Strike a Chord

by Salsbury, JB

  Her eyelids are low as she pulls back, a sated smile on her face.

  “My God… I wish you could see how gorgeous you look right now.” I shake my head, fighting a wave of emotion that has no business in the bedroom. A man crying in bed is not sexy. I repeat those words in my head until I feel the heat of emotion fade. “Are you good? Thirsty? Hungry?”

  I have an overwhelming desire to tend to her every need without a single concern for my own.

  “I am hungry actually.”

  I push her hair off her neck. “I’ll grab the room service menu—whoa, what are you—”

  “Shhhh….” She crawls down my body and kneels between my thighs. Her hand fists my heavy erection and she dips down, licking the tip in a slow, erotic tease.

  My hips jerk off the bed. “Fuck.”

  She smiles and brings my dick back to her mouth, opening wide and sliding it in and all the way back to her throat. I’m fixated on the visual of my cock stretching her lips, and when she moans around it, I grip the base to keep from blowing.

  “I’m not gonna last.” I’m panting and sweating with the control it takes not to come as she licks up and down, swirls her tongue around, and sucks me deep. My vision blurs and I nearly black out. “I don’t want to come in your mouth.”

  I mean, I do, but not our first time back together. She doesn’t let up and I grit my teeth.

  “Taylor… please…”

  All at once, she releases me and crawls back on top. She straddles my hips, grips my erection, and teases herself with it, rubbing the tip back and forth in her wetness.

  “Cond—” I gasp, clear my throat. “Condom.”

  “I’m on the pill.”

  “What?” I’m seeing stars as my orgasm coils at the base of my spine. When? After that fucker touched her? Refusing to bring the painful history up, I push my questions to the back of my mind.

  “Unless you’d feel safer—”

  “No!” I snap.

  She chuckles, the sound dark and husky.

  I try again. “What I meant is… I’m clean. I haven’t touched anyone but you since the first time we kissed. As long as you’re sure you—oh my…”

  Air hisses through my teeth and I fist the bedding as she lines me up at her center and slowly drops her weight. Tentatively, she takes me into her body. The wet, hot grip of her with nothing between us makes my head spin.

  I’m gone, so fucking gone for this girl there is no coming back.

  Taylor

  Ethan fills me. Not just in the physical way he does now. As I stretch around him, refamiliarizing myself with his size, I suck in a breath and feel his very presence fill my soul. Having his arms around me again, I feel his love swell to fill the once-empty place inside me to overflowing. His touch, both the tender and the unrestrained, returns the part of me I was missing with his absence.

  Even with the time apart, Ethan has become so much a part of me that living without him would be like surviving without my heart. An impossible option.

  Seated fully on top of him, his warm eyes on mine and the gentle caress of his hands against my skin, I’m satiated in a way I never have been before.

  “Hey.” He props himself up on an elbow and cups my jaw, his expression etched with worry. “What is it?” When his thumb swipes at my cheek, I realize I’m crying. “We don’t have to do this. I’ll wait as long as—”

  “No, it’s not that.” I hold his hand to my face, turn, and kiss his palm. “These are happy tears.”

  “Happy tears.” He doesn’t seem convinced.

  I drag his hand down my neck to my breast. “There was a part of me that worried we’d never be together like this again. That you’d move on—”

  “Never.” He palms my breast and brushes his calloused fingertips against my nipple. “I told you I’d wait however long it took and I meant it.”

  With my palms on his chest, I move against him. Slowly at first, I rise and fall, savoring the sensation of him slipping in and out, in and out. Hot, thick steel stretches me to the point of near pain. An exquisite ache that burns to be satisfied.

  He grasps my hips, rolling his pelvis in time with my movements, changing the angle in a way that has me gasping and clutching at his wrists.

  “Feels amazing being inside you. I’m gonna come so hard.” His words are like warm honey spilled over my bare skin.

  “How hard?”

  His abs flex with every slow roll of his hips and the sight of Ethan making love from under me is an erotic visual. “So hard you’ll be wet with me for days.”

  I moan and arch my back, searching, leveraging, until I find the perfect connection. I suck in a breath and quicken my pace.

