by Marilyn Lee
He smiled and caressed her cheek. “Congratulations, sweet.”
She shook her head. “Thanks, but your congrats are premature. They gave me a week or two to make my decision.”
“What’s to decide? Take it.”
If she did, her chances of seeing Michael would be nearly non-existent. “I’m not in the right frame of mind to make such a big decision, Jayvyn. I’ll spend next weekend alone and make it then.”
“The hell you will.”
“What?”
“You’re spending next weekend with me.”
“Jayvyn—”
“Save it,” he said. “We’re doing a show tonight so I’m going to need to practice with the band. Let’s go into the dining room and take a tray upstairs. I want you to myself for a few hours before then.”
“Okay, but no sex,” she whispered.
He sighed. “If you insist.”
“I do.”
“Fine, what do you care if my blue balls drop off?”
She laughed and pressed a quick kiss against the corner of his mouth. “I do care, but you promised.”
“I did and I’ll keep my word.”
In the dining room, she found a dizzying array of dishes.
Jayvyn picked up a covered tray, several plates, and a carafe. He followed her around the three tables as she made her selections and added them to the tray.
“What are you having?” she asked.
He leaned over her shoulder to whisper in her ear. “I’d like to have some pussy but since that’s off the menu, I’m not hungry.”
She blushed and elbowed him.
“Be careful,” he teased. “You don’t want to damage something I need.” She laughed and turned to look at him. “That’s a few feet south and you’re right. I wouldn’t want to damage it.”
“Why not?”
“I’m sure I’ll want to make use of it at some point.”
“Oh, hell, I should hope so, sweet.” He glanced at the tray he held. “Got everything you want?” Realizing her appetite was for him and not the food on the tray, she nodded.
“Then let’s go spend some time alone.”
Back in his suite, they shared a reclining loveseat. He held the tray on his lap and fed her forks full of food interspersed with kisses. Feeling her desire elevating, she leaned away from him after a slow, hot kiss that left her gasping for breath. “Jayvyn!”
“What?” He placed the tray on the table to his right and leaned over to kiss her again.
She pushed at his shoulder. “I need to know I can depend on your word.” She pushed at his shoulder. “I need to know I can depend on your word.”
“You can.” He nibbled at her ear.
She trembled. “Don’t.”
He licked her ear. “Why not?”
“Because you’re making me hot.”
He cupped her breasts. “Why is that bad?”
She pushed his hand away. “Because you’re trying to wear me down and get me aroused—even though you know that’s not what you promised.”
He sat back against the loveseat, closing his eyes. “Fine. I’ll keep my hands and lips to myself. Satisfied?” Hell no, but the next time they had sex, she didn’t want to feel as if he felt his needs and desires were more important than hers. She turned her head. She could see his jaw clenching. Damn. Beating him over the head for something she’d chosen to forgive him for wasn’t going to wash.
She touched his thigh. “I just want to feel romanced and not as if you’re waiting for the first opportunity to fuck me raw—even if it means you have to use very heavy coercion.” He opened his eyes and met her gaze. “I told you that won’t happen again.” She closed her eyes and leaned against him. “Then let me believe you.” He put his arm around her, pulling her out of her seat and onto his lap. “You can believe me,” he said softly. He kissed her hair.
After a moment of tension, she relaxed against him.
Soon, the quiet in the room and her lack of sleep the previous night, allowed her to drift to sleep.
When he woke her sometime later, she lay on his bed.
He stood over her dressed in a cream-colored shirt and dress pants under a black jacket. He brushed a hand against her cheek. “I need to go practice with the guys for tonight’s show. I brought a fresh tray up for you. Our performance starts in three hours. See you in the basement theater?” She stretched and sat up. “Wow. You look so attractive in those colors.” He smiled. “Want me to blow the show and join you in bed?”
“What I want is to feel as if you’re singing for me alone tonight.”
“I can do that.”
She nodded. “Oh, I know you can.”
He bent to nip at the side of her neck. She felt his teeth and shivered.
When he straightened, she caught his hand. “Who are you?”
“Don’t you really want to know what I am?”
She clung to his hand. “Okay. What are you?”
“A man who’s absolutely wild about you and has been from the moment we met. As far as I’m concerned, you’re the only woman in the world worth looking at and spending time with.” He lifted her hand and placed it over his heart. “You totally enchant me.”
She stared up at him, her heart racing. So he hadn’t answered her question but he sure knew how to make her feel special. According to his friend, she did more than enchant him. Dare she believe he was in love with her if he weren’t willing to admit it? “Oh, Jayvyn.”
He nibbled at her fingers before he allowed her hand to fall back to the bed. “I’ll see you later.” She picked at the food he’d bought her before she got up and called Desiree’s cell phone. Desiree answered immediately and ten minutes later, they sat together on Jayvyn’s sofa.
“So? What happened?” she asked.
Desiree shook her head. “There’s absolutely nothing going on between us, Cay. We had lunch and a drive.
Period. He didn’t even so much as accidentally brush against me. I have no idea why he keeps asking me out.”
“He asked you out again?”
She nodded. “He asked me to go horseback riding with him tomorrow before we leave.”
