Without pause, he started working on the lower half of my body running the ribbon down one leg and up the other kissing, licking, and getting so very close but never quite touching where I wanted him the most. I began to shudder with need.
“Enough.” I grabbed his hand and stopped him. He turned his head, his smoldering eyes connecting with mine. I wasn’t going to last much longer and I wanted to have my chance to touch him, too. I peered at him between my lashes. “My turn to play.” My voice was rough.
He pressed one more light kiss right on my hip bone, and then switched places with me, straightening the pillows, and folding his hands behind his head. Eyes gleaming, he grinned at me as if he was the one in charge.
“Comfortable?” I asked.
He nodded.
“Not for long,” I promised and took a surreptitious peek at the impressive length of him.
Copying his technique wherever the ribbon landed I sucked, licked, and tasted, every single glorious male inch of him without shyness because this was Bry and I loved him. He was so incredibly sexy, the salty flavor of his skin giving me a bigger buzz than alcohol ever could. I discovered that I loved teasing and working him into a frenzy just as much as he had seemed to enjoy doing with me.
Making love with Bryan was so much more than I had ever imagined it would be. He was passionate and playful, and yet so very tender. His body and its contrasts fascinated me. He was hard where I was soft. His chest was wide and smooth, his pecs defined, and his abdomen was a row of concrete ridges.
When I paused to lick the hard flat coins of his nipples, he moaned my name and grabbed the back of my head. Leaning back, it was me this time who breathlessly ordered him to open his eyes.
Grey green eyes glittering with heat, he gazed back at me through thick eyelashes. I gave him a naughty grin before strategically opening my hand and letting the ribbon drop, the length coiling right around the steely tip of him.
“Enough, imp,” he growled, grabbed me, and flipped me over onto my back. “Playtime’s over.” He kneeled between my legs and brought our bodies together in one smooth masterful motion that felt so good I hummed low in my throat.
Once we were connected and he began to move, the buildup was so quick that it was only moments before we spiraled out of control and climaxed together.
***
“Wakeup, Lacey,” Like being doused with ice water, War’s voice washed the memory away.
I opened my eyes, feeling disoriented.
“You were moaning in your sleep, babe.” War’s brown eyes were dancing as he smiled. “Remembering the two times earlier, huh?”
My cheeks flushed.
“Bryan, dude,” Dizzy complained. “Pay attention, man. You’re getting us killed.”
“You’re embarrassing me.” I pushed against War’s solid chest, the pressure of my fingers creasing the soft material of his powder blue tee. The close quarters and lack of privacy were clearly getting to me. “Let me out.”
“Come on, babe.” He tried to kiss my cheek, but I ducked away.
“War,” I warned.
“Oh, alright. I’m sorry, babe. It’s just I’m so glad you’re back in my life, and I had a good time with you today. What’s wrong with that?”
“Nothing,” I mumbled. I shouldn’t be this upset, wouldn’t be this upset if I hadn’t been dreaming in vivid detail about what it had been like with Bryan. It made what I had with War seem almost tawdry by comparison. “I’m sorry, too. I guess I’m just stressed out about Atlanta. Let me out so I can work on my wardrobe.”
Once alone in the back of the bus, I was able to catch my breath and regain my equilibrium. I placed the outfit I planned to wear for Atlanta on the bed. Low hip hugger jeans with a little flare at the knee, a cool silver peace symbol belt, and then the lacy long sleeved midriff baring top that was really a lingerie piece. That was the part I needed to fix. In its present condition, it was completely see though.
I took out a needle and thread and started to work. After a while, I heard a lot of banging around outside the door followed by the sound of the guys playing their instruments. I picked up my stuff and wandered back to the front to join them.
Bryan’s light colored eyes searched mine for a brief moment before he looked away. I’d immediately recognized the melody he was strumming. It was the one I’d been working on after the first time we’d made love. Lucky for me he didn’t have the lyrics that went with it. If he sang those right now it would probably kill me.
