by C. Lesbirel
“Why?”
“Because I want you to stay.” It’s the truth. The need to be close to him overrides the simple fact that he’s way too young to be screwing around with a woman like me.
Granted, he’s uncharacteristically mature for his age and dangerously sexy, but from the outset it’s clear that if this pairing was a cocktail, we’d be a recipe for disaster.
He doesn’t say anything, and for the longest second, I feel as though I’m holding my breath awaiting his decision, half expecting him to shake his head and walk away.
“Let’s get out of here.”
I don’t need to be asked twice. Whatever it is about this man is so alluring. I think if he asked me to follow him to the end of the world, with a bit of whiskey inside me, I probably would, but he deserves the truth.
I wonder if he would be so keen to flirt with me if he knew how much older than him I am.
“Where are we going? Can we avoid any clubs, I’m just not in the mood?”
“No clubs. Have you been here before? To Rome, I mean.”
“Briefly. I think. It’s hard to keep track, my last tour was extended to add extra dates, so my days off were non-existent, and in the end, I couldn’t tell you where I was.”
“You can’t come to Rome and not see it. It would be a travesty.”
“So what? You’re taking me sightseeing?”
“Unless you’d prefer me to take you to bed?”
“About that… you were right about needing to talk things through.”
“Yeah?”
“Mmm. If we’re going to work together, we really should set the record straight.”
“Agreed,” he replies. “But first, let’s enjoy the city. It’s one of my favorites.”
“You’ve been here a lot?”
“I’m a pilot. I’ve been everywhere a lot.”
I like that he doesn’t hold my hand. Doesn’t assume. Doesn’t demand anything from me, which is so refreshing when I spend my whole life trying to meet everybody’s expectations. We walk through cobbled streets, crossing the city center where the live music of pubs and bars filled the streets and towards the Colosseum.
“It’s nice to just walk in the quiet, you know?” I look across at him as he smiles.
“I know. My favorite time to sightsee is at night when things are quieter. Life gets so loud sometimes.”
“That’s the truth,” I murmur while I take in how pretty the old buildings look against the glow of the streetlights and play around with some lyrics about bright lights and moonlight nights. Although, I disregard them just as quickly as they appear. The last time I wrote anything half decent Simon hated it, as did my label.
“I meant what I said earlier, you were incredible tonight.”
“Thanks. I’m glad you got to hear me sing.” I want to add that I wish I would have known he was there. That I hadn’t stopped thinking about him since his lips were pressed against mine, but what would be the point.
“I don’t know how you do it, all those big notes.”
“It sounds cliché, but it’s just what I do. Singing is as much a part of my life as breathing. It’s just always been there, you know?”
“Nope. Can’t say I do, but I do know what it feels like to have a passion for something. I feel that way about aviation. It’s the same for me in a sense that it comes easily. It’s something I’ve always done and couldn’t live without.”
“Why are you really doing this?”
“Doing what?” he replies.
“Walking with me. Talking like we’re old friends and not just two strangers that should have never hooked up?”
“Is that what you really believe?”
“Maybe.” I bite down on the inside of my cheek.
“What if it was fate? What if our paths crossed for a reason, but we just haven’t figured it out yet?”
“You believe in fate?”
“I believe you can be in the right place at the right time. Nothing about being here with you feels wrong to me.” When I glance across at him, he’s looking straight ahead, and I follow his gaze to the ancient Colosseum all lit up in front of us.
8
Sullivan
The more I’m around this woman the more I need to have her again. Her performance on stage intrigued me, but her quiet and mysterious alter ego is what has my attention.
“It’s breath-taking.”
“I know. It’s crazy to think it’s the biggest in the world.”
“Let’s get closer, I want to get right up to it. I wonder how old it is.”
“Well over 1000 years.”
“How do you know?” she asks me, not taking her eyes off the ancient building in front of us.
“I’ve visited a few times and did the Colosseum tour. I paid attention.”
“My mom would love this place. We always talked about coming.”
“Why didn’t you bring her this time?”
“On tour with me?” She chuckles, but it’s not a happy sound, it’s dripping in sarcasm. “My parents don’t agree with the direction my music has taken. If they had it their way, I’d be back home in Nashville, and the only stage I’d be singing on is in church every Sunday.”
“Nashville. I should have guessed from the big voice and cowgirl boots.”
“And you?”
“Florida born and bred.”
She smiles knowingly. “I should have guessed from the glowing tan and pearly whites.”
“Are we going to keep doing this?”
“What?”
“Avoiding the elephant in the city?” I catch hold of her wrist, tugging her around to face me.
“I don’t know what to say.”
“Just say how you feel. It’s not that difficult. How do you want this to go? We have to work together for the foreseeable future, unless you want me to get my ass kicked by my brothers for losing the contract. Or, I could have one of them replace me if you’d feel more comfortable with that?” Please God don’t say you’d prefer that because I don’t think I could stand the thought of any of my brothers flying you anywhere.
“Why did you ignore me today?” I push her, needing answers.