  “Fuck yeah, that’s the spot.” He grinds his pelvis against me, his ass leaving the bed as he hits something so deep inside me, I nearly collapse.

  “Ethan…” The words die on my lips as he rolls his hips in waves.

  “Let go, baby. I got you.” He hooks me around the neck. “Mouth,” he says on a moan.

  He licks into my mouth and bites my lip. The sting sends shockwaves straight between my legs, sending my orgasm hurling to the surface. My release shreds through me, splitting me in two as the sound of my voice crying out echoes off the walls and through my ears.

  “Oh fuck!” His erection kicks hard inside me. Wave after wave of heat fills me as he continues to move. “I can’t stop.”

  “Then don’t.”

  He flips us over without breaking our connection, his weight on his elbows. “Is this okay?”

  I hook my legs over his ass. “What do you think?”

  He growls into my throat and moves, this time harder. “You feel what you do to me?”

  He’s still hard—is that normal? I run my hand through his hair, his beautiful face twisted in a mix of pleasure and determination. “I do. I love you so much, Ethan.”

  “And I’d die a thousand deaths for the chance to love you.”

  I hold on while he moves above me in quick, uncontrolled thrusts. I love that I’m the one who can make him lose control.

  Our love transcends whatever circumstances life throws at us, and when we’re together, there is only us. No boundaries. Only an undeniable connection that can never be broken.

  He pushes himself up to sit back on his heels, my ass on his thighs. Towering above me in all his hard, masculine beauty, he makes love to me. But not with slow and gentle movements, whispers of affection and soft kisses. No, Ethan loves me with a primal urgency. He claims me with every powerful thrust. The evidence of his release soaks our connection and marks me as his. I rake my nails down his thighs, leaving my own mark behind, and his pace quickens.

  My orgasm hits me out of nowhere, arching my back off the bed as stars dance behind my eyes. Lost in the fog of ecstasy, I hear him groan and curse, and the motion of his hips slows before he collapses on top of me.

  Our hearts pound against our ribs as if trying to break free from their cages to comfort the other, and we try desperately to catch our breath. He rolls off me, gathers me against his side, the air conditioning raising goose bumps on our skin.

  “Holy fuck, woman.”

  I grin at the awe in his voice.

  “What the hell are you doing to me?”

  I prop my chin on his chest and stare at his gloriously confused expression. “I’m afraid you’ll have to explain it to me. I’m not exactly sure of the mechanics.”

  He looks at me with wide eyes and shakes his head. “What we have is way bigger than mechanics. You’re like my own personal Viagra.” He slides his hand between his legs and strokes his dick. “I’m still hard.”

  “Is that not… a thing?”

  He blinks at me. “No, it is not a thing. How the hell do you do it?”

  I laugh and bury my face in his chest, feeling a little bashful and a little proud. “I don’t think it’s me.”

  “It most certainly fucking is. The only thing that’s keeping me from climbing back up inside that tight little bo
dy of yours is I know you’ve got to be sore.” He pinches his eyes closed. “Grandma. Baseball. Stomach flu. Berets. Grandma. Baseball. Stomach flu—”

  “Baseball? What do you have against baseball?”

  “It’s so boring. Grandma. Baseball.”

  “I just never thought—”

  “Shhh, your voice is making this harder.” He cracks an eye. “Literally.”

  “Okay, I’ll go shower while you—”

  “Dammit, woman! Stop it already.”

  I laugh and sit up out of his arms. “What did I do?”

  He growls and throws his forearm over his eyes. “Now I’m thinking about you in the shower! Grandma. Baseball. Stomach flu… fuck!” He rolls out of bed and drops to the floor.

  I crawl to the edge of the mattress and see him doing push-ups, his muscular back flexing with every push.

  “Does that help?” I can’t hold back a wave of laughter.

  “Yes,” he grunts. “Every time my dick hits the carpet, it helps.”

  I roll to my back, laughing. “This is absurd.” I hop off the bed and pull him to his feet. “Come on, we’re going to take a shower.” I sneak a peek at the semi-swollen appendage between his legs. “Let’s make it a cold shower.”