“And you said?”
“No.” She shook her head. “There’s no point in repeatedly giving myself false hope. He has no physical interest in me. Does he like me? I’m sure he does, but I’m really not interested in being his friend—which is all he seems to want from me. No more palling around with him for me because the more time I spend with him, the more I like him.”
him.”
“How did he take your refusal?”
“Honestly, he couldn’t have cared less. I think he’s just killing time with me until someone more interesting comes along. That’s fine for him but not so much for me.”
Cayenne sighed. “We could go home.”
“I am going home.”
“When?”
“As soon as I pack.”
Oh, hell. “I’ll come with you.”
“No, you won’t. The fact that you’re in Jayvyn’s suite tells me things are going well between you two. I have my big girl panties on and I’m fine. I don’t need an escort home. What I need is for you to stay here and cement things with Jayvyn. And I’ll see you on Monday.”
“Desi—”
“No. I mean it. You’re staying and I’m not. Let’s not argue. I’m okay and I’m leaving so I can stay that way. In a few days, I’ll be over—” A knock on the suite door interrupted her.
Cayenne and Desiree stared at each other.
Someone rapped on the door again.
“You’re his woman. Answer it,” Desiree whispered.
Cayenne moistened her lips. “Come in,” she called.
The door opened. Conner stood on the other side. He smiled at Cayenne before turning his gaze on Desiree.
“Can I have a word with you?”
“Actually, I’m a little pressed for time. I’m going to pack and head home.”
“When?”
“Tonight?”
“Yes. Right now.”
“You’re not staying for the show?”
“No.” She rose but stood still.
He looked at Cayenne. “Can you give us a moment?”
Cayenne hesitated before she rose.
Desiree shook her head. “I’m sure you don’t have anything to say to me that she can’t hear. After all, we were just discussing you.”
“Were you?”
“Yes, we were.” She glanced at her watch. “But now I should go.” She walked across the room, pausing in front of him. “Excuse me.”
He stood staring down at her without moving.
Cayenne tensed. What the hell was wrong with the Redwolfe brothers? Jayvyn insisted she give Michael up and now Conner appeared to be ready to insist Desi stay—whether she wanted to or not.
“I’m a little too full-figured to try to squeeze past you. So, unless you’re in the mood for me to cop a feel, I suggest you get your tight ass out of my way.”
He laughed and stepped back.
Desiree cast a quick smile at Cayenne before she walked out. “I’ll see you on Monday, Cay.” Conner followed her down the hall.
Cayenne rushed across the room and out into the corridor.
Desiree and Conner stood outside of Rayna’s door. As she watched, Conner bent his head. Cayenne couldn’t tell if he kissed her or just whispered in her ear.
Whatever he’d said or done must have pleased Desiree because when he lifted his head, Desiree, grabbed him by his tie, and pulled him inside the suite.
Chapter Ten
Cayenne was surprised to find Kristopher Macarik lounging in the foyer when she descended the staircase.
He straightened, smiled at her, and offered her his arm “Jayvyn asked me to escort you downstairs.” She blinked. “He did?”
He nodded. “He’s afraid some big, bad wolf will make off with you the moment his back is turned.” She slipped her arm through his. “I think you’re overstating his interest.”
“Oh, no. I’m not. Trust me. He’s in love with you.” He glanced down at her. “And you?” She shrugged. “I’m not sure how I feel after…” she trailed off, unwilling to say anything to cast Jayvyn in a bad light with his friend.
“After last night?”
She sucked in a breath and stared up at him. “You know about that?” He nodded. “We don’t really keep secrets and he was afraid he’d blown it with you.” She touched her neck. The two puncture marks were nearly completely healed. If he and Jayvyn were best friends, surely he knew what Jayvyn was. “Is he a vampire?” she asked.
His dark, sinfully long lashes swept down to conceal the expression in his eyes. “What makes you ask such a curious question?”
“I’ve never seen him eat anything and he made two tiny puncture wounds in my neck.”
“Have you asked him?”
“In a roundabout way, but he evaded the question—just as you’re doing.”
“Anyone ever tell you you’d make a hellva lawyer?”
“Anyone else tell you not to answer a question with another question?” He laughed. “I suggest you come right out and ask him in a way that requires a simple yes or no answer.”
“I could do that or I could take your refusal to answer as affirmation of my suspicions.” He urged her down the hall pass the living and dining rooms. At the back of the hall, there was an elevator.
She withdrew her arm from his and looked at him. “Are you a vampire?”
“Hell no.” He pushed the button for the elevator.
“Are you a familiar?”
“Hell no.”
“But you know what a familiar is?”
He shrugged. “I watch TV.”
The elevator opened and they stepped inside. Moments later, they stepped out into what looked like a small auditorium. A medium-sized stage with spotlights overhead occupied the far end of the room.
There appeared to be sufficient seating for about a hundred people. Half the seats were filled. Kristopher led her to the front of the center row where Rayna, Brandi, Adrian, and a few others sat. “Make yourself comfortable,” he told her.
She sat, leaving the seat next to Brandi empty. “I’ll leave this one for you.”
