by Susan Ward
“Good point.” He guides me after them. “Are you sorry that we did?”
“What?”
“Went out tonight with my brother and Avery?”
I curl closer around his arms. “How could you ask me that? They’re wonderful. I’m glad I got to meet your brother and his wife.”
“Good. You’re going to be seeing a lot of them. That’s just how it is. Hopefully you feel the same way about my sisters. We’re a close family. To be with me you get them. My folks, too.”
Oh…magical words again, filled with every kind of wonderful. He speaks with such certainty, like this is it, this is us, and I can’t deny to myself that I want it to be. It makes it super hard to keep my joy from surfacing on my face.
“You don’t play fair,” I whisper, trying to sound chiding to hide my excitement.
After a beat, he asks, “How so?”
I lift my nose. “You’re pretty all right on your own. But Ethan and Avery, they’re terrific. If the rest of your family is as terrific…well…it’s like dangling a free gift with purchase in front of me.”
His brows crease in that adorably confused Eric way. “You’re more like Jade than I suspected.”
“Oh really?” I counter as if offended. “You better explain that one real fast, Eric, or not even your family’s going to help you dig out of that. I’m not like Jade at all.”
“Yes, you are. But only in the best of ways,” he says and smiles mysteriously, bringing me along at a fast pace to catch up with Ethan and Avery.
BACK AT THE EL Encanto, we say good night to Ethan and Avery in the hallway, and Eric whisks me into his suite. Once inside his bedroom, he folds me his arms, pressing his nose against mine.
The sexual tension between us is so strong. All night it’s been building. Now it feels like an entity in the room, surrounding us and pressing us closer.
“Don’t think I don’t know what you’re doing,” I tease, staring up, his potent blue eyes filling the world.
“I’m trying to decide how I want to make love to you. That’s what I’m doing.”
“No. You brought me back to your room so I couldn’t show you the door tonight.”
“I brought you back to my room because it was closer.” His eyes begin to shimmer as his lower body molds into mine. “Closer, Willow. Closer.”
“Can’t get any closer,” I whisper as his hands ease off my sweater then drop it to the ground.
“You can get closer, Willow.”
We gaze at each other and the blood slams in my veins as I bask in this beautiful man’s sensual supplication.
“The only way to get…closer…” My breath catches as his thumbs move down my spine. “…is for you to be in me.”
I arch my back, pressing myself against his erection, and he groans, his fingers tightening on my hips. “God, I can’t wait to be in bed with you,” he growls, plucking me from the floor and carrying me across the room. His mouth crashes into mine as his adept fingers somehow get off my pants and thong without losing the contact of our bodies and mouths. “You’re mine, Willow. I’m yours. This is us. We’re everything.”
It makes me feel loved, loved in a way I’ve never known, when he looks at me and says such things, to hear his ragged breathing and feel his need for me.
I’m panting with need, trying to yank off his sweater, only I can’t. “Yes. Yours. Yes. Mine. Hurry up. Undress already.”
He pulls back, strips quickly, then moves into me, so slow, so gently he makes my body scream…waiting…waiting…damn, why isn’t he in me?
My lids fly open and he’s staring down at me, his eyes reflecting everything I’m feeling. “Say it again?” he murmurs, and I pause, thinking, then—
“I love you.”
He plunges into me and my body bows. I love him with all my heart. My limbs wrap tightly around him as he pushes harder and harder, getting lost in me the way I am with him.
“Oh, Willow,” he groans, and my sex clenches fiercely around him as I come hard. His thrusts come faster, deeper, and as I whisper his name, he lets loose his own orgasm.
NOW THAT WE’RE SPENT and gently holding each other, sated from our climaxes and both drained to the point of needing sleep, he kisses the top of my head and whispers, “I never thought I’d love anyone the way I love you, Willow.”
“I feel the same way.”
His fingers lightly caress my arm. “I wish I could get back the seven years I cost us.”
