But she wasn’t ready for that. I’d have to take my opportunities as they presented themselves.
What I could do was use my body to show her. While her eyes shifted infinitesimally between the two of mine, I pressed forward to take her lips in a searing kiss. Immediately, she opened for me, eager and receptive. Like two magnets, our bodies aligned to eliminate any space between us. It occurred fluidly, automatically, like it had already become second nature to us, no different than breathing.
Without prompting, she shifted until her thighs straddled my hips. The decorative blanket fell to the ground, exposing our naked bodies. My cock swelled beneath her warm pussy. Raising on her knees, she reached down to take my heavy erection in her hand before guiding it to her entrance, paused with our gazes locked, and then lowered over me to the hilt.
Fucking hell, I’d never get used to the way she felt around me.
Watching her take me to her advantage, feeling her clenching my cock like a vise, that was it for me. I knew I was forever ruined by this woman.
I tried to ignore the thin veil she insisted on hiding behind. It was hard to detect its presence as she fucked me with abandon, hands on my chest and eyes tethered to mine with every rise and fall of her hips. But I knew it was there, and I knew ignoring it for now was a necessity.
“Kiss me, Red.”
When her tongue poked out to moisten her lips, I wrapped my hands behind her neck and pulled her down until her tits pressed against my chest. And as she continued to control the speed and velocity of our fucking, I proceeded to control her thoughts with my mouth ravaging hers. Hard nibbles and forceful sucks caused moan after moan to vibrate between us, becoming one sound.
I sat up, sending me even deeper into her, if that were at all possible. Needing to release the pressure in my cock so fucking badly, I murmured into her mouth, “Come, Red.”
She pulled away in a frantic jerk, buried her face in my neck, and held on to me as she rode out every tremor her body unleashed. Only once she relaxed, went lax just enough to indicate it was over, did I flip us to take the reins. Three, maybe four slow, deliberate corkscrewing motions was all it took for me to come like a fucking geyser.
Her head tilted forward to watch my cock slowly sliding in and out of her as my muscles settled. The beauty of me filling her, in every way a man was meant to, became a metaphor of sorts.
A sexy, seductive smile spread over her lips as I collapsed my weight on her body. Taking advantage of the opportunity that her current levity provided, I kissed her nose and said, “You’re coming home with me, Red. No arguments.”
“Fine,” she replied with attitude. “That’s not playing very fair, though. Making demands after hot sex.”
“You’re the one who started this,” I reminded her with a subtle roll of my hips. “I’m just shamelessly reaping the benefits.”
Chapter 29
Lori
The dry desert landscape zipped by as Cannon sexily sang along with the Chainsmokers on the radio. God I loved his voice. It made it effortless to sell his music so convincingly. He had it all, the sensual rasp, the deep rumble, and the melodic pitch that came as smooth as silk.
Occasionally, his gaze would cut from the road to throw a smile my way, prompting an automatic curve on my own lips in return.
There were so many amazing layers to Cannon, most importantly his ability to truly open up. Hell, I didn’t even possess that level of emotional maturity. It humbled me to the point where I felt these days that I spent with him were a gift. Because even if things didn’t work out between us, this twenty-four-year-old amazing man had already taught me more than anyone had in my life. But it was hard to change a person like me. God love him for trying, though.
“Have you ever been to Arizona?” he asked once the song ended. In typical Cannon fashion, he’d convinced me to go home with him and meet his family. That was a definite concern I had, how easily he could twist my arm and have me agree to something he wanted. Most of the time, it happened in bed.
“Nope.” I eyeballed the vast, barren wasteland that the blacktop road sliced in half. “It’s… um… pretty?”
He chuckled and reached for my hand. “Once we get off the next exit and drive into Surprise, you’ll see how beautiful it actually is.”
“I get it. Like when people come to Jersey and judge it off the smelly stretch of the turnpike near the airport. That’s nothing like what the real New Jersey is.”
