REGRET - The Price of Truth: Everhide Rockstar Romance Series Book 4

by Tania Joyce

  He scanned her face. Her eyelids fluttered. Her skin shimmered in the night light. Her mouth curved into a perfect arch as she breathed.

  He dipped his head.

  Just one kiss

  One soft kiss.

  He didn’t want to wake her.

  She wriggled.

  He froze.

  He held his breath. His lips hovered a few inches from hers.

  She scratched her cheek, flopped her hand beside her head and continued to sleep.

  His teeth caught his smile.

  When she settled, he closed his eyes and pressed his lips to hers, light as a feather. So soft. So sweet. So sexy.

  He pulled back.

  Two glistening eyes peered up at him. He stilled as if a blade was held to his throat. His heartbeat slammed against his ribs.

  Fuck.

  But no sound passed her lips. No scream. No swearing.

  She just looked at him.

  Silent.

  Still.

  He couldn’t move, dared not to breathe. The only disturbance was the soft hum of the warm air-conditioning and the electric vibe between their bodies charging the air. Seconds passed—maybe an eternity.

  “What are you doing?” she whispered.

  “I was checking to make sure you were alive.”

  “Am I?” He could barely hear her soft voice.

  “Yeah.” His voice was as quiet as hers. “Sorry to wake you. Go back to sleep.”

  He went to roll away but her hand shot up and caught his chest. She flattened her palm against him. Shit. She’d feel his heart galloping as fast as a bolting mustang.

  “Hayds?” Her voice quivered.

  “Yeah?”

  “Don’t stop.”

  He closed his eyes. Fuck. Words he’d wanted to hear from her for months.

  “Lex . . . believe me, I don’t want to.”

  She cupped the side of his cheek, drew her thumb over the stubble at the top of his lip. “Then don’t.”

  He trembled beside her; his body tensed. Every part of him turned feverish. They were both sober as saints. Alcohol was not an excuse. Fuck, he wanted her. So much his balls ached.

  Leaning forward, he touched his lips to her forehead, kissed one eyelid then the other. Placed the lightest of kisses on the tip of her nose, each cheek and then her lips. “Are you sure?”

  She combed her fingers through his hair. “Yes. No regrets. I promise.”

  To hell if there are.

  He pressed his mouth to hers. Heat surged through his veins and exploded in his heart. He wanted to explore and taste, lick and kiss every inch of her skin, but he didn’t know where to start. He was terrified if he moved too fast that this would be the end. She’d disappear into thin air and he’d wake from the most incredible dream, his arms empty.

  She knotted her fingers into his hair. With her lips sealed to his, she inhaled deeply, then stopped. The pause seemed to last a lifetime. Then she sank against the mattress as if it were a pillow of down, opened her mouth and kissed him harder, hot and hungry.

  Every cell in his body hummed.

  With the length of his body in line with hers, he snaked his arm around her waist and edged closer. The warmth of her skin enveloped him, lit an inferno inside his belly. Fumbling with the edge of her shirt, he slipped his hand underneath it and brushed his cool fingertips against her fiery flesh. Every touch made his pulse jump an octave. Gliding his palm over her bare thigh, her ass and across her tummy, he memorized every curve, every dip into his brain. He wanted to go fast and slow. Quick and steady. Hard and gentle. He wanted to get into her panties, get to her boobs, get her naked. There wasn’t enough time in the world to explore her gorgeous body.

  He rolled on top of her, placed his forearms by her head, took his weight onto his elbows. Having her beneath him was heaven-sent. He gazed into her eyes like she’d taken possession of his soul. “Still okay?”

  Wrapping her legs around him, she rocked her hips against his, made his growing erection even harder. “Absolutely. This was on your bucket list, right?”

  “Shit yeah,” he chuckled, his breath entwined with hers as he kissed her mouth, her neck, nibbled and blew gently against her ear. “But I wasn’t expecting it to ever happen.”

  “Me either.” She wriggled beneath him as goosebumps danced on her flesh. Catching the edge of his shirt, she tugged it upward. “Take this off.”

  He reached behind his head and yanked it free, tossed it on the floor. He shook his head, stunned he was getting his clothes off for her.

