3. Chapter 3
~STARLA~
“ I freaking love this car,” Meredith says while bouncing in the passenger seat of my new ride. “Jaguars don’t suck.”
“No. They don’t.” I laugh at my friend and fiddle with the air conditioning. “Summer sure is hanging in there.”
“This is definitely warm for September,” she agrees. “But I’m not complaining because soon, it’ll be cold and rainy. I’m enjoying every minute of summer.”
“Good point.” I merge onto the freeway, driving away from Meredith’s home in the suburbs toward downtown. She picked me up this morning, and we bought this new little F-Type. I like the sporty feel of the car, and that it has so much get up and go.
Once the purchase was finished, I followed Mer back to her place where we dropped off her car and hopped in my new one, ready to go shopping in downtown Seattle.
“Thanks for going with me,” I say with a smile. “Jax and Logan had something come up today.”
“Oh, it was entirely my pleasure to watch you work that salesman. He didn’t know what hit him.”
“I’m just good at getting my way when I need to.” I hook my hair behind my ear. “And if he thought I was going to pay that much over MSRP just because I can , he clearly doesn’t know me.”
“Well, he does now,” she replies. “And you have a killer car.”
“Where should we go first?” I check the time on the dash. “We lost the morning to car shopping.”
“Let’s go to the market last,” she says, referring to Pike’s Place Market. “I’ll want fresh flowers, and they won’t survive in the car.”
“Good call. Me, too. Retail therapy then?”
“Hell, yes.” She shimmies in the seat. “I told Mark I was about to do some serious damage to the credit card.”
“Does he care about stuff like that?”
“Not really, I just like to torment him.” She points to the parking garage under Nordstrom. “I’d park in there. It’s central and safe.”
“Perfect.”
Once we’re parked and inside the building, it’s like Christmas. We walk through all of the luxury shops: Louis Vuitton, Chanel, and Gucci among others. I find a gorgeous bag in Chanel but leave without it, deciding to think about it.
“I don’t know why you passed that up,” Meredith says as she sips on her Starbucks, holding her own Louis Vuitton shopping bag. “It’s seriously so you.”
“I know, but I also liked the bag in Gucci.”
She raises a brow. “Star, I don’t know if you know this, but you can afford it.”
I cringe. “I know, but it seems self-indulgent.”
“You just came off a thirteen-month tour where you worked yourself into exhaustion. ” She shakes her head. “Seriously, if you want to buy the damn bags, buy them. All of them. Enjoy them.”
I’m watching her, soaking in what she’s saying. “Why am I so bad at rewarding myself for a job well done?”
“Oh, you don’t have time for that level of therapy.” She sips her drink. “I could sit here and list twenty reasons just off the top of my head.”
“I never used to have a hard time spoiling myself.”
“That was before,” she says quietly, watching me with those big blue eyes. “Since then, you’ve done nothing but punish yourself.”
I think about Levi, that night after the show and yesterday, and feel a smile slowly spread over my face.
“You’re holding out on me,” she says, grabbing my arm. “Spill it. Right now. Or I won’t be your friend anymore.”
“Liar.” I laugh and sip my frap as we walk back toward Nordy’s and the shops where I’ve decided to spend a ridiculous amount of money. “You’d never desert me. You love me too much.”
“Okay, that’s true,” she concedes. “But you have to tell me.”
“Well, you’re right in that I’ve carried guilt. I’m still carrying it, but I think it’s fading a bit over time.”
“Get to the good stuff.”
“You’re so impatient.” I laugh as I hold the door open for her, and we walk into the blessedly air-conditioned building. “And this is not a conversation to be had while I buy out Chanel.”
“Later then. In the car. I need to know everything.”
“Deal.”
I walk to the sales associate who was helping us earlier and smile.
“You’re back,” she says warmly. I like her. She never made a fuss about who I am, even though I could see in her eyes from the minute we walked in that she recognized me.
