“It’s me.” Roman.
She pulled open the door. “What are you doing here?”
His face, half shadowed, was soft and kind, his eyes fixed on hers. “Bay sent me a text message. Said you’d called. Thought I’d come check you were okay.”
Kym looked at him, this tall man who could be both dominant and empathetic, and saw something new in him. Something like …
She moved automatically, not caring about the consequences. Pulling Roman into her flat, she cupped his face in her hands and kissed him. Her lips moved against his mouth and she felt him respond, his arms curling around her and his tongue exploring hers. He lifted her and she clamped her legs around his waist as they hungrily, hands exploring the other’s body.
Roman did not say a word as he carried her to her bedroom, and quickly, they undressed each other. Roman trailed his mouth across her collarbone and down to her small breasts, nuzzling and teasing them with his tongue until her nipples grew so sensitive Kym could barely bear it.
He gazed down at her, smoothing the hair away from her face, but still did not say a word. The way he kissed her …she’d never been kissed with such love and passion in her life.
She hitched her legs around him and nodded as she felt his cock, diamond-hard and already damp with pre-cum, nudging at her slick sex, and when he pushed inside her, she felt an overwhelming sense of rightness, of relief, and of physical joy. They moved together slowly, taking their time, kissing, touching, and discovering each other as they made love. Kym lost herself in him, in the way his cock drove her to even greater pleasure and the feel and the weight of his body on hers. The sultry Louisiana night covered their bodies with a fine sheen of sweat, the only sound their gasps as they fucked, the pace increasing until she felt Roman come, shooting hard, deep inside her, and covering her mouth with hers to drown his moans. Kym felt her body soar as her orgasm ripped through her and she wanted to scream out, but instead kept it in, focusing on his eyes. She wanted to tell him how good this was, but seeing her about to speak, he gave a little smile and a quick shake of the head, covering her mouth with his hand. She understood. There was no need for words now.
When she woke in the morning, he was gone.
Two and a half thousand miles away, Bay and Tom’s lovemaking was anything but quiet. After Kym had called, Bay had cried herself to sleep, and when Tom got home from a late meeting, he had woken her by kissing the entire length of her spine. She practically tore his clothes off him, as he grinned at her.
“You’re feisty tonight.”
“Shut up and fuck me,” she’d ordered, trying to hide that she wanted something to ease the pain of Kym’s phone call. She decided not to tell him, but rather concentrate on their new games. She had, over the past few weeks, been educating herself on some new things for them to try in bed. Tom was rather bemused by her new appetite for kink, but he told her he wasn’t complaining.
Now, as Tom kissed her, she reached for his cock, stroking her hands up the hot length of it, priming it, and making it quiver under her touch so that Tom groaned. She grinned up at him before slipping a condom onto his cock and sliding it down.
She looked up at him with sleepy, lust-filled eyes. “Take me now.”
He flipped her onto her stomach, and with his knee, pressed her legs apart. Parting her butt cheeks, he pushed into her ass, and Bay moaned as he moved slowly in and out of her, reaching around to finger her clit as he did, feeling her body undulate under him. With a free hand, he twisted her long hair into his fist, pulling her head back slightly so he could watch her face as he fucked her. He brought her to the point of orgasm, then, pulling out and deftly removing the condom, he plunged into her swollen, red cunt, feeling the soft velvet of her vagina envelope his aching cock. He rammed his hips hard against her, making her cry out.
“You want some kink, baby?”
She nodded, her eyes alive with excitement. Tom snagged his tie and bound her hands in front of her. He ran his fingertips down her belly, admiring the soft curve of it and the way it moved as he fucked her. He felt himself about to come and pulled out, shooting great reams of white, sticky semen onto her belly before falling on top of her, biting down on her breasts, and making her scream with pleasure. He grabbed a scarf and bound it around her eyes, then stood, leaving her bereft.
