“But that’s how it felt, and I hated it. I thought you were missing your graduation because you chose to put me and my needs ahead of your own. Can you honestly tell me that I didn’t have anything to do with your decision?”
Anna chewed her lip, a sure sign she was nervous. “No.” I felt sick at her admission, and it must have shown because she was quick to elaborate. “It’s not what you’re thinking,” she rushed to add. “When I weighed my options, there were two reasons I decided not to go. First, it meant more for me to stay here than to go home because I wanted to be here, not because I felt like I had to be here.”
“Okay.” I was willing to accept that, though I was still worried about her not putting herself first. “And the other reason?”
Silence stretched out as she hesitated, her shoulders slumping the moment she gave in. “I wasn’t ready to go home.” She sounded so small and vulnerable, bringing every protective instinct to the surface.
“Why not?” Was something bad waiting for her when she returned home? Had Karl been in touch, or did she still owe someone money? There was no way I was letting her go home without knowing she would be safe.
“I was afraid that once I went home, there wouldn’t be a reason for me to come back. We still have two weeks, and I wasn’t ready to say goodbye.”
“Fucking hell, baby.” Wrapping my arms around her, I pressed a kiss to the crown of her head and silently cursed all of the people in her life that made her doubt her worth, including every person who had ever made her feel expendable, replaceable, or forgettable. “You never need a reason to be with me if it’s where you want to be.”
“It is.” She sniffled into my chest as I brushed the hair from her face to kiss her tears away. “I just got scared that leaving would mess things up. We agreed to a casual fling, but the lines got so blurred. I don’t know what the rules are anymore.”
The lines hadn’t just gotten blurred, they’d been completely obliterated. And that was fine by me. Even if we couldn’t make promises about the future, I didn’t want anything holding us back. “I know you have a life in Chicago,” I said, swallowing past the lump in my throat that came whenever I thought of her going home. “But I’m all in for as long as you want me.”
“All in?” she asked. “What does that mean?”
“Everything I have to offer. I’m yours. You’re mine. A real relationship.” I laughed, slipping from under the covers to rummage through my suitcase. “The last time I did this was back in high school, so I feel like I should be giving you my class ring. We’ll have to settle for this.” Kneeling beside the bed, I held the black leather bracelet up for her to see. It had onyx and silver beads with the letter J on the center bead. Best of all, it had a bolo clasp, making it adjustable. I placed it on her wrist and tightened the cords. “There. Now you’re officially my girlfriend.”
Anna held her wrist up to inspect the bracelet, then tugged me in for a kiss. “I like the sound of that.”
“Me too.”
“Does this mean I can steal your shirts and wear them now?”
“Yes, except when I want you naked.” The realization that she was already naked, had my dick waking back up. Without any real thought, I leaned down to suck one of her nipples into my mouth. “Anything else?” I asked, switching sides.
“Hmmm.” It started as a thoughtful hum but morphed into a sexy moan. “Do I get to steal half of your dessert when we go out?”
“No,” I said, her nipple popping from my mouth. “But you can order two.”
“Very generous of you. Speaking of generous, will you still do that thing that I like with your tongue?”
I shimmied under the covers and spread her legs wide, licking her from bottom to top, stopping on her clit to flick it repeatedly with the tip of my tongue. Her hips bucked as her moans grew louder. “That thing?” I asked.
“Mmmm hmmmm.”
“I will still do all of the things you like.”
“Even that wickedly dirty thing with your thumb?” She was panting now, and I could see the fire burning in her eyes.
“Whenever you want,” I growled and crawled up to claim her mouth in a demanding kiss. Now that she was officially mine, it felt primal to want to mark her for the world to see. I wanted anyone who looked at her to know she belonged to me. The bracelet was just one way to stake my claim.
