Chapter 4
MADDY
THE PAST – SEPTEMBER – 18 MONTHS AGO.
I’d been betrayed by people who loved me, but I’d never expected my mind and body to do the same. Standing next to Slip in the green room, backstage at the Velvet Vault, had stirred the butterflies in my stomach back to life. Following him and the band along the corridor toward the stage had given me too much time to check out his hot ass. Meeting his gaze as he glanced over his shoulder and smiled had quickened my heartbeat and pooled heat between my legs.
Now, sitting across from him having a drink after his band’s first gig since Phil had died, too much warmth flooded my cheeks.
What is with that? I don’t need this.
Cole stood next to Slip with some brunette hanging off his every word. Sutton and Flint lingered by the bar and couldn’t be pried apart even with a set of jaws-of-life cutters. People hovered around us, occasionally interrupting us for a chat and a photo, but otherwise we were left alone.
I liked this venue for that reason. We could hang out without being inundated by fans.
Grabbing the bottle of vodka from the center of our table, Slip poured us fresh shots. He handed me a glass, then raised his drink. The gratitude warming his eyes sent another flutter skipping through my stomach. “Here’s to you. I won’t ever be able to thank you enough for helping get Flint and Sutton back together.”
Since I’d met him three months ago, Slip and I had been texting and talking. Our initial contact had been to ensure Sutton and Flint were sticking to their publicity stunt to revive their careers. But our messaging had morphed into a daily occurrence when our friends had fallen for each other, and the shit had hit the fan, and they’d broken up.
Masterminding a plan to get them back together had been fun, daunting, and challenging. I’d never known a guy like Slip to be so concerned for his friend’s well-being, or who’d go to any extreme to help him. But I’d do the same for Sutton. It was much easier to focus on someone else’s problems rather than my own. And I didn’t need to add more to my list. I was there at the Velvet Vault for Sutton. That was it.
I lifted my glass toward Slip’s. “I’m happy our plan worked.”
“Me too.” The tiniest hint of a smile touched his lips. “But if they don’t work out, I’ll just have to keep texting and calling you so we can come up with new plans.”
Fire crept up my neck and into my cheeks. “Even if they stay together, I don’t mind if you keep texting.”
“I might just do that.” His eyes glinted as he lifted his shot a fraction higher.
“Please do.” I chinked my glass against his, then swallowed my shot. I licked my lips, savoring the taste of the sweet, cold liquid. Mmmm . Much better than the lychee martini I’d had earlier with Sutton. I’d never drink one of those awful cocktails ever again. But I could do straight vodka .
He chuckled, low and deep, but as he took a steady breath, somberness swallowed his smile. “I’m just stoked Flint’s playing and writing again. It’s been a shit fest since Phil died. Cole and I were so worried we’d never perform together again. Sutt’s perfect for Flint. She has this calmness that he needs.”
“He’s been good for her too. Given her new confidence. Now it’s up to them to work on being together forever. Love will make or break them.” Some of us would remain permanently broken.
Slip puffed air through his nose and stared at me as if he’d read my mind. “I’ve had enough breaks to last me a lifetime. Let’s pray someone gets it right.”
“Yeah. They will.” I licked the spilled vodka off my fingers but froze when Slip’s gaze fell to my lips. He could do it for me...but no. “I’ve got a good feeling about those two.”
“I do too.” He tilted his head to the side. A raw intensity blazed in the depths of his eyes, and the most incredible soul-touching smile inched across his face. A low buzz hummed between us. After weeks of texting and talking, I’d slowly gotten to know him. I’d learned about his band and family. We’d both been through heartache and loss. Hard times and difficulties. He was sunshine to my darkness. Like me, he’d do anything for his friends, and put their happiness before his own. And if I read him right, there was a lot more to him than met the eye.
Did I want to delve deeper? Get to know him better? No...that wasn’t a good idea. We had to stay in the friends-only zone.
Slip knocked back his shot, then jutted his chin toward our Flint and Sutton. She stood between Flint’s legs as he sat on a stool. They kissed, talked, and had I’m-so-in-love glassy eyes for each other. “I’d much rather be doing what they’re doing.”
“What?” I rested my folded arms on the table. “Making up after an ugly breakup? ”
“Hmmm.” He cocked an eyebrow and threw me a sexy smile. “Skip the breakup part.”
