While waiting for Seth, I towel-dry my hair and then wrap my body back up in the towel. The house is quiet, eerily quiet. Where are Jax and Mike? A knock sounds on the door.
“Yes?”
“I’ve got a robe and some socks for you,” Seth says from the bedroom.
I open the door and smile at him. He’s wearing straight-legged sweats and a black T-shirt. No socks. I stare at his feet. “Your toes are going to get cold.”
He doesn’t say anything, and when I look up, he’s gazing at me, his brows drawn together with indecision. Handing me the robe and socks, he says, “I can’t sleep with socks on.”
“Oh.” I clutch the robe to my chest. “I’ll only be a minute, then I’ll get out of your way.”
He frowns. “Out of my way?”
“So you can get some sleep.” I slip the robe on and turn away from him to pull the towel off. Once the robe is cinched, I hand him the towel. “I’ll go find the guest room or the couch. Thanks for letting us stay. It’s ugly out there.”
I’m almost to the door when his hand wraps around my wrist, stopping me. My pulse skips a beat, and I take a moment to collect myself. What is it about this guy? His very presence turns my insides into all kinds of crazy.
“Stay,” he says.
“Uh…” Is he propositioning me? There’s no denying I’m attracted to him, but having a repeat of the night before seems like a bad idea. Especially after the way I’d found him earlier.
“To just sleep,” he says. “Nothing else. I promise.”
I glance at his king-sized bed and raise an eyebrow. “You’re sure?”
He nods and tugs me to the bed. “I’d really like you to stay.”
“Okay.” Nervous anticipation zings through me. How would we spend the whole night together in the bed with me only wearing a robe and not end up sleeping together? It seems impossible, but I can’t stop myself from climbing in the bed.
Seth crawls in after me and rolls onto his side, tucking me close. His arm slips around my waist, and he rests his hand between the folds of the robe, on my bare stomach.
I sigh, instantly warm and comfortable in his bed. In his arms.
“Good night, Lucy,” he whispers in my ear.
“Night, Seth.”
Chapter Twenty
Seth
Out on the street with the rain pounding away at me, I’d been right back there with E that night. The pain and anguish ripped through my gut as if I were experiencing the accident all over again. This wasn’t the first time I’d had a flashback so intense, but it’s the first time in a very long time.
Then suddenly, Lucy had been there, a beacon in the sea of my anguish. And she’d brought me home, brought me back to myself by just being there. The way she’d let me hold her in the shower and then again in my bed had restored something vital in me. I’d barely even been a walking shell of a person since the accident. But now a small trace of acceptance starts to take up residence in my gut. I’ll never get over losing E. I know this down to my core. I only hope I can learn to live with it. And last night, in Lucy’s sure arms, something broke loose. For the first time in months, I felt like I could breathe. To just relax with someone else. I can’t let her go.
The predawn light filters through the blinds as light rain patters against the windows. Lucy’s soft body is still snuggled against mine. Her deep, rhythmic breathing, indicating she’s still sound asleep, is more comforting than I care to admit. I want her to stay. I don’t want to know what the day will bring. I’d rather stay right here with her warmth keeping the darkness away.
I lie next to her, taking in her silky dark locks splayed across my pillow, and force myself to not run my fingers through her hair. They twitch with the urge, but I don’t want to do anything to wake her.
The minutes tick by as I watch her and I pray the moment never ends. I’m content, a state of being that is so wholly foreign I almost panic. I don’t deserve this. But then Lucy shifts and rolls over to face me. Her eyes are hooded, heavy with sleep. Sultry. My gaze shifts to her lips, and my mind turns off. I want her.
She chuckles and sweeps her hair to the side, tucking the strands behind one ear. “Well, good morning.”
I smile. “The best.”
We stare at each other, not moving. My body goes taut with desire. And it has little to do with the fact the robe she fell asleep in is gaping open to reveal the creamy slope of her breasts. Though that doesn’t hurt. No. It’s the easy intimacy. And the way she puts me at peace by just being present.
