G R A Y S O N

When Julian told me to strategize, this probably wasn't what he had in mind.

Because, yes, this was romance. But also...more than romance.

Fine. My intentions were a little bit wicked, and maybe I'd go to hell for that. After what Nessa had just said, though, how could I sit around and do nothing? I needed to make her see.

"They don't let people linger at things like this," I muttered in Nessa's ear as we headed inside. "They're strict about times because nothing good happens after midnight. And they'll have people in here early tomorrow to turn it around for a wedding or something else."

"Do you play at a lot of events?"

I shrugged. "No, not a ton. Just a few a year or whenever I hear of an opportunity like tonight."

She swallowed, eyes locking on the piano I was leading her toward. Our footsteps echoed in the empty ballroom, and I loved that I had her to myself in a place that dazzled like she did.

"You sounded amazing tonight," she muttered, soft enough that I barely heard it.

God, that compliment sounded really fucking good coming from her mouth. I hoped I'd get to hear something like that again before the night was over. Because I planned to be amazing for just her now.

I flashed a grin at Nessa over my shoulder. "You know, I think that's the first time you've ever complimented me."

Unsurprisingly, she rolled her eyes. "You don't need compliments, Grayson. You're cocky enough without them."

"I'm confident," I corrected. "There's a difference."

"Whatever helps you sleep at night, Everett."

Unable to let go of my smile, I shook my head. Nessa watched me with a giddy expression that I loved to see. She deserved to look happy like that. I didn't see it nearly enough, and now it was a mission of mine: to make Nessa Elez happy.

"Come here," I said, turning around to tug on her hand. She flew into me, landing against my chest—exactly where she belonged.

I groaned, caught off-guard at how perfect it felt to have her in my arms. I circled her waist before muttering under my breath.

"God, you feel good in my arms."

She blinked up at me, and then she did it. She laughed.

Beautiful fucking sound.

I needed to figure out how to hear it more often.

"Do you honestly say just whatever comes into your brain?" she asked while I stripped my coat off her and tossed it on the end of the piano bench. We couldn't have any extra fabric for what I was planning.

I chuckled lowly. "No, I definitely don't. Not even close. And I would be more than happy to spill all my dirty thoughts to you, but that would be in breach of the little deal we just made."

She had no idea the thoughts I was keeping at bay. Especially when she was wearing that goddamn dress. Especially when she looked at me beneath her eyelashes and laughed like she just did.

I breathed out an unsteady breath, trying to get ahold of myself. I needed to get her up on that piano before I lost it, and before I could second-guess this entire thing, I scooped Nessa into my arms and lifted her atop the grand piano. Once I got her in the perfect position on the corner of the instrument, I took a small step back.

"Spread your legs for me, Adler."

Her eyes grew round, and I knew I was probably pushing it. She didn't have anything to worry about, though. I wouldn't touch her, although I was definitely having a hard time not imagining this moment going in a completely different direction.

"Why?" she choked out.

"Because I'm going to show you something."

"What?"

What? God, I wanted to show her everything. But I knew I needed to start here. She seemed to think sex was about getting off, and I needed her to understand that it was so much more than that. Or, it could be if she allowed herself to feel beyond the pure physicality of it.

Sighing, I rested my hands on either side of Nessa.

"Listen, Nessa."

She blinked, watching me carefully. Listening to me carefully. Her eyes wandered my face and shit, how did she not feel that?

I dragged my hand over my face before slapping it back on the piano.

"I'm listening." Her voice was like a low, vibrating hum.

Maybe she did feel that.

I leaned in, and Nessa did, too.

She definitely felt it.

And we were just getting started.

I had to fight to contain a grin as I spoke. "You can fly solo all you want, darling. But then you're missing out on the hottest part of it. The whole point."

Nessa looked unconvinced, and I couldn't wait to fucking prove her wrong.

"And what's that, Wilder? What's the whole point?"

My grin grew, and I watched her pupils dilate slightly beneath her glittering mask.

"A connection," I said.

Nessa sucked in quickly, leaning back as she crossed her arms over her chest.

Fuck, she really had to go and make this harder on me, didn't she? Her dress had already been so low cut that it made me dizzy to look at her, and now she had to do that? Goddamn, Nessa.

She swallowed, clearly having noticed my inner struggle.

"Well, I've never felt that before," she countered hotly.

A lie. That was a lie if I'd ever heard one. Did she forget the two times we'd kissed? Did she forget how she'd twined her tongue around mine and moaned so loud that I felt the vibrations of it in my bones?

I raised a brow. "Never, huh? I disagree. Because we have it. And I'll gladly give you a reminder."

"But you said—"

"I'll keep my promise, Adler. I don't lie. And I don't break promises. No kissing, no touching, I know."

Sadly, I knew.

"Then—"

"I'll show you," I cut in with a smile. "Patience."

As a reminder that I still wanted her to spread her legs for me, I tapped the inside of her knee. She hesitantly obeyed, widening her position until one foot dangled over the keys. The slit of her dress rode higher and higher, and I had to swallow before looking away.

When I glanced back, she was watching me through the slits in her mask again, and I plucked it off before removing mine, too. I tossed them on the piano bench.

I needed to see every little expression of hers during this.

"I'm gonna need to see your face," I murmured, voice thick.

I knew that every bit of the desire I felt for Nessa could be heard in my voice, but I didn't care. Not one bit.

Nessa made me feel alive. I wanted to make her feel that way, too.

I sat at the piano, letting my fingers graze her ankle as I positioned my hands on the keys. That was how desperate I was to be close to her—I'd take any inch of skin I could find. I was straddling a fine line, though, after what I'd just promised her.

