She shook her head. “Yeah, you’re pretty, but it’s your eyes. They’ve got soul. They say to me, there’s something beautiful and deep waiting to come out. I want to hear the music from your soul.”
He scoffed. “That song I played was from my soul.”
“Your music and your wife are five years ago. Stop living in the past.”
“Shut up!” he barked. “You don’t know anything about me and Steph!”
“Wake up!” she snapped and slapped him across the face.
He put his hand on his cheek in shock. It stung too. He was still gaping when she grabbed her beer and left.
Crazy lady. No one treated him like that. Especially not women. Women loved him. Christina had a screw loose.
~ ~ ~
Steph stretched like a contented cat on Saturday morning, Dave’s hand possessively spread wide across her stomach. What a week. She smiled to herself. Griff hadn’t bothered her. Dave couldn’t get enough of her. She loved this fierce side to him. Slowly, ever so slowly, she slid out from under his hand and rolled out of bed. She headed for the bathroom, intent on surprising him. She quickly washed up and got to work.
It took a while, and it wasn’t easy. But she thought it would be worth it. The door whipped open just as she put on the finishing touch.
His eyes took in her naked state and went dark with desire behind his glasses. His hair was adorably messy, sticking out every which way. “What are you doing out of bed?” he growled.
He liked to keep her in bed as much as possible. Except when she wanted to eat or watch TV or needed to grade papers. Even then, he liked to keep them connected, so to speak. She wasn’t complaining.
She sauntered past him, stopped, and threw over her shoulder. “What do you think?”
She waited, her back to him so he could take in the rear view, and heard his sharp intake of breath.
“Steph, what did you do?”
She looked over her shoulder at his shocked expression and smiled to herself.
“Tell me that’s not real,” he said even as he was reaching out to her. He ran a finger along one butt cheek, tracing the D. She had a tattoo across both cheeks that said, Dave’s.
“It’s not real. And it wasn’t easy to do reverse in the mirror.” She huffed. “I hope you appreciate it.”
He went down on his knees and kissed the D. She looked over her shoulder as he kissed every letter reverently. Heat pooled through her at his touch.
“I’m yours, Dave. All yours.”
He stood with a groan, his hand still cupping her ass. “I’ve been a beast to you, and you never complained. You don’t have to keep telling me you’re mine.”
She spread her legs and tipped forward, opening herself to him. “I loved every minute, you fucking beast.”
He muttered a curse, grabbed her hips, and thrust fully inside her. It was fierce, urgent, and hot as all hell. His hands cupped her breasts, tugging on her nipples, as he thrust hard and steady.
“Mine,” he said fiercely. She didn’t know which part of her he was talking about, but it didn’t matter, she was all his.
“Yours,” she gasped out.
His fingers stroked her center, and she felt the familiar tightening as the pressure built. She closed her eyes, lost in sensation. His finger flicked across her hard nub, and she cried out.
“Mine,” he said, flicking quickly over her again as he thrust steadily. Her entire body quivered.
“Yours,” she cried out as the intensity skyrocketed with each flick of his finger. Her legs gave out, but he had her, one arm clamped around her waist. His touch gentled, stroking her center again, but his thrusts didn’t let up, and she flew, as her body exploded with a climax that rushed through her, radiating out from her center all the way to her toes. His hands clamped on her hips, and she took in his last shuddering thrusts until he groaned, holding her tightly, as he let go deep inside her.
A moment later, he turned her in his arms and showered her with kisses—her eyelids, her cheeks, her lips, her chin. “I love you.”
“I love you too.”
He shook his head. “I still can’t believe you chose me over him.”
“You’re the better man.”
He wrapped his arms around her and held her tight for a few moments. He pulled back to look in her eyes. “How come you didn’t have kids, you and Griffin?”
She looked down. “He didn’t want them.” She met his kind eyes. “I did. I’ve always wanted kids.”
He cradled her face with both hands. “I want you to have my babies.”
She blinked back tears.
