25. Rory
RORY
My mind reels as I push Layla back to the bus.
Jace Walker and I are dating.
I can’t decide if I’m the luckiest girl on the planet or the dumbest. He could crush me so easily.
But it’s not fair to punish Jace for the sins of my ex. Jace has been nothing but respectful since we started this tour. I want to give him a chance. I want to give us a chance.
Because I can’t be that scared girl forever. I need to take a leap of faith here.
After all, why would he say he wanted to date me if he wasn’t interested? The label gave him the perfect out by telling him to hide his marriage. Jace could’ve used that to create distance. Instead, he proposed we tell people we’re dating, and then asked me to go for it and date him for real.
It’s enough for me to forget that humiliating moment at the restaurant. Instead, I’m going to focus on how Jace wants to date me.
I’m grinning when I reach the bus where I greet Edmond, who helps me get Layla’s stroller up the steps. It’s late, so when I reach my bedroom, I only turn on the lamp on the bedside table. Then I change and feed Layla, and she quickly knocks out again.
But I’m sticky and sweaty from the show, so after I get her down, I jump in the shower. The cool water feels so good. After I towel off, I reach for my clothes—that I forgot to bring into the bathroom.
I wrap the towel around me and tiptoe out into the bedroom, where I find Jace waiting for me, sitting on the edge of the bed. “Oh!” I press my hand against my chest. “You scared me. I didn’t think you’d be home for a while.”
“What can I say? I missed my girlfriend.” His eyes heat as they travel slowly down my body that’s barely covered in a towel.
I give him a shaky smile and decide to be bold for once in my life. “I like how that sounds.”
“Yeah?” His smile grows.
With my heart thrashing in my chest, I hesitantly move closer until I’m standing between his spread legs. He rests his hands on the back of my thighs. “Can we take things slow?”
He nods as his rough fingers trail up and down my skin. “Whatever you want. I’m just happy you’re giving me a chance.”
I don’t know what kind of portal I stepped into that has Jace Walker, lead singer of Wayward Sons, grinning because I’m giving him a chance, but I’ll take it.
And if we’re really doing this, I’m going to give it my whole heart. Because there’s nothing worse than not really trying and having regrets.
I rest my hands on his broad shoulders. “I thought the last night of a festival was the wildest. Don’t you have people to schmooze and booze to drink?”
“I’d rather be here with you.” His green eyes are dark, like a stormy sea.
“I’d rather you be here too.” I run my fingers through his damp hair.
“But I should warn you. I’m a jealous girl.
I get catty when groupies get too handsy.
I’ll do my best to keep a grip on that, but you might need to talk me off a ledge sometimes.
” I look down because this confession feels too personal, but I want him to understand.
“I didn’t used to be this way. I trusted my ex so completely that I was blindsided. ”
He tilts my chin up. “So all of this makes you feel triggered.”
I nod. “But it’s not fair to saddle you with that baggage. And everything about you so far tells me you’re not playing me. I’m just a little scared to take chances.”
Swallowing, he pulls me a little closer. “I know what you mean. Marlowe fucked me up too. I see that loud and clear now, but I want you to be confident I’ll never put myself in a situation that jeopardizes our relationship.”
“That means a lot to me. If you ever feel like this is too much or think we’re not working out, break things off. I’d rather you be honest and up front with me than mess around behind my back.”
“I can do that.”
His expression is so earnest, I can’t help myself any longer, and I lean down to kiss him.
He grips my hips, and I shiver. When he pulls away, the happiness in his eyes is unmistakable. “I’m gonna let you get dressed while I take a quick shower. Maybe afterward, we could grab a bite to eat.”
“Sounds good.” I’m starving. For more than just food. I watch him move toward our bathroom. “Jace.” He turns to look at me, and I smile at my handsome boyfriend. “How about after you clean up, you let me take care of that?” I motion to his obvious erection.
His expression turns heated again, his grin wolfish. “This will be the fastest shower I’ve ever taken.”
The minute the bathroom door clicks shut, I check on the baby. She’s out, thank goodness. Then I race to my bag.
What do I wear for this? I don’t have much to seduce a hot country star.
