Chapter Twenty-Three
DEE
Colt lies behind spooning me and places a kiss on my neck. I’m still half asleep and not really with it, but I am acutely aware of his erection poking me in the butt. I turn my head, eyes closed, and he kisses me lightly.
His hand moves down my side and in between my legs.
Without hesitation, I open them for him to gain better access before he rubs my clit.
Our kiss is leisurely and relaxed as he rolls me onto my back and slowly makes his way on top of me.
I have yet to open my eyes, but his hard cock slides against my wet and ready pussy.
I bring my legs up and wrap them around his waist as we gently rock together, not toward a climax but to feel the undeniable connection we have. His tongue massages mine as we move together, and it feels like pure bliss, knowing I get to do this with my husband for the rest of my life.
We are lazily rocking, neither of us in a hurry, and a tingling sensation runs through me.
I run my hands through Colt’s hair while he kisses me slowly.
We are in synch, completely lost in each other.
I still haven’t opened my eyes, just reveling in this twilight state I’m in, halfway between asleep and awake.
When he pushes into me again, I feel him tense, and I know he is close, so I clench around him, squeezing, and he moans softly into my mouth.
He’s on the edge, but I’m not quite there this time, and I don’t even care. All I care about is feeling him inside me and the unbelievable connection we are sharing right now. He grinds his hips, releasing inside me, then kisses me deeply for a few minutes.
I still haven’t managed to wake fully when he slides off me and rolls me onto my side to spoon me again. We say nothing as he cuddles into me, and I drift back off to sleep.
Much later, I wake to an empty bed.
My hand slides across the sheets, still warm where Colt’s body was.
I blink, then roll toward the walk-in closet and catch sight of him moving around inside.
For a split second, my chest tightens with the haunting echo of that nightmare—him packing, telling me to leave.
My insecurities are still getting the better of me.
But then he steps out and catches me watching him.
The moment our eyes meet, his whole expression softens.
He walks over, sits on the edge of the bed, and tucks a stray piece of hair behind my ear.
“Morning, Mrs. Slade,” he murmurs, brushing his lips over mine. “How’d you sleep?”
“Like a baby,” I say, stretching a little beneath the covers. “And that sleepy sex we had earlier? Yeah, we’re doing that again. Soon.”
He chuckles, the sound low and warm. “Definitely doing that again. No idea why we’ve been holding out on sleepy sex, it’s a game-changer.” He kisses me again before pushing to his feet and heading back into the closet.
“What time does our flight leave?” I ask, nerves already creeping in about the fifteen-hour trip ahead.
“In a few hours,” he replies, voice a little muffled. “Just finishing packing so we can grab some breakfast and maybe squeeze in a good shag before we go.”
I laugh. “Yeah, baby,” I say in my best Austin Powers voice.
“Beaches, cocktails, skinny dipping… can’t wait to get you to that resort,” he says, emerging again with a duffel in hand. “I booked the whole island. Just us and the staff. No fans. No drama. Just you and me.”
A relieved breath leaves me. The idea of crowds, of eyes on me, especially after everything, makes my stomach twist. It’ll be my first time in public since the accident, and I’m quietly dreading it. But I shove the fear down because I don’t want to dull Colt’s happiness with my anxious thoughts.
“I can’t wait to walk around topless all day,” I tease, trying to lighten the mood. “Just lounging by the pool, soaking up the sun with my sexy rock star husband beside me.”
His grin turns wicked. “Yeah? How ’bout a little preview? Just to tide me over.”
With a laugh, I lower the bed sheet and flash him, giving a playful bounce for good measure.
Colt whistles low. “Mmm… now that’s what I’m talkin’ about.
” He prowls toward the bed, bends, and wraps his lips around my nipple.
I giggle, squirming slightly as his beard scrapes my skin.
He sucks hard, then moves up to kiss me again, slower this time, more deliberate.
“Well,” he growls, eyes locked on mine. “Guess I’d better get that quick shag in now. Can’t waste a perfectly good hard-on.”
I raise a brow and nod thoughtfully. “Yeah, it’s a tough job, but someone’s gotta do it.”
He huffs a dark laugh and yanks the sheets down, revealing my naked body.
His gaze heats instantly. “Lucky me,” he mutters, then lunges at me.
***
Two hours later, we’re shagged, sated, and freshly showered just as the low rumble of the Hummer signals its arrival out front. I glance out the bedroom window and feel a strange cocktail of excitement and nerves swirl in my stomach. Honeymoon. It still feels surreal.