I bit my lower lip to contain my smile, but failed. “Breakups are never fun.” Is he hitting on me? What would making out with Slip be like? Are his lips as soft as they look? Do they taste of vodka? How hot would his tongue be? Heat meandered over my skin. It took all my willpower to turn away. I swallowed another shot to kill the thoughts taunting my mind. “I’ve never gotten back together with anyone after calling it quits.”
“No. Me either.” He reached for his glass of water and took a swig. “I suck at relationships. I’m just out to have fun and more than happy to stay single.”
“Same.” Single was for the best. No heartache. No betrayal. No mess. “It’s the only way to be.” I was too much of a raging mess to contemplate a relationship with anyone ever again.
But he made it impossible to focus on anything but him. Why did he have to be good-looking and nice? He was so different from any other guy I was normally attracted to. I usually went for clean-cut guys, but Slip was all rough and unruly. Long-haired. Tattooed. Mysterious. And I was fully aware of his reputation.
Was I someone he’d hook up with? Shit. Don’t go there.
The sooner this night was over, the better.
As we munched on the hot fries Cole had ordered, Slip filled me in on his band’s steady progress of writing new music, and their plans to find a new bassist and record in the new year. I rattled on about my show’s new season. Working on Vancouver Heights , a TV series that centered around lawyers fighting to reach partner status, never left me with a dull moment on or off the screen. Half my attention was on Sutton, making sure she was okay as fans flitted around her and Flint. But there was no need to worry. Her smile looked permanently set in place.
Near midnight, Flint ambled over and patted Slip on the shoulder. “The rest of the night is yours. Sutt and I are outta here.”
“Pussy power, huh?” Slip chuckled at Sutton who blushed like an innocent angel. She was, and I loved her for it.
Flint whispered something to Slip, but I couldn’t hear what he said. Concern drifted across Slip’s eyes. With a shake of his head, it was gone, and his gorgeous smile returned.
I hugged Sutton goodbye. “Love you. Have fun. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”
“Mads, I wouldn’t do half the things you do. But I love you. And thank you for tonight. For everything.” She stepped back and hooked her arm around Flint’s waist. Then she winked at me as she angled her head toward Slip. “Be careful with this one.”
“We’re just friends.” I jerked my chin backward. What was she getting at?
“O-kay,” she said. I knew that tone. The tone that said I don’t believe you . But she was wrong. Right? Giggling, she rubbed my arms. “Night. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”
“Night.” Twinkling my fingers, I waved goodbye.
After they left and Cole had hooked up with some girl, Slip placed his wrists on the bar table and fidgeted with his leather bracelets. The crowd had thinned. No one stood hovering around our table anymore. It was just the two of us. As I glanced at him, the hairs on my arms tingled. There was no denying there was a spark between us. As long as it didn’t ignite, everything would be okay.
“Do you wanna get out of here?” Slip’s foot jiggled on the stool rest at a million miles an hour. “I promised Flint I’d get you home safely.”
I loved that he suddenly seemed nervous. Awkward. Going by the sway in my stomach, I was too. But I didn’t want him to suffer. “I don’t need a chaperone. ”
“No, but I don’t like to break any promises.”
Is getting a lift a good idea? Yes . . . no . . . maybe. Shit, it’s only a ride.
“Okay. Just home.” Despite my wicked thoughts of things I’d like to do to him, I didn’t want to screw this up. Friends were all we could ever be. “There’ll be no invite inside for coffee ...oranything else.”
“I do love coffee ...” Crinkles formed at the corner of his eyes as he bobbed his head once. “But I’ll be a gentleman. I swear.”
I wouldn’t mind if he didn’t want to be chivalrous.
No. Stop. Panties stay on.
What is wrong with me?
Other than everything.
But during the drive home in his Camaro, Slip tapped his fingers against the steering wheel. He stole sideways glances at me. The current in the air hummed like a high-tension power line loaded with maximum voltage.
At my house in Sherman Oaks, Slip opened the car door for me and walked me onto the porch. I unlocked the front door and turned to him. My heart beat way too fast. Too many butterflies dipped and darted in my stomach. Why was saying goodnight so difficult? “Um...thanks for the lift.”
“No worries.” He stuffed his hands into the front pocket of his jeans. “I hope you liked the show.”
“I did. You guys were awesome.”
As I pursed my lips, I rocked on my heels and fidgeted with the chain on my purse. The air prickled my skin.