“We are,” I agree and point to the bag that caught my eye. “And I’ve come back for her.”
“It’s such a great piece to add to your collection,” she says with a smile and reaches in a cupboard for one that hasn’t been on display.
“But that’s not all.” I smile at Mer, who nods in support. “There’s another one over here that I think I need to have.”
“Well, let’s take a look then,” she says with a broad smile.
Yes, we’re about to make her day.
Two hours and thousands of dollars later, we’re walking to the car, loaded down with bags and smiles.
“We shouldn’t leave these in the car while we walk to the market,” Mer says and frowns.
“Definitely not,” I agree and click my fob to unlock the doors. The car is small, so fitting all of the bags and boxes in the backseat is a challenge, but they fit.
And I’ve broken out in a sweat.
“Maybe we should skip the market today,” I suggest. “We can always go another day.”
“That’s true because you’re going to be here for three months. ”
Meredith hurries around the car and launches herself into my arms, holding me tightly.
“Whoa. This is a lot of affection, Mer.” But I hug her back, rocking us both side to side. “But I don’t hate it.”
“I just love you so much, and I’m happy you’re here,” she gushes. “I love shopping with you, and seeing you whenever I want to.”
“It’s fun.” I kiss her cheek, then slap her ass. “Now, get in the car, and let’s go.”
“You’re such a softie,” she says with a laugh and does as she’s told, dropping into the passenger seat. We pull out of the parking garage and head to the freeway, back toward Mer’s house, which is in the opposite direction of mine.
“I’m sorry you have to drive so far out of your way,” she says. “I should have just driven my own car.”
“No way, I get to drive this beauty longer.” I wink at her and turn on the radio. Dance With Me is playing, so I turn up the volume, and we sing as loudly as we can, doing the arm movements to the choreography as I speed down the freeway.
You know you want it
To feel free, to feel the beat
Move that body, boy
Come on and dance with me
“Do you miss it yet?” she asks when the song is over, and I turn down the volume.
“It’s only been a few weeks.” I bite my cheek, thinking about it. “I miss the actual concerts. I love them.”
“I know you do.”
“But I don’t miss all the travel. Not knowing where I am. That part is tough.”
“You should do a residency in Vegas, then the people can come to you.”
“I’ve been approached about it,” I admit, and Mer turns to me in absolute shock.
“Shut up.”
“No, really. But I turned it down for now. Maybe in a few years.”
“Wow, Starla, I’m so proud of you.”
“You do know that if I accept, you and Jax have to come and choreograph the whole fucking show.”
She pauses, thinking it over. “That would be a huge undertaking.”
“You’d be up for it.”
“Damn right, I would be.” She grins in excitement. “Just name the place and time, and I’m there.”
“I’ll keep you posted.”
“Now, speaking of keeping me posted, you need to tell me whatever you were mysterious about earlier.”
“Oh, right.” I clear my throat and change lanes. “I saw Levi yesterday.”
“WHAT?” Mer’s voice is so shrill when she’s excited and surprised at the same time. “This is not something you wait until the next day to tell me. It’s something you call me about as soon as it’s over.”
“I’m sorry, I must have missed that memo.” I roll my eyes. “Besides, it was just dinner.”
“Details, friend. I need details.”
“So, he showed up at my place yesterday afternoon. He said he’d been at his brother’s house.”
“Oh, right! Wyatt lives across the street. That’s how he met Lia.”
“You could have warned me.”
“I forgot.” She shrugs. “Keep talking.”
“We had a nice conversation, and then when he was leaving, he told me he’d pick me up for dinner at seven. I didn’t argue.”
“Oh, God, this is getting good.”
“He took me to Red Mill.”
“Did you love it?”
“So fucking good, and I’m kind of pissed at you for not taking me there before. Anyway, we had dinner, then we strolled along Alki on the waterfront before he walked me home and kissed me at the front door.”
