You’re my only memory that never faded….
You never faded…
Faded…
When we finish the song, the applause is deafening.
“I’m Ryder Woods, that’s Aiden on bass and Lincoln on the drums. Thanks so much for coming out tonight, Nashville!”
I practically leap off the stage, cutting through the rabid crowd. Girls are clawing at my arms, jumping up to whisper in my ear, yelling words of praise. I ignore them. It’s rude and unprofessional and I don’t give two fucks. I shove my way into the middle of the audience, my frantic eyes sweeping left and right. Searching every face.
I don’t see her anywhere.
Did she leave?
I whirl around to make another sweep and practically run straight into her. She’s right there, five feet away, beautiful as ever in a tight red dress that steals my breath. Her eyes are glossy with tears as they lock on mine. I watch one roll down the apple of her cheek and for a split second, I’m paralyzed.
Her mouth opens, as if she’s going to say something. But I’m done talking.
I’m moving.
My feet are closing those final few steps.
My arms are sliding around her.
She’s falling into my chest.
And then I’m kissing her.
Kissing her like I’ve wanted to for weeks, like I should’ve done the first fucking time I saw her at The Nightingale. My mouth feasts on hers like a starving man at a banquet, trying to sate the need burning inside my veins.
There’s no satisfying my craving. It runs too deep, has been denied too long.
I could fucking devour her.
Wreck her and ruin her.
It still wouldn’t be enough.
My hands slide around to the small of her back, pressing her against me hard enough that I can feel every curve aligned with the planes of my chest. Her hands wind up past my shoulders, into my hair, and she drags my lips down harder, as if she’s equally desperate for me.
We stand there, intertwined and ravenous, until the buzzing crowd around us blurs out of focus. Until the world shrinks down to this moment. This kiss. All that’s left is her and me, our arms locked around each other so tight it’s hard to breathe.
But I don’t care about breathing.
We are drowning in each other, and neither of us is even remotely inclined to come up for air.