25. Lennon
Chapter 25
Lennon
Best Way To Die
B alcony sex hadn’t been on my list, but I added it.
With a gold star next to it in my head.
I sat up on him. He was all warm and soft under me and I could get used to this far too easily.
He tucked an arm behind his back, showing off all the endless muscles that he hid under his clothes. I ran my fingertips over the one tattoo he had on his chest. The Morning Pages album logo.
The album of his heart.
There wasn’t any other tattoo on him that had to do with his band. At least not outwardly.
“Do you want to play music again? You looked good on that stage.”
He lifted my hand to his mouth, pressing a kiss along my palm before letting it go. “I didn’t think I ever would.”
“But?”
“But maybe I missed it more than I thought.”
“I heard you playing earlier. Was it new?”
He looked away from me and sat up, so we were skin to skin. “This is about you for the next few days.”
“Don’t do that.” I cupped his face until he looked at me. “Was it?”
“Nothing that was a song. Just a melody.” He curled his arms around me. “The first time a new melody showed up since we broke up.”
“That’s a good thing.”
“I’m not sure yet.”
“Looks like we’re both a pair.” I pressed my cheek against his and we sat there like that for a few minutes until his stomach roared. I laughed. “Food first.”
“You want to go out?”
I sat back and nodded. “But you can order up some ridiculously overpriced fries to cover us while we get ready.” Then I climbed off him and grabbed my bag. “Dibs on the shower.”
He collapsed back on the lounger. “Fine.”
I stopped at the sliding doors. “And maybe you should order some clothes from that fancy clothing store downstairs.”
“You just want more time in the shower.”
“I do.” I lengthened the word.
I’d already taken a shower today but a plane—even first-class seats—always made me feel like I needed to wash off the humanity. And since Griffin needed to find clothes, I stepped up my everything shower with some of the fancy body scrub in the bathroom.
By the time I was done, I was glowing and soft as a baby’s butt. I braided part of my hair and left the rest of the curls to do what they were going to do then attacked my face. I packed an arsenal of makeup that I only used for special occasions.
If you looked really close, you could still see the bruise, but at least no one would think poor Griffin beat me from first glance. I left the bathroom with one of the plush robes wrapped around me and found him sitting on the couch with a plate of fries beside him and a dress bag draped over the chair.
“You work fast.”
“Not really.” He stood, stealing one last fry. “But worth it.” He pushed open the robe to kiss my shoulder then he grabbed the bag.
“Hey, I don’t get to see?”
“Nope.” He took it with him as he headed to our room of the suite.
I laughed and found another domed plate with fries that were still semi-hot. I munched on a few before looking through my bag for something to wear tonight.
It was a humid night, so I went with one of the caftan style outfits I had in black with tan flowers. It had a large slit up one side that showed off a leg. I was stepping into heeled sandals when he came through the door with a plume of steam behind him.
“Forgot something.” He had a towel knotted at his hip, water still dripping from his hair. He dug something out of his bag and looked up. “Hell.”
I grinned. “Like?” I swung around, making sure the slit showed.
“Damn.” He strode across the room and kissed me—hard. His green eyes were glowing with lust. “Sure we need to go out?”
I pushed him back. “Yes.”
“Man.” He shook his head then he ran back to our bedroom with socks and boxers in hand.
He was back out in ten minutes and I was the one with a racing heart. He had on black linen pants and a Cuban-style shirt in thick vertical blocks of red and black.
I dropped the fry I was about to eat and stood. “Now I get to say damn.”
He grinned and did a little twirl as I did with a laugh.
I shook my head, but I couldn’t stop the smile. “Now we’re definitely ready to hit the town.”
I had a small wristlet in my big hobo bag with my license, a card, and cash, allowing us to go out with little baggage. Downstairs, we ended up walking out to the beach. There were a few places I wanted to see in this area.
I was semi-knowledgeable about Miami from working there for a few years, but it was an ever-changeable town. We walked hand in hand through the tourist trap-style shops then into the winding bazaar booths with jewelry and beach clothing. I ended up with a paisley sarong to go with my black bikini as well as a kitchy shell necklace that he wound around my neck.
At the end of the booths, there was a taco truck that filled the hole beyond our fries, and finally, we’d made it back down by the shoreline.
It was a weeknight, but in Miami, every night was busy. The crush of people was different than the taproom. There was an ultra sexual undertone to Miami, and Griffin was ready to throw a punch with how handsy men were around me.
I knew it was the culture and the liquor. Eventually, I just pushed him onto a dance floor with swaying hips and a sultry smile. I much preferred his big, rough hands on me. The music was just a pulse and drumbeat. The words in Spanish didn’t really matter, it was all about the music.
He swayed against me, slipping a knee between my legs until we were perfectly lined up.
I draped my arms over his shoulders and lifted my mouth to his. The kiss was as hot and fluid as the music around us. He hummed into my mouth, and it ended in a growl.
Knowing how much he wanted me always shocked me.
Sex was fun, but it had never been like it was with Griffin. Like it was air and nourishment as much as it was pleasure. As if he was everything I’d never known I wanted.
I tore my mouth from his, my chest heaving as the reality of it hit me like a bottle to the head. The training and the endless practice didn’t matter sometimes.
Sometimes it was a moment when a flourish failed, and sometimes it was when it was completely perfect.
He dragged me back and covered my mouth.
This was the perfect.
I wrapped my arms around his neck and fell into him.
