“I’ve dreamed of touching you like this.” I brushed her silky hair forward and started working on the tiny fastenings of her corset. “I’m taking your things off, but just so you know, I’m keeping my pants on until the last moment.”
“Why?” she asked, looking perplexed.
“Because I’m only a man, not a superhero, and I’ve never been so fucking turned on in my entire life.” With shaking hands, I tucked her hair behind her ears while cool air rushed over her pretty skin without restriction like I wanted to. “And because you matter more than anyone.” I smoothed my hands over her slender shoulders, holding her gaze. “And because I want this to be good for you.”
“You know I’m a virgin.” Her corset removed, she was half-naked now, but she didn’t seem shy or nervous.
“Yes.”
“I wanted you to be the one.”
“I will be the one.” My voice was rough. The only one. “If I can control myself.”
“I trust you, Bry.”
I almost said the words then. What she meant to me. The reason I’d do anything she asked of me.
The curve to her mouth deepening, she dropped her gaze, following her fingers as she glided them down my arms. “Touch me.”
She brought my hands to her breasts. I cupped them, round, perfectly formed, so incredible.
Arching her spine to bring them more fully into the frame I provided, she said, “I want you to make me yours.”
“Ah, Lace. It would be my pleasure.” I swept my thumbs across her budded nipples, and she moaned. “And yours too,” I added arrogantly. I would see to it.
Her nipples were diamond-hard, and my cock was at least that hard, pounding against my zipper.
Lifting her, I turned and laid her on the bed. Looking at her with her hair spread out on the white sheets, I lowered my head to taste her. Lips first, I explored her wet mouth, tonguing her deep. Her hands urgently roamed my back and ass as she whimpered and writhed beneath me.
I left her mouth and moved to her tits, sucking one dusky nipple, then the other.
“Bry, no more.” She pounded on my back, and I almost smiled. “I need you inside me.”
“I want that too, babe.” I pulled back.
My hair in my eyes, I unbuckled my belt and lowered my zipper. A glance to the side revealed she was watching me with rapt attention.
“Fuck, Lace. Don’t look at me like that. I’m trying to go slow.”
“I don’t want slow, Bry,” she said, sounding and looking piqued. “I want you now.”
“I want you now too.” I got my slacks off and grabbed a condom packet from the pocket before I kicked them away. Tearing the wrapper open, I rolled on the rubber.
“You’re so big.” Staring at my cock, she licked her lips.
“Babe,” I said, grinning. “Are you trying to kill me looking at me like I’m a feast?”
“I’m trying to get you to . . .” She sucked in a breath when I dipped my fingers in her panties, whipped them down her shapely legs, and tossed them aside.
“Your skin’s so soft.” I grasped her thighs and separated them. Moving between her legs, I could see how wet she was. I wanted to taste her, so I did.
“Bry,” she said breathily, grabbing fistfuls of my hair to pull me away. “Inside me, please.”
What she wanted, I wanted. Positioning myself, I thrust inside her all the way. I couldn’t hold back anymore.
She gasped.
“You okay?” I asked, immediately going still.
“Yes, just a little burning.” She grabbed my ass and squeezed. “Don’t stop. Please move.”
So I moved, sliding in and out of her. She was so slick and tight.
“That feels so good.” Her eyes on mine, she smiled.
It felt better than good, like heaven, knocking on the door of it. I picked up the tempo. Her hands on my ass, she moved with me like she heard the same irresistible melody. Again and again, I drove into her.
“Bry,” she cried, lifting her hips to make each stoke deeper. “I’m close.” Her features wondrously tight, she strained for it, rhythmically squeezing me.
It rose within me, a feeling like no other, wild and untamable like she was.
“Yes, Lace.” Hammering into her, I took her higher. “Come with me.” If I was at the heights, she had to be there too. Stiffening, I let out a guttural groan, and she moaned.
In perfect harmony, we hit the crescendo together.
No longer separated.
One.
CHAPTER FIFTY-FOUR
War
“Where is he, Diz?” I roared into my cell. “Where’s Bry?”
