His New Jam (11 page)

He reached over and pulled out the pack of index cards he'd shoved in his jacket pocket.

She laughed. “Coffee, donuts, and index cards?”

“I know you think it's silly, but it can't hurt, right? It might even help. You won't fall asleep if you're writing notes on the cards.”

She laughed so hard she had to put her coffee down. “You don't even know,” she said unevenly. Then she handed him her notebook.

He flipped through the pages and saw what she meant. She'd been in the middle of writing something and the ink went off the page. She actually had fallen asleep while writing notes.

“You won't this time. I'll help.”

“Don't you have your own finals to study for?”

“I have a paper to write and a history final. I've got it.” He peeled back the plastic on the cards and handed her a small stack. “Start with relevant vocabulary words. Term on one side, definition on the other.”

She sighed but accepted the cards.

As resistant as she was at the beginning, an hour and a half later Sydney had a pile of flashcards to study from and they'd spent most of that time laughing. While she finished up her last card, he straightened the mess of papers strewn around. He handed her the stack of cards.

“What's this?”

“Your flashcards.”

She fanned them out like she didn't believe him. “We did all these?”

“
You
did them. I watched.”

“Wow. I remember stuff.”

“That happens when you stay awake.”

Her face brightened with a sweet smile. He stood and looked around. He'd seen the entire apartment last night, except for Trish's room, but a thought occurred to him.

“Where are your drums?”

Her smile dropped and her mouth opened, then closed. “I don't have any right now.”

“How do you practice?”

She lifted a shoulder. “School.”

He couldn't imagine not having his instruments.

“Not all of us can tap parental guilt.”

But she must've had a kit at some point. She danced along a line of answering his questions without revealing too much. “Why don't you have any right now? You used to have some.”

She bit her lip. He could tell she was debating how much to say. “I sold them.”

Her lips wobbled with the admission.

There was no way someone who loved to play as much as she did would've sold her drums. He sat down again and laid a hand on her leg. “Are you in trouble?”

She shook her head. “It was a long time ago.”

The pain on her face still looked fresh. He ran his hand down to her knee.

“I don't want to talk about it.”

He wanted to push. He wanted to know what could make her give up the one thing that was important to her. He'd seen her play through anger and frustration. She didn't have that outlet at home. It irritated him that she wouldn't open up.

“It's fine.” She leaned forward and pressed her lips to his. Rubbing her hands across his chest, she tried to push him back and climb onto him like she had last night. Although he'd thoroughly enjoyed the outcome then, he realized she used sex to avoid talking to him. Yesterday, she didn't want to talk about the trouble in biology. Today it was her drums.

He gripped her hips and set her back onto the couch.

“What?”

“Break's over. You have studying to do.”

“I spent the last couple of hours working.”

“And now you're set to review.” He reluctantly stood and pulled on his jacket.

She had the same weepy look she gave him last night when he left.

“I'm not rejecting you, you know this, right?” He felt ridiculous saying it, but he needed to reassure her. He wasn't ready to walk away from what they had.

“Yeah,” she said unconvincingly. She followed him to the door.

His good-bye kiss was more involved than he planned and they were both breathing erratically when he pulled away again. “After finals, I want a whole night with you. No jobs, no school, no tests. Just us naked and sweating and fucking all night.”

Her breath shuddered out and she licked her lips. They were definitely on the same page. And then, when her defenses were down, he'd get her to spill her secrets.

Chapter 11

T
he next few days both flew by and dragged. Sydney didn't see Hunter because of their school schedules and the end of football season. He texted her Monday night to ask how the biology final went—very well—but he made no move to see her. They skipped band practice on Tuesday night because everyone had finals. They still held Thursday's practice, and she assumed they'd do a drum lesson after. She'd missed hanging out with Hunter.

Jay and Lance had just left and Sydney sat behind the drums. “Ready for your lesson?”

He ran a hand through his hair and sighed. “As much as I'd love to, I have a paper I need to finish. It's due tomorrow and I got bogged down doing research. I need to take a rain check.”

“Oh.” She tried not to sound hurt, but she'd been looking forward to this for days. She'd missed his jokes and laughing with him and the heat of his body pressed against hers. He was only doing what she'd done this weekend, so it shouldn't bother her. “Okay. I'll get out of your hair then.”

Damn, she sounded stupid. The guy just needed to finish his homework.

“I'd ask you to stay, but I wouldn't get any work done with you here.”

She perked up. “Really?”

“Oh yeah.” Then he grabbed her and kissed her breathless.

When he let her go, he whispered, “Tomorrow night after the gig. Can you spend the night? Or will Trish come looking for me?”

