by Cari Quinn
“Ry? You in, brother?” West asked.
To hell with it. He’d buy some damn sex toys. He’d gotten his replacement credit card overnighted to the hotel. Time to do some damage. Even if he didn’t know who he’d use them with, because the one woman he wanted was solidly out of reach.
He glanced up, on the verge of answering, when his gaze finally met Denver’s. The moment was brief. There would be no lingering mutual stares tonight, that was for sure. But that instant of connection was enough to tighten his groin and dry out his throat.
“I’m in,” he said, voice low. Wanting her to hear everything he wasn’t saying in his tone.
Trusting she’d get it, just like she got him.
You may not want this, may not be able to handle this, but I can. And I’m waiting for you.
“What about you, little Ricki?” Mal asked lazily without lifting his focus from his phone. “Or are you not allowed to go anywhere when your hanger-on isn’t present?” He tapped his cell against his mouth and made his eyes wide. “Gee, I wonder where he might be. Found someone new to sponge off, perhaps?”
Elle stared resolutely ahead. Mal loved to goad her by referencing her full name, the name she deliberately didn’t go by anymore. Richelle and Ricki were supposedly reminders of her wild past, but Mal didn’t hesitate to twist the knife.
“I’m in,” she said cheerfully, giving no sign she’d even heard Mal other than her white-knuckled grip on her water bottle.
“Miss Molly?” West questioned, evidently deciding to leave Sir Grumps-A-Lot for last. Wise move.
She gave a dainty shrug. “Sure. I was only going to paint my nails anyway.”
“Righteous.” West gave her a fist bump and she offered him a rare smile as she returned the gesture.
West blew out a breath and looked up at the ceiling as if he was resigned to his fate. “Malachi?”
“Nah. I’d rather meet a flesh-and-blood chick than pick up a blow-up doll. But thanks.” He clambered down from his spot on the end of one of the tables and headed out the door without a backward glance.
“He’s so sweet,” Lo said, shaking her head. “But his loss. I won’t bring him back any of the good porn.” She frowned up at West. “There will be good porn there, right? I’m getting burned out on the free sites.”
“How did you find her?” Ryan couldn’t help asking with more than a little wistfulness. “Sure you aren’t looking for a change, Lo? I play keyboards too, sweetheart.”
“You dabble. I like a man who is dedicated to his craft.” Lo patted West’s puffed-out chest, making Ryan laugh.
Then he noticed Denver break free from the pack and disappear through the same door Mal had just used.
Christ, it had just been a joke. She had no right to be upset about him teasing Lo.
If she even was. How the hell was he supposed to know? The woman was impossible.
He started to follow her, then hung back. Yeah, not his problem anymore. They were close, and they always would be even if she tried to put up walls. But when it came to the areas of sex and sex jokes and anything thorny like that, he’d just keep a safe distance.
Better for both of them that way, even if it sucked balls.
Much like this whole situation.
He followed the others through the maze of hallways until they reached the back door that emptied into an alley. Relief surged through him as Denver joined them at the outside door, though he wasn’t thrilled she’d been waiting in a dark alley alone. But that was his girl. She could take care of herself, and she’d be damned if anyone thought they could tell her otherwise.
That didn’t mean he wouldn’t try later, when he had an opening. Right now, she was laughing with her friends, and he loved the sound too much to bring up their issues.
They herded into the couple of waiting oversized SUVs that were there to take them back to their hotel, but Jules alerted the driver that they were making an unscheduled stop. Once the driver heard the name of the place, he smirked and put the SUV in gear.
Ryan, crammed in the back beside West and Lo, dug out his phone and thumbed through some of the band’s Facebook posts about the show. His bandmates had already started the night’s social media onslaught.
“So, Den hopped in the other caravan? What’s that all about?”
Ryan didn’t look up from his cell. “She’s thick with Elle. Probably wanted girl time.”