“Don’t know,” he said after a beat. “But yelling at me isn’t gonna make him appear.”
“Yeah, okay,” I muttered, taking the anger down a notch. I didn’t need Dizzy any more pissed at me than he already was.
“You feeling any better?” he asked.
“Slightly more human.”
The little bit of smack I’d tried for the first time at the strip club in LA was mostly to blame. The RCA rep had given me some under-the-table money to sweeten their offer, which I’d used to purchase the stuff, and I’d loved it. It made me euphoric, which had been awesome. Just what I needed with all the stress on me.
But the downside?
I felt so good that I hadn’t properly eaten or hydrated while in LA. Then fast forward to the welcome-back-to-Seattle party at Kyle’s, where I might have done too much of everything. Afterward, I’d gotten as sick as a fucking dog.
Missed prom, missed a day where I should have made my woman mine. Now I only had one day to have her sweet side before the deadline to choose record labels. Then the hammer would drop, since neither deal included Lace. She’d be pissed, but she’d get over it.
“Thanks for making that drugstore run for me,” I said, playing nice. “The Gatorade helped.”
“No problem.”
“So, is Lace at the house with you?” I asked, acting like my interest wasn’t sharp.
“Yeah, man. She’s here.”
That was good. But was she alone? I didn’t like that Bryan had been MIA since the prom.
“I’m coming over,” I said. “I need to talk to her. I texted, but haven’t heard back from her.”
“She’s still pissed at you. The way she sees it, you haven’t done anything to smooth things over.”
“I know she’s freezing me out. I know why.”
But we were even after Kyle’s, and I got her a date for prom. She really needed to give me a fucking break. What other guy would wait this long to have sex with his girlfriend?
“If she tries to take off,” I told Dizzy, “let her know to stay put. I need to talk to her.”
• • •
Lace
“It was just prom,” Bryan said to Dizzy, his voice was clear, even though he was on one side of the closed bedroom door, and I was on the other. “Getting laid is a rite of passage. It didn’t mean anything.”
Stunned, I staggered away from the closed door. I had whisker burns on my skin in several unmentionable places, but what Bryan said burned a hell of a lot more.
Stupid, Lace. Believing what we’d done was more than it was, or that he’d meant the words he’d said after the second time we had sex.
Fingers curling into my palms, I stared at the bed. The sheets were tangled, probably still warm from the second time. I touched my neck, remembering the ribbon and what we’d done with it. My cheeks heated, I moved closer to the bed. Maybe it had meant nothing to him, but it had meant something to me.
I drew back the comforter, looking for the ribbon but didn’t find it. I picked up my guitar and the stand, setting them to the side. Then I scooped up the music that being with him had inspired. Opening the top drawer in my dresser, I dropped the sheets inside. That out of the way, I stripped the sheets from the bed. But I still didn’t find my ribbon.
I frowned, glancing at the door. No sounds in the hall. No knock on the door from Bryan to say he’d
made a mistake, that he didn’t mean what he’d said to my brother. No, not even just a hey, the sex was great, but I have to go now good-bye.
Did he think I’d be too clingy or make too big of a deal about it afterward? Or worse, had being with me been just a terrible disappointment?
My vision swimming on those thoughts, I began to search for my phone.
Where was it? Maybe I had it all wrong. Maybe Bryan had to leave. Maybe he’d texted or left a voice mail.
Unable to find my cell inside my room, I remembered tossing it aside when I’d stripped down to my underwear downstairs.
Oh fuck! I looked out the window. It was already bright outside. Uncle Bruce would be home. Marching across my room, I threw open the door.
“Looking for these?” Wearing a disapproving frown, Dizzy held up my cell in one hand and my prom dress and shoes in the other. “Your phone fell out of your clutch. Not sure what happened with your clothes. But I can guess.”
“Don’t be an ass.” I took the items from him while flicking a furtive glance down the hall toward my uncle’s room. His door was closed, and I let out a shaky exhale.
“I found them before he got home from work. He doesn’t know anything.”