I’m not a lacy negligée kind of girl. I like comfortable cotton fabrics that breathe too much for that.
I do have some cute cheeky panties that have always ridden a little high, but maybe that’s sexy?
I don’t know. I opt for my usual pajama set with the spaghetti straps and pull down the front a little.
I look very nipply in this top. Is that a turn-on for guys?
The shower turns off, and I tug everything into place and hop on the bed just as the bathroom door snicks open.
Jace emerges nearly dripping wet with a towel hanging on his hips and his wedding band dangling on that chain.
Call me crazy, but I love that he still wears it even though his label wants it gone.
“Hi,” he says. He’s muscly and hard everywhere.
“Hi.” I laugh nervously and pat the bed. With the AC humming in the background, I can’t hear the festival, so I feel insulated. It’s just the two of us in the low light of the nightstand lamp. There aren’t crowds or bandmates or fans.
When he sits next to me, I tuck my legs under me. “Is it okay if we don’t go all the way?” Because I realize how what I said earlier might sound, and I’m not ready for full-on sex.
“Whatever you want, babe.” He scoots back onto a pillow with an easy smile. “You’ve already made my night.”
“Really?”
“Yup.” He reaches out and takes my hand.
I love that he’s always touching me. As he looks into my eyes, my fear melts away, and I crawl over him and sit on his stomach. His hands immediately rest on my thighs. “Is this okay?”
“More than okay.”
He’s lying there, looking like a work of art. Like a fallen angel looking for a night of trouble. “Will I be messing up your sex cleanse if…?” I don’t even know what I’m asking.
“It served its purpose, but I’m ready for more. That is, if you are.”
My heart swells with affection. “I want more too.”
His rough palm moves up my thigh, and I shiver again. “Are you cold?” he asks.
When I nod, he pulls half of the comforter over us, and I use the moment to move closer, until we’re nose to nose, and whisper, “I have a feeling I’m really going to like being your girlfriend.”
His grin goes crooked, and he grips the back of my hair, pulling me to his mouth. “Good, because I’m going out of my mind not being able to touch you,” he says between kisses.
I know the feeling.
When his tongue meets mine, I moan. This time I shiver for a completely different reason. His large palms squeeze my ass, and I’m so wet, I wonder if he can feel it through my pajamas.
As I pant, he nibbles and licks down my neck until he nudges down a strap of my pajamas. “Is this okay?”
Oh my God, yes. I shrug out of my top and let the material fall down my chest. It gets caught on my nipples, and he groans. “Fuck, you’re sexy. I’ve been wanting to suck on these pretty babies.” With his hands on my ass, he pulls me closer so he can run his nose down my cleavage.
I pull my arms out of my pajama top and watch him take me in. Based on Marlowe, I thought he liked curvier girls, but he seems entranced by my smaller boobs.
Arching my back, I offer myself to him, and he grins a second before he takes a long lick of my nipple. When he sucks it into his mouth, I bite back a moan.
But then he palms my other breast as he works me over, and I grind down on him.
“Are you wet, baby?”
“Yes.”
“Mm. Can you do something for me?” When I nod, his eyes darken. “Can you stick your fingers in your panties?”
What? I lean back. “Really?”
“I wanna hear how wet you are.”
My breath shallows. I know Jace is more experienced than I am by a country mile, but I never thought about what that would mean if we ever got together. “Um.”
He closes his eyes. “Sorry. If that’s too much…”
“Jace.” I’m done being that scared girl. When he opens them, I snake my hand into my panties where my clit throbs a frantic beat and rub the wetness over my swollen flesh.
“Fuck,” he mutters.
I carefully pull my fingers out so I don’t get anything on my clothes. They’re dripping. He grabs my hand and sticks my fingers in his mouth, where he sucks the wetness off with a loud groan.
“Shh.” I laugh. “Don’t wake up the baby.”
“You taste so fucking good.” He cradles my face. “Can I get you off tonight too?”
I nod, feeling a little shy. “I’m really close already.”
“Christ.” He closes his eyes again. I have a feeling he’s getting a hold of himself, and that’s a heady thing. That I’m turning him on so much, he’s on the edge.
