“Hailey has been behaving weird recently,” Cami muses. “I don’t know what’s gotten into her. Especially to do this. She should have known that her magazine friend would pounce on this story.”
“Of course she should have. She probably didn’t think it through. Sound familiar?” I grumble.
“Yeah,” Cami sighs. “Are you very angry with her?” she adds cautiously.
“I’m afraid angry doesn’t begin to cover it. She’s definitely gone too far this time.”
“This time? What else did she do?”
“For one, I only accepted Linden’s first invitation to dinner because she kept interfering and saying I should. Then she kept complaining about anything and everything, and now she goes and blabbers to her paparazzi friend that I’m having an affair.” I sigh. “It’s enough. And it’s not my fucking fault she got herself a hillbilly boyfriend who can’t finish anything. She must be really jealous to stoop this low.”
“You mean Logan?”
“Yeah. He moved here, but she pays all the bills. He’s too lazy to look for a job. Didn’t she tell you that?”
Cami shakes her head. “No. She didn’t say anything. But now I can see why she’s been so grumpy and irritable recently.”
“Still, that doesn’t give her the right to run her mouth about me to the damn press. My father is practically having seizures. He thinks these people are telling the truth!” I snap. “And now I’m in for an entire summer of those ‘you’re my daughter and I’m asking myself what I did wrong’ looks that he’ll be giving me.”
Cami grins, and I glare at her for finding this funny. “Sorry, but it just sounds so absurd.”
I shake my head with a deep sigh as we reach Cami’s. I stop the car again and break into slightly hysterical laughter. “I feel as if I’m going completely insane.”
“No, you’re not. Don’t be scared.” She smiles and hugs me. “Drive to his house, lock yourself in, and enjoy the peace and quiet with him. If that’s possible with his friends there as well.”
“I’ll try my best,” I breathe and pull away.
“Call me once you’ve made it to the Big Apple, okay?”
“Will do.” I kiss her on the cheek, and then she gets out and walks up the stairs to the front door, where Delsin is waiting for her. He waves, and I wave back.
Thankfully, there are no more close encounters on the way to Linden’s house, but the day is officially over and done with for me. My disappointment with Hailey runs too deep. I wonder how she reckons she can make up for what she did—or whether she even thinks about such things at all.
***
The next morning, as we carry our suitcases downstairs into the hallway, Linden suddenly asks, “Do you have your boarding pass?”
My eyebrows shoot up in shock. “You said it was a private plane and I didn’t need a ticket,” I remind him.
He winks at me. “Okay, I’m glad you pay attention.” Then he grabs me and presses a kiss to my lips. “What’s wrong? You’ve been tense ever since you got here yesterday afternoon.”
I take a deep breath before telling him. “Hailey was the one who told the press. A friend of hers works for some magazine, and of course they pounced on the information she provided so casually.”
He merely snorts. “I don’t understand why she calls herself your best friend.”
“I’ve been asking myself the same question since she told me yesterday,” I whine, and he pulls me into a comforting embrace. I lean into him and close my eyes. “I am so sorry. I never thought she would do a thing like that.”
“It’s not your fault. Some people just don’t think, and you trusted her. Don’t beat yourself up about it, babe.”
I nod and swallow, feeling close to tears. I feel defensive and hurt and guilty, and I would understand if he broke up with me over this, but he understands. I’m still at a loss as to what Hailey was thinking. Probably nothing at all, but that doesn’t make it any better.
“Sir, the car is ready,” I hear Grayston’s voice behind us.
“Thank you, Gray.” Linden lets go of me and takes my hand. We walk out to the limousine and get in. “I’m going to miss good old Miami.”
“And I’m going to miss you when I get back on that plane on Monday,” I whisper. “I’ll have to make do without you for weeks.”
He leans close and kisses me again, but this kiss is special. It’s tender and meaningful, the first time he’s kissed me like this. “I have an idea of what we could do, but it would be sort of jumping the gun.”
