by Carian Cole
We haven't had sex since, though, and I'm sure part of that is because I fell back into a bit of shyness with him because I've been consumed with worry he may have been disappointed. He didn't even take my shirt off that night in bed, and maybe I'm being silly, but I don't know if it's because things happened rather quickly or because my body is that much of a turn-off for him. The words he said to me when we first met are still ricocheting around in my head, especially now.
Talon whips out his gold card at checkout, and I try not to faint at the amount of money he just spent. But I remind myself that most of these outfits we're designing will be purchased by his bandmates, the girls from Sugar Kiss, and the online orders I've been getting almost daily.
As we're walking across the parking lot with our cart, a young blond girl comes flying up to us seemingly out of nowhere as we're reaching our car.
"Talon! Hey!" She throws her arms around him, and he embraces her back with a big, startled smile on his face. She's absolutely gorgeous with long blond hair, pouty lips, green eyes, and a perfect, curvy body.
"Hey, sweetheart, what are you doing here?" Sweetheart? He doesn't even call me sweetheart.
They let each other go and she smiles up at him. "We stopped for coffee at the café next door," she motions to a rugged looking guy on a motorcycle a few parking spots away from us who's got huge, muscular arms covered in black tats and a short ponytail at the base of his neck. Wow. I guess good-looking people tend to run in flocks. Everyone Talon knows is either a gorgeous girl or an incredibly hot, muscular guy.
Talon raises his hand to the guy, and he in turn nods and waves back. "You're here with Toren?" he asks.
"Yeah…" She replies a bit too casually in a way I instantly hone in on. "He’s giving me a ride home. I just wanted a latte first."
"You know I can give you a ride if I'm not busy. Just call or text me."
I eye this girl without trying to make myself obvious. I have no idea who she could be. Friend? Ex-girlfriend? A fan, maybe?
"It's okay, Uncle Talon." She turns her smile to me. "So, is this your wife?" Oh my God, is this actually his niece I've been getting all jealous over for the past five minutes? Of course, now I can actually see a resemblance between them.
Talon smacks himself in the head. "Shit, where the hell are my manners? Asia, this is my niece, Kenzi. Kenzi, this is Asia."
I extend my hand to her. "It's so nice to meet you."
"I'm sorry I missed your wedding. I was out of town visiting my aunt.”
"I understand. I'm glad we're meeting now."
"Are you guys, like, shopping?"
"Yes, we are, like, shopping," Talon teases. "Asia makes some kick-ass clothes, so we're going to design some stage wear together."
"Ooh, that's rad! I need to see this stuff when you’re done. Can you make me some cool clothes too? I have a hard time finding clothes that fit me like I want them to.”
I nod at her excitement. "Of course. You can come over anytime you want and show me what you like, and I'll do my best to make it for you."
Her eyes go wide and she does a little jump. "That would be amazing! I better go. Tor's waiting."
She gives us each a quick hug and then skips across the lot to her friend.
"I didn’t know you had a niece," I comment as we put the bags in the backseat and climb into the front.
"Yeah, that's Asher's daughter."
"Oh! How old is she?"
"She's seventeen."
I watch them in the side-view mirror as they ride off on the motorcycle.
"He looks kind of old for her," I say.
Talon scoffs as he backs the car out. "They're not dating, Aze. She's known him since she was born; he's like family. He and Asher have been best friends since they were little kids."
I frown. "Hmm, he had his hand on her thigh when they pulled out of the lot."
"You're crazy, babe. He was probably just making sure she was holding on. She's kinda hyper. I'm not thrilled with her being on a motorcycle at her age, but Tor's a biker so he doesn't actually drive a car much. His family owns the bike place in town."
"Okay, it was just a gut feeling I got watching them."
"Hey, not my circus, not my monkeys." He pops his e-cig in his mouth. "Between her and my little sister, who is pretty much the same age, I'd lose my mind if I tried to get involved in all the things they do. I'm gonna save the parenting stress until I have my own kids."
