed down on her.

Colin
’s jaw tightened. “Yes. You’re coming home with me tonight,” he said, matter-of-factly.

Ariel
gripped his wrists and stepped back. He didn’t bother to say sorry and he expected her to say yes because she always did? No. Not this time. He’d seduced her with his caresses, making her body throb with need, overtaking her senses. Colin knew how to manipulate her with sex. He did it all the time. This was their problem. Always resolving their disagreements with sex yet solving nothing at the end. Not anymore. Ariel wanted an apology. She deserved one.

Even if he apologized now, what guarantee did s
he have something wouldn’t set him off and he’d ask her to leave again? None. Heck, she still didn’t know the reason he’d asked her to leave.

She glanced up at him
. “No. I’m not.”

Colin
studied her, his expression one of confusion. “Why not?”

He didn’t get it
.

Why can’t you
say you’re sorry?

Ariel
drew in breath, looked around the room then back at him. “If you can’t figure it out we have nothing to discuss.”

“Ariel.”
Colin took a step forward.

She
walked back and crossed her arms. “Goodbye, Colin.”

He
opened and closed his mouth, pressing his lips in a straight line. Colin turned and headed to the door without another word.

Logan
opened the door just when Colin reached it. He looked from Colin to Ariel and back.

“If you touch her, you’re a dead man,” Colin s
aid and stepped out of the room.

Chapter
Sixteen

He’d been an idiot. It’d been three weeks since Colin broke things up with Ariel and he only had himself to blame. He let Logan’s kiss get to his head and reacted in the worst possible way. So much good it did him, she went straight to his friend’s arms.

Jealousy blinded him and he didn’t think
to apologize until sometime after Ariel refused to go home with him. He never said sorry. Colin lost his chance at the private concert last Saturday. When would he stop being such an ass? Sex wasn’t the answer to everything, but seeing her there, getting lost in the music, his hands itched to touch her.

He
missed Ariel and she’d stood there with her long silky hair covering her back, looking as beautiful as always. What was Colin supposed to do when the sight of her reminded him of the warmth of her body against his? Of his yearning to trail kisses along her soft skin. Of how he wanted to feel her come around his cock. His desire blinded his good judgment.

When
Ariel didn’t push him away and let him have his way with her, Colin took it as a good sign. He thought he’d leave the gathering with Ariel by his side, until those bloody words came out of her mouth.
If you can’t figure it out we have nothing to discuss.

Colin
looked at his car’s dashboard then focused his eyes back on the road. He must be desperate to drive in the middle of the night to Logan’s house. He needed Ariel back. She’d worked her way into his skin, got him out of his isolation, and showed him the way back to living his life. Colin wasn’t willing to lose what she’d given him. Things between them were too intense, too much of everything to let it all go easy.

Last weekend s
he declined to go home with him and with reason. But he’d reached his limit. He’d apologize, right what he’d wronged, and take her home. Colin wasn’t ready to say goodbye unless she asked him to. If he needed any reassurance, the last time Ariel kissed him, her tender lips proved she missed him as much as he did. He’d touched her, and her body responded to his caresses asking for more.

Before Ariel
, he’d sworn off relationships for fear of another betrayal. His discovery of Valerie’s lover destroyed all sense of feeling within him. Some kind of man she got, too. The bastard killed her, shot himself, and ruined Colin’s life in the process. What a fucking mess.

But everything
changed with Ariel. She made him feel alive, and took everything with her the moment she walked out of his home, leaving him with a freezing cold emptiness. He’d rather be dead than live in a freezer the rest of his life.

Colin
turned the ignition off and stepped out of the car. He walked up the steps to the door and rang the doorbell. He took a deep breath, glancing at his surroundings. After a moment, he rang the doorbell a second time. Where the hell were they? Still no answer. Colin knocked on the door, and rang the bell on and on until the lights turned on.

A sleepy Logan opened the door. “Colin?”

“I need to see Ariel.” He took a step forward.

“
She’s in bed, asleep. I don’t know if you realize it, but it’s not noon, it’s midnight.” Logan held the door in place, denying him entry.

“I need to speak with her. Let me in.”
Colin leveled his gaze with Logan’s.

