Aphrodite

PROLOGUE

When I woke it was dark outside, and I was snuggled in Sculpt's arms,sitting between his legs, his lean, hard body draped around me. His fingersslowly stroked my outer thigh while his other hand rested on my abdomen,one finger circling my belly button. I turned to look up at him over myshoulder. He was staring out across the moonlit field, observing the horsesin the distance."Eme." He leaned into me further and kissed the side of my neck."Sorry, I didn't mean to fall asleep. It must have been your sexy, raspyvoice." I cuddled closer, and his arm tightened. "Did you finish the song?"His guitar lay in its case next to us."Yeah, Mouse. It's good."I sat up, excited for him. He'd told me last week that he hadn't writtenanything for the band in a year. I had yet to see them play, and I was excitedto hear them, but nervous too. I mean, Sculpt was six foot three and allmuscle. He has what I call sexy bedroom hair, always a little messy with theodd lazy curl that falls over his face. And he had ink running down his leftarm to his elbow, which made the hot a scary, badass hot. Then put in thatfact that he was in a band and did some illegal underground fighting ... Wellgirls were no doubt all over him, and I wasn't ready to face the reality ofwhat dating Sculpt entailed.We'd been hanging out ever since I asked him to help me learn how tofight a couple months ago. I was assaulted a week before I sought outSculpt, coming home from my friend Georgie's coffee shop where I work.

I'd been so shocked and terrified that when my assaulter pushed me to theground I just froze.When I pulled my head out of deep freeze, I managed to bite his handand scream my head off, which scared the guy away. After that I was on amission to learn how to fight back. Sculpt, being an underground fighterwas the perfect choice. I'd also heard he needed money to go on tour withhis band, and I was willing to pay.He never let me.I reached up and ran my finger over the slight indent in his chin. 

"Can Ihear it?"He shook his head, and despite his lack of smile, because he rarely didsmile, I saw the flicker of amusement in his eyes. "No, Eme. You'll hear itwith the band on stage and me singing to you." The amusement left hiseyes, and I felt him stiffen. "Did you think about what I asked?"I knew exactly what he was referring to. I had a perpetual war in myhead for the last three days—I wasn't ready to have my heart blasted withporcupine quills when Sculpt left me to go on tour, but I also wasn't readyto go on the road with a group of guys I hadn't even met yet and haveSculpt responsible for me. I planned on starting college in a month. I had alife here with my best friend Kat and her brother Matt who were also myroommates and my only family.Ever since grade school when Kat and I had started hanging out, Matthad been there for the both of us. He was eighteen and Kat ten when theirparents died in a drinking and driving accident. He'd instantly becomeKat's guardian. Since I no longer had a dad, Matt sort of became the malefigure in my life. I looked up to him.I'd snuck in Kat's bedroom window numerous times after running awayfrom my mom's when she brought a new boyfriend home. Matt neverkicked me out, never told me to go home, nor did he call my mom. Instead,he bought me a cell phone, programmed his number in it, and told me if Iever needed to get out of my house that I was to call him, and he'd comeget me.The three of us were close and even though I didn't want Sculpt toleave, I couldn't see myself leaving either. 

"Eme." His arms tightened around me. "Tell me." He shifted, easilypicking me up under the arms and bringing me around so I sat facing him,my legs bent on either side of him. It was intimate, and Christ, it was hard to resist him and not just say screw it and tell him how I feel and go withhim. "Eme, tell me.""Tell you what?"He watched me carefully, eyes unwavering. "You know what I'masking, but this once I'll indulge you. Tell me you don't want more."Shit. He knew I was crazy about him. I'd been trying to keep myfeelings ... well hidden, somewhat. It obviously wasn't working. I licked mylips and tried to look away, but he was ready for that and held my headbetween his hands. 

"Eme."I was so not good at this. The last person I expressed my feelings to wasmy dad while he lay in the hospital dying of lung cancer."Mouse." He leaned in, and my hands went to his upper thighs feelingthe flex of his muscles beneath my palms. "Look at me." I did. "I want youwith me. I'll look after you." His voice lowered. "I'm not happy leavingyou here, baby."And that was the problem; I didn't want to be "looked after." I'd lookedafter myself all my life. My mom ... I sometimes wondered if she evenremembered she had a daughter."Emily. I don't play games. I told you what I want, and I know you wantme."I didn't know whether to be pissed or laugh at his arrogance. What I didknow was that I was turned on—big time. How could he do that? I mean, hewas just looking at me, and yet ... his eyes abducted me. "Sculpt ... I ..."Sculpt tightened his legs around me.