by Gia Riley
“I left it up to her, but she was at the show tonight. That’s probably a good sign.”
Her eyes widen and she looks a little hopeful that maybe she didn’t blow it by forcing me to meet Lark. “Really? That’s great.”
“We hooked up earlier.” I’ve never lied to Gina since I met her, and I’m not about to start. She may not like what happened, but she’s going to have to live with it. I promised her I would try. I didn’t promise I would keep my hands to myself.
She smacks her palms against the bed, her frustration busting out of her little body in the form of a tantrum. “Easton, no! You’re killing me—actually shoving a knife through my heart. I thought that maybe for once you could try to go on a real date. One that didn’t end with you two in a bed. Don’t you get it? A beautiful woman is here solely for you, and you’re treating it like she’s nothing more than a fuck buddy.”
“We didn’t have sex, Gina.”
She sits up so fast I’m surprised she’s not dizzy. She pushes her hair out of her eyes, her mouth opening and closing twice before she gets actual words to come out. “But you said you hooked-up.”
“I may fuck up sometimes, especially when it comes to beautiful girls, but one look at Lark and I could tell she’s not used to my world. I wouldn’t play her like that.”
“So, you’re really trying? You’re taking her seriously like I wanted you to do all along?”
“I guess you could say I’m trying, if you consider not being an asshole a step in the right direction. We had a little fun backstage, and I left her with an open invitation. It’s her call if she comes back for more or not.”
“More? As in a date? Or sex?”
“That’s up to her, too. I have no problem taking her out on the ship, but if all she wants is the physical shit, then I’m down for that.”
“You don’t care one way or another?”
I toss my empty water bottle in the trash before dousing her with another dose of reality she may not like. “She’s fuckin’ hot Gina. My dick cares.”
I’m rewarded with an aggravated roll of her eyes. “That’s the least romantic thing you could have possibly said. A girl wants to feel special—she wants you to work for it. Not tell her to show up for some fun.”
“What can I say? I’m a sure thing, Gina. If she wants me, all she has to do is say so.”
“And what if she wants more than sex? What if she wants you more than seven days? She may not be used to your world, but underneath the attitude, occasional alcohol binges, and when you’re not hiding, you’re a catch.”
I interrupt her because I’m not hiding—not from Lark. All I have to hide from now is guilt. “I’m not going to hurt her if that’s what you’re worried about.”
“I’m not worried about Lark. I’m worried about you, and what you’re constantly passing up. You’re so worth it, any single girl on this ship would be lucky to have you. If you let her see the real you, she’s going to fall for you. You don’t need the persona on stage to make that happen.”
I stare at her, not able to come up with a single response for her that isn’t negative, so I stop trying. “I appreciate that, but she has no reason to want me. I guarantee you if it wasn’t for The Perfect Match, she would never give a guy like me a second glance.”
“A guy like what? A decent human being who has the capacity to love her so hard she’d be deliriously happy? You can make all the excuses in the world, but eventually, you have to let someone in.”
Before I can argue that I am trying, there’s a soft rapt against the door. I stand from the couch, wondering if it could possibly be her. If it is, her ears must be burning after the way we’ve been talking about her for the last ten minutes.
I look through the peep hole, smirking when I see a very nervous Lark on the other side of the door. She’s fixing her hair and smoothing her shirt out like she’s trying to make nonexistent wrinkles disappear.
“Who is it?”
“Lark.”
Gina practically squeals, clapping her hands together before realizing Lark might hear her. “I’ll be in the pub with everyone. Don’t fuck this up, East.” She scrambles through the adjoining door to Dom’s room, grinning from ear to ear.
I wait for her door to close before I open mine, which must have taken a little too long considering Lark’s a few steps away already, walking with her head down like she’s disappointed I didn’t answer. I wait a couple more seconds, because I’m an asshole and want to stare at her ass a little longer before she turns back around. When I’ve had my fill, I clear my throat. “Going somewhere, gorgeous?”