“Thanks, but I won’t need it. I’m a member of Rolling Thunder so I’ll be sharing the stage with the other band members.” He extended his right hand.
She clasped it between both of his. “Thanks.”
“My pleasure,” he smiled at her and walked away.
Brandi touched her arm. “How are you feeling?”
“A lot better than I was this morning. Thanks for everything.” Brandi hesitated before she continued. “I’m not sure how much you know about Jayvyn—”
“Not nearly as much as I want to—like what he is.”
Brandi responded without any discernable pause. “He’s a man who’s well worth loving. Although I’m sure you’ve had moments when you doubted that—like this morning. But he’s a warm, charming man who’s overdue to find love again. He’s probably not going to make it any easier for you than Adrian made it for me.”
“But?”
She glanced to her right where Adrian sat watching them before she responded. “Even though I thought my heart would shatter, I love him so much that…as one of Jay’s country songs says, I love him so much I can almost taste it.”
There was no doubting the sincerity of her words for Cayenne. Apparently Adrian felt the same way because he slipped an arm around her and rubbed his cheek against hers. He didn’t actually say anything but suddenly the air seemed heavy with love and adoration—flowing from him to her.
seemed heavy with love and adoration—flowing from him to her.
Damn it must be nice to have a man feel that way about you.
With his arm still around Brandi, Adrian reached over to grip Cayenne’s hand. “He might not be able to tell you himself, but his feelings for you run as deep as any man’s can. If you can bear with him, he’ll be good to you.” Cayenne sighed. “I don’t know where things are going for us.”
“You mean a lot to him. Just bear that in mind if he has any reluctance to admit it.”
“I will.”
He squeezed her hand before he released it.
The lights in the room began to dim.
Rayna got up and picked up a cordless mike from the end of the stage. “Ladies and gentlemen, tonight we’re fortunate enough to have several of the founding members of Rolling Thunder with us. Several group members will be performing solos for the special ladies in their lives during this performance that has a wide–ranging oldies theme.
They’re going to open with one of my all-time favorites.”
As she spoke, several men dressed in cream-colored pants and shirts under black jackets walked onto the stage.
Cayenne was surprised to see Conner, dressed in a cream and black outfit, walk onto the stage last with a horn.
Cayenne frowned. Where was Jayvyn? And Desiree?
“Ladies and gentlemen, founding member and one of Rolling Thunder’s most talented lead singers, Jayvyn Redwolfe!” Rayna announced.
The band played the opening strands of Old Time Rock And Roll. The lights dimmed and Jayvyn wearing an undershirt, boxer briefs, and white socks slid out onto the stage.
Everyone erupted into cheers.
Cayenne sucked in a breath. One of her favorite movie scenes was of Tom Cruise lip–syncing Old Time Rock And Roll in the movie Risky Business. She leaned forward as Jayvyn belted out the opening lines of the song. Just take those old records…
He looked sexy as hell and he sounded great. He had a powerful voice with an amazing range. Within seconds of his sliding onto center stage, he commanded everyone’s full attention. And when Kristopher suddenly unstrapped his guitar and tossed it across the stage and Jayvyn caught it, fell onto his knees, and began playing it, the audience erupted into another round of applause.
&nbs
p; Next, Kristopher performed a solo called Wandering Eyes. It was a song about a man telling his woman although he liked to look at other women, his heart never strayed from home or her. Following his gaze, Cayenne noted a tall, full-figured woman to whom he appeared to be singing.
The tall handsome Native American Rayna introduced as Braden Elkhorn, did a super sexy version of a song called Am I That Easy To Forget? Cayenne couldn’t figure out who he sang for, but couldn’t help feeling that the woman in question must be nuts. Who would want another lover when she could have him? Unless, of course, the other lover in question was Jayvyn, who walked back onto the stage at the end of the song, dressed like the other band members.
A few other members did solos. Cayenne marveled that men with such sexy voices would be content to limit their performances to private shows. All the solos had been love songs. After listening to the emotion in each rendition, Cayenne’s enjoyment in Jayvyn’s solo waned. While other women inspired their men to sing of endless love, she inspired Jayvyn to sing about rock and roll?
Rayna announced an intermission moments before the lights were turned up.
Adrian rose. “I’m going to get Brandi a drink. What would you like, Cayenne?” Jayvyn. She smiled. “A club soda. Thanks.”
* * *
Backstage, Jayvyn sprawled across a sofa and closed his eyes. He could feel the tension he’d experienced the previous night returning. Come hell or high water, he couldn’t afford to lose sexual control with Cayenne again.
Macarik sank onto the other end of the sofa. “We need to talk.” He really wasn’t in the mood but just being around Macarik generally helped. “About?”
“Cayenne.”
“What about her?”
Macarik leaned close and spoke in a low voice. “She asked me if you were a vampire.” He opened his eyes and sat up. “And you said?”
He opened his eyes and sat up. “And you said?”
“That she should ask you. She said she had but you’d brushed the question off. It’s time you told her who you are.”
“Why would you suggest that knowing how she feels about us?”
Macarik took a sip from the beer can he held. “I know how you say she supposedly feels.”
