MoreOfYou_LPavlov-eBooks

by Pavlov, Laura

  Riley laughed and continued her questioning for the next hour. We kept all our dirty little secrets to ourselves and I don’t think she noticed the animosity that lived between all of us and Dex.

  “So, Cruz, I’d like to do a solo interview with you if you don’t mind,” Riley said as everyone got up from the table.

  “Yeah, that’s fine. Can I go grab a smoke?” I asked.

  “How about we walk next door to my favorite coffee shop. You can smoke while we walk, and we can grab a bite to eat. You must be starving.”

  “Yeah, I could eat. Sounds good.”

  Riley told Luke they had all the pictures they needed of the group, and she’d bring me back to the hotel when we were done, so they could head out. I didn’t know what else we had to talk about, but I lit up a cig and we walked down the street. A few people snapped pictures of us on their phone.

  “Does that ever get old?” she asked.

  “When people take my picture? Nah. It doesn’t bother me. I don’t like when they write things that aren’t true, that bothers me.” I snubbed out my smoke, and we stepped inside. She’d obviously called ahead because they took us to a private table in the back of the restaurant.

  “Good to know. Let’s make sure I get my story straight. Is there anything that’s off limits?” she asked with a laugh.

  “I don’t think so. Can I let you know as we go?” I didn’t have a clue what she wanted to know, and I certainly wasn’t going to talk about Lennon’s overdose or anything like that, but I doubted she knew about it.

  “Absolutely.”

  We sat down and ordered lunch before she started recording our conversation.

  “So, Cruz. People report all sorts of things about your relationship, are you or aren’t you in one, and if it’s on or off, so let’s start there. Are you in a relationship with one girl?” she teased.

  I nodded. “Yeah. Have been for over a year. With the same girl. I don’t know why it’s such a mystery. Most of the songs I’ve written are for her. I’ve sung to her on stage a couple times and talked about her at our concerts repeatedly. She’s with me as often as she can be, because she’s going to school.”

  “I assume we’re talking about Jade Moore. So, when that story from Farrah Clearwater came out that she was with you in Miami, it wasn’t true?”

  “A blatant lie. I don’t fuck around on Jade. I was with my girl the weekend Farrah claimed she was with me. I’ve never even met the chick. I have no idea why she made it up,” I said, taking a sip of my water.

  “Why didn’t you come out and defend yourself?” she asked.

  “Because it feeds the flame. I don’t need to justify lies with a response. As long as Jade knows the truth, that’s all that matters to me.”

  Riley smiled and leaned back in her chair. “I like that.”

  I laughed. “Thanks.”

  “So, tell me, where do you see yourself in five years?” she asked.

  I took a minute to think about it. I answered honestly without saying much about the band. This interview was more personal. It wasn’t about Exiled. She wanted to know about me, and I gave her what she wanted.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Jade

  I arrived in Nashville late, as I had work to do with Elaine before I left on spring break. I went straight to the hotel, as I’d missed the show. Cruz was on his way back to the hotel when the car dropped me off. I found Tia and Bailey in the lobby when I stepped inside.

  “Jade,” Bailey called out and waved me over.

  “Hey, what are you guys doing here? You left early?” I asked.

  “Yeah, we just got here on our piece of shit bus. The guys are right behind us,” Tia said. “Cruz is in a notably better mood today, which I can only assume is because you’re here.”

  I laughed. “Well, that’s good to know. I can’t wait to see him.” I took a seat beside them and stared at the front door of the lobby.

  “So, you two are going somewhere for a few days in between shows, right? He’s being all secretive about it.” Tia rolled her eyes.

  “Yeah. He just told me to bring a few bathing suits. That’s all I know,” I said.

  “I think that’s sweet.” Bailey smiled.

  “No dude is going to plan my vacation for me. I find it annoying and sexist.” Tia pushed to her feet and walked toward the bar. “You guys want a drink?”

  Bailey and I both said we were okay.

