Chapter 17
Still Hunter
The ringing of my cell woke me up. I slapped at my nightstand to make it stop. A beat later, a thin voice called my name.
“Hunter, you there?”
I groaned and rolled over. After a beat, I grabbed my phone and held it to my ear. “What.”
James laughed. “Fuck man, you don’t sound good. Late night?”
“No later than normal. I didn’t get home ‘til almost two, I think?”
“Shit.” He sucked in a breath. “That mean things are working out with the new band?”
“Huh?” I sat up and rubbed my head. “What time is it?”
“Just after ten.”
I groaned. “I slept like shit.”
Apparently my long-lost conscience decided to make a reappearance and torture me with all my fuck ups last night. I might’ve gotten a solid three hours. Maybe.
“That mean you’re not up for some Café Maple?” The sad note in James’ voice came across clear as day.
I rubbed my eyes. “Nah, man. I can meet. It’s Sunday, right?”
“Last I checked.”
“’Kay. Good. Meet you there in thirty?”
“Sounds good.”
I ended the call and groaned my disappointment at having to leave my bed.
My apartment might not be the highest fashion like Beau’s house, but I spent some money on my bed.
Aside from my Charger, it was the only thing I’d invested in.
High-quality mattress, the softest sheets, a cuddly comforter, all on a four-post canopy farmhouse bedframe. It was my escape.
And it was probably telling that I never brought Cheyenne back here. We’d always go to her place—mostly because she was never ready in time. But maybe also because I knew she’d screw up my safe haven.
That was too deep for so little sleep.
James had already grabbed a coveted table in the corner when I arrived.
I almost cried when I saw the cup of coffee waiting for me.
After collapsing in the chair, I took a few gulps then sighed. “You are an amazing friend.”
“You’re welcome.” He buried his head in the menu despite the fact that nothing had changed here in years.
Holding my cup in front of my face to inhale the delicious aroma, I stared at my friend. He looked rough—rumpled tee, crazy hair, and beard growth I’d never seen on his face before. This wasn’t the smooth James Love I’d known for so long.
“What the hell is going on? Is everything okay?”
“Let’s order first,” James replied ominously. “I don’t wanna get interrupted.”
On edge now, I looked around for a waitress. After waving one down, she sidled up to the table with a special smile.
“Haven’t seen you two around here in a minute.” Helen smiled as she pulled out her tablet.
“That’s cuz this one has gone Hollywood on us,” James replied, mutinously.
“Oh, you’re an actor?” Helen batted her spidery eyelashes at me.
I shook my head. “Nah, just have a few new friends.”
“Rich, famous friends,” James grumbled.
Helen’s eyes bounced between us. “Right. Great. Good for you, I guess. Uh, what can I get you two?”
We put in our order, and after Helen ran away from our table, I turned to my former best friend. “What the fuck was that?”
“What?”
“Seriously? You know I’m under an NDA. I shouldn’t have even told you about the band. What the fuck are you trying to do to me? Fuck with me and my livelihood?”
“Ugh.” James pressed the heels of his hands to his eyes. “Sorry, man. It just slipped out. You know I’m happy for you. I just wish…”
“I know. And believe me if it doesn’t work out with them, I’ll be banging on your door in a heartbeat.”
“What the fuck does that mean? I thought you were in. You signed a contract and everything.”
“I told you it’s a short-term contract with the option to extend.”
“Right. But it’s you. No way are they going to let you go. You’re fucking awesome.”
I smiled. Okay, that kinda made up for his attitude earlier. “Thanks, man. But not everyone agrees apparently.”
“What’s going on?”
I quickly filled him in on practice with Leif, the differing opinions on his attitude, and the upcoming vote. “So if you’re still looking for a drummer in a few weeks, I might be available.”
“Fuck, bro. That sucks.”
“Seconded.”
James heaved a sigh. “Uh, not to rub salt in your wound, but is this a bad time to tell you that Cheyenne’s been sniffing around Gabe? I might’ve seen them hooking up last night at Blindfold.”
There was an underlying glee in his voice, like he was happy that Gabe was screwing me over. What the fuck?
I shrugged. “We broke up a week or so ago. I found her crawling all over a guy at a party.” I was not going to name names. “She can do whatever she wants with Gabe. The two of them deserve each other as far as I’m concerned.”
James’ top lip curled like he was disgusted—with me or Cheyenne, honestly I didn’t know at this point.
I was going to talk to him about hooking up with my bassist’s daughter, but now I was holding it back. James almost spilled my business to a fucking waitress. Who else would he tell?
