“I am,” he said.
“Oh my gosh. We love you. I mean…we’re really big fans,” another girl said.
“Can we get a picture?”
“Sure.” He joined the girls and took one of their cell phones to take a selfie.
“Here.” Rowan held out her hand. “I can take a picture with everyone’s phones.”
“Oh, no! We want you in the picture too,” the first girl said.
Rowan shook her head. “You don’t even know who I am.”
“You’re Rowan,” the second girl said matter-of-factly. “Everyone who follows Luke Stone knows who you are. You’re all anyone’s talking about on his fan page.”
“Oh…really?”
“O.M.G. Yes! It’s so romantic, the way he stopped your wedding. Like something out of a movie.”
“Fans are dying to know if you’re together and here you are, doing normal people stuff.”
“We are normal people,” Luke said.
“But not like, normal normal people,” the third girl said. “I mean, we’re on a history class field trip. You’re just like…here.”
Luke managed to get them all in frame together—the girls grinning ear-to-ear and Rowan doing her best not to look like the awkward random person caught in the picture.
“Can you sign my notebook, too?” the second girl asked.
“Did you guys get married?” the first girl whispered to Rowan.
“No, sorry,” she whispered back.
“Oh.” She looked crestfallen. “I really wanted you guys to be married.”
“Why?”
“Because that would be over-the-top romantic.”
“You don’t think it would be a little weird to be getting ready to marry one man one second and turn around and marry a different man the next?” Rowan asked.
“Maybe, but I just think it’s super romantic.”
“Yeah, you’ve said that,” Rowan said. “A couple of times.”
“I want someone to love me enough to barge into a wedding to stop it.” She sighed and blinked puppy dog eyes at Luke.
Well, all right then.
“Luke, are you going to record that song you sang at the wedding?” the third girl asked.
“Yeah, we’ve tried to find it, but the only videos on YouTube are from the wedding and the song cuts off when Rowan walks away,” the first girl said.
“There’s a YouTube video?” Rowan asked.
“Oh, yeah. You guys have like a gajillion views.”
Wonderful.
They finally extricated themselves from the group and left the plantation.
“Did you bring anything dressy? I can call and get us reservations for dinner,” Luke said.
“I’m too tired to go out for dinner. Can we order in again? Maybe Thai?”
“Sure, we can do that.”
Sitting on one of the tall stools in the kitchen, Rowan rested her elbow on the counter and propped her head on her fist while Luke called in their food order. It would be really great if he had a couch for her to curl up on. She looked at the small area next to the kitchen. A comfortable loveseat and wide chair would look really cute there. Add a rug, a couple of tables, and some plants and it would be the perfect place to relax while someone was cooking in the kitchen.
“So I’m thinking tomorrow we can go to Opryland Resort for lunch. It’s a lot easier to get lunch reservations than dinner. We can do the General Jackson for dinner. Maybe not tomorrow, but the day after? I’ll look up the schedule online and see what shows they have.”
Just thinking about running all over town again made her tired. “Luke, stop.”
“Stop what?”
“Stop treating me like I’m some out of town guest that you have to entertain.”
“That’s not what I’m doing,” he said, turning away from her.
“It is,” she said. “Either that or you don’t want to spend any time alone with me.”
He turned back toward her. “Of course, I want to be alone with you.”
“Do you?” She was afraid to push him, but she was more afraid coming to Nashville had been a mistake. He’d been sweet and polite and gracious and all she could think was he was acting that way because he realized he’d made a mistake asking her there.
“Because we haven’t talked. Not really. Not about this.” She gestured between them. “Not about what’s going on right now. I don’t need you to show me everything I’ve missed. I need you to show me where we’re supposed to go from here.”
He braced his hands on the counter. “I’m trying, Rowan.”
“Trying to what?” She heard the frustration in his voice, but she was just as frustrated.
“Trying to do the right thing. Trying to make up for my mistakes—past and present. I’m trying to not be the selfish asshole who drags you off to his bed.”
A wave of heat rushed through her body before it pooled between her legs. “Maybe you should try being a selfish asshole, because being the apologetic good guy isn’t working.”
“You want me to be an asshole? I’ll be an asshole.” He took three large steps, gripped her head between his hands, and smashed his lips to hers.
Finally.
Chapter 24
She didn’t pull away. He took that as a positive sign. It took a few seconds to register that she was actively kissing him back, tangling her tongue with his, and he groaned. He stepped closer and pushed his thigh between her legs.
Her arms wrapped around his waist and he felt her fist his shirt at his back.
He moved away from her mouth and trailed across her jawline to her neck. “God, Rowan. I’ve missed you so much.”
“You haven’t been lacking for company,” she said.
He lifted his head to look in her eyes. “It wasn’t the same. It was never the same. You are, and have always been, the only woman for me. The only person in the world who gets me.”
Her eyes flitted between his as she searched his gaze. She pushed him back and his heart sank when she stood. “You know, it would be really convenient right now if you had a couch downstairs because your bedroom is a really long way away.”