I can't shake the idea that the way Toren touched her looked a little intimate, but if he's a family friend, then I'm sure it's okay and I'm overreacting.
"Good idea," I agree. "How many kids do you want, anyway?"
"Two would be nice. How about you?"
I nod as I stare out the window, trying to imagine being pregnant and having babies with him. I think he would make a good father once he grows up just a little bit. A vision of him shirtless holding a baby against his tattooed chest flashes through my mind. Damn, that would be so sexy. "I think two is good. One of each would be perfect."
"Are you on any birth control now?"
"It's a little late to ask now, isn't it?
He laughs a little. "Yeah, I guess it is. I figured you would’ve stopped me if you weren't. I wasn't trying to be irresponsible. It did cross my mind rather quickly, but I was a little bit distracted." He grabs my hand across the seat.
I give his hand a squeeze back. "It's all good. I'm on the pill, but I have been getting bad headaches, so I'm thinking about going on the patch."
"Is that safe? You don't get sick or anything?"
"I don't think so. I'd have to talk to my doctor about it. I don't have health insurance, so I haven't been able to go. I went on the pill three months ago when I found out we were getting married. Kat had to lend me the money to go to the doctor."
He turns to me and then quickly averts his eyes back to the road. "Baby…shit. I have private health insurance, and I never even thought to ask you about that. I'll call my agent and see about getting you on my plan or getting your own. Whatever you need, we'll get it."
"Talon, you don't have to do that. I've never had health insurance."
He squeezes my hand harder. "Asia, I'm supposed to take care of you. I'm an asshole for not thinking of this stuff sooner. I'm sorry."
"You don't have to apologize."
"Well, we're getting it straightened out. If you want to see your doctor before that, I want you to go. Just use the credit card I gave you."
"It can wait, hon. Really. Let me know what you find out and then I'll go. A few migraines aren't going to kill me."
"I know, but I don't like the idea of you feeling sick if I'm on tour. You'll be home alone and migraines are nasty. Asher and Storm get them sometimes."
"I've been alone for a long time; I'll be all right," I reassure him.
"I get that, but I still want to do what I can for you. So, no more debates."
I lean across the car and kiss his cheek. "You're a very sweet man." I rub my nose against his cheek and pull away, my insides doing little waves of happy bursts. I've never had anyone care about me like he does, and the fact that it's new for him makes me feel special.
AS SOON AS we get home, he carries all our new supplies to my craft room while I head to the kitchen to make us fruit smoothies.
"Come on, Pixie. Maybe I'll design you some badass cat clothes," he says as Pixie chases him down the hall. Lately, she's been riding on his shoulder, which I think is the most adorable, sexy thing I've ever seen. I posted a picture on social media, and it went viral in like an hour. Apparently, rock stars and kittens make girls go crazy.
When I join him in the craft room, he's sitting on the floor with all the supplies in front of him, his red Converse sneakers off and tossed to the side. And there, in the middle of everything, is Pixie rolling around. He picks her up and plops her to the side for the second time since I came into the room.
"How the hell do you do anything with this cat? I can't even cope."
/> Handing him his drink, I go to my desk and pull out a catnip toy from one of the drawers and toss it on the floor for her. Talon watches with interest as Pixie chases it and then rolls around on the floor with it.
"Aha. So you have secret weapons. I'll remember that."
"I usually work on the table, but if she starts to get annoying, I have to shut her out of the room. We can't have cat hair on the clothes. I usually roll everything with a lint roller before I mail it out to a customer or give it to someone."
He grins and stands up. "Let's buy a case of lint rollers, then. Okay, so tell me your process here. Do you sketch it first and then design it?"
I sip my drink and nod. "Usually, yes. Then I try to match the best fabric for the design. You'll start to see that some fabric works better for certain styles than others."
We spend the next few hours at the table going over different designs and fabrics, and I'm blown away to see he can actually draw like an artist. His sketches are amazing.
"Talon, seriously, is there anything you can't do?" I can't tear my eyes away from his sketches and how detailed they are. I'm even more excited now to actually start making these garments with him.