“Right, Arizona isn’t just an ugly desert. Wait until we watch the sun set over the White Tank Mountains… spectacular. I’ll show you all the best parts while we’re here.” Distractedly, his thumb rubbed across my knuckles when he added, “And when we hit the East Coast tour, I want you to show me the real Jersey… the beaches, the parks, the places you love.”
I still hadn’t decided if I’d tour with him. Hell, I still hadn’t decided how I would break it to the label we were—whatever we were… or if I would at all.
“Once my tour is over…” he went on, oblivious to my inner turmoil. “I also want to run away to a secluded island with you. Just you, me, and a beach. I’ve always dreamt of visiting the Caribbean.”
My heart instantly bucked at his easy admission. I should have been used to the way he divulged something without holding back. He did it often, and each time I always had the same internal heartwarming reaction followed by utter confusion.
“How about we take one thing at a time?” Predictably, he smirked at my noncommittal response. I knew that he knew it was my pathetic attempt to try to remain level-headed.
“That’s exactly what I plan to do, Red.” That time, when he cut his gaze my way, the lust he carried for me blatantly blazed in those cognac-colored eyes.
“Once you’re rich and famous frolicking on a beach with me will be the bottom of your list of priorities, rock star.”
“Care to wager?” he countered before bringing my hand to his mouth and gently biting down on my thumb. This man was killing me. “Cat got your tongue, Red?” After another cute bite, Cannon released my hand as he pulled off the highway. “Okay, we’re almost there, which means your time is up… are we out or not?” As promised, he hadn’t mentioned if we were coming out as a couple to his family, or to anyone else, for that matter, since our last argument a week ago. And damn, it had been a doozy.
Behind closed doors I was everything he wanted and gave him everything he needed without any reservations. It was easy to do when no one could judge because of our working connection or even the age difference. In my defense, take away all the heated passion and surprising emotions we unearthed, and I was still his agent. I had a job to do, one that shouldn’t include screwing Cannon.
Honestly, I was doing a damn great job too… as was he. My appointment book was filled with interviews and guest radio spots. Regarding his album, we were ahead of schedule. It was now being cut and edited, soon to release just before he left on tour. From start to finish, every song on that playlist was pure perfection. I couldn’t even claim one as a favorite. His existing fan base would no doubt shit themselves when they heard the masterpieces that he’d created. Deep down, knowing so many of the lyrics had come to him after we’d met warmed me. It told a definite story of a man who had transitioned in so many ways, one of the most obvious being his heart. It spoke of growth and vulnerabilities, hopes and expectations.
Hanging heavy over all those fantastic accomplishments was the stress I carried if LRV and Jen disapproved. His entire career, as well as mine, could implode. We both had a lot on the line, and I couldn’t ignore those moments of panic that refused to go away.
Having said all that, I had most definitely fallen in love with him these last few weeks. It was easy to do when he was so affectionate, so open, and so honest. That stormy night in that hotel room had started it all. Sure, physically Cannon and I had that going on in spades. It was emotionally where we connected on a different level. We could talk for hours, about just about anything.
The
way he made me want to be with him every waking moment of every day was all so new to me. Every single bit of it I’d never experienced before, nor did I know how to handle it. So basically I kept it inside, afraid to share too much while handing him one tiny piece of my heart at a time.
This thing between Cannon and me was pure insanity. We’d gone from crawling to running in a matter of days. Since that first night, I no longer had the strength to fight off the ever-growing feelings that had become their own life force within me. I haven’t shared them fully with Cannon yet, but they constantly tapped on my heart to remind me of their existence.
Only time would tell if we would survive, but as he’d just reminded me, I was quickly running out of time on deciding to even give us a shot at all.
A few minutes went by before he twisted his head to glance at me. “Red?”
“Can your family be trusted to keep it to themselves?”
“What kind of stupid question is that?” he asked with attitude. That was another thing I loved about him. He never kowtowed to my ridiculous paranoia. He’d once said fighting with me wasn’t a deterrent, and he really meant it. It was what we did, and for some demented reason it turned me on. But I couldn’t take credit for how we came through at the end of each argument… that was all Cannon.
