Detour Complete Series

by Kacey Shea

  I could come like this. I kind of want to. If we had all night I would, but already two songs have played on my mix, and as much as I want to orgasm, I want him inside me more.

  Using the headboard, I lift my body off his face. Austin opens his mouth to argue, but doesn’t when I grip his shaft. With my back to him, I move down his body as I stroke him, reveling in the softness of his skin and the hardness of his cock.

  “Oh, fuck, yeah.” He groans.

  Spreading my thighs over his hips, I line his thick cock at my entrance and glance over my shoulder to watch his face as I sink down and take him inside, inch by glorious inch. I’m so wet and he slides in deep. We both let loose moans of satisfaction. I grab his thighs for support and arch my back to ride him this way.

  “I’m not gonna last,” he says. “Fuck, your ass looks so good.”

  “I want us both to come.” I reach between our bodies to find my clit. I’m so turned on. So full of desire and power. It won’t take long to meet him at the edge. I swivel my hips, gyrating over his hard length and rubbing my clit in circles. A sheen of sweat covers my body and the entire room smells of sex. Austin doesn’t hold back, voicing compliments, praises, and naughty thoughts. Within minutes my body clenches with the onset of my orgasm.

  “Fuck, I’m coming.” I pant and writhe, over and over again until pleasure rips through my body.

  “Yeah, baby. Ride me. Fuck me.” Austin lifts his hips and his entire body spasms as he joins me, crashing over the edge. “Oh! Yeah,” he shouts.

  My sex pulses and my body tingles. So good. My eyes shut tight as aftershocks of my release shudder through me and I work to catch my breath.

  “Oh, fuck, Jayla,” Austin praises, and I hear his smile before I look over my shoulder to see it. “I think that was the best yet. Damn.” His chest heaves. “Fuck.”

  “You said that already,” I tease and climb off his body, unfastening his restraints before joining him on the bed. We lay next to each other, him smiling like a fool and me doing the same.

  He turns on his side and slides the back of his knuckles over my scar. “It looks much better.”

  “It does.” I agree with a nod.

  “Good call on the music. Nice selection.” He catches my hand in his and pulls it to his lips, kissing the back of my palm. His lips lift with a satisfied smirk, and the sight alone makes my heart beat a little faster. He releases my hand and lays his head against his arm, using it as a pillow.

  I turn to mirror his position and give in to a smile, my gaze voraciously memorizing his naked body. I already want him again.

  “I’m glad you’re here.” His gaze dips to my mouth and he narrows the space between us. As his mouth moves with mine in lazy, languid strokes, my back presses into the mattress. Except there’s no anxiety threatening to ruin this moment. No bolt of fear from the ghosts of my past. His kiss is warm, steady, and my heart races with love for this man. My safe space. My home. He pulls back to meet my gaze. “I lost you before, and I never want to again.”

  My throat catches at the sentiment. His words are sweet and full of the same truth I feel down to my soul. “Never.” I whisper against his lips. “I’m not going anywhere.”

  “Yeah?” He leans back to study my expression. His eyes flicker with a vulnerability he only shares with me.

  “Yeah.” I swallow back the surge of emotion, thick in my throat before I can continue. “I used to think I was damaged. Irrevocably changed in a way that meant I could never have this.” My hands greedily skim across his body.

  He nods, his expression open and inviting.

  “I didn’t think I could accept love. Thank you for proving me wrong.”

  He shrugs, a flicker of mischief in his gaze. “I am irresistible.”

  I push him to his back and roll onto my stomach, shaking my head. “And completely inappropriate, self-absorbed, and entirely too sure of yourself.”

  He just grins. “You love me.”

  I do. I really do. “I love you, Austin Jones. I will love you forever.”

  “Fuck.” He scrunches his nose and gives me a wink. “This got really deep. I’m torn between making a dick joke or throwing caution to the wind and asking you to be my wife.”

  “Your choice.” I shrug, the challenge flying from my lips without filter. “How lucky do you feel tonight?”

  “Shit.” His eyes widen.