My breath quickened.
So did my pulse.
Shit.
Just being around Slip was intoxicating. Dangerous. The rise in my body temperature, impossible to ignore.
“Slip? I’m not being stupid, am I?” My heart beat with guarded caution. “There’s something between us, isn’t there?” I’d been so shut off for so long, just the notion of liking someone terrified me. I didn’t want to risk being hurt again.
“Yeah, but I’m sorry.” Anguish rippled across his eyes as he shook his head. “This can’t evolve into anything.”
“I know. I’m not wanting it to. I was just... shit. It doesn’t matter.” Don’t play with fire . “It’s okay.” The chemistry between us blazed hot, but somehow I had to put it out. A cold shower would have to do. I turned to step inside, but he caught my arm.
“No. It’s not okay. But it has to be.” Every nerve in my skin skipped beneath his touch, wanting him to explore my entire body. He stared at his hold on my wrist. Did he feel that zing too? He let go and fell back a step. “I’ve told you about my band’s bro code—our dibs rule. It may be stupid and childish, but it’s in place for a reason. To avoid issues, it’s hands off girlfriends, their friends, and any exes or relatives. You’re Sutton’s best friend, so you’re off-limits. I like you too much to risk screwing things up.”
My thoughts exactly.
He pinched his brows together and a new hardness set in his tone. “I’ve had firsthand experience at being fucked over by someone not following the rules. Too many times some girl has caused problems between us guys and had us close to breaking up. I won’t do that again.” So much pain and loss lingered in his every word. “We’ve just got Flint back from the hell depression sucked him into. He still needs us. So regardless of how much I like you, we can’t be anything more than friends.”
I wanted to wrap my arms around him and hold him tight. Make all his worries disappear. “You really love the guys, don’t you?”
He nodded. “They’re my life.”
“I’d say the same about Sutton.”
His loyalty and love for his friends flooded my chest with warmth. I’d never known such devotion and commitment. I’d only ever been burned by those things. Something about his compassion overruled any logical thought. I stepped a touch closer and lifted my chin a fraction so I could meet his gaze. The heat between us dialed up ten notches. “But I don’t want to think about her right now or the other guys. Or about rules and codes. I’m glad Flint is okay. No one wishes suffering of any kind on anyone.” I placed my hand on his chest. His heart raced beneath my touch. I lowered my voice to a volume that registered just above a whisper. “But Slip, I like you. I’m not after a relationship. Neither are you. I don’t want to be anything more than friends. I spend eighty percent of my life in Vancouver. I don’t have time for or even want a boyfriend. So let’s not overthink this.”
“Oh . . . I am.”
“Please don’t.” I drifted my lips closer to his. The pull toward him was too strong to fight. “But...tell me you want this. Just for one night. Some fun to kill this...buzz.”
He closed his eyes. Deep grooves dug into his brow. “You’re not making this easy. I’m in fucking agony here.”
“I don’t want that.” Summoning all my wavering confidence, I slid my hands up his arms and rested them on his shoulders. He didn’t pull away. Didn’t stop me. “No one has to know. There will be no repeat. I won’t tell Sutton. I promise.” It wouldn’t be the first secret I’d kept from her.
“Thought you said you weren’t going to ask me inside?”
“I’m not.” I threw him a saucy smile, then wrinkled my nose. “I’m just going to drag you over my threshold. Is that okay?”
“If you do that, you know what’s gonna happen?”
“Yeah. I’m hoping we fuck until sunrise.”
“Maddy?” He swallowed hard. His Adam’s apple lurched. “Therein lies a problem. One night with you will never be enough. ”
“It has to be. It will be.” My breath entwined with his. Fire consumed the air around us. “Say yes.”
Tension coiled through my body, burning low and deep in my core. Please. I needed this. Just one night. To get him out of my system.
“Fuck! Yes.” He clasped the back of my head and crushed his lips against mine. Oh wow. My hands shot into his hair. Parting my lips, I flicked my tongue against his in hungry, needy sweeps. My heartrate jumped,wanting more of him with each taste. His lips were softer than I’d imagined, gentle and warm. His control, clearly much better than mine. I drew him closer, kissed him harder. He tilted his head to the side, moaned against my mouth, and deepened our kiss. Fire coursed through my veins. My knees weakened. As I gripped onto his shoulders, it took all my strength to stay upright. He threaded his fingers into my hair and clutched a handful. The pressure of his tight hold matched the want building between my thighs.