  “Ignore her. She doesn’t do romance. And she’s like a bull in a china shop, but she’s harmless,” Bailey said.

  I laughed. “She’s funny. She doesn’t bother me.”

  “Good, she actually likes you, which is very rare,” Bailey said with a laugh.

  “What’s so funny over here?” Cruz came up behind me and tipped my head back so he could kiss me.

  “Jesus, get a room, Winslow,” Tia said as she dropped down in the chair across from me with her martini in hand. She pulled a baggy out of her pocket and tossed a few pills back in her mouth. She didn’t even try to hide it. She caught me staring, maybe even gaping as I watched her.

  “Vicodin. Want one?” she asked.

  “Um, no. I, er, sorry.” I stuttered.

  “You’re adorable when you’re nervous, Jade. This just takes the edge off. You might really benefit from it.” Tia chugged her martini in one long sip.

  “Don’t offer her that shit. And it clearly doesn’t work for you because you’re acting fucking crazy,” Cruz said, pulling me to my feet and wrapping his arms around me.

  “I’m not crazy, asshole.”

  I hugged Lennon, Adam, and Luke as they walked over to join us. Dex stared at me, and I ignored him.

  “Okay, we’re out of here. Catch you guys in a few days,” Cruz said.

  “Yeah, enjoy your time off. You deserve it, buddy,” Luke said, clapping Cruz on the shoulder.

  I waved at the group as Cruz led me to the elevator. When we stepped on, he pressed me up against the wall and kissed me hard.

  “Where are we going,” I said, already breathless.

  He pulled back to look at me. “It’s a surprise. You brought your bathing suit, right? Although we could just skinny dip the whole time.”

  I shook my head and laughed as we stepped in his hotel room.

  “Yes, I brought my suit. Are we spending the night here tonight?” I asked.

  “No. Although now I’m questioning my decision to leave tonight because I finally have you all to myself.”

  “What’s the hurry?” I teased, running my fingers through his hair, and pushing up on my tiptoes to kiss him.

  Cruz had just finished his show, and his hair was a disheveled mess. His black fitted T-shirt accentuated every line of his defined abs and I wanted to appreciate every inch of him.

  “Fuck,” he muttered under his breath. I didn’t miss his frustration when he pulled away. “We have a car waiting for us downstairs. Ponch is doing me a solid agreeing to fly us this late.”

  “We’re leaving tonight?”

  “Yeah. If I stick around here, those assholes will ask me about something for the band. Or Tia will need me to listen to a demo. I want to spend time alone with you. Uninterrupted. But right now, I want to strip you naked and have my way with you,” he said, and his mouth came over mine again.

  “There’s time for that. Come on. Let’s get out of here while we can.” I laughed.

  He grabbed his bag and we made our way out to the car without anyone recognizing or stopping him. It was a rarity. I didn’t go anywhere with him anymore that he wasn’t recognized. I was happy for Exiled, but I’d be lying if I didn’t admit to hating it at times. We had no privacy when we were out in public. Especially in big cities. Back at school wasn’t bad for some reason. Maybe because it was a college town. Sure people stared and took pictures, but they didn’t interrupt our di
nners or stop him on the street for selfies.

  We were at the hangar in no time, and we greeted Ponch and took our seats.

  “Are you going to tell me where we’re going now? How long of a flight?”

  “A few hours. Sleep, baby. I’ll tell you when we get there.” He kissed the top of my head, and I settled my cheek against his chest. His arms came around me, and I was the most content I’d been in a while. My eyes were heavy, and exhaustion set in.

  I slept the entire flight and apologized for not sitting copilot with Ponch, for the landing. He didn’t seem to mind. There was a car waiting for us when we landed, and then we got on a boat to take us God knows where.

  “We can’t get there in a car?” I asked, as the wind whipped past us, and the boat glided through the ocean like it was sliding on silk.