Closing the sketchbook, I put it off to the side of the desk. "Tomorrow we should start these," I say excitedly.
He closes the boxes we just organized all the supplies in and stacks them over in the corner where I keep them. "As soon as I get home from the studio we can. I'll try to get back here earlier than usual."
"That would be great. I'm gonna call Kat. I haven't talked to her in a few days, and she keeps texting me to see if I'm alive."
"Cool. I'll be on the porch playing some tunes. Come find me when you're done, and we'll watch a movie later if you want."
My rock star husband now does movie nights with me about three times a week, cuddled up on our huge wraparound couch in the living room, usually with the windows open so we can hear the crickets chirping and the wind chimes blowing in the breeze. Those are my favorite nights ever because they are the closest to normal we seem to get, and it’s almost easy to forget that we were total strangers when we got married. Sometimes I really think that missing out on the dating period of our relationship is the worst part of this experiment we agreed to. We missed out on most of the things people who are dating do, like calling each other, going on actual dates, finding out what the other person likes and dislikes, and ultimately deciding if we like the person enough to keep seeing them. I have a feeling if Talon and I had met on our own, we probably wouldn’t have made it past the first date.
I dial Kat's cell number but she doesn't answer, so I send her a quick text telling her everything is good and I'll call her tomorrow. I've been thinking about suggesting a double dinner date with her and Rob because the four of us haven't spent any time together other than when they stopped by briefly to bring us a housewarming gift when we first moved in. Unfortunately, everything was so chaotic that day we barely had a chance to talk at all.
I venture outside to the big front porch to find him sitting on the floor, barefoot with his legs stretched out in front of him, playing his acoustic guitar and singing softly. My heart nearly stops when I realize the song he's playing is "Hope Dies Last," and his voice is beautiful, filled with so much emotion that he sounds even better than the real vocalist who sings it. I kneel on the floor next to him, my feelings all over the map at hearing my husband singing a song I've loved for years. That song always seemed to play during a time in my life when I needed to hear it the most, like a sign not to give up hope.
"Wow," I say when he's finished. "That's my favorite song in the whole world. Every time I hear it, I swear it just takes me to a different place. You sang that even better than the original singer. I didn't even know you could sing."
He glances up and winks at me. "I wrote that when I was eighteen years old, believe it or not. It's always been my favorite too."
"Wait…that's an Ashes & Embers song?" I had no idea he was the one who wrote it and played that heart-wrenching guitar solo that brought me to tears more times than I can count, or that Asher was the singer. Just like that, I feel my heart and soul leap and fall, and I know I'll never be the same. I'm falling in love with him. I can't deny it to myself anymore.
He grins softly. "It sure is one of our songs, jelly bean. Part of the lyrics are what I put on your wedding band."
"Holy shit, I didn’t know that.” My God. Nothing could mean more to me. How did he know? It's like fate. "I've loved that song forever. You sing it even better than Asher. Why doesn't he let you sing it?"
Scowling, he shakes his head and lets out a sarcastic laugh. "It's hard to shine when you're surrounded by stars, baby. I don't get noticed much. They just take what I write."
"Then don't be a star, Talon. Be the moon. Shine above all of them." How unfair that his brothers don't let all his talents be of use to the band. He has an incredible voice. Why would they not want to let him sing? Especially a song he wrote?
He strums a few chords, looking off into the mountains wistfully. "You're very good for my soul, Asia. You know that?"
Kneeling closer to him, I lean forward and plant a soft kiss on his cheek.
His eyes light up in surprise and an adorable grin spreads across his lips. "What's that for?"
"Just an impulse."
"Got any more?"
As I lean in again to kiss his cheek, he turns and catches my lips with his. I don't pull away this time like I have too many times in the past. We kiss softly, and he puts the guitar off to the side to gently pull me onto his lap so I'm straddling him. Staring up at me, he takes my face in his hands, holding me while he kisses me deeper, making sure I can't escape from him. A tiny moan slips from my lips, and I decide I don't want to wait anymore to give him one hundred percent of myself.