“I’ll be right back.” She scoots to the edge of the mattress and swings her legs out of the bed. A shiver visibly shakes her. When she cinches the robe closed, the fabric stretches across her round ass and I consciously hold back a groan. Damn.
After a few minutes of the water running, I can’t help myself. I have to be near her. Padding into the bathroom, I grin, catching her brushing her teeth with a bit of toothpaste and her finger. “You know, that extra toothbrush is still in the other bathroom.”
She spits and rinses then turns to me. “I didn’t want to wake Mike and Jax since I plan on climbing right back into that bed.” Her gaze runs the length of my body, pausing briefly on my chest. Then she raises one eyebrow. “Are you joining me?”
This time my groan is audible, and her smile widens.
She reaches out and strokes one finger over my abs. “See you in a minute.”
I can’t keep my eyes off her as she saunters back into the bedroom, the silk robe showing every delicious curve. Sweet Jesus. Last night she’d been gentle, soft, and… solid. An anchor. My anchor. This morning, she’s sultry Lucy. The one I met at the club. The combination makes my chest ache with something between awe and fear.
Standing at the sink, I press my hands to the marble and hang my head, taking a minute just to breathe. I have to let whatever is happening inside me go. She has a soul mate, and no matter how much I want her, she’s going to go back to him eventually. He’ll get his shit together one of these days, and she won’t be able to help herself.
I should leave. Go down and make breakfast for everyone. Spending the morning loving her will only make it worse. I make up my mind to do just that, but when I reach for a towel after brushing my teeth, her discarded clothes catch my eye. The black lace bra I’d carefully stripped from her is lying on top of her sweater. The swell of her breasts is fresh in my mind and my fingers ache to touch her.
Screw breakfast. I can’t leave her alone in my bed. Who am I kidding?
“Hey,” she says, her eyes glinting with desire as I head back into the bedroom.
I smile seductively, mentally peeling back the blankets covering her bare body.
She laughs, a low, husky sound that makes me instantly hard. I could listen to her read a grocery list and die a happy man. “Jax calls that smile you’re wearing the panty-dropper.”
“What?” I half-choke, half-laugh, then clear my throat. “Is that a trait shared by others, or only specific to me?”
She smirks, then runs her pointed tongue over her bottom lip. “Hard to say. It’s the first time I’ve experienced such a phenomenon.”
Holy fuck. She’s hot. I mentally calm myself before I throw the covers back and take her right here and now. Sitting on the edge of the bed, I run my fingers along her jawline, letting them trail softly down her neck.
She takes in a sharp breath as I feather my thumb over her pulse.
“I want to kiss you right here,” I say.
She swallows. “I’m not stopping you.”
The want on her face only makes me more determined to take my time. Watching her desire build is doing strange and wonderful things to both my mind and body. “In a moment,” I whisper and slide my hand down, dipping my fingers into her cleavage.
Her chest rises as she arches into my touch.
God, I
want to take her breasts into my hands, clasp her taut peaks between my teeth, and tease her until she’s writhing beneath me.
But that slow tremble taking over her body is too alluring.
I take my time, exploring the satin feel of her skin as I slowly peel back the blankets.
“Seth?” she breathes.
“Hmm?” Cupping her hip with one hand, I slide down and press a kiss to her inner knee.
She responds by spreading her legs, giving me full access. “I want you.”
Satisfaction fills me to my core. I want this girl to want me. Want her to want only me. Shit. This is intense. I shouldn’t have these feelings. I don’t want them. But I can’t help myself. “You’ve got me,” I say and kiss my way up her inner thigh. I pause and gently blow against her sex.
“Oh,” she moans and her hips rise slightly.
I tilt my head up and smile in smug satisfaction. She wants me just as much as I want her. Her eyes flutter open, intense with need. She doesn’t say anything, just winds her fingers into my hair and applies the tiniest bit of pressure. Not a demand. A request. And I’m all too happy to oblige.
