“Well, I thought you were probably…” she didn’t finish her sentence. My mouth covered hers, sucking the air from her lungs. Kissing her until she felt how my body responded to her .
My cock was growing hard again. She drove me wild. Her body was better than my best brand of bourbon. She was ecstasy in my arms .
“Oh?” She looked surprised. “You keep proving me wrong .”
I rolled her on her back. “I don’t know what you’ve heard, but tonight I’m going to fuck you like I want. Understand ?”
She nodded emphatically. I reached into the drawer for a second condom .
“What time did you tell the driver to come back?” she asked .
I pulled one of her nipples between me lips, flicking my tongue back and forth. I looked at her. “Six .”
I sat forward to roll the condom on. I was already hard and we both knew our night was ticking away. In two hours the car would be in the driveway .
She wrapped her legs around me, pulling me toward her like a vise grip .
I sank into her, bowing her off the bed. I pinned her wrists over her head and pumped in and out of her. The sweat pooled between us, our bodies slick with sex and heat. This time I didn’t let up until she screamed my name .
I growled, biting at her. “Say it,” I commanded. “What do you want from me, Alexa ?”
Her head rolled back. “Fuck me harder. Don’t stop. Please, don’t stop .”
The words triggered something primal in me. I thrust deep inside her as I felt my release rise to the surface. It catapulted through me with wicked force, ripping through my legs. Tearing through my body until I was so deep in her, I owned her. She was mine. Every inch of her beautiful skin. Her gorgeous breasts. The heat between her legs. It was all mine .
“Oh, God, Luke. Don’t stop .”
“I won’t,” I promised, pushing her knees wide so I could hit against her inner walls .
She screamed out, as her orgasm wracked her body with shakes and vibrations so intense I felt it wrap around my cock .
“Fuck,” I roared, slamming into her as my release coiled from my spine and fired through my body. She pulled me under, spiraling us into an orbit of pure sin I’d never felt so fucking intensely before .
I kissed between her breasts and then collapsed on top of her in a heap of useless muscle .
I felt her fingers trace the lines on my back. But soon I was asleep, never having felt so fucking satisfied in all my life .
* * *
I rolled over. The covers were flat. “Alexa?” I rubbed the sleep from my eyes. It was still early. There was barely any sunlight outside .
I checked the bathroom. Her piles of clothes were gone. The boots were missing .
“Alexa?” I walked down the hall, then looked up at the clock in the kitchen. “Fuck .”
It was six-thirty. She had left half an hour ago and I had slept through it .
I walked back to my room and fell onto the bed. The pillow smelled like her. The sheet, the comforter. My whole damn room smelled like Alexa Wilde had been here .
I rolled on my back, trying to make myself go back to sleep, but I knew it wasn’t going to happen. Last night was imprinted on my bed. It was in my pores .
My phone was on the nightstand. I picked it up to send her a text .
G ood morning
I waited for her to text back. I stared at the screen, cursing myself for giving a shit. It wasn’t as if last night was different than any other one-night stand. I’d had plenty of beautiful women. But the longer I stared at my phone, the reality started to sink in that last night didn’t feel like those other times. Alexa was different. Taking her to bed was different. We shared something. And I never shared .
D idn’t want to wake you up
I grinned when I saw my phone light up. I sure as hell didn’t want to admit I felt a sense of relief in my chest .
W hen do you leave Austin?
W hat the fuck was I doing? Was I asking her out? I didn’t know. I had a meeting this morning. I had practice this afternoon. With my luck, my new Warriors’ PR parole officer would assign some kind of high-profile community service for me, parading me around town promoting the team’s good name .
T his afternoon
A nd then I realized I didn’t give a shit what Charlie or Coach had planned for me today. I was Luke Canton. I did what the fuck I wanted .
D rinks before you go?
I sat on the edge of the bed. I put it out there. She could say no and that would be the end of it. I’d erase her number from my phone and never speak to her again. Or she could say yes, and I’d do something I’d never done before .
Y es, I’ll call you when I get my first break. I’m at the hospital all morning .
T he answer hit me in the chest. I wasn’t sure it was the right answer, but it was the one I wanted her to give me. After last night all I wanted to hear from those perfect lips was yes. I’d had one taste of her and I knew that wasn’t going to be enough .
Ten
Alexa
I f I thought I could sneak into my hotel suite with a pair of shredded underwear in my purse and no explanation for where I had been the last five hours, I was wrong .
I looked at my boots, remembering how seductively Luke had removed them. No matter what was on the other side of this door, I’d never forget last night .
Jake was waiting inside the suite with a look that could kill .
“Where the hell have you been, Lex?” Even this early in the morning I could smell his expensive cologne. He looked clean-shaven and there was a touch of hair gel on the side of his short cut. Without a doubt, he was always the best-dressed man in the room .
“None of your business,” I snapped. That probably wasn’t the way to get on his good side .
I didn’t want him to ruin the feel-good adrenaline still coursing through my veins. My night with Luke was the greatest high I’d felt in at least a year. I wasn’t sure my body was back on this planet yet. Luke had taken me somewhere last night I hadn’t known existed. There was no way in hell I was going to let Jake spoil it .