She spins around so fast, her own hair whips her in the face. What I wouldn’t give to grab that ponytail and hold onto it while I pound into her from behind. Fuck, she’s beautiful.
Her hands twist nervously in front of her, her knuckles cracking loud enough for me to hear. “I didn’t think you were back yet. I mean, I was hoping, but your show just ended.” Instead of walking closer, she stays a couple feet away. If she thinks I’m going to send her away, she’s crazy.
“I haven’t been back long. Actually, I need a quick shower.” I hold the door open a little wider, silently inviting her inside. “Are you coming?” She stares at me, like she’s not sure what to say
“Inside, Lark. Not the shower.” Her eyes fall to the hallway carpet, her cheeks turning the pretty shade of pink I remember. I wasn’t trying to embarrass her, but I like the way she thinks. “Hey.”
She lifts her head and as soon as I see her eyes, I want to move closer to her, but if I do, the door will close behind me and I’ll be locked out. So I hold out my hand, hoping she’ll take it.
Hesitating for only a split second, she finally says, “Okay.”
I pull her to me and she rests her hands on my still sweaty chest. I grab the end of her long ponytail draped over her shoulder, and twirl the end around my finger instead of pulling it like I envisioned. “I like this.”
She smiles, sliding her hands down the front of my body until they’re hanging by her side. “Thank you.”
As she slides past me, she smells like a day at the beach. I watch as she sizes up my room, probably wondering how I can stand to live in such a small space for so long. It’s not impressive, it’s the same as everyone else on the ship, and I’ve been here so long, moving back into an actual house would overwhelm me. You don’t realize how little you can live without until you’re forced to.
“It’s not much bigger than mine.”
“I’m lucky the band didn’t have to take staff quarters. I made sure it was in my contract before I signed.”
“That was smart.” She crosses her arms over her chest, pushing her tits up like a welcomed invitation.
I point to the edge of the bed. “You can sit down.”
“Okay.” She sits on the very edge, like if she’s not careful, the entire bed will suck her up and hold her captive. There’s no chance that’ll happen, even if I want nothing more than to get her between my sheets.
“So, what’d you think of the show?”
“You guys are amazing,” she blurts out.
“You’re not just saying that?”
“No, of course not. It’s a lot different than I usually listen to, but I enjoyed it. Noelle’s already in love with your band—and I’m pretty sure, you.”
I smirk after hearing the small amount of jealousy in her voice, intentional or not. “She didn’t want to join us?”
Lark pauses, unsure of what exactly I mean. I know how it sounded, and that’s exactly the effect I was going for. “I’m kidding.”
She sits back a little farther on the bed, her legs uncrossing and then recrossing. “I’m so bad at this. I haven’t dated in forever.”
“Is that what this is? Dating?”
“Well, no. I guess not. You said you’re not looking for anything.”
“You said the same thing, yet here you are.”
She tilts her head to the side, her eyes narrowing. “But yo
u said at the bar—”
“I know what I said. Is that why you’re here? To fuck me?”
She gasps, her hand covering her mouth.
“You can say it, Lark. Don’t be ashamed.”
“I–,” she starts, but then quickly stops. Her shoulders tense and she begins to stand.
I hold out my hand to stop her. “I’ll give you a little time to think about exactly why you’re here, but when I get out of the shower, I’m going to ask you the same question again. Unless you want to go now?” I shouldn’t have even given her the option because the last thing I want is for her to leave.
She swallows and I can tell she’s trying to figure out if she’s in over her head. Based on her expression, she’s most likely going to bail—though it’d be sexy as fuck if she stayed.
The entire time I’m showering, I picture what she’d look like coming with the light on. It was a pretty picture in the dark, but I didn’t get to see enough of the details. It’s been awhile since I’ve been around someone as down to earth as Lark, but from the glimpse she gave me earlier, she has a wild streak she has yet to explore. I’m guessing her curiosity is the reason she’s back for more. If she’ll let me, I’ll take her to places she’s never dreamed of going. I’m pretty sure I already have, but I want her to be at my mercy—completely.
