CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR #2
“I did nothing special, Angie. Only what I had to. To the outside world, life with the band revolves around how many women you slept with, the drugs, the alcohol, and all the shit that comes with it, but I don’t want my kid to grow up thinking it’s okay to live like that.
I’ll teach him to respect women, dress nice, eat well, and take care of himself and anyone he loves.
I want him to live a full and happy life.
” He searches my eyes, pushing my hair away from my face.
“And you. I want those things for you and Josh too, which is why I think we should bring our boys up together. As a family.”
I smile up at him as butterflies fly wildly around my stomach. We both want the same things. It just took one of us to say it. “I’d like that.”
“What I also want is more than what we've got right now. How would you feel about living together? The four of us.”
“What?” I choke. Not because I don’t want this, but because it’s more than I dreamed he would want at this point in our relationship.
“If it’s too soon, then it doesn’t have to be—”
I press my finger against his lips. “Shh.” I swallow the lump in my throat. “Just tell me I’m not dreaming.”
The depths of his hazel eyes search mine. “It’s real, babe,” he answers in a low tone.
It’s selfish of me to savour this moment any longer, so I answer his question without words.
I reach up, close my eyes, and as if there’s a magnetic force between us, my lips find his.
They are warm to touch but silky smooth and gentle as they slide across my own.
Then his tongue slips deep into my mouth and our tempo changes in seconds.
An energy filled with need grips us both as my hands hold his shoulders and he cups the back of my head.
Our tongues continue to dance together while my heart beats wildly in my ears and his arms fold around me.
His hand slips under my hoodie and the t-shirt underneath.
As soon as his fingers touch my stomach, a wave of electricity strokes my skin and continues to increase when he works his way towards my bra.
He pushes the cup down and my breast spills into his hand.
Instantly, my nipples harden between his fingers.
“Fuck, you always had the best tits, Angie Laine,” he says, using my maiden name.
The same name I had when he first knew me.
It hits my funny bone, and a giggle escapes against his mouth.
It’s all so easy and familiar, as if I’m that carefree girl I used to be.
Tommy laughs too as our foreheads rest against the other.
“That wasn’t my most romantic line.” He huffs out a chuckle, and I’m still giggling about it. Then memories of our university days fill my mind. “It reminded me of that night at the Dunbar Hotel,” I say, trying to catch my breath. “You spoke your mind then too.”
“Hey, I’ve always said it how it is.”
“I only went along because Calla was worried about meeting Ash for the first time by herself, but boy, was I drooling when I spotted you were part of the band.” There’s a heat to my cheeks, and I bow my head to hide my embarrassment.
I shouldn’t be bothered by speaking my truth, but I’m older now and not so free with my words.
“I was pretty hard the moment I laid eyes on you too.”
“You remember that much detail?” I laugh. Tommy clearly isn’t embarrassed by anything.
“Oh, yeah.” He strokes my hair from my face as it blows in the wind. “Like it was yesterday.”
After the laughter dies down and our eyes re-connect, Tommy asks, “Are you sure this is what you want, Angie? I won’t push if you’re not ready.”
There’s no hesitation this time. “I’m ready.”
His fingers lace through my hair as wild strands continue to wave in the breeze.
The pad of his thumb brushes gently over my cheek, causing my stomach to cartwheel, and a warm sensation shoots through my body.
I gaze up into his heavy hazel eyes just before his soft, sensual lips caress mine, and it takes a while for me to come back down to Earth once we stop.
We make our way down the beach, arm in arm, laughing and reminiscing about our good times, which, despite how it ended, never left my memory. They are the reasons I kept space in my heart for Tommy. The space I’ve allowed to grow bigger in recent weeks.
Our steps slow as Tommy brings us to a stop. He faces me with worry in his eyes.
“What’s wrong?” I ask.
The soft brush of his finger to my cheek and down my neck sends goosebumps across my body.
“We’re finally together. It’s taken a fucking age for us to get here, but we did it and it’s the happiest moment of my life, but—” His hand drops to his side.
“We’re not out of the woods yet. You know that, right? ”
“Why do you say that?” He’s worrying me now, but knowing Tommy, he has a valid reason.
“Because when we confirm we’re together, a lot of those journalist will say they already knew. We’ve denied it for so long, now we’re turning our story around. It doesn’t look good.”
“Tom, please.” I cup my hand around his ticking jaw.
“I’m ready for it. All of it. Bring it on.
Nothing will stop me from being with you.
Not those vultures from the press, the busybodies in Braebeach, or anyone else who sticks their nose in our lives.
