“No, I’m ready, I think. Ty. I’ve never stopped—” I bit my lip, stopping myself from saying it. It would make me too vulnerable.
“Me either.” He bent down and kissed me reassuringly.
“It’s just a lot to take in.” I gestured between us, truly floored at the turn of events. I didn’t know what to think. What to hope for.
“I’ve never been able to play it cool with you, butterfly.” Ty put his arms around my shoulders protectively, the way he always had.
“Don’t sell yourself short, big guy.” I smiled at him and wrapped my arms around his waist. “I came to this show thinking we were just friends, and now there’s been kissing. And songs.”
“Zoey, I’m not trying to be creepy. I’d take you somewhere public, but there will be no privacy. I know you’re not into social media stuff, and we had precautions in place up at the event to make sure no one took our picture, but if we go out something will get posted.” Ty was still so considerate. “I want to keep you to myself until you feel comfortable about what’s going on between us.”
“Umm. Okay?”
“Z, seriously. There’s no pressure. Let’s just hang out, catch up, and maybe make out a bit?” God, he was intoxicating. His innocent grin got me every time.
“Okay,” I agreed more definitively, my smile wide. Confident Ty was phenomenal.
“Okay.” His smile lit up his face.
Navigating out of the Space Needle and the Seattle Center downtown area was a bit challenging because there were more fans waiting for a glimpse of the band than Ty had expected. Luckily, Sirius brought out more security, and the rest of LTZ distracted the crowd by signing a few autographs, which allowed a driver to pull up and whisk us away through downtown over to his house.
We pulled up to a beautiful steel gate that opened into a long, wooded driveway surrounded by tall shrubbery and a fence. The sprawling three-story glass-and-wood structure was stunning, and almost melded into the beautiful foliage of the Pacific Northwest where the garage was, but you could see the expansive view of the sound from the driveway.
“Wow, this is a big fortress, but so worth it! Look at that view,” I marveled.
“When we first hit it big, I bought this house and there was no gate, no security. We were on the road for months and months at a time, and fans were camping out here. It got a bit scary. I sublet a condo downtown in between tours while the contractors worked on it. Our lawyers moved the deed out of my name into a trust, so now it’s harder to figure out that I own it,” he explained.
“You’ve come a long way from that run-down apartment, Tyson Rainier.” I beamed, proud of him as we walked through the grand entryway into the open-plan living/dining/kitchen revealing a wall of glass overlooking the entire city skyline including the landmark we had spent the evening in. “Wow, just wow!”
“I guess so.” Ty seemed a little reserved about the house. “Are you thirsty? I don’t drink anymore, but I probably have some wine somewhere.”
“No, I’d rather have some tea if you have it.” I sat at a stool at the expansive granite island in his pristine chef’s kitchen, and my stomach growled embarrassingly loud.
“What’s a singer without tea?” He laughed and put the kettle on. “You’re hungry. I’ll cook something for us.”
“No, I’m fine.” My stomach protested with another growl and Ty arched a brow.
“Let me put my line cook skills to the test, I can make us grilled cheese sandwiches.” Ty opened the double-sized fridge and took out some cheese and pulled a loaf of bread out of a drawer.
“I guess my belly can’t say no to a hot guy cooking.” I nervously tried to cover up my anxiousness with sass.
“I’ll just be a minute. Please go sit down and make yourself comfortable, that couch is fucking amazing and the view is something I never get tired of.” Ty busied himself with the sandwiches as he waved me over to the living area.
I crossed over to the living room, taking in the dark hardwood floors, plush, oversized gray couch, and the gold and platinum records decorating the walls. Sinking into the cushions, I looked out at the city, my mouth watering at the smell of melting cheese. God, was I really here alone with Ty at his house? My heart had been beating fast all night with adrenaline, and now it was in overdrive. Despite how incredibly comfortable the couch was, I couldn’t stop fidgeting and ended up sitting on the edge of the cushion watching Ty cook.
“Here you go.” Ty walked over and handed me my tea and grilled cheese, then went back to the kitchen to retrieve his and plopped down next to me, blowing on his own cup. “So, you’re here.”