Her sweet scent assaults me as I taste her, licking, sucking, teasing, using her moans of approval to unravel her secrets.
“Seth,” she gasps and tightens her grip on my hair.
I redouble my efforts, determined to coax her to climax with just my tongue. She bucks beneath me and I grasp her hips, stilling her, forcing her to give me complete control.
Her cries grow louder, her entire body sparking like a live wire.
“Take me,” she forces out. “I want you inside me.”
Holy fuck. I want that, too. But I can’t bring myself to pull away until after she comes completely apart. I pulse my tongue against her faster.
Her cries turn into high-pitched gasps as her body goes taut and then stills beneath me. Deep personal satisfaction fills me, and while her limbs go limp, I gently kiss my way up and over her left hip. She stirs beneath me, and I continue my exploration until I have one of her nipples right where I want it, clasped lightly between my teeth. Wrapping her legs around me, she lets out another gasp and grinds into my ever-hardening erection.
“Now,” she demands, pushing at my sweats, lowering them as far as she can reach. I want to resist, drag this moment out for as long as possible, but when her small hand slips over my cock, I lose all sense of self-control and grab a condom from the nightstand.
“Now?” I ask to confirm. Or was I trying to buy a little time?
She grabs the condom from my hands, rips it open with practiced skill, and then rolls the latex on me.
“Now,” she orders and tilts her hips up, pressing herself against me.
I could so bury myself into her heat and take her fast and hard. It seems to be what she’s demanding. But I have other plans. I pull back slightly and position myself right at her opening, gently teasing.
Her nails bite into my shoulders and she lets out a strangled growl. “Seth, dammit, you’re driving me insane.”
I can’t help the smug smile that claims my lips. I’d gladly drive her insane for the rest of the day, if only I could hold out that long. But the way her tongue dances wickedly over my chest and the shocking darts of delicious pain from her nails raking over my back have me pressing into her, slowly, inch by inch, her heat driving me out of my fucking mind.
“Oh, God,” she says and gasps as I bury myself deep inside her and still, waiting for her to adjust to my intrusion. And then when she rocks her hips, I pull out just as slowly, torturing myself. My body shakes with the effort to hold myself back, and when I meet her brilliant blue eyes, full of so much lust, I let myself go and thrust hard and fast, watching as her eyes close from the intense pleasure.
The way she arches her body into mine, so completely lost in the moment, it’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. Something breaks free inside me. An overwhelming urge to make her mine, to bind my soul to hers, takes over. To somehow, through our physical joining, make a connection that’s impossible to break.
Her eyes open, and our gazes lock as I once again thrust deep, making her gasp.
“More,” she says breathily. “Much more.”
Those words are all I need to hear. In one swift movement, I grasp her wrists and hold them over her head, pausing just long enough for her acceptance.
Though she doesn’t speak, the way her body quivers in anticipation and her legs tighten around my waist, I know she’s as into this as I am. I bend my head to hers and whisper, “Today, you belong to no one but me.”
I pull back and stare into her wide eyes. She nods once and then our bodies begin to move in unison, matching each other’s every thrust in raw, unabashed need. It’s not just sex anymore. She’s in my heart now. I’m sure of it. And right now, even though I know it will be my undoing, my heart is bursting with the joy of it.
“Lucy.” I groan and quicken my pace, slamming into her.
“Seth,” she answers on a shortened breath and lets out a cry of pleasure. Her body spasms as she tightens around me. “Now. Come with me.”
I thrust one more time, deep inside her as she shudders beneath me, and finally lose myself in her.
Chapter Twenty-one
Lucy
I lie spent in Seth’s arms, my limbs languid with the aftermath of incredible sex. But I know that no matter how much I want to tell myself what we did means nothing, my heart says otherwise.
Today you belong to no one but me.