He shoved his phone inside his jacket and stood to face me. “Babe, you scared me. You didn’t answer your phone. You didn’t tell your security. I’ve been here the whole time waiting for you to get back. This could have been something serious. I was this close to getting the authorities involved.” He pinched his fingers together .
I recognized there was a real look of worry on his face, but I also knew that it would quickly turn .
“I’m sorry,” I apologized. “I was out with a friend. I needed some time to think .”
“Think?”
I nodded. “Yes.” I crossed the room, going straight to the fridge for a glass of orange juice. “I’ve tried to talk to you lately, but you don’t want to seem to listen. I needed a little space .”
“I’m listening now. What made you stay out all night ?”
I stood behind the counter. “I’m tired, Jake. This schedule you have me on is insane. And the fans want every bit of my energy. It’s taking a toll on me. I can’t keep going like this. Don’t you see it ?”
He nodded as if he were considering my statements. “You and I both know this could be gone in a flash. You have to ride it while you’ve got it, Lex. It can be pulled away with one misstep. One scandal .”
I rolled my eyes. “Seriously. That is dramatic .”
“You side-stepped one last night.” He eyed me. “Thank God there are no pictures of you and Luke Canton together. I don’t know what he was doing at a charity event. That’s definitely not his scene. Maybe if it was a charity for hookers.” Jake laughed at his own joke. “Point is honey, a picture with him, the wrong headline and your good girl image is ruined .”
“And so what if it is? Why can’t I be sexy? Why can’t I wear what I want? Sing what I want?” I don’t know where I found the energy to argue with Jake. Every muscle in my body was sore and I wasn’t sure my clit wasn’t still
vibrating. “Hang out with bad boys if I want?” I was definitely pushing it now .
Luke was everything I thought he would be and more. Last night was still seeping through my body, lingering on my clothes, painted on my swollen lips .
“You, sexy? Come on. That was never the plan. You are the sweetheart. The good girl. The role model every parent wants for their child .”
“I wasn’t when you met me.” I eyed him. “I never asked to be a role model .”
He raised his hand. “Shut up, Lex .”
“Yesterday you threw it in my face, but now we can’t talk about it ?”
He closed his eyes. “I shouldn’t have said anything .”
I took my glass of juice with me and walked into the bathroom. “I’m going to shower. I’ll be ready to go to the hospital soon .”
“We’re not done with this conversation,” he warned .
“We are.” I closed the door in his face and turned for the shower .
At some point Jake would corner me again. There would be a time when we’d have to come to an understanding about the future of Lexi Wilde .
But that time wasn’t today. I had drinks planned with Luke later, and that was about all I could think about right now. I needed one more look in those green eyes before I left Texas. It was stupid and irresponsible. It was exactly the kind of thing Jake said was forbidden for my brand. But after last night, I didn’t care about my brand. Maybe Lexi Wilde needed a new brand .
* * *
I closed the door to room 214 behind me. I had played the little girl’s favorite song, “Hearts and Tears.” Some of the children were here for short-term treatment, but others, like the one I had just visited would be spending months under this roof .
I clung to my guitar and moved to the next room. I knocked lightly and pushed the door open .
“Hey, there .”
“Oh my, gosh,” the little girl squealed. “Is this for real? Are you really here ?”
I walked over to her bed, careful not to touch any of the wires or tubes running into her arm .
“I’m Lexi. What’s your name?” I leaned in for a hug .
“Grace.” She was maybe eight .
“Well, Grace. I wanted to play a song for you. How does that sound ?”
The giggling started and I didn’t know if she could stop long enough for me to get a song request from her .
“Can you play ‘Hearts and Tears’?” she asked .
“Of course.” I smiled. It was the fourth time I had played it this morning, but it didn’t matter. I wasn’t the one sitting in a hospital bed. I was healthy and strong, living my dream .
By the time I played a few songs for Grace, Jake was tapping on the glass window, motioning for me to wrap it up. I gave her a hug and waved good-bye .
“What is it?” I asked. “I was in the middle of talking to that little girl.” I was annoyed that even when I was doing what he wanted, it wasn’t enough. Jake pushed. He pushed too much .
He turned toward the nurses’ station and I saw what he was worried about .
My heart stopped. My breath caught in my throat. For a second, I didn’t think I could talk. I clutched my strings, making an awkward squeaking sound with my guitar .
“Shit,” I muttered .
The six five sex-on-a-stick that had licked me until I came last night was walking my way .
“Hey.” He grinned. That killer grin that had me purring under his tongue last night. I wasn’t sure it wasn’t happening again. I could already feel the tight coil in my belly .
“Hey.” I smiled .
“Mr. Canton, good to see you again,” Jake greeted him nervously, but he had already fallen into the background. All I could see were the flecks of green in Luke’s eyes. I remembered the way his flesh felt rubbing against mine. His mouth sucking every curve of my body .
“You too.” Luke nodded, but didn’t look in my manager’s direction .
“If you don’t mind, I thought maybe I could join you while you visit the kids.” He looked at me expectantly .