I curl tighter around his chest as I hold him. “We’re together now. That’s all that matters to me.”
He strokes my hair once, twice, and then I’m asleep.
Chapter Thirty-Three
Willow
ERIC’S LIPS BRUSH ACROSS my forehead, leaving achingly gentle kisses where they touch, and nasty Willow wants to respond to the potent rolls of his hips, open her legs, and let him drive home. But I can’t. I mustn’t. No matter how wonderful it is to be woken this way.
I moan and my head sways on my pillow. “Stop it. I have to go. I have to work.” My voice is softly cajoling; it doesn’t even convince me.
“No. Stay. I texted Ivy. She’s covering your shift today.”
I open my eyes and Eric is above me, gazing at me intently. “You didn’t?”
“Yeah. I did. Got my woman in my bed. You’re not leaving.”
He kisses me again.
“You’re impossible. I didn’t go to work yesterday. I have to go today.”
“I’ll go to work with you tomorrow and Friday. Give Ivy the days off. That’ll make you even again.”
I choke on a laugh even though the delicious trek of his mouth on my breasts makes my back bow.
“It doesn’t work that way.”
The delicious tease of his cock again. “Does it work this way?” Another brush against my clit, rougher, harder to resist.
I hear the rip of a foil square, and even if I had the will—which I don’t—methinks I’m not going into work today.
He grabs my hips and positions himself, and I shiver in anticipation of him filling me. Very slowly he enters me, clenches his teeth, then moves roughly against me, and I know that’s it for playful Eric. Moaning, he slams really deep and my body responds with lightning quickness. I become all spiraling sensation, aching for release, and as his tempo continues escalating I’m sent crashing over the edge, utterly mindless.
When sense returns, somehow, I’m sprawled atop him. “See? Wasn’t my idea better than going to work?” he asks softly.
I glance at him and giggle. “It was pretty all right.”
His eyes smile. “You’re purring like a cat in the sunshine. You don’t have me fooled. It was better than all right.”
“Fine. It was good.”
He pouts.
His hands massaging my back bring some energy back to me. “Dang it, I’m still here. Aren’t I? Do you want me to say it?” I exclaim spiritedly.
That he answers with a firm nod.
“We’re wonderful together.” I drop a kiss on his lips. “But that doesn’t mean I’m not going to work tomorrow.”
“We’ll see.”
“And I’m going to hold you to your promise to cover for Ivy the next two days.”
“We’ll see.”
He grins and eases me off him. His cell vibrates, and he stands, beautifully naked, and starts searching the floor for where he dropped it.
“Yeah?” He answers sharp, annoyed.
I beat back my smile. It’s got to be Ethan or Avery. They call too early in the morning.
“What are we talking about here?” he asks.
He starts nodding. I can’t make out the voice on the other end, but they’re not letting him get a word in edgewise. That means it’s probably Avery.
“Yeah. That sounds good. I’ll run it by my girlfriend and get back to you.”
Run it by my girlfriend…I like how that sounds. I burrow into my pillow, content.
“I don’t know.”
He wanders to the mini fridge.
“Possible.”
He returns to the bed with two chilled waters and holds one out to me.
“That’s what I’m thinking.”
My brows pucker. What’s with the abbreviated sentences?
“Uh-huh.” He pulls on his briefs and settles beside me on the bed. He taps the room service call button on the bedside phone and hits speaker.
“Wait,” he orders.
He leans over the phone. “We’d like two El Encanto omelets and coffee. Thank you.”
Oh, multitasking.
It’s adorable.
Even if he didn’t ask me what I want for breakfast.
“I’m back,” he says to his cell phone caller.
The call goes on and on. I frown. I climb slowly out of bed and start rummaging through Eric’s drawers. I’ve only got the clothes I wore here two days ago. I want something comfy, more let’s do breakfast in bed. I take out one of his t-shirts. Where are my panties? I don’t see them. I look under the bed, tap his legs to move, then—voila!—find them.
