by D'Ann Lindun
Stoney joined her on the bed, moving beside her. He brushed an errant strand of hair stuck to her lips before moving his mouth over hers. His kiss was demanding, determined. She’d never been claimed so completely in her life. Her hands wrapped in his hair, holding him close.
When he covered her right breast with his hand, and pinched a nipple, she arched her back. He pulled his mouth from hers, trailing kisses across her collarbone, down to her breasts. First one, then the other, he worshipped her nipples with his tongue and teeth until she writhed.
He released her and studied her face like he wanted to memorize it. Maybe he did. Flustered, she reached for her rosary. Although not particularly religious, she had always loved the piece. It had belonged to her grandmother and she wore it as a memorial to the one person who had never let her down and had always been there for her.
Stoney covered her hand with his, then released it to run his fingers along the beads. He lifted them and draped them over her breasts, the cross laying in the middle of her chest. “This is so sexy.” His fingertips trailed lower to her diamond bellybutton stud and circled it. “Not as hot as this, though.”
Maura couldn’t speak. Words stuck in her throat as he explored the area below her bellybutton, flitting across her bare mound with his fingers. The sensation of his calloused fingertips across the sensitive skin made her quiver. She opened her legs in an ancient invitation of all women everywhere.
In response, he slipped a finger inside her his thumb flicking over her clit.
Her fingers curled into the silk comforter and she turned her face into Stoney’s chest. He smelled like some woodsy cologne and desire. Funny, she’d never thought that possible of a man, but it was as strong as his cologne.
As his finger pressed deep inside her, all thought vanished. Her entire body seemed centered on his ministrations. The walls around his finger began to tighten.
He touched her earlobe with his tongue and whispered, “Come for me, baby.”
Like a magic command, a dam let loose. Her legs shook, her belly tightened. The walls around his finger squeezed tight. She came crashing over the edge with a strangled cry. “Stoney!”
Before she had stopped convulsing, he rolled over on top of her, the tip of his erection pressing her soaked opening. She wasn’t completely prepared when he entered her with a single thrust. She dug her fingernails into his ass as another wave rolled over her. She tossed her head from side-to-side as incoherent words poured from her mouth.
As her orgasm began to fade, he moved his hips. With each thrust, he lifted her off the bed. She wrapped her arms around his waist and held on as he rode her hard. His splayed fingers caught in her hair, holding her head still. She nipped his chest to keep from screaming loud enough to raise the roof.
With another hard push, Stoney found his own release. He let out a guttural sound as he pulsed inside her. The sensation caused her to peak again. Somehow, her third orgasm was the most intense one yet.
He collapsed on top of her, his breathing was ragged.
Maura gasped, too, until her heartbeat and pulse gradually slowed. She realized his fingers were still twisted in her hair. “You’ve got me held down.”
“Sorry.” He lifted on his elbows and gently unfurled his fingers from her tangled mane. After he was free, he rolled over onto his back and pulled her half onto him. Her cheek rested against his chest. He kissed the top of her head. “I got you.”
Low light came from the starlight filtering through the enormous bay windows facing the mountains in the distance. Lazily, she traced a tribal symbol stamped on his bicep. He had several—the mark on his arm, an enormous tiger across his back and a heart with Lucy written inside over his heart.
A soft snore came from him and Maura smiled. She wasn’t tired, and her mind raced. Stoney had just provided her with the most intense lovemaking she’d ever experienced. No one had ever played her body like he had. Maybe it was a guitar player thing, to know exactly where to place their fingers to make an instrument sing.
A shiver raced across her skin as a thought crossed her mind.
He’d had a lot of women. She was one in a long line of many. What they had done didn’t matter to him. It was just sex. A fuck. Just like any groupie, she’d laid with the man with almost no provocation.
She couldn’t claim ignorance of his motives. He’d been clear from the beginning that he wanted nothing more than sex.
The thought depressed her.
She squirmed free of Stoney’s embrace, found her scattered clothes and dressed. Silently, she slipped out of the hotel room and dialed the bed and breakfast’s hostess. “Would you send someone to come get me?”