Thank God we’re taking the band’s jet. Everyone knows I hate flying, but it’s gotten easier over time, not like that first flight where I clung to Colt like a terrified koala.
Still, I can’t do it without Tamara’s miracle tablets.
I took one twenty minutes ago, and I’m already starting to feel the edge dull just enough.
I shove a corner of toast into my mouth while Colt lugs our suitcases down the stairs, his muscles flexing deliciously under his shirt.
We debated bringing Princess with us, but with quarantine laws and paperwork nightmares, it was all too complicated.
Thankfully, Joseph and Danny offered to take her when they left last night.
She whined as they walked out the door, and I nearly cried, but I know she’s in good hands.
“You ready, baby?” Colt calls out from downstairs.
“Yep, coming!” I shout back, double-checking that everything’s turned off, and then hurry toward the front door, only to hear him chuckle.
“That’s what she said,” he mutters just as I appear, and I shoot him a look.
“What, are you… twelve?” I ask, deadpan.
He grins shamelessly, stealing a bite of my toast as I reach him.
“C’mon, we’ve gotta move. Apparently, the pilot’s sick of the band running late for every damn departure. And if there’s one guy you don’t want to piss off on a plane, it’s the guy flying it.”
I groan. “Right, plane jokes. Very funny. Tell them to your wife, who’s already halfway to a panic attack over flying, you absolute dumbass.”
He chuckles and snakes his arm around my waist as I lock the door behind us.
“I like to keep you on your toes,” he murmurs against my neck. “But you know I’d never let anything happen to you.”
“And how are you gonna stop a plane from falling out of the sky if the engines fall off?” I ask, turning in his grip and quirking a brow.
“I’ll find a way,” he replies without missing a beat. “There are parachutes on the jet. I’ll strap you into one myself if we have to ditch midair.”
“Great, except I don’t know how to use a parachute,” I deadpan.
Colt blows out a slow breath, trying not to laugh. “Baby, I give you the tools to survive. What you do with them is up to you. I’m just one man. I can only do so much.”
I smack his chest lightly, and he fakes a wince.
“So much for never letting anything happen to me,” I tease.
He steps in close again, all humor gone from his face as his hand cups my cheek. “You know I’d do anything to protect you, Dee. Jet or no jet. I’d fight through hell for you.” That sincerity in his voice makes my chest ache.
I lean in, pressing a soft kiss to his lips. “I know,” I whisper. “And I’d do the same for you.”
“Good. Then let’s get the hell out of here and start our forever.”
He takes my hand and leads me to the Hummer, where I freeze slightly when I spot three unfamiliar men in black suits already inside. My gaze snaps to Colt’s, but he nods, calm and steady.
“Security for the airport,” he says, confirming my guess.
I exhale a shaky breath. It eases my nerves knowing we’ll have extra muscle with us—three big guys plus Dave driving. If anything kicks off, we’ll be ready.
When we pull up at the terminal, both Colt and I are wearing hoodies and sunglasses. But the tension is already crawling up my spine. I haven’t stepped into the real world since the accident, since those crazy minions lost their damn minds and nearly got me killed.
I try to focus on Colt’s hand in mine, the warmth of it grounding me, strong and steady.
The second we step inside, we’re ushered toward the private VIP terminal.
The guards keep close, matching our pace step for step.
I keep my head down, Colt’s fingers tightly laced with mine, but my stomach’s in knots.
We round a corner, and that’s when it hits me.
People.
Everywhere.
I stop dead in my tracks, heart stalling in my chest.
Colt glances back and mutters under his breath. “Fuck.”
Dave approaches quickly. “Mr. Slade, I can take the luggage if you want to hold onto Mrs. Slade.”
“Yes. Thanks, Dave,” Colt says quickly. He turns me to face him, and immediately the security team moves into position—one behind us, two flanking either side, with Dave out front.
My hands tremble. My heart thuds so violently I feel it in my ears. I can’t breathe. I can’t—
“They probably won’t recognize us unless we push through,” Colt says low, his voice barely a whisper.
“Don’t let go of me. No matter what. I’ve got you.
” He kisses me quickly, and his brows draw in when he sees my lip tremble.
My mind flashes back to screaming girls, rough hands, the street, the van—
Oh God! I gasp and press a palm to my stomach. One single tear escapes before I can stop it.