Fell into love.
He lifted me up until I braced myself on his shoulders and my hair fell around him. I let the emotion flow through me into him and my belly jittered with the fear, but he only held me tighter.
And didn’t let me go.
When the song changed to something with a more active beat, we drew apart and he led me through the writhing, sweat-slick bodies until we got outside. He drew me deeper into the shadows of the covered patio.
Most everyone was inside, save for a blond who was smoking alone at a table looking out on the ocean.
Griffin ushered me into the furthest corner to a bench and sat, drawing me over him until I could wrap around him again. The kisses were slower, softer, and lingering to start then his fingers were in my hair, angling me so he could go deeper. I ground down on him and he growled my name before racing down my neck. He flicked his tongue under one of my shell necklaces. “Is this on your list?”
I tipped back my head. “Making out in public?” My voice was little more than a moan.
His fingers slipped under my flowing dress. “Coming in public?”
I drew in a breath then I looked around. “Anyone could see.”
His hand slid around so his thumb could slide under my thong. “Making you come is my favorite hobby.”
I laughed until it drifted into a moan when he found my clit. “That woman in still over there.”
He tipped his head. “What woman?”
I glanced over my shoulder, then I turned back to him. “There was a blond there.”
“She’s gone. Maybe she’s jealous?” He gave me a devilish smile, his lips wet from mine. “Maybe she knew I wanted to make you come until you were shaking.”
“Maybe she was annoyed.”
His grin spread as he covered my mouth again and turned his hand to stroke my clit in wide circles.
“Maybe you should fuck me instead.”
His eyes dilated. “Making you come is enough. I don’t have a condom.”
“I want you.” A little voice in the back of my head yelled no, but the wound-up Lennon wanted it so badly. I’d never been unsafe because my mother had me so young. I never wanted that for myself.
But I was so damn needy.
I undid his pants and scooped him out of his boxers.
He hissed out a breath. “Lennon.”
I rose onto my knees, his shaft in my hand. “Push aside my thong.”
He clamped his jaw shut so tight I heard his teeth click over the pounding music. Then he shoved it aside and I drew him inside of me. I threw my head back with a relieved sigh. Hot. Hard. I took him slowly, wanting to savor this.
Savor him.
Then I tipped my hips and took him even deeper.
The vein in his neck stood out and the cords of his neck were tight as he gritted out my name.
“There you are,” I said, as I tightened around him. “Mine.”
His nostrils flared and his fingers gripped my hips, and he rocked me against him. His eyes were locked on mine as he pulsed inside of me.
I bit his lower lip as the friction between us pushed me ever closer to the end. Then I left his mouth to wrap my arms around his shoulders and dragged my lips over to his ear. “First time I’ve ever let someone inside me bare,” I said, on a low voice against the shell of his ear. “So good.”
He lifted his hips as the pulses became a driving thrust.
I lost myself to the way we fit together.
The ocean roared just a few yards away and the music swelled and the hum inside of me rose and crested like the waves outside.
My name was a chant on his lips, and I smiled my way to his mouth to swallow them as warmth bloomed between us and I raced after him until I collapsed against his chest with a gasp.
His cheek rested on the back of my head before tipping back to clunk against the wall.
“Oh!” I laughed and cupped the back of his head. “Did I kill you?”
“Yes.” He laughed, his lids low over the smoldering green of his eyes. “Best way to die.”
I slid off him and we both groaned as we separated. I stayed kneeling over him so he could zip up before I dropped beside him on the bench. “Not sure how we got lucky enough not to have security boot us out.” I rested my cheek against his arm and saw a flash of blond from inside the door. I started laughing as she pulled back. “Or not.”
He followed my gaze. “What? I don’t see anyone.”
“I thought I saw the blond from before. It doesn’t matter. Guess she got a free show.” I stood on shaky legs. “Now I need to use the ladies room.”
He pulled me between his legs and cupped my ass. “I like the thought of you full of me.”
“Caveman.” I laughed and pulled away. “I’ll be back.”
I headed for the pulsing music and down the hallway to the ladies’ room. There was a line, of course, and I sighed. I checked my phone to take my mind off of it and shuffled along with everyone else.
By the time I got inside, I’d checked my email and found another message from Richard. He wanted to meet me tomorrow at the club.
I left the message unread and shoved my phone in my pocket when it was finally my turn. A blond was waiting behind me and I wondered if it was the same blond.
I hadn’t gotten a good look before. She was sharp-featured under the heavy bangs and layers that hid part of her face. Her eyes were icy blue and heavily lined. They were also unflinching.
I took the next stall and closed the door. She was still staring at me.
Had to be the same woman.
My heart thundered as I closed the door. We’d been reckless as hell, but I wasn’t sorry. I was also afraid I was in love with him.
Which made everything so much more overwhelming.
After I took care of business, I went to the taps to wash my hands. I checked my makeup. My lips were a lost cause, but at least my bruise wasn’t showing off.
In the mirror, the blond was coming out of her stall. She met me at the sink. “Lucky girl. He’s a good fuck.”
I whipped my head to look at her. “Excuse me?”
She flicked the water off her fingers. “Good. Fuck,” she said slowly with a smile that actually made me uneasy. “I remember those days.” She fluffed her bangs, then she strode out.
Remember what days?
Crap. I couldn’t be the only one who’d had sex in a place I shouldn’t. That’s all she probably meant.
Probably.