“I’m still here. I’m just looking at you. Looking at how beautiful you are …”
Desire curled in her belly as she submitted to him. “Open your legs, beautiful …wider …as wide as they’ll go. That’s it …let me see your beautiful pussy …Christ …”
She heard him reach for something in their drawer, then his fingers were on her and a warm sensation began to build on her clit. Oil. Sensual, silky, slippery oil which warmed her flesh as Tom caressed it onto her. She drew in a deep breath.
“That’s it. Just relax …”
She felt his long finger slip inside of her, then another, and she ground her sex against him. “Keep still …” He was in charge. Tom slipped another, then another inside her, his thumb strumming a regular rhythm over her clit. The feeling was incredible, his fingers inside her.
“I can feel your heartbeat through the walls of your cunt, baby,” Tom murmured into her ear and she shivered, the sensation of being helpless in his arms so erotic that she came quickly, over and over until she was almost weeping.
Tom pushed the blindfold from her eyes and untied her hands. “Lay back, darling. Let me love you.”
She did as she was told, her eyes soft with love. Tom stroked her body gently, his lips against hers.
“I want to do something for you,” she whispered against his mouth, and his lips curved up in a smile.
“You are …just keep looking at me. Keep eye contact …”
His eyes, so intense, seemed to darken from green to brown in the low light of the evening, and Bay felt a connection being forged between them even deeper than ever. Tom’s cock slid into her so gently this time and together they rocked slowly on and on into the mellowest of climaxes.
Exhausted, they fell asleep just after midnight, unaware of anything else in the world apart from the two of them.
Kym walked into work early—six hours too early—and Cal, who lived above the bar, came to investigate the strange noises downstairs. He found Kym scrubbing at the wooden floors, a big bucket of sudsy water beside her.
“I admire your work ethic, girl, but this is taking it a little far.”
His smile faded when he saw the strain on her face. “What is it? What’s up?”
Kym clambered slowly to her feet, dropping the scrubbing brush into the water. “I did something last night and I can’t figure out whether it was the biggest mistake of my life or the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”
Cal steered her into a chair and went to grab the coffee pot. “Hold your horses. We need sustenance for this.”
Over coffee and eggs, Kym told him everything: who she was and what had happened. She told him about calling Bay, then hesitated. Cal’s eyes were wide.
“Don’t leave me hanging …what happened next?”
Kym stirred too much sugar into her coffee, then looked up, meeting Cal’s gaze. “Roman came over.”
Understanding blossomed in Cal’s eyes. “Got it.” He was silent for a moment. “I gotta say …not the most unexpected turn of events.”
Kym blinked. “What?”
Cal snickered. “You and Roman …that’s been obvious since he got here. Girl, that dude is in love with you.”
Kym laughed in disbelief. “Are you kidding? No, no, Cal, he really isn’t that I can guarantee.” She sipped her now cool coffee and grimaced.
“You over-sugared.”
“No shit. Look, I think he has someone—someone here in NoLa. That’s where he’s staying, and he hasn’t offered anything. It was just sex.” Mind-blowing, life changing sex, yes, but … “Just sex.”
“Bull crap.”
Kym sighed. “Anyway, I’m trying to figure out m
y life and I don’t want this to complicate things between us.”
“Oops, too late.”
“You’re not helping.”
Cal refilled their coffee, fetching a new cup for Kym. “Kymberly, listen. Fuck consequences, fuck the past, fuck Stu, and fuck your parents. Haven’t you learned from your friend—Bay, is it?—she almost died, but she didn’t. Now she’s willing to carry on with the band you formed. What the hell are you doing here? Go back and claim the life you wanted.”
“I can’t. I can’t face her, or Tom, or Pete. Especially now that this thing has happened with Roman.”
Cal gave a frustrated hiss. “God, you are infuriating. Listen to me. You have a chance to make a living at what you love. You’ve clearly fallen for the man who can help you get back there. Doesn’t this tell you something?”
But Kym wouldn’t be convinced. The bar was full almost from the moment they opened, and when she left in the early hours, Roman wasn’t there to meet her. She couldn’t tell whether she was relieved or upset. Both. Neither.
