All I could do was shake my head and vow to mind my own business going forward.
That night we put on one hell of a show. Years of touring in so many different types of venues had given us mad performance chops. Every one of us was in sync. With all of the new production bells and whistles, Belfast was officially phenomenal.
Which meant that I was on a super-high after burning off what felt like 10,000 calories beating on my drums.
The tour’s next stop was in Edinburgh, which meant the crew had to break down and pack up the stage right after the show. The entire next day would be a travel day for them followed by a day of load-in.
LTZ had two entire blessed days off in Northern Ireland before we had to catch a hopper flight to Scotland. There was discussion about a private Game of Thrones tour which we had all finally caught up on, but that night we all had an appearance at the Titanic Experience, which was closed for an LTZ exclusive afterparty.
With nine interactive galleries over multiple floors, the tourist attraction was really impressive. For logistics’ sake, it wasn’t often that we had an after-show event at such a cool location. Despite the late hour, the four of us were in great spirits. As guests of honor, we received a private tour and enjoyed all the special effects and the meticulous full-scale reconstructions of the fated ship.
Because we were in Ireland, my own pledge from earlier in the day to not drink went out the window. The Guinness and whiskey were flowing like water, and the party was like nothing I’d ever been to.
Fuck it, why not celebrate?
A few hours later, we had finished all the glad-handing and were sufficiently drunk. A traditional Irish band was playing lively songs, the partygoer’s inhibitions were beginning to loosen, and everyone was having a fantastic time.
Ty was on a bench outside one of the exhibits, sloppily making out with a redhead who was sitting on his knee. His hand was shoved into her top gripping her tits. Connor was missing. Zane was up onstage with the trad Irish band rocking out to the delight of the VIP fans who were lucky enough to be there.
Gripping a new perfectly poured Guinness, I was enjoying my buzz watching the music when I felt someone watching me. A few feet away, a girl with long, straight black hair and unusual violet eyes swayed to the music while trying to catch my eye. It worked, I nodded to her and she smiled back at me. Shoving my hands in my hoodie pockets, I leaned back on the pillar closest to me and waited to see if she’d come over.
They usually did.
She laughed. She actually threw back her head and laughed, which was absolutely delightful. I was playing games, and she was calling me on it. Shaking my head, I approached her making sure my dimples were on full display. She was beautiful and exotic. Her eyes were heavily lined in black. She wore an off-the-shoulder, long white shirt over black leggings with—black Frye boots.
By the time my inebriated mind caught up with what I was seeing, I was standing right in front of her. My eyes snapped up and locked with hers.
Alex held her arms open. I rushed to her, squeezing her close like a boa constrictor before picking her up off the ground to swing her in a full circle. Carefully setting her back down, I gripped her face with both hands and pressed my lips to her forehead.
“Ohmygod, I’m so happy to see you!” My heart exploded with joy. “Please tell me you didn’t dye your hair black!”
“Nope, I’m in disguise!” Alex posed before bursting into giggles and shaking her dark hair out.
“Were you at the show?”
“Of course! You guys were so great.” Alex’s eyes shined with sincerity. “I hadn’t seen a show since, well, I left the last show early. The second I found out you’d be in Belfast, I made plans to be here.”
“Wait, so you came to Belfast to see us?”
“No, I live here,” Alex grabbed my hand excitedly. “At least for the moment, Ireland is awesome.”
“Didn’t you get married?” I looked around. “Where’s the guy?”
“No, it didn’t work out.”
“I’m sorry.” I hoped my voice sounded somewhat sincere.
I wasn’t sorry.
“Eh. It’s fine.” Alex seemed pretty indifferent, but it was clear she didn’t want to talk about it. “What’s your schedule? I’d love for us to catch up.”
“We’re off for two days, then heading to Scotland.” I looked around for the guys. “We could start now, I’m done here.”
Alex caught my gaze, her intention crystal clear. “Do you want to come back to my place?”
“I’d love to.” My voice nearly broke with anticipation.
“Jace, I’ve missed you.”