~*~
Cowboy sat near his pool, drinking beer and strumming a guitar. The scent of grilling barbequed chicken floated on the air and several couples played a lively game of volleyball in the pool. A textbook Labor Day cookout. If Maura were here, it would be picture perfect. Stoney snagged a beer and settled on one of the lounge chairs.
“You look content as a sleepy cat,” Cowboy remarked with a sly grin. He set the guitar aside.
Stoney gulped the icy brew. In the old days, he and Cowboy had been brutal dissecting the women they screwed. He didn’t want to do that with Maura. What they shared was special. Or at least he thought it had been. She’d up and disappeared on him while he slept last night.
“I’m good,” he said finally.
“You look like you haven’t slept lately.” Cowboy never held back; he always said exactly what he thought. “Did you nail that chick you’re digging?”
Stoney tried changing the subject. “Where’s Montana and the baby?”
“Inside.” Cowboy tipped his beer toward Stoney. “Spill, man.”
Defeated, Stoney nodded. “Yeah, we hooked up, but she took off without saying goodbye.”
“Sounds perfect.” Cowboy winked at him. “For a single guy with no intention of settling down, that is.” When Stoney didn’t reply, Cowboy eyes widened. “Oh, shit. Dude. You went and got bit by the lovebug, too?”
He couldn’t deny it. Maura had grabbed his rusty old heart and held it in a way no other woman ever had. “She’s something else,” he said. “It wouldn’t work…our careers…”
Cowboy waved his beer in a circle. “Have you been sleeping for the last few days, man? Look around. Half of our friends have found the girl of their dreams and settled down. If you told me I’d ever find the right woman after Teal, I would’ve laughed in your face. But look at me now, just an old married man with a kid. And I love it. Take a glance at DJ and Shane and the rest. All happy as shit.”
A small kernel of hope grew in Stoney’s heart. But an image of his ex flashed through his head. “It didn’t work out so well with Nicole.”
“Because she’s a conniving bitch, just like Teal.” Bitterness tinged Cowboy’s tone. His ex-wife had destroyed his relationship with his best friend and he still resented them both. “A groupie with nothing but climbing dick on her mind.” His tone lightened. “Although it seems to have worked out for DJ and Shane. Regan and Mia are great girls.”
“Yeah, they’re awesome,” Stoney agreed. So was Maura. She had a career of her own. There was nothing he could do for her. In fact, she was a bigger star than him. If she agreed to finish and record their song together, she was doing him a favor, not the other way around.
“So, go get your lady,” Cowboy urged. “Before someone else sees how special she is and snaps her up.”
An image of Adam the goat roper flitted through his head and Stoney’s jaw clenched. That guy was a fool. His wife was pretty enough, and they obviously loved each other, but she couldn’t hold a candle to Maura in Stoney’s eyes.
He emptied his beer. “I need to talk to you about something else.”
“Sounds serious.”
“A little bit.” Stoney shoved a handful of his hair out of his face. “I’m going to leave the band.” Hurt flashed in Cowboy’s eyes and Stoney hurried to get the words ou
t before he lost his nerve. “I’ll never be able to thank you enough for what you’ve done for me. You know that. But I’d like to be the front man for a while. See how it feels to play my songs for the crowd.”
Shaking his head Cowboy said, “Damn. You. Peyton. Keifer. All my band is jumping ship.” He held out his hand and they shook. “I understand, though. Anytime you want a place in the Silver Star Band, you just say so. Your spot will always be there if you want it.”
Stoney’s eyes grew a little damp and he swallowed hard. “Thanks, buddy. You need to hire some young talent, give some newbie a chance like you did me and Peyton.”
“You know it.” Cowboy cleared his throat. “I’ll produce an album for you if you want. And you’re welcome to use my studio in L.A. any time.”
“Thanks, man. I’ll take you up on both.”
“Great. Let me know when you’re ready and I’ll be there,” Cowboy promised.
When Stoney could speak normally again he said, “I’m going to see what I’ve got written. Maybe write a few more before recording.”