His lips move across my cheek, then to my ear, his breath warm against me.
"I want you." Just hearing those words whispered to me causes a rush of heat and a million flutters to cascade down my spine and settle between my thighs.
"I want you, too." My voice is barely audible as I tug his shirt up, and he lifts his arms quickly to let me pull it off him.
"Do you?" He pulls my light sweater up over my head and runs his hands over my bare back, the cool breeze sending goose bumps over my flesh.
"Yes…" I bow my head to kiss his neck, my face under his long, wavy hair as his fingers quickly work the clasp of my bra.
"How much?" His voice is soft and deep as he tosses my bra to the side onto the growing pile of clothing while I run my hands through his hair and hold his head still to kiss his lips, opening my eyes to find his dark ones burning right back at me.
"More than I've ever wanted anything."
His eyes close and he sucks in a deep breath as his hands come up from my hips to cup my breasts, his thumbs gently rubbing over my taut nipples before he lowers his lips to one. He sucks it into his mouth like it's a decadent dessert before dragging his tongue across my chest to encircle the other with this mouth. My head falls back and my body arches up to him as his tongue dances over my breasts, turning me on so much I'm sure he can feel the dampness through my yoga pants where my thighs are spread over his rock-hard cock pushing against his jeans.
"Fuck… You are so beautiful, baby. I take back every fucking thing I said… I swear, I was fucking demented when I said that shit." He kisses and licks my breasts between breathless words, playing me with his hands. "Look how fucking perfect you are…"
Grabbing the back of my neck, he pulls me down to kiss my lips hungrily. "Can I take you inside? Before I fuck your brains out right here on the porch?"
"Yes…"
"Don't you dare let go." He kisses me again, his eyes flashing with desire as he stands, with my legs still wrapped around his waist, and carries me into the house, up the stairs to our bedroom as if I weigh absolutely nothing. I kiss his neck and shoulder during the little ride he gives me, reveling in the strength he has.
&n
bsp; He lays me down on the bed, and my eyes don't leave his as he pulls off my shoes, then my pants and panties. He's so damn sexy, like a Viking standing over me, all muscle and ink with his long, dirty-blond hair flowing down his chest and over his shoulders. How did I ever not think he was the most beautiful man on the planet?
The fuck was wrong with both of us when we met?
My breath quickens as I watch him strip his jeans off and his huge cock springs out, causing my stomach to do preorgasmic acrobatics.
Climbing on the bed, he crawls until he's kneeling over me. "You should see your face, baby. Your eyes are fucking huge."
I let out a breath. "Sorry. Your body is just…”
He reaches between my legs and caresses my wet lips with his fingers. "Just what?" he taunts, his mouth lingering over mine as my body practically melts into his hand. Kat was right, my vag was totally dying of loneliness.
Snaking my arms around his back, I try not to let myself fall back into the shyness zone with him. "Just so beautiful."
"I'm not beautiful, Aze. But you definitely are."
He lowers himself down on me and continues to devour my tits with his lips and tongue while his fingers slide slowly in and out of my wetness. Reaching for him, I try to pull him up to my mouth, but he shakes his head.
"You're gonna have to wait for kisses, babe, cuz I'm gonna ravish you with my tongue first."
Okay, then.
He drags his tongue down my stomach, circling my navel, then moves down to kiss my hip bone, nibbling my flesh while his fingers continue a slow rhythm inside me. He kisses down my thighs, kneeling up and turning his body so he can trail kisses all the way down to my feet, his tongue tickling me. I touch any part of him I can reach, rubbing his back and his legs as his lips explore my body, until he turns and starts the same licking journey back up, stopping to spread my legs farther apart, his tongue delving into me just as he pulls his hand from me. Grasping my thighs in his warm hands, he sucks my clit gently into his mouth, flicking his tongue over me, making me gasp and writhe beneath him. Suddenly he stops and laps his tongue all the way up my stomach, between my breasts, over my throat to finally stop at my mouth, kissing me deeply, sweeping his tongue over mine.