“I’ve missed you too, Poppy.” I wrapped my arms around her tightly. “But, seriously. Why the costume?”
“Because it’s fun. Barcelona was fun. Being undercover keeps you on your toes.” She winked. “Plus, Ty.”
I laughed, really laughed for the first time in ages.
Alex and I wound through the crowd toward the exit. I made sure to thank the promoters and a couple of the Belfast VIPs on the way. When we passed Ty, who still had his tongue down the ginger girl’s throat, Alex made a gagging gesture with her finger. Zane and Connor were nowhere to be found, but I texted them that I’d be in touch the next day.
Then we were free.
Sinking back into the leather seats of the limo they provided, Alex and I faced each other. Neither of us could stop smiling.
She pressed her long legs outside of mine, our knees touching. A fire raged through my system. I wanted her. I couldn’t believe it had been almost two years. She was the most stunning woman I’d ever seen. With almost no trace of the innocent schoolgirl I’d met at The Mission.
“You get more handsome every time I see you.” She leaned back, looking at me confidently.
“And you get more beautiful,” I countered, keeping her gaze.
It was on. It was so on.
Alex’s studio flat was located on a tree-lined street. Small, but modern, the entire layout consisted of a queen bed, a small desk, a utilitarian bathroom, and a kitchenette. Watching her gracefully navigate around her space, something clicked into place.
Game of Thrones tour be damned, I didn’t plan on leaving Alex until I had to catch my flight to Scotland.
Or maybe ever.
“Beer?” Alex reached down and opened a small fridge.
“Why not?” I accepted it and plopped down on the bed.
Leaning against the wall with a beer in hand, her long legs crossed in front of her, Alex regarded me.
“I’m actually feeling a little nervous,” she admitted.
I took a long pull from my beer. “Why?”
She cast her eyes down. “Last time I saw you, it was weird for me.”
I remained silent, waiting for her to continue.
“Even though I should have done it right after your show, I finally called the engagement off last year. I was too young.” Alex’s voice was measured. “Sam was awesome, but he wasn’t my forever.”
“Well,” I didn’t even try to hide my elation at the turn of events, “I was taken by surprise when you brought him.”
“Yeah.” She kicked the toe of her boot in the ground.
“So, no fiancés in Ireland?”
“Not yet.”
“Boyfriends?”
“Not yet.” She laughed. “You?”
“Me?” I feigned surprise.
“Seems like all of you guys are hooking up with the most famous women in the world.” Alex used finger quotes when she said the word famous.
“Hmmm.” I crossed my arms, considering. “I can’t deny that. It’s meaningless.”
She walked over to the bed and sat next to me. “How are you handling being so famous now?”
“It’s weird. Our lives aren’t really our own anymore. I think we’re all trying to adjust in our own way.” I finished my beer and leaned back on my elbows. “We’re never home anymore, even when we’re there it’s hard to l
eave the house.”
“Yeah. I get that.” She turned to her side and leaned back on her elbow, resting her head in her hand. “Thank you for protecting Zoey. You didn’t have to do that, but it was the right thing for her.”
“Ty—none of us—had any idea all of this would happen. The songs, this music? They’ve taken on a life of their own.” I turned on my side facing Alex, mirroring her pose.
“I won’t lie, Zoey hasn’t ever recovered, and this has taken a toll.” Alex reached out and stroked my hair. “She’s gone back into reclusive study mode; she’ll graduate from law school in a few months.”
“We owe her some royalties.” I leaned into Alex’s hand.
“You sure do.” Her nails raked my scalp gently. “In all seriousness, in time I hope they’ll both come out the other side.”
“It’s already been a long fucking time,” I guffawed before moving my face closer to hers.
“Okay, well, enough about them,” Alex murmured before pressing her lips softly to mine.
My heart was beating like crazy; I’d thought of her so often over the years, believing we’d never have this again. Tasting her, smelling her oceany, tropical scent, feeling her body flush with mine, I wound my arm around her and cupped her head to deepen our kiss and realized she still had the stupid wig on. As sexy as her costume was, I wanted Alex. Not the imposter.
