Beat of the Heart (Runaway Train, #2)(31)

“Jesus, no. What the hell gave you that idea?”

She shrugged. “I just figured since we were done—”

Cupping her face in my hands, I said, “Mia, babe, I don’t plan for us to be done until the morning…maybe tomorrow afternoon.”

Her dark eyes widened. “You want me to stay the night?”

“Of course.”

“I just didn’t expect that.”

“I’m not one of those douchebags who throws a chick out once he’s done banging her. Besides morning sex happens to be one of my favorite things,” I answered honestly. Even though it kinda stung, I could see why Mia would think I was a wham-bam kinda guy since I was a famous musician. It was true that I didn’t bring a lot of women here. I did most of my hook-ups on the road in the bus or in hotel rooms. Off the road, I was a lot more choosey. In the past, my house had been reserved for women I was in a relationship with—who I trusted. While Mia didn’t technically fit into that category, I was happy to make an opening for her. Because of her career, her family, and most of all her fiery personality, she had proven to be in a class all of her own.

Leaning forward, I kissed her intently. “So you’ll stay?”

“Um, okay.”

“Good. Now let’s go take that shower.” Taking her by the hand, I pulled her up off the couch. I pushed her hair back away from her face and gave her a long, lingering kiss—one I hoped would show her how much I wanted her with me.

When I pulled away, I took her by the hand and started down the hall. “I really want to see your place,” she protested.

“After the shower.”

“Like you’ll be in the mood for a grand tour then. You’re already naked,” she mumbled.

I laughed and smacked her ass playfully. “You know me too well.”

Once we were inside the bathroom, I closed the door behind us. After I stepped over to Mia, my hands immediately went to the zipper on her dress. When it pooled in a whisper at her feet, she was left only in her bustier since I’d happily shed her of her panties back in the living room. “I’ll get the water on while you get out of that thing,” I said, motioning to her chest. I knew my way around a bra, but that looked way tricky.

“Okay,” she whispered.

I turned on the water, letting the shower fill with steam. I stepped inside, but I left the door open. Glancing over my shoulder, I noticed Mia still stood frozen by the counter.

“Aren’t you coming?”

She gave a slight nod before slipping out of the bustier. Once she was fully naked, she stepped into the shower. With her arms crooked at the elbows, her hands rested under her chin, covering her breasts. “Don’t tell me you’re being shy now?”

“No,” she murmured.

“Then what’s the problem?”

“It’s just…” She closed her eyes like she was in pain. “It’s the first time you’ve seen me fully naked.”

“And it’s a f*cking amazing sight.” When she didn’t look at me, I cupped her chin in my fingers. “Hey, what’s going on in that thick head of yours?”

She sighed. “Look, I’m sorry. I know this is probably my own shit I’m projecting off on you. But I kinda have a feeling about the type of girls you usually date—willowy, blonde models who are size zeroes, with perfect fake tits and don’t have any cellulite.”

I laughed. “Man, you really don’t know me at all, do you?” Brushing her hair out her face, I stroked her cheek. “I told you back at Mama Sofia’s that I like people to be real—I want the same things in the women I date too. Real figures—not some plastic stick-figure.”

She stared up at me in surprise. “You’re really serious, aren’t you?”

“Yeah, I am.” In that moment, I wanted nothing more than to hunt down her dickhead ex-fiance and beat the ever loving shit out of him. I mean, Mia was confident at her job, she didn’t think twice about giving me her sassy mouth, but she was completely incapable of believing how sexy and beautiful she was. There was no way she had always felt that way. No, that * had done this to her—he’d not only banged some other woman and broken Mia’s heart, but he’d taken even more of her when he stripped her of her confidence.

Shaking her head slowly at me, she replied, “Just when I think all men are alike….You really are too good to be true, you know that?”

I nodded. “It’s a curse really,” I replied, trying to lighten the mood.

A grin curved on her lips. “Sorry for being so neurotic. This whole getting back in the game thing has my head spinning.”

“How about I let you make it up to me by washing my back…and my dick?”

She laughed. “It’s a deal.”



Morning sunlight streaked in through my curtains. Groaning, I brought my hand to my eyes to shield them. I usually remembered to close them before I went to bed. Then I remembered what had caused me to forget. A delicious reel of images from the previous night flickered through my mind. Even though I’d been satisfied multiple times, Mia was an addicting drug, and I wanted more. Rolling over, I found the other side of the bed empty. Flipping back over, I noticed the bathroom door was wide open, so she wasn’t in there. Just as I was about to get utterly pissed at Mia for bailing on me, wonderful aromas assaulted my nose.