Our banter must’ve made him feel more playful, though, because he draws this one out for what seems like hours. Bringing me up, getting me close, only to slow things down, backing me away from the edge. Again and again he does this until I’m begging for release. When he finally gives in and takes me the rest of the way, I fly over the edge, clutching his head to me so he can’t move away even if he wants to, screaming his name as I come.
His smug grin tells me everything I need to know about how he feels about what just happened. While I’m still limp from my release, he rolls on a condom, turning me on my side, and sliding into me from behind. I’m so sensitive that I almost whimper from the sensation of him spreading me open and entering me, but he goes slow, rocking us together, stroking my skin, kissing my shoulder, my neck, and my mouth when I turn my head to his. We come together, this one soft and gentle, both of us shuddering as he clutches me to him like he never wants to let go.
Chapter Seventeen
Jonathan
I’m sitting on a couch in the lobby of Gabby’s dorm one Saturday halfway through October, waiting for her to finish getting ready for a party at a friend’s house tonight. She comes bounding down the stairs wearing a complicated looking top that wraps around her, the dark red color a perfect compliment to her skin and hair, and her favorite pair of dark wash skinny jeans with her hair loose and flowing over her shoulders. Looking beautiful. Stunning. Perfect. I stand, stuffing my phone in my pocket as I go to meet her. “Hey.”
“Hey.” She flashes me a grin and goes up on tiptoe to kiss me briefly before putting on her sweater.
“Hi, Jonathan.”
I look up, noticing Lauren for the first time. “Hi, Lauren. How’s your semester going?” We’ve met a few times since that first night at the recital, but we don’t know each other well. Lauren’s coming with us tonight. I didn’t intend to invite her, but when I told Gabby about it, Lauren was there and asked to come too. When Gabby looked excited to have her friend along, I couldn’t turn them down. Since she won’t know anyone there except me, Ben, and Beth, I can see why she wants another familiar face.
“Good. Busy,” Lauren answers. “You?”
“Same. You guys ready?”
Gabby chuckles and shakes her head. “I still think it’s funny that everyone here is a ‘guy’. Last I checked, I’m not male.”
I step in close to Gabby and lower my voice. “I did a pretty thorough inspection this morning, and I can certify that you are, in fact, not male.”
The tips of her ears turn pink and spots of color appear on her cheeks as I escort her and her friend through the door to get in my car. Lauren throws a smirk in my direction. She must’ve overheard me. I grin back, not sorry. It’s not like she doesn’t know what’s going on with Gabby and me. Gabby’s told me all about Lauren’s prying and the blow job tutorial early in our relationship.
Gabby was mortified, her face flaming when she told me about it, but I really owe Lauren a thank you for that. We’ve put that tutorial to good use, and expanded on Gabby’s skills since then in very pleasurable ways.
“Oh my God, it’s so cold here! How do you people live?” Gabby complains as soon as we get outside. The mid-October evening is chilly. It rained all day, but the clouds have cleared off, leaving the sky a blanket of stars with the temperature hovering just above freezing.
Lauren laughs, wrapping her jacket around her. “Maybe if you bought an actual jacket instead of that little sweater. No wonder you’re freezing.”
“I bought a coat,” Gabby says, “but it’s huge and puffy, and I didn’t want to have to drag it around all night.”
Shaking her head, Lauren climbs into the back seat as I hold open the passenger door for Gabby. “The puffy coat will be great for winter, but you’ll need something else to get you through the fall and spring. I’ve told you this. And offered to take you shopping. But you spend all your time with Jonny B over here, so you don’t have time for me anymore.”
“Hey!” Gabby protests. “I spend time with you!”
I miss Lauren’s response because I close the door and go around to my seat. When I get in, there’s a lull in the conversation. “Hey, Lauren?” I say, starting the car.
“Yeah?”
“I don’t mind the Jonny B references when it’s just us, but keep that to yourself at the party, okay?” I glance at her in the rearview mirror before backing out of the parking spot, and she mimes zipping her lips, locking them, and flicking away the key.
Gabby turns so she can face me and Lauren, who’s behind my seat. “Lauren and I have talked about that. She knows already, right Lauren?”
Nodding, Lauren makes unintelligible sounds.
“What?”
“Mm mmmf mm mmphed,” she says.
With a chuckle, Gabby shakes her head. “She locked her mouth and threw away the key, so she can’t talk.” She rolls her eyes. “It might be better for all of us if she stays that way all night.”
“Hey!” shouts Lauren.
Gabby grins, leaning closer to me. “I knew that would work.”
I laugh at the two of them. For getting paired together randomly as roommates, it’s been a good fit. They get along well and have become good friends. Even though I was a little concerned about having an extra person along tonight, having Lauren with us should be fun.
Bouncing as close as the seatbelt lets her, Lauren grabs the back of my seat. “Jonathan. I assume you have hot friends?”
“Uh,” I cut my eyes to the side to look at Gabby, who doesn’t say anything. “I guess so.”
“Good. I expect to be introduced to all of them right away. Or at least the single ones. Then I’ll stay out of your hair so you two can make out or whatever it is you do at these kinds of parties when you’re on the verge of being old and boring.”
“Old and boring, huh?”
She grins in response.
“I didn’t hear you complaining about that when you were begging for an invite.”
Sitting back, she crosses her arms. “I did not beg.” Gabby snorts next to me, and I glance at her, grinning.
“I didn’t!” Lauren protests. “Anyway, begging aside, I didn’t have any plans tonight, and you made it sound like fun. All sophisticated, with people hanging out and drinking cocktails and eating hors d’oevres and crap.”
I laugh some more, shaking my head. “I don’t remember saying any of that.”
She rolls her eyes. “Well, you said it would be low key, with people hanging out, food and drinks, and probably some music.”
“Yeah. It’ll probably be craft beer, maybe some liquor, and easy snacks. Nothing fancy or sophisticated.”
“Well, it sure sounds better than another frat party, with a keg of cheap beer, loud music that by definition blows, and douches hitting on you nonstop wearing belt buckles that say Free Rides. I’ll take my chances at your low-key, upperclassman house-party hangout, thankyouverymuch.”
I glance at her in the mirror again before turning onto a side street to find a place to park. We passed the house already, and the block is pretty full. Fortunately, we find a spot right around the corner. I cut the engine and turn to face Lauren. “How terrible for you that you’ve discovered the reality of frat parties so early in your college career.”
She flips me off before opening her door and getting out. I climb out too, meeting her and Gabby on the sidewalk, where Gabby shivers and huddles into my side.
I wrap my arm around her, letting her under the open side of my leather jacket. “Seriously, Gabby. You should pick a day to go shopping with Lauren. You really do need something warmer than that little sweater.”
Pursing her lips, she shoots me a glare. “Fine. We’ll go tomorrow. Happy?”
“Uh …”
Lauren grabs Gabby’s other arm. “Yay! I know better than to assume you’ll stay in the dorm on a Saturday night. Hell, if tonight goes well, I might not either.” She gives us both a cheeky grin. “The malls open at noon on Sunday, so I’
ll text you at one, and we can go then.”
“Wait—“
But before Gabby even registers my protest, she’s nodding. “Yeah, that sounds great.”
It’s stupid, but I feel cut out, and I don’t like it. I’d planned on spending all weekend with Gabby. It was bad enough that she had to go back to her dorm to get ready for the party tonight. Tomorrow we’re supposed to work on one of my songs, she’ll practice, and I’ll take her back to her dorm at eleven. Unless I can convince her to stay over again. Since the first time she stayed over on a school night a few weeks ago, I’ve managed to convince her to do it twice more.
If I had my way, she’d stay over every night. But I haven’t even brought that up. She’s still eighteen, her birthday not until next month, and she deserves the college experience of living in the dorms and having fun. That doesn’t mean I won’t hijack that when I can, though.
I haven’t even said the L word yet. I’ve thought it plenty of times, especially when I hold her in my arms after we’ve made love. Yes, that’s how I think about it with her. Every time. Even when it’s hard and fast, we’re making love. Because in the six weeks or so since we met, she’s taken over. She owns me, and she doesn’t even know it.
When I open the door, Gabby slips out from under my arm and gives me a quick smile, heading inside with Lauren right behind her. I follow them in, seeing who’s around, shrugging out of my jacket, and holding out my hand for Gabby’s sweater and Lauren’s jacket. I’ll add them to the pile of coats in one of the bedrooms.
“Hey, Jonathan. Glad you could make it, man.” My friend Jake steps past a group of people blocking the living room from the entryway. He lives here with his girlfriend, Sophie. They like having people over at least once a month. Jake plays guitar too, and we sometimes jam together when I get tired of playing on my own. He knows about my previous life as a boyband one-hit wonder, and likes to give me shit about it by always playing our most famous song when we jam together, but we have fun.
Jake glances over at Gabby and Lauren, his eyebrows raising as he looks back at me. “And who are your friends?”
“This is Gabby. My girlfriend,” I say, tangling my fingers with hers and tugging her closer to me. I nod at Lauren. “And this is her friend and roommate Lauren.”
Jake holds out his hand to each of them. I notice that Lauren’s hand lingers in his as she rakes her eyes over him. Clearing his throat, Jake pulls his hand back and stuffs it in his pocket.
Grinning, I decide to help him out. “How’s Sophie doing? I haven’t seen the two of you in a while.”
Lauren’s face falls just a little before she recovers as she catches on to the fact that Jake is taken. She starts scanning the room as Jake answers.
“Good. She’s in the kitchen opening some more drinks.”
“Still pushing for a ring?” I ask.
He chuckles, rubbing a hand over the reddish scruff on his face. “Yeah. You know how it goes.” His eyes cut to Gabby, and I make a noncommittal sound in response, starting to guide her toward the living room. We don’t need to get into that. Fortunately, she and Lauren seem to be having a conversation that I’m not following, and I don’t think she caught what Jake said.
With a nod to Jake, we start to move off. “We should get together soon and play. I have some new songs you should hear.”
“More new stuff? You’re just cranking it out lately. You should play some tonight.”
I laugh, even though I know he’s not joking, and shake my head. “I don’t think so. I’m sure everyone would prefer what you’ve got playing anyway.”
Gabby looks up at me, her brows lifted. “What happened to accepting compliments gracefully?”
Aware of Jake smirking in the background, I stop and look down at her. “Yeah, and if that were a compliment, I would’ve. He’s trying to coerce me into playing, though. It’s different.”
She snorts and shakes her head, and Jake’s grin widens, but I ignore him. “What higher compliment is there than someone specifically requesting to hear your music?”
My mouth opens, but I don’t have an answer for that. Jake has a sudden coughing fit that poorly disguises his laughter at overhearing us. I narrow my eyes at him, and he holds up his hands. “Sounds like she’s got you roped in. I’ll get out my guitar for whenever you’re ready.”
Before I can protest, he disappears down the hall. I run my hand through my hair and sigh. He always tries to get me to play at these things. Every so often I give in. But I played last time I was here in August, mostly covers of some of my favorite bands right now. Jake had been annoyed I didn’t play the new song I’d been working on at the time, but that was before Gabby helped me fix it.
Now I don’t appear to have a choice. Jake knows that song is in good shape, because I stupidly told him when I saw him on campus a couple of weeks ago, not realizing he’d use that knowledge against me. Or that my girlfriend would sell me out like this.
Gabby stops, placing herself in front of me to get my full attention. “Hey. What’s wrong? Do you really not want to play?” Her eyes are large and concerned.
“No, it’s fine. I just—I prefer to keep a low profile.” I gesture around. “The ones here who know me know that. But I don’t know everyone, and if someone finds out who I am and sells pictures of me to the tabloids? Then I have to go back to how I used to live when Brash was a big deal. At least until they latch onto some other story. And while we had a lot of fun playing shows and meeting fans, I don’t miss getting followed around by photographers doing the most boring things. Like going to the grocery store.”
“And I just helped your friend rope you into playing.”
I force a small smile, pulling her close and dropping a kiss on her forehead. “I could say no if I really wanted to. But he’d hound me all night until I agreed.”
Lifting one shoulder in a half shrug, Gabby gives me a crooked grin. “Live music is better than recordings any day, so I get that. Why wouldn’t he want his former rock star friend to play at his party?”
I chuckle. “I’m not sure I’d call myself a former rock star. More like a washed-up one-hit wonder.”
Tsking, she lays one hand on my chest. “And you accuse me of self-esteem issues.”
“You do have self-esteem issues.” I grin.
“Yeah, well, so do you it seems.” Her dark eyes meet mine, and even though her smile still pulls at her lips, her eyes are serious. “You’re amazing, and you need to start believing it.”
My lips twist when I realize I said the same words to her a few weeks ago. “Easier said than done, huh?”
She chuckles. “Isn’t everything?”
“Good point.” I kiss her on the mouth. “Fine. I’ll play. I’ll even play the new stuff.”
With a grin, she takes a step back. “You sound so put out. Like you don’t like performing.”
Chuckling, I follow her back to the kitchen to get some drinks. “No, performing’s the part I miss the most.”
“I know,” she says over her shoulder.
And that’s why I can’t stay away from her. No one else understands that like she does.
Chapter Eighteen
Gabby
After getting drinks, we make our way through the party, stopping to talk to people who make eye contact with Jonathan so he can introduce us.
As we make the rounds, Jonathan points out the single guys to Lauren. She’s polite to all of them, but she makes a special effort for the guys she finds attractive.
Everyone is friendly, and they include me in their conversations as though I’ve always been part of their group. Lauren split off from us after the first round of introductions. I catch glimpses of her now and again—talking to one guy on the couch, dancing with another a while later, in the kitchen getting a refill.
After an hour or so, we’re sitting on the couch talking to some of Jonathan’s friends from the English department. They’re all in Literary Criticism together and discussing their latest test, and
even though I’m literally in the middle of the conversation in my place on Jonathan’s lap, I’m not really following it since I have nothing to contribute. From the doorway leading into the hall, I catch sight of Jake, guitar in hand. He meets my eyes, holding up the guitar and nodding at Jonathan.
I tap Jonathan’s shoulder, and he interrupts himself mid-sentence. “What’s up?”
Following my gaze to where Jake is standing, he sits up straighter, his chest expanding as he takes a deep breath. With a quick smile at his friends, he clears his throat and says, “It looks like I’m the entertainment tonight, and Jake’s apparently ready for me to play.”
I smile down at him as I stand up. “You got to hear me at my concert earlier this week. Now it’s my turn to hear you.”
He gives me a reluctant smile in return. But despite his attempts to get out of playing, he strides over to Jake and takes the guitar without any hesitation.
A glance at his friends still seated around me shows that they’re looking forward to this too. One of them, a tall, thin guy with flyaway blond hair, leans in close to me. “Does he play for you very often?”
“Um, I dunno. A few times a week, probably. He likes to get my opinion on his new songs.”
Blond guy looks at me with greater appreciation. “Really?”
I nod. “I’m a music major.”
Before the conversation can go any further, Jonathan clears his throat from his place on a large, fluffy ottoman in the middle of the living room. He pulls the guitar pick from his mouth that I know he had in his pocket. He always carries one with him, even though half the time he doesn’t even use it when he plays.
“So, Jake here is making me play. He says I have to play some of my new stuff tonight.” This statement is met with clapping, laughter, and a few enthusiastic shouts of encouragement. Jonathan holds up a hand, a self-deprecating grin on his lips. “Thanks. Okay. Well, at least I know Jake’s not the only one who wants to hear it. I’m going to save those for last, though, and start off with a few things I think you’ll recognize.”
Double Exposition (Songs and Sonatas Book 1) Page 11