Why was he doing this to me?
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
* * *
Bryan - 2 years ago
I smoothed a finger over her brow. She looked so peaceful while she slept.
What had I done?
I’d convinced myself last night that I loved her so intensely that it must be right. But as daylight seeped in through the blinds in her bedroom, I knew that I couldn’t hide from the glaring consequences of my actions.
A couple of soft knocks might as well have been the shots of a firing squad to my guilty conscious.
My gaze snapped to the door.
“Bryan if you’re in there,” Dizzy’s voice whispered from outside, “you need to wake up, man.”
Shit.
Carefully, I moved to the edge of the bed and pulled on the tuxedo pants I’d worn the night before. I glanced back at Lace. She held the black ribbon in one of her hands and was lying on her side, her beautiful blond hair spilled across the pillow. The sheet had fallen away from her chest.
The beautiful Cinderella without her ball gown.
Dizzy knocked again.
Time for the prince to leave.
I slid the ribbon from her grasp, tucked it in my pocket, gently pulled the sheet back up, and moved for the door, grabbing my shirt, jacket, and tie on the way.
Dizzy’s amber eyes widened when he saw me. “I hoped I was wrong.”
I shrugged. I wasn’t going to get into this with him right now.
“War’s on his way over.” Dizzy ran a hand across his face. I felt my stomach drop. “If he sees you here with her, it’s gonna be over for all of us. Ruin everything for everyone. Right when we’ve got two labels fighting over us. Never figured you were such a self-centered prick.”
Panicking, I blurted the first thing that came to mind. “War doesn’t need to know.” My stomach churned. “It was just prom. Getting laid is a rite of passage. It didn’t mean anything.”
***
“What is that mellow shit you’re playing?” Dizzy’s question brought my wandering thoughts back to the present. Of course he didn’t recognize it. Only Lace and I knew that melody. I’d meant it as a message. To remind her of what we had once shared. To remind her of that night that she had been mine alone.
“Yeah, man,” Sager parroted pushing his jet black hair out of his eyes before he put his pick between his lips and plugged in his bass. “What we need is some good road music.”
“‘Endless Highway.’” King banged his sticks against a practice snare pad.
“No, way.” Sager made a face. “RHCP ‘Road Trippin’.”
I snuck a peek back at Lace while King and Sager continued to argue about the merits of their choices. Her head was down, blond hair spilling over the top edge of an embroidered ivory blouse while her fingers deftly weaved a needle in and out of a scrappy piece of white fabric she held.
“I’ve got it. The perfect song. ‘Born to Be Wild.’ That’s us right there.” King started laying down the intro beat and Dizzy joined in on rhythm guitar.
“Steppenwolf. Hell, yeah. Good one, King.” Sager picked up his cell. “Hold up. We need to get this on our YouTube channel.”
“You guys have a YouTube channel?” I slanted a brow.
Sager nodded. “TMT. Tempting Men of Tempest.” He and King moved back to back, arms crossed over their chests. “We’re dynamite and sin all wrapped up together.”
I laughed.
“Don’t be a hater, man. We’ve got over thirty-
thousand subscribers.”
“Lined up lots of good tail because of it,” King said proudly, lips curving up. “Primo poon. Remember, Dana?” He wiggled his brows.
“Oh, yeah.” Sager nodded. “Redheads are sweet. Remember her, Bullet?”
I frowned and glanced over at Lace
Her lips were flat as our eyes met.
“Hey, Bryan.”
I looked back at Sager.
“We need a cameraman.”
I nodded and took Sager’s cell and began filming as soon as the guys started up again. War wandered over during the second play through and provided the vocals. Lace put down her sewing and started twirling around in the aisle on her bare feet, like a young Stevie Nicks in that gypsy top as she sang along with him.
I felt my lips pull up into a nostalgic smile as I watched them. This was how it had all been when we’d first started out, jamming in that old musty garage, covering our favorite tunes. It had been fun and easy when it had just been about the music.