I look at him questioningly. “What are you talking about?”
“You could transfer to a distance-learning university, finish your studies there, and live with me,” he says.
I shake my head and look straight ahead. “No, I can’t do that.”
“Why not?”
“Because, as you said, it would be jumping the gun, Linden.”
“So what?” he says with a half smile.
The limousine rolls off the premises, and I put my head on his shoulder. “It sounds wonderful, but we don’t even have anything serious going.”
“I want it to become something serious, Thalia,” he murmurs, caressing my temple. “You would make me incredibly happy if you said you want the same.”
“Then you should convince me that a steady relationship with you is exactly what I need.” I giggle, feeling a little breathless.
“You’d have me, my loyalty, and my heart,” he says softly, sounding suddenly shy.
“You call that convincing?” I tease quietly.
He grins. “Most definitely.”
“Okay then,” I breathe, unable to hide the wide smile on my lips.
Linden smiles back at me warmly when I look up at him. “Does that mean you’re now officially my girlfriend and no longer a home-wrecking affair?” he asks with a smirk.
“Only if you never call me that again,” I say.
He laughs. “I promise, my sweet, home-wrecking affair.”
I sit up and pinch his chest. “You better be careful if you want me to be yours,” I warn.
“You’re already mine.”
“That’s true.” I all but throw myself at him, kissing him passionately. Afterwards, I give him a pleading look. “Could you do anything about that whole affair gossip crap? My father’s having seizures, and I’m going to have to listen to his rants forever if they don’t broadcast some sort of correction soon.”
“I promise I’ll take care of everything, babe.”
“Thank you,” I breathe, before putting my lips on his once again.
We are so lost in making out that we barely realize when we’ve reached the airport. Leaning against the door, Linden almost falls out of the car when Grayston opens it for him.
Grayston apologizes profusely, but Linden calms him. Nothing happened, so he won’t lose his job over this nothing. We get out and walk over to where the jet is waiting. I’m not anxious at all, because I love flying, and I’ve even been in a private jet before. Last summer, when we all flew from Austin to Miami in Delsin’s dad’s plane.
“Hi,” Linden greets his early-riser friends as we step into the cabin.
“Hello, you guys,” Gavin replies with a smile, while Alexis, Mike, and Azer are engrossed in a discussion.
I smile back at him, but Linden is already dragging me along into the back room, which happens to be some sort of bedroom. He slams the door shut and pushes me down onto the bed. “Whoa! Don’t you at least want to wait until takeoff?” I ask, taken by surprise.
“That is the best moment,” he murmurs, before slipping on top of me and sealing my mouth with his lips. While our tongues are circling and playing with each other, he pulls down the spaghetti-straps of my top. Then he breaks the kiss and moves farther down to free my breasts from the cups of my bra. The tip of his tongue swirls around my perky nipple, which in turn pebbles even more, becoming almost unbearably sensitive. His touch sends small flashes to my crotch, and I rub myself against the
bulge in his pants. He keeps my nipple between his teeth as he first pulls my skirt up and then my panties down.
“Do you really want a quickie right now?” I ask breathlessly.
“I’d love to make it last, but in about twenty minutes, one of those morons is going to knock on this door,” Linden explains in a low voice. “That’s a conservative guess. Could only be ten minutes.” He stands and opens the fly on his jeans, pulling them down to his knees.
“And what about what I want?” I ask.
“What do you want?”
“Could you lock that door?”
“Of course.” He turns and locks the door.
I slip out of my clothes quickly, because I don’t like wearing anything when I have sex. When he stands in front of the bed again, I rise and pull his shirt over his head.
He smirks. “I must admit I like it better like this.” When he’s chucked off his jeans, he lifts me up and pushes me against the wall.
“Condom,” I remind him.
He already has the small square packet in his hand. “It’s your turn to do it.”
