of him that felt oh so real.
“Why don’t you move away from the door and I’ll tell you.”
I actually took a step forward at the siren’s call. Catching myself in time, I raised both my hands. “No!” I inched back. “I’m not moving until you tell me what you’re doing here. And how the hell did you find out I was staying at this hotel anyway? And how the hell did you get in? And why isn’t there a group of screaming fans outside shouting your name?” Alright, pathetic, but once I’d started, all the inane questions kept coming like diarrhea of the mouth. I grimaced internally at the image. Luka unsettled me. His gaze alone felt like a caress as it traveled up and down my body.
His delicious lips twisted. “Five minutes in my company and you haven’t taken a single picture.”
I gasped at the truth in his observation. “Call it shock.”
“I have to say I’m disappointed.”
“Stop being an asshole and answer my questions already.”
That damn sexy smile returned. “There’s the fire I’ve been missing.”
The word “miss” sent quivers to every part of me below the navel. Stupid, stupid, stupid traitor of a body. I shouldn’t be reacting to him this way. He was in love with someone else. The reminder sobered me.
I reached up and touched my patch, the velvet hardness of the dome lending me strength. “I have pictures to touch up, so if you want to keep playing games then leave. I have work to do.”
He glanced away from me and ran his fingers through his hair. The curls bounced back into place, not a strand ruffled. “I want to know why you refused Yana’s offer.”
An ache grew in my chest at the sudden shift in his mood. “Didn’t she tell you?”
“Not in so many words, no.” He flicked his gaze at me before he dropped it again. He drew circular patterns on the desk. “I want you to tell me.”
I licked my suddenly dry lips, searching for the right words only to find out nothing would please him enough to leave me alone. If Luka came all this way then I might as well cut through the bullshit.
“You know why.” I lifted my chin, bracing myself for the punch.
He met my gaze with a curious stare. “I hurt you.”
His honesty gained him a nod.
“And you don’t want to work as our photographer because you’re afraid I’m going to hurt you again.”
“Give the mind reader a prize.” I meant to sound sarcastic, but my barb came out as a whisper instead. Luka was a smart, sensitive guy. Connecting the dots was an easy task for him.
“It’s not like that anymore.”
I shivered. His godforsaken accent slayed me every time. God, how much more could I take of him? He stood meters away yet his stare alone consumed me. I’d become weak against him and that pissed me off.
“You’re not in love with Phoenix anymore?”
His hesitation became my answer. “I’m working on it. Surely, Yana told you about my therapy sessions with Samrah.”
“Bully for you.”
“Please.” He leaned forward until his forearms rested on his knees. He weaved his fingers together as if in prayer. “I cannot say that I’m a hundred percent better, but I’m working on it. You have to believe that. I know I hurt you—”
“You used me.” It came out as a hiss between my clenched teeth. I could feel my neck muscles strain.
“Yes.”
I staggered at the simple admission. “I can’t do this right now.” Leaning my back against the wall, I slid down until my butt hit the floor. With my elbows propped on my knees, I raked my fingers through my hair and stopped, clutching my head between my hands.
“I know I’m asking for you to trust me when you have no reason to,” he said softly. Yet the deep timbre of his voice seemed to reverberate all around me. “But please think of the rest of the band. I’m not the only one who misses you.”
I barked a laugh. “Sure, use my guilt against me.”
“I will do what I have to.” He shifted in his seat. The chair springs creaked.
“Why don’t you move away from the door and I’ll tell you.”
I actually took a step forward at the siren’s call. Catching myself in time, I raised both my hands. “No!” I inched back. “I’m not moving until you tell me what you’re doing here. And how the hell did you find out I was staying at this hotel anyway? And how the hell did you get in? And why isn’t there a group of screaming fans outside shouting your name?” Alright, pathetic, but once I’d started, all the inane questions kept coming like diarrhea of the mouth. I grimaced internally at the image. Luka unsettled me. His gaze alone felt like a caress as it traveled up and down my body.
His delicious lips twisted. “Five minutes in my company and you haven’t taken a single picture.”
I gasped at the truth in his observation. “Call it shock.”
“I have to say I’m disappointed.”
“Stop being an asshole and answer my questions already.”
That damn sexy smile returned. “There’s the fire I’ve been missing.”
The word “miss” sent quivers to every part of me below the navel. Stupid, stupid, stupid traitor of a body. I shouldn’t be reacting to him this way. He was in love with someone else. The reminder sobered me.
I reached up and touched my patch, the velvet hardness of the dome lending me strength. “I have pictures to touch up, so if you want to keep playing games then leave. I have work to do.”
He glanced away from me and ran his fingers through his hair. The curls bounced back into place, not a strand ruffled. “I want to know why you refused Yana’s offer.”
An ache grew in my chest at the sudden shift in his mood. “Didn’t she tell you?”
“Not in so many words, no.” He flicked his gaze at me before he dropped it again. He drew circular patterns on the desk. “I want you to tell me.”
I licked my suddenly dry lips, searching for the right words only to find out nothing would please him enough to leave me alone. If Luka came all this way then I might as well cut through the bullshit.
“You know why.” I lifted my chin, bracing myself for the punch.
He met my gaze with a curious stare. “I hurt you.”
His honesty gained him a nod.
“And you don’t want to work as our photographer because you’re afraid I’m going to hurt you again.”
“Give the mind reader a prize.” I meant to sound sarcastic, but my barb came out as a whisper instead. Luka was a smart, sensitive guy. Connecting the dots was an easy task for him.
“It’s not like that anymore.”
I shivered. His godforsaken accent slayed me every time. God, how much more could I take of him? He stood meters away yet his stare alone consumed me. I’d become weak against him and that pissed me off.
“You’re not in love with Phoenix anymore?”
His hesitation became my answer. “I’m working on it. Surely, Yana told you about my therapy sessions with Samrah.”
“Bully for you.”
“Please.” He leaned forward until his forearms rested on his knees. He weaved his fingers together as if in prayer. “I cannot say that I’m a hundred percent better, but I’m working on it. You have to believe that. I know I hurt you—”
“You used me.” It came out as a hiss between my clenched teeth. I could feel my neck muscles strain.
“Yes.”
I staggered at the simple admission. “I can’t do this right now.” Leaning my back against the wall, I slid down until my butt hit the floor. With my elbows propped on my knees, I raked my fingers through my hair and stopped, clutching my head between my hands.
“I know I’m asking for you to trust me when you have no reason to,” he said softly. Yet the deep timbre of his voice seemed to reverberate all around me. “But please think of the rest of the band. I’m not the only one who misses you.”
I barked a laugh. “Sure, use my guilt against me.”
“I will do what I have to.” He shifted in his seat. The chair springs creaked.
Similar Books