A wide grin took over his face. “I’ll take you shopping tomorrow. You can pick out all the couches you want.” Bending down, he hooked his arm behind her knees and lifted her, cradling her in his embrace as his legs ate up the distance between the kitchen and the stairs.
She wrapped her arms around his shoulders, tilted her head to kiss his neck, and giggled.
“What’s so funny?”
“Last night I was thinking I wanted you to sweep me off my feet like Rhett Butler and carry me up to your bedroom.”
He almost stumbled on the first step when she licked along his jawline and sucked on his ear. “Jesus.”
“Don’t trip,” she said.
“Maybe you shouldn’t do that while we’re on the stairs,” he replied.
Her mouth didn’t leave his neck. “What should I do, then?” she said against his skin.
“Just hold on, Scarlett.”
She smiled against his neck.
Concentrating on climbing the stairs, he cursed how many of them there were. He was slightly winded when he finally reached the landing of the second floor, but he didn’t pause on his way to his room. There was no way in hell he was going to give Rowan a chance to rethink her decision—it had been hell keeping his hands away from her all day.
Although, with the way her fingers were clenched in his shirt, that might not be a worry.
Finally, his bed was in sight. Rather than tossing her onto it like some cheesy romantic comedy, he set her down at the side of it. He would give her a chance to run, if that was what she wanted.
He brushed a strand of hair away from her eyes. “Are you sure?”
“Yes,” she said. “I’m sure.”
Relief was sweet as it coursed through him. He hadn’t been a monk, but he hadn’t lied when he said it wasn’t the same. There was always something missing. A piece th
at never fit quite right.
Rowan fit. In every way that mattered and he wanted to savor this moment.
He lowered his head as she raised hers until their lips fused. Gently. Now that she was here, he was in no rush.
She ran her hands up and down his chest until stopping at vee of his shirt. She slipped the buttons out of the holes, one-by-one until it hung open.
His stomach muscles clenched when her fingers touched his skin. He wished he’d gone to the gym more. He wasn’t fat, but he’d lost some definition the last few months he’d been on the road. She’d always liked circling her fingers around his abs when they were together.
Rowan tugged at his belt buckle and he stopped her.
“What?” she asked.
“Let’s leave my pants on for a little while longer. If I take them off now, I’m not going to be able to take my time.”
“I’m okay with that.”
“I’m not.” He pushed her hands away and grabbed the hem of her shirt. “If you’re in a rush to get someone naked, let’s get you naked.”
She grinned up at him and raised her hands above her head. “Okay.”
He grinned back and peeled her shirt off, dropping it on the floor. The flesh-colored bra was simple but created a deep cleavage between her breasts and his mouth watered.
“If you’re just going to stand there and stare, I might as well give you a show.” She reached behind her back.
“No. Let me.”
Goose bumps rose on her arms when he ran his hands around her back. He kissed the crook of her neck as he unhooked the fastening and she tilted her head to the side and sighed. He slid the straps down her arms and the garment fell.
Her breasts filled his hands when he cupped them and her nipples hardened against his palm. She’d always been so sensitive.
“Can we at least take your shirt off, too?” she asked.
“I suppose that’s fair.” He undid the buttons at the cuffs and peeled his shirt off, dropping it next to hers. The sight of her half naked in front of him made his knees buckle and he knelt in front of her.
“When did you get this?” He flicked the belly ring with his tongue.
“A few years ago.” Her nails scraped across the back of his head, sending frissons of electricity down his spine.
From this angle, he could see a small black tattoo just under her left breast. He ran his thumb over the small swirl. “And this?”
Her fingers stilled. “A year after we broke up. It’s the Celtic symbol for new beginnings.”
He pressed his lips over the spot, then looked up at her. “This is our new beginning.”
Standing, he picked her up again and laid her on the bed, following her down. Her dark amber eyes were shiny and he knew she was holding back tears. He didn’t want her crying. Sighing, laughing, maybe screaming—but not crying.
He kissed his way down to her jeans and flicked the button open. Rising up on his knees, he pulled them down her legs and tossed them away, peeling her socks off as well.
Her hips were fuller. Her abdomen a little softer. She was more beautiful than he remembered. She’d blossomed and he’d missed it. Never again. This was their new beginning.
“I’d really like you to take your pants off as well,” she said.
“I knew you just wanted to get me naked.” He winked and sat up to pull off his boots, socks, and jeans, but kept his boxer briefs on.
She surprised him by straddling him and settling right over his very hard erection.
“Row,” he said with a groan.
Grabbing his head, she kissed him while moving back and forth, up and down. Her damp heat surrounded him and gripped her hips while groaning into her mouth.
He let her take the lead until his balls felt like they were going to explode. Damned if he’d blow his load in his shorts like it was their first time again.
“Stand up,” he said.
Using his shoulders for balance, she stood and he pulled her panties down her hips and legs, helping her step out of them.
She’d waxed. Almost completely bare.
“Fuck.” His dick throbbed at the sight. Leaning forward he tasted her, drawing a deep groan.