I tear it open and roll the condom over and down his hard length, after he’s moved back a little so I can maneuver. When he’s covered, he presses me against the dividing wall again and thrusts into me. I react with a loud moan.
“You’re so damn hot, Thalia,” he growls and starts thrusting harder.
I tilt my head back and close my eyes. “Oh God.” The wall is a little cool against my back, but it’s not bothering me at all.
My legs are wrapped around him, and the way he has me pushed up against the wall, I can move a little, which I do. We whip each other into a frenzy of desire. Linden moans loudly and tenses, and I move faster so we can come simultaneously.
The moment my orgasm is about to hit me, he discharges into me, and I follow him mere seconds later.
Linden gives me a lingering kiss and then puts me down on the bed. “Don’t run away.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it.” I smile, while he opens a second door. Probably a bathroom.
I pull the sheets over my naked body and close my eyes. Suddenly, I hear a chuckle. “Would you like to take a nap before we land?”
“How long will we be in the air?”
“A little less than three hours.”
“Are you going to lie down with me?” I ask softly as I look up at him.
He nods and snuggles up to me, wrapping me in his arms.
I nestle against his warm, athletic body and close my eyes again. “I could get used to flying like this.”
Linden laughs softly. “Yeah, me too.”
Then, finally, there is the predicted knock. “Hey, you lovebirds in there. Are you coming out any time soon, or are you going to spend the next two hours locked up in there as well?”
“Get lost, Alexis. We want some privacy,” Linden calls out in an amused tone.
“That is virtually impossible in a private jet, but okay.” I hear his retreating steps.
“I’m keeping you from them,” I say. “Maybe we should get dressed and go sit with them?”
“Let’s stay in here a little longer. Half an hour, and then we go out and join them, okay?”
“Okay,” I sigh.
The half hour passes more quickly than I expected.
“Come on.” Linden grins and pulls away the sheets that cover me. “You were the one who said we needed to go out there. Now we will.”
Grudgingly, I slide off the bed and collect my clothes from the floor, getting dressed again. He studies me as he puts his clothes back on. “What?” I ask, because his gaze feels scorching hot.
The corners of his mouth twitch, and then he offers me a dazzling smile. “I just like looking at you, Thalia.”
I cock my head to one side. “Why?” I probe with a grin.
“Because … I’ve fallen in love with you.”
“Why?”
“Why do I love you? Because you’re simply amazing.” Then he cocks his head to the other side. “Do you love me?”
I swallow. “I think I do.”
“Why?” Linden echoes my probing question.
“Why have I fallen in love with you?”
He nods.
I stand straight, smoothing my skirt, and finally look into his eyes. “I have no idea. You need to ask my heart, because my common sense was arguing against it right from the beginning.”
Linden pulls me into his arms and kisses me on the corner of my mouth. “That isn’t exactly the answer I was expecting, but I think I’ll be content with it for now.” He smirks.
I laugh softly. “For now, it’s the only explanation I have, Linden.”
“As I said, I’ll be satisfied with it for now.” We leave the bedroom compartment and walk out to join the rest of his band. The guys are lounging in the comfy seats of the main cabin; Azer is lying on the couch. Linden holds my hand as we walk in and sit down.
“There you are. How was love-birding?” Alexis asks.
“Jealous?” Linden counters with a wide grin.
“Me? Never!” he professes in an amused tone and then focuses his attention back on the TV, which is turned on, with its volume bordering on the painful.
Azer is snoring despite the noise, while Gavin seems to be reading. His nose is buried in a book.
“What are you reading, Gavin?” I ask curiously, because I can’t read the title from where I sit.
He lifts his head and looks at me. “It’s a fantasy novel about a blood-thirsty vampire.”
“Oh,” I pout. “Not my genre.”
“What genres do you like?” he asks.
“The classics, romance, and sometimes high fantasy.”
