Music of the Heart

by Katie Ashley

  With a squeal, Abby did her happy/victory dance around the studio before jumping into my arms and wrapping her legs around my waist. She then proceeded to lay a hot, lingering kiss on me right in front of Gio. It was in that moment I knew I fucking loved Abby Renard with all my heart.

  After we finished at the studio, we headed back to the hotel to join the others for a late brunch. As we sat down, Brayden said, “We waited to order until you got here.”

  “Aw, that was so sweet. Thank you,” Abby replied.

  As soon as we had all ordered, everyone wanted to know how the recording session had gone. With animated gestures, Abby filled them in on every single detail—including her freak-out. My heart swelled with pride when she told them how it was me that helped her overcome her stage fright. Leaning over, I planted a kiss on her lips. “You were amazing all on your own. I didn’t do anything.”

  “You did everything,” she argued.

  AJ rolled his eyes. “God, you guys are positively sickening,” he groaned.

  “You’re just jealous.”

  “Whatever,” he grumbled as he raised Jude onto his lap.

  Our food arrived, and after we ate, I caught Abby gazing with a wistful look at Brayden and Lily. While Melody slept soundly on one of Lily’s shoulders, Brayden nuzzled Lily’s neck and spoke softly to her. Lily’s eyes closed while a serene smile filled her face. I had a pretty good guess that Abby was envying what she saw of the perfect rock-star family.

  When she caught me looking at her, Abby smiled. Motioning her hand towards Brayden and Lily, she asked, “Are they always like that?”

  I chuckled. “Pretty much. During the tour, they don’t get a lot of time together, least of all alone time. When they finally do see each other, they act like two horny teenagers.”

  “But they’re so in love,” she murmured as she watched Brayden rub Lily’s cheek. A frown turned on Abby’s lips. “Poor things, I bet they don’t get much alone time with the kids though.”

  Shrugging, I replied, “They seem to be doing just fine to me—nauseating as it is.”

  When her hand came to graze my upper thigh, I almost jumped out of my chair. “Jake, if I asked you to do something for me, would you?”

  My heart thudded to a stop before restarting. “Don’t tell me watching those two has turned you on, and you want to go upstairs with me?”

  “Um no!” she cried.

  I laughed at her outrage. “Okay, what is it?”

  She glanced from me over to Brayden and Lily. “Would you help me take care of Jude and Melody today?”

  “You’re joking, right?”

  She gave a small shake of her head. “They could have the whole day together—just the two of them. I could even spend the night in their suite and give them mine. You know a whole day of romance.”

  Crossing my arms over my chest, I asked, “Okay, but why does all that have to involve me?”

  Her blue eyes narrowed, and I knew I was in trouble. “I thought you might like to not be a self-centered jackass for once and want to help out both me and the guy who is like a brother to you.

  I held up my hands in surrender. “Fine, fine. I’d love to spend the rest of the day babysitting Bray’s kids with you.”

  The corners of Abby’s lips quirked up, and I could tell she was fighting not to smile. “Try not to sound too excited about it.”

  I plastered a fake smile on my lips. “Oh, I’m fucking stoked. Can’t you tell?”

  She grinned at me. “You’re such a tool.” Patting my thigh, she said, “Now come on and let’s tell Brayden and Lily the good news!”

  ***

  Brayden and Lily were so touched by mine and Jake’s offer. It took about an hour for them to get everything we would need together for a day and night with the kids. Then taking Lily’s SUV, Jake and I headed first to the Atlanta Zoo and then we went to the Aquarium. With his dark sunglasses and baseball cap, Jake did his best to blend in and not call attention to himself. While I pushed Melody in her stroller, he carried Jude on his shoulders. Since we appeared to be the model picture of a young family, no one even stopped to look or question whether a famous rocker was in their midst.

  After ogling all the wildlife, we then headed back to the hotel for Melody’s nap time. “Big boys don’t nap!” Jude complained when I suggested he lie down as well.

  “Come on, Little Man. You and I will go for a swim while the girls relax,” Jake suggested.