“She’s thick with me too,” Lo protested from West’s other side. “I think. Unless that means something sexual I don’t realize, and if so, interesting.”
Ryan shook his head. “Dude, you are so not teaching her everything you should.”
“Oh, he’s taught me plenty. Why, just last night, we—”
Ryan held up a hand. “Save it for the chicks. I don’t need any more pictures in my head, thanks.”
“We are going to a sex shop, you know,” Jules reminded him from the bench in front of them, snuggling against Randy’s side. As part of the tech crew, Randy was usually stuck working late after shows, but Ryan didn’t blame him for not wanting to miss this.
He would’ve felt the same if he wasn’t currently in hell.
“Sex shop doesn’t mean I want to hear about them having sex. I prefer the abstract there, if you don’t mind.”
“Really? Not me. I want all the details I can get.” While West laughed, Lo grabbed the back of the seat and leaned forward, sticking her head between Randy and Jules right as they leaned in for a kiss. “Hi. Since we’re all alone and private right now, I have some questions if you don’t mind? For the book,” she added when Randy just gawked at her.
He was a fairly introverted guy, in spite of what many would’ve seen as his wild, nontraditional, polygamous relationship, and Lo was…Lo. Completely unique in every way.
“You’re writing a book on sex?” Randy asked, stalling for time, Ryan was sure.
“On the female orgasm,” West supplied, as if he couldn’t be prouder. “Lo’s including lots of case studies. She won’t use your real name unless you want her to.”
“Oh darn. I was hoping I could refer my parents to check out page two-hundred-eleven.”
Jules giggled and slapped his leg. “See, it’s always the quiet ones. He has a great tongue.”
“Jules,” Randy muttered, sounding pained.
“Perfect. Just the kind of info I’m looking for.” Lauren cocked her head. “So, do you climax easiest from penetration or oral attention? And do you prefer just tongue action or tongue and fingers or tongue and toy?”
“Toy, fingers, and tongue,” Jules said seriously.
“Or maybe you prefer two cocks. Since you have two cocks at your disposal. That’s simply fascinating. I have to interview you.”
“I’m just going to sit over here and die,” Randy said under his breath. “Nobody mind me.”
West fell over on his side laughing, nearly crushing Lo. Not that she cared. Without missing a beat, she clambered over the seat to join Randy and Jules.
Ryan dragged West up to a sitting position by the back of his shirt. “She better not ask me any sex questions.”
“Did you grow a vagina when I wasn’t looking?” West cocked a brow. “I’m not even sure you’ve touched any recently.”
“You would be wrong.”
“Is that why you’ve been manstruating all night? Babe problems?”
Ryan kicked out his legs and shoved his phone in his pocket. “Not in the slightest.”
“If you want some tips, Lo and I have been trying some new stuff…”
Ryan flipped him off and stared out the window until West got the hint and started playing with his own phone. Lo was barraging Randy and Jules with questions, but Ryan tuned them out. Thankfully the ride to the shop was brief.
The building that housed the store was narrow and white, oddly reminiscent of a giant white phallus. That probably was just coincidental, since there was a strip mall beside it. At the top of a short flight of stairs was a purple door, and
the display window was also framed by thick purple curtains. Velvet, naturally. All in all, it didn’t look like an adult shop. Even opening the door and stepping inside brought to mind a psychic’s parlor more than a place that sold dildos and whips.
Everything was gold and purple and luxe. Not cheap-looking in the slightest. His female bandmates’ heels clicked on the black-and-white tile floor as they rushed forward to check out the racks of lingerie. Mirrors were everywhere, offering too many views of his clenched jaw and hooded eyes.
He definitely looked like a guy who needed to get laid.
“Can I help you find anything, sir?” A petite redhead in a green jumpsuit held out a silver platter that contained several multicolored condoms, packets of flavored lube, and a few other interesting items that bore further investigation. “These are all complimentary samples. Feel free to try any you’d like. We also can show you to the full-sized items in the store available for purchase.”
