Remember Me: Music For The Heart: Book 4

by Starr, Faith

  “Is the house vinaigrette okay with both of you?” he asked.

  I let Lizzie speak for herself. I didn’t know her preferences yet.

  “It’s fine with me,” she said.

  “Me too.”

  The waiter nodded and moved on to the next table.

  “The meal you ordered sounds delicious. Have you been here before?”

  “Yeah. The guys and I make it a point to visit whenever we’re in town.”

  “I can’t wait to taste the food. It smells great in here.”

  “Do you want a piece of bread?”

  “Sure.” She went to get a roll, but I stopped her. “Please. Allow me.”

  I placed one on her bread dish along with a small packet of butter.

  “I could have gotten it myself.”

  “I know you could have, but I wanted to get it for you.”

  “You’re a nice guy, Ryan.”

  “I can be. But please don’t tell anyone. It would ruin my reputation.”

  She crossed her heart. “I’ll take it with me to the grave.”

  I helped myself to a roll and slabbed some butter on it. The warmth, chewiness, and melted butter tasted divine.

  “Speaking of roommates, it seems two of mine are huge fans. I hope Miriam and Kelly didn’t make you feel uncomfortable.”

  “Eh. That was nothing.”

  “Well, to them it was a big deal. I’m sure they’ll be pestering me for details for the next week.”

  “Try to keep the juicy parts to yourself.”

  Her cheeks brightened like the lit candle on our table. She took a sip of her iced tea.

  “You are something.” She smiled.

  “You ain’t seen anything yet, baby.”

  “Oh my God. Did you really just say that?”

  “Again, too much?”

  She gestured with her thumb and finger. “A wee bit.”

  “See. That’s why it’s good for me to hang around you. Someone has to keep my ego at bay.”

  “You mean to tell me nobody else has applied for the job? With an ego like yours, I’d think there’d be a stack of resumes a mile high.”

  “It’s a tough gig. Gotta have the right candidate.”

  “I can see that.”

  We laughed.

  Our conversation had no gaps. We talked through our appetizers and straight through our main courses. I had to say, there was nothing sexier than seeing a woman with a hearty appetite. Lizzie had one alright. Hopefully, that appetite carried over into other areas as well.

  “So how did it feel the first time you were recognized?”

  “The guys and I were together. Come to think of it, I believe we were at a restaurant. Some girls approached our table and asked to take pictures with us. It was a shock for all four of us. Having strangers come speak to us and ask for a picture was a difficult concept for me to grasp. After all, I didn’t know them from Adam.”

  “But they saw it differently.”

  “Right. That’s something the guys and I had to learn. The more popular we become, the more things are posted about us online and in magazines. It makes fans feel like they know us personally. It still baffles me that strangers get starstruck in my presence. I’m still the same me.”

  “To your fans, you’re something more. It must be hard to not be able to go to a store without someone bothering you.”

  “Thankfully, it hasn’t gotten to that point yet.”

  “What about reporters? Do they pester you wherever you go?”

  “I don’t really give them anything interesting to write about. For the most part, I ignore them and don’t answer their questions. That’s why a lot of the stuff next to my pictures is bullshit. They have to write a story to go along with a picture. If they don’t have one, they’ll make one up. When we were touring with Steam, things were insane. Those guys were recognized everywhere we went. Are you familiar with Steam?”

  “Yes. I’m not that out of the music loop. What an accomplishment to tour with such a successful band.”

  “I couldn’t agree more. They are a great group of guys.”

  “And you say your bandmates are into public attention?”

  “Jonas and Nick, mostly. Mason and I prefer to keep shit private.”

  “It must have been such a burden to learn how to deal with strange women throwing themselves at you,” she teased.

  “For me it was nothing because it’s always been the norm. My bandmates, on the other hand, were all over it.”

  Her laugh made me chuckle along with her.

