by Skye Turner
“Well, ok then. Sorry, I didn’t know what door you were going to use and they were about to leave… They were supposed to be gone before you got here…”
He chuckles. “I didn’t know what door to use either, so I just picked one.”
My heart is still thumping so loudly that I don’t know how he can’t hear it. Looking around him, I spot my small purse on the chair at the desk. Stepping around him, I grab it and sling it over my shoulder. My phone is also on the desk, so I quickly grab it and slide it into my back pocket before taking a deep breath and turning back to Sean. “Are you ready? What are we even doing today?”
He stares at me and then he shrugs. “To be honest with you… I have no idea. Nashville isn’t really my scene, so I don’t know a lot of what’s around here… Do you have anywhere you’d like to go?”
He’s serious? He doesn’t know what we’re doing today?
I’m supposed to pick?
What do I want to do?
“Well, would you like to see the sights? Play tourist? Eat barbeque? Walk? Drive? I have no idea, Sean…” I’m rambling.
He stares at me and his cheeks almost look flushed. His hands are by his sides and he exhales harshly. “I’m going to be really honest… I don’t do whatever this is, Summer. I bed women. I normally show them my bedroom or whatever surface is available for me to bed them…” His blue eyes pin me in place and my breathing hitches. “I have no idea what to do with a woman I want to just spend time with. It’s not my thing and I am quite literally out of my element here. I’m not Jake… I’m sorry, I have no plans for the day. I wouldn’t even know what to plan. I’m here. I want to spend the day with you and I really don’t care what it is that we do.”
I can’t breathe. I don’t even know what to say.
Am I literally the first woman he’s been on a date with?
No fucking way? There is no way. Unless he literally only screws women and has never actually dated anyone.
My head angles and I stare into his blue eyes. He looks almost vulnerable. “Sean, have you dated women? Like actually dated them?”
His jaw tightens as he holds my gaze. “Of course I’ve dated. But never anyone I actually liked or wanted to know. I’ve done whatever needed to be done to accomplish getting whomever I was with into bed. And in all honesty, most of them only wanted to fuck me to begin with, so absolutely no effort and no fucks have ever been given in that department.”
He’s unapologetic as he watches me. “I fuck women, Summer. It’s all I’ve done since I was sixteen. I have never cared about any of them and none have cared about me. It’s just been people fucking each other. Even when I’ve,” he smirks, “dated people, it was all about sex. Every model, actress, performer… everyone has wanted to screw me. No one wanted to actually get to know me. But, the reality is that I could have fucked you last night and I didn’t. I didn’t feel right and I don’t want sex with you to be just another thing. I want sex with you. Oh, I want it. But for once, I want it to be more than just sex. It’s more than carnal and two people finding sexual release.” Reaching out, his fingertip slides over my cheek before he traces my lips. I shiver in response and my nipples bead beneath my flowy blue top. He smiles. “We’re going to get together, Summer. We both know that. But we have time… and today, I want to spend a day with you… doing whatever you want to do. I want to be man out with a woman with the intent to have a good time.” His eyes focus on mine and I can see the blaze in them. “Now, tonight… tonight we can explore each other in other ways.”
All of the air in the room is sucked out and I feel lightheaded as I absorb his words.
Sean wants to date me… like date me and get to know me. He wants to do something with me that he’s never wanted to do with another woman.
I want that. I’ve wanted that from the second I saw him.
He’s right though. I do want to have sex with him and we both know that it’s going to happen. Our response to each other is too extreme… too carnal for it not to.
But if I spend the day with Sean and then the night in his bed… what does that mean for my heart?!
Can I screw Sean and date Jake?
Do I want to throw away whatever I could possibly have with Jake for a night with Sean?
Summer… you are SO not that woman.
I know what I want, but is what I want what’s best for me?!
Sean
Summer and I left right after our conversation this morning. I was almost afraid that my being so frank would scare her off, but it didn’t. She just nodded.
She asked me if I liked animals and when I said I did, she grinned and said she knew what we were doing today.
We had breakfast at the Loveless Café at her suggestion. Luckily it’s the middle of the week, so it wasn’t too crowded. We also have a security team of six with us, headed by Roger. We were only stopped once, though a few people seemed to recognize us. Only one person approached the table and we waved them through and gladly signed autographs and took a couple of photographs.
After we left the café, we headed over to the Nashville Zoo at Grassmere. We’ve been strolling through here for about two hours now and are having a great time looking at the exhibits and talking. Security is in front of us and behind us. It’s not crowded and we’ve almost had the place to ourselves.
I have no idea if Summer and I have been photographed together, but I’m finding that the idea that we might be isn’t bothering me in the least. Her thoughts on the matter I have no idea of though.
I don’t know if she told Jake she was spending the day with me. She said they weren’t together and she’s incredibly open and honest, so I believe her. But, he doesn’t seem like the kind of man who would be ok with someone he’s interested in dating someone else.
Am I dating Summer?
No, of course not. This is just us spending time together… which is a date, jackass.
And I’m not ok with her going out with Jake…
Son of a bitch…
What am I doing here?