Suddenly, I didn’t know if I could trust my best friend with anything going on in my life.
And that wasn’t a great feeling.
“What’s going on with you?” I finally asked.
He groaned and raked his hands through his hair. “Shit is so fucked. I think I’m going to have to downsize. Without any money coming in and with royalties drying up, I’m going to be fucked in a few months’ time.”
Unlike me, James had gone out and spent our first few royalty checks like they were the beginning of a windfall.
I hissed out a breath and sat back in my chair. “The condo?”
“Without a doubt. And I’ll probably have to sell the Escalade too.”
“You know you can always crash at my place until you get your feet under you again. Have you had any luck putting another band together?”
We talked prospects and lamented on how Gabe fucked up all our lives.
Which was when it really hit me.
I was doing the same thing.
Although granted, Iz wasn’t married, so was it really that big of a deal? She hardly knew Beau and neither did I.
Or was I just trying to justify my behavior?
Fuck, this was so much simpler when I was sure they were voting me out.
“You really think the vote will go against you?” James asked, the hope in his voice annoyingly clear.
“I don’t know. It’s looking that way—at least to me. Beau thinks it might just be Leif’s method or whatever. I don’t feel good about it though.”
Judging by the smile that stretched across his face, James liked what he was hearing.
Ass.
As I walked to my car later, shaking off the scummy feeling James’ happiness had given me, my phone pinged in my back pocket.
Pulling it out, I grinned at the screen despite myself.
Princess: Is this who I think it is?
I leaned against my car as I typed out my reply.
Me: Do you want to know what I have you saved in my phone as?
Princess: I have a few guesses…
Me: For the record it doesn’t involve any body parts
Princess: …
Princess: …
Princess: Yeah, I have nothing then
I laughed.
Me: Princess
Princess: ?
Me: That’s your name in my phone. Princess
Princess: Oh. I mean, I knew that!
I laughed some more. Christ, she was cute.
Me: You busy today? Any chance you can sneak away for some ‘complicated’ time?
Princess: Of course. How about you pick me up two blocks south of Beau’s front gate? Just to be sure
Me: Got you. Be there in thirty
Princess: Can’t wait!
Oh, I was definitely going to hell. And I was going to enjoy my entire fall down.
Thirty minutes later, when I pulled up to the location, no one was there.
Me: Here and waiting in my Charger.
And nothing. No text. No Iz.
I waited.
And waited.
Finally I saw her jogging down the sidewalk, her voluptuous tits swaying under her sundress. Lots of leg flashed at me as she bounced toward me. Grinning, I climbed out of my car and walked toward her.
“Hey.” Her voice was adorably out of breath. When I reached her, she stopped and bent over her knees, panting. “Sorry. I didn’t realize how large blocks are here. Pretty sure it’s twice as far as in Washington.”
Adorable.
“Aww, I could’ve parked closer.”
“I didn’t want Beau to see you. There’s so much tension in that house right now.
I guess Phoebe’s influencer feature didn’t go as planned, and she’s blaming Beau.
He yelled at her about being a bitch—honestly, I didn’t know he had it in him.
Then it devolved into something about a baby.
She wants one, and now maybe he doesn’t. It was ugly.”
“Sorry, princess.” I wrapped my arms around her, and she snuggled into my shoulder.
“This trip hasn’t gone at all like I thought it would.” She sighed heavily. Her arms squeezed me for a second before she stepped back. “But I’m not sad I met you.”
Warmth unfurled deep in my gut. But I didn’t want to think about what that meant. “Ditto.” Then like the punk I was, I changed the subject. “Did you get a chance to eat?”
She laughed. “Phoebe doesn’t hang out in the kitchen. It’s the one room I’m almost guaranteed not to run into her. Unless she’s looking for Beau.”
“Good. I just ate too. Anything you’ve been dying to do? It’s kinda late to hit Disney, but I’m game if you are.”
She made a face. “Eh, not really keen on lines, and like you said, it’s too late in the day to head there now. How about the tar pits? I’ve always had a thing for woolly mammoths.”
“Sure, but they’re not woolly mammoths.”
“What? No way.”
I kept my arm around her as I guided her to my car. “I saw a documentary once.”
She threw me a look and laughed.
“Seriously. They’re another kind of mammoth—and not as hairy.”
Once we were on our way, she whipped her phone out and google checked me.
“Well crap. You’re right.” She sighed and stowed her phone back in her bag. “They’re still cute, though.”
I laughed. “You still wanna go?”
“Of course. I mean, if you want.”