“
No, you don’t. Maybe you should’ve thought better before fucking Penelope.” Logan furrowed his brow. “I can’t believe you went so low. Then you kicked Ariel out of your house, knowing she has no one and nowhere to go.” Logan crossed his arms. “Colin, my friend, what did you expect? For Ariel to take you back with open arms and forget how much you hurt her? She deserves better.”

“I saw her kiss you.”

Logan straightened. “I kissed her. She didn’t kiss me back, she pushed me away, you moron. I was testing her. I wanted to see if she was genuine.”

Colin s
tared at his friend. “Genuine toward me? Way to go, Logan. What am I? Your fucking brother? Next time, let me be the judge.” Damn it. He’d truly been an asshole. After witnessing that kiss, he’d walked away from the window and asked Lola to pack Ariel’s belongings. “She never said…”

“
Did you even ask her? Ariel probably doesn’t know you saw us.”

Colin squeezed his car key in his hand.
“Let me talk to her.”

“No. Not tonight.”

“Why?” Colin took a few steps back, glancing up the second floor windows. He caught a glimpse of a light turned on one of the guest bedrooms. He knew because he’d been in the house countless times. He brought his hands to his mouth, shouting, “Ariel!”

“Stop.
Don’t make a scene.”

Colin adjusted his leather jacket. “
See if I give a shit.” He looked up to the second floor. “Ariel! We need to talk, gorgeous.”

“S
he doesn’t want to talk to you,” Logan said.

“
How do you know? She told you so?” Colin cursed under his breath.

“
You’re such a bloody fool. If she didn’t fucking love you so much maybe I’d try to make her understand there’s more to life than you. Leave, Colin. Figure out whatever you want to do first, leave her alone until you do.”

Huh.
Ariel loved him? He shook his head. “Come again?”

“Go home,
Colin. Come back when you’ve made up your mind. Get your shit together first. Let Ariel take care of her own issues.”

“
She doesn’t need to resolve them all by herself. She has me. I’ll help her,” Colin said.

“
Right now you’re only making things worse,” Logan said.

As much as Colin hated to admit it, his friend was right.
His jealousy and fear of betrayal blinded him again. “I’ll be back, and next time I’ll see her if it means I have to break down your door.” Colin turned and walked down the steps to his car.

“
Next time you won’t make it through the gate,” Logan said from behind him.

Colin muttered under his breath.
Not happy with what Logan said, he drove around, hiding his car from view. He doubled timed to the kitchen door, if his memory served him right it’d be unlocked. Colin closed his hand around the knob, smiling at the fact he’d been right. He sneaked in the house finding his way up and down the hallway. He opened the door to the guest bedroom.

Ariel lay on her side and turned toward him. “Colin? What are you doing here?”

He locked the door and approached the bed. “I’m going to make love to you first and then take you home.”

“Get out,
or I’ll scream.”

“
No, you won’t.” Colin sat next to her on the bed and held her gaze. “I’m not leaving without you.”

“I told you I’m not
going back.”

“
And, I’m not giving up.” Colin touched his forehead to hers. He wanted to see her, touch her, feel her.

Ariel
sucked in her breath, placing her hand on his chest. “You can’t come in here and demand I go with you.”

“Ariel, I’m sorry.”

“I mean it, Colin.”

“Ariel, gorgeous, I
’m here to apologize. I’m sorry I hurt you.”

“
As you should be,” she whispered.

“Please come home with me tonight.”

Ariel dragged her fingers across his chest. “What guarantee do I have you won’t throw me out again?”

He
exhaled. “Point taken. I know I can be an asshole and I’m truly sorry for hurting you. I know I did. I promise on my life it’ll never happen again. Please come home.”

Colin
brushed his lips over hers, once, twice, three times, teasing her to open up to him, inviting her to kiss him. Her warm lips opened to his and Ariel deepened the kiss, pulling him down with her on the bed. He removed the blanket between their bodies and she panted under him, fighting for control. Ariel undid the buttons on his jeans and Colin helped her get rid of his pants, then his shirt. He reached for her, hands tangled, stripping her off her pajamas.

He crawled between her legs and she pushed him on his back, straddling him. “Bet you didn’t see that coming.”
Ariel hovered over him and licked his lips.