“Believe it or not, I'm an adult.” The thought of spending a whole night with Hunter sent a shiver through her.

“I don't want to cause trouble between you and your sister, but I want you all night long. Maybe all day Saturday, too.”

“That's a lot of time.” Her voice was husky and she wanted to strip right there and let him get started.

“I have a lot of things I want to do. And I plan to take my time.”

She nipped his bottom lip. “I look forward to it.”

“Friday suddenly seems far away.”

She chuckled.

“Are you free for lunch tomorrow?”

“Class gets out at eleven fifteen. Then I'm free till one.” She kissed his jaw. “Will that be enough time?”

He groaned and stepped back. “Nope. I meant let's meet for lunch. Hang out. Bitch about our professors and the crappy classes we're happy to be done with.”

“Like a date?”

“You kind of cheated me out of one last Saturday.”

“I don't think that was cheating, but whatever.”

“It was a hell of a way to spend my night, and I wouldn't have traded it for a dinner in a restaurant, but I want more than sex, Sydney. I want to get to know you better.”

Huh. She rocked back on her heels. He kept knocking her off her game, and she wished she could tell what was genuine and what was his charm wheedling its way past her defenses. “You know me well enough.”

Grabbing the waistband of her jeans, he hauled her back into him. A rush flooded through her veins. She expected a hot kiss, but he gently brushed his lips on her cheek, then her jaw, and finally her ear. “No. You hold back. I answer all your questions, but you brush mine off and distract me with sex.”

He released his grip and she wobbled. Again, off balance. Every time she was alone with him. He was right, but she couldn't admit it. “I just want to get to the good stuff.”

“You are the good stuff. But you still hold back.”

She hated when he made her feel all warm and gooey.

“So about tomorrow?”

“I have to work. Help restock the bookstore for next quarter.”

“Tomorrow night then.” He gave her another quick kiss and shoved her through the door.

Sydney drove home with jittery emotions. Could she let Hunter in? What if telling him all about the real her, the one who let a guy take over her life, ruined everything between them? She wasn't sure if her greatest fear was that Hunter would be more like Tony or that he would look at her like she was a ridiculous mess.

On her way to bed, Trish stopped her. “How'd your finals go?”

“Good. Better than good, I think. Hunter helped.”

Trish snickered. “Orgasm afterglow helped with the test?”

“Well, I definitely wasn't tense. But seriously, he came over on Sunday and helped me make flashcards. It worked.”

“He was here on Sunday?”

Syd nodded. “He showed up with coffee and donuts while you were at the health club.”

Trish narrowed her eyes.

Syd threw up her hands. “He helped me study. I offered sex and he turned me down. He told me to get to work, much like he did Saturday night when he left here.”

Trish crossed her arms. “So he's putting school first? What kind of grades does he get?”

“How should I know? Good enough that he's graduating in May, which is on time, unlike me.” She didn't want to be defensive, but she couldn't help it.

“Oh my God. You really like him. This isn't some quickie fling to get your feet wet.”

“What are you talking about?”

“If you were just in it for the sex, you wouldn't be upset at my poking. You'd brush it aside. But you're sticking up for him.”

“He's a good guy.” She sincerely hoped she was right. Her guy picker didn't have a great track record.

Trish smiled, but said, “Remember to be careful.”

“I am. I'm fine.” Live carefully had become her life's motto. Hunter was making things harder than she was used to.

Friday night, the band played without a hitch. They played a double encore and Hunter would've played a third if it meant keeping the unabashed smile of pride on Sydney's face. After they loaded the van, they went back to the bar for a celebratory drink. Hunter stuck with water since he was driving, but encouraged Sydney to have a beer. Or two. He wanted her to relax because tonight was going to be all about them. Band was over, classes and finals were finished, so she had no more excuses. They could date and be a couple for the world to see.

He sat back on the stool and watched her get into a heated argument with Lance, of all people. Lance was probably the most laid-back guy he knew. In fact, Hunter couldn't remember Lance ever fighting with anyone about anything.

Whatever Sydney was trying to convince him of, however, she was animated about it. Her arms were waving and then she pointed, just short of poking Lance's chest. Then Lance doubled over in laughter. It was such a great sight to have his girlfriend blend with his lifetime friends.

He started at the words flowing through his head. Girlfriend? How the hell had that happened? He waited for panic to hit, but it didn't. He liked the idea. He'd dated a lot, but he rarely brought those girls around his friends. Some came to the shows at The Garage, but they acted like groupies, and while some guys might get off on that, he preferred someone to fit in.

Sydney definitely fit in.

Just then, she turned to him with a broad smile on her face. “Your friend Lance needs a brain transplant.”