“I am.” I blew on my tea too, looking up at him over the cup.
“I’m so fucking nervous.” His cheeks reddened adorably.
“Me too.” I blew out a breath that I didn’t realize I’d been holding.
“Should we talk?” he asked.
“I guess we should.”
“Eat first?” He motioned to the sandwich.
“Yum.” I took the plate and nibbled at the sandwich, licking the dripping cheese from my lips.
Ty stared at my tongue flicking against my lips, his mouth curved into a grin and then expanded into a bigger smile. I couldn’t help but let out a burst of anxious laughter. He let out a guffaw, and we just laughed for a few minutes, which broke the tension completely.
When our chuckling subsided, Ty’s expression changed, like he was hungry for something more than a sandwich. I swallowed and licked my lips again; his eyes followed my tongue, almost enraptured. The sexual tension was crackling between us and I put down the sandwich on the coffee table.
Ty set his empty plate down and sank back into the cushions. His arm skimmed the top of the couch. Resting his head on one hand, he reached over to trace my lips with his finger then caressed my cheek with his whole palm.
“You’re still the sweetest and most beautiful woman in the world, Zoey. I’m not proud of how I behaved over the years, I haven’t been a good man. An honorable man. I’m not sure what to say to you, other than you were right to leave me back then,” Ty said solemnly. “I would’ve been such a disappointment.”
“Oh, Ty, that’s not true. You made it against all of the odds. But, as I’ve said before, how I handled things will always be the biggest regret of my life.” I looked down at the cushion, unable to look him in the eye. “I’m so, so sorry.”
“Zoey.” Ty had other ideas and tipped his finger under my chin to make me look at him.
“Don’t you think we could have made it?” I asked the question I’d asked myself every day for eight years.
“I try not to think about it, because as my therapist told me—there’s no point in wasting energy on something that you can’t change.” Ty held my gaze.
“You’re in therapy?”
“On and off for a few years. The guys and Carter encouraged me to go. I think it helped me deal with, well, what happened with us. But, also my upbringing. My mom. The abuse.” Ty scooted in closer to me and I leaned against him, reminding me of the days we’d cuddle and talk for hours.
“So much lost time, it’s so stupid.” I couldn’t help it when a tear escaped.
“Ahhhh, babe, no tears, this is a happy night. Should we maybe fill in some of the gaps?” Ty wiped my cheek.
“Not much on my side, I studied hard and now I’m working hard.” I shrugged, it was the simple, boring truth.
“I know that, but did you have someone?” Ty questioned, but really stated. Like he knew. “I mean, it’s none of my business.”
“Do you want it to be your business, Ty?” I traced a line on his shoulder, feeling comfort and safety in his embrace.
“I’d like to know you were okay.”
“I’ve dated, but not much. I’ve been so heads-down with school and work, there hasn’t been much time to really think about it. There was someone I was seeing in law school, but it wasn’t ever a long-term thing. In fact, he’s married and living in New York. I never told him�
�or really anyone—that we were ever a couple.”
“Why?” Ty seemed genuinely curious.
“Umm. Well, the world was trying to figure out who I was, and I didn’t want to really be identified as the girl who inspired that album. I appreciated that you guys never outed me when you could have been very vindictive.”
“No, why was there no one else?”
I gave him a pointed look and looked away. There was no way to answer because for me there would never be anyone else but Ty. I continued to trace my finger on his shoulder while staring at the hole in the knee of his jeans. We sat quietly for a while.
Ty’s deep, melodic voice broke the silence. “I’m sometimes a little regretful that I put it all out there. I was hoping you’d hear it and maybe call me and yell at me, or just, I don’t know.”
“It seemed to me that you had plenty of women to cheer you up.” I closed my eyes, so I didn’t have to see his reaction, but I had to let him know that I knew about all the others.
Ty stroked my hair. “I tried to forget you. I couldn’t.”
“You didn’t take it off.” I rubbed my thumb under the bracelet, feeling the worn grooves of our initials.