“Or not. You don’t have to.” He stroked her cheek. “Don’t cry.”
She couldn’t help it. Tears leaked out of her eyes even as she smiled. “I want that too.”
“You do?” His eyes welled up, and he crushed her to him. “As soon as we’re married.”
She laughed. “I didn’t hear a question in there.”
He pulled back and grinned. “No, you didn't. Then we'll spend the summer on a long honeymoon at my family's cabin up at Lake George.”
She ran her finger along his stubbled jaw. “I love all of that, but—”
He cut her off with a kiss that left her knees weak. When he let her up for air, she said, “But I still need that divorce.”
Dave groaned. “He promised to sign the papers.”
Her lips formed a flat line. “Griffin makes a lot of promises he doesn’t keep.”
“We’ll get a good lawyer.”
“Lawyers are expensive.”
“So we just wait for Griffin to get off his ass and sign the papers? Fuck that.”
She rubbed his chest, trying to soothe him. “I’ll talk to him. He can be reasonable. We ended things as friends.”
“And I’m supposed to wait around while you try to talk sense into him?” He jammed a hand in his hair. “How long am I supposed to wait?”
“Is there a time limit? Does your love expire?”
His jaw clenched, and a muscle ticked in his cheek. “Dammit,” he muttered.
He pulled her into the bathroom, turned on the shower, and glowered at her while the water heated. She didn’t say one word. She knew what was coming next. He pulled her in and was absolutely beastly to her.
~ ~ ~
Steph answered the door in her robe while Dave was still shaving. “Hi, Griff. Leaving today?”
His gaze dropped to her chest, and she tightened the robe around her.
His eyes met hers. “Today’s the day.”
“Don’t forget you promised to sign those divorce papers.”
“You really love him, huh?”
She raised her chin. “Yes, I do.”
He heaved a sigh. “All right.”
“All right?”
“Yeah, what can I do? I tried.” His shoulders slumped, and he lost all traces of his usual arrogant swagger. “You know I’ll always love you. Nothing I can do if you don’t feel the same way…”
“Thank you.”
He frowned. “Listen, I called Paulie D. He said the paperwork is complicated because, hell, I dunno, he just said it was complicated. But he’ll take care of everything as soon as I say the word. You want this done fast? Fly back with me, and I’ll have Paulie D bring the papers. I’ll sign right there backstage after the concert.”
Relief flooded through Steph. Tonight. She could have a divorce as soon as tonight.
“Okay, I’ll go,” she said.
He flashed a quick smile. “You will? Great. I’ve got a private jet. You’ll love it.”
“Sounds good. You know Dave will be with me.”
He scowled. “You want to bring Dave.”
“Yes.” Two arms wrapped around her from behind. She could feel the heat of Dave’s bare chest on her back. Dave rested his chin on her shoulder.
“Where we going, Griff?” Dave asked.
“Griff invited us to his concert tonight,” Steph said brightly. “Then he promised to sign
the divorce papers. We’re flying on his private jet. Won’t that be fun?”
Dave shifted to her side and draped an arm over her shoulders. He wore only jeans. “And do we believe that he will actually sign the papers?” He spoke to Steph, but never stopped glaring at Griff.
“I said I would, didn’t I?” Griff snapped.
Steph turned to Dave. “It’ll be fine.” She turned to Griff. “We’ll go.”
“Can’t wait,” Dave said, only it came out sounding like fuck you.
“Let’s go,” Griff said.
“We’ll meet you at the airport,” Steph said.
“Yes, we’ll meet you,” Dave said.
Griff rolled his eyes. “Plane leaves at noon out of Eastman.”
“We’ll be there,” Steph said.
Dave smiled widely at Griff.
Griff frowned, turned, and left.
Steph locked the door behind him. She turned to Dave. “Whose am I?” she asked with glee.
He was on her in a flash, his body pressing her against the wall. “You are my worst student ever.” He held her gaze as he pulled back just enough to undo his jeans. She heard the rasp of the zipper and went damp. “I have to keep teaching you the same lesson over and over.”