I’m hoping I’m one step closer to achieving that when I step out of the bathroom with only a towel slung around my waist. Only Lark’s not where I left her. She’s in my bed, underneath the blankets, waiting for me. “Are you naked?”
She nods her head once, giving me all the confirmation I need. Her eyes are closed when I reach the side of the bed. I turn off half the lights in the room, hoping it makes her a little more comfortable. “Are you ready to talk, Lark?”
Without hesitation, she opens her eyes and says, “I’ve never done anything as crazy as this in my life, but I want you, Easton. You’re all I’ve been able to think about no matter how hard I try not to. Even watching your show—”
“What about my show?”
“I saw the drum sticks and heard what you said. I even saw your expression as you said it. I can’t stop thinking about what you did to me. I want you to touch me again.”
Even though she asked for me to touch her, she doesn’t wait for me to respond. Instead, she reaches out, tugging on the corner of my towel. It falls to the floor, leaving me completely naked next to her.
While her eyes roam over my body, I slide under the sheet, my hands reaching for her body. Once we’re face to face, I look her square in the eyes so she knows how serious I am. “Take what you want, Lark. I’ll give you the rest.”
Her hand finds the back of my neck, pulling me closer to her. Our lips clash hard as she moans against my mouth, her tongue invading without an ounce of doubt. This isn’t the hesitant girl I left when I got in the shower a couple minutes ago. Whatever pep talk she gave herself while I was gone, definitely worked.
I let her take control for a few minutes, wanting her to be comfortable enough to completely let go—no pretenses, no inhibitions. This is as much her show as it is mine. Thankfully, when I reach the point of needing more than her mouth, she climbs on top of me, straddling her legs on either side of my waist.
Reaching for her hair, she pulls the elastic band out, sending strands spilling onto her shoulders and over her breasts. Her eyes penetrate mine. Her hips already rocking back and forth on their own. “What do you want, gorgeous?” I ask her, as I palm her tits in both of my hands.
Her head tips backward, her long neck completely open to me. I grab onto her hips, creating more friction as she slides her warm pussy back and forth over my dick. “All you have to do is say the words, Lark. Tell me what you want.”
“You, Easton. I want, you.”
“Hands and knees, gorgeous.”
She listens without having to be told twice, climbing off me, and getting on all fours in the center of the bed. I grab onto her hips, rubbing my dick against her perfect ass. “Shit, Lark.”
Her head falls forward between her arms, her body already quivering as she feels me—and I’m just getting started. “Are you with me?”
“Yes,” she whispers. “I’m here.”
I push her legs open a little wider before sliding two fingers into her. Her body sags, but when I hook my fingers and press my flattened palm against her clit, her body comes alive, bucking against my hand. “Ohmigod,” she groans.
I work her until she’s on the edge, but I pull my fingers out, stopping completely before she comes. A small whimper escapes her. “So greedy, Lark,” I tell her, as I massage her ass in the palms of my hands, her body still rocking like I’m already inside of her. “Are you ready for more?”
“I need it, Easton.”
I reach to the bedside table, opening the drawer, and digging around for a condom. She looks over her shoulder to see what I’m doing. Before I can even open the package, she turns around, taking it out of my hands. With her teeth, she rips the foil, her eyes never leaving mine as she does. My cock twitches from the move alone, and again when she uses her long, painted fingers to slide the rubber over me. “I gotta say, I wasn’t expecting that.”
She winks with a sly grin on her face before turning back around and bending over, her sexy ass waving around in front of me. “Fuck me, Easton.”
“Jesus Christ, you’re going to kill me if you keep talking like that.”
“You told me to take what I want. I want you.” Gone is the cautious, reserved girl who walked into my room. In my bed and under my touch, she’s come alive just as I was hoping she would.
“You have me,” I tell her, as I slowly slide into her, my eyes rolling back in my head as soon as her warmth wraps around me. I thrust into her, hard, almost pulling the entire way out before thrusting back in. She shoves her ass against me, taking back every inch she lost over and over, again.