No touching, no kissing...it would be such an odd mix of heaven and hell until I could convince her that I was all in. But it would be worth it; I had no doubts about that.

Flicking my gaze over Nessa as she sat before me on the piano, I finally made it to her face. Such beautiful anticipation lingered there. But I couldn't help but notice something.

"No tights tonight, huh?"

She shook her head, wordless.

They wouldn't have gone with her dress. I got that; really, I did. But I still had that memory on replay—the one in her bedroom where I'd smoothed my hands over those legs of hers and felt her skin through the sheer fabric.

After clearing my throat, I rolled my shirt sleeves. I did it slowly, intentionally. I knew the unknown was making the tension rise. Nessa wanted to figure out what was going to happen. She was on the edge of her seat—literally. But I knew dragging out the moment would only make the end result that much more satisfying.

Finally, my fingers hit the keys, ready to play. And as soon as I started, Nessa gasped.

God, yes.

"This is my song," she breathed. "The one I've been writing."

Yep, there it was.

I glanced up at her while continuing to play. "I know."

Nessa's lips parted slightly, but I increased the pressure on the keys before she could utter another word. I watched her breath extinguish, and her eyes light up. That's it, baby.

"How?" she rasped. Her fingers curled around the edge of the piano, desperately hanging on. If I hadn't been able to tell what she was feeling by the look on her face, I would have known by the whiteness of her knuckles.

"The walls are thin in Ackley Hall. And I can't help but stop and listen sometimes."

Nessa stared, transfixed, while I played her melody.

"I don't know the words, though," I added. "Sing for me?"

"I—" Nessa shook her head. Words didn't seem like an option, so I let go of the idea that I might get to hear that perfect voice tonight. There was something about a speechless Nessa, though. Something about letting her body do the talking. I was getting to experience perfection in a different form.

I smiled. "That's okay. Just live it, then."

She didn't say anything after that, which was fine. I played, letting her absorb all the beautiful chords that she had created. When I looked up to watch her, she was studying my fingers, watching them dance across the keys.

"Adler."

Nessa's gaze didn't budge. And goddamnit, I needed her with me for this.

"Look at me," I commanded, and Nessa did. Her eyes jerked up to meet mine, and holy hell.

She was so gorgeous. Rosy-cheeked and sparkling eyes. She shone with the same arousal I was feeling, and I could feel the air shifting between us. It was indescribable. Only music could explain it.

"Do you feel it?"

She didn't reply to my question, but then again, she didn't really need to. I saw the answer.

Still, I was desperate for it. I inched higher on the piano, hitting keys below her, fully knowing what I was doing.

I smirked. "How about now?"

"Yes," Nessa gasped.

She was on the cusp. I could tell she felt it, but she didn't really feel it. Not all the way. And I wanted everything for her.

"Lean forward," I commanded. "Slide your hands forward and lean into it."

That might have been a mistake. That might have been too much. Not for Nessa, but for me. Because the view before me right now was so unbelievably hot that I thought I just might lose control.

Nessa leaned toward me, dress gaping, eyes blazing. And the connection between us was so tangible that I didn't need to touch her to feel her. Especially when she whimpered my name a moment later.

"Oh my god, Grayson."

I sucked in a breath. There she was.

Playing louder, I let myself lose that control, but only on the keys. I pounded into the ivory, taking out all that pent-up need and channeling it into the vibrations that were hitting Nessa now in full force. Her eyes rolled back, and that sight alone nearly did it for me.

"Look at me, Nessa," I growled.

She did. She did, and I gritted my teeth, needing to reel in the urge to kiss her. It would be so fucking easy to pluck her off the top of that piano, slide her onto my lap, and—shit.

Her eyes were begging for an ending, a release just like I wanted, but I couldn't give it to her. I wouldn't make it. If I watched that, I'd barely be able to walk away in one piece.

With a groan, I forced myself to stop playing.

Nessa looked ready to beg for more. Her expression was...bereft.

Pushing back from the piano, I stood and walked to the corner where Nessa sat. It was a bad idea to touch her right now, but I did it anyway, circling her waist and pulling her back down to the ground. Her body brushed against mine, and I heard her intake of breath when she felt it.

Fuck.

While struggling to control my breathing, I inched away from her. Just an inch. She looked down at my erection, ogling it.

"Don't look surprised, Adler. You fucking do things to me."

I tipped my head forward, resting it against the top of Nessa's. And then we breathed. The same air, in and out. It would have been so easy, so effortless to kiss her. But that wouldn't have been fair. So I purposefully left that space there—the space we both so clearly wanted to close.

When the urge to touch her became unbearable, I punched my fist into my pocket.

"I know you felt it," I said. "I know that did things to you, too. But I need to hear it, Nessa."

"What do you need to hear?"

"That you get what I'm trying to tell you."

She visibly swallowed, her throat working up and down.

"I—I think I do, Grayson," she whispered.

"I promised I wouldn't touch you," I murmured. "And I won't, Adler. But I'm going to wake you up inside every chance I get until you know for sure."

And it would be such a fucking delight to do. The wheels were already spinning in my brain, churning ideas that would result in getting to see the version of Nessa I saw tonight. It was possible they weren't Julian-approved, but I had a feeling they were exactly what we needed.

Exactly what Nessa needed.

Eventually, hopefully, I would be what she needed. Until then, I'd just make sure she didn't need anything at all.

I would be here for her. One day, I would get to be here with her. But for now, I was here for her.

And I would fucking take that. Absolutely, I would.