I steal into the bathroom, use his toothbrush, wash my face, then rummage through the vanity for his hairbrush. It’d be nice if he had an apartment here, somewhere I felt comfortable leaving some of my things. But a hotel—my face scrunches up—it’s kind of weird to me to have a girlfriend drawer in a hotel suite.
Girlfriend.
I love hearing him call me that.
After dressing, I dash back into the bedroom. Eric is standing in front of the windows, wearing only those briefs, still on the phone. He looks so sexy. I wish he’d kept the curtains drawn. I don’t want women staring up and ogling my man.
My man.
I like that, too.
There’s a knock on the door. It must be our breakfast. I scurry across the room.
“Where are you going?”
Ah, I’m no longer forgotten and he’s multitasking again. Breakfast, I mouth.
He smiles, nods, and turns back toward the window.
I answer the door. It’s a young, handsome brown-haired man. He’s come to the room before. He looks disappointed that it’s me. The entire hotel knows that Eric is here. Every so often someone breaks the rules and asks for an autograph.
I smile warmly at him. “Good morning. That was fast.”
“Where would you like this, ma’am?”
This young man is always so polite. It no longer embarrasses me as it did two days ago to be found in Eric’s room. It was silly that it did. It was only my petty insecurities over what they thought of my being here and nothing to do with how they treated me.
Besides, I’m his girlfriend. Where should I be? Smiling again, I glance around the room, trying to figure out where I want breakfast. I point toward the French doors. “Out on the terrace today.”
It’s not quite breakfast in bed, but it’s a sunny day and the view from there is amazing.
I sign the check, usher out the room service clerk, and bolt the door. I go back to our room, look in, and see Eric still with the darn phone pinned between his ear and shoulder.
“Our breakfast is here,” I tell him softly.
He nods. Holds up a finger. One second.
“I’ve got to wrap this up. We’ll talk soon. Once I figure out what I want to do.”
My brows pucker. That doesn’t sound like something he’d say to Ethan or Avery. He’s nodding again. One sec—not happening.
I go out on the terrace, uncover the plates, and settle on the cushioned chair in front of the decorative glass and iron table. I lean over my plate and inhale. It smells so delicious. I’m waiting, Eric.
“SORRY, BABY. I DIDN’T mean to be so long.”
He drops a kiss on my head and sinks down on the chair across from me. He takes his fork and knife and smiles down at his food.
“This looks good. Why aren’t you eating?”
“I waited for you. Though I probably shouldn’t have. That was a long call even for Avery.”
“It wasn’t Avery. It was my manager. Walker.”
“Your manager?” I ask dumbly as he fills his coffee cup. “I didn’t know you still had one.”
“Technically I do. Though, in reality it hasn’t felt that way. Haven’t heard from him since I went into rehab.”
My mouth twists up. “I don’t think I like him.”
Eric laughs. “No one likes the management, Willow. They’re an unavoidable evil.”
I’m not sure what that means.
I lean forward in my chair. “What did he want?”
He shakes his head as he pokes his fork into his food. “To offer me a gig.”
My insides twist. “What kind of gig?”
He makes a face. “A cable show. If you can believe that.”
“What? A reality show?” I make a face.
“No. A thirteen-show concert series on American Box Office. Live feed before a live audience. Sort of like Daryl’s House. Do you remember that show? Only Eric, playing in front of a small venue and just talking about shit. ABO floated the offer, they want to do it by pay-per-view. The money is good. If the first season does well there’ll be more seasons. It’s better than touring. I wouldn’t have to travel, and I could be in bed with Willow every night—” He leers at me and I roll my eyes, though my inner me is doing cartwheels at him saying in bed with Willow every night. “But I don’t know. Don’t know if I want it.”
I hold my coffee cup resting against my lips. “Why don’t you know?”
“Don’t know if I want to go back.”
“Back? Which back? California? Or the music industry?”
“The industry. Start my career again.”