“Why's that?”

“He's trying to convince me the Stones had a greater impact on music history than the Beatles.”

He shook his head, knowing better than to get involved in that argument. “You ready to go?”

Her cheeks grew pink and she looked at him from under her lashes. “Yeah.”

He grabbed her hand and waved to the guys. “Did you tell Trish you won't be home tonight?”

She rolled her eyes. “It's fine.”

He stopped walking and she crashed into him. “Uh-uh. Call her now or I take you home.”

She released a long-suffering sigh.

“She'll worry about you.”

“Fine.” She pulled her phone out and texted Trish. As they headed toward the door, her phone rang. She answered as they got outside and Hunter ushered her to the van to keep warm.

“Hi, Trish.” Then she listened. Hunter tried not to eavesdrop, but he couldn't help himself. “I'm fine. I'm staying with Hunter.” Another minute of listening. “I will.”

“Everything okay?”

“Yeah.”

“If she's mad, I'll take you home.”

“She's not mad. And she's not my mother. I can do whatever I want.”

“But—”

“Nothing, Hunter. She worries about me, but she's not mad.”

“If you're sure.” He reached for her hand and interlaced his fingers. While they drove, she turned his radio up. He'd expected her to change the music, but she sat back with her eyes closed and listened to jazz.

With every passing moment with her, he liked her more. When he parked, she grabbed her backpack and waited by the rear of the van.

“Come on,” he said, pointing to the apartment.

“What about the equipment?”

“It'll be fine until morning. Adam will help me then.”

“I can help.”

He grabbed her hand and pulled her toward the house. “Maybe I can't wait.”

He let them into the apartment and pulled her straight to his bedroom, where she dropped her bag.

“I know you're impatient and all, but I'd really like a shower.”

“Let's go.” He kicked off his shoes and stripped with her watching him.

“As much as I enjoy that sight, I'm not following. What if your roommate's here?”

“He's not.”

“But he could come home.” She toed off her shoes and slid them next to the wall.

Hunter led the way to the bathroom. He started the water and turned to Sydney. She reached for the hem of her tank top, but he stilled her hands. “Let me.”

He removed her clothes, stopping to kiss her everywhere. By the time they stepped under the water, they were hotter than the spray. He held her close and ran his hands over her body, toying with her nipples, making her moan. Using his hands, he made her come the first time for the night.

Then they washed each other without talking. As they dried off, he watched her rub her skin with his towel. “You were really good tonight.” Then he realized how that might've sounded, so he added, “At The Garage. You get off on performing, don't you?”

She dropped the towel and stepped close. She licked his ear before saying, “I get off on a lot of things.”

“I'm going to see how many of those things I can hit.”

“Ambitious, huh?”

“Determined.” He backed her out the door. She squealed when the cold air of the hall hit them.

“I'm naked.”

“I know.”

She turned and bolted for his room. He followed at a slower pace, enjoying the display. When he closed the door and locked it, she was bent over digging through her bag.

“You won't need anything you have in there.”

She stood, holding a huge T-shirt.

“Nope.” He walked toward her, backing her to the bed. He didn't stop until she dropped the shirt and crawled backward onto his mattress. He started at her ankle and kissed his way up. As he neared her pussy, she spread her legs wide in invitation. He lay flat on his stomach and licked her. Flicking his tongue against her clit, he felt her thigh muscles jump in response.

He thrust his tongue inside her on a moan. Her taste and scent surrounded him and he would've died happy to drown in her. He kept stroking and sucking and lapping until her hips bucked up. Gripping tight and holding her to his mouth, he continued until her thighs trembled and she whimpered his name.

Rising up on his knees, he grinned at her.

“Don't look so smug.”

“Can't help it.” He kissed up her torso and spent a minute or two, maybe three, worshipping her nipples before reaching for a condom.

He eased into her slowly. Once he was settled inside her, she wrapped her arms and legs around him. They moved together in slow motion until the orgasms soared through them. This time it wasn't about getting to the finish line. He just wanted to be with her.

Lying together afterward, he thought about making his move, but she started the conversation first.

“What are you most worried about after graduation?”

“Getting a job.”

Her fingers tapped against his ribs in a quiet rhythm. “Besides that. Everyone worries about a job.”

He sighed, but if he wanted her to open up, he had to be willing to. “I'm afraid I won't be good enough. I worry that a student will ask something and I won't know the answer. I worry I'll get a boss who hates me. Or worse, doesn't take me seriously.”

She didn't respond.

“My adviser warned me that I'm too friendly and some instructors I've worked with in the past aren't sure if I can hack it as a teacher.”