  “Nope. There are no cars on the island. No grocery stores or restaurants. It’s very slow and peaceful. I thought we could both use it. A couple uninterrupted days,” Cruz said, his arms were wrapped around me and my back rested against his chest as I looked out at the water. I tucked my hair behind my ears as the wind whipped around us.

  “Really?” I asked, turning to face him. “Just me and you, huh? Where are we?”

  “It’s called Little Gasparilla Island, on the west coast of Florida between Sarasota and Ft. Myers. You can only get to the island by private boat or water taxi. My grandfather has a home here that hardly ever gets used, because you know my dad, he likes a crowd and a lot of attention. The thought of privacy probably scares the shit out of him.” Cruz laughed and pulled me back down against him.

  “That’s so cool. When was the last time you were here?” I asked. Water droplets danced across my cheeks as we sped through the water.

  “Man, Lennon and I loved this place when we were kids. We came with Mom a few times when my grandfather was out here vacationing. I haven’t been here in years, but I always loved it. It’s peaceful. No one will bother us. The house is at the end of the island, so it’s very private, even for Little Gasparilla.”

  “Oh my gosh, I’m excited.”

  “Me too.” He kissed the top of my head, and we pulled into a dock in front of a large house on stilts that sat back a few feet from the water.

  “Thank you for the ride. We’ll see you in a few days,” Cruz said, handing the man who drove the boat some cash.

  “Yep. If you need anything before then, just call my cell,” he said before he pulled away.

  The yellow house was two levels, raised on stilts with baby blue shutters and a white wrap-around porch. The lower level had white stairs leading down to the ground, and we wheeled our bags toward the house. A large boat sat beside the dock, and Cruz said we could take it out later.

  He grabbed my bag and carried both of our suitcases up the stairs. The muscles in his back flexed as I walked behind him, and I couldn’t look away.

  “You checking me out, Jade?” He set our bags down and wheeled them inside.

  I laughed. “I guess I’m busted.”

  As soon as we were inside, Cruz pushed me back against the door and kissed me. “God, I missed you, baby.”

  “I missed you too. I’m so happy we get to spend a few days alone,” I said, against his mouth. He had a dusting of scruff peppering his chin, and I ran my fingertips along his jaw.

  He pulled away. “You must be starving. My mom had the housekeeper stock the place with food. She was really happy we were coming here.”

  “That was sweet of her. And, of course I can always eat.” I scanned the room. Light colored wood floors ran throughout the main floor, as far as I could see. There were floor-to-ceiling windows every which way I looked, and crystal blue water sparkled in the distance. It was breathtaking.

  Two white over-sized couches took up most of the family room. Navy and white striped pillows with red anchors sat on the sofas. The beach-themed home was large yet managed to feel cozy at the same time. The kitchen was all white. White cabinets, white shiny counters, and a large white chandelier hung over the breakfast nook table.

  Cruz pulled out some deli meat, pre-made pasta and potato salad, and two bottles of water. I grabbed some plates and we took it all out on the porch to eat. There were two tables on the deck and a porch swing with white throw pillows which hung beside the table. The view was incredible. Turquoise water shimmering in the sunlight surrounded by white sandy beaches. The air smelled like salt and sunshine and I breathed it in.

  “This is unbelievable,” I said, taking a seat beside him.

  “Yeah. I’ve always liked it here. Away from the chaos, right?”

  I smiled, and the way he looked at me had my stomach doing all sorts of little flips.

  I moved to settle on his lap. I needed to be close to him, and I knew he needed it too. He rolled up a piece of turkey and handed it to me.

  “You’re feeding me now?” I laughed.

  “You need fuel, woman. I plan on giving you quite the workout while we’re here,” he said before he leaned down to kiss my neck.

  “Is that so? What do you have in mind?” My cheeks heated at the thought. It had been a few weeks since we’d seen one another, and I’d missed him.

  “You know, lots of long walks and kayaking,” he teased, and I swatted his shoulder.

  He lifted me out of the seat and stood, holding me like some kind of baby.