It was too soon when he pulled onto a dusty driveway and cut the engine. Turning his entire body my way, he placed a hand on the back of my neck and asked, “So?”
“Yes.”
His eyes narrowed suspiciously. “Yes, you’re my girlfriend?” I guessed I couldn’t blame him for second-guessing my decision.
“Yes, while here in Arizona at your mom’s house,” I spelled it out crystal clear. “It’s important for me to meet them all without a lie between us.” He studied my face as I studied his. These women were responsible for the man I’d fallen in love with. Bad or good, I wanted them to know me. “But anywhere else, I need time, Cannon.”
Our eyes remained locked as the wheels in his head turned. No doubt, he was choosing to sidestep this battle, knowing the war was still his for the taking.
“I can live with that,” he said with a nod, but the devious expression on his face meant, “Game on, Red.” Leaning in, he gave me a sweet, soft kiss. “Ready?”
“Wait!” My favorite smirk twisted those fine lips. “Kate is with Mark, and Kim is with John?”
I knew his sisters were identical, but personality-wise they were nothing alike. He’d also said one was a grammar schoolteacher and the other was a nurse. The teacher set the nurse up with her best friend, also a teacher and also an identical twin. It was just a matter of time before she herself had ended up with her best friend’s brother. But I didn’t know who was who.
“No. Kate and Mark are best friends and teach at the same elementary school. Mark is dating Kim. John, his twin, is the cop now engaged to Kate. Got it?”
“No. If they’re all identical to each other, how do you tell them apart?”
“I don’t,” he quipped on a shrug before planting another kiss on me. When he pulled away a mere inch to smile, I could feel its effects in every part of my body. Then he went and ruined it by saying, “Let’s meet the crazy women in my life.” My eyes widened, my heart pounded for new reasons, and he laughed at my expense. It took a few minutes to even get out of the car while he pulled our bags from the trunk.
After placing them on the path, he opened my door and pulled me out. “Relax, Red. I’m sure they’ll like you.”
“Not helping.” Giving me no choice, he dragged me toward the front door. A cute Halloween wreath shimmied when he pressed the doorbell, releasing a muted melody to filter out around us. Just as the door swung open, Cannon dropped a quick hard kiss on my lips.
Bastard.
“Cannon?” A petite woman with light-brown hair and the same amber eyes as my guy stared at him in shock.
My guy?
The words clanged around in my head as she yanked open the door so forcibly it rattled in its frame. “What are you doing here?”
“Surprise!”
“My goodness!” After throwing her arms around his waist, her attention slid to me while her smile grew. “Is this Lori that we’ve heard so much about?”
“Yep. This is her.” He grinned at the deer-in-headlights thing I had going on and extracted his mom’s ironclad grip from around his torso to lay his arm across my shoulders. “Mom, this is Lori Banzini. Red, this is my mother, Erica Davis.”
“It’s so nice to meet you, Mrs. Davis.”
“Erica,” she barked, ignoring my outstretched hand to gift me with the same embrace she gave her son. “Mrs. Davis was my mother, sweetheart.”
During one of our heartfelt talks, Cannon had said his mom had legally changed all their names after his dad left to her maiden name. That night, he’d held nothing back while telling me how his dad had abandoned them when he was only five. He’d explained how his mom set off for Surprise, Arizona, from Idaho to give her kids a better life.
Through all Cannon had shared about her, Erica Davis seemed so strong, so determined. This small-framed, feisty woman before us had the presence of a giant. Yet in those familiar eyes I recognized loneliness. It was the same look in my own eyes. Her giving up any chance for her own happiness was something Cannon felt guilty over. It had definitely contributed to his determination to find love. He’d watched his mother move through life alone from the sidelines and hated she’d never found someone to share it all with.
“Yes, ma’am,” I said with a warm smile when she pulled away to look at me.