“Luke,” she whispered. “Oh god, that feels good.”
He rubbed and flicked at her clit, circling it with the tip of his tongue once then with the wide part, alternating back and forth.
“Luke.” Her voice held a little more desperation and he knew she was close.
Selfishly, he didn’t want her to come without him. Not this first time back together. He eased off and ran a hand down the back of her leg, putting pressure behind her knee to get her to straddle him again.
“Can we get you fully naked now?” she asked.
He grinned. “Yeah. If you dig around in the top drawer of the nightstand on your left, you should find some condoms.
While she searched for a condom, he lay back to pull off his underwear. With her half straddling him, half leaning on the edge of the bed, it was like the worst game of Twister he’d ever played.
Her breast pressed against his face when she straightened up. Or best.
“You only have two.”
He took a blue foil square from her. “I guess we better make them count then.”
Ripping open the packet, he rolled the condom down. Rowan played with his balls and he fought to sheath himself quickly. Finally ready, he gripped her hips again and positioned her over him.
She gripped him gently and guided him where she needed him. Hissing through his clenched teeth, he watched as she slowly slid down his cock until he was balls deep and finally complete.
Pushing up, he bent his knees a little and sat up so they were chest to chest. This position wouldn’t give either of them a lot of leverage, but he wanted to be close—as close as he could get.
He rested his forehead against hers. “You good?” he asked.
“Yes,” she whispered. She swiveled her hips.
It was a gentle movement, but she might as well have yanked on his dick. He threaded his fingers through the hair at the nape of her neck, pulling her mouth to his. He mimicked the movement of her hips with his tongue, swirling around hers.
He hadn’t been wrong. He wasn’t going to last long at all. The tension was building again as his sac grew tight and he tried to stem the relief he knew was close. The more he tried to hold off, the more it seemed futile.
Sweat slicked their bodies and trickled down his back. Wedging his hand between them, he found her clit and she moaned into his mouth, the pace of her hips increasing. She broke the kiss and panted against his mouth.
“I can tell you’re close,” he said in a low voice. “I can feel your muscles around me as you move, squeezing me tight.”
“Oh my god.”
“I want to come so bad, but I want to feel you come around me first. I want you to squeeze me so tight inside you it’ll feel like you’ll never let me go.” He rubbed faster, pressing hard when she rolled her hips against his.
Her breath caught in the back of her throat and her head fell back as her core clenched tight around him. That was all he needed and he let go. The relief was instantaneous and he pulled her down onto him, thrusting his hips up as she ground down onto him.
There was absolutely no space between them and yet he wanted her to be even closer.
Rowan’s head dropped to his shoulder as she came down from her high. His body still shuddered with the aftereffects of his orgasm. Still holding her tight, he fell back on the bed and she adjusted to tuck her head into space under his chin.
“You okay?” he asked.
She cleared her throat. “I don’t know. Ask me again in a few minutes.”
Male satisfaction surged through him and he smirked. Never mind he wasn’t sure whether his legs would work or not when he tried to get up to get rid of the condom.
“Do you want to shower before we go to sleep?” he asked.
“That sounds nice,” she whispered.
&
nbsp; He chuckled and rolled to the side, reaching between them to keep the condom in place as he slid out of her. “Let’s do that before you fall asleep, then.”
She groaned, but sat up and rubbed her eyes. “A quick one.”
He kissed her. “Promise.”
Chapter 25
Rowan inhaled deeply and stretched under the weight of Luke’s arm around her waist. For the first time in weeks, she didn’t wake up dreading the day or what was in front of her. But she couldn’t help but wonder what last night had meant. She didn’t regret sleeping with him, but at the same time, she still had so many doubts about what lay ahead for them and what it meant for their future.
His arm tightened around her and he burrowed his face in the crook of his neck. “What are you thinking about so hard this early in the morning?”
“It’s almost ten,” she said.
“Still too early to be thinking that hard. What are you worrying about?”
She turned toward him. His eyes were still closed. “How do you know I’m worrying?”
“Because I know you and it’s what you do.” He shifted to his side and propped his head on one hand. “What’s up?”
“I’m just—What does it say about me that two weeks ago I was ready to marry someone else and now I’m in bed with you?”
His brow furrowed as he frowned. “Nothing. It says absolutely nothing about you. It says I finally broke through and was able to convince you that I’m serious about us, because I know you wouldn’t have had sex with me if you weren’t sure about that.”
“You wouldn’t say that if you’d read some of the comments on social media.”
“Shit.” He rolled on his back and pulled her to his side. “I quit reading anything written about me on social media a long time ago. Those people are assholes.”
“Is it how you thought it would be?” she asked. “Being a famous country music singer?”
“Some of it. When I’m in the studio making music or I’m singing in front of a crowd…it’s the best feeling in the world. That’s what I thought it would be like. But the other stuff…the public appearances and the social media trolls and the critics—that crap I could do without, but it’s all part of the package. I can’t have one without the other.”
Make Me Believe: Jilted: The Bride Page 13