And then he lifted her and thrust inside.
“You’re a good teacher,” she gasped out as she wrapped her legs around him.
But her remark was lost in his constant chant of mine, mine, mine as he pounded into her.
~ ~ ~
The jet hummed as it soared through the sky. Steph squirmed as the three of them sat in awkward silence. She and Dave sat side by side on a white sofa on one side of the jet. Griff sat on an identical sofa across from them.
Griff scowled.
Dave smiled.
Dave’s hand rested possessively on her upper thigh, occasionally stroking her, his fingers grazing scandalously high on her inner thigh. It was making her crazed, but she didn’t protest. She needed Griff to get the message. They were done. Sign the damn papers.
Griff ground his teeth and finally broke the silence. “So…wanna drink? I’ve got a full bar.”
Dave’s fingers stroked inward, then up and down, up and down. She felt herself flush.
“We’re good,” Dave said, answering for both of them. “But thanks.”
Griff stood abruptly. He returned a moment later with what looked like whiskey.
“Play a lot of concerts?” Dave asked.
“Tons,” Griff replied flatly.
Another awkward silence fell. Dave stroked her leg again, sliding inward, up and down, up and down. Griff finished the whiskey in one long swallow.
“How’s your opener?” Steph asked.
“They’re good,” Griff said. His eyes lingered on Dave’s hand, which now gripped her inner thigh.
Dave’s other hand was hidden from view, but it was sliding down her ass and then cupping her from underneath. Given half the chance, he’d lift her and drop her into a straddle right on top of him. She knew because he’d done that move plenty of times in exactly this position, one hand on her inner thigh, one on her ass. She figured it was no coincidence he was holding her like this. He was reminding her.
She tried to keep her breathing steady as she casually leaned back on Dave’s arm to make him stop the wicked things his hand was doing, as his fingers now pressed on her insistently from underneath. He didn’t take the hint.
“I picked the opener myself,” Griff said. “Soul Cavity. They’re like punk on speed.”
Dave smiled, more like a baring of teeth. “Tell him about your tattoo, honey. It says Dave’s. Right across her—”
“Dave!” Steph exclaimed.
“Oh, yeah?” Griff took off his leather jacket and rolled up the sleeve of his black T-shirt. He thrust his bicep forward. “See what that says.”
Dave squinted at the Steph tattoo. “It says I’m a chump.”
Griff leaped up. So did Dave. Steph jumped between them. “You guys promised me no fighting!” She glared at Dave. “You promised.”
Dave sat down. Griff reluctantly sat down again.
“Now nobody is getting tattoos of any kind,” she said in her best teacher voice. “No more fighting.” She narrowed her eyes and took them both in with one icy glare. “Do I make myself clear?”
“Crystal,” Griff said. He went back to the bar at the back of the jet to get another drink.
Dave palmed her ass. “Mine,” he said fiercely.
She whirled around. “Dave,” she whispered, torn between turned-on and exasperated. “Not now.”
He pulled her down onto his lap and kissed her hot and deep until all her exasperation with him fled. He pushed her hair out of the way and nibbled along her neck. Griff rushed past them on his way to the front of the jet, where four chairs centered around a small table. He slammed his drink down on the table and flopped down into a seat, giving them his back.
“I think he’s mad,” Dave said with a devious smile before he resumed nuzzling her neck.
Steph sighed, tilting her head to give him better access. “I don’t want him mad,” she whispered. “I just want him to sign the papers. Don’t antagonize him.”
Dave pulled back. “He antagonized me.”
“I don’t care who started it…” She stopped herself. “This is ridiculous. You have to stop. Just enjoy the concert, we’ll get the papers, and go.”
“The only way I’ll enjoy this concert is if you’re dancing naked in it,” Dave proclaimed.
“Shut. Up,” Griff barked.
Steph giggled. Then she kissed Dave again to keep him quiet.
