Naked Love

by Jones, Lisa Renee

  This is home.

  I’d wanted this for so long that I had the urge to pinch myself and get three independent confirmations that this wasn’t a dream. If it was, then I was never going to wake up—ever.

  The car pulled to a stop at the base of the wrap–around porch, and I hopped out without waiting for the driver to open the door. I’d told Max not to meet me at the airport and I was now anxious to have the reunion I didn’t want witnessed by cameras and curious fans.

  I scanned the yard as I thanked the driver and signed the invoice for the bill. I heard hammering coming from just beyond the rose garden and I headed around the house to find Max. The garden was in full–bloom, the flowers coaxed to life by Grandpa Butler, and the scent was strong and sweet where it mingled with the smell of fresh cut grass.

  My breathing literally skipped when my eyes landed on the best thing I’d seen in two weeks—Max in khaki cargo shorts and a tight, white T–shirt that caressed his muscles.

  Will I ever see him and not want him?

  He was hammering a shutter next to one of the windows on the front of my new rehearsal space and recording studio, located in the sweet little cottage that had been Grandmother Butler’s private retreat. Tears came to my eyes as I remembered the day that Max had walked me down the back path to this little house and handed me the keys, explaining that he wanted to renovate it into a space where I could work from home. He’d brushed away my tears as he teased, “As long as I can visit and try my damnedest to distract you from your work.”

  And then he’d pulled me into the cottage and demonstrated just how distracting he could be.

  Heat pooled in my belly at the memory, and I must have made a sound because Max looked up, his amber eyes widened in surprise and then crinkling up at the edges when he smiled. One minute I was riveted to the spot and the next I was crushed against his chest with his mouth devouring mine in a desperate tangle of lips and tongues. God, he was an addiction for me and I didn’t plan on ever kicking this one.

  Max lifted me off my feet and I wrapped my legs around his waist as he turned and walked the few steps necessary to press my back against the side of the cottage. I briefly worried about his injury but he’d assured me that he had a doctor’s note that said he was fully recovered and I needed to stop worrying about him. The note really said that—an inside joke between Max and his doctor and a way to stop my constant “fussing over him”—his words, not mine.

  With my weight supported by the wall, his hands were free to roam my body, teasing under the edge of my T–shirt until his hands moved over my stomach and my ribs to cover my breasts, plucking my nipples through the lace of my bra. I sighed and rolled my head back as Max took advantage of my invitation and pressed hot, wet kisses along the exposed skin of my neck.

  Max lifted his head and looked down at me, his eyes blazing with desire, heat, and love. He was so unbelievably gorgeous that he still took my breath away. His mouth widened in his trademark “just for me” sexy smile and his voice was rough with emotion. “Hey.”

  I smiled back. I’m sure I looked like a goof but I didn’t care. This was my man and I loved him more than I ever thought I’d be able to love anyone. “Hey.”

  His hand reached up to caress my cheek, my eyes closed as I leaned into his warmth. He was my rock, my touchstone, and I could feel my soul filling back up just being in his orbit.

  “You’re early. I meant to meet you up at the house and give you a proper welcome.”

  “I think this is pretty perfect.” I pulled myself from his embrace and tugged him towards the house. “C’mon, I know how we can make this welcome even better.”

  To my surprise, Max pulled me back with a shake of his head and a mischievous grin on his face.

  “No way. I want you to see your new studio before we go up to the house.” He pulled me behind him as he climbed the front steps, turning to face me when we reached the top. “Everything is installed and ready to go. It just needs your personal touch.”

  Max opened the door, motioning for me to walk inside. I could smell the scents of drywall, paint, and carpet, and as my excitement bubbled to the top I slipped past him and took the first real look at my new recording studio. My eyes scanned the front room which served as the writing/lounge area and was outfitted with two comfy sofas covered in red corduroy, tables in honeyed maple, and an upright piano in the corner. A custom–made entertainment center held a flat screen and Max’s gaming systems. Light streamed in through the large windows, making the warm yellow paint gleam like burnished gold. It was warm, inviting—and mine.

