I woke up with a groan.

Where the hell am I?

I froze as I realized I was pressed up against a warm body.

Not just any body.

A hard as rock, toasty warm, very male body if the stone length nudging against my ass was anything to go by…

I lifted the covers slowly and relaxed as soon as I recognized Parker’s tattoos.

And this is why I don’t drink.

I couldn’t remember much past arriving at the club for the after party. I could remember teasing Parker with rock puns… something about Destiny’s Child…

Oh hell.

I groaned again.

This was not good. There was a high chance I’d made a total fool of myself in front of a whole room of people, Parker included.

A deep chuckle took me by surprise.

I turned slowly so I could look at him, he slid over a fraction to give me room to turn, but he didn’t let go of me.

I groaned yet again as my eyes took in the sight before me.

That is not fair.

He looked like he’d had a stylist come over, muss him up to sexy perfection and then leave again.

I was willing to bet money on the fact that I looked like something the cat had dragged in.

I was that wasted last night, I knew there wasn’t a chance I would have cleaned my face and I was willing to bet my hair would be doing some crazy morning-after business too.

I didn’t have a clue what I was wearing and I was too scared to look down and check.

“If you look that good every morning, we’re seriously gonna have to rethink this thing,” I grumbled as I snuggled into the pillow, trying to hide as much of my face as possible.

He shook his head. “No can do, you threw up on me, there’s no backing out now.”

My eyes widened and I froze.

“I did what now?”

He smirked. “Puked.” He grinned. “Everywhere.”

I closed my eyes and took a couple of deep breaths.

Making a fool of myself, level one hundred.

“All down my front,” he carried on. “My fault really, I wasn’t quick enough.”

I could feel my cheeks staining bright red and I turned to bury my face in his pillow again.

“Then you and the toilet went a couple of rounds, and Bob’s your uncle,” he finished. I could hear the amusement in his voice.

“Fuck my life,” I muttered back. “I’ll clean it up, the bathroom and your clothes,” I promised. “I’m so sorry.”

“It’s all good, I took care of it already.”

I didn’t know what to say to that. It would appear that he’d taken care of everything, me included.

I turned so I could see him – haggard appearance be damned. He was looking at me with warm eyes and a wide smile. He didn’t look pissed off or disgusted in the slightest.

“You should have just stuck me in a cab and sent me home.”

His eyes narrowed and turned hard. “There is no way in hell that I’d ever leave you alone in that state,” he half growled at me. “Not a chance in fucking hell.”

My pulse raced. “Why not?” I asked timidly.

This conversation was veering into new territory for us. We both knew it, but it was time we talked about what this thing going on between us was.

I was falling for this man, hard. And not because he was a famous singer who’d wooed me on a world stage… although that certainly didn’t hurt, but because he was kind and sweet, and caring and protective.

And sexy as hell.

I noticed for the first time that he was shirtless. I’d missed this view of Parker. I hadn’t seen all of him since the time we’d shared at my place.

Well, not that I can remember anyway.

He was magnificent. He really was a work of art. The tattoos covering nearly every inch of his flesh made him more defined and masculine. He would have been glorious to look at without them, but with all that ink, he was on a whole other level.

I licked my lips absently as I trailed my eyes over the designs and pictures.

“Why not?” he demanded, repeating my question and pulling me back to our conversation.

I nodded my head slowly and forced my eyes back up to his face.

“Because you’re my girl,” he replied, exasperated. “And I’ll take care of you no matter what, Charlotte. Even if that means holding your hair back while you puke.”

My heart thumped in my chest.

“And I will never, and you better fuckin’ hear me when I say never, leave you when you’re vulnerable.”

His eyes had softened despite the warning tone in his voice.

“Hell, I have enough trouble being away from you when I know you’re tucked up safe in your bed.”

“I’m your girl?” I breathed, so shocked I could barely speak.

“You wrecked my favourite Rolling Stones shirt, so you damn well better be.”

Holy shit.

I could have sprung up off the bed and happy danced the day away at this news.

Wow.

“Quarter of the population is in love with my boyfriend… I’m not sure how I feel about that,” I teased.

“Pffft,” he scoffed. “More like half.”

His reply was light hearted, but I didn’t miss the heat that flashed through his eyes at the mention of being my boyfriend.

I wanted him more than I’d ever wanted a man in my entire life. And I wanted him right now.

“I want to kiss you,” he murmured, stroking a soft path down the side of my face with the tip of his finger.

Read my mind.

But there was no way I was doing this without a shower and some stolen toothpaste and he obviously knew that as well as I did.

I grimaced.

He gestured to the door off to the side of his bedroom. “Take all the time you need,” he replied with a smirk.