  “I’m kidding, of course. I won’t lie. It can be overwhelming. There are times the guys and I want to go somewhere and chill, but we can’t. Things have changed. We have to put great thought into where we go as a group.”

  “You must experience such anxiety when women approach you in the middle of Walmart.”

  “Have you seen the women at Walmart?”

  Her jaw fell open. “You’re bad.”

  “Again, kidding. Although, not really. I prefer the Target crowd.”

  “The mom’s?”

  “You mean the MILF’s?”

  She giggled.

  “Truth be told, when the guys and I ride solo, things are much calmer and less chaotic. We try to go about our lives as normal. Gotta keep some humility to stay level-headed in this business.”

  “I’m sure.”

  “And I’m sure you must have men throwing themselves at you by the dozens at the club. It’s kind of the same thing.”

  “Not exactly but I get your point. In both scenarios, it’s about unknown people who want a piece of you. But in my case, I never let the people have one. I doubt you can say the same.”

  “Listen to you. I hate to agree, but you’re right on that point. For the record, I’m glad you don’t share yourself with the assholes who hang around the club.”

  “You and your friends went there. You also left with two women. Does that mean you’re calling yourself an asshole?”

  “Not at all. I didn’t hit on anyone and kept my hands to myself. My bandmate, Nick, is the one who hit on and left with the two women. Being we drove together, we left together. We dropped Nick and his new friends off at one of their apartments then me and the guys went to Mason’s to get our cars. Nick’s remained in Mason’s driveway until he came to get it. We don’t bring women to our homes. It’s too risky. It poses a security issue.”

  “I didn’t even think of that.”

  “Lots of things have changed. Some for the better, some not.”

  The waiter approached and asked if we wanted dessert. I let Lizzie make the call.

  She rubbed her stomach. “I’m too stuffed to eat anything else.”

  “That will be all, thank you,” I said to him.

  The server gave me the bill and I promptly took care of it.

  “Come, let’s get out of here.” I assisted Lizzie out of her chair and led her outside the restaurant.

  Back in my car, I suggested we take a walk by the pier located close by.

  “That sounds nice, especially since I’m busting at the seams. I haven’t eaten that much in one sitting in ages. It was so delicious it was a shame to waste any.”

  Nice would be me bringing her back to my apartment, ignoring the security issue I had mentioned to her. I knew Lizzie was different, though. She posed no threat to my safety. My heart was something different altogether.

  I felt hesitant about suggesting it so didn’t. So far, it had been flirtatious teasing, nothing more.

  “I’m glad you enjoyed it.”

  “I’m glad I trusted your judgment in choosing what to order.”

  We smiled at each other. There was a sense of ease between us. As if we’d known each other for ages. It baffled me because similar to her, I too was selective. Sure, I’d give of my body, but that was about all when it came to women. I rarely even engaged in conversations with them, as pathetic as that sounded.

  The lot was packed with cars. Guess other
people had the same idea as we did. Many couples walked alongside us at the pier. Lizzie and I leaned over the wooden railing and stared out at the large expanse of water in front of us, the night sky not providing much light. There were overheads scattered about, dimly lit. It was quiet. Calming.

  “There’s something about the stillness of water that I find so peaceful.” She sucked in a deep breath and exhaled.

  “I agree. Sometimes I come here to think. To help clear my thoughts.”

  “I can see why. It’s beautiful.”

  “As are you.”

  My comment was the perfect lead in to touching her. While she took in the serene background, I made a move, praying I wouldn’t get shot down. I shifted her body to face mine instead of the water and enveloped her in my arms. The intention to go in slow vanished when I gazed into her eyes.

  The next thing I knew, our mouths and hands were going at it a mile a minute. My dick jerked. Poor thing wanted out. Hopefully, it would have the chance to play later, and not with my hand.

  She snaked her fingers into my hair. I cupped her ass. My other hand crawled up her back, underneath her top, to confirm my earlier thought of no bra. Fuck yes!

