by A. m Madden
“You only live once.” And as I said that my nerves kicked in, worried someone in his house would see us.
He picked up on my concern. “We’re fine, baby.” I wanted that to be true on every other level.
Nose to nose with my arms around his neck and him gripping my ass, I never wanted him to leave me, and with that came another emotional lump.
“Kiss me,” I said, feeling him grow against my body. With the adrenaline coursing through me came an unbearable ache. His lips pressed against mine, soft and slow before beginning to build. Before I knew it, our kiss was full of desperation.
When I rolled my hips, his fingers flexed on my ass. The cool water contrasted the heat building beneath my skin and caused goose bumps to appear. As we devoured each other, he dipped us enough so the water covered my chest and tucked a fingertip into my bikini top to expose a breast.
“Shane,” I sighed into his mouth as his hand molded over me, twisting my nipple into a sharp point and driving me crazy in the process.
His response was to raise me just enough so he could move his lips down my neck and suck on the skin over my heart. As a bite of pain hit, I knew he was brutally marking me with his mouth.
The sucking went on and on, and by the time he lifted his head, the damage was evident through the angry red welt he left behind.
“Proud of yourself?” I asked while he leaned back to admire his handiwork.
“Getting there.” He then shoved a hand into his swimsuit to pull out his very hard dick. A wave tossed us to the right, but he caught his balance and resumed what he’d been doing by dragging himself over the fabric of my bikini bottom. That alone set me on fire, and I tightened my hold around his neck while trying to keep from coming too soon.
“Stop teasing me, Shane.”
“Not in the mood to play a bit?”
“No… I’m—” My words died as he slipped under the elastic edge and shoved himself deep inside me.
“Better?”
“Yes.” Shane kept his hand where it was, and while buried to the hilt began circling a fingertip over me where we were joined.
“And how’s that? Better still?” he asked, knowing damn well I wasn’t able to come vaginally yet… but we were diligently working on it.
“Better still,” I repeated. “Don’t stop.”
“Hold on, baby.” He slammed into me again and again. It was hard to keep from screaming, and I buried my face in his neck to muffle the whimpers I couldn’t contain. “Fuck,” he said, almost angrily. Another wave forced him to temporarily move his hand back to my ass, only to immediately resume aiding me with his touch. Between that, pumping his hips, and trying to remain upright, the exertion was obvious in his strained expression. I knew he was waiting for me. “Close?”
My wordless nod tipped him off that I was very close. Every part of me contracted, clenched around every part of him—arms, legs, and especially where he manipulated my body. Needing to channel the excess, I gripped his hair, forcing his mouth back to mine. And as our tongues tangled together, I came hard just as he came even harder. He moaned throughout, and on my very last spasm he stilled deep inside me, riding his own wave.
“Holy hell.”
“Are you done?” I asked, worried once again how our bodies clutching each other would be a dead giveaway to anyone looking our way. “What if Edna can see us from the house?”
“Now you ask?” He chuckled before nuzzling my neck. “I need a minute before we can get out, but having my dick in you isn’t helping the situation.” His hands tightened on my waist, and with a pop he slipped out as he set me down on my own two feet. “Shit, is the water even colder now?”
“No… it’s just your sensitive dick.” When our hands fell beneath the surface to adjust our suits, his eyes seared mine as his hand pumped over himself, and I could tell he was debating thrusting right back into me. “You better put that away before something bites it.” His eyes widened as he scanned the dark water around us. “If a crab latches on, I swear I’ll never stop laughing.”
“Oh yeah?” I had barely enough time to move before he tossed me through the air. Without a warning and caught off guard, I landed with a smack, sinking and sputtering my way back to the surface.
“You’re. A. Jerk,” I managed to croak through coughs.
“Is that all you got?” he called back, swimming toward the shore. “First one back gets to choose where we fuck next. I’d move your sexy little ass if I were you.”