His words keep running through my head. At the time, it had been sexy as hell. But now it’s terrifying. Had he actually meant anything by it? Or was he just caught up in the moment? Sex makes people say crazy things. Especially hot, mind-blowing sex.
And holy freakin’ cow, had it been mind-blowing. I never thought sex could be better with anyone than it was with Cadan. With him, sex had been almost magical, but it all revolved around a release of our connection. A way to purge some of the intense emotions that lingered after we’d put on a show. My attraction to him was only that intense if we’d been working together. But with Seth? Damn. All we needed was each other and boom. Instant sparks.
Why was that?
Seth presses his lips to my temple. “Are you ready for breakfast?” he asks as he runs his fingers lightly over my bare spine.
“Yeah.” My voice is so low with uncertainty that he shifts and rolls me to my side in order to look me in the eye.
“We don’t have to get up,” he says. “I’m happy to stay right here for the rest of the day.”
I want to deny him and leap out of the bed, but I can’t. I’m frozen with the knowledge that once I get up, everything will change. Cadan and the label aren’t going to leave me alone. And if I don’t go back, I’ll lose the right to record my own songs. They still think I signed that publishing contract. I can’t work with Cadan and be with Seth at the same time. And I’ll be damned if I set myself up to hurt Seth. He’s been through enough. “I think Jax and Mike might come looking for us sooner or later.”
He sighs. “Yeah. Probably.”
Reluctantly, I extract myself from his arms and shiver with the loss of his warmth. Wrapping myself in the robe, I glance back at him. He’s propped up on one elbow, studying me.
“What?”
Shaking his head, he gets up and walks around to where I’m sitting and holds his hand out. “Come on. The shower is waiting.”
I quirk one eyebrow and try not to stare at his naked torso or his well-defined abs. “Planning a repeat performance of this morning?”
He grins. “Well, I’m thinking I’ll change the moves up a little.”
I can’t help but laugh and take his hand. If I have to give him up, I might as well enjoy him while I can.
***
It’s late afternoon by the time Jax drops me off at my hous
e. “See you tomorrow?” I ask.
“Sure. Call me when your car is ready.”
The shop said the starter had gone out and they’d had to overnight the correct replacement. “Thanks.”
I’m already out of her car when she says, “Luce?”
“Yeah?”
She glances down at her hands folded in her lap. “Don’t hurt him.”
“Cadan?” I say, caught off guard, and then bite my lip at the incredulity on her face. “Oh, you mean Seth.”
She rolls her eyes. “Dude. You just spent the last two nights banging my best friend and now I barely recognize him.”
“Your best friend?”
“Well…” She closes her eyes and grimaces a little. “He’s the one I spend most of my time with these days. Sorry. It’s hard when you’re not around.”
I wave a hand and try to ignore the slight ache in my heart. I wasn’t anyone’s person anymore. I’d been Dad’s. And I’d thought Jax’s. But Dad’s gone and Jax has moved on. That leaves Cadan, and I don’t want to be his person. At least I don’t think I can survive being his person. “Don’t worry about it. I get it.”
She gives me a small smile. “So, about Seth.”
“What about him?” Now I’m just irritated and feeling utterly alone. “I thought you said he’s the player type. Right? Shouldn’t you be warning me to stay away from him or something?”
She sits back in her seat and lets out a long breath. “I tried that already. It didn’t work. And now I don’t know what’s going on, but Seth isn’t himself. Or at least not the Seth he’s been the last eighteen months. Around you, he’s almost his old self.”
“So? Maybe he’s like that when he’s with other girls too.” I shrug her concerns off. We’ve only known each other a few days. An intense couple of days, but still.
“Maybe,” she says. “But I don’t really think so. Just try to let him down easy when you go back to Cadan.”
I open my mouth to protest her remark about Cadan, but then close it. No one believes Cadan and I won’t end up together. It’s useless to argue. I nod. “It’s not like we even have a relationship, but I’ll talk to him.”
Rockers After Dark: 6 Book Bundle of Sexy Musicians Page 16