  Her skin felt smooth beyond belief—pure silky goodness.

  Getting bold, I brought my hand to her hip, to her stomach, then upward. Bulls-eye! I stroked her nipple, pinching the hard bud.

  “Mmm.” She purred in my mouth.

  This party had to move to a different location and fast. Fucking her in public wasn’t happening on my watch. She wasn’t a groupie, and I would never treat her as such.

  I broke the kiss. “Come to my place.” I knew hers was off limits, especially with five other women roaming about. Tonight I wasn’t in the mood for a slumber party.

  “Your place? I thought you didn’t bring women there.”

  “You’re the exception.”

  “Then the answer is yes. But I need to be clear about something.”

  “Sure. What is it?”

  I hoped it was that she had to sleep with the lights on because she was afraid of the dark. If that was it, it wasn’t an issue whatsoever. I’d leave ‘em all on if I had too.

  It could also be that she wasn’t into kink. No worries there either. I dug both styles.

  “You might not be used to hearing this, but I don’t want to have sex yet.”

  Her reply was hushed.

  Wait, what?

  She must’ve noticed my shock, surprise, and more so, my disappointment.

  “You said you were up for a challenge. I’m not one of those women at your shows who will throw herself at you with no forethought.”

  As bummed as I felt about not being able to fuck her tonight, a bigger part of me respected the hell out of her decision to wait.

  “What about other things? Are you game for that?” My cock was begging. My mind too.

  She clearly enjoyed my desperation. “Yes, I’m open to other things for the time being.”

  That was a start. Now I prayed she wouldn’t change her mind in the car.

  “Then let’s go, shall we?” I gave her my elbow to loop her arm through, and we strolled to the car.

  There wasn’t much chitchat during the fifteen-minute drive to my place. My mind was on the variety of things I could do to her with my hands and mouth. I was aching merely thinking about the many possibilities.

  I parked in the covered garage underneath the building.

  “Do you live by yourself?”

  “I do. You don’t have to worry about me living in a sorority house like you do. Although, the thought doesn’t sound so bad.”

  She punched my arm.

  “Ouch. That hurt. Now you have to kiss it and make it better.”

  She laughed and promptly did so.

  “I have no qualms about you kissing other parts of me too.”

  I left her with that thought and walked around the car to assist her out of it. She didn’t touch my smartass comment.

  We entered the secured building.

  I could barely get enough oxygen, the anticipation of getting her in my bed all but doing me in.

  Once in the elevator, I came unleashed. I maneuvered her against the wall, not aggressively, rather, with lust, yearning. My hand went straight to her breast, as did my mouth. I didn’t know if there were security cameras, so I kept my head and her lush mounds covered by her shirt while I flicked her nipple with my tongue.

  “Ryan…”

  A plea.

  Ding.

  She fixed her shirt, breathing hard. I made sure she was appropriately covered. My dick was on full display behind my denims. Luckily nobody was in the hallway on my floor. Not that I gave a fuck. Right now, I had one thing on my mind: Lizzie. Make that two things: Lizzie, naked, with my fingers and mouth buried deep inside her. Okay, that was three, possibly four. The technicalities didn’t matter at this point.

  I opened the door and barely locked it before I had her flush against the wall in the foyer with her leg hiked up on my hip and my mouth on hers.

  “Aren’t you going to show me around first?” she asked, panting.

  “Oh, yeah, of course. What a rude host I’m being.” I released her and pointed to the various rooms in front of us. “That’s the kitchen, the den, and the living room. There’s a bathroom over there, and now, I’ll show you my room. I also have a gym which you can see later.”

  She giggled as I pulled her along by the hand. “Mighty eager, aren’t you?”

  “You have no idea.”

  We entered my room, and I flicked on the light.

  “Wow. It’s big. And so… beige.”

  Glad I had made the bed earlier.

  “The color came with the apartment. I never bothered to repaint it being I’m barely here, and it’s in great condition.”

  “It’s soothing.”

  “I’ve got something that can soothe you.” I pulled her into my arms, making sure she could feel my raging hard-on against her.

  “I can see that. Rather, feel that.” She spoke boldly, but her cheeks were pink.

  If the muscle tension in her body had anything to say about it, this sexy talk thing wasn’t an area of comfort for her.

  I knew exactly how to relax her.

  Our lips connected. Her tongue melted against mine. Her body did too. Mission accomplished.

  We stepped toward the bed, our lips and tongues still going at it. She sat when her legs hit the mattress. I went to raise her shirt and she stiffened. I halted my actions.

  “Where’s my dirty girl?”

  “She only shows up in text messages.”

  Her reply amused me. Lizzie was sweet, naïve in a sense.

  “Maybe I could get her to make an appearance in here too.”

  “Good luck.”

  I could use some about now.

  “Why don’t you lie down? I think I might know a way to make her come out and join the fun.”

  She breathed hard and reclined.

  “Wait a second. This has to go first.” I reached for her shirt. “I need to see the beauties I’ve been fantasizing about, Ariana. I mean, Lizzie.”

  “Hey!” She playfully slapped me.

  What an adorable pout she had.

  “I’m all for kinky play with punishments and shit if that’s what you’re into.”

  “Jerk,” she joked. “Umm, would you mind turning off the light first?”

  “Feeling bashful?”

  “Kind of. The lights are on, and you want to remove my shirt.”

  Totally shy. I fucking loved it. What a refreshing change from what I was used to.

  “How ‘bout I turn the hall light on so I have some light to work with. Is that a fair compromise?”

  “Uh… sure.”

  “You see? I’m all about teamwork.”

  “Good to know.”

  “You have a beautiful smile. You should show it more often.”

  “You’ve been putting one on my face a lot lately.”


  “I’m glad. That’s how it should be.” I jogged over to the wall by the entrance to my room and did a one-two, adjusting the brightness to her liking. “Enough delay tactics.” I stepped in front of her. “About these beauties you’re hiding from me.”

  I made sure she was okay with me removing her shirt before I did so. She didn’t try to stop me, nor did she tense up, so I proceeded.

  Fuck. She was heavenly, divine, larger than I’d expected too—the perfect handful.

  She covered herself.

  “Don’t do that. You’re exquisite.”

  “Please don’t screw with my head, Ryan.”

  “I’m not. You’re gorgeous. Look how hard I am for you.” I cupped my erection over my jeans.

  “I’m sure it wouldn’t take much to get that reaction from you.” Her hand slapped over her mouth. “Oh my gosh. I’m sorry. That was so rude.”

  And funny as shit because in a sense, it was true.

  “It’s okay. But you’re wrong.” I raised her chin so she could see my face. “Sure. When I’m in the company of a pretty woman I know I’m about to get lucky with, certain things will arise, if you get my drift. But take the club, for instance. The strippers were dancing and gyrating against a pole. You know what my reaction was?”

  She shook her head.

  “Nada. All I could think about was why you were there. I didn’t give two shits about the women on the stage.”

  “But I already told you, you’re not going to get lucky tonight.”

  “Ah, you’re wrong again. I feel lucky merely having you here. Simply being with you makes me feel that way.”

  “How is it you know how to say just the right things? I sure as hell hope they aren’t memorized.”

  “You must have been burned to have so little faith in me.”

  She peered down at her lap. “I’m sorry. I’ve totally killed the mood.”

  “No, you haven’t. You know what?”

  She shrugged.

  I grabbed her top and covered her again.

  “What… what are you doing? Are you taking me home?”

  “No, of course not. I was going to suggest that we go into the living room and hang out. Maybe have a drink and watch some television. I didn’t ask you to go out with me tonight for the sole purpose of sleeping with you. Of course, I’m not going to lie and say I don’t want to, but it can wait.”