  I walked towards the back rooms which housed a kitchenette, bathroom with a shower, and my studio. It wasn’t as large as the ones in Nashville, but I could record demos here, write songs, and rehearse with the band instead of heading into town. Skipping back into the front room, I saw Max standing there with his hands opened in a gesture of inquiry.

  “So, what do you think?”

  I crossed the room and jumped into his arms, pressing kisses all over his face as he staggered under the onslaught. “I love it!” I peppered more kisses on his lips as he laughed out loud. “Thank you! Thank you! I love you!”

  “This is the right way to say thank you.” He curled his hand around the back of my neck and pulled me in for a slow, wet kiss that quickly turned the mood from festive to seductive as he claimed my mouth in a blatant show of possession. I whimpered and Max broke the kiss, gazing down at me with a heavy-lidded stare that told me we would be headed to a bed very soon. Fine by me. It had been too long. “You’re very welcome,” he nodded towards the long wall behind him, “but you haven’t seen the best part yet.”

  I followed the direction of his gesture and had to blink. The wall was covered by a hand made guitar rack mounted on the wall. It was also made of maple, stained a golden color and carved with the most delicate design of honeysuckle and barbed–wire. Just like on my tattoo and album logos. It was beautiful and made with so much love that it shone.

  “Oh, Max.” I covered my mouth with a shaking hand. Never in my life had someone done something like this for me. I pulled away from his embrace and walked slowly towards the rack. My hands shook even more as I ran my fingers over the wood. It was smooth as glass, cool to the touch, and the design was intricate but beautifully simple.

  Max came up behind me, his voice soft in my ear. “Grandpa Butler helped me with the carving and the staining. It holds five guitars,” his hand motioned to the middle section of the rack, “with a place of honor for Jolene.”

  I leaned forward to observe the carving below Jolene’s slot more closely. The wood frame was formed into a curved point that held a more detailed carving of the full logo of the heart, vines, and wire. Something extra was carved into the heart and I leaned in closer to read what turned out to be three initials. K.L.B.

  Oh. My. God.

  My breath stuttered in my chest and my legs wobbled as I slowly turned around, scarcely believing the scene before me—Max on one knee with a velvet ring box in his hand and looking at me with so much love that I wasn’t sure that this tiny cabin could hold it all. It wouldn’t have surprised me if the windows blew out, the door flying open under the pressure of the emotion. Suddenly afraid that my legs would give out, I grabbed the back of the sofa. This was not the time to face–plant on the floor.

  “Kit.” He swallowed hard, his voice gravely and rough with his nervousness. “I wish I had your gift with words. I know this is fast and we’re young but I’ve never been so sure of anything in my life.” Max reached up with his empty hand and caressed my cheek, brushing away my tears. “I love our crazy life and I love watching you do all of these amazing things with your career. I want to be the one you come home to, the one you need when it gets too tough—the one you write mushy love songs about.”

  I choked back tears as I half–laughed, half–sobbed at his words. The tears were flowing like someone had opened the faucet and I knew that my makeup was a mess but I didn’t care. Al
l I knew was that the most amazing man in the world was asking me to spend forever with him. To make the home I’d dreamed about.

  Max opened the box, removed the ring, and slid it onto my finger. The metal quickly warmed to my body temperature and it fit perfectly—like it had always belonged there.

  “Marry me, Kit Landry. I love you. I swear that every fucking day of your life you will never doubt that you are the most important person in the world to me.”

  I didn’t even bother to wipe away the tears as I fell to my knees and tackled him. We both fell backward onto the carpet but I could see him clearly when I straddled his body. His grin was wicked, too cocky for a guy who hadn’t gotten my answer yet but I think he knew what was coming. “Yes, I’ll marry you! I love you.”

  “Come here. It’s been too long.”

  Max pulled me down to him, capturing my lips in a kiss that quickly turned from tender to needy in the span of a few seconds. It had been too long. These days, any time spent apart from him felt like it was too long.