  Mine do too. What did I just say?

  “Really?” He coughs as he clears his throat and sits up in bed. “Fuck!” His eyes bug out and he looks as though he might pass out any second. It shouldn’t be funny, but it is.

  I laugh, letting loose some of my nerves, and shake my head. “Did I just render you speechless? Because I think that’s a first.”

  He moves his mouth open and shut as if he wants to speak, but can’t quite decide.

  “I didn’t think it was possible.” I laugh again. “It’s too soon. Right?” I’m not sure who I’m convincing more, him or myself. Because we haven’t been a couple very long and the logical thing is to wait. Yet there’s this tiny voice in my head that says I’ve always been his. Knows there’s no other man in this world I’d rather build a life with.

  “Yes.” Austin nods, finding his voice. “It’s too soon.” He stares, narrowing his gaze. “And I can’t tell if you’re fucking with me or being serious.”

  I bite my lip, not wanting to admit I was dead serious when the words rolled from my mouth.

  “So, I’m going to date you. I’m going to earn your trust. And when I ask you to be my wife, you’re going to say yes.” His smile is big. Confident. Like he’s won a million dollars.

  “See. You with the self-assured again.”

  “Well, this proposal is going to be so over-the-top extravagant you won’t even know what hit you.” He shrugs. “You’ll have to say yes.”

  “Austin, I don’t need grand gestures.” I push to my knees and straddle his waist to steal a kiss. I wrap my arms around his neck and gaze into his eyes. “Only you.”

  He grins. “I guess we’ll have to wait and see.”

  “I guess we will,” I say, my lips wide with a smile. My future has never looked brighter. Bigger. Full of possibility, and a love I’ve always wanted but never thought I’d have. He was my best friend, and though I hate that it took us so long to find our way back to each other, it only makes the love we’ve discovered more treasured. I’ve been searching my whole life, but little did I know the key to my happiness was tied to my past. We’re meant for each other, because I think Austin was waiting for me, too.

  “You know, I was thinking . . . you and I are a lot like a great song.”

  “How’s that?” I thread my fingers through the hair at the base of his neck before meeting his gaze.

  “Some songs are so good, you know, but they’re even better on the replay. It isn’t until you’ve memorized the lyrics that they become significant. It’s not until you appreciate the complexity of the music that it becomes better. The more times you listen, the more you fall in love.” He paints his finger between my breasts, down my stomach, and draws lazy circles around my scar and over my hip. “You’re my replay, Jayla, and I’m so damn lucky to love you.”

  Epilogue

  Austin

  “I don’t think we have enough food. Maybe you should run to the store.” Jayla bites her lip and stares at the spread of dishes taking up the entire square footage of our kitchen island. The last thing we need is more food, but I’m not dumb enough to say that aloud.

  “Jay, your mama will be here any second and you know she’ll bring more than you asked.”

  Her hands go to her hips and she sighs. “You’re right.”

  “Have I told you how beautiful you look?” I step up to my girlfriend and capture her lips in a kiss. “And our house.” I glance around taking in all the decorations, the spread of food, and the presents piled around the tree. I kiss her again. “You did an amazing job.”

  “I’m just nervous. I want e
veryone to have a good time.”

  “They will. We’ll all be together. That’s what matters the most.” It’s our first time hosting anything, let alone a major holiday. Tomorrow everyone is doing their own thing, but we wanted to get together for Christmas Eve, and since Jay wanted her family and friends to feel comfortable and included, she volunteered our home.

  Our home. Damn, I love the sound of that. We moved down to Oceanside a few months after I finished recording the latest 3UG album. We looked all over, but finally decided on this location. She wanted a place close enough we could drive to our friends’ homes, but far enough no one was stopping by all the time. I’m pretty sure that mostly included her mother, but I was game. I’m happy wherever Jayla is, and I have to admit I like the chill vibe of this seaside town.

  The doorbell rings and Jayla straightens, glancing around the room one last time before she strides over to open the door. I hope she’s ready for this.

