"Is something wrong?" she asked, pushing the covers down to look at him.
He glanced up at her sheepishly. He hadn't meant to stop pleasuring her. Sometimes he thought too much with his big head, when he'd be better off just going with the instincts of his little head. Maybe she'd be willing to try a relationship. He'd never know until he asked. Or maybe he should start with something a little less confining.
"I was just thinking."
"Ah," she said. "You were so turned on by my body that you started thinking."
Was she teasing? He couldn't tell. "I was thinking about us, actually."
"Us?"
"I like you, Mel. I thought maybe we could stay in contact. Keep seeing each other when we can. Maybe try to make a go of it."
"You mean, like a relationship?"
"If you don't want-"
She covered his lips with two fingers. "I like you too, Gabe. I just didn't think anything lasting would come from this. Continuing what we've started here is much more than I bargained for."
"Oh."
She smiled. "But I'm glad you're opening up that possibility."
He couldn't help but smile in return. "You are?"
"I like the name Kelly for a guy," she said.
Kelly had long, brown hair and a raw sensuality that seemed to reach across the table and grab her by the womb. She definitely remembered him playing on stage the night before. And poking fun at Adam and Shade. She wondered if his hair felt as silky as it looked. It was definitely better kept than her own unruly tangle of locks.
"See, I told you that chick was just a bitch," Owen said. "Not everyone thinks your name is a girl name."
"You're the only one who still insists on calling me Kelly," he said.
"You'll always be Kelly to me," Owen said with a sweet smile.
"How did you end up with Gabe anyway?" one of the other guys interrupted.
Melanie recognized him as the cute roadie who'd given Nikki her backstage pass the night before. Jack.
"I thought you and that other hot chick were both supposed to hook up with Shade last night. She said you two were in love but still liked to double-team a guy because even a double dildo is never as good as sharing one real dick."
Melanie chuckled nervously. All the band members were gazing at her with interest now. Even Gabe had lowered his menu. "Nikki made that up. We're not lovers, just friends."
"You sure? The way she kissed you . . . "
"I'm sure. She completely caught me off guard or I never would have allowed it. We've never double-teamed a guy. Or a dildo."
The roadie frowned. "But you two were so hot together. I walked around with a boner half the night just thinking about it."
Kelly reached over and slapped him in the arm. "Don't talk like that in front of a lady."
Melanie assessed Kelly a little more closely. She wasn't really attracted to men with long hair-or mohawks, until recently-but he was gorgeous too. Strong features. Dark mysterious eyes. A woman could get lost in those eyes for hours.
"So what do you want to eat, Mel?" Gabe asked. "I thought you were starving."
She settled her hand on his thigh and leaned closer to share his menu. When he planted a gentle kiss on her hair, she looked up at him hesitantly. He smiled. There was a longing in his gaze she didn't understand. It differed from the look of sexual longing that made her crave his body. This one made her want more than a single night with him. But that was stupid. She knew a relationship with him would never work out. Why would he even suggest it when he could have as many hot-and-heavy, no-strings-attached affairs as he wanted?
"What are you having?" she asked.
"Steak and eggs."
"That sounds good. Will you order for me too?"
"Of course. How do you like your steak?"
"Medium-well."
"Eggs?"
"Over medium."
"What do you want to drink?"
Gabe was still staring at Melanie as if this totally normal conversation meant the world to him. She cupped his strong jaw in one hand, delighting in the roughness of his beard stubble against her fingertips, and lured him closer for a tender kiss. When she drew away, she stared up into his green eyes and released a dreamy sigh. It took her a moment to remember he'd asked her a question.
"Cranberry juice, if they have it," she said.
"If they don't, I'll make sure they get it."
He ran a hand over her hair and twined one curl around his index finger. The dead silence around the table became noticeably uncomfortable. Melanie's face warmed when she realized everyone was watching them. Gabe's brow furrowed as he turned his gaze to the other men in the group. They were staring at him as if he were a pod person.