“Thanks.” Feeling more than a little weird, he pocketed a couple of the condoms without checking the colors and nudged one of the lube packets. “Where would I find the full-sized bottle of this?”
“Near the anal exploration section. Over here...” She gave him a flirty smile. “Unless you’d rather I just show you a selection myself?”
The door opened and, as if by magic, the others arrived. Ryan didn’t have to glance over to know Denver would be leading the crew. That was her standard MO, and besides, it just fit his night. Perfect timing for her to stroll in while a cute redhead was holding out condoms and lube and offering to show him the anal products.
“Wait, what did you say?”
“I’ll go select a few of our most popular offerings.” She giggled and pointed to a deep purple settee. “Just wait over there with a glass of fizzy water and I’ll bring them right over and demonstrate some of their uses.”
“Demonstrate.” He had to be imagining she’d said that. Or it didn’t mean what his dazed mind was trying to insist.
What kind of place was this exactly?
The redhead grinned. “We have dolls.”
“Thanks, but he’ll pass,” Denver said, snatching Ryan’s hand. “I’m sure we can figure it out.”
She’d dragged him behind one of the heavy purple curtains into a more erotic part of the shop before he had a chance to register more than the dry heat of her palm clasping his fingers. She pushed him back into a column, narrowly missing a hanging display of handcuffs and other items used for restraint.
“Is this fun for you?” she asked, pushing his chest once more for good measure. “I tell you we shouldn’t do this again so you flirt with Lo and a freaking lube saleswoman? Have we really descended this far?”
Ryan tipped up her chin with a fingertip. “You’re jealous, Colorado. Positively green-eyed tonight.” He bent to murmur in her ear. “Gotta say I prefer those gorgeous brown eyes I can’t get out of my head.”
“Asshole.” But she didn’t deny his jealousy assertion, just shoved him again for good measure. Halfheartedly.
“For the record, I wasn’t flirting with Lo. She’s my best friend’s girl.”
“I thought I was your best friend.”
“I’m a gregarious guy, what can I say?” When her hands came up one more time, he seized them and brought them to his mouth. “You know West and Michael are important to me.”
“I do. And I’m just being a bitch and I don’t know why. I know you were just playing around with Lo. And just talking to that redhead, though she would’ve demonstrated how those anal beads worked herself if you’d only asked. Guaranteed.” The curl to Denver’s lip was impossibly sexy.
As was knowing she was all twisted up over them and didn’t know what to make of it. There might be hope for them yet.
Maybe. If he played his sex toys right.
“I wouldn’t have. There’s only one woman I want to use anal beads with.”
She rolled her eyes. “That may be the sweetest proposition I’ve ever gotten.”
“Yeah? Then try this on for size.” He nudged her hair away from her ear and licked her lobe. “I want to cuff you to my bed tonight at the hotel. A nice big bed where we can spread out and do everything we can think of to each other.”
Her throat rippled with her swallow. “What room do you have?”
His dick jerked against his zipper. “217. End of the hall.” When she didn’t respond, he wound a few strands of her hair around his fingers and gave them a light tug. “I’ll fill every part of you until you forget anything but how right it was. How right we were.”
“Ry.” She shut her eyes and took a shaky breath, but he didn’t move back. “I don’t want to lose you. I can’t.”
“You’re not going to.” He gripped her chin and thumbed her soft lips apart. “I’m telling you I’m right here. That I’m not going anywhere if you just say the goddamn word. Just one.”
“You’re here for sex. Take that off the table and what?”
“We’re still friends. Just as we were before I saw these, full and beautiful and covered in only moonlight.” He traced his fingertips along the curve of her breast and she shuddered. “Sex is a bonus. An incredible one, but it doesn’t have a thing to do with our friendship. I give you my word.”
“Sex just makes it better.” The hope in her tone killed him in all the best ways.
“Yes.” He cupped her cheek. “So much better.”