My eyes widened. “What? You want to do visits with me ?”
He shrugged. “Why not? I’m sure there might be a Warrior fan or two in here .”
“Oh no.” Jake shook his head. “We have a tight schedule. We have a hospital photographer. I think we’ll have to coordinate something another time with the Warriors. This is not a joint event .”
I ignored his warnings and his stupid excuses. “I think the kids would love it.” I smiled at Luke. “I know for a fact there are Warrior fans here .”
He glared down at Jake. “You heard her. The kids will love it.” He towered over him, and Jake took a step back to get out of our way as we moved to the next room .
“I think you scared the shit out of him,” I whispered before we walked inside .
“Good.” He winked. “He’s an asshole .”
“True, but seriously what are you doing here? I thought we were meeting after I finished here .”
He ran his thumb across my lower lip and I couldn’t breathe. He held me with his stare. With his gaze. My hand was glued to the door, but I couldn’t move. I wanted to suck his thumb into my mouth. To hell with the fact we were in a public hallway .
“I couldn’t wait that long,” he responded with a sexy smirk .
I didn’t know what was right or what was wrong about him, but I knew then that somehow Luke Canton was going to turn my life upside down, and it scared the absolute shit out of me .
I nodded. “Ready to sing ?”
“Oh I don’t sing. I sign things. Hats, shirts.” He patted a bag over his shoulder. “I brought some kid-sized footballs. They love these things .”
I laughed. “Well, let this be your introduction into the entertainment business. These kids are going to hear Luke Canton sing .”
“Alexa.” His voice was firm .
I liked how it sounded over my ears. It reminded me of last night. Of the things he said to me. How commanding he was. How sexy and hot he was in his room. How I did what he asked in his bed. I didn’t say no once .
I smiled widely, pushing the door open. I didn’t give him a chance to back out. It was fun to make the big strapping quarterback squirm .
“Hey, there. I’m Lexi and this is my friend Luke. We came to say hi and sing a little for you. What’s your name ?”
Luke stood next to me. I could feel him beside me. The heat emitting from his body .
“Daniel.”
“You like football, Daniel?” Luke reached into the bag and pulled out a foam ball about six inches long. The Warriors logo was painted on all sides .
The boy shook his head. “I do. And I love Lexi too .”
I smiled. “Thank you.” I bent over his bed to hug him. “You’re so sweet .”
Luke signed the ball and tossed it so the boy could catch it. “Nice grip you’ve got .”
I’d never seen a child smile like that. Clearly, I was taking a backseat to Luke .
“Really? Do you think I should play? My mom won’t let me, but maybe if you talked to her…” Daniel’s eyes were wide .
“She won’t let you play? That’s bull — ”
I quickly elbowed him in the side and glared at him .
“I mean. That’s a shame.” He tried to cover up his mistake. He was an expert on a lot of things, but kids weren’t one of them .
“But could you talk to her? She’ll be back any minute .”
Luke nodded. “Sure, but I’m not making any promises. Mom’s make the rules sometimes .”
I smiled. “How about we play a song until she gets here? Any requests ?”
Daniel looked at the ceiling, sorting through his choices. “Can you play ‘Heaven Sent ’?”
“Of course I can. Let’s see if Luke knows the words.” I eyed my new duet partner as I settled on the edge of the bed and propped my guitar on my knee. “Ready ?”
“Ready.”
After three songs we said goodbye to Daniel and
his mom Stacey. She followed us to the door .
“Thank you.” She squeezed my hand .
“You’re welcome. I hope it cheered him up .”
She leaned closer to us. “He’s on the transplant list. We’re praying for a miracle .”
I closed my eyes. I had no idea Daniel’s condition was so desperate. “I’ll pray for you too .”
Her gaze drifted to Luke. He shifted on his heels. I could tell he was uncomfortable. He shoved his hands in his front pockets. “Ditto,” he mumbled .
“Thank you, both. Thank you so much .”
“Is there something else I can do? Anything else?” I didn’t want to walk out of this room with a little boy fighting for his life and powerless to help .
Stacey gave me a grim smile. “This will be something he’ll never forget. Never .”
I pulled her into a hug. Music could heal people. It brought them together, and today it had brought Daniel and Stacy into my life, but there wasn’t enough music in the world to promise him he’d get his transplant in time .
“Take care,” I whispered in her ear .
I turned reluctantly, knowing there was another child in another room waiting to hear me sing .
I felt Luke’s hand on my shoulder. “You okay ?”
“I wish there was something else we could do. It doesn’t seem like enough .”
“For the kid ?”
We stopped in between rooms. A nurse walked past us. She kept stealing glances at Luke. I studied the funky artwork on the wall. Even with sadness around us, there was hope and light in the halls .
“Yes. I want to do something .”
“You made him smile. That’s something. What the mom said is right. He won’t forget today .”
“I think you had something to do with that too.” I grinned .
Luke looked away. “We have some more to see ?”
I nodded. “The entire hallway. But you don’t have to. It’s okay if you need to leave. I understand .”
He shook his head. “No way. I’m just starting to learn these songs. And at least now I know if I get injured I have an alternate career .”
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