“Interesting.” He nods. “Sorry, I’m gonna get back to mine now, because we rarely have time for a bit of quiet reading,” he explains, before directing his gaze on the page again.
“Seems as if we should have stayed in the bedroom,” Linden murmurs in my ear. “I spend most of the year with them, but I have so little time with you.”
I nod, tuck a strand of my hair behind ear, and then put my head on his shoulder. “They’re your friends, and I don’t want them to think I’m keeping you from them,” I whisper, hoping that none of them can hear me.
“We don’t think that,” Alexis chimes in. “Trish is much worse.”
Linden gives him a look that makes Alexis clear his throat. “Was. She was worse.”
My head jerks toward him. “Is or was?” I look back at Linden.
“She was … Alexis just misspoke,” he says calmly.
I’m not convinced and repeat my question to Alexis. “Is or was?”
“Was, Thalia. I just slipped there, really,” he says with an apologetic shrug. “Hey, she spent years traveling with us; I still need to get used to the change.”
Am I really supposed to be comforted by that? I think. It doesn’t ring true. I’ve already spent the better part of a week with these guys. So what’s the deal here?
***
Hello, New York City, I’m here to explore you, I sing in my head as I step out of the private jet. There was a lot of silence after Alexis’s curious slip, and I must admit that it greatly annoyed me. But now I am here and determined to have a good time.
“What do you want to see first?” Linden asks.
“Your apartment,” I say with a smile.
“Then let’s go there,” he agrees, grabbing my hand and leading me to a large Range Rover.
“You’re driving an SUV in Manhattan?” I ask, surprised.
“Why not?” Linden asks.
“Because this isn’t exactly four-wheel territory,” I answer.
“So? I just bought the car I wanted to own.”
“Okay,” I say, batting my eyelashes at him.
With a mischievous smile, he opens the door for me and helps me climb the high step so I can get in. When I’m seated, he closes the door and walks around the car. Then he gets in behind the wheel and drives out of the parking lot.
“Did each of you leave your own cars here at the charter airport?” I ask, considering the probable cost.
“I have no idea what the others did. I just asked my brother to have my car brought here so we don’t have to ride in the limousine,” Linden explains. “I don’t like to attract attention when I’m off duty.”
I lean back and listen to the music coming from the stereo. Closing my eyes, I sing along softly.
“You know this is one of our songs, right?”
I keep my eyes closed but let my lips curve into a smile. “I didn’t know that, but this is the only song of yours that I’d heard on the radio before I met you.”
“It’s one of our very first breakthrough hits, when we still had a bit of an attitude. Currently we’re told to stick to soft, cuddly pop songs, because that’s what sells.”
I chuckle. “You’ve told me that much before.”
“Oh. Oops. Sorry.”
“Not a problem. I tend to tell people the same things several times, too. I just forget that I’ve already mentioned stuff.” I open one eye and see his handsome grin.
He’s quiet for a long moment and then finally laughs. “The only thing you keep repeating to me is the fact that I used to be engaged.”
“I know. I had to remind myself that you were off limits. I don’t date men who are already taken.”
Linden laughs louder. “Oh, I know that already.”
I join in his laughter. “See? I like to repeat myself, too.”
He takes my hand and focuses on the traffic, the busy street. We’ve probably landed smack in the middle of the infamous rush hour, because the view ahead of us is like a caravan plodding lazily through town.
This is the first time I’ve ever been to New York. Everything is so big and tall here. Very different than Austin, where there are a lot of smaller buildings interspersed with the skyscrapers. Here, everything seems to rise and loom. I stare out at the buildings, vehicles, and people, until Linden turns into an underground parking lot.
“Here we are,” he announces.
Right behind us, a limousine is driving into the lot. It looks familiar. “Is that the rest of the gang?”
“Yeah.”
“Do you guys share an apartment?”
Linden: Rocking Pleasure: New Adult College Romance (Coral Gables Series Book 3) Page 19