Suddenly, the bus lurched to a stop. I glanced out the window. “Looks like we’re stopping for fuel.”
“Thanks, man.” Sager grabbed his phone from my hand. “Let’s go get some snacks, King.”
“Wait up,” Dizzy called. “I’m coming, too. I need some new reading material. How ’bout it, Bryan?” he asked over his shoulder.
“Sure.” I glanced at Lace. “I’m betting they have popcorn.”
“Then I’m in.” She turned back. “You want anything, War?”
He shook his head, pointing to the cell he held to his ear. “I need to finish this call.”
While the others filed into the truck stop, I lingered, checking on the driver and trying not to look suspicious. But I was determined to find a moment alone with Lace.
I found her at the back, near the coolers. Placing my hands on her arms, I leaned over her shoulder and wasn’t surprised when I felt her muscles tense beneath the gauzy sleeves. “We need to talk,” I insisted turning her to face me.
“No, Bry.” She shook her head. “What’s left to discuss?”
“Lots.” I pulled my fingers through my hair. “The messed up shit you’re doing with War for one.” Over on the adjacent aisle, I heard King’s raised voice as he popped off to someone. Usually loud and boisterous with a notoriously quick fuse, the only time our drummer was shy and quiet was around the ladies. At the moment, though, I only had interest in one person.
Eyes back to Lace, I shifted closer, trapping her between my arms so she couldn’t move. “I can’t get you out of my head and that was before the kiss we shared on the bus. If you’re being honest, I don’t think you can either. Emptying the minibar was the only thing that kept me from coming and taking you away from him last night.”
I saw the truth reflected in her eyes. “I’ve never forgotten prom and how it was between us,” I said emphatically and probably a little too loudly. I yanked her closer, watching her tongue dart out to moisten her lips. I wanted to pull it into my own mouth, and that was just for starters. “Don’t tell me there’s nothing left to say.” I slid my hands up to cradle her face, and lowered my voice. “Meet me tomorrow morning in the hotel workout room in Atlanta. Eight o’clock.”
“I can’t.” She shook her head.
“Bullshit,” I said tersely. “Find a way, Lace. If you don’t show, I’ll come find you.”
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
* * *
Lace
The guys were stuffing their faces with fast food.
“C’mon, Lacey,” War admonished when I complained about the smell. He waved a French fry under my nose. “You used to love McDonalds.”
“No, I didn’t.” I shook my head and raised my brows. “You must be getting me confused with the other love of your life,” I teased. “Yourself.”
“Dick’s Drive-In was her favorite,” Bryan muttered under his breath, his eyes meeting mine.
War frowned.
Back in high school whenever War and I fought, Bryan would take me to Dick’s to let me vent.
***
3 years ago
Sitting on top of the picnic table, tracing the graffiti someone had carved into the wood, I watched Bryan covertly. He had gotten even more handsome over the past year, his former boyish frame filling out in all the right places, especially with the weight lifting he and War had starting doing together. He’d shot up in height, too. He was well over six feet now.
My cheeks started to burn when his gorgeous greyish green eyes met mine. I’d been a sucker for them since I was five. He raised a dark brow.
“What?” I challenged.
“You were totally checking me out, Lace Lowell.” He bumped my shoulder. “Don’t even try to deny it.”
“As if.” I rolled my eyes and took a loud sip of the last dregs of my strawberry shake, desperate for something to ease the dryness in my throat.
He mumbled under his breath.
“What’d you say?”
“I said, you ok now? I mean about War and all.”
“I guess. He just pisses me off. He doesn’t understand why I need to study.” I shivered and rubbed my arms. It had been warm during the day, but now that the sun had gone down, I regretted the short sleeves and not bringing a jacket.
“Do what you need to do. Don’t let him get you sidetracked from your goals, Lace.” Bryan shrugged out of his black hoodie and held it out for me. “Here.”