All that matters is you, me, and our boys. Nothing else.”
His eyes search mine until his face breaks into a beautiful smile. “You’re amazing. Do you know that?” He doesn’t give me a second to answer his question. He’s too busy claiming my mouth as soon as the words leave his lips.
We arrive at my place, freezing cold but high on adrenaline, but once inside, the laughter fades and the atmosphere comes alive.
There’s a crackle in the air I can’t explain, and my skin warms from the heat between us.
I stand before him, my chest heaving for breath, knowing we have an entire night together if we want it.
I cup my hand around his face once more, my fingers brushing against his stubbled jaw.
He kisses my palm while his eyes focus on mine.
We stay in this trance-like state, both breathing with heavy breaths, while he carefully removes my hoodie, unbuttons my jeans, and strips me bare.
All the while, my stomach somersaults continuously, and even more so when it’s my turn to remove every stitch of his clothing.
When we’re both fully naked, he cradles me into his arms, carrying me upstairs, but when we reach the landing, he stops.
His intense gaze burns into my eyes and I think he’s going to say something deeply romantic.
“I’m lost from here, babe. Where am I going?”
I burst into laughter, and he smirks at my reaction. “Sorry. Of course, you’ve never been up here before. First on the right.” I indicate with a nod towards the door before nestling my head against his chest.
Finally, we make it to the bedroom. As if I were made from porcelain, he carefully lays me down and crawls over my body.
For a split second, my mind goes into overdrive.
Tommy is the first man I’ve brought to this room.
I stop my thoughts there. No. No more looking back.
I’m only interested in moving forward now.
“Hey,” he whispers on a gentle breath as if he’s asking if I’m okay.
My eyes scan his beautiful features, and I’ve never been more certain that I want this.
Without words, my fingers curl into his hair.
I tug him towards me, showing with the crash of our lips how much I need him.
Friction sparks as his skin brushes mine, our tongues entwine, and our hands explore.
My body aches for him, but unexpectedly, he pulls back, ending our physical contact.
His body hovers over me while his hazel eyes take in every inch of my burning skin.
“I’ve missed you,” he whispers as I writhe underneath him.
How can he affect me this way without touching me at all?
I grasp his shoulders, begging his body for the contact I need, then sweep my fingers down to the few hairs fanning across the firm contours of his chest. My fingers run through them, then work their way down his stomach.
He watches me for a while as if wondering where my trail will lead me next.
When I reach down, taking the hard pulse of his arousal in my hand, I give him his answer.
Almost in unison, his fingers brush into my wet flesh, sending a flurry of tingles deep inside me.
It’s unexpected, and I buckle beneath him, melting under his touch.
His fingers continue to work their magic until he parts my legs and kneels between them.
Tommy has a familiar way of turning me on just with a single stroke, which is why my skin explodes with goosebumps at the touch of his fingertips.
He dips down, his tongue licking one continuous line from my centre until he reaches my breasts.
A burning desire only he can contain runs through my veins, and I can’t get enough.
While I cup his firm arse, I urge him inside me; bugger the foreplay. My hips arch upwards in the hope he can read my body language and give me what I need.
This feels like it used to, but better, more intimate.
More meaningful. I question myself while wrapping my legs around his waist. Was there ever a time when I stopped caring for Tommy Graham?
Is it possible this urgency inside has always been there, maybe disguised as something else or pushed deep down to another place for another time?
His lips work their way to my neck, kissing a path to my lips, while he slowly pushes inside me.
I admit, it stings a little, but it's intense and fiery, reminding me I’m still a young woman with so much more to give, and I want this man to take it all.
I nearly lost him because of my stupidity. I won’t ever make that mistake again.
“Tommy.” I whisper his name as he fills me. “Don’t hold back on me. Never hold back.”
He thrusts inside, the sensation so powerful, so raw, I can’t possibly stop my building climax. He whispers in my ear, “Let it go, baby. Let it go.”
I do as I’m told, grateful for the release.
It’s been a long time since I've been so completely free in this way. No more feelings of guilt unsettle my stomach, just an overwhelming rush of love, because that’s what it is.
Along with millions of other women around the world, I’m in love with Tommy Graham.
Except I know him like no other woman does and my love for him is pure.
Just a few moments later, Tommy growls against my neck.
“Fuck,” he repeats over and over on a wave of ecstasy until he lies on his back, panting for air.
Finally, he gathers me close while we lay skin to skin, content and sated, and I wonder why the hell it took me so long to come to my senses. This is where we both belong. Together.