I grabbed the front of his T-shirt, turned him toward my doorway, and steered him inside. With a kick of my heel, I shut the door behind us and walked him backward down the hall.
We discarded our clothes as we made our way upstairs to my bedroom. I had to have him inside me. In a flurry of wild kisses and sensual touches, we fell onto the bed. I grabbed a condom from my nightstand and handed it to him. I raked my gaze over his impressively big, thick cock as he sheathed himself. Oh...yes. My core happy-danced and begged him to hurry.
Stretching out along the bed, he positioned himself over me. His skin blazed against mine.
I wrapped my legs around his waist and drew his hips toward me so our bodies connected. “This okay?”
“Absolutely.” He arched a sexy eyebrow. “Unless you want to be on top? ”
“No. This is good for the first round.”
“I like your line of thinking.”
As he crushed his lips against mine, a deep, husky rasp rumbled low in his throat. The hum reverberated through my bloodstream and circled my heart, but I flicked it away before it got too close. I wasn’t stupid. I wasn’t going to fall for him. This was just one night of wicked fun.
With each rock and tilt of his hips, he nudged and teased his broad cock against my opening. My insides clenched. Anticipation burned hot between my thighs. As I glided my hands over his muscular arms, my fingertips traced every defined groove, bulge, and sinewy muscle. I didn’t think I had a thing for arms, but holy heck, his did something strange to me.
He ran his hand down my chest, over my breasts, and along my side. But when he made his way between my legs and fucked me with his fingers, he touched me in new ways I hadn’t thought were possible. Or existed. Not just wow. Holy. Fucking. Wow.
As he held me on the edge, I pulsed against his touch. With every kiss, his lips singed my mouth. “Slip?”
“You close?” He grinned as if straining to maintain control.
“Yes.”
“Good.”
He removed his fingers, took hold of his cock, and pressed it against my opening.
With a gentle push, he entered me. One inch, then two. Then, he stopped.
What the fuck? Give me all of that big dick!
“You alright?” He brushed his nose along the edge of mine, then kissed my eyelids, my cheek, my lips.
Ohhhh... “Yeah.” My heart beat loud in my ears. I so am.
After a few taunting pulses, he thrust, driving in deep. All the way in. “Fuck, you feel good. ”
A moan escaped me as my breath rushed from my lungs. Our lips touched. Our fingertips explored. My pussy throbbed and screamed... for more . “So do you.”
He nipped and licked a trail of feverish kisses down my neck. Goose bumps skipped across my flesh. I scratched my fingernails through his chest hair, gripped his shoulders, and drew my knees higher. Moving in time, we rocked. Connected. My core clenched around him. I wanted more friction. More depth. More heat.
I was close to coming, but Slip had other ideas. He worked my body into a frenzy. Penetrating me, then not. Exploring and kissing me all over, then entering me again. I’d never had sex like this. This maddening. This hot. This intoxicating. Just when I thought I couldn’t take any more, he drove into me with deep, slow, delicious thrusts. I clawed at his shoulders. That wasn’t enough. I clutched onto his butt, pulling him against me, urging him to go harder and faster.
“There. More. Please don’t stop,” I panted, pivoting my hips up toward his.
With a pounding, he took me over the edge, coming at the same time as my orgasm shot through me. Our bodies shuddered and quaked. Electric pulses spiraled up my spine and tingled my toes. Moaning and smiling, we kissed. Our hearts thundered against each other. I breathed him in, imprinting him into my memory.
Just. Wow.
I swept his long hair back and clutched it in my hand behind his head.
Gazing down at me, he murmured, “Fuck, Maddy, you just ruined me.”
“I did not.” I slapped him on his tattooed arm.
“Yeah, you did.” Too much seriousness hung in his tone. “I’ve just found heaven. ”
“Shh. Don’t lie.”
“I’m not.”
I didn’t believe him. Not one little bit.
But I liked his dick throbbing inside me.
His body fit into mine like I’d found the piece of me that had been missing for my entire life. The touch of his hands and lips felt like home. The way he looked at me did strange things to my heart.
Okay, he might not have been lying. I may have found heaven too.
But I had to ignore that. Lock those thoughts away. Lose the key.
Shit.
This wasn’t good.
He’d been right about one thing, though.
One night together would never be enough.