“Can I take this off?” I backed off slightly and gripped a handful of the dark wig, holding it out to the side.
Alex reached up, took a few pins out, and pulled it off, shaking out her honey-blonde hair, which fell in soft waves around her face.
“Done.” She rested her cheek on her hand looking up at me, her blue eyes popping with the dark eyeliner.
“There you are.” I traced her lips with my finger, unable to stop looking at her.
We watched each other silently as I caressed her face then moved to her neck and then down to her cut shoulder, which was exposed. Her eyes were half-mast, as were mine. Our lips met again. Tenderly, we kissed, barely touching our mouths together over and over again. Almost like we were in awe to be here in this moment. Together. My dick was harder than it had been in years and twitched in my jeans, aching to be reunited with this woman.
“I’m clean,” I whispered in between kisses. “I haven’t been with anyone in a few months, you’re still the only one.”
“Good.” She stroked my hair and leaned in to suckle my earlobe and kiss along my jawline. “I’ve been careful too.”
“Not my innocent girl anymore?” I cupped her ass to drag her against my swollen dick. She hooked her leg over mine to grind her core against me.
“What can I say? Sex is awesome.” She fused her mouth to mine. We made out like teenagers and dry humped almost desperately.
Needing her naked, I pulled off her shirt. Braless! Her dark nipples were puckered into delectable tight nubs.
Alex kicked off her boots, peeled off her leggings, threw them to the floor, and lay back watching me. Moaning softly when I kneaded her breasts, I couldn’t stop suckling their taut peaks one after the other. The aromatic smell of her arousal filled the room, and when I reached down to her slick, wet clit she was already rubbing it.
Sitting up, I quickly slipped out of my shoes and pulled off my hoodie. My dick was getting harder by the minute just from watching her pleasure herself. Alex lay back on the bed and shamelessly looked me in the eye, opening her knees wide to fuck herself with her fingers.
That was it. Ridding myself of my jeans and socks in less than a second, I fisted my thick shaft and pumped it in cadence with her rhythm. Never losing eye contact, Alex removed her fingers and sucked them, spreading her legs even wider to show me her exquisitely bare, drenched pink pussy. I lost all control. I had to be inside her.
In one motion I covered her body with mine and impaled her, grabbing her fingers and suckling the rest of her delicious essence from them. Never had anything tasted so good or felt so incredible. Her tight, velvet warmth enveloped my cock in the most heavenly way. Pushing her thighs up and apart, I held her open so my hips could roll over and over into her core. Alex’s slender hands gripped my biceps. Her eyes squeezed shut in pleasure from the merger of our bodies.
A deep, burning possessiveness overtook me. Suddenly, it was imperative for me to infiltrate her soul. Nothing was going to stop me from making her come so hard she’d forget that any other guy would ever exist now or in the future.
I rolled over so she could ride me. Stroking my fingers through her wet pussy lips, I strummed and circled her extended clit. While she arched backward, she braced herself on my thighs. Alex puffed out little breaths and circled her hips, grinding against me. Her hair and perfect breasts bounced while she sought her release. Then she found it. The exact right angle. Her entire body shuddered; and her euphoria made her look like the sexiest angel. I was mesmerized. Smitten.
My angel’s head lolled back, and she emitted a guttural, devilish yowl. Her inner walls tightened around me like a vise.
Rolling us back over, I knelt between her legs and drove back inside her roughly. I couldn’t get deep enough, fast enough. Gripping her ankles, I rested her legs on my shoulders and held her thighs to my chest so I could piston my hips into her. Alex fisted the sheets to her sides, her head thrashing back and forth while I feverishly drove my cock into her tight pussy. The tingle at the base of my spine consumed me like wildfire. Shouting her name, I came so hard that my vision blacked out from the pleasure of it.
When I regained some measure of composure, I was still pulsing inside her. Alex’s keening moans filled the room. Both of us were gasping for air. Gingerly, I pulled my cock out of her, releasing a flood of our combined juices onto the bedspread. Not caring one iota about the mess, I flopped over and cradled her tightly until our breathing finally regulated.