“Holy shit, Star.”
“What?”
“You went on a first date.”
I pull off the freeway toward Meredith’s house.
“I apologized to him for not replying to his texts before.”
“Good. Why didn’t you?”
I glance over at her. “Duh. Because he overwhelmed me, and after Rick, I was all up in my head about it.”
“Well, for what it’s worth, I think Levi’s fantastic. Also, he’s hot.”
“So hot.” I laugh as I park in her driveway. “You don’t even know how hot he is.”
“Then I say go for it. You only live once. Rick wouldn’t want you to be a nun.”
That’s exactly what Rick would want.
But I don’t say anything. I just shrug, then get out of the car and help her retrieve her bags.
Mark comes out of the house, looking handsome in his shorts and T-shirt.
“Did you buy out the whole store?” he asks as he takes the bags out of my hands, then leans in and kisses his wife.
“We wish,” Mer replies with a laugh. “But we did our share.”
“Would you like to come in?” Mark asks me.
“No, thanks, I’m going home to put my pretty new things away and maybe take a swim. If I’m feeling extra sassy, I might just take a nap, as well.”
“Oh, that sounds so good,” Mer says with a sigh. “But I have babies.”
“I’ve got the babies,” Mark says with a soft smile. “You nap, M.”
“You’re both too sweet. I can’t watch.” I wave and get back in the car, then drive away, headed back toward downtown and the house I’m staying in by the water.
Seattle is beautiful in the summer. I never feel like I’m here long enough to really enjoy it, but I’m here now, and I can honestly say I love it.
I check my phone at a stoplight to make sure I haven’t missed any calls or texts, but the phone is quiet, and the screen is blank, which makes me smile.
On a normal day, it would be going crazy.
There might be something to this vacation stuff.
The drive across town doesn’t take as long as it normally would, thanks to it being just before rush hour. I’m home in twenty minutes.
Hauling my things inside takes two trips, but I don’t mind. I take everything to the spare bedroom where I can unbox my goodies on the bed and leave them there until I decide where I want to store everything.
“That’s for later,” I decide and announce out loud, hands on my hips. “I think I want a swim.”
Thanks to the privacy of the backyard, I don’t even have to change into a suit. I just shed my clothes poolside, then dive in and swim until my arms feel like rubber. Even then I don’t hop out right away. I float on my back, unconcerned about my breasts being exposed to the sunshine.
I’m a southern girl. I’m used to the sun.
The water feels amazing against my skin and in my hair. It’s cooling and calming, making me feel amazing.
I have to admit, since I’ve been settled in the house, I haven’t had many dizzy spells. Maybe the doctor was right, I needed some R&R.
It’s been easier than I thought it would be. I’m not bored. If anything, I could use a quiet day with no visitors, just me and my music.
I had Donald send my piano up, and it should arrive this week. I feel the music inside me, ready to come out.
When my eyes get heavy, and I’m worried I’ll fall asleep right in the water, I decide it’s time to get out.
Once I’m dry, I pad through the house and up the stairs to my bed. For the first time in a long time, I’m ready for sleep.
I fall onto the bed, face down, and immediately sink into a deep slumber.
“You like that, sweetheart?”
Levi’s voice is in my ear, his hands roaming all over my skin, and I’m so turned on, I might come without him even touching my pussy.
“Answer me.”
“Yes, I like it. You know I do.”
“I love this spot, right here.” He kisses my shoulder where it meets my neck. “So soft.”
My nipples are hard, painfully so, as he rubs his fingertips over them, plucking them.
“Suck them,” I plead, but he shakes his head.
“Not yet.”
“Levi, just suck them.”
He obliges, latching on, and my body bows off the bed, tightening and straining in reaction to his hot mouth.
“I can’t get enough of you,” he growls as he plunges inside, fucking me relentlessly until I’m screaming and holding on for dear life.