The likelihood of paparazzi or really just anyone with a cell phone taking our photo together today is pretty high. Yeah, we’re in Nashville and I’m a rock star, but she’s a country superstar and we have a hit song together. By tonight, this day is going to be everywhere.
I’m lost in my own head as she reads the facts in front of the rhino exhibit and miss that someone starts over toward us. Only the shout from Roger has me lifting my head. When, I do, I see a young woman in her early twenties jumping around excitedly and trying to get Summer and I’s attention. Roger is trying to calm her.
Summer also looks up and sees the woman before she looks at me in alarm. The woman is causing a scene and people are turning to look and crowding closer. “He knows me! I’ve been with him before! Let me through! Sean… Sean!”
My heart plummets as I hear her words. Glancing at Summer, I shake my head and head over to Roger. As I do, the woman yells, “See, I told you! Let me go! He knows me!”
As I reach her, I ask without being too loud so as not to attract more attention, “What the hell? You’re in a zoo filled with children and families.”
She bats her eyes at me and I wrack my brain… I have no idea who she is. When she sees that I can’t place her, she stops struggling and glares. “Seriously? You have no idea who I am?!”
I look at her again. She’s pretty. But she looks like everyone else. I literally have no idea who she is. I shake my head. “I’m sorry, no, I don’t.”
Her eyes flash and she swipes at me with her hands. Another security guard pulls me back, out of her reach. She screams. “You fucked me, you asshole! You fucked me and my best friend. You and Rafe both! We stayed with y’all for six hours and you don’t remember me?!”
Roger pulls her away and starts walking her backwards as the other guys close in around me… and Summer. Turning slightly, I look at Summer. She’s white and staring at me before flitting her gaze to the still screeching woman. People are
everywhere and it’s loud.
She’s next to me in the circle and we’re being herded out of the zoo. People are talking and I see cell phones in the air, but I ignore them all and stare at the side of Summer’s face, imploring her to look at me. She only stares straight ahead though.
Someone must have called the car around, because when we clear the gates, it’s waiting. We’re quickly herded into it and before I can blink, it takes off from the curb.
Summer and I are in the back with one security guard. She’s staring out of the side window and I’m staring at her.
That was not good. I’m sure I did sleep with that woman. I’m sure Rafe and I did both have sex with her and whoever her best friend is.
That is not uncommon. Or it wasn’t… until Rafe hooked up with Daisy. But I’ve slept with a lot of women. Summer knows that. Hell, she’s seen it.
Only that scene that just occurred has me feeling like an asshole.
What is Summer thinking?
Scooting over on the seat to be closer to her, I say her name. “Summer?” I know she hears me. Her body goes rigid but she doesn’t respond. “Summer. I’m sorry. I’m sorry that happened. Can you at least look at me?” Her head shakes, “No,” though she doesn’t say anything. “Ok, then don’t look at me, but at least listen. Ok, so I probably did fuck her. I probably did what she said… but I don’t know her… I don’t know her and there are so many others just like her.” She inhales harshly. “I’m not going to apologize for anything with anyone else. That has nothing to do with you. But, I’m sorry that it happened like that and I’m sorry that the day was ruined.”
She blows out a deep breath and then sighs. “I don’t think I can do whatever this is, Sean.”
My chest tightens so much I feel like my heart is being crushed.
Chapter Seven
Summer
That sucked…
That was so… just wow. That woman just ran up to Sean out of nowhere and said that he’d been intimate with her… her and her friend… with Rafe… my sister’s boyfriend… and he didn’t even recognize her.
He admitted that it was probably true. He admitted that he’d probably been with her and another woman and Rafe and he didn’t even recognize her.
How many women are out there that have done the same things with Sean? What does she mean that she was with Sean and Rafe? Like she had sex with both of them? Or they had sex with each other?! Oh my God… I seriously can’t even…
We were at the Zoo… the Zoo! With kids and families and some random woman ran up to Sean saying he’s had sex with her.
I can’t handle this.
I know damn well he’s not even remotely innocent. I know… but knowing and having the reality of it slap you in the face… I just can’t…
I hear him. I know he wants me to look at him. I’m sure he does feel bad about it, but the fact is that he did it and I’m almost positive that this scene will happen over and over and over.
He’s apologizing for it happening with me but not what he did for it to be able to happen.
He’s right, he doesn’t have to apologize to me about his sexscapades or whatever… but I can choose not to be in that position to have to see scenes like that.
I take a deep breath and sigh. “I don’t think I can do whatever this is, Sean.”
What? Am I serious?
I’m just going to pull the emergency brake?!
His voice is strangled as he snaps, “Summer! You’re just saying no?! You knew what I was like… you knew. Yet, you agreed to this date. And now, you’re just saying you changed your mind?!”
I whirl on the seat and glare at him. “Yes, I’m changing my mind! I’m allowed to do that, Sean!” My hands slap on the shirt covering his chest and I shove. “Some woman you’ve fucked, along with another woman and Rafe, just tried to get through security to see you… and you’re on a date with me! How do you think that made me feel?!