“Good.” Warmth hit my cheeks.
“But, Lace,” Dizzy said, shaking his head soberly. “War called just a little while ago.” He placed his hands on my shoulders, and I was glad I’d thrown on an old T-shirt while combing the room for the ribbon. “He’s on his way over right now. He wants to talk to you. Do you want him to know Bryan was here all night? To find out this way? To see you like that?”
My heart raced. My mind had turned to sludge.
“I don’t know what to do.” I bowed my head and lifted my pleading eyes to my brother.
“Well, you can buy a little time to figure it out if you take a shower and do something about the redness on your face.”
“Okay, yeah, that’s a good idea.” I started to duck back into my room to grab some makeup and clothes. But his next question stopped me.
“I confronted Bry. He said it was just a one-time deal. Is that the way it was for you? Or do I need to kick his ass?”
Tears sprang to my eyes. The only good thing about this that I could see right now was that my brother was looking out for me. I pressed my lips flat and swallowed.
“It was just sex,” I said huskily without turning around. The lie surely burned brighter than the whisker burns on my skin.
How had this happened? I’d been so light and happy last night, but this morning, I felt so dark and empty.
“No ass-kicking needed. I’m a big girl. I knew what I was doing.” Another lie. “I mean, Bryan didn’t make any promises or anything.”
I love you from a guy in your bed who wanted a little more action the next morning didn’t mean anything. Except it had. It had meant everything to me. And I’d meant it with all my heart when I’d returned the words to him.
Even if he didn’t.
CHAPTER FIFTY-FIVE
War
“Hey.” I stood from the chair in her uncle’s living room when Lace came down the stairs. Her hair was dripping wet, her T-shirt old and faded, and so were her jeans. She wasn’t in a glittery prom gown with her hair all done up, but to me she was beautiful.
“Hi.” She gave me a little halfhearted wave.
That, more than anything she could have done, set me on edge. Lace didn’t do anything halfhearted. Not with me. She was mad as shit at me or happy. Never this lukewarm middle ground.
Had I totally screwed up with her? Had the wake-up call at Kyle’s been too harsh? Or had someone in the group told her about the lap dance in LA with the stripper?
“How’d prom go?” I asked.
Pink spots of color hit her pale cheeks. “It went.” Her gaze darted around. “I saw Chad.”
“That’s nice,” I said carefully. Crossing to where she’d stalled out in the small foyer, I took her hands. “Did Bry do something wrong?” I gave her my earnest expression. “He’s a damn good guitarist, but say the word and he’s gone, Lacey. You hear me?”
“He didn’t do anything.” Her gaze bright, she shook her head. “He did nothing. Nothing at all.”
My brows drew together beneath my bandanna. That didn’t sound right. I moved finding and interrogating my best friend to the top of my to-do list.
“You two have a fight?” I asked, wanting to get to the bottom of this now. They’d never even raised voices to each other, that I knew about, even with Lace being a hothead like me. But hey, I might have a handle on most stuff, but I didn’t control everything.
“No. He came like you asked him to, apparently.” Her expression turned bitter, like her tone. “He took me to prom. He left. End of story.” She removed her hands from mine and rubbed her temples. “I have a headache.”
How convenient. My eyes narrowed, and she noted it.
“But Dizzy said you wanted to talk to me.” She gestured to the kitchen. “There’s ibuprofen in the cabinet. I’ll take some, and we can sit down and talk.”
Sure, I wanted to talk. I wanted to talk now. But I preferred to do it somewhere else. Somewhere I could take my time. Somewhere I could have her completely to myself. Get her naked.
“Why don’t you go ahead and take your pills. Get rid of your headache. I’ve got some shit I need to do.” Mainly, I needed to find and talk to Bryan. “I’ll swing back later and take you to get some food. Then we’ll grab a few drinks and party after. Tempest has some major offers on the table, babe. We have a lot to celebrate.”
“Party at Kyle’s?” she asked. “Usual people there?”
“Yeah, maybe Bry, if I can fucking find him.”