“You have a band in mind?” Cowboy stood and moved to the cooler. He grabbed two beers and handed one to Stoney.
“A couple,” Stoney said. “Nothing solid yet.”
“Like you said, there’s a million guys out there looking for a front guy. There are a few here this weekend that aren’t playing anymore. Bet half of them would be happy to lay down a few licks if you asked them.”
“I will,” Stoney said. “The first thing I’m going to do is call an attorney and see if I get something done about seeing Lucy. I’m sick and tired of Nicole’s shit.”
“It’s pure bullshit,” Cowboy said. “I’d be sick if Montana wouldn’t let me see my kid.”
“She wouldn’t do that,” Stoney told him. “Montana’s not like Nicole. She has a good heart. Besides, you two will never break up.”
“I know.” Cowboy leaned back and sighed in contentment. “I’m a happy man. Montana’s already talking about more kids and I’m happy to comply.”
“Congrats, man. Although I never thought a bunch of kids would thrill you.” Stoney chuckled. “You used to be the original party animal, surrounded by groupies and porn stars. Look at you now, satisfied as can be by grilling chicken and laying on a deck chair talking about babies.”
Instead of taking offense, the rock star stretched his hands over his head. “It’s the life, man. I love it. I’m not the only one, either. Lucien Blackhawk told me he fell in love with a tiny town in Iowa. He mentioned he might even move there someday.” Cowboy grinned. “Something about a certain chick. A librarian, no less.”
Stoney laughed. “A librarian?”
“Yeah, she’s here with him. Nice girl. Name’s Jessica.” Cowboy stood and went to the enormous stone grill where he flipped the barbequing chicken. When he returned, he again took his seat and picked up the conversation. “I guess Lucien’s ex gave them some shit, but they got past it and he’s with the girl of his dreams.”
Stoney didn’t reply. His mind was on Maura. He knew she didn’t want to settle down and live here. The area was beautiful and the people he’d met were nice, but like her, he craved a faster pace. He couldn’t see them with a little family, living in Black Mountain, Colorado.
He shook his head. He was getting way ahead of himself. They’d said nothing about a second date, much less future plans. He needed to talk to her. Find out why she’d bolted last night.
He stood and tossed his bottles in a recycle bin. “I’m going to see Maura. I’ll see you later.”
Cowboy grinned. “I won’t wait up.”
CHAPTER NINE
Maura placed a last pair of jeans in her suitcase and slammed the lid. She sat on it and struggled with the zipper, finally managing to force it together. Maybe if she hadn’t overpacked, it wouldn’t be such an issue.
Taking one last look around the bed and breakfast’s master suite, she dragged her overstuffed luggage to the doorjamb and leaned against it, panting. “Dang it, girl. You need to stop packing so much stuff.”
The inn’s owner, a pretty redhead named Mesa, stuck in her head. “Need help?”
Maura jumped, then laughed. “You startled me. I think I have it all. If someone could help me get this downstairs…?”
“Of course. I’ll have Bill get it. We’re sorry to see you go. Is everything okay?”
Maura sighed. “Fine. Thanks. I always forget how much I hate this town and how ready I am to leave.”
“It can be challenging at times,” Mesa agreed.
“That’s an understatement.” Maura laughed bitterly. “I thought things might be different this time…but I’m such a fool.”
“Want to come downstairs and have a snack while we wait for your driver?” Mesa invited.
“Why not?” Maura followed Mesa downstairs to her bright, cheery kitchen. The scent of warm oatmeal and raisins hung in the air.
Mesa poured two glasses of cold milk. “We can sit on the patio if you like. It’s warm in here because I was baking. Would you like a cookie?”
“Yes, please. To all of the above.” Maura took two of the cookies with a smile. “These look wonderful.”
“An oatmeal cookie can cure most things.” Mesa returned the smile as she led the way out the back door to her patio.
Maura followed, wishing a treat could make everything better. When she bit into the warm cookie, she almost forgot how she’d fallen for a rock star. Just as she’d feared, he got under her skin and into her heart.