“Oh, who the fuck knows?” She said out loud as she walked home. Indeed, she considered, as she let herself into her flat. Not me. I have no idea of what happens from now on. None.
Not bothering to wash her face or brush her teeth, she tugged a sheet over her and curled in bed, falling asleep quickly. She didn’t even see the note on the nightstand, which had been there since she woke that morning.
“Tom, there’s a Charlie Clayton to see you.”
Tom grinned at his assistant, Maggie. “Mags, only you could work in a record company and not know who Charlie Clayton is.”
“Psh,” she waved her hand dismissively. “They’re all insane. Every musician I’ve ever met.”
“My woman is a musician.”
“She’s insane too,” Mags yelled back. “She sleeps with you.”
Tom laughed. “Haven’t I fired you already today?”
“Suck it up.” Her tone changed to a silky, professional one as she stepped into the outer office. “Come on through, Mrs. Clayton.”
Tom steeled himself. The few times he’d met Kym’s parents he had found them less than impressive. As Charlie bore down on him now, he sighed inwardly, then plastered on his best fake smile. He held out his hand to shake hers, but she brushed it aside, throwing her arms around him and kissing his cheek. Tom, his smile more of a rictus now, managed to disengage and steer her into the seat opposite. He tried not to grin as he felt the relief of the desk between them. Charlie sighed dramatically and looked around.
“What an office …you kids sure done good for yourselves. Oh, is that Bay?” Charlie grabbed the photo frame before he could stop her. “Oh, look at that darling face …Tomas Meir, why haven’t you dragged my girl down the aisle yet?”
Tom’s smile was chilly. “What can I do for you, Ms. Clayton?”
“Charlie, please. We’re family.”
Tom quashed a sigh. “Charlie, what can I do for you?”
Charlie looked pleased—mostly with herself. “Well, now, it’s what I can do for you. Now that Kym has left the band—and, it seems, the planet—I know you’ve been searching for a replacement. I’d like to offer my services.”
Tom gaped at her. “I’m sorry?”
“I’d like to join The 9th & Pine. As their guitarist and possibly as a second vocalist if Bay wants to take it easy. What do you say?”
“Fuck, no.”
Bay’s answer was exactly as Tom predicted. He smiled at his girlfriend as they sat with Pete, Emily, and Dash in the studio later that day. The results of the band’s afternoon of writing and rehearsing were scattered around the room, and not for the first time, Tom wished he was at all musically talented so he could hang with them and watch the process.
“Seconded,” Pete muttered, raising his eyes to heaven. Bay gave a shudder.
“Now, hold on just one minute,” Emily started cautiously “No, don’t give me that look. Let’s think this through. Why not give her a shot? I’m not saying the job’s permanent—just a guest spot to see how things go.”
“Because you don’t know her like I do. Like we do,” Bay countered. “She’s an evil succubus who will destroy any legitimacy we have. Pete and I would be her backup band.”
“Preach, sister,” said Pete. The usually easy-going and affable drummer looked tired and stressed, and Tom wondered what was going on with him. “Charlie Clayton is just out for herself. She’ll paint it as a favor to us, but it would be a disaster, Emily. Straight up FUBAR.”
Emily pursed her lips. “I just think …”
“On the other hand,” Dash interrupted her. “It could be the publicity boost we need. We know Charlie will milk it for all it’s worth—so we do the same. I say do a collaboration with her; Bay, you know better than anyone how effective a showcase that is.”
Bay sighed, looking to Pete. “I don’t like it,” he said. “And on top of anything else, it would feel like a betrayal.”
Bay’s face creased with pain. “Yes. We’d never get Kym back.”
Tom stroked a hand down her back. “Sweetheart,” he glanced at Emily and Dash for support, “I think you need to accept that Kym isn’t coming back. It’s time to move on.”
Bay looked away from him. Pete squeezed her hand. “Look,” he addressed Emily and Dash. “I get it. We need to find another hook to keep the press interested, but does it really have to be this?”
