“How do you do it?” she asked, sinking down on the side of the bed. She brought one foot to the opposite knee and began to rub out the kinks that had formed in her toes from being cramped in the heels. 

“Do what?” Garrett asked, kneeling in front of her. He took her foot in his large hands and continued the massage. 

Suzanne placed her hands behind her on the bed and leaned back. His gentle pressured strokes on her aching feet felt like heaven. “Handle the crowds, the traveling,” she said.

“I'm sure the crowd I dealt with tonight was nothing compared to those you deal with.”

“No,” he chuckled. “Multiply tonight’s crowd by about five hundred and you might come close.”

“And how often do you deal with that many people?”

“When we're touring, we usually do three or four shows a week.”

“And every one of them in a different city, different state even.”

“Usually,” he nodded. His massaging hands had moved up her leg, kneading her calf muscle.

“I don't think I could live that way,” she admitted. Her head falling back, she looked at the ceiling as she spoke. “I hate to travel and I'm completely uncomfortable in large crowds.”

Garrett was silent for a long time before he spoke again. “You did well tonight,” he said finally. “No one guessed you were the slightest bit uncomfortable.”

“It was all an act. The whole time I couldn't think of anything but getting out of there.” To be with you, she added silently.

“I feel that way sometimes,” he confessed, his massage on her muscles turning to a gentle caress of her leg. “More often before or after a show when me and the guys are signing autographs and talking with fans. But it’s something that comes with the territory of being a professional musician just like tonight was for you as an artist. If you hate to travel so much why are you here in Philadelphia?”

Suzanne sat up straight and looked at him, thinking the answer to that should be obvious. “Because the gallery wanted to display my paintings.”

“And why do you paint?” he asked. Sliding his hand down her leg, he lifted it to rest on his wide shoulder.

Her eyes widened at the intimacy of the position. Her heart tripped and she fought to keep her composure. “I love to paint. It’s a way of expressing myself, I guess. Everything I paint is a part of me. I can't imagine my life without art.”

“It’s the same with me,” he said and brushed the side of her leg with his lips. Tingles shot through her all the way to the roots of her hair. “I love playing guitar. There’s no bigger rush for me than playing for a crowd of fans. Playing guitar is what I want out of life just as painting is what you want. Traveling and crowds are simply part of the job.”

He continued to kiss her leg sporadically as he spoke, leaving a trail of blazing fire everywhere his lips touched. He too had let down his hair and Suzanne reached out to run her fingers through the long silky-smooth strands. Her leg dropped from his shoulder as his arm encircled her waist and he sat up straighter between her legs.

“I guess you're right,” she said breathlessly as he pulled her to him. Their gazes locked and she could see his intentions in his eyes before his lips touched hers.

Her lips parted on a trembling breath and his tongue slid into her mouth. Slowly, seductively it moved over hers. She fisted his hair in her hand, pulling his head closer still, deepening the kiss. He had the most amazing tongue, long and thick and if he tried she bet he could lick every part of her through the opening of her mouth.

He nibbled her bottom lip then soothed it with a slow lick. His tongue slid over her chin, down her neck and she let her head fall back, a soft moan escaping her lips. She felt a touch of coolness mixed with the warmth of his kisses and knew it was from the silver studded earring he wore under his lower lip. The feeling was more erotic than anything she had ever known. As his mouth returned to hers his hand moved to her breast, his fingers skimming like a whisper over her taut nipple.

“Oh God,” she gasped into his mouth. The electric current that ripped through her short-circuited all sense of reason. Her insides shook with desire. Her juices soaked her underwear. She wanted to feel his mouth on other parts of her body, feel his tongue as it left a blazing fire of wetness all over her bare flesh. She wanted to touch him, see him, experience his well-sculpted body in a way she had never experienced another man.

He caught her lower lip between his teeth and stole another nibble then pulled away. He gazed at her and she could see her own sexual need mirrored in the depth of his green eyes.

“Don't stop. Please,” she whispered, sliding her hand lovingly across his clean-shaven jaw line. She brushed her thumb lightly over the silver stud above his chin. She knew what she was asking, knew what she was offering by that simple request. This man wouldn't be satisfied by mere kisses and caresses. He would want it all. And for the first time in her life she was ready to give it.

 

More Reviews

 

***** 5 Angels From Trang at Fallen Angel Reviews:

Heavy Metal Seduction 2: Picking Art is a wonderful continuation of this series about the members of a heavy metal band. This poignant story of two people who are cautious yet hopeful in their search for love will lift your spirits while at the same time get your motor running! I enjoyed these characters who, at first glance, seem very different from each other. But as the story progresses, you find that underneath it all, they're both vulnerable people who are trying to protect themselves. Ms. Ramagos portrays their personalities very well. Suzanne is the proper, shy young artist who is saving herself for the right man. I think she was just as surprised as Garrett when she chose him as that man! But he handles himself with gentleness and care that comes to signify the man that is Garrett. I think I fell in love with him a little bit myself…the big, strong heavy metal guitarist who’s gentle enough to worry about the woman who offers herself to him. But their relationship isn't all sweetness and light. They're both young and healthy and the sex is frequent and hot, hot, hot! Enjoy these two and their journey to find out if they're cut out for a long-term relationship. I know I did!

**** 4 1/2 Cupids from Cupid's Library Reviews:

Picking Art is a wonderful second book in Ms Ramagos' Heavy Metal Seduction series. Ms Ramagos has continued the story about the members of the heavy metal group Facade by creating a storyline that makes you wonder if there could be musicians out there with an ounce of heart like Garrett Henry. His truly unintentional courtship of Suzanne is the stuff of fantasy. He is tender and patient with Suzanne and acknowledges how important her first time is with aplomb that made my heart pitter-patter on more than one occasion. The tenderness and fire that Suzanne and Garrett show completely dampens how totally different they are. Ms Ramagos makes you want to believe that in reality a relationship between two so divergent people could really happen and be so wonderful. What I enjoyed most about Picking Art was how Garrett was aware of the differences between him and Suzanne yet he could not resist her and took his time in introducing her to the intimacies between two people. The fact that he showed her oodles and oodles of respect and love made him a wonderful hero. The ending has a couple of surprises that keeps the story memorable and establishes how 'right' the two are. Ms Ramagos has done a fabulous job of intertwining the first book's storyline with this story and also give little hints as to what to expect in the upcoming book. Her writing and storytelling is top notch and this book, as with the first book, is quite entertaining. Picking Art is the perfect mix of steamy erotica with an interesting storyline about two people you cannot help but love. I found myself breathless one moment and sighing the next while reading this novel. Very nicely done and I am anxious to see the next installment!