When she’s right where I want her, it only takes one swipe over her clit before she’s gone. Her fists latch onto the pillows in front of her, her entire body rigid as she clenches me so tightly, I only pump two more times before I lose control.
We both fall on the bed next to each other. She blows out a breath, slightly moving the hair covering her face—the only sign she hasn’t completely passed out. “What just happened?” she mumbles, almost incoherently, for the second time today. “You did it again.”
“You got rocked, baby.”
Day Two on the Cruise
When I open my eyes, I have no idea what time it is. The last thing I remember is lying face down with my cheek pressed against the sheets, completely and utterly exhausted. Never in my life have I ever experienced someone like Easton. He’s as passionate in the bedroom as he is on the stage—only he’s using his body to create the melody instead of his voice. And when it all comes together, it’s like a symphony of passion.
It wasn’t my intention to spend the night, but when Easton passed out next to me, I stayed a little longer. As I watched him sleep with his face nestled against the cotton pillow case and his long eyelashes splayed across his cheek, I couldn’t help wondering what was powerful enough to land him on this ship. It’s not a bad job, but it’s like he demoted himself—permanently.
I remember the tabloids had a field day with the band’s disappearance, printing one crazy story after another. But no matter what theory they came up with, nobody knew the truth of what actually happened. Midnight Fate kept their private lives extremely private, leaving behind very few clues. Now that Easton’s turned up, parts of me wants to crack the code.
I can’t do much of anything until I find my clothes, so I slide out of bed with the sheet wrapped around me, tiptoeing around the room in search of them. When I come up empty handed, I pick up one of Easton’s T-shirts draped across the arm of the couch, and slide it over my head.
Once I’m mostly covered, I walk over to the sliding door and press my hands against the cool glass. Easton’s leaning on the balcony railing, the tan skin
of his back glistening in the early morning sunshine. I knew he had ink on his arms and chest, but the large cross in the center of his spine with wings stretched across each shoulder blade, is a surprise. It’s like an angel’s soaring out of his soul.
Drawn to him, I slide the door open as quietly as I can. Before I realize what I’m doing, I trace my finger down the center of the cross and over the curve of one of the wings. He tenses and slowly turns around, gripping my wrist in his hand.
My eyes find his ocean blues and I don’t expect to see so much anguish in them. Even though we spent the night together, he’s looking at me like I have no right to touch him this morning—and maybe I don’t. What happened between us was yesterday and this is a brand new day. Still, the distance he’s suddenly placed between us stings. “I’m sorry. It’s beautiful.”
He stares a few seconds longer before taking me in from head to toe. “Nice shirt.”
I glance at the black tee covering me, the logo of another band stamped across my chest. “I can’t find my clothes. If you tell me where you put them, I’ll be out of your way in five minutes.”
“Is that why you came out here?”
“Partially—you weren’t in bed when I woke up. I wasn’t planning on staying all night, but I guess I fell asleep.” What happened between us may have been a day old, but even this morning, I want him to touch me—whether it be a morning kiss or a simple hug. Anything to prove he doesn’t regret being with me. I don’t want to be his mistake.
He must come to terms with whatever he’s battling because he reaches out, hooking his finger between the collar of my shirt and my neck, pulling me closer to him. Willingly, I move forward, my arms wrapping around his waist. He pulls my right arm away from his body, shoving my hand down the front of him until my fingers are resting on his dick. “Is this what you were looking for?”
Disgusted by his bold move, I pull my hand away from him. “Why are you being like this?”
“Like what? Isn’t that why you stayed?”
“No, Easton. That’s not why I stayed.” I try to put myself in his shoes, imagining what it would be like to have women wanting you for all the wrong reasons. I could see myself second guessing every person I was with, questioning their motives and misinterpreting what they wanted. I’m slowly learning actions will speak louder than words with Easton, so I take the same hand and cup his jaw, staring him straight in the eyes as I tell him, “I was looking for this.”