My heart sinks and I try to shake what I’m feeling. I knew California was in the cards for Eric, eventually. Hana’s there. It’s his home. It’s not like he lied to me about it or anything. It’s just something we haven’t talked about, how we’d work with me being in Seattle and him in LA, but thinking about this dims the happy of my morning.
“It’s nice to have options,” I say as generously as I can manage.
He nods. “That’s what I’m thinking. Only reason I didn’t blow off Walker’s offer this morning. After breakfast what do you want to do today?”
I shrug.
“We can go back to bed?” he suggests.
I bite my lower lip. “Yeah, we can since you got Ivy to cover for me today.”
His face splits into a huge grin and he’s back, only mine again.
LATER THAT EVENING WE have dinner with Ethan and Avery at a trendy sidewalk café. We’re all in a festive mood, except Eric. I can feel he’s sad his brother is leaving in the morning.
“This has been so much fun being together, Eric,” Avery gushes. “We’re going to miss you two.”
“Wish you guys could stay longer,” Eric says. “But we’ll be doing this again. Real soon.”
Ethan looks up from sleeping Noah curled on his chest. “We’d stay if we could. Avery’s feeling anxious about not having heard from Mom or Dad since we’ve been here. The girls haven’t heard from them either. We’re stopping in Santa Barbara on our way home. Because of Noah, we’re spending the night in Grants Pass then Santa Cruz with Kaley and Bobby. They’re going to drive to Santa Barbara with us. We should be there by Saturday afternoon.”
“Call me and let me know what’s going on, even if there’s nothing,” Eric says somberly. “I’m starting to feel like Avery. It makes me uneasy when I don’t hear from Mom.”
I slip my hand over Eric’s. “They could just be busy.” He’s genuinely worried.
His features go taut. “Nah. My mom is all about family. Phone silence is not an option for her.”
“I wish you were going with us, Eric,” Ethan murmurs pensively.
“One call. I’ll be there, Ethan.”
Ethan nods. “I get it.”
Both Ethan and Avery smile at me affectionately.
Avery holds up her glass. “Here’s to doing this again real soon.”
“Here, here,” Eric says, then smirks at me. “That means you have to keep seeing me, Willow.”
We’re all laughing as we clink our wineglasses and Eric his mineral water.
Avery glares in disgust. “Damn it, E. There’s a photographer behind that tree, taking pictures of us. There were two yesterday while we were at the beach. They couldn’t see Noah bundled up from the sun in his carrier, so I ignored them. But really, can’t they just leave you guys alone when you’re with your families?”
My body goes cold. I didn’t notice anyone yesterday and I wouldn’t have tonight if Avery hadn’t said something. I look over my shoulder, scan the sidewalk, then I see him.
Avery swivels toward Eric. “Please, can you go over there and ask them not to print any photos with Noah in them?”
Eric tosses his napkin on the table. “Yeah. No problem, Avery. I’ll see what I can do.”
Eric hustles out of the restaurant and down the sidewalk. I watch as he tries to talk to the man while the camera keeps flashing in his face. It doesn’t look like he’s getting anywhere and he’s rapidly becoming more incensed than I’ve ever seen him.
“He’s talking to a wall,” Ethan grumbles. “I’m sorry, babe. But you just can’t let it get to you.”
“I’m press, too,” Avery announces, annoyed. “I get that they have a job to do. But children should be off limits.”
“Yeah, they should.” Ethan gives his wife a sympathetic smile. “I don’t think we should have sent Eric to deal with this, though. Here, babe. Take Noah. Uncle Eric is getting mad.”
Avery laughs in dismay as she lifts the baby from Ethan’s hands. She cuddles her son against her.
“Does this happen often?” I ask.
Avery nods.
“It must be awful.”
“Not always.” She coos down at Noah. “It doesn’t bother us unless we have Noah with us.”
That surprises me. “Not at all?”
She shakes her head. “No. Ethan’s famous. They’re a famous family. I knew what I was getting into. But there should be some no-go zones, I think.”