We blinked, and it was Friday.
Four days gone. Four days closer to the day.
It’d been so great being by ourselves at our favorite place that at times I forgot what loomed a few short weeks away. But all good things had to come to an end. This week being just the first of many more that were sure to follow. And with each ending the small tear in my heart ripped just a tad more.
Our families’ arriving that day, because Leila really wanted us all to spend the weekend together, had Shane and I desperately having sex in his bed. And he managed two more times before they all appeared in the driveway.
More desperation had him considering convincing our parents to allow us to share a room. That was until I told him he’d officially lost his mind. So instead he informed his mother that we would stay until Sunday morning, claiming he had stuff he wanted to do before reporting to rehearsal on Monday.
Having our families spending quality time together was one of my favorite things. There were always so many laughs. It was the first time Dad had seen my boyfriend shirtless since he’d gotten the tattoo over his heart that I loved so much.
Typical of my father, he teased Shane mercilessly, comparing it to Jack’s three pussy-whipped, love-inspired tattoos. That was until my mother reminded him of the seven he had that were equally pussy whipped and love inspired.
While our siblings splashed around in the pool, our moms alternated watching them and watching our dads. Whenever their attention focused on their husbands, one of them would whisper something that caused the two women to burst into laughter.
Sure, Jack Lair and Trey Taylor operating the grill was definitely a sight their fans would kill to see. Having them do so while in bathing suits and not the black-on-black-on-black wardrobe they favored would be even harder for their flock to believe. It was all evidence that their beloved rock stars were human.
But what a picture that would be gracing the cover of every gossip magazine on the market. Jack Lair looking like a swimsuit model even in his forties, wearing flamingo-printed trunks, and my father looking silly in his dancing-guitar swimsuit because of the ink covering most of his torso.
Meanwhile, my boyfriend sulked like his puppy had just run away. I suggested a swim in the pool, and all was great until I swam through his legs and my butt brushed against his semi hard-on. When I surfaced and couldn’t stop a giggle because of the sullen look on Shane’s face, he glared at me.
“Glad you think this is funny.” His sadness was a bit one dimensional. Well, actually, it was three dimensional and in the shape of his neglected dick.
My response was a good hard splash of water in his face before saying, “Relax. We’ll be alone again in less than twenty-four hours.”
“Too many hours to lose with what little time we have left together,” he reminded, and instantly forced the light mood I’d been in to plummet as I followed him out of the pool and grabbed us towels.
It seemed with every day that went by Shane became a little less excited about the tour. Comments he’d made regarding how thirteen weeks apart would be hell for him, and that he really needed me to come out every weekend or he’d be miserable, fueled my argument. The last thing I’d want was for him to miss out on the amazing experience he could have because of me.
Not until we were lying side by side on the farthest end of the deck did he say, “Soon I’ll be gone, and—”
“You don’t leave until September,” I cut him off, even though the thought made me desperate. Still, I had to be the s
trong one between us. “There will be other days we can escape alone together before then.”
“Yeah…” He added a sigh for good measure.
“Want to go in the ocean?” His brows rising in interest had me shaking my head. “To swim some more.”
“Oh… then, no.”
“A walk?”
He glanced at how much progress his father had made with the burgers and hot dogs. “We don’t have much time.”
And like a cruel joke, Jack called out, “Come and get it.”
Our moms forced the kids to scramble out of the pool, and among their noisy chatter, I leaned closer to say, “I love you.” First to get off the lounge chair, I offered him my hands and pulled him to standing.
That sexy smirk lifted one corner of his lips. “Me too,” he said, kissing me long and hard. And when he turned his head to see if anyone was looking, I had a feeling the kiss was an act of rebellion.
By the time we sat at the table, the smirk was gone, his scowl had returned, and I knew until he and I left the next day, short of a miracle, there wasn’t much that would cheer him up.