She
trailed hot kisses down his chest making it a point to stop by his nipples to play with them, her teeth grazing the tip. Dragging her tongue lower, she lingered at his navel before continuing her way to his erected cock.

“Hmmm
… so yummy.” Ariel grasped his balls as she slid her tongue along the side of his rigid shaft until reaching the tip. She covered his cock with the damped heat of her mouth, twisting her tongue, sucking and licking him.

“Fuck. I’ll come in your mouth if you keep doing that.”
Colin groaned, casting a glance at her.

Ariel
smiled and sucked him harder as one hand massaged his balls, tightening her hold with her other hand on his cock. Some other time he’d come in her mouth and have her swallow his cum. Not tonight. Tonight he’d sink in her heat and explode inside her. Colin shifted and pulled her up. His hand held her hip, keeping her straddled, and the other gripped her nape, bringing her down to him.

Colin
devoured her mouth, not allowing her a breath. His hand at the hip lifted her and he plunged into her, driving in and out of her fast. Ariel met each of his thrusts, moaning into his mouth with each movement until her body quivered and she collapsed on top of him. He thrust harder until his own orgasm rocked through his body.

Colin
propped himself on the pillows. She rested her head on his chest, her legs tangled with his. “Come home, gorgeous.” He stroked her back, his fingers playing with her hair.

“I think a little time apart won’t hurt us
,” Ariel said.

“
Time for what? What do you want me to do, Ariel? I’ve said I’m sorry. I want you back. I need you.” His hand lingered in the middle of her back.

Ariel placed her hands on his chest and rested her chin, looking at him. “Why did you accept to play with the
Philharmonic?”

He frowned. “What does that have to do with you going home, where you belong?”

“It’s got everything to do with it. Why did you? Did you do it for your love of music, missing the stage, or because you want it to be your last performance?”

Colin
sat up, and Ariel scooted to her side of the bed, covering her breasts with the sheet. “It’ll be my last performance. Maybe no one will show up after they read my name on the billboards.”

“
Do you want it to be your last show, Colin?” she asked.

He raked a hand through his hair, and tossed the sheet to the side as he got up from the bed.
“I don’t know, Ariel. Stop trying to confuse me and put doubts in my head.” Colin stepped into his jeans. “Maybe I do want it to be my last show, maybe I don’t.” He put his arms through his t-shirt and stared at her. “Why does it matter?”

“
It’s time you faced your fears.”

“
Are you done psychoanalyzing me? Can we go now?”

“Goodbye, Colin.”

“What do you mean goodbye?” He furrowed his brow.

“I mean
t goodbye. You need to figure out the real reason you’re playing again. I find it hard to believe you want to end your career. Are your fears worth that much? The media will always say what they will, and there’s nothing you can do. You won’t solve your problem by walking away from what makes you.”

Ariel pulled a strand of hair and locked it behind her ear. “I’m not going back, Colin. A
little time apart won’t hurt us. Maybe when you sort out what you need, we can talk again. Assuming you still want me in your life.”

Colin
set his lips in a straight line. “We’re not breaking up, Ariel.”

“You have demons I can’t fight for you.”

He narrowed his eyes at her then said, “This is not over. Your place is with me, not here. You won’t come home tonight but you will. Soon.” He slipped his feet in his shoes, grabbed his jacket, and walked out the door.

****

If Ariel didn’t give him another chance, he’d never forgive himself. As expected, Colin hadn’t heard from her since his visit to Logan’s. Things between them weren’t over. He’d give her space. In the meantime he took up rehearsals again. As much as he hated to admit it, she’d been right. If he wanted a chance to heal, he needed to face his fears.

W
hen Colin agreed to play on stage with the Philharmonic, he’d done it because deep inside him he knew there’d never be another opportunity to play in front of a crowd. It’d be a mistake trying to patch up the tragedy of his past by walking away from his music. Still, he feared people booing him on stage, or not showing up at all.

Colin
scanned his study. Rehearsal ended a couple of hours early today so he got home earlier than usual.
Home
. He snorted. Warmth came with a home, not with the arctic cold filling his house. Colin sat on a chair across the bookshelves, staring at the shelf with the secret panel.