  Her gaze raked down his chest and back up to his face. Every nerve in his system hummed under her appraisal. Her fingertips traced the thin band tattooed on his bicep. A sheepish grin curled across her mouth; little wrinkles formed on the bridge of her nose. “Do you just want to get naked?”

  He rocked his hips against hers. “You don’t want me to take your panties off with my teeth?”

  She squirmed beneath him, grabbed the edge of her sweatshirt and pulled it over her head. “You can take my panties off, but you don’t have to use your teeth.”

  Wow. He tried to keep his wits together, but Lexi’s naked boobs before him made his head spin and his blood rushed south. “Well, now you’ve distracted me, you’re going to have to wait.”

  He dipped his head and took his time exploring each breast, her skin smooth, soft and silky, freshly scented with soap. Trailing his fingers over her chest, he skimmed from one nipple to the other and back again. With the softest of tweaks, he teased each bud until it was a hardened peak, and little goosebumps dotted her flesh.

  He’d seen her walk around their apartment in her bra and panties a gazillion times. Never cared. But now she was here with him, her exquisite body needed to be adored.

  Want gripped every inch of him as he took one of her nipples in his mouth. Circling his tongue, he licked, flicked and sucked one bud, then the other. The gentle groan that rumbled deep in her throat, the subtle arch in her back was all the coaxing he needed to do it again.

  But he wanted more.

  Kissing a trail down her stomach, he clutched the side of her panties and tugged them down, slipping them off her feet. Her naked body stole his breath, pumped fire through his veins. Taking his time, he kissed her ankles, sucked her toes and worked his way up, teasing the inside of her thighs. He smiled over his nips and kisses when she flinched, her muscles quivered, and she whimpered and moaned for more of his touch. Her breath shortened and deepened as he meandered his way higher. He wanted to pleasure her in every way but wasn’t sure his cock would hold out.

  Kneeling before her, he whisked off his pajama pants, dashed to his bag to grab the condoms from his wallet and chucked them on the nightstand.

  Crawling back onto the bed, the mattress dipped underneath his weight. Her gaze fell to his erection. As she licked her lips a jolt of electricity surged through him. Hmm, he’d love her mouth on him, but not today. Not for their first time. He wanted to show her what she meant to him. Make love to her until the sun came up. “You still okay?” He stretched out beside her, caressed her neck and touched his lips to hers.

  “Yeah. I’m not going anywhere,” she whispered. Hooking her leg over his, she edged closer.

  Her breasts mushed against his chest. Bliss. Her bare pussy pressed into his groin. Heaven. The scent of her skin made his head light and dizzy.

  She was the best drug ever.

  “Hayds.” She nipped and grazed her teeth across the tip of his shoulder, sent shudders down his spine. “Lie back.” She pushed gently against his chest and his head connected with the pillow. Kicking the bed covers out of the way, she straddled his lap, caught his erection beneath her. Her hot sleekness licked his skin.

  “You like that?” She pulsed and rocked her hips. Her eyes flashed with sexy wickedness. With her lower lip caught between her teeth, she scraped her fingernails across his collarbones, over this chest, down his stomach and through his fine snail trail.

  He tensed a
nd flinched against her torturous touch. “Don’t be cruel.”

  Grabbing her hands, he pulled her forward. Hovering over him, she giggled. Scooping her hair back, he twisted it around his hand. He loved her hair, but he wanted to see her face, her eyes, not have her hide behind her curtain of curls. “You’re so beautiful.” His voice rumbled low and deep in his throat; he couldn’t contain how he felt for her. “I lo—"

  “Shh . . .” she said, placing her finger over his lips, then kissed him.

  Her breath entwined with his as he kissed her top lip, bottom lip, dipped his tongue into her mouth to taste her, savor her, fill his soul with her. Maybe she didn’t want to hear that he loved her. But she already knew it to be true.

  Sliding his hands up her thighs, he dug his fingers into her flesh. A playful smile inched across her lips as she shuffled back a fraction. Her eyes locked onto his and she slid her pussy along the length of his cock. Slowly. Seductively. Sexily.

  Holy. Fuck.

  His dick thrummed to a sweet melody.

  Then she did it again.