  “You know you don’t have to carry me around. I do have legs.” My head fell back, and I chuckled as he dropped me on the couch.

  “How about we go for a swim first. Cool off. Wait till you see how nice this water is.” He reached for my shirt and pulled it over my head.

  “Sounds like a plan. I need to go grab my suit,” I said, my voice breathless and gravelly.

  “Why? I’m just going to take it off you as soon as we get out there.”

  “No way. I’m not walking out there naked. It’s broad daylight.” We’d flown through the night and the sun had just come up when we arrived. I was not prancing outside naked for everyone on the island to see.

  He pushed up and walked across the room. “Stay put.”

  “So bossy,” I said.

  He handed me a robe and pulled me to my feet. He tossed two towels on the couch and dropped down on his knees, pushing my jeans and panties down and helping me when I stepped out of them. Goosebumps spread across my skin, and I pulled the robe on. Cruz yanked his T-shirt off and dropped his pants, without a care in the world. I couldn’t look away, and he laughed when he caught me staring.

  “Someone’s excited to see me, huh?” I teased.

  “Oh, you think that’s funny, do you?” He slipped his hand beneath my robe and stroked between my thighs, causing me to gasp. “I think someone’s equally excited.”

  I pushed his hand away and laughed, burying my face in my hands. He grabbed a towel, wrapping it around his waist, before leading me outside.

  “I can’t believe you still get embarrassed with me. I love to see how much I turn you on, baby.”

  We walked down to the water and I was surprised that there wasn’t a soul in sight. I looked both ways, and the beach was completely desolate.

  “Wow. You weren’t kidding. It is private.”

  He reached for the belt on my robe and tugged it open. “I told you. Come on, let’s go in.”

  He dropped his towel and I looked around once more to make sure no one would see us, before dropping my robe. I let go of his hand and ran in the water. I needed to find cover fast. I wasn’t as confident strutting around naked on the beach as my boyfriend was. His laughter bellowed out behind me and I dropped down in the water and blanketed myself in a sea of turquoise. The water was cold, but it felt good. I was hot and sweaty, and it was refreshing. Cruz walked up beside me, taking my hand and pulling me out deeper. He stood and the water came to the top of his chest. I pointed my toes barely able to find the bo
ttom.

  “I’ll hold you, shorty,” he said, smiling as he pulled me against him, and I wrapped my legs around his waist.

  “I’m not short. You’re just tall.” My arms came around his neck and his honey-brown gaze sparkled with gold and orange flecks where the sun hit him from above.

  “Ah, this feels good. I’m so glad we’re here. God, I fucking missed you. Can’t wait for this long-distance bullshit to be over,” he said.

  “Me too. We’re almost there. And I’ll be with you all summer, so that will help.”

  I arched my back and dipped my hair in the water, pushing it away from my face with my hands before I returned them to his neck.

  “You’re so fucking beautiful,” he whispered.

  “Stop. I look horrible. I haven’t even looked in a mirror since yesterday.” I laughed.

  “You’re so pretty, baby.”

  His mouth found mine, and I sighed against his lips. We’d get to spend four days just being together, and it felt damn good. My fingers tangled in his hair, and he held my face in his hands. His tongue found mine, and my body started to grind against his of its own volition. The water slapped against all his hardness. Every inch of him was strong and firm. His desire throbbed beneath me, driving me mad with need. His hands were on my hips, shifting me just above him. I gasped, as we moved together in perfect rhythm. His hands moved up my back, tangling in my hair, and his gaze locked with mine.

  “I want to watch you come apart for me, baby,” he said.

  His words undid me. My head fell back, and I cried out my release as he followed me over the edge.

  “Oh my gosh,” I panted, burying my head in his neck.

  “Not a bad way to start our vacation, right?” He laughed before kissing me again. “I always need, more Jade.”

  I pushed his wild hair back from his face, studying his features. I’d never seen a more perfect person. I ran my fingers over his scruff, admiring his chiseled jaw. “I always need more Cruz Winslow, too.”