Kissing my way down her throat, I sucked just hard enough to leave a reminder that I had been there. At the curve of her shoulder, I bit down gently leaving small indentations from my teeth. My hands explored her breasts, pinching each nipple until the rosy peaks darkened from my touch. One hand slid down, finding her wet pussy still slightly swollen from my earlier presence. I slid one finger in, then two, and could feel the flesh swelling further around them. More evidence that I had been there. Her body writhed and grew more ready with each mark I made.
“I need you,” I rasped, my voice choked with desire.
“You have me,” she breathed. Her hips shifted, taking my fingers deeper, so I added a third. I stretched her slowly before moving my fingers. In and out. Up and down. Side to side. Faster and faster. My thumb circled the engorged spot I knew was desperate for my touch. She lifted her hips to chase after it, but that just made me tease her more.
“Jax,” she begged. “Touch me.”
As it always did, her voicing her wishes wound me tighter. Kissing my way back down her body, I repeated the path my tongue had taken a few minutes earlier. “Here?” I asked before placing an openmouthed kiss over her most sensitive spot.
“Yes!” she cried as I focused all of my attention there.
She had been right on the edge and came almost immediately. Moaning my name with her release, I spared her no recovery time. With lightning speed, I tore open a fresh condom and rolled it into place. Gripping her hips, I pinned her to the bed to drive into her. The walls of her pussy were still pulsating, and it was nearly enough to unravel the thin thread of control I was clinging to. But I was determined to push past it. Using long, hard thrusts, every inch of me stroked every inch within her. At just the right angle, I discovered the place that made her moan. I hit it repeatedly, picking up speed until her head thrashed on the pillow. Her nails dug into my back, and the sensation of her marking me in return was a welcome one.
Flipping her over, I hiked her hips up and slid back into her warmth. Holding her hips, I ground my pelvis against her lush ass before driving in with punishing strokes. Needing to leave more evidence behind, I smacked her ass, once on each cheek. She yelped in pleasure, her pussy squeezing my cock so tight the blood flow was nearly cut off. The matching handprints that remained on her creamy flesh only spurred me on. I pounded in and out of her until I felt the tingling in my spine that alerted me of my impending release. Reaching for her hand, I brought it to her clit.
“Again,” I demanded, and she promptly touched herself. I used my thumb to spread some slickness from her core to the tightly puckered hole that teased me. Pulling her cheeks wide, I slid one thumb to the very center, making sure it was well lubricated. “One day, I’m going to take you here,” I said as I eased my thumb past the tight ring of muscle. Her gasp and groan that followed were my undoing. My hips moved instinctively while my thumb plunged over and over.
“Now,” I roared, as my balls tightened and my spine curled.
I held on, gritting my teeth until I heard her scream my name. The sound ignited my release and sent it blasting from my body. Bursts of sensation traveled through me until my toes curled and every last drop had been milked from my body. Despite wanting to stay in the comfort of her body, I carefully slid out, tied off the condom, and tossed it to the floor before rolling us to our sides. Pulling my arms tighter, she secured them around her until she went slack and her breath evened out in sleep.
Chapter 20
Anna
Hanging up the phone, I made my way back into the bedroom. Breakfast would arrive in thirty minutes, so I had plenty of time for a shower, assuming
Jaxon remained asleep. It was rare that I was awake before him, but after such an intense night, his body had finally demanded rest.
Once we had resolved our misunderstandings and his consuming need to possess my body had been satisfied, a calm had washed over him. As long as we were pressed together, he was content. Yet he held me with a protectiveness I hadn’t sensed before. It was as though he was afraid I was going to disappear if he let go. Needing to close the slightest space between us, he reached out for me deep in the night, lifted my leg over his hips, and mumbled, “Mine,” before drifting back to sleep.
Watching the slow rise and fall of his bare chest, I was tempted to crawl back in bed with him. But I had woken up buzzing with energy. Careful not to wake him, I gathered clean clothes, automatically admiring the vase of delicate flowers on the dresser.
