Shatter

“Be right out!”

I shrugged and picked up a magazine.

Fantastic. A picture of me and my glorious black eye filled the page. “Lover’s spat?”

I groaned and threw the magazine down.

Nat emerged from the restroom looking a bit pale. “Babe, you alright?”

“I think I’m just excited.” She sat down with a huff. “Plus, I may have skipped breakfast.”

I growled low in my throat. “You know how much I hate it when you skip meals, Nat. You have to take care of yourself.” I pulled her into my lap and stroked her face. “Damn, you’re beautiful.”

She sighed. “Even when I’m pale and look like a ghost?”

“Even when you wake up in the morning and your hair is poking all over the place.” I tucked her hair behind her ear and kissed her nose. “Even when you scrunch up your face and scowl.”

She did exactly that and tried to pull away.

“I love you.” I kissed her softly on the mouth.

She pulled away. “I need food.”

“I need sex,” I muttered kissing her again.

“Um, I think public nudity is illegal.” She pushed against my chest and giggled as I kissed her neck.

“Not true. I’m famous. We can do whatever we want.”

“Wow, you really just sounded like Demetri.”

“And, no more sex talk…” I laughed against her lips. “Food wins. You win.”

“I always win.”

“That’s because you’re pretty.”

“Really? I thought it was because I was brilliant.”

I rolled my eyes and helped her to her feet. “You’re that too. Let’s grab some food and get on the plane.”

“Yeah, because it’s a really long trip to—”

“—Seattle.” I froze. “Damn it, Nat! You ruined the surprise.”

“You did just doubt my brilliance. Had to prove you wrong.”

She tried pulling away from me, but I jerked her against my body and then pressed her against the wall, luckily nobody else was in the suite. “I always knew you were brilliant and beautiful. It’s why I wanted you.”

“I thought it was because I was the shiny new toy and your brother wanted me first,” she joked.

But it left me feeling cold. I never wanted her to think that. It made me sick to my stomach that she would even joke about it. “Never.” My voice was hoarse. “Never say that again, Nat. I love you because you are you. I suck at romance, you know this, but these next two days I’m going to try really hard to make you remember why…”

She snaked her arm around my neck and pressed her lips to my cheek. “Why what?”

“Why you and me are forever.”

****

Nat and I boarded the plane and sat in first class, if one could call two rows with one curtain first class. At any rate, it gave us some privacy away from people.

I’d already had my fair share of fans, what with the two teenagers who literally tripped on their own bags, only to land in my lap and then ask if they could touch my bicep.

Sigh.

Nat thought it was hilarious. She leaned across the seat and began talking about my music and when the girls asked if I was a good kisser, she blushed. Yes, blushed and said. “What do you think?”

I wanted to crawl into a tiny hole. Granted, I’ve never been shy, but the fact that both girls were pushing fourteen and probably hadn’t even kissed a guy made me feel like some sort of predator as their eyes fell to my lips. Then in a fit of giggles they handed me a marker.

I smiled and gave them my autograph.

“They were cute.” Nat laughed and then her brow furrowed.

“What? What’s wrong?” I put my arm around her and pulled her close to my chest. I swore my heart was beating so fast.

She looked up at me with her big brown eyes and cupped my face with her hand. “It’s just that… the great Alec Daniels has never given me his autograph…”

“You’ve never asked!” I burst out laughing. “What the hell, Nat? How about I just tattoo my name on your ass?”

“Ha ha, very funny.” She punched my arm. “You remember?”

“How could I forget? Hot as hell local girl telling me she was going to tattoo my name on her person and then ignored me as if I was some sort of… pathetic loser. Talk about humbling.”

“Admit it.” Nat nudged me. “I’m good for your ego.”

She was more than that. “Nat, you’re just all around good. You know that?”

“I know.”

“No, I’m serious.” I turned so I could face her. “You don’t even understand how much I love you. I don’t deserve someone like you.”

“Say it louder,” she whispered as she kissed my mouth and nuzzled my neck. What did she say about public nudity? On planes? Would we get arrested? I braced her with my hands and pulled her onto my lap. Screw it. If someone wanted to take pictures of me mauling my girlfriend, to hell with them. I wanted to show her. I wanted to kiss her without ruining the moment by using her to erase that giant load of guilt I carried around with me.

“We’re going to get kicked off the plane.”

“No we won’t.” I sucked on her bottom lip.

She sighed into my mouth. “Alec?”

“Hmm?” My lips moved to her ear.

“Can I have your autograph?”