I wake up and look around, shocked to find that I’m alone, in my bed, with the sun setting, casting the room in shadows.
My naked body is on fire. I’m panting. My legs scissor, desperate to release the tension in my core.
My hand drifts down my belly, over my smooth pubis, and my fingers make contact with my hard, throbbing clit.
I’d rather it was Levi, but he’s not here, so I do what I need to in order to relieve my frustration. Thinking of Levi’s mischievous smile and the way his voice sounds in my ear as he urges me toward climax is all it takes to send me over the edge.
I sigh, brush my still-damp hair off my cheek, and reach for my phone in case I’ve missed anything.
Shit, it’s past seven.
And I’ve missed two texts from Levi.
Hey gorgeous. I hope you had a great day.
That was two hours ago. There’s another.
I’d like to swing by and see you. Please let me know if you’d rather I didn’t.
That was thirty minutes ago.
I’m about to reply when the doorbell rings. I sit up on the bed, eyes wide, heart hammering.
“Damn it.” I stub my toe as I search for my shorts. “Fuck, that hurts.”
I hop around, into the shorts and a tank, not bothering with underwear, and hurry down the stairs.
The house is dark when I open the door and find a grinning Levi in my doorway.
“You didn’t say not to come over.” His eyes narrow as he looks me up and down. “You were sleeping.”
“I just woke up a few minutes ago.” I swallow and push my hair back. I hope my rosy cheeks don’t give away the fact that I just came to thoughts of him not even five minutes ago. “Come on in.”
“I’m sorry, Star?—”
“No, it’s okay,” I assure him as he steps inside, and I flip on a light. “I slept way too long. I never nap. Must have been the shopping and the sex. I mean, the swim.”
I shake my head and laugh as his head whips my way, and he glares.
“Back it up.”
“There was no sex.” I’m laughing now, belly laughs that I can’t control. “At least, not with another person.”
“Fuck.” It’s a mumble as he rubs his fingers over his mouth. “I don’t know if I want to know.”
I’m feeling fresh and sassy, so I boost myself up to sit on the kitchen counter and kick my feet back and forth.
“I went shopping with Meredith. Did a bit of damage that I have zero regrets about. Then I came back here and took a long swim. It made me sleepy, so I took a nap.”
“And then?” His dark eyes are on fire as he slowly advances on me, each step bringing him closer.
“I had a dream about you,” I whisper, watching every move he makes. “And when I woke up, I worked myself to orgasm.”
He’s standing directly in front of me now, but not touching me.
“While thinking of me.”
“Yes.”
He sighs and reaches out to tuck my hair behind my ear.
“That might be the sexiest thing anyone has ever said to me.”
I cock an eyebrow. “Ever?”
“Ever.”
I want him closer. I want him to step between my legs, rip my tiny shorts in half, and have his way with me right here in the kitchen.
“You’re thinking dangerous thoughts,” he murmurs.
“Oh, yeah,” I agree with a slow nod. “Lots of them. But something tells me fucking me here on the counter isn’t in your plans.”
He hangs his head, a stream of swear words coming out of his sexy mouth, and it makes me laugh. When he looks at me again, his face is taut with strain and regret.
“I promised myself I wouldn’t take it there for a while. I want us to get to know each other better before we go to bed together.”
“Good plan.” I nod as if it makes total sense. “Of course, having sex is just another way to get to know each other. And I promise I’ll text you in the morning, so you don’t feel…”
“Feel what?”
“Cheap? Unwanted? Dismissed?”
“I did feel all of those things.”
I cup his cheek and urge him closer.
“You’re none of those things, Levi, and I deeply regret making you feel that way. It won’t happen again.”
His hand mirrors mine. He cups my cheek and rubs his thumb back and forth.
“Starla.”
“Yes.”
“What are you wearing under these ridiculous excuses for clothes?”
A naughty smile flirts over my lips. “Absolutely nothing.”
“Fuck.”