87. Michael

MICHAEL

W hen the cameras shut off, I don’t waste any time.

Alice turns like she’s going to go talk to someone, but I grab her hand to stop her.

I use my other hand to point at the producer about to walk past. “I’ll be back down to talk to you.” My tone tells him it isn’t going to be a friendly talk, and I’m sure it’s no mystery what I’m pissed about.

He nods, and I turn away.

Alice doesn’t argue or ask where we’re going when I start to tug her along with me.

She did amazing today.

Better than amazing. She was fucking perfect. A total natural.

But I know it cost her.

Playing nice and complimenting Amber had to cost her.

Just like in Minneapolis, the Second Bite set is in a large ballroom inside the same hotel everyone is staying in. Including us.

The elevator bay is blessedly empty as I stride straight over and press the up button.

“Is there anything else we have to do?” Alice asks, just as an elevator opens behind her. “Or are we done?”

I crowd her backward through the open doors. “We’re never gonna be done, Little Sweetness.”

She clutches at my shirt. “You know that’s not what I meant.”

“I know.” I pause just long enough to hit the button for our floor. “But I need more of your sweet words right now.”

I press her against the back wall of the elevator.

“Sweet words?” Her chest heaves against mine.

“Yeah, Baby. That’s why you’re my Sweetness. My Sweet Girl. It’s not just that candy slit between your legs that makes you so sweet. It’s the words that come out of your mouth. It’s your words that make me feel so fucking good.”

Instead of giving me those words, Alice brings her hands up and grips my neck.

Her eyes are bright while she pulls my face down to meet hers.

And I let her.

My mouth fuses with hers, and I finally get to kiss her the way I’ve wanted to since this morning.

I push my tongue past her lips.

And she sucks it.

Alice sucks my tongue into her mouth as her nails claw against the back of my neck, and I feel the shape of her settle into my heart.

Every day.

Every day, for the rest of my life, I’m going to come home to this woman.

I wrap my arms around her and hoist her into the air.

Alice lets out a sound of surprise, but when I boost her up, her face becomes level with mine, and she deepens the kiss.

A groan rumbles through my chest when Alice tightens her legs around my waist.

I hear the doors slide open behind me, and I turn, Alice still wrapped around me.

There’s a startled yelp from someone who isn’t us. And a person blurs past us into the elevator as we exit.

This is hardly more illicit than what the world has already seen, so I decide it doesn’t matter that they saw us.

I shift my grip on Alice and get the room key out of my pocket, fumbling for a moment to get the door open.

It slams shut behind us.

And the bedroom is too far away.

I aim for the living room, and when my knees bump against the couch, I drop my girl.

She bounces once with a little puff of an exhale.

I kneel before her.

“Pants off.” My demand is hardly necessary since I’m already pulling her zipper down and Alice is already lifting her hips.

I tug them off, thong and all.

“Michael.” Alice reaches for me.

I evade her grasp and lower my face between her thighs. “Talk to me, Baby Cakes. Give me those sweet words.”

“I don’t—” Alice cuts off on a gasp as I press my tongue to her entrance and lick.