“I told you I never would.” Ty’s fingers moved with mine and then he touched the butterfly resting against my collarbone. “You didn’t either.”
I buried my head in his shoulder, overwhelmed. When I regained a bit of courage, I looked into the deep-blue pools of his eyes.
“How can I ever compete, Ty? You can have any woman in the world, you’re famous and so fucking gorgeous. I can barely remember to pluck my eyebrows!”
“I’m the same guy, Z. A lot of people think they know me, but I’m still the same socially awkward guy that thinks you’re the most beautiful woman in the world.” Ty kissed the side of my head. “And I love your eyebrows.”
“What is it like going out with models and actresses?”
“Terrible. Most are literally the worst.” Ty laughed.
“It was hard to see all of the pictures. I couldn’t even be mad at you, I didn’t have the right.” I took his hand and rubbed the calluses on his fingertips the way I used to.
“I understand, when I saw a picture of you with your law school boyfriend on Instagram, I lost my mind.” Ty clasped his big hand with my tiny one.
I was stunned and remorseful. I had no idea he’d trolled me too, not that there was anything to troll. “I’m sorry.”
“Ah, Z, I don’t want you to feel bad. I’m sorry too. I gave up after your voice mail. It seemed like you’d moved on, I didn’t realize how badly you were hurting too.” Ty kissed my hand. “I wouldn’t have stayed away.”
I traced my finger along his arm. “Thanks for including me tonight. It was special. You’re an amazing songwriter. Musician. You absolutely deserve all of the success.”
Ty watched me stroking his arm with a furrowed brow and changed the subject back. “I just wish you had talked to me back then. We always shared everything, you were the only one I’ve ever let all the way in.”
“I’ve beaten myself up about this a million times,” I tried to explain. “I don’t know, Carter convinced me that you needed to be free and that we would find each other again if it was meant to be.”
“It was a dick move, and I’ve told him so.” Ty played with my hair. “He had no right to use his influence on you. But he’s my family and I’ve forgiven him.”
“I’m glad. I truly think he was trying to protect you. I’m the one who took it too far.”
“It hurt so bad when you left. I questioned everything we meant to each other for so many years.” Ty closed his eyes and took a deep, confessional breath, “I wrote those songs to hurt you as much as you hurt me.”
“Oh.” His revelation cut a little deep, especially hearing him actually say the words. Although, I had known it all along.
“I thought you had thrown me away,” Ty continued. “I didn’t understand it, making love to you that night. You gifting your virginity to me, I would have never left you. Ever. I went from being the happiest guy on the planet one night to being destroyed by the next morning. It was like you died, you just disappeared. I thought I meant more to you than that.”
“Oh Ty.” The flood of tears that had been looming all night finally escaped. “You meant everything to me, you still mean so much to me. That’s why I did what I did. I hope you can forgive me someday, and we can at least be friends.”
“I don’t want to be friends.”
“What?” I was shocked.
“I want you back.”
“You do?” I wanted to make sure I heard him correctly, that this night wasn’t a dream.
“I knew it from the minute I walked into that meeting and saw you again.” Ty caressed my face and thumbed my tears away, and I leaned in. “No, I’ve always known, even through all of the bullshit.”
“Ty, I want you back too.” I promptly started to sob uncontrollably and tried to pull away because I was mortified at the depth of my emotion. I’d kept it contained and in check for so many years.
Ty wouldn’t let me go, instead, he enveloped me into his body. “Butterfly, I think our timing is finally right. I want our timing to be right. We deserve happiness.”
“I hope so. I still love you, Ty. I’ve never stopped.” I buried my face into his neck, unable to stop bawling. Ty kept me tight against his body, rubbing my back as I tearfully released eight years of emotion in the span of three solid minutes. Nothing else mattered in the world but being in Ty’s arms forever.
“I love you so much, Zoey, please don’t cry.” Ty gently took my face in his hands, and literally kissed my tears away, and we slid down on his expansive, plush couch, lying side-by-side, facing each other.