  He tilted his head back, burying it deep into the pillow. Did she know she set his blood on fire? Made him lose his freaking mind? With her sitting across his groin, one slip and he’d enter her. She wasn’t helping the situation by teasing and rubbing against him. He needed to be sheathed. The temperature in the room had hit dangerous levels. He’d self-combust if he didn’t bury himself in her. “Lex. Condom. Now.”

  He fumbled for the rubber, but she grabbed it before him.

  She smiled and pushed him back. The pillows puffed beneath his head. “Stay.”

  Wow. Nothing sexier.

  She ripped the foil open, and his heart thudded louder. This was happening. This wasn’t a dream. His pulse throbbed. Fire engorged his every vein as she rubbed, stroked and fondled his dick, and rolled on the rubber. His vision blurred. He clutched at the bedsheets to stop himself from exploding beneath her touch.

  “Lex. Angel. Come here.” He grabbed her hands and pulled her toward him. Her naked body realigned with his. The desire blazing in her eyes sent ripples of warmth through his chest. Left him delirious. Their lips connected. He dipped his tongue into her mouth. Minty freshness tingled his taste buds, sent shivers down his spine. He went to roll her over, but she pinned him down.

  “Nuh-uh. I wanna be on top.” Her sultry voice was music to his ears, made his body sing. “I haven’t had sex in weeks. Let’s do this.”

  An ache flared in the center of his chest. Was this just sex for her? Not her final admission of her feelings for him? He wouldn’t believe that. He’d never had a connection like this with anyone before. Not even his ex, Caroline.

  Lexi was reading his body like she knew just what to do. They’d talked enough about their past encounters to know what each other liked. She loved being on top, liked being touched at the same time. Oh, yeah . . . he could do that. He wanted to pleasure her in every possible way.

  But she rendered him immobile when she wriggled against his hips and inched the head of his penis toward her opening. The cutest smile quivered across her lips as she teased the tip across her clit, rubbed and circled against him. Oh, sweet Jezus! A shudder coursed through him, shot right down to his toes. She closed her eyes and the softest “mmm” hummed deep in her throat.

  Fuck! His balls were about to erupt. Everywhere she kissed him, touched him, his skin blazed to life. Curling his hands around her hips, he sucked in a deep breath and spread his legs, needing to be inside her. The agony, the anticipation, the ache burned hot in his every muscle. He couldn’t take it anymore. Well, he could. Just didn’t want to.

  His eyes locked onto hers. His heart thundered and soared. Tilting his hips, he eased into her. Buried himself inside her. Slowly. Gently. Tenderly.

  Oh. Fuck. Yes!

  She sucked in a deep breath. Her wet warmth encircled him. Her muscles clenched around him, tight, so tight. The sweetest bliss shot up his spine. Everything melded into a world where only the two of them existed. He never wanted this to end.

  “Wow.” He sounded breathless and desperate, but he didn’t care.

  His body burned. He wanted to drive and thrust into her again and again, but he waited until she was ready. He wasn’t exactly small in size.

  “Fuck you feel good.” She relaxed, rocked and rolled her hips.

  “Come here, angel.”

  Drawing her in to kiss, their bodies became one. She rode him steadily. He penetrated her hard, deep. They explored, touched and tasted each other. He loved her with all he had. After skimming his fingers down her side, he slipped them between her legs. Rubbing and circling her clit, and feeling her slickness on his skin had him nearly coming undone.

  New sounds rumbled from her throat. New whispers. New sighs. New moans.

  “You feel amazing.” He struggled to say anything comprehensible over their kisses. Being inside her overruled his thoughts.

  Her breath quickened. Taking her weight on her hands, she drove him deeper inside her, taking more and more. He thrust his hips in time with her rhythmic pace. The tension in every muscle in his body wound higher and higher, in his thighs, his buttocks, his neck, his arms and his chest. Hot blood swirled through his veins. He’d had so many dreams and fantasies about sleeping with her, but nothing had been half as good as the reality. He fit into her perfectly. She touched him in all the right places. She made him feel everything everywhere.

  Sweat licked their skin. Leaning forward, she grabbed the headboard and rocked against him. But there was no wild, loud or animalistic craziness—just slow, languid, deep, God-give-me-more-sweet-pleasure pressure.

  So intense. Extreme. Profound.

  She swiveled her hips. He felt her riding his fingers, looking for more friction. He applied a touch more, rubbed her harder.