“I panicked, okay? I don’t do this kind of thing. One-night stands are so not me. I’m in a weird place at the moment, and you were sort of unexpected. In a good way. But, how was I supposed to know you’d be standing on my tour plane this morning? It caught me off guard.”
“You could have said hi. Something?”
“Not with my manager breathing down my neck. If Simon catches wind of any of this, he’ll hang me out to dry. He’s already my personal fun police. I don’t need him cracking the whip any harder. It’ll push me over the edge.”
“What’s any of this got to do with Simon? He works for you, not the other way around.”
“It’s complicated.” She shrugs.
“So, when you said you’d see me after the show, was it because you wanted to see me again?”
“Yes…. No… I don’t know. It’s not as straightforward as me knowing what I want.”
“I say differently.” I pull her towards me, not giving her time to ruin this with whatever it is she’s about to say.
She looks up at me with parted lips and fluttering long lashes. What she wants seems straight forward enough to me. It’s written all over her gorgeous, delectable face, so I give it to her without a second thought. My lips land a soft kiss on hers that’s so different from last night.
Careful.
Polite.
Testing.
Yeah, fuck it, she tastes like heaven, and I need more. As soon as she hesitates, I steal her doubts away with a harsh demanding kiss that threatens to obliterate whatever obstacles I have a feeling she’s about to try and throw in our way.
My hands slide around her waist, gripping her hips, and I pick her right up off her feet, holding her above me while never breaking our kiss.
She responds so eagerly it takes my breath away, matching every stroke
of my tongue with her own. I could stay in this kiss for an eternity, it’s perfect. So when she pulls away a few moments later and wipes the back of her wrist over her mouth I’m confused.
“I can’t do this,” she murmurs. “I’m sorry. I did try and warn you the first time we met, I’m just not that girl.”
“Hope. I don’t give a shit what kind of girl you are. I’m not asking you to marry me, it’s just a kiss.”
“I know, but it’s never just a kiss. You’re that hot guy that wears his heart on his sleeve, and I can already tell you’re going to fall for me.”
“Cocky much?” I can’t help laughing.
“I’m not trying to be, but I’ve seen the movies. Don’t forget, I spend most of my time in hotel rooms, so I’ve seen them all and know exactly how this goes. Boy meets girl. Girl falls for his charms. Fast forward a couple of dates, they have the perfect most passionate sex of their lives. Then what? Girl leaves because she’s touring the world with her music and is rarely in the same city for more than a night at a time.”
“Jesus, you really thought a lot about this, huh?”
“I did. Not just because of our night together. I thought about this long before I signed a six-album contract because I’m not stupid. My parents also remind me constantly that time is racing by, and I should be settling down with a nice man who can give me a zillion babies and build me my dream home back in Nashville.”
“How do you know I’m not a nice man that can give you lots of babies?”
“Is that an offer?”
My chest squeezes, my lungs momentarily forgetting to function and rendering me speechless.
“Kidding. I’m kidding. Look, what’s your name again?”
“Sullivan.”
“Well, Sullivan. I don’t know what you’re looking for, but I do know I’m not it. I can’t give anything more than the one-night stand, and I already gave you that. The rest is not worth the drama, especially when we’re going to be working together, of a fashion. How old do you think I am, anyway?”
“How old are you? What does that matter?”
“Oh, it matters. Believe me.”
“You want me to guess your age?”
She arches a brow and juts her chin out in defiance and looks like the answer to the way we feel about each other will end from the revelation this conversation will bring.
“Okay. But just so you know, I think this whole thing is ridiculous.”
“Just take a guess.”
“Alright, alright. Twenty-eight.”
“Guess again.”
“Thirty? Jesus. Are we really doing this?”
“I’m thirty-five, Sullivan. Thirty-five years old, and I know you're nowhere near that. How old are you?”
“Still don’t see why this matters.” I roll my eyes to the sky searching for patience with this woman. “I’m twenty-six. Yes, it’s slightly younger than you, but so what? How about we rewind the conversation to the part where you said I’m going to fall for you, and I assure you that’s not going to happen.”
“Because, I’m too old for you?” She folds her arms across her chest and eyes me suspiciously.
“Because, I have an excellent track record for not falling for people. Even when they’re right for me. Even if they are the woman of my dreams, I always find a way of screwing things up.”
“You do?”
“Yep. Majorly. Trust me, you don’t want the 411, but I would be more worried about you falling for me.”
9
Hope
Twenty-six. I reel from this newfound knowledge. I hadn’t seen that one coming. I knew he was younger, but that’s even more than I thought. How the hell did he know so many moves last night when he’s only twenty-fucking-six? That’s insane. This whole thing is insane. He’s almost an entire decade younger than me.
“What makes you think you’re my type?”
“The way you fucked me last night. And, the way you kissed me just now. I’m your type with a capital T.”
“Cocky much?” I throw his own words back at him.
“Not cocky, just confident. Look, if we’re both in agreement that you aren’t going to get all sappy and want a relationship, as well as the fact that I’m not going to fall in love with you, then I think I have the perfect solution.”