Her eyes went active. “Sure.” She bobbed her head. “That sounds great. Should be interesting.”
Yes, it should. I was reserving the bedroom for the entire night.
• • •
Lace
A lot to celebrate.
War didn’t mention my test scores because they didn’t even factor.
Sure, yay for the band. He had his dream. But shouldn’t he at least acknowledge mine was in the toilet?
It didn’t mean anything.
I gave Bryan my virginity and my heart, all dressed up in vintage chiffon, but he didn’t want it. He couldn’t get away from me fast enough.
No texts. No phone call. Nothing.
Yeah, it was starting to sink in. Two guys I gave my affection to, and it didn’t really mean shit. I didn’t mean shit to either of them.
“You look really nice tonight,” War said as we walked to Kyle’s that night, bringing me back to the moment while reeling me closer to him by the arm he’d slung around my shoulders.
“Thanks,” I said casually, like it wasn’t a big deal the hour I’d spent putting an outfit together and getting ready. “You said it was a celebration, a party.”
I might feel broken down and rejected, but I wanted to look confident and sexy. If Bryan were around, l wanted him to see that I went on with my life, that I was fine and non-clingy without him.
“Sorry it was only a shared pizza for dinner and not a fancy restaurant.” War stopped on the sidewalk and turned me toward him. “That will all change soon. Lots of things will. We’re so close to the big time, baby.”
“Band meeting tomorrow night?” I asked to clarify.
“Yeah, two great offers. Putting it up to everyone to decide. RCA or Zenith.” A shadow passed through his gaze.
“What time do I need to be there?”
“Show’s at nine. Meeting’s at eight.”
I tilted my head, wondering why he hadn’t mentioned the meeting until now. “No sound check before?”
“No. This is just a farewell performance. I should have said something before now. But you were giving me the stiff arm, remember?”
Yeah, I had. I allowed for that.
“Once we’re under contract, whichever label we choose will own our asses. They’ll decide what shows we do,
negotiate with the clubs and all. Stadiums and concert halls one day.” His expression brightened as the wind whipped his light and dark caramel hair around his face. Beneath his bandanna, War was undeniably handsome.
War isn’t just some consolation prize, I reminded myself. He was unpredictable, sure, and scary when he felt wronged, but he was loyal to me, and I had no plans to get on his bad side again.
It was just prom, a lay, it hadn’t meant anything. Message received. Bryan wanted one time and done. He got that. He was out of my head and out of my heart.
But I could still feel him. His hard, sculpted body, the way he’d moved it, mastering me. His deep grunts of satisfaction. His approving eyes. His crisp pine scent lingered on my skin, though I’d scrubbed and scrubbed in scalding-hot water in the shower.
Would I ever be free of the hold he had on me?
“Sorry I missed prom.” War reached for my hand, brought it to his mouth, and kissed the back of it while peering at me with his copper-flecked brown eyes. “You forgive me?”
“Yes, of course,” I said, and guilt seized me.
No matter how badly War had treated me, we had an agreement and I broke it. I thought . . .
I swallowed hard as a huge ball of emotion strained the confines of my throat.
I thought War and I were over, that Bryan had come to claim me, that he was the fairy tale, that the love he offered me had been real.
But it had only been an illusion. Once the curtain had been pulled back, the silly, starry-eyed girl had learned her lesson. The dream wasn’t real.
“Love you, Lacey.” War dipped his chin. “You know that, right?”
“Yes, War. I love you too.” I turned over our joined hands. His silver and leather bracelets slid together as I pressed my lips to his knuckles.
“You’re mine.” He searched my gaze. “You know how Bry is. Missy isn’t the only one. You know he only took you out last night because I told him to. Because I knew it was important to you, and I look after you, right?”
“Yes, War.” My stomach swirled, a bitter, toxic stew. “I know.” I knew he looked after me when it served his purposes. I wasn’t exactly sure how prom fit into that. Maybe there was a tiny bit more that remained behind the curtain.
The Complete Tempest World Box Set Page 27