“Sure. I haven’t been since high school. It might even be fun now.”
“I’ll have you know I’m a very fun person.” Iz smirked at me.
I grinned back at her. “I noticed.”
And she wasn’t wrong. We held hands as we walked the ground of the tar pits.
She regaled me with tales of her childhood dream to be the next Indiana Jones, digging up her backyard.
It was cute as fuck, but I noticed how all her stories were devoid of any mention of her mom.
Like even thinking about her was too hard for Iz.
When we walked inside the thankfully air-conditioned museum, it felt natural to put my arm around her. Somehow my thumb found its way to her belt and hooked in. She’d whisper in my ear, and I’d smile at her. We were one of those couples.
Someone even asked us if we were on our honeymoon.
It should’ve freaked me out, but I just found it funny. Or maybe it was the way Iz rolled her eyes after the busybody walked away.
I was just mesmerized by her.
It felt natural to invite her back to my place.
I tried not to think about how I’d never done this with Cheyenne. Or any woman really. I was usually so focused on work that I didn’t take the time to slow down and let someone else in.
But Iz clicked seamlessly into my life.
She steered clear of my favorite spot on the couch without me mentioning it. She cuddled into my side as we watched an old tv show on Netflix. She looked cute as hell with her stuffed mammoth tucked under her chin.
Then she pulled out her phone and offered to order dinner. Like I’d ever let that happen.
“Fuck no. You were too quick with paying at the tar pits. Like hell are you buying dinner too.”
“To be fair, I will expect you to put out later if I buy dinner.”
My phone dropped into my lap as I tackled her onto her back on the sofa. “In that case…”
Teasing turned into kissing and stroking every inch of skin I could find. “So fucking luscious.”
“Hunter.” She moaned. “I didn’t mean you have to put out now.”
“I barely held it together watching you bend over in front of me at that museum. Every fucking sign was so low. If I didn’t know better, I’d swear you were doing it on purpose.”
She smirked up at me.
“Fuck. You did do it on purpose.” I don’t know why I was surprised.
She shrugged. “Just trying to keep the spark alive.”
“You’re a fucking supernova. They don’t get any brighter than you.”
Tears sheened her eyes. “That might be the sweetest thing anyone has ever said about me.”
I leaned down and kissed her long and hard. Clearly the men she’d met before me were morons.
Finally I broke the kiss with a groan. “Fine, you pay for dinner then. But only because I fully expect to put out later.”
She arched, brushing her gorgeous tits against my chest. “Mmm, I don’t think I’m hungry anymore.”
“Thank fuck,” I bit out before tackling her on the couch again. I ground my still covered dick against her naked thigh. “Gotta say, I fucking love sundress season.”
Iz moaned. “It’s LA. Isn’t it like always sundress season?”
“I dunno. Never really paid attention before. But I fucking love the way you fill out a sundress. With your tits spilling over the top and the easy access below.” I ran a teasing hand over her supple thighs then up to where her thin cotton panties were already damp. “Fuck me, princess. You’re soaked.”
“Can’t help it. You’ve been teasing me this whole time, grabbing my ass, and now with you grinding your big dick into me.” She gave a breathy little moan. “I need to take the edge off.”
“How about hard and fast here on the couch, and then I’ll make it up to you after dinner in my bed?”
“Not sure if there’s anything to make up, but I wouldn’t turn down a repeat. I have a feeling I’ll love hard and fast with you.” Then she deliberately rubbed her breasts against my chest again.
I took her lips in a punishing kiss as my hands went to her curvy hips.
I kissed her once more before flipping her over and rucking up her skirt.
It only took one tug to decimate her panties.
I didn’t miss the way her breathing hitched as I ripped them off her.
Tossing the scrap of cloth over my shoulder, I spread her open and ran my thumb over her dripping folds.
Fucking perfect.
Impatient as hell, I grabbed a condom from my jeans and rolled it on before I was thrusting into her.
Iz groaned deep and tossed her hair back. “Oh my god! You’re so fucking big this way. I can’t, I don’t…”
Despite her protests, she thrust her hips back into mine like she wanted me harder and faster.
That sounded perfect to me.
I grabbed her hip with my right hand while I teased her tight little nipple with my left and pounded into her.
She squealed but matched me thrust for thrust.
It took all of a minute before I felt the telltale tremors around my dick. She screamed my name as she went over.
I grabbed her hips with both hands and slammed into her over and over, riding her through her orgasm and into my own.
This time, I shouted her name as I came.
Then we both slid bonelessly onto the couch, me behind her with my dick still inside her.