“Take a day, think about it.” Emily stood to leave. “Sorry, I gotta get back to ‘Frisco; it’s my weekend with Henry.”
Dash left with her. Pete glanced at the clock. “Want to go to the bar and grab a burger?”
At Hank’s, Pete disappeared into the kitchen to make them some food and Bay and Tom sat in one of the booths, bottles of beer untouched in front of them. Bay finally told Tom about Kym’s phone call. Tom’s eyebrows shot up.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
Bay shrugged. “I don’t know …it felt I was betraying her or breaking the spell of finally talking to her. As if … if I told you, then I must have imagined it. Sounds insane now.”
Tom took a mouthful of beer before he spoke again. “Honey, we shouldn’t have secrets like that.”
Bay looked at him. “Roman is there with her, wherever there is.”
“Really?” Tom sounded surprised. “Weird.”
“Right? She says he isn’t pressuring her to come back, so I’m not sure why he would be there.”
Tom clearly had no idea either. “Look, getting back to Charlie Clayton—“
“I loathe her, Tom.” Bay’s voice took on a hard edge. “She has absolutely no regard for her daughter, has neglected her on every turn, and puts her down whenever the opportunity arises. Just, no.”
Tom held his hands up. “Hey, I hear ya.”
“We don’t need her. We’ll do it the old-fashioned way, touring, releasing, and appearances. Anything but her. Pete will back me up.”
“Got it.”
Bay rubbed her eyes. “Jeez, after food, let’s go home. I need to chill.”
Tom frowned. “You okay?”
She started to say yes, then, “I don’t know. I feel like I’m hurtling headlong into something. I don’t know what, but all my control is slipping away. I’m so tired, Tom. The only thing that keeps me going is you and what we do when we’re alone.” She smiled then. “Especially now that we have some new games.”
Tom laughed softly, but his eyes still registered concern. “Sweetheart …you never did call that psychiatrist, did you?”
Bay sighed. “I don’t think that’s my problem.”
“Then what is?”
Her eyes filled with tears. “I don’t know. That’s just it. I don’t know.”
It was a Saturday and the streets of the Quarter were packed with tourists, panhandlers, and street artists. Kym leaned over her balcony and watched them for a while, feeling as distant from the world as ever. It had been five days since she and Roman had sex, and in those five day
s, her life had seemed emptier than before. She had come to realize just how much a part of her everyday life the tall man had become. Last night, cleaning up her apartment and stripping the bed of the sheets, she’d found his note.
I’m not running out on you. There’s just something I need to do. If you can wait, I would be very happy. If not, I understand. Can’t say more—not yet. Roman.
She had begun to wish she never found the note and had not had that little spark of hope ignite in her chest that she was clinging to. Kym had finally admitted something to herself last night—she didn’t want a life without Roman Ford in it. Whether as a lover or a friend, he had gotten under her skin.
Her phone buzzed and she grabbed it, settling down on the couch in her too-hot living room. She looked at the number. Bay. Her finger hesitated over the “accept” button. Kym steeled herself, then pressed it.
“Hey, you.”
“Hey,” Bay’s voice was hesitant, “I wasn’t sure whether I should call this number or whether or not you would answer. I saved it from when you called before, but if you want me to delete it …”
“No. No, I don’t want that, bubba …it’s okay. How are you?”
“Not great. Missing you …I’m sorry, that’s so manipulative, but it is the truth.”
“Don’t worry,” Kym’s chest began to ease a little. Bay seemed more nervous than she was. “I miss you too. What’s up?”
“Just down at the moment, and god, I have something to tell you, and you’ll probably scream at me or curse or cry …”
Kym drew in a breath. She wasn’t sure anything could touch the hole Roman had left in her soul, but whatever Bay was about to tell her was obviously upsetting her friend. “Just tell me.”
“Your mom went to Tom—and offered to be our new guitarist.”
For a moment, Kym was stunned into silence. “You’re kidding?”
“Wish I was.”
Rockstar Untamed: A Single Dad Virgin Romance Page 97