The significance of the beautiful pink and white lupines and the fact that he had chosen them for me continued to melt my heart. I gently traced a delicate petal before rereading the hand-written message that was already committed to memory.
You are not alone anymore.
xoxo,
Jaxon
Under the warm spray of water, I played the words over and over in my head to let them sink in. I was not alone anymore. People cared about me, which was made very clear at the impromptu celebration yesterday. I still couldn’t believe all of the trouble they had gone through just for me, but Jaxon said that it was what family did.
I belonged to a family now and would never take that for granted.
Another word echoed in my head. Forever. With my defenses lowered, the word had penetrated the most dormant recesses of my heart, making me long for things I had all but given up on. Despite my years of ignoring the ache to feel secure and loved, he had revived it with his care and attention. Forever. I tried not to get my hopes up, telling myself that he had just been caught up in the moment. Because the possibility of forever with him felt like too much to wish for.
Then he made our relationship official.
Having taken off his bracelet to shower, I gently touched my bare wrist, remembering the feel of it there. I’m all in for as long as you want me. Was it possible that his feelings for me were as deep as those I had for him? Was I willing to risk my heart, only to have it crushed when we reached Chicago? No. The hurt would be unbearable. Even as he proclaimed that he was all in, he’d reminded me of my return home. He never even hinted at extending our time together. Experience taught me that I was better off enjoying the time we had and not getting caught up in fantasies.
The shower door opened, interrupting my thoughts, which was probably for the best. Jaxon’s body pressed into the back of mine as his hands snaked across my belly, urging me to focus on the present.
“Good morning, beautiful,” he said, low and thick from sleep. He kissed my shoulder before holding me out to inspect my back. Then he turned me to inspect the front.
“Looking for something in particular?” I teased. “Perhaps a tattoo across my ass that says ‘I Belong to Jaxon Hartley’?”
“Don’t tempt me,” he groaned, then turned serious. “I’m just making sure I wasn’t too rough with you.”
“I’m good,” I assured him. “The only remaining proof of your conquest is the small hickey on my neck.”
“You’re sure I didn’t hurt you or leave any other marks?” Desiring me with such powerful intensity by night, followed by his sincere concern for my well-being by day was a potent combination.
“I’m positive. Although I do get a delicious ache between my legs when I walk. Or sit. Or just breathe.” With each word, he pulled me closer and then kissed me until that ache throbbed.
His hands squeezed my hips and skimmed their way up my back until he gripped my shoulders, but he didn’t take in farther. Instead, he lathered a washcloth and gently cleaned me from head to toe, kissing every part of me along the way.
Wrapped in a towel, I watched him dry off and step into fresh boxer briefs. Every inch of him was perfection, and he was all mine. At least for now.
He caught my hungry stare in the mirror, giving me a smoldering look in return.
“I think we have a problem,” I said, stepping closer to rub my hands up his arms. Planting a kiss in the ridge of his spine, I wrapped my arms around him.
“What’s that?” he asked, turning to face me.
“The make-up sex was too good.” My hands slid into the back of his boxer briefs. “I had no idea what I’d been missing.”
“Me neither.” The devilish smirk on his face told me that he would happily indulge me, but a knock on the outer door had me removing my hands.
“I ordered breakfast for us. Is that okay?”
“Of course, baby,” he said, brushing his thumb across my cheek.
“Damn,” I sighed dramatically. “What if I steal your cherry danish? Would you be very upset with me then?” I twirled a wet strand of hair and batted my eyelashes.
His eyes narrowed. “You wouldn’t dare.”
“Oh, but I would.” I went up on my tiptoes to nip his bottom lip. Framing my face with both hands, he fused his mouth to mine. My towel had just hit the floor when a second knock pulled us apart.
“Yeah, I think I’m going to like this problem,” he said, smacking my ass and turning to leave.