“I don’t live in your world of sex and rock and roll! Yes, we’re on a first date, but we’ve been pretty intimate, Sean. We haven’t had sex, but we’ve literally been right there… and sex for me is not really something I just do every night and six times on Saturday… with different people!” His eyes widen and his lips purse in ire. “No, shut up. You don’t talk. This is my turn to talk! So, you just sit there and shut up!
“You pushed for me to agree to this date! You did… you busted down the barriers and kissed me until I couldn’t think rationally and I agreed to this insanity. And that’s what this is… it’s insane!
“We were at the zoo, Sean! The zoo in the middle of the day on a Thursday and some woman that’s had sex with you just blindsided us! What happens when we get to Atlanta?! Or L.A.? Or anywhere else since you’ve apparently fucked everyone with a vagina in North America! I’m just supposed to be like ‘Whatever, no big deal’?!”
His eyes are almost glowing. My hands are planted firmly against his chest and I’m still shoving him as I rage. His hands close over my upper arms and he shakes me once, not hard, just enough to get my attention. “Ok now it’s my turn to talk. So, you shut up and listen! Yes, I probably fucked that woman. I’ve fucked a lot of women. Every stop on the tour, I’ve fucked women. Yes, Rafe and I have fucked women together before and we’ve fucked different women and then switched up. Yes, I have done all of that. I’m not going to apologize for it. But no, I’m not asking you to be nonchalant and not care about what I’ve done. You don’t like it. You think it’s disgusting. I get that. I even agree with you. But I did it. I did it and I’m not going to apologize for it! I’m trying… I’m fucking trying, Summer! I’m here with you, right now.
“I’m completely out of my element and I’m like a fifteen year old on a fucking first date, but I’m here!
“I pushed you?! I busted through your barriers, Summer?! Well, look at me! You did the same fucking thing to me! The second you opened that door to your big old house and grinned that saucy little grin at me… the wall started crumbling! Every smile, every kiss, every sassy little flirtation… another brick fell… and now I’m trying something I have no fucking idea how to do for you! You’re right though… this is fucking insane!
“It’s insane that I want you so much! It’s insane that I want to be with you with clothes on almost as much if not more than I want to fuck you!
“It’s insane that the fact that you just said that you can’t do this with me has me feeling like someone has grabbed my intestines with pliers and is twisting the fuck out of them so tightly that I can’t breathe!” He’s breathing just as harshly as I am and his hands are wrapped around my arms like steel vices.
My fingers curl into the material of his shirt as I helplessly look up at him. Finally, I sigh. All of the fight has gone out of me and had been replaced by raging want. “Sean…”
He mutters, “Summer…” and his head lowers. His lips cling to mine, almost in desperation. The metal of his lip ring is cold against the heat radiating from my skin. My nails dig into his shirt as I open my mouth. He groans and deepens the kiss as he yanks me onto his lap.
My legs settle on either side of his hips on the leather of the seat while my hands shove the fedora off his head so my fingers can weave through the dark blue tresses of his hair. He groans into my mouth and pulls my hips into his. His erection is pulsing against me.
Bearing down on him, I swivel my hips and stars appear behind my eyelids at the pleasure.
A faint sound registers and I freeze. Lifting my head, I turn and gasp as my gaze settles on the security guard sitting across from us staring intently out of the window to try to block out the passion happening directly in front of him.
I feel my face burn and mortification flares throughout my body. Sean is still trying to kiss me until I yank on his hair and mutter, “Sean… stop… We’re not alone in here.”
His eyes slowly open and he blinks. His face registers what I’m saying a split second before he glances around me. “Enjoying the show, man?!”
Scrambling off of Sean’s lap, I fall into the seat and try to fix my hair. “Oh my God… I’m so embarrassed.”
Sean
I was so into the kiss with Summer, I completely forgot about security being back here with us. Normally he wouldn’t be, but with how quickly we had to vacate the zoo, he slid in with us instead of hopping into the car that typically follows us.
I don’t care that he saw me and Summer, but I know that she does.
What was that anyway? She was saying she can’t do this with me and we were yelling at each other and then we were frantically making out.
So, did she change her mind again?
I’m getting fucking whiplash here.
She’s beside me on the seat, pulling her hair back up to clip on top of her head. Her face is beet red and her hands are shaking. She’s mortified.
Leaning over, I whisper in her ear, “Stop fretting. Nothing to be embarrassed about.”
Her honeyed gaze meets mine and she grimaces. “I was just in your lap in front of him, Sean. And before that we were screaming private things at each other. Oh my God…”
I smirk and raise my brow. I feel the piercing there pull and smile bigger as I see her shudder in awareness. “You can come back to my lap if you want to…”
She gasps again and glares at me before hurriedly looking out the window and worrying her lip. “Shut up.”
Chuckling, I reach over and take her hand. I didn’t know I was going to do that and I’ve never held hands with a woman before, but it was just a reaction. She freezes for a minute and then her hand turns so she can clutch mine. I can’t stop the smile that spreads over my face.
Well, look at that… Sean Scott is holding a woman’s hand all sweet like.
She’s still just staring out of the window and I notice that we’re outside of the city. There’s farm land and trees all around us. My brow arches as I ask, “Where are we?”