  “Fine,” he says grumpily. “But I’m warning you, if this doesn’t resolve itself, I’m going to eat you out while I take care of it myself.”

  I flash him a fake frown. “That sounds awful.”

  He scoops me up, carries me off to the bathroom, and makes good on his warning.

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  Ethan

  “Are you okay?” I say, squeezing Taylor’s hand as the elevator descends toward the hotel lobby.

  “Yes.” Her grip tightens on my fingers. “You’ve asked me that a million times already.”

  I kiss the tiny frown on her lips. “I’d stop asking if I felt I was getting an honest answer.”

  Her attempt to hide her nerves has not gone unnoticed. Her periodic deep breaths, tense shoulders, and the balmy feel of her hand in mine gives her away despite her denial.

  She blows out another one of those breaths. “Fine. I’m a little nervous, but I’m okay. I haven’t seen the crew in a long time and I don’t know what they know, but a lot of them were barely speaking to me the last time I saw them.”

  I frown, remembering how some of the crew had frosted her out after we went public with our relationship. When I punched that fuck Paul, some went glacial. “I won’t leave your side.”

  “You don’t have to do that—”

  “I’m not leaving your side,” I repeat with feeling.

  “I can take care of myself,” she mumbles.

  Her statement wraps around my chest, and I tug her to my side. “I know, baby.”

  The elevator pings and the doors slide open. The lobby is littered with people, and Rodger and Jonny meet us just outside the doors.

  “Taylor,” Rodger says with a genuine smile. “Happy to see you back.”

  She leans into my side, her grip tightening, and she smiles at the man. “Happy to be back.”

  Jonny, who saw the aftermath of what happened in the bathroom that night, puts a hand on her shoulder and gives her a warm smile. He doesn’t say anything, but communicates enough to make her relax a little more.

  “That’s enough,” I say and playfully shove Jonny away while gathering her to my chest. “Mine.”

  She wraps her arms around my waist, her body jumping with laughter.

  A click of a camera sounds from behind us. I study the scattering of people in the lobby and spot a few familiar faces, despite the paparazzi’s attempt to look inconspicuous.

  “Hey!” I wave and call them all closer. “Yeah, you. It’s all right, come here.”

  Jonny and Rodger jump into action and flank Taylor and me.

  “You guys looking for a story?”

  “Yeah,” one of the four of them says with dollar signs in his eyes.

  “Get your cameras ready.” I drop my gaze to the woman in my arms, cup her jaw, and bring her eyes to mine. “Are you ready to make some headlines, baby?”

  Calm gray, like clouds after a storm, are reflected in her gaze. “Let’s do it.”

  I lower my mouth to hers. In the beat of a breath, our lips mold together. The sound of clicking cameras sends a thrill through me—the world will see what a lucky son of a bitch I am to call Taylor my own. Her fists grip the front of my shirt, her nails rake against my abdomen. I moan into her eager mouth as she pushes up on her toes and opens for me. Our tongues slide together in an erotic dance. Blood pumps through my veins and between my legs, reminding me we’re not alone.

  I rip my mouth away and rest my forehead against hers as we both catch our breath. “That’s enough.”

  She rubs the front of her body against mine, acknowledging my reaction to her. A wicked grin tilts her lips. “Grandma. Baseball…”

  “Stomach flu. Berets.”

  “You got your photos.” Rodger stands in front of Taylor and me to block their cameras.

  “Go on,” Jonny says, ushering us forward toward the waiting SUV.

  “Ethan!” one of the paps calls from behind us. “Are the rumors true? Are you settling down? Has the last single member of the band fallen?”

  His question sends a thrill through me.

  “Yes!” I scoop Taylor into my arms and cradle her to my chest while she laughs. The cameras click and flash as they race after us.

  Rodger jumps ahead and opens the back door of the SUV for me to crawl inside with my woman still in my arms. Unable to set her down, I keep her in my lap and pull the seatbelt over the both of us.

  Jonny and Rodger take the front seats, Jonny mumbling a string of curses. “If you’re going to continue to pull this kind of crap, you could at least give us a heads-up.” There’s humor in his voice.