  Shouts of greeting flow through our home. Familiar voices that make this day feel all the more special. I make my way to Jayla’s side as Trent, Lexi, Opal, Leighton, and little Axl parade through the door. I’ve never been one for babies, but damn, that kid’s cute.

  “Merry Christmas, motherfuckers!” I say in greeting.

  Opal narrows her eyes. “You have got to stop doing that. He’s gonna start repeating words soon.”

  “Here,” I say, stealing the little bugger from her before everyone else does. “What, no baby equipment today?”

  “It’s all in the back of the SUV.” Leighton smirks.

  “Give me that.” Jayla scoops Axl right out of my arms. “How’s my sweet boy today?”

  “Careful. You let your girl hold him too long and she’ll start getting ideas,” Trent teases, but the joke’s on him. I can’t wait to start a family with Jayla. “Wait. Hold up.” He stops, his gaze bouncing from Jayla to me and then back to Jayla.

  “What?” She raises her brows.

  “Are you two wearing matching Christmas sweaters?”

  Jayla blinks and cocks her head. “Yeah, so?”

  “No fucking way!” Trent bursts into laughter.

  “Language!” Opal chides.

  Trent cringes and shoots the baby a look. “Sorry, little man.” He turns to me and his eyes widen. “Are these the sweaters from last year? The ones that light up?”

  “Hell yeah,” I say and press the button to make mine flicker to life. “They’re freaking awesome.”

  “Thank you.” Opal blows me a kiss for my effort at censorship.

  “Jayla”—Trent shakes his head—“I expect this ridiculousness from Aust, but you lose major street cred. Matching sweaters?” He repeats as if it’s not the coolest thing. Okay, so maybe he has a point, but I like being festive, and Jayla likes it too.

  “We do a lot for the ones we love, yeah?” Jayla raises her brows. I love that she doesn’t take shit from anyone, least of all my bandmates.

  “Touché,” Trent agrees.

  “And what exactly, have you had to do for me these days?” Lexi hands him a bottle of beer from the fridge and twists the top off her own.

  “For one, I didn’t pitch a fit when you didn’t name your label after me.”

  She rolls her eyes. “Trent Donavan Records was never on the table.”

  “It should’ve been. That’s all I’m saying.”

  Opal laughs and joins her sister. The pair make the most unassuming label execs in the biz. You’d never know by looking at them, but Detour Records is setting a precedence for new standards in indie representation. With them, it’s all about quality music, equality, and strong relationships with their talent as much as their partners.

  “Hey, speaking of work, did we get everything worked out with the Hurley brothers?” Lexi turns to Opal. “I want them signed before someone else gets to them.”

  “No shop talk today.” Trent wraps his arms around Lexi. “This is Christmas.”

  She tilts her head back to meet his stare. “And what, baby Jesus doesn’t care about our company?”

  “Please don’t talk about baby Jesus like that when my mama gets here,” Jayla pleads.

  “Okay, okay. No business talk.” Lexi holds up her hands.

  The doorbell rings.

  “Speak of the devil.” I wink at Jay and run to grab the door before she yells. For the next hour we welcome a slew of guests. Mama Lou, Jayla’s brother Desmond, his wife Lina and their boys Zachariah and Josiah. Aaliyah and her new boyfriend. Kalise. Trent’s mom Deb and her boyfriend. Sean and Jess, late as usual. Even our band’s Hollywood friend Cora Bentley and her new man pop by for a little while. Our house is full, stomachs fuller, and joy flows readily as the beverage fridge empties.

  “What’s wrong, buggerhead?” I’m surprised to find Brianna’s wide brown eyes peeking up at me as I come into my room. It’s way past her bedtime, not that her dad would notice. He’s out with my mom at some party.

  “Do you think Santa comes to this house? Mom says he won’t.” She grips her blankie in her hand, and her little lip trembles. It’s a sight that always does me in. I hate she even worries about shit like this. Kids her age shouldn’t have to, but her mom is probably right. My mom stopped getting me presents after elementary school, and Brianna’s dad doesn’t think about anyone but himself. The only reason Bri spends every other weekend here is so he doesn’t have to pay child support. I know it’s so because I’ve heard him boast about it to my mom a hundred times. I don’t know why my mom falls for losers like him. They both disgust me.