Without caring where they were, he lowered his mouth to hers, stopping short of fusing their lips as his stupid phone went off again in his pocket. He took a breath and angled his head, about to try again, but the text alerts just wouldn’t stop. One after another rolled in and Denver narrowed her eyes.
Before he could block her, she reached down to yank his phone out of his pocket. He reached for her, grasping a handful of her shirt before she darted across the narrow room.
“Christ, Den, privacy much?”
But it was too late. She’d already gotten into his phone and was reading the texts. “Seriously?” she demanded, glaring at him. “You wonder why I grab your phone? I suspected you’d be doing this shit again. I didn’t believe that you’d sneak off all the time these past few months then just stop as if it’s no big deal.”
He tried to interject, but she wasn’t through.
“Most of the people who would be texting you are in this building right now, so there’s no fucking reason you—”
The curtain over the doorway swept open and a laughing Jules and Randy ducked inside, arm and arm. And stopped dead, staring back and forth between Ryan and Denver as if they’d interrupted a battle.
They had. One Ryan was doomed to lose, because she was right. He’d only entertained the idea of the poker game to try to win back her money. The last thing they needed was his debt to her between them—and okay, denting his pride—but he was riding a thin line. Not just when it came to her trusting him, but when it came to admitting he was in over his head.
“Sorry,” Jules said, nudging Randy’s belly. “We’ll just go back out there and look at the lingerie again.”
“You already picked out three teddies,” Randy said. “Not that I’m complaining.”
“They’re having a moment.”
“No, we are not. This is just a little spat between friends. Means nothing at all.” The look Denver shot him was pure ice before she tossed his phone at him and ducked out through the curtain.
He started to chase after her, but Jules had a funny expression on her face. One that seemed an awful lot like suspicion.
“Just a little thing. You know how it is,” Ryan said, forcing a smile he so didn’t feel. “She’s probably PMSing,” he added, causing Jules to narrow her eyes into slits and Randy to cup her shoulder.
“You sure the little thing isn’t yours?”
Because Ryan wasn’t at all certain she wasn’t referring to his penis—and knowing Jules, that was exactly what she meant—he just shook his head.
When Jules and Randy turned t
o browse the offerings, Ryan snatched a pair of fur-lined handcuffs and a wand of anal beads off the wall. It wasn’t the most careful selection, but he had to hope one was as good as another.
If he even got to use them with her after this.
He chuckled with West and Lo over a few things, and browsed with Michael as he mused about his wife Chloe’s preferences. Molly and Elle were flipping through lingerie.
Denver was nowhere in sight.
On impulse, he stopped to grab a tube of lube and one more item and took the assortment up to the cashier. He truly didn’t know if he’d get to use them with her or if he was just wasting his money. But he wasn’t giving up on her or them.
Not yet. Maybe not ever.
Once his purchases were bagged and he was back in the SUV, he resisted the urge to text her. She knew what room he was staying in at the hotel. She was probably stewing in the other SUV parked up the street as she waited for a ride back to the bus, but he had hope she’d come around enough to at least talk to him. Preferably in his hotel room, where they could have some privacy. For conversation and hopefully more. So much more.
He’d give her some space.
For now.
Chapter Seven
“Sure you don’t want to spend the night at the hotel with us?” Elle asked as the SUV stopped a few feet away from the parked tour bus. “We have room. There’s a roll-out couch—”
“I’d rather not listen to you guys screw all night. No offense.”
Elle flushed. “We’re not that loud.”
Denver had to laugh as she patted Elle’s jean-clad thigh. “Thanks, chica, but I have a date with my bunk. Y’all have fun.”
She waved to the others in the SUV and hopped out before she was tempted to make use of the ride over to the hotel. And not to spend the night on Elle’s roll-out couch.
But she couldn’t give in that easily. Ryan was hiding stuff from her. Worse, he was risking himself big time by thinking he could just jump into another game. He was smarter than that.