  Jude squealed with delight and raced into the bedroom. While I got him into his swim trunks and floaties, Jake borrowed a pair of Brayden’s swim trunks. When he came out of the bathroom, I drew in a sharp breath at the sight of his bare chest and all his hard, chiseled muscles on display.

  Lowering his sunglasses, Jake grinned wickedly at me. “Impressed, Angel?”

  I rolled my eyes. “Why do you always have to be so cocky?”

  He pulled me into his arms. “And why do you always have to fight your feelings when it comes to me?”

  “I’m not fighting anything right now when I say your arrogance manages to ruin more moments.”

  Jake’s hands dipped lower to cup my butt. “Oh come on, baby, you drive me wild with desire every minute, so can’t you just at least admit that every once in a while, the sight of me gives you a lady boner?”

  I bit my lip to keep from laughing. “A lady boner?”

  He grinned. “Yep.”

  “No, seeing you did not give me a lady boner, but it did get me hot, okay?”

  Jake twirled me around. “Finally, you admit it.” His lips met mine in a hurried, frantic kiss since we both knew at any moment Jude would be coming out of the bathroom. After he licked a moist trail up to my ear, he whispered, “And as for that lady boner, guess I’ll just have to step up my game.”

  I giggled. “Yeah, you do that.”

  Jude emerged, and Jake and I reluctantly pried away from each other. After a bottle, Melody went down for a two-hour nap. While she slept, I texted with my brothers and my parents. Jake and Jude arrived back at the hotel suite just as Melody was waking up. Since they were both starved, dinner was our next order of business.

  As we gorged ourselves on chili dogs and hamburgers from Jake’s favorite Atlanta restaurant, The Varsity, Jude asked, “Are Mommy and Daddy playing somewhere else today?”

  When Jake snickered, I shot him a look while wiping the ketchup stains off Jude’s face. “Yes, they needed some time alone to do some big people stuff.”

  That caused another amused snort from Jake. “You’re impossible!” I hissed.

  A little pout formed on Jude’s face. “I’m not a baby. I could do big people’s stuff.”

  “Sorry Little Man, but you’re not quite ready for what Mommy and Daddy are up to,” Jake said.

  Jude crossed his arms over his chest in a huff while I gave Jake a smile. “Now don’t worry. Uncle Jake isn’t a big enough boy to get to do what your parents are doing right now either.”

  Stuffing a handful of fries in his mouth, Jake mumbled, “Oh please, I’ve done it plenty of times. It’s Aunt Abby who needs to loosen up.” When he winked at me, I tossed the dirty napkin at him, which caused him to almost choke on his fries.

  After we arrived back at the hotel, it was after eight. Jake yawned as he collapsed on the couch. “Can you give Melody her bottle while I give Jude a bath?”

  He nodded and took the almost sleeping baby from my arms. I then herded Jude into the bathroom. After a quick splash to get clean, I slipped him into his pajamas and read him a bedtime story.

  When I finished the book, Jude’s eyes were heavy, but he still wasn’t asleep. “Sing to me, Aunt Abby.”

  “Um, okay.” I searched my mind for a song and finally remembered the one my mother used to sing to me.

  Finally, he nodded off, and I carefully eased myself off the bed. After I closed the bedroom door behind me, I was surprised to find the living room bathed in darkness. Only the flickering TV screen lit the way for me as I walked tow
ard the couch. When I was almost there, I skidded to a stop at the sight before me. Shirtless, Jake lay on his back while Melody slept soundly on his chest. My hand fisted my shirt over my heart as the scene of Jake with a baby wrecked me emotionally.

  I drew in a deep breath and continued over to the couch. Gently, I picked up Melody. Sensing the loss, Jake popped open his eyes. “I’ll put her down,” I whispered.

  “Okay,” he replied, rising up into a sitting position on the couch.

  After I laid Melody down in her Pack-N-Play, I covered her up. Grabbing a t-shirt and a pair of yoga pants out of my suitcase, I went into the bathroom to change. When I finished, I peeked at the kids again before leaving the bedroom. Jake reclined on the couch with the remote in his hand. When he saw me eyeing his naked chest, he grinned sheepishly. “Melody kinda spit up all over me.”

  “Oh, I see,” I replied, as I eased down beside him.

  “Jude asleep?”