Chapter Seventeen
Shane
No sooner had she swallowed her last bite of pancake than I was up and saying our goodbyes. While my dad merely chuckled, Trey instead followed right behind and cornered me in the foyer.
“You could at least pretend you don’t have an agenda,” he mumbled low enough so only I could hear him.
Were we back to this again? “Come on, Unk. Give me a break.” Looking over to where Alivia hugged her mother, I met his narrowed gaze head-on, mainly because I wasn’t in the mood for his crap today. “I thought we were past this.”
“Relax, kid… I’m busting your balls, because as her father I take great pleasure in that.”
“Awesome.” My sarcasm was thick, and I got his smug smirk as a result.
“I actually need to tell you something.” He gripped a fistful of my T-shirt and dragged me around the corner. Expecting the worst, he delivered by saying, “I know what you did to get that Molly chick off Alivia’s back.”
All cockiness disappeared when my mouth gaped in shock. “Shit. How do you know?”
“Seriously?” His brows rose in disbelief. “Kid… your folks are my best friends… and your mother is a yapper. Did you honestly think they wouldn’t tell me all about the scholarship their son conjured up? How they loved the idea and more so because it came from you? Said they want to expand it to other high schools in the city… schools where so many need the help. If that dude didn’t have Jett as a name, I wouldn’t have thought twice about it. I’ve overheard my wife and daughter talking about Molly plenty. I’m not as dumb as I look… and I picked up she’s been a problem in Livi’s life. I also heard that bitch had a new boyfriend named Jett—and there is no way there are two Jetts in that fucking school.”
I didn’t know what was more surprising, the fact that the rock star paid attention to teenage bullshit, or the fact he remembered people’s names. “I meant well.” I felt sick… and no doubt the comforting hand he planted on my shoulder meant he saw it written all over my face.
“Yeah… I know, kid.”
“They don’t know the real reason I did it, though, right?” I asked, panicked. My mother wouldn’t be happy with me.
“No, they don’t. And I won’t be the one to tell them.” Relief caused a huff of air, but he was quick to shake his head. “Not so fast.” He folded his arms, assuming authority. “As innocent as you think the entire plan was, you played with people’s lives, Shane. If my father hadn’t manipulated my life at every turn, I probably wouldn’t care as much. Add the fact you did it for my daughter, and it became personal.”
He wasn’t saying anything I didn’t already know. “I was just trying to protect her.”
“To someone like Livi, that means you didn’t trust she could handle it herself.” His gaze remained steady. “What’s done is done, but Livi needs to hear it from you… and so do your folks. Got me?” He stared at me long and hard, and just as I nodded, Alivia came bouncing over.
One look at her father and me had her barking, “What?”
“Nothing but the usual,” I was quick to say with a wide smile.
Trey nodded. “Just asking your boyfriend to at least pretend you’re not rushing home to have…” He grimaced and waved a hand. “I can’t even say it out loud. Just go, or I’ll stop pretending I’m okay with this.”
“Okay. Whatever.” She eyed us suspiciously before planting a kiss on his cheek. “Bye, Dad.”
“Bye, baby girl.” With one more poignant look my way, he added, “You two be careful.” He walked off, leaving behind words that hounded me.
Since we’d graduated, my little stunt with Jett and Molly had popped into my head now and again. Every text Alivia received from Kim, claiming she had gossip, had me nervous that my secret was out. The closer we got to everyone leaving for their respected colleges, the more I worried shit was about to hit the fan.
Still, I had to wonder why I’d never come clean to Alivia. Shit, who was I kidding… I knew the reason. Why bother upsetting her if my plan worked? But now that Trey knew, I had no choice. I needed to tell her… and soon.
Besides that, nothing kept Jett from dumping her any day now, and that created a proverbial time clock counting down in my head. The last time I’d spoken to him was weeks ago. Maybe I hoped all the happy pictures of Molly and Jett together were real and with some sheer stroke of luck I’d actually done them a favor.
