Played (Elite PR) (15 page)

Chