“Yes.” She replies without emotion.
“I’m from Westchester.”
“Oh.”
“How long are you staying in London?”
She shrugs. “About a month or so.”
Cath’s eyes start roaming the room and I can’t help but wonder if she is trying to find someone better to talk to. She lets out a deep sigh and turns me to me, flashing a fake smile.
“How long have you been with Tyler?” She asks.
“A year and a half.” I say happily.
She narrows her eyes as she studies my face. “You’re a caterer or something right?”
“A baker actually.”
She gives me a whole body onceover. “You’re a baker? Hmm...have you ever even eaten a cupcake before?”
I shake my head and give her an odd look, feeling taken aback by her question. “Of course I have. I eat them all the time.”
“Hmmm...you’re awfully thin for someone that claims to eat a lot of cake.”
“You’re thin.” I observe.
She lets out a tight, bemused laugh. “Yeah but playing a show is a workout in itself. It’s a lot different from sitting on a stool and squirting icing on cupcakes or mixing cookie batter with a gigantic mixer. Pushing buttons isn’t going to keep you in shape. I mean, all these cupcakes you eat are going to catch up with your thighs at some point.”
Cath leans forward and peeks around my backside. “Looks like they may have already hit your ass...you may want to do some squats or something.”
“I’m sorry...have I done something to offend you?”
“No, you haven’t done anything to offend me.”
“Then what exactly is your problem?”
Cath shoots another icy glare in my direction and jabs one long, slender finger in my face. “You...you are my problem.”
I am about to question her again when the band takes the stage. Cath’s eyes go moony as she bites her bottom lip and waves. I turn around to see who she is waving at and notice Tyler wave back to her.
Wait a minute here...does she? She does, doesn’t she?
I turn back towards Cath who is smiling from ear to ear, her eyes locked in on every move Tyler makes.
I lean in close to her. “Don’t even think about it.”
She glances at me with an innocent look on her face. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“As long as we have an understanding that Tyler is taken and by taken I mean unavailable to the opposite sex then we are good.”
Cath rolls her eyes. “Not everybody wants your boyfriend you know. Does Tyler know how possessive you are? I mean surely he wouldn’t want to be with someone that harbors such an ugly quality. Maybe he needs a good friend to fill him in.”
It is my turn to roll my eyes. “Oh please, he’s known you for what...two, three days? He’s been with me for a year and a half but by all means tell him whatever you want.”
“There you are! I went to order a drink and I turned around and you were gone!” Chloe says as she appears next to me. Her eyes dart back and forth between me and Cath. “Whoa...what did I miss?”
“Nothing,” I say. “Chloe, this is Cath. Tyler asked me to hang out with her.”
“I don’t need a babysitter.” Cath pipes in.
“Hello everybody, we are Subzero,” Noah’s voice calls out. “Is everybody ready to rock?”
Everyone around us starts screaming. Tyler raises his drumsticks over his head and taps them together to count the band in. Noah grabs the microphone and starts singing as Dean and Jack begin jamming on their guitars. Within seconds, the majority of the crowd is jumping up and down, singing along with them.
Chloe leans in between me and Cath and shouts. “Do you guys wanna get closer?”
“I’d love to get closer to them.” Cath says coyly.
She places one hand on my shoulder and one hand on Chloe’s, pushes us apart and walks right between us, towards the stage with an accomplished smile on her face. Chloe looks shocked at first but then moves her hand up to her lips in an attempt to suppress her laugh. Shaking her head, she puts her arm around my shoulder and pulls me in close to her.
“I know what you are thinking and I’m telling you, it’s not a good idea.” She says.
“Give me one good reason why.”
“Whatever she’s got you all rattled up about isn’t worth it.”
“I think she has a thing for Tyler.”
Chloe’s mouth forms an O and she glances back and forth between Cath and Tyler. “I don’t know, she seems to be checking them all out equally and anyway it doesn’t really matter if she has a thing for him. He has a thing for you. That boy has been all about you from day one.”
“You’re right. I’m not even going to worry about her. Let’s get out there.”
I grab Chloe’s hand and we move through the crowd of people jumping up and down and bopping their heads. We stop close to the stage and start moving to the beat of the music. I glance over to where Cath was standing a few moments before but she isn’t there anymore. I give a quick look around and don’t see her anywhere. Oh well, it’s like she said, she doesn’t need a babysitter.
Chapter Six – Tyler
I absolutely love my job. There isn’t anything else in the world I would rather be doing, but every once in a while I catch a glimpse of her dancing to our music and I would give just about anything to be out there with my arms around her, holding her body close to mine as we move to the music together. This is one of those moments.
I can’t stop watching her. The way her body moves captivates me and demands my attention, which every part of me happily gives her and I do mean every part. I have to force myself to look away from her before I mess up. I can’t keep my eyes off of her for long though.
My word she is gorgeous.
Sometimes I still can’t believe she’s mine. What she originally saw and continues to see in me I will never know but God I’m glad she chose me.
Our set ends and I jump up, shove my drum sticks into my back pocket and leap off of the stage. A couple of people pat me on the back and congratulate me for a good set. Normally, I would stop and chat with them, maybe drink a pint or two but not tonight. There is a beautiful woman on my radar and I won’t be satisfied until she is in my arms, attached to my lips and, hopefully, calling out my name in a voice that is filled with hunger, want and need for me and my touch.
Quickly and confidently I stride across the room, walking right up behind her. My arms wrap tightly around Abby’s waist and she tilts her head back to look at me. I don’t waste a second before plunging my tongue into her mouth. She reaches her hand behind me and grips the back of my neck. I break our kiss just long enough to spin her around and, once I do, my lips take possession of hers again.
My hands grip the sides of her hips tightly, pulling her as close to me as I possibly can. My lips move slowly across her jawline and down to her neck, where I nip my teeth against her warm skin. Her breath hitches and I nearly lose it.
“I want you.” I whisper into her ear.
“So take me.” She whispers back.
“Now?”
“Now.”
I grab her hand, pulling her out of Barnaby’s, not bothering to let anyone know I was going anywhere. Once we are outside, I turn quickly, yanking her towards me. Her lips part as her body falls against mine.
“I don’t think I can wait until we get home.”
She stares up at me, her brown eyes sparkling with lust and desire.
“I can’t either.” She says breathily.
I pull her down the alleyway next to Barnaby’s, walking down far enough so that no one that happens to pass by will be able to see us. I press her firmly against the brick side of the building. My fingers dive into her silky brown hair as my lips hungrily and eagerly find hers. Abby runs her hands up and down my chest and stomach a couple of times before moving to undo my belt buckle. Without undoing my trousers, she grabs the side of them and pulls t
hem down. Then she slips her hand inside my boxers and grabs ahold of me and I groan against her mouth.
I trail my fingertips lightly up her thighs, loving the way it makes her body shiver beneath my touch. Hooking my fingers into the sides of her panties, I slip them down her bare legs. She quickly steps out of them as I move my hands up the inside of her skirt. I grab ahold of the backs of her legs where her thighs meet her bottom and lift her up. Her legs wrap around my waist and I move one of my hands so that I can guide myself inside of her.
Her fingertips dig hard into the back of my neck and my hands remain firm on her legs, holding her steady as I swiftly move in and out of her. Our breathing is quick and rapid, our kisses needy and desperate. Abby throws her head back, closes her eyes and bites her lower lip and I know she is close. I have never been so turned on before and the look of ecstasy on her face right now is all I need to slip over the edge right along with her.
I lean my forehead against hers and stare deep into her wild brown eyes.
“I love you.” She says breathily.
“I love you too.”
I slide out of her and set her feet back down on the ground. She grabs her panties and slips her feet in them, pulling them up her legs as I pull up my trousers and redo my belt. I grab her hand, pull it up to my mouth and gently kiss it.
I groan inside at the thought that we are going to have to go back inside of Barnaby’s. I want nothing more than to take Abby home and give her a repeat performance. Only we would be able to take our time, rock slowly against each other, enjoy each other’s bodies. I would do that too if I hadn’t left all of my stuff inside.
“I hate to do this, love, but we’re going to have to go back in there for a minute.” I say regretfully.
“Oh God, do you think they know what we were doing?”
I open my mouth and pause. “If they saw us making out like that before running out the door...” I trail off and lift my shoulders up.
“That’s embarrassing.” She says, her cheeks flushing slightly.
“They’ve all done it, plus, I mean, we just had sex outside where anyone could have seen us, no sense in getting embarrassed at this point.”
We walk back into Barnaby’s, which is nearly empty now. Noah, Dean, Jack and Chloe, who are standing by the bar, start clapping and catcalling when they see us walk in. Cath is standing by them with her arms crossed over her chest and an annoyed look on her face.
“We’re done here if you two have somewhere else you need to be.” Noah says, grinning slyly.
“I was actually wondering if Tyler could give me a ride back to the hotel.” Cath pipes up.
Everyone looks at me, including Abby, who now has an odd look on her face. I open my mouth, trying to figure out how to respond, when Dean walks over and puts his arm around Cath’s shoulders.
“I think they have plans. I’ll give you a ride.” He tells her.
Cath nods, but doesn’t look thrilled, which causes Abby to narrow her eyes.
What is going on here?
“Alright, I’ll see you Monday then.” I say as I quickly pull Abby towards the back to grab my keys and my jacket.
I pull her towards the rear exit, leading us back out into the night and down the alley we had just been in.
“Did you drive?” I ask her.
“No, I called a cab.”
I nod, happy that I don’t have to part from her, even if it wouldn’t be for very long. We reach my car and she turns to me, her hand extended out, and palm facing up. I feel confused and it must show on my face.
“Keys,” She says. “Give ‘em to me.” She says.
“You realize it’s been a few hours since...”
“I don’t care. You were drinking and I’m not tempting fate here so...keys.”
“How much did you have to drink?” I ask her.
“I didn’t drink anything tonight.” She replies.
I start to hand her the keys and then pull back a little bit. “So wait a minute...you just totally went for it in the alley with me and you were completely sober?”
She glares at me and snatches the keys out of my hands but I can see the hint of a smile playing at her lips. “Get in the car McDermott.”
I slide in the passenger’s seat, recline the seat back and close my eyes. We were about halfway home when I remembered there was something I wanted to ask her about. I open my eyes back up and turn towards her.
“Can I ask what that was back there?”
“What are you talking about?”
“The dirty looks you gave Cath when she asked me for a ride.”
“She wants you.”
I start to laugh but immediately stop when Abby flashes me the look of death.
“She doesn’t want me.”
“Are you kidding me? She looks at you like she’s a wild animal and you’re her prey. It’s so obvious Tyler. I can’t believe you don’t see it.”
“She’s done nothing to make me believe it. This is the first time you’ve been around her. You aren’t around when it’s just her and I.”
“What do you mean just you and her?”
I roll my eyes. “I didn’t mean it like that Abby. We’ve been writing a song together so, yes, there are times were it is just her and I together. Might I also add that we are usually sitting outside? She’s a little flirty maybe but she hasn’t crossed any lines.”
“I’m going to look passed the fact that you just said she flirts with you.”
“People flirt Abby, it’s hardly a crime.”
“What about tonight and her last request from you?”
“Are you kidding me? She just wanted a ride to her hotel.”
It’s Abby’s turn to roll her eyes as she grips the steering wheel tighter. “Oh she wanted a ride alright, but it wasn’t a ride in your Audi she was after Tyler.”
Abby pulls the car into a spot in front of our building, turns off the car and jumps out, walking angrily across the parking lot.
This is ridiculous. How in the hell do we go from having an amazingly hot romp in the alley to arguing about another woman in the matter of an hour? Frustrated and annoyed, I climb out of the car and run after Abby. I catch up with her just as she is about to open up the door to our building. Grabbing her arm, I spin her around so that we are standing face to face.
“I’m not going to fight with you about Cath.” I say to her.
“I just wish you could see it.”
“Well I just wish you weren’t acting so jealous.”
Abby lets out an exasperated laugh. “This has nothing to do with jealousy so don’t go there. You know me better than that. You weren’t there with us Ty. You didn’t hear the things she said to me. You clearly didn’t see the way she was mooning at you while you were on stage.”
“I wasn’t the only one up there. She could have been looking at anyone up there.”
“I know what I saw.” Abby says as she flashes me a frosty glare.
I open the door to our building and move my arm in sweeping motion in front of me letting her know she could go in first.
Abby is right. I do know her and she has never been the jealous sort of girl. I am curious now as to what was said in the conversation she had with Cath. I wait until we are inside of our flat before I say anything else, just in case the conversation gets heated again. I certainly don’t want to put on a show for the neighbors.
I follow Abby into the bedroom and sit down on the edge of the bed, watching her as she kicks off her shoes.
“Do you mind telling me what she said to you?” I ask.
“Does it matter?” Abby says flatly.
I don’t speak for a moment as I watch Abby pull of her short black skirt and purple top. She reaches for a pair of blue and white pinstriped bottoms and a white tee. The pants are mine and my heart rate quickens at the sight of her in them. The way they hang off of her tiny hips drives me wild. I lick my lips and try to catch my breath before answering her.
“It matters to me and i
t obviously matters to you or you wouldn’t have brought it up.”
Abby turns around to face me with a frown. “She said I have fat thighs and suggested I do squats before I get a fat ass too.”
“That’s crazy, you’re not fat.”
“I know I’m not.”
“Maybe...I dunno...maybe she was kidding. Besides, that doesn’t explain why you think she wants me though.”
“I asked her what her problem was and she said it was me.”
“Are you sure...”
Abby’s hand flies out in front of her, her palm facing me, to cut me off. “I am going to pretend like you weren’t just about to ask me if I am sure she meant it like that. Yes, Tyler, she did. So you tell me, if she doesn’t have a thing for you then why does she have such a problem with me?”
I get up from the bed and walk over to where she is standing by her closet door. I reach my hand up and trace along her cheek with my fingertips before cupping my hand on the back of her head.
“Because she is jealous of your trim thighs and stellar ass...obviously.”
Abby’s lips quiver as she tries hard to not smile. “Okay...you win but I am telling you right now...”
I cut her off by drawing her face close to mine and kissing her fast and hard. “I know, I know...the first roadie you see.”
~*~
“I’m supposed to see if you and Abby can come round for supper tonight.” Jack says, plopping down in the seat next to me.
“Cath offered to teach me something on the guitar. I was going to see if she was free tonight.” I respond, not looking up from the lyrics in my hands.
“What are you doing mate?” Jack asks.
“I’m reading over these lyrics I wrote the other day with Noah and Ann. I feel like they are missing something.” I tap the paper with my index finger.
Jack snatches the paper out of my hands. “No, I didn’t mean what are you doing at this exact moment. I meant what are you doing with Cath?”
“What? I’m not allowed to have friends of the opposite sex now?” I ask.
“That girl does not want to just be friends and you know it. She wants to be the next girl you disappear into the alley with, if you know what I mean.”
Always in my Heart (The Subzero Series, #2) Page 4
