I STEPPED INSIDE THE CLUB, clinging to Paul's arm as he led me in. I looked around with wide eyes, feeling my mouth drop. I glanced at the singer, who was carefully observing the expressions on my face, a small smile spreading on his handsome face.

From Paul, I had expected everything. At the sight of the neon lights, I was suspecting he had actually brought me to a strip club. But this... I turned around to look at Paul.

"Arcade club?"

"It's an arcade bar, " he corrected, taking my hand and leading me further inside, "and a sort of a burger place. We can eat and then play, that's what I had planned anyway. " His hand reached up and scratched the back of his neck, glancing at the ground. "Unless you wanna go somewhere else, I mean..."

"It's perfect, " I interrupted quietly, still looking around. Paul peeped at me, but I was too busy to take in everything, the soft sounds of the game machines, the tempting smell of food that came from somewhere on the side. The dim lights at the bar. It wasn't somewhere out of my comfort zone, and yet it seemed like a fun night was coming. I was speechless.

Paul led me to the tables that were placed in one of the corners of the bar and sat facing me. By the proud look in his face, he was definitely enjoying his small victory. I was definitely going to tease him about it if I wasn't sure it would ruin the moment.

We had a quick bite, the cheeseburgers we ordered too damn delicious for me not to devour the whole meal. Paul was sending me quick glances from the other end of the table, sending me quiet smiles that made me look away and blush.

We were finished sooner than later and Paul shoved his hand in the pocket of his leather jacket, pulling out a handful of tokens under my surprised gaze. "I cashed in while you were in the ladies room, " he explained with a grin, reaching out across the table and dropping them into my hand with a soft cling. "You're the boss tonight." He winked, standing up and walking to me.

"Oh, I like the sound of that."

Paul laughed. "Just get up and choose a game, Lil."

I glanced down at the metal coins in my hand, than to Paul, than around the room. The singer shot me a grin and gave my hip a soft encouraging pat. I grinned back so wide that I felt the stretch of my cheeks as a rush of excitement shot through me. I gave Paul a few nods and he leaned down to press a kiss against my temple.

"What do you want us to play?" He whispered in my ear, his hot breath making me shiver.

"Everything."

✵✵✵

Paul swore out so loud that I could hear him in the almost crowded room. I turned my look to the arcade next to me and sent the singer a face-splitting grin. "Aww, lost again Paulie?"

He growled, glaring down at the machine. "It's broken."

"No, it's not. Damn, I didn't know you were such a sore loser." I teased, looking up at him from under my lashes. Paul shot me an unamused frown.

"I'm not a sore loser. I didn't lose." he demanded, eyeing the arcade up and down. "Fucking Space Invaders."

"C'mon, there so much to do here, " I said, grabbing his arm and dragging him down the room. Paul complied of course and kept up with my pace until I stopped dead in my tracks and he crashed against my back. I stood there wide eyed, staring at the pinball machine in the centre of the room. I heard Paul mumble a quiet 'God' behind my back and I couldn't help but look up at him and smirk.

"Oh, my God you're unreal."

"I swear I didn't know." He defended himself, raising his hands and glancing back at the machine.

"Liar, " I laughed running down to the arcade.

I never, ever in my life expected to see a KISS pinball machine. The front was a big animated picture of the four members playing, pretty much resembling the cover of Alive!. The trace for the ball itself was insanely colorful, the dark background covered in explosions and flames and small details in green and blue. The details were everywhere,  small hidden lightning bolts for Ace, the cat faces, the bat wings, the stars. Drawings of guitars and arrows together with the figure of Gene's face in the top left angle, his long tongue serving as a bridge for the ball, made it almost too much to handle. And especially tonight, I found it hilarious.

"Oh my God, " I repeated quietly and pulled out the coins from my pocket.

"Please don't, " I heard Paul beg behind my back and I laughed out loud, tucking the token in the gap and hearing it land inside with a cling.

"Are you kidding me, " I demanded, sparing him a glance before the game started, "I'm playing you all night long."

The singer groaned, but I didn't pay him a second look as the ball jumped on top, attracting my full attention. I bit my lip as I tried to keep up with the game, my eyes tracing every movement. I felt something move to my right, and then the warmth of Paul's body was pressed against my back, his chin resting on my shoulder. His hand snaked around my front and moved a strand of hair away so he could get a better look, then traced down my side and rested on my hip. That, of course, distracted me and I swore quietly when I lost. The thought of kicking the machine in anger, just to see how Paul would react, crossed my head, but disappeared in a mist once the singer's hand moved from its position on my hip and wrapped around me, bringing me flush against his broad chest. In a second I was trapped in his arms, a few black curls falling on my face as he leaned down to pout at me.

"Aww, c'mon, Lil, don't be a sore loser, " he sang softly in my ear and even though I couldn't see his face, I could sense the smile in his voice.

"I didn't lose. " I repeated his words from earlier, placing my hand over his arm and leaning back against his chest. His hug was soft and warm and safe and I could easily get used to that. "And it wasn't fair anyway. You got me all distracted."