From a VIP area on the second floor, we waited for the Pearl Jam cover band to take the club’s small stage. The private lounge had plenty of comfortable seating, a great view of the stage, and a dedicated waitress. Normally, the special treatment would have been unnecessary and unwanted. But thanks to the recent surge in attention and fans posting the band’s location, a group had gathered outside of the hotel and had only grown throughout the day. To prevent being mobbed, we’d left through a back door but were seen by a few diehard fans who rushed to follow the cars. It was more than a little unnerving. So, even though the fans seemed harmless enough, the guys took precautions to ensure everyone’s safety. Especially after learning that a woman had been waiting in Lance’s bed last night to surprise him.
I didn’t like the idea of Jaxon or any of the guys being accosted by a fan or having their personal space invaded in such a blatantly disrespectful way. I wasn’t a violent person, but the thought of some wannabe groupie trying to get her hands on my man made me want to cut a bitch.
To ease my concerns, Jaxon explained that they were already increasing security for the next leg of the tour. Albeit reluctantly. Until now, the security that each venue provided, along with their loyal crew, had been enough. They had only hired temporary security for bigger events where crowd control was expected to be an issue. But with their growing success came increased security needs. It was an unfortunate price they had to pay for becoming more famous.
Nestled on Jaxon’s lap, we sat in an oversized chair arranged with several others around a low table. The guys from the band filled the remaining chairs along with a few of the married crew members who weren’t looking to pick up someone for the night. Callie opted to hang out on the lower level, causing Derek’s eyes to track her in the crowd below us.
As we waited for the live music to start, Lance called everyone’s attention to the hickey on my neck. “Ah, the elusive make-up sex,” he teased. “One of the few things I haven’t experienced.”
“That’s because you’ve never cared enough about a girl to make-up with her,” Derek accused.
“Wrong, ass wipe.” His voice took on a self-deprecating tone. “I’ve never cared enough about a girl to even fight with her.” It was meant as a joke, but the smile he wore didn’t quite reach his eyes.
“Speaking of ass wipes,” Shawn said, “I heard an interesting rumor that Gordon is leaving LGR. People are speculating everything from him quitting, getting fired, or Roger returning as president and ousting him.”
“Maybe that explains the email I got from LGR requesting a video conference with you guys next week,” I said, thinking out loud. “I assumed it was related to your contract renewal or that the
y had seen our publicity efforts and wanted to weigh in, but maybe there’s more to it.”
“If Roger is coming back, that could certainly change things for us,” Eli commented as everyone looked thoughtful.
“Him returning would be a good thing?” I asked, trying to learn more of the history of their time at LGR.
“Definitely,” Jaxon said. “No one is sure why he left. It’s been a bit of a mystery in the industry. But it’s his company, and he fully supported the vision we had for our music. If he came back, he might consider the changes we want to make to protect ourselves from ending up back in the situation we’re in now.”
“I still don’t understand how so much changed even though you had the same contract with the same record label.”
“A lot of things are up for interpretation and personal preference. LGR was in charge of our album each time, but with the first one, Roger loved our look and sound. With the second one, Bianca and Gordon forced us in another direction. Think of it as a key signature change in a song,” he suggested. “It’s the same song, just altered to give it a different feel or a different range. Like ‘Livin’ On A Prayer’ by Bon Jovi.”
Derek named another example. “‘I Wanna Be Sedated’ by the Ramones.”
“Sisqo’s ‘Thong Song’,” Lance added, hopping out of his seat to dance.
I wasn’t musically inclined and certainly didn’t know many music terms, but Jaxon sang the chorus of “Livin’ On A Prayer”, then again the way it sounded near the end of the song, and I understood what he meant.
“With our second album, we were still us but had been altered. It felt like someone came in and changed Detrimental’s key,” he explained.
“Then it’s time to change it back.” It came out with more force than I intended, but knowing that I had the evidence to support my claim only increased my conviction.
Jaxon rocked back with a surprised laugh. “Hell yeah, baby!”
Changing the Key: A Detrimental Rock Star Romance (Book 1) Page 20