“Thanks,” I mumbled, placing my arms in the sleeves. It was still warm from his body heat. He scooted closer, ducking down to fasten it for me. My nose was inches away from the top of his head. I inhaled the spicy scent of him while he zipped it up. When his head lifted, his face was so close that his warm breath fanned against my mouth. Eyes on his parted lips, I shivered again.
“Geez, Lace. You should have let on sooner that you were this cold.” He used his sexy deep voice that made me want to smash my lips to his.
“I’m alright.” I scooted away, needing some space to get my hammering heart back under control, but then I made the mistake of glancing in his direction. The t-shirt he’d worn under the jacket was snug, way too small. He’d obviously outgrown it. The material stretched tight over his pecs and the sleeves dug into his muscular arms.
The white color was a perfect showcase for his new tat sleeves. I’d told him I thought tats were a waste of money. Looking at his through my lashes, I decided I’d changed my mind. The intricate black Japanese characters spelled out his mom’s and his sisters’ names. They were sexy as hell, and worth every single penny. I imagined tracing the marks with my fingers or maybe even my tongue.
***
Stop it, Lace. Just like back then, I found myself letting out a shaky breath. Bryan was standing right in front of me and his black tee had ridden up providing a glimpse of his bared midsection as he rummaged around in the top cabinet for a couple of shot glasses. The view of his flat abs and contoured hip bones had me mesmerized.
“Lacey, the guys wanna know if you’re in for a game of truth or dare,” War asked me, his brow dipping. “You ok? You seem really distracted today.”
“I’m fine.” I shrugged. “Does this game work like the one we played when we were kids?”
“Basically, yeah. We still find out embarrassing shit about each other. But now we get really drunk, too,” King explained.
“Fun times,” I quipped.
“Rules are twenty dollars and a shot of tequila to whoever passes the truth or dare challenge,” Dizzy announced. “Oh, and the last person left standing usually gets a bonus prize.”
“A kiss from Lace,” King shouted out.
I smiled at his enthusiasm. “Like that’s anything special.”
“How ’bout a night to sleep in the back bedroom?” Sager asked, rolling up the sleeves of his Black Flag concert tee. “No offense, Lace, but you and War have been hogging it.”
“Not happening,” War muttered. “I’m sleeping with Lace, and I’m not sleeping with her in a bunk.”
“Uh-oh, looks like someone drank all of the tequila recently.” A look I didn’t understand passed between Dizzy and Bryan. Bottles clinked as Sager continued to search for something suitable in the cabinet. “How about vodka?”
I wrinkled my nose. “Ok. I guess.”
Dizzy removed his jacket and took a seat on the couch beside War and me. Sager, King, and Bryan sat on the couch opposite.
“Who’s going first?” Bryan asked.
“We’ll just do it in reverse alphabetical order,” War suggested.
“That’ll put me last,” Bryan cautioned.
“Great. That means the game’s already his.” Dizzy filled the glasses. “No one can hold their liquor the way Bryan can.”
“War you’re up,” King called, tapping a full shot glass. “Truth or dare?”
“Dare.”
King’s dark brow rose. “I dare you to share what you said about Avery Jones when she was here on the tour bus.”
“You’re such an asshole, King,” War growled. “I’m out.” He shot to his feet. I intercepted a heated nonverbal exchange that passed between War and Bryan. “I got better things to do than play this idiotic game with you pissants. I’m going to the back.” He leaned in and gave me a tight lipped kiss.
“I’ll come with you.” I started to rise.
“That’s alright, babe. Stay. Come when you’ve had enough. Knowing these mother fuckers, that won’t be long.”
I stuck my chin out. “I can hold my own.”
“You sure can.” Sager’s head bobbed in agreement. “I’ll never forget that time you stood up to those cops when they hassled King about his brother.” He glanced at his best friend. “You remember, King?”
“Oh yeah.” King nodded. “She told ’em to piss off, we don’t get to pick our family.”
Rock Star Romance Ultimate: Volume 1 Page 101