  “Yep.” I couldn’t fight the dreamy smile that curved on my lips. “I ended up singing him to sleep.”

  Jake chuckled. “There’s not a chance in the world that kid isn’t gonna be a rocker just like his old man.”

  “You’re right. He adores music.”

  With a yawn, Jake turned to me. “I had no idea two kids would wipe my ass out so much.”

  I laughed. “I know. But they’re really good kids.”

  “Oh yeah, Bray’s a lucky man.”

  At the serious way he was looking at me, I quickly turned my head. Wrinkling my nose at the TV screen, I asked, “Ugh, do we seriously have to watch Sports Center?”

  Jake snorted. “If you think we’re watching some sappy chick flick, you got another thing coming.”

  “Well, at least let me see what else is on,” I suggested, reaching for the remote.

  “Oh no. I don’t think so.”

  When I tried prying the remote out of his hands, it went flying across the living room and bounced onto the floor. Jake and I momentarily eyed each other before we both lunged off the couch for it. Pushing and shoving each other out of the way, I finally grabbed it. “Aha!”

  It was a brief victory because Jake flipped me over on my back. After he straddled me, he pinned my arms above my head. “Not so fast.”

  As he smirked down at me, I tried squirming out of his hold. “Let me go, asshole!”

  “Ooh, you get so feisty when you’re angry.”

  “Don’t make me knee you again,” I threatened.

  At the mention of our first encounter, our eyes locked, and in that brief instant, the remote was forgotten. Leaning down, Jake brushed his mouth against mine, caressing my lips with his. I craned my head up, so I could reach him better. The tighter we fit against each other the more feverishly Jake’s lips moved against mine. I darted my tongue into his mouth and teased mine against his. His hand abandoned mine and moved to cup my breast. Over my t-shirt, he kneaded my flesh, causing me to moan with pleasure.

  Tearing his mouth from mine, Jake panted, “Abby…”

  “What?” I murmured as I ran my hands through his hair.

  His brows creased in worry. “Are you sure about this?”

  “Because of Brayden’s kids being in the next room?”

  Jake chuckled. “Well, yeah, that’s a buzz kill in itself, but I was thinking more about you.” He stared down at me with such a mixture of lust and desire in his eyes that I shivered. “I just can’t help myself around you. I want you so bad that I can’t help but devour you any chance I get. I’m just afraid this is too fast and too soon for you.”

  My chest constricted at his concern for me. He really was willing to give me the time and space I needed, and that made me love him all the more. When he started to pull himself off me, I knew right then and there that I didn’t want him to stop. I was almost twenty-two years old, and I wanted to keep enjoying a frolic on the hotel room floor with the guy I loved. “No!” I cried, grabbing his shoulders.

  His eyes widened in surprise. “I want this, and I want you.” I tore my gaze from his before adding, “Just not all the way.”

  “You mean it?” he asked, tipping my chin to make me look at him again.

  “Yes,” I whispered.

  “Thank God,” he groaned before he brought his lips back to mine. Kissing me feverishly, he eased my t-shirt up and over my head. Then he snaked his arm around my back. With just a flick of his wrist, Jake unhooked my bra deftly with just one hand and then slipped it off. “Nice work,” I panted.

  He grinned down at me. “It’s tricky, but I’ve had a lot of practice.”

  I smacked his chest. “Don’t be bragging about your former conquests with me.”

  “Sorry.” As his hand cupped my bare breast for the first time, I gasped. “Would it sweeten the pot if I said you’re the only girl in the entire world I dream about conquering?”

  “Maybe,” I whispered as his thumb brushed across my nipple. It hardened under his simple touch while an ache burned between my legs.

  Jake’s gaze roamed over my breasts. “God, these are amazing…and real.”

  I couldn’t help giggling at his statement. “Um, should I say thank you?”

  He chuckled. “Sorry for the caveman comment. It’s just you’re so damn perfect everywhere. Including your tits.”

  His mouth hovered over my nipple. As his breath warmed my breast, I arched my back, encouraging him to stop tormenting me. Happily, he obliged and sucked my nipple into his mouth. “Oh Jake,” I murmured. The sensation was like nothing I could have imagined. While his tongue assaulted my nipple, his other hand continued massaging my other breast. I couldn’t help the moans and whimpers escaping me. It felt too good to be quiet.