"I can't help it, baby, " he purred and leaned down to press a kiss underneath my ear, making my breath hitch in my throat. My response must have pleased him enough to reward me with a series of kisses down the side of my neck, until he got to the collarbone and nipped gently on the soft skin where my neck met my shoulder. My hand that was placed over his own gripped him tight and he laughed into my ear. "I'm starting to think you can't really help yourself either."

"See, that's not fair, " I mumbled again, trying to hide my reddening cheeks behind my hair. Paul chuckled smugly and I could feel the soft vibration of his chest against my back.

"Don't worry, " he made his voice lower, quieter and was now speaking directly against my ear. His hands moved and grabbed both sides of my hips, pressing me back against him in one swift motion. "I still owe you one, right? After I left you on your couch like that? Now I'm kinda sorry I didn't take you right there..."

I couldn't take it anymore, if I just kept listening to him talk like that, touch me like that, I was just going to collapse on the floor. I pushed his hands off my hips gently and took a step away, even with every molecule in my body screaming me not to leave his embrace. I turned around to look at Paul, only to meet a pair of slightly confused brown eyes.

"Hey, " Paul reached out to move a strand of hair away from my face, a touch of genuine worry to be found in his voice, "is everything okay? I didn't mean to —"

"I'm fine, " I answered, my voice a little breathy, worried that he got my reaction wrong. My cheeks heated up again and I turned away to glance back at the pinball machine. Paul noticed it anyway, but didn't say anything, just smirked and traced the tips of his fingers down my arm.

"Bill's new idea is solo albums, " he spoke when he saw what I was looking at and I raised my shoulders.

"Yeah, I know."

Paul huffed. "Is there anything you don't know?! Damn, you know more about my own band than I!"

I chuckled, looking back at him. "No, I don't. I didn't know about the pinball." I glanced back at the machine. "It was always my dream to date a dude who's face is on a arcade."

Paul giggled, pinching my arm lightly. "Fair point. Hope you meant me."

I huffed, reaching out my hand and tracing it down his arm, until I reached his fingers. I let their tips brush against his, feeling the soft skin on the back of his hand, than leaning down to trace a tiny callouse on his palm. I could feel Paul's eyes observing every movement of mine. "Of course I meant you, " it somehow felt too cruel to joke or even be sarcastic about that. "Have you even started working on that solo album of yours?"

"I have a few stuff, nothing much." I glanced up and met Paul's eyes. "I could play you something at home, you know. When I actually have something ready." He shrugged his shoulders, then glanced away for a moment, like he had something on the tip of his tongue, but didn't say it. "Wanna play some more?"

I gave him a soft smile. "That's what I'm here for."

✵✵✵

We stayed in the club for hours, until the manager didn't politely kick us out. Paul drove me home, like he had promised, parking at my doorstep.

"Hey, " he said after a while, long fingers tracing the back of my arm again. "I'm meeting Gene tomorrow, but if you wanna do something the next day, I'm totally up for it."

My mouth dropped. "You're meeting Gene?" I asked. Paul nodded shortly. "In the evening?" He nodded again, a mess of curls falling in his face at the movement. "In the Italian place in Manhattan?" This time Paul nodded with a suspicious look on his face, eyebrows knitting.

"How did you --"

"Yeah, I'm coming too. We're meeting his girlfriend."

"I knew it!" Paul exclaimed quietly, glancing out in the night. I could see his reflection in the car window, his lips curved slightly upwards.

"Okay, " he said after a minute. "It's gonna be a hell of an experience."

"It's literally going to be a double date without them knowing, " I thought out loud and Paul's eyes shot to me, giving me an amused chuckle.

"Is that what you are really thinking about?"

"Well, yeah."

Paul laughed again. "Alright then, I'll see you tomorrow, I guess."

"Sure, " I confirmed and he leaned towards for one last deep kiss. In that moment a part of me was wondering whether I should ask him to come upstairs with me. Weirdly enough, his presence brought in that feeling of comfort that made me feel as if I had finally found something, someone. But not the kind of comfort I connected with sex, not yet anyway. So I closed my eyes and let myself get lost into that kiss.

Paul pulled back, dark eyes shining, and gave me a soft smile. "Now get upstairs before you pass your bedtime."

"Are you making fun of me?"

Paul giggled. "I wouldn't dare. See you tomorrow, Lil." He waited for me to get out if the car and waved, beeping teasingly a few times before he disappeared into the night.

✵✵✵

Okay, this rant is going to be longer than the chapter and is going to explain why I'm not promising anything ever again. Feel free to skip.

I know I told you guys that I'm writing a sex scene here and that you're probably feeling disappointment and minor hate, but here's what I decided.

Okay, we all know that Paul is a very complicated person. Low self-esteem, childhood dramas, an enormously oversized ego and so on. He's feeling like a fish out of water in an honest relationship, scared of opening up to another person. He's scared of being hurt, being rejected, being made fun of. So sex is the safe place for him, he has the control there because he knows what he's doing.

Lillian is the opposite. Lillian feels vulnerable when naked, doesn't have the glamorous confidence of a rock star who has had hundreds of one night stands. She is one of us. So ditching that important characteristic of hers and turning her into a porn star for that one sex scene seemed a horrible thing to do to my child. So I didn't. I'm sorry.

Hope you guys don't give up on me. Love ya.💕