When our lips met again, we sipped deliciously from each other’s mouths in the aftermath of our explosive reunion.
“Jesus,” I said when I could finally speak.
“God,” Alex sighed.
“Come to my hotel.” I smoothed her hair and kissed her temple. “We can hole up for a couple of days and stay naked for days.”
“Okay,” Alex agreed without any argument whatsoever.
“Then hurry up and pack some things, woman.” I sprung up and pulled her with me, indulging in a saucy spank on her bare ass.
In record time I’d clothed myself and admired the view of Alex’s spectacular naked, tight, body scurrying around the room, gathering clothes and toiletries. She was such a turn on, I loved how she had no inhibitions about being completely nude in front of me. When she attempted to move past me to grab her clothes, I pulled her down on my lap instead.
Her long legs splayed over mine, she rested her head on my shoulder and I stroked her silky inner thigh. Holding my face in her hands, she caressed the day’s stubble and closed her eyes before she drew me to her lips. Our kisses were sweet, but her eyes popped open when I inserted three fingers into her pussy, which was still very lubricated from our recent activities. When I found her G-spot I rubbed it and lazily circled her clit with my thumb. My other arm supported her upper body, giving me just enough room to tweak and pinch her nipple with my fingers.
“Jace!” Alex chanted every time I hit the mark. She thrust her hips up and clenched my fingers tightly in her channel through another spectacular orgasm.
“If the only thing I did all day was watch your beautiful face when you come, I’d be a happy man,” I growled in her ear, suckling at her earlobe while her spasms subsided.
“I’d be on board with that.” Alex panted; her blue eyes locked with mine. “And I’m down for seeing more of your O-Face, Jace.”
The funny thing is, although I’d blurted the sentiment without thinking, I knew what I said was inherently true. Something had immediately shifted inside me when I saw her again at the party. This wasn’t just fun and games. It wasn’t just sex. I wanted her to be mine. I needed her to be mine
. I’d never had such intense emotions.
How can I make this happen?
Chapter 12
ALEX
We didn’t leave Jace’s luxurious hotel suite in Belfast for forty-eight hours. True to his promise, we stayed gloriously naked the entire time and Jace took me in every position he could think of in every location. We were starved for each other. Muscles I didn’t know existed ached deliciously in every way possible, I was in a constant state of arousal just thinking about his muscled body, his cleft chin, dimples, piercing green eyes, and gloriously and perpetually erect cock. When he wasn’t inside me, I felt like a piece of me was missing, and so we’d start all over again.
It was clear that something had changed between us. We weren’t fucking, we were making love. Jace had always been caring and sweet, but both of us always remained a bit distant.
Now, the way he looked at me seemed different. Loving. Reverential. Possessive. Content.
Gawd, I knew it because I looked at him the same way.
On the morning he had to fly to Scotland, I felt a little blue but tried to hide it. We lay in the big bed wrapped in each other’s arms, savoring our last hours together. Jace was kissing my head and face. I was raking my fingers through his thick, blond hair, staring into the distance. I wanted to live in the moment forever. Instead, a stupid timer was in my head ticking away the minutes until he left.
“Hey, are you with me, Poppy?” Jace used his finger to tip my chin up to look at him and, dammit, my eyes filled with tears.
Mortified, I tried to cover it up because I did not cry.
“I hope it’s not another two years until I see you again.” I managed to choke out.
“No, that’s not going to happen.” Jace teased my nipple with his finger, smiling as it puckered.
“It could.” I hated how my voice sounded so needy.
“The thing is, Alex—I don’t want that.”
Wait. What?
“What do you mean?” I studied him, confused but also hopeful.
“Come with me.” Jace’s green eyes flickered as though he’d solved a difficult puzzle. “Yes! Come on tour with us.”
LIMITLESS: A Less Than Zero Rockstar Romance: Book 2: Jace & Alex Page 13