  I run my nose along Taylor’s neck. “I’m a man in love, boys. There’s no telling what I’ll do.”

  Rodger’s eyes catch mine in the rearview and he nods approvingly.

  “You’re crazy,” Taylor says against my ear.

  “Crazy about you. I’ll always be crazy about you.”

  A bashful grin tilts her lips. “Guess I’ll have to get used to all the attention.”

  “The paparazzi comes along with the business. It’s all part of being in love with a rock star.”

  She slips her hand through my hair and brushes her thumb along my cheek, her eyes fixed on mine in awe and wonder. “No. I fell in love with Ethan from Michigan who grew up playing ice hockey and who loves shitty movies. I fell in love with his smile, his dirty mouth, his stupid pranks, and his heart. Everything else is just a job.”

  My chest expands and fills with warmth. I wrap her up and bury my nose in her neck. “Fuck, I love you.”

  Taylor

  Ethan’s words wash over and envelop me just as securely as his arms do. I close my eyes and relax against him while he hums softly against my hair.

  The SUV pulls up to the back of the arena, where the crew buses idle as the trucks are loaded. I take Ethan’s hand as we make our way toward the loading dock and, one by one, the crewmembers notice my approach. Familiar faces mix with strangers and I grip Ethan’s hand, leaning on his strength. I suck in a shaky breath and prepare for the worst.

  “Tommy!” Dixie rushes across the platform and tackles me as we clear the final step. “You’re back!”

  “Tom!” Creeper wraps me in a hug.

  Medicine Man, Beeker, Copper, and Bear are next. Ethan releases my hand while my old crew, my family, surrounds me.

  “We missed you, Tom!”

  “Hasn’t been the same without you.”

  “Nothing gets done around here with you gone.”

  Hugs, pats on the back, I’m swallowed up in bodies and acceptance.

  “Tom.” Prophet pushes through the group and wraps his meaty hand around the back of my neck. I expect a comforting squeeze, but he knocks the breath out of me when he
pulls me to his chest and hugs me.

  I close my eyes and hug him back. “Dad.”

  “Missed my girl.” His words are grumbled softly against the top of my head.

  “I missed you too.” I open my eyes to see Ethan smiling proudly at us as we embrace in the middle of the crew’s welcoming chaos.

  My dad eventually releases me and pulls back to look between Ethan and me. “He taking good care of you?”

  My face gets hot and I regret not wearing a hat to hide under.

  My dad makes a pained groan sound. “Jesus, Tom, you’re blushing.”

  “I love him, Dad. I love him so much.”

  A hidden smile tics behind his beard and mustache. “Not as much as that boy loves you.” He spots Ethan and lifts his chin, prompting Ethan to push through the crowd toward us. “Get her out of here. These lazy fucks don’t need another reason to slack off.”

  “Will do.” He wraps his arms around me.

  Prophet’s expression gets serious as he gazes at me. “I’ll see you back in LA?”

  “Yeah, Dad.”

  He barks at everyone to get back to work, and after another round of hugs, Ethan takes me to his bus.

  When we get inside, I notice it’s empty. “Where are Ben and Ashleigh?”

  “They’re crashing with Jes and Bethany.”

  “Elliot too?”

  He pulls me to the couch to sit on his lap, his palm running the length of my thigh. “Yep. It’s only for a night.” He frowns. “Are you sure you have to go back?”

  I kiss away his downturned lips. “Yes. I have class and work.”

  His gaze turns pleading. “You don’t have to work, you know. I can take care of you.”

  “Ethan, I want to work.”

  He groans and drops his head to my chest. After a couple deep breaths, he peers up at me. “Move in with me.”

  “I—”

  “Before you say no,” he says, hurrying to get the words out. “You can go to school and work and even pitch in with the bills or whatever you want. And if you move in and hate it, you can always go back to living with your dad, but let’s try it, okay? Please say yes, I can’t stand us being apart. I’m already sick about having to finish the last two weeks of this tour without you. Now that I’ve had you with me, I can’t bear the thought of being without—”