Last night had been incredible; seeing nothing but indifference in his eyes was too painful to imagine. She had to get to Nashville, throw herself into work and forget him. Spending years mooning over a man who didn’t want her was never going to happen again.
The women sat in silence while they enjoyed their snack. A robin sang from the branches of a nearby pine tree. A couple more played in a birdbath. The scent of cut grass and roses filled the afternoon air.
“It’s nice out here,” Maura commented.
Mesa looked around her serene backyard. “I love my home.” Sadness crossed her face. “But, it hasn’t been easy to make a life here. People can be very judgmental in a small town.”
“You’re telling me,” Maura murmured. “School was hell on earth. It hasn’t been all that much better since I grew up either.”
“I moved here in the ninth grade,” Mesa said. “But I’ve certainly felt the cold chill of Black Mountain’s citizens at times.”
“You?” Maura tried to hide her disbelief. “Why would anyone dislike you?”
“Not me so much as my father. He robbed an armored car and a lot of the anger at him is directed my way.” Mesa shrugged “I have a few friends, but sometimes it gets a little old carrying the sins of my father on my shoulders.”
“My sins are of my own making,” Maura told her. “But I can’t seem to be forgiven for them.”
“Forgive yourself,” Mesa said. “That’s what matters most.”
Maura considered her words. No one had suggested that angle before. It had always been seek forgiveness from Adam and Eden, which she’d always been unwilling to do. They were separated when she’d been with him, and Eden had made life hell before and since. But Maura had always carried guilt about the whole mess.
“Maybe,” she said. “Why do you stay here if you’re not liked?”
Mesa waved a hand around in a circle. “Where else would I find this? My mother is buried in the cemetery and my father farmed the apple orchards before he was arrested. It’s not always easy, but I don’t want to be anywhere else.”
“My grandma moved away when I—” Maura broke off unwilling to talk about her career.
“Became famous?” Mesa asked gently. “I know who you are, Maura. You’re one of Black Mountain’s celebrities.”
Maura gave a stiff nod, but ignored the celebrity bit. “I bought a house in Tennessee and my grandma lives with me. She likes it there and I love having her with me.”
“I have a feeling it’s not an overwhelming urge to see her that has you running home, though,” Mesa said.
Her tone was nonjudgmental. Maybe Maura was wrong, and her story would end up in the tabloids, but the other woman seemed trustworthy. She took a deep breath. “No, it’s a man I want to get away from.”
Mesa’s green eyes widened. “Did he hurt you?”
“Not physically, no. But he’s going to break my heart if I stick around,” Maura said on a half sob.
Mesa reached across the table and patted her hand. “Are you sure? Have you talked it out?”
“No. And I’m not going to.” How could she tell Stoney she’d fallen in love with him? He’d been crystal clear that what they’d had in Telluride was just a hookup. She’d made a fool out of herself over Adam Pelletier—she had no desire to repeat her actions.
The other woman didn’t respond to that. She nodded in understanding. “So, will you come back here?”
“Unlikely,” Maura said. “The only person I’ll miss is Starla Jamieson.”
“The bar owner? Nice lady, although I don’t know her well.” Mesa wiped crumbs from her hands. “So, the guy you’re running away from is a local?”
“No, he’s a musician from L.A., but came here for a friend’s wedding.”
“I heard there was a music star getting married this weekend.” Mesa shrugged. “But my invitation must’ve got lost in the mail.”
“I didn’t go,” Maura told her. “Didn’t want to.” Her mind flashed back to Stoney showing up at The Waterfall and their night together writing their song. It wasn’t finished; they hadn’t ever completed it.
“I bet it was fun,” Mesa said longingly.
“If I ever get married, I’ll invite you,” Maura said. “But don’t hold your breath. The odds of me getting hitched anytime soon are slim to none.”
Mesa laughed. “I’ll hold you to it when it happens.”
“Okay.” Maura laughed with her. She’d made a new friend. In Black Mountain, of all places. A lot of unexpected things had happened here this weekend. Her mirth vanished. She was as likely to see her newfound friend again as she would Stoney.