  Her breath neared a pant. Her eyes fluttered to a close. “Hayden . . . there.”

  Her thighs tensed by his sides. Her insides clenched and throbbed around him. He thrust into her and with a jerk of her hips, she found her release. Quaking and quivering, she shuddered beneath his touch.

  He caved at the incredible sight of her orgasming. Her hair fell over her naked shoulders. Her nipples, taut and erect, jiggled before him. Her eyes closed in ecstasy. It was his undoing.

  “Angel.” With a body-arching moan, he came inside of her. Pumping, throbbing, spilling.

  His chest heaved; his dick pulsed. The high of the night got better and better. Every inch of his body hummed, and his heart wanted to scream I love you from every rooftop in the city.

  But a furrow formed between her eyebrows.

  No-no-no-no-no.

  “Hey.” Stroking her hair, he kissed her sweet lips. “I got you, angel. Come here.”

  After lying her down beside him, he discarded the condom, grimacing as he did so because his dick was chafed . . . so worth it . . . and grabbed some tissues for her to clean up. He drew the bed coverings over them, wrapped his arms around her and held her close to his chest. So close. He didn’t want the moment to end. He kissed her, loved her. “Why did we wait so long to do that?”

  “Because I never wanted to before,” she whispered.

  “Glad you changed your mind.” He kissed her head. “So much is changing so fast.”

  “Too fast. I can’t . . . I don’t . . . ”

  “Lex, shh. Everything’s good.” He didn’t want her to question what had just happened. Yep, they’d landed in the center of a complicated pile of shit. He didn’t know what next step to take. “That was incredible. Don’t say anything unless it involves doing it again.” He glided his fingertips over the soft skin on her back, stroked and combed her long hair.

  She drew tiny circles around his nipples . . . and didn’t say anything.

  His heart constricted and ached. He never wanted to let her go. But every second that passed, he felt her withdrawing. Her body tensed, her breath sharpened, and she sniffled with a steely resolve. Fuck. Tonight had been so perfect. They
were good together. Somehow he had to convince her of that. They could make this work. He lifted her chin and kissed her. “Lex, we’ve got this.”

  She cupped his cheek, gave him a distant smile and whispered, “I need to get some sleep.”

  Shit. Had he already lost her? He wouldn’t accept that. Not this time. “It’s okay. We’ll talk in the morning.”

  She rolled away and he snuggled in behind her. So many scenarios on how they could be together skipped through his head. Nothing was ever simple, but he was willing to try anything. Lying next to her felt so good. Being with her was meant to be. It had to work out. Had to.

  After the long day, sleep finally took hold of him.

  But when he woke late the next morning, Lexi was gone. Nowhere to be found.

  Shit.

  His heart cried.

  So much for talking.

  Chapter 17

  Lexi stomped the snow from her boots, shoved the door open to her mom’s house and dumped her purse on the console table. She really needed to get the damn door fixed. Stupid thing always jammed. Hanging up her coat, she sang out, “Mom? It’s me.”

  Checking her hair in the mirror by the door, she balked. Shit. Her eyes were red from crying. Every unrelenting mile she’d driven from D.C. to Sea Cliff, she’d relived being with Hayden last night. She’d laughed, she’d cried, she’d blushed, and she’d panicked. Oh God. She’d slept with him. It hadn’t made her feelings for him crystal clear. Hadn’t presented an easy path forward. Nope. Her brain was still a tangled bowl of spaghetti. But she wouldn’t lead him on. Their time left together was precious. Before she faced him again, she had to decide what to do—be with him and somehow try to make it work or laugh it off and just be friends. How to choose? She had no freaking idea.

  “Mom?” she called out again as she straightened her tights and knit dress.

  Still no answer.

  Walking down the small hallway, she passed her old room that had been turned into her mom’s pottery studio on the right, her brothers’ twin bedroom, still made up the same way as it was when they’d left fifteen years ago, and her mom’s room on the left. The hall walls struggled to stay upright under the weight of all the glory pictures of her army-jock brothers—their graduations, their military ceremonies, their send-offs. There was only one tiny frame of her at high school graduation. She had a decent job, worked hard, did all right for herself. But no matter what she achieved, her mother never gave two hoots.