~ ~ ~
Dave cuddled up with Steph on the jet and pondered the past two weeks. He was still trying to wrap his head around the fact that he, Dave Olsen, middle school math teacher and upstanding citizen, had done the following: committed adultery (in a roundabout way), flaunted his claim in front of the husband, then got on the husband’s jet to watch his concert. Once he’d met Griffin, he knew he had to come between Steph and her husband. That cheating jerk wasn't worth one picosecond of Steph's time.
Not only that, he’d spent the night in jail, and Steph, for some reason, had been hot for him when he got out. He kissed the top of Steph’s head and glanced at her leather-clad husband, who appeared to be sleeping in his fully reclined seat. How could Dave deny Steph what they both wanted out of consideration for that asshole?
They went straight from the jet to a limo that took them to the stadium where Twisted Star was playing. Their luggage was delivered to the hotel for them. He and Steph were shown to private box seats while Griffin went backstage to warm up. The rest of the band was already there. They had some time before the show, so he and Steph toured the stadium and had dinner brought up to the private box, which was reserved just for them. The front of the box was all window. He couldn’t tell if there were other private boxes, they only had a view of the stage.
When the opening band started, they settled on a long leather sofa together. Not Dave’s kind of music, he preferred a mellower sound, but he was happy just to be sitting next to Steph, instead of sitting home wondering what she was doing with Griffin. After the opener finished, the stage went dark while the crew set up for Twisted Star.
Dave linked his fingers with Steph, who was sipping a mojito. She climbed into his lap. “Drink?” she asked.
“No, thanks. I want to have my wits about me when Griffin tries to weasel out of signing the papers again.”
She tapped his nose. “You worry too much. He wouldn’t fly us all the way out here for nothing.”
“I don’t think he intended to fly us out here. He wanted you.”
She kissed him. He pulled away only long enough to set her drink on a nearby table. He wanted her thinking only of him when Griffin went on stage. He knew some of Griffin’s songs meant something to Steph. Some of them made her feel deeply, and he wanted her to remember she was his. He kissed her passionately, gripping her hair to hold her in pla
ce while he claimed her mouth. After he’d gotten her to the point where she was making those little needy noises in the back of her throat, always a good sign, he set her off his lap, stood, and locked the door.
“Dave, what are you doing?”
She didn’t sound particularly worried, only curious, so he said nothing. He crossed to her, buried his hand in her hair, and waited, his mouth hovering over hers. Her lips parted.
“Mine,” he growled just before he kissed her. Things got hot and heavy fast. He pulled her onto his lap again, straddling him. He left her shirt on, but quickly undid her bra so he could caress her breasts. He kissed her as long as he could while she rocked her hips mindlessly against him, until he couldn’t wait anymore. He pulled her to stand and moved her to the side of the box, away from the window, kissing her more as he undid the button and zipper on her jeans.
“Dave, people can see,” she protested weakly.
“Shhh.” He coaxed her with deep kisses, and his hand down her panties. She was hot and wet. His erection pushed painfully against his jeans. It was dark in the stadium, and he didn’t think anyone could see them where they stood. At least not from the waist down.
He quickly stripped off her jeans and panties, undid his jeans just enough to free himself, and sat down on a low ottoman. He pulled her and settled her on top of his lap. She let out a shaky moan as she took him in. He hissed out a breath. She was so tight. Then she started to move. It felt so good he was afraid he wasn’t going to last. He wanted to last. He wanted her riding him when Griffin went on stage. All of her attention on him. He gripped her hips and slowed her down, and every time she sped up, he put a hand on her waist, tipped her back, and used his other hand to distract her with slow circles around pleasure central. She whimpered, she begged, but he didn’t let up, and he didn’t let her speed up. It was a delicious torture for both of them and very, very necessary.
The first notes rang out as Twisted Star took the stage with an approving round of applause from the audience. He stilled Steph and suckled her breast, drawing it deep into his mouth. He knew she loved that. He could probably make her come that way if he did it long enough. She moaned and moved restlessly. He clamped his hands on her hips.
“Why won’t you let me move?” she protested. “I want to move.”
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