“You do?” I pop a brow, wondering what he could possibly want from me now. I couldn’t have been more honest with him.
“Yeah. We can be fuck buddies.” He casually raises a shoulder, and I don’t know whether to slap his cheek or laugh out loud at his so-called solution.
“What the hell makes you think I would agree to be your fuck buddy?”
“Okay, so maybe I used the wrong phrase. Call it friends-with-benefits if you want to be all cutesy about it, but as far as I can see, it’s a win - win. You get to have hot sex with me whenever you want, and I don’t have to bother picking up women in bars wherever I land because you’ll be there.”
“You’re insane.”
“I’m a realist. No feelings. No turmoil. Just sex. What do you say?”
“I say you’re crazy if you think this will work.”
“We’ve got nothing to lose. How about I throw in a deal? If one of us starts to catch feelings, I’ll quit the tour and have one of my brothers fly you around.”
“Just like that?”
“This doesn’t have to be complicated.” He folds his arms across his chest as we stare up at the Colosseum and drops his head back. I do the same; the sky is perfectly clear, navy blue and full of stars. Against the backdrop of the city it’s pretty majestic and very romantic.
“And you’ll just give me hot sex whenever I want it?”
“Within reason.” He deadpans.
“Can I try before I buy?” I giggle, tucking a loose strand of hair behind my ear as the light evening breeze picks up.
“Sure.”
“What, so I just ask for sex, and you just…”
“Is this you asking?” He turns to face me, arching a brow with eyes so dark they are almost black but shine a beautiful blue in the glow of the streetlights.
“Maybe.” I lose myself in his eyes, my lips parting in the hope that his will press against them.
“Shit. I think I’m going to love this arrangement.” He smiles and grabs my ass, pulling me into him for a hard-fast kiss that sets aside all of my worries about this stupid plan. What does it matter if it seems like a dumb idea? It’s not like anyone has to know, and maybe it is the perfect deal.
This way I get to enjoy all the best parts of a relationship without all the drama that goes with being in one. It’s not perfect, but it’s totally worth it. Who wouldn’t want their very own sexy pilot to have sex with whenever they want?
I pull back, just long enough the rasp out, “You’d have to promise not to tell a single soul. The paps would have a field day with me getting involved with my pilot, especially when you’re so much younger than me.”
“My lips are sealed.” He sucks his lips in for a moment before kissing me again.
“Aaah,” I cry out as he bites down on my bottom lip.
“We should have a code word,” I suggest when he pulls back.
“Was that too much? Sorry, I did warn you I’m into kinky fuckery.”
“No, I liked it. I don’t mean a safe word, I mean a code word, so I don’t have to come right out and ask for sex if there’re people around.”
“Good thinking.”
“What about Rome?” I ask as his lips fall to my neck, and he bites and sucks hard enough that I have to pull away before he leaves a mark, or I drop to my knees and go down on him right here in the middle of the city.
“Rome. I told you I like this city.”
“No, I mean Rome.”
“Ohhhh, Rome. Okay, Rome is good.” He scoops me up in a fireman’s lift, causing the handful of other crazy people admiring the Colosseum past midnight to glance at us briefly.
I chuckle as my arms land on his back and grab onto
his sweater to steady myself.
“I love Rome!” he screams out at the top of his voice, and everyone turns to stare. At least, I think they do. It’s hard to tell from my upside-down position.
He starts jogging, and I bounce around on his shoulder like a rag doll. “Put me down!” I holler.
“Sorry, no can do. You asked for Rome, I’m giving you Rome.”
“Stop.” I drum on his back with the palms of my hands. Eventually he slows down enough for me to drop to my feet.
“Come on, let’s get out of here.” He grabs my hand and tugs, so my steps fall into sync with his quick strides.
We pace back to the hotel, and he hardly says two words all the way there.
“You’re taking this all very seriously.” I laugh as we enter the revolving doors and drop his hand in case any of my team is around. He passes me a look of understanding as we cross the lobby to the elevator separately. I thought he’d be all over me as soon as the door closed, but much to my disappointment, he still doesn’t say much and doesn’t lay a finger on me.
“Your place or mine?” he asks, running a hand over the back of his neck and cracks it as though he’s preparing for a workout. In some ways, I guess he is. The thought brings a smile to my lips which soon disappears when he gives a one-word answer.
“Mine.”
He’s being weird.
“Is everything okay, we don’t have to do this.”
“Oh, we’re doing this. I’m just thinking of all the ways I want to give you Rome.”
“I’m intrigued.”
“Intrigued is good. I like curiosity, it allows for exploration. This is me,” he says as we come to a stop outside a mahogany door and pulls a card from his wallet to let us inside. I glance around behind me to make sure no one’s watching and quickly slip in. He follows and shuts the door behind us, but before I get a chance to make the first move, he gives his instructions in a low growl, “Take everything off. I want to watch you undress.”
When I hesitate, he steps closer and picks up the hem of my t-shirt, scrunching it in his fist. “This is in the way. Get rid of it.”