I reached up and buried my hands in his hair and pulled him to me, kissing him roughly. My lips explored his and we ran our hands all over each other’s bodies, which we both still remembered so well. Ty reached down and pulled the skirt of my dress up, causing it to bunch around my legs. Our tongues tangled passionately, and I whimpered when he stroked my inner thighs with his palms, causing my dress to move up farther around my waist to reveal my panties. Groaning, he wrapped his arms around my lower back, pulling me so close I could feel his rock-hard shaft burrowing into my core through his jeans.
“I want you.” My voice was yearning, sexual, so not me.
“You have me,” Ty whispered.
“If we do this, we finally won’t have to sneak around to avoid our parents and the guys.” I sucked on the side of his neck and writhed against his cock.
Ty held me in place against his hardness, his finger moving my panties to the side. “When we do this, I’m going to keep you in my bed all weekend and do everything I always dreamed about doing with you all these years.”
“Head on a stake? Poison? Death by fiery dragon?” I teased in between feathering kisses along his jawbone.
Ty took a long suckle on my earlobe and inch by tortuous inch slipped a finger inside me and growled, “Nah, I’m finally going to be able to fuck you in all the ways I’ve ever wanted to.”
His words made my newly waxed pussy soak his finger with arousal. “Yes. Please, Ty. I want that so bad.”
“Whatever my girl needs,” Ty added a second finger and wiggled both deeper, hooking them to stroke over my insane internal pleasure spot, playing me like a fiddle. “Oh fuck! Your pussy is bare!”
His intimate touch and dirty words made me more rapturous than I’d ever felt before. Ty’s lips descended on mine and I melted into him when he rubbed me deliciously, nearly to the brink. This man knew what made me hum, and sensing I was close rolled me over and up to straddle him, me still riding his fingers. The added pressure of his erection against my center had me aching to release it from the prison of his jeans and ride him. My attempt to free his cock was thwarted when he circled my wrist with his strong hand and positioned it at the small of my back, which only increased the friction between us.
His fin
gers still surged inside me, and he used his thumb to stroke my clit in quick little circles. My hips moved frantically of their own volition against him, soaking his jeans. Bringing me just to the edge again, Ty positioned me on my back, withdrew his fingers and sucked them into his mouth.
“I need your panties off,” He growled wolfishly and yanked them down.
Closing my eyes, I gave in to the sensation of Ty’s hot tongue and lips slowly licking, tasting and kissing down my ribs, then stomach, and over my slight belly swell. Writhing with pleasure and anticipation I bucked toward him when his palms stroked my thighs and pressed them apart. His hot breath so close to my swollen clit had me arching toward his mouth. Ty obliged by lifting my legs over his shoulders, parting my pussy lips with his thumbs and dipping his tongue in for a taste.
“Oh, oh, oh my God Ty, yes!” My legs squeezed against his ears as he relentlessly sipped, nibbled, and sucked every inch of me, deliberately avoiding my clit, until I was begging for release. “Please, Ty. Please!”
Ty smiled up at me through the hair that had fallen over his eyes and sucked my sweet spot hard into his mouth and then rapidly stroked his tongue over and over and over my clit until all the shooting stars in the universe exploded behind my eyes, and my body convulsed in waves of utter bliss. The cries of ecstasy I could hear somewhere in the distance were from me, I realized.
“God, you’re so fucking beautiful when you come.” Ty watched me return to Earth, his head resting against my inner thigh.
“You still know my body so well,” I clutched his hand to bring him up for a kiss. I loved tasting myself on Ty, and I wasn’t going to miss the opportunity.
“I missed your body, you’re my goddess.” Ty nuzzled my neck, and we lay in each other’s arms, lazily making out while my aftershocks subsided.
“Please, Ty, I need you so much.” I tugged off his T-shirt when our kisses once again became passionate. My hands skimmed his sides and tried again for the buckle, this time successfully. Together, we pulled his jeans down over his hips. His exquisite long, thick cock jutted out hard against his cut abs. Tracing the v of his stomach leading to my prize, I gripped him firmly at the base, noticing he was also now well-groomed down below. Ty kicked off his sneakers and then briefly moved out of my grasp to step out of his jeans.
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