“My, my, you’re gorgeous. Runway gorgeous.”
A blush instantly heated my cheeks from her lack of a filter. “Thank you.” Cannon winked at my sudden shyness and then chuckled when that was all I said.
“We’re starving. Watcha got to eat, Ma?” He took my hand and practically dragged me into the house, leaving our bags outside. “After lunch, I want to give Lori a tour of Surprise.”
“You’ll need to come back in a few weeks when the town is decorated for the holidays. Will you be here for Thanksgiving? Kate is cooking this year. Said she needs the practice now that she’s getting married and all.”
“I leave right after Thanksgiving, Mom. I don’t know if I’ll be able to swing a trip home.”
“Well, then maybe we’ll come to you to wish you off.” Cannon just shook his head while she rambled on and moved past us into the kitchen. “Oh, be sure to take Lori to Gaines Park. There’s an art fair happening today. In fact, Kate is there with her class for a field trip.”
“On that note, we’ll head somewhere else.”
“Very funny. Lori, is there anything you don’t eat?”
“No, Mrs. Dav… um, Erica,” I admitted.
“Good, because every time my son graces us with his presence, I cook all his favorite meals.” She leaned closer and whispered, “It’s my secret way of ensuring he gets homesick good and often.”
“You’re an evil woman,” he said, narrowing his eyes at her.
“Pfft, tell me something I don’t know. So what’s happening with the music?” Like a tiny Tasmanian devil, she flitted about the kitchen pulling ingredients while chatting on and on as Cannon began filling her in on the album details.
And during it all, they both had me feeling right at home only minutes into our visit.
Chapter 30
Cannon
I knew pushing her into coming home with me was a great idea. After the initial nerves had settled, Lori melded into my family seamlessly. Closer in age to my sisters, they connected in an instant. The only challenge was that Lori still couldn’t tell them apart at first glance. In her defense it was hard to do. Besides mom and me, most people didn’t know if it was Kate or Kim until they started speaking.
That was where I had fun messing with Lori. When I discovered she usually waited for me to address them first, I started using a generic “Sis.” If she asked what color Kim was wearing, I’d tell her Kate’s wardrob
e instead. And by playing games with John and Mark’s identity every chance I got, these last two days had ignited a sexy fury within my girl. The angrier she got, the more turned on I did. Since today’s stunt had made Lori livid, I was one horny bastard.
Noticing Kim’s cell on the kitchen counter, I texted Lori as she took a shower.
Hey, it’s Kim. Cannon gave me your number yesterday. Would you happen to have any condoms? I don’t have time to run to the store, and Mark will kill me if I forget them. We’re staying at the hotel after the party. Asking you instead of Cannon for obvious reasons.
Lori came out of the bathroom, took one look at her phone, and rummaged through her toiletry bag without saying a word. A tiny part of me thought it was a bad idea when she walked out of my room in search of Kim. But the conversation that filtered toward me when Lori found her in the kitchen made it worth the ire that I’d no doubt receive.
Sure enough, a minute later Lori stormed into my room and slammed the door before ripping me open a new one. And as my cock grew with each second of her fury being unleashed through her cute little smacks, I decided it would be worth it tonight. Especially when an hour later she remained fuming.
“How long are you going to be mad at me?” I cut my eyes from the road to her and back while trying to hide my grin. When she uncrossed her legs, recrossed them, and folded her arms, I may have taken a bit too long raking my gaze over her, thus causing the truck to drift to the left. That seemed to amuse her, but she fought her own grin and turned to glance out her window.
She looked stunning with her hair pulled high into a ponytail and an emerald-green long-sleeved dress hugging every curve… and way out of my league. From the front, except for it hitting just above her knee, it looked quite conservative. Once she turned around, my dick swelled in my pants at seeing her entire back exposed.
Because one of my favorite things was her silky skin, I skimmed my hand over her thigh before landing it on her knee. “You’re so fucking sexy when you’re mad, I may have to turn us around and ditch this party.”
Liner Notes Page 21