  “Hey.” I tussle the curls on her head and lead her back to bed. I give in to a smile, knowing she’ll have at least one present to open, and pleased with myself for swiping one of the stuffed animals left under the giving tree at my school yesterday. Yeah, stealing it wasn’t my finest moment, but at least I didn’t shoplift. People left those things intending them to go to a child in need this Christmas, and I think Bri fits that bill as much as any other. “I know he will. Promise.”

  “You sure?” she says through a sleepy yawn.

  I stroke her back, lulling her back to sleep. “I’d never lie to you.”

  “There you are.” Jayla slides open the back patio door, balancing two glasses of wine. She passes one to me.

  We clink the rims in a silent toast. “Sorry, I needed some air,” I say, taking in the horizon from our upstairs deck. The sunset burns through the haze of clouds, creating an array of oranges, yellows, pinks, and blues that light up the sky. “Your family still here?”

  “No, Desmond finally dragged Mama from the kitchen.” Jayla shakes her head, but there’s a trace of a smile on her lips. As much as her mother drives her crazy, she loves her. “I told her she didn’t have to help clean, but you know how she is.”

  I take a sip of the wine and chuckle. “That I do.”

  Jayla rubs her hand across my back. “You okay?”

  “Yeah, just thinking.” My gazes goes to the horizon once more, watching as the sun disappears beneath the ocean. Today has been wonderful. Having our friends and family together to celebrate was like stepping foot into a life I always wanted but never expected to have. Being a part of Three Ugly Guys has taught me family isn’t always blood, sometimes it’s the people you choose. I consider myself a lucky man to be surrounded by so much love. I only wish I had Brianna here too.

  “You miss her,” Jayla says with compassion and understanding.

  “I wish I could find her.” I reach for Jayla’s hand and take comfort in her touch. “Or know she’s safe.”

  “I do, too.” Jayla leans her head on my shoulder. “We’ll keep looking.”

  “Maybe there’s another way.” I clear my throat and turn to meet Jayla’s stare. I’ve been thinking on this a lot lately, and not only because it’s the holidays. “I’m not giving up hope. It’s just, I’ve spent so much money and energy looking for Brianna, and it hasn’t done any good.”

  She takes our wine glasses and sets them down. With both hands f
ree, she kneads the tension from my shoulders. “But you didn’t know that. You had to try.”

  “Yeah.” I nod and release a deep breath. “And if I could trade money to find her, I would in a heartbeat. I think it’s time to face the reality that it sucks, but this is how life works sometimes.” I take a step back and turn to face Jayla. “I want to open a home. With your help.”

  Her gaze turns earnest. “What kind of home?”

  “A place for lost girls. We could provide treatment. Mental healthcare. Teach healthy life skills and decision making. Self-defense, too.” The idea pours from my lips, unsure of her reaction, or if a passion project like this would even interest her. Just because it excites me, doesn’t mean it’s for her.

  Jayla wraps her arms around my neck. “I love it.”

  “It’d be a safe haven, you know? A place full of hope. The kind of place that could’ve rescued Brianna.”

  “I love you.” Her smile is wide and her eyes are full of unshed tears as she peppers gentle kisses on my mouth. “Your heart.” Another kiss. “Your mind.”

  I wrinkle my nose and press my cheek against hers and make a joke so I won’t cry. “My body too? Tell me you love my body.”

  “Everything.” She laughs and steps back to find my gaze. “I love sharing my life with you.”

  I didn’t think it possible, but I love her more now than when I woke this morning. Her capacity to love and accept me as I am pushes me to be the best version of myself. I was planning to wait until tomorrow, but the weight I’ve been carrying around all day gives me the incentive to do it now. “You hoping for any big presents from Santa?”

  Her grin turns rueful as she narrows her gaze. “You think I still have time to write a letter to the jolly old guy?”

  “Depends,” I tease. “Whatcha gonna ask for?”