Chapter 32
The door to Damon’s dressing room burst open, and Skylar rushed inside, zippers jangling. The sight of her, there finally, even though she shouldn’t have been since the recording was supposed to take another couple of days, eased the sadness he’d been feeling without her.
“Skylar, I—”
Her mouth devoured his, her hands already going for his pants. His head spun, but he didn’t try to stop her. Instead, he gripped her face and gave as good as he got.
Her hands managed to get his fly open, but she could only shove his tight pants so far. She grabbed his bare ass as she pressed against him. “Fuck, why aren’t you wearing your comfy jeans?”
Damon laughed even as he pulled her tighter against him, already desperate for her. He kissed her again, his tongue thrusting inside to tangle with hers.
“Goddammit, Skylar, at least shut the door,” Mandy said from behind them, slamming it shut herself, and Damon flushed as he realized how many people could have looked in.
Skylar laughed, poking him in the cheek. “How can you still blush?” Her hand was on him, gripping tightly as she stroked. “Mmm, I see you missed me.” She pulled a condom out of her pocket, quickly rolling it on. “Fuck, I need you inside me.”
“I need that, too,” Damon admitted, his hands sifting into her hair. The tension in her drifted away even as she shoved her own shorts and underwear down.
“Two weeks was too long to go without sex.” She dragged him down to the ground, already crawling over him. “I’ve never gone this long before. Any quick fuck used to ease the pressure. I missed that.” Her wet entrance proved how much she wanted it, but she’d frozen above him. Her hands twisted in his shirt. “Shit, I wouldn’t. You know that, right? I love to fuck, but I only want to fuck you now.” Her face twisted in a scowl as she stared into his eyes.
Damon loved her so much. His hands found her hair again. “It’s nice to hear, but I know. I trust you, Skylar.” The frustration fell from her face. Her expression was the one that squeezed his heart even though she’d never said the words. He ached to be inside her. “Are you done with me already?” he asked.
“Fuck no.” She lowered herself, enveloping his erection until he was buried deep inside. They both groaned as she held still, savoring the sensation. “Damn. How am I so close already?”
Her words only made the ache sweeter. His hand moved to where they were joined, and she shivered. His finger drifted up, stroking her clit.
“Damon, I’m seriously going to—” She gasped as the orgasm hit her.
She was so beautiful, he thought, stroking her through it and focusing on how much more he wanted to keep himself in check while her inner muscles clenched around him.
Her breath whooshed out when it was over. Then her thighs tightened on his hips and she began to move. She didn’t lead up to it. No, Skylar rose and slammed back down, again and again, deep thrusts that worked for them both. His hand started to move away from her so he could clutch her hips instead, but she bit her lip and shook her head.
“No, I want—” She groaned as she thrust down again.
He moved back to her clit to resume his strokes. “This?”
“Yes,” she hissed as her thighs clenched.
He followed her movements, giving her the pressure she loved.
“Oh fuck!” she cried out as the second orgasm hit her. She continued to move through it, bringing him to the edge of his own release. He grabbed her hips as her clenching faded, helping to angle her back even as he thrust up, right over where she needed it. Skylar’s movements became erratic, desperately seeking more pressure. Their breathing shifted to gasps as they thrust together. When his release tore through him, she was with him.
Skylar slumped down to his chest, Damon’s favorite place to have her. He hugged her to him, rubbing her back. “Did I mention I missed you?” he murmured.
Skylar snorted. “I’ll say.” She kissed his neck, that absentminded brush of lips one he cherished.
They listened to their heartbeats slow together. His hands continued their circular strokes, ones that elicited little hums he was certain she was unaware of. “How did the recording go?”
Her hands clenched on his shoulders. “There were a few tweaks, but the shit got done. The music…” She trailed off, pressing her face against him again.
He continued to massage her. “It’s okay to take your time with this. The release date—”
“No, I want people to hear it.” She lifted her head to meet his eyes. “I want you to hear it. Before anyone.”
“Skylar,” he started, but the words were lost in a shudder as she slowly separated their bodies. He clutched at her to help with her own shivers, but she rose and crossed to her discarded shorts. Damon threw out the condom and righted his pants. When she reached out, his hand came up automatically to take whatever she was giving him.
Skylar’s hands wrapped around his to close them on the flash drive that held her music. “It would mean a lot to me if you listened to this. I need you to hear it. In my words.” She shrugged, backing off. “But I can’t be here while you listen. It’d be hella awkward.” She clomped toward the door, but she was no longer looking at him. “So I’m gonna go cool my shit.” The door closed behind her.
Damon pulled in a breath, looking down at the gift in his hand. He crossed to his laptop and pulled up the flash drive. There was no video. Just her voice, and a song he never expected. One that mourned what she had gone through.
He saw what had happened to her through her lyrics. Her husky voice sang of a vulnerability, a brokenness that he could never understand, but that shattered him.
He lowered himself into the closest chair, the heels of his hands scraping at his eyes.
“Fuck,” Skylar’s voice said at the end. “This is going to suck to perform if I cry every goddamn time. What a whiner, am I right?” She didn’t laugh. “It’s stupid, because I have this empty space right here, in my gut, where this shit used to sit. I mean, I’m still crying, but it’s better. Fuck if any of this makes sense.” She sighed. “I know you’ll understand, but I don’t want to talk, okay? The song is enough. So I’m adding this other song. Shit, if I’m honest, I’m hoping it’ll distract you. Here it goes. This one’s all about you, Mr. Sweetface.”
Words of hope drifted over him next, ones from his very own love song, written just for him. It did nothing to stop his tears.
He slipped the gift into his pocket afterward, not wanting anyone to hear what he had, not until she was ready to share it herself. And then he went in search of her.
Skylar stood behind the curtain of the stage, looking out. Her arms hugged herself. He was scared to touch her and stopped just out of reach.
She turned to him. She didn’t look fragile or broken. Her smile held a peace it hadn’t before as she moved to him, reaching for his still damp cheeks.
“Oh shit, I knew you’d look like this.” Her hands were gentle as they brushed the wetness away. “How many people did you show this face to just to come here to me? The media is going to be a shitfest again.”
“Can I hold you?” he asked around the lump in his throat.
She put herself into his arms, her head resting against his chest. “I need that too.” Her soft sigh feathered over him. “Even with all the orgasms, I think I crave this right here the most.”
Damon felt the same. One hand moved to her hair, and the other one wrapped around her back as he held her. He was certain he’d hold her as often and as long as she could ever want.