Sated by Charity Parkerson Page A

“He said the two of you loved Arbor more than music.” He didn’t wait for Lyric’s next question before adding, “He went on to say that you would both quit before allowing anything to happen her, and if I couldn’t guarantee I could do my job competently at all times, then I needed to get the hell out so you wouldn’t be forced to kill me at a later date.”
    “I meant it too,” Killian said, sounding so matter-of-fact Arbor covered her eyes in horror. A bubble of laughter made its way past her lips. She felt a bit stupid for thinking Trey’s actions had been anything more than him doing his job.
    “Oh God. No wonder you watch me like a hawk.”
    “No,” Trey growled, surprising her into dropping her hand.
    A knowing smile twisted Lyric’s lips, making Arbor wonder if this outburst was exactly what he’d been expecting with his line of questioning. The tick was back in Trey’s jaw.
    “You see,” Lyric said, sounding reasonable, “this is going to become an issue.”
    Trey came to his feet. “No issues here. I’m going to get out of your hair and let you enjoy the rest of your night.” Lyric finally looked over his shoulder at Trey’s words.
    “Sit down, Trey.”
    Arbor didn’t know if it was something he saw in Lyric’s expression or if—like her—Trey was incapable of disobeying Lyric when he used that tone. Either way, Trey sat. Arms crossed over his chest once more, he kept his eyes firmly locked on the wall to his left.
    “He wants you.”
    At Killian’s calmly spoken statement, the tick was back, doing double time. Trey didn’t deny it. Her mouth fell open. Luckily, Killian tilted her chin up, forcing her to meet his stare before Trey had time to see her reaction. It was possible he didn’t want to see. She wouldn’t blame him for that. Killian’s eyes were hot. In spite of the heaviness in the room, Arbor’s body immediately responded to his heated gaze. It was unfair for one man to possess as much as Killian. In a single glance, he could have the world. When he threw his sexy accent into the mix, the world was happy to be in his possession.
    “You see people, Arbor. I’m not sure you realize how it affects them. Before you, we spent night after night on stage with thousands of people staring at us, but not a single one saw us.”
    It seemed such an odd thing to say, but Arbor knew his words were true. To everyone else in the world, they were music and fame. They were the songs they played and an image on TV. When the crowd had parted, and she’d caught her first glimpse of the pair, she’d seen them as real people who were singing words she wanted to feel against her skin. Never in her life had she ached for anything the way she yearned for them. It wasn’t about the music, fame, or money. It was their souls.
    “You have no idea what you looked like to us that night.” Killian pushed one side of her shorts down an inch, exposing her hip bone. She didn’t stop it. “Every single person around you was singing and smiling. Not you.” The other side of her shorts came down. Cold air brushed over her pelvis, making her aware of exactly how low her shorts were going. Ensnared in Killian’s gaze, Arbor couldn’t bring herself to care. “For a moment, I felt as if you were there to see us. I’m not talking about seeing our concert. When you looked at us, you found what you came looking for.”
    “I did,” Arbor agreed. A ghost of a smile passed over Killian’s lips before it was replaced by and expression bordering on illegal in its wickedness.
    “Neither of us have looked away since.”
    Lyric’s admission made her nose sting. The overwhelming desire she’d experienced that night hadn’t eased one bit. Having the pair admit to the same weakness was better than every “I love you” they’d given her.
    Chill bumps rose on her skin as Killian’s fingers curled around the hem of her shorts, dragging them down her legs. Not only did she let it happen, Arbor lifted her