The telltale sign that we were both consumed with our own thoughts came when the drive home went by mostly in silence. I had to assume her pensive mood had to do with my rehearsals beginning the next day, and she probably thought the same of me.
It felt like an eternity by the time we pulled up to my building. By then, the speech I’d prepared along the ride had grown roots and implanted itself in every fiber of my being.
“Are you nervous?” she asked when I handed the car keys to my building’s valet.
“A little.” Terrified, but not for the reason she assumed.
“You’re going to be amazing, Shane. Really.” With a nod, I retrieved our bags from the back seat, and she wrapped her arm around my bent elbow as we walked into the lobby.
I listened to her adorable pep talk, nodding and smiling when I needed to. But by the time I unlocked the door and we stepped through, I couldn’t take the pressure and had to get it all off my chest. “Babe, I need to talk to you.”
Her gorgeous blue eyes widened a bit. “Okay.”
The bags landed with a thump before I took her hand and led her through the empty apartment straight to our rooftop terrace. Why I chose to come clean in a place that my girlfriend loved was beyond me. Maybe I hoped that would lessen how angry she’d be.
Once we sat facing each other at one of the bar top tables right outside the patio doors, I cut right to the chase. “I kind of did a thing.”
“What thing?”
“Well…” Her eyes narrowed when I went no further. The hot, stuffy New York air wasn’t responsible for sweat beading on the back of my neck. And now that I’d brought this up, I had to follow through. “Jett and Molly are together because of me.”
Her face fell. “What are you talking about?”
I started by explaining the idea I’d had for a scholarship program, sugarcoating it like an idiot. But my attempts failed when the more I spoke the angrier she became. By the time I relayed the conversation I’d had with her father that morning, Alivia sprang out of her chair and began pacing.
“I can’t believe you did that,” she snapped. I didn’t bother responding… it wouldn’t help. Whenever I pissed her off, our arguments always escalated because I never knew how to keep my mouth shut. This time, I merely sat and took what she needed to unleash. I listened to every reason she rattled off, waiting for her to get it all out. “Why not just tell Molly off, Shane? Or here’s a better idea… why not just let me handle it?” Just wh
en I thought her glare and pause meant she expected me to speak, she threw out, “And what happens when he dumps her?” I had no response for that… not one that she’d be okay hearing. I didn’t know what would happen. I figured by then Molly would have gotten her Jett fill and would move on. “Worse yet… what happens when your parents find out it was all because of a stupid plan?”
Trying to lump all her questions into one response, I said, “I only tried to—”
“I don’t care what you tried to do.” The ice-blue daggers she aimed at me held no compassion for how badly my chest had already ached. “What possessed you to do this?”
The longer pause meant she expected a response this time. “I hated how she made you feel, Liv. And I don’t even know the complete scope of what she said to you most of the time, but I did see that screen shot she sent to her friends. Just remembering the look on your face when you straightened your hair has my blood boiling. She doesn’t get to make you feel that way.”
“That’s my problem, Shane. Not yours!”
“Bullshit, Liv. You are my problem. I love you. She needed to be put in her place. Talking to her would do no good, and I didn’t trust her after she made it like something happened between us the last time I tried to talk to her.”
My excuse caused confusion to slip through the anger. “So you concocted this stupid plan instead? How does that make any sense?”
“It doesn’t now,” I conceded, walking over to where she stood a few feet away. “But at the time I thought it was the perfect solution. The only person that affects Molly is Jett. If things worked out between them, great. If not, that bitch deserves some heartbreak.” The gaping stare I received was not what I was hoping for. “Look, it was dumb, and I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner. But I’ll never be sorry for having your back, Liv… ever.”
Just as I reached for her, she stepped back and raised a palm. “No. I’m really pissed at you right now.” Shoving my hands into my pockets to force myself not to touch her, I nodded for the hundredth time in the last ten minutes. “I need space.”