  While he continued giving my breasts attention, I opened my legs wider, allowing him to sink closer between my thighs. My hips bucked up involuntarily to his, and I felt the bulge growing beneath his jeans. He pushed back against me, and I cried out. Grazing my nipple with his teeth, he then began to rock his erection against me.

  “Mmm,” I murmured, turning my head from side to side. I matched his rhythm lifting my hips to meet his thrusts. Pressure continued to build between my legs as Jake rubbed against me. I bit down on my lip to stifle my cries. If it felt this good now, what would it be like when he actually touched me there or put his mouth there?

  The friction was driving me wild, but it wasn’t enough. “Jake,” I whispered.

  He raised his head from my breast. “What do you want, Angel?” he rasped.

  “Touch me.”

  “You sure?”

  I bobbed my head. “Yes, please.”

  Rolling off of me, one of Jake’s hands abandoned my breast to trail down my abdomen. When he got to the band of my yoga pants, I sucked in a breath. The back of his hand feathered tantalizingly across my stomach, and I couldn’t help but buck my hips up to him. Chewing his lip for a minute, he gazed down at me. “Has anyone ever…”

  Warmth flooded my cheeks at his question. “No.”

  The cocky little smirk that filled his face caused me to smack him. “What?”

  “The victorious caveman look you just made at being my first third-base action.”

  He grinned. “Sorry, but it’s new for me too. You know, to be someone’s first.” As his fingers tickled along my abdomen, he asked, “Have you ever touched yourself?”

  “What’s with the inquisition? Just do it already!” I shouted.

  Jake’s eyes widened. “Shh, you’ll wake Jude and Melody.”

  Mortification rocketed through me, and I covered my head with my hands.

  “So is that a yes or a no?” Jake prompted.

  I peeked at him through my fingers. “Yes, I have,” I whispered

  At my admission, he groaned. “Oh Angel,” he murmured before his hand delved beneath my pants. When his fingers brushed against me, I gasped with pleasure. Jake drew in a ragged breath and asked, “When you touched yourself like this, did you come?”

  Even though I was embarrassed
, frustrated, and even a little angry at his question, I found myself replying, “Mmm, hmm.”

  He pinched his eyes shut. “You’re driving me crazy.”

  “I could say the same thing about what you’re doing to me.”

  He chuckled as his eyelids fluttered open. “I know.” When he gazed into my eyes, desire burned bright in his. “Maybe I should stop asking questions and just kiss you, huh?

  “Yes.”

  As his tongue thrust in and out of my mouth, his fingers delved between my legs. When he finally stroked my sensitive folds, I moaned into his mouth. The pressure continued to build as I rocked my hips against his hand. Beads of sweat broke out across my forehead. I couldn’t imagine anything could feel this good.

  Jake tentatively slid his finger inside me, and when he started moving it in and out, I went over the edge. “Jake! Oh yes! Jake!” I cried as my walls clenched around his finger. When I finally came back to myself, Jake was staring down at me. “You’re sexy as hell when you come.”

  I quirked my brows at him as I fought to catch my breath. “That’s good to know.”

  He shot me a wicked grin. “I love the way you called out my name. It was so fucking hot.” He rose up on his knees while his hands went to the waistband of my yoga pants. “You want me to make you come again?”

  “Do you always do this sweet talking with the girls?”

  He paused in pulling down my pants. “You don’t like it?”

  “No, it’s just….”

  He grimaced. “It’s not very romantic, right?”

  I shook my head. “No, not really.”

  Jake sighed. “This is all new for me, Angel. I’m not used to doing the whole emotions with sex stuff. I’m used to fucking and calling it a day.”

  I winced at his words. “I’m sorry if it sounds like I’m complaining. I did enjoy it—obviously, I mean, I…It’s just that…”

  “No, I get it. You deserve better, Angel. You’re giving me—the most undeserving guy in the world—the most sacred and amazing firsts.”

  I shook my head. “They’re mine to give, and I wouldn’t want anyone but you to have them.”