I shift my hips lower until I bump into his towel. “Can you take this off?”
I don’t have to ask twice. He has me shift up while he reaches down to release the knot and whip off the offending material. “Done.”
We both laugh because this whole thing is crazy. He’s watching me so intently, like he can’t wait to see what I have in store for him. I don’t want to disappoint him, but he makes me feel brave.
Bracing myself on the wall behind the bed, I stand over him and shove down my pajamas until they pool on one leg. I run my finger along the waistband of my underwear. “Should I take this off too?”
He watches me a long moment, studying my breasts and hips and panties. “Turn around first.”
I comply, then look at him over my shoulder. “What do you think? On or off?”
“Off. Definitely off.”
I kick them down my legs, and his eyes zone in on my ass, and when I turn to face him, his hand dips under the blanket.
Because this is a night of taking chances, I drag the comforter back with my foot until I can see his hand working his giant erection.
It’s beautiful and thick and really freaking long.
Moby Dick was no joke. My eyes widen. “That’s not going to fit.” He’s like twice the size of my ex.
“When we go there, when you’re ready, it’ll fit. I promise.” Reaching up, he grabs my hand and helps me down to the bed, but he rolls us over so I’m beneath him. “Can I go down on you so I can lick that pretty pussy?”
I stop breathing, but I nod. Hayden never wanted to go down on me, to the point that it made me feel self-conscious about it, but Jace’s obvious enthusiasm is a balm to that wound. He settles between my legs, where Moby Dick presses against my hip.
Jace is so beautiful with his hair in his eyes and scruff on his face. I run my fingers through his damp hair, and he kisses me until I’m squirming again. Until I’m aching for his dick to rub that part of me that’s uncomfortably swollen.
Instead, he kisses down my body. Sucks and pinches my nipples. Nibbles down my stomach. Until he’s hovering over my mound.
“Do you prefer that shaved?” I’m trimmed and neat, but I don’t know what he’s used to.
“You’re perfect.” He has me raise my knees before he takes a long lick up my pussy.
Holy dear Jesus. I arch back and hold my hand over my mouth so I don’t scream. But then he spreads my flesh and licks that swollen bud a handful of times, and I come apart.
My knees clamp shut and I can hear him laugh from between my thighs. Shit. “Sorry,” I gasp as I quiver with pleasure.
When he raises his head, he’s got a cocky grin on his face. “Let’s do that again.”
“I don’t think I can—” I suck in a breath as he starts licking me, softer this time, tiny flicks of his tongue. His finger slowly enters me and pumps against my front wall.
But then he uses a second finger, and I’m barely over my first orgasm when the second one overpowers me. I let out a scream that I barely cover with my hand.
I don’t know how long it goes on, but it’s cataclysmic. Planets align across the universe as light explodes in my body.
When I finish, he kneels between my open thighs and jerks himself off. I’m sleepy, but the sight is mesmerizing. His body goes taut as his head tilts back, and he comes all over my stomach.
It’s the hottest thing I’ve ever seen.
When he’s done, he leans on my knee and smiles at me. “I kinda made a mess, huh?” He runs his finger through his cum and drags it over my nipple like he’s marking me. “You look good like this.”
“Covered in your snake sauce?”
Laughing, he nods. “Yup. Hang tight.”
He trots his naked ass to the bathroom and reemerges a minute later with a washcloth he uses to clean me up and a towel to dry me off. I’ve never had someone take care of me like this. “I was going to give you a blow job tonight, but then you did all the things and blew my mind. Twice.”
When he slides into bed a minute later and drags me close, he kisses my forehead. “The pleasure was mine.”
We sleep together, naked. With my thigh over his, and my face nestled to his chest.
Another first.
Sometime in the middle of the night, Layla wakes. Jace gets up, tugs on some shorts, and tends to the baby. Afterward, he pulls me to his chest where I happily reside as the little spoon.
If we’re going to spend the rest of the tour doing this, it’s going to be amazing.
Except early the next morning, Frank bangs on the door, scaring the hell out of me and Layla, who immediately starts to cry.
“Jace!” he shouts. “Get out here! We have a problem.”