  Max tugged at the hem of my shirt, pulling away from our lip–lock only for the time necessary to lift it off my body. In less than five seconds he had my bra off, his strong calloused hands rubbing against my sensitive skin, teasing my nipples into hard points while my whole body flooded with white–hot arousal.

  It never took long for him to get me there and I was on the edge, fueled by too many nights with only my hands to ease the ache. I leaned over him offering my nipple, audibly stuttering when his hot mouth closed over me. He worked me up with his mouth and tongue—the gentle pulls, the licks and kisses that got me wet and needy. Desperate for him.

  “Fuck, yeah, baby,” Max growled against my skin as my orgasm hit me like a bolt of lightning.

  My mind went blank as my body filled with the pleasure that rolled over me in waves. In spite of it, I was still so hungry for Max that my hands shifted over his body—unable to settle in one spot for very long. With a ragged breath I opened my eyes and looked down at him, begging, “Max, please. I need you.”

  He lifted his head to gaze into my eyes, a muscle clenched in his jaw with his own effort to remain in control.

  “Off. Off,” I said impatiently while my fingers got busy unbuttoning and unzipping his shorts. He lifted his hips up and I shoved down the material far enough to give me unobstructed access to him. He was going commando and I immediately grasped his cock in my hand, stroking the long hard length, soaking in every movement of his body, every groan that escaped past his clenched teeth.

  I loved every minute with Max but this moment—when I had him completely undone by his need—was a head–rush for me. But it never lasted long.

  When Max took over, I was the one adrift, only anchored to this world by him and the way he made me feel like the whole universe centered on the two of us.

  He groaned, running his hands over my skirt and making quick work of getting it off me, along with my thong. Finally I was naked and he had full access to where I wanted him most. He lifted his hips so the tip of his erection prodded the entrance of my hot, slippery core. Closing his eyes tightly, he pushed inside me with one thrust. He was big and hard and it had been a long few weeks but even through the ache it felt so damn good that I never wanted it to stop.

  His eyes opened and I don’t know what killed me most—the fiery passion or the tenderness. His fingers dug into my hips and I could feel his legs shaking with the effort to prolong this moment for a little while longer. “Kit. I love you so much. No one else for me. Ever.”

  I leaned down, brushing a soft kiss against his lips. “Show me. Prove it.”

  With a low moan, he rocked his body against mine—sliding in and out of my body—as his mouth claimed every one of my gasps, every single sigh.

  I arched my body, riding him to meet his every thrust, pulling him deeper and clinging to him as he pulled out of me.

  Max broke the kiss, panting with desire as he lifted his head and licked my nipple, sending sparks of pleasure to my clit. He drew the hard peak into his mouth and suckled deeply before releasing it to do the same thing to its twin. My head swam with the sensations created by him filling me, stretching me as my second climax built low in my belly.

  “Come for me, Kit.” Max’s voice was rough, his breathing hard and labored, stuttering with each deep thrust. “I need to feel you again. Want it. Will always need you.”

  His words sent me over the edge. Flying. Tumbling. I cried out as my body seized him, drawing him deeper and forcing him to join me in the freefall.

  For several long minutes, we laid together on the floor, listening to the sounds out in the garden as they filtered through the open door. The scents of summer roses and sunshine mixed with those of our lovemaking as we drifted along in our private paradise. He nuzzled my cheek, that spot on my neck I loved so much. He shifted us, placing me on my back while he leaned up on his elbow to watch me. I lifted my left hand and played with the ring on my forever finger.

  It was classically styled with a large stone in a platinum setting and it was perfect. Not gaudy or showy, just right. “Max, I love it. It’s so beautiful.”

  “I’m glad you like it.” He grinned a slow, lazy smile. “I’m glad you said yes.”

  “What would you have done if I’d said no?”

  “Like that would ever happen.” He dodged my pinch and laughed. “I would have kept asking you. Wearing you down with sex until you had no other choice but to say yes.”

  “Manipulative bastard,” I grumbled.

  “And you’re going to be Mrs. Manipulative Bastard.”

  I grinned up at him, liking how that sounded just fine. I dropped a quick kiss on his lips. “Thank you.”

  Max cupped his hand behind my neck and drew me close for a lingering kiss before resting his forehead against mine. Smiling softly to himself, he shook his head. “For what?”

  Aw man, how could he not know? I reached up with both hands and made sure he heard every word. “Thank you for believing in us when I didn’t.”

  His eyes sparkled with mischief and his smile was big enough to light up the world. I loved knowing that all that joy was because of me, of us. “Baby, don’t you get it?” He wound a curl around his finger and gave it a gentle tug. “Loving you is the easiest thing I’ve ever done. I love being the little man at home.”

  I laughed at that. Life with Max would never be dull. I kissed him and then leaned back, my mind churning a million miles a minute. The little man at home...

  “Uh, oh.”

  Max’s voice brought me back to the present.

  Busted.

  His voice was laced with humor as he touched his finger to my nose. “I know that look. You just thought of a song didn’t you?” I nodded and he pushed me up, stripped off his T–shirt and pulled it over my head.

  He pointed towards the cabinet next to the piano. “That’s stocked with your favorite pens and paper.”

  I looked over towards the cabinet but hesitated. “Are you sure? I just got home...”

  Max laughed and leaned back on the sofa, his hands behind his head. He made a delectable picture—all muscles, silky dark hair on his chest, and miles of tanned sexy skin. “I’m going to lie here and recover, so you’ve got fifteen minutes to write down what’s in your head.”

  I shivered at his sexy tone. “And then?”

  “And then, I’m going to take you up to the house and get to work on distracting you from your job.” He paused and flashed a wolfish grin. “At least for the next sixty years or so.”

  All thoughts of work suddenly left my mind as I pictured just how many ways Max could distract me from my work. Oh, yum. I backed towards the door of the cottage, pausing at the doorway.

  “How long did you say you needed to recover?”

  Max lifted an eyebrow and leaned up on one arm. “What did you have in mind?”

  I reached down and grabbed the hem of the T–shirt. “I was wondering if you wanted to work on ‘Operation Distract Kit.’ You
know... get started on that sixty years or so.” I lifted the T–shirt up and off my body and shivered at the feral gleam that shadowed his features. “If you’re recovered enough, that is.”

  Max growled low in his chest and leaned towards me. “Why don’t you come over here and let me show you just how recovered I am?”

  I laughed and turned towards the door, stepping out on the porch. “Why don’t you catch me?”

  Racing across the lawn towards the house where I would live and love with Max, I threw back my head and laughed.

  I needed to write a song about this.

  Tomorrow.

  * * *

  Thank you for reading TEMPTATION!

  Up next in the Nashville Nights series is Carlisle & Mateo’s story in SALVATION.

  Letting go never felt so good.

  Carlisle Queen is dying and no one knows it.

  Burying the pain of losing her friends and her professional swimming career in a terrorist attack, America’s former sweetheart dulls her pain with drugs, pills and parties. The bomb left her with more than nightmares; shrapnel is lodged in her back and inching closer to her spinal cord. When the doctors tell her paralysis is inevitable, she decides to take her own life rather than face a lifetime in a wheelchair.

  Mateo Butler isn’t anyone’s hero.

  Reeling from the death of his little sister and his own cowardice, he spends his nights partying and his days ignoring the medical school acceptance letters and his parents’ concerned phone calls. Just a couple of months from graduation, he’s facing a future filled with shame and regret. The last thing he needs is to meet the woman who compels him to be a better man.

  Can they save each other?

  When Carlisle and Mateo meet, the chemistry between them is combustible. They play, party and hide their true selves until one night turns their lust into something more…something real. As secrets are revealed and walls collapse, what they were and what they might become doesn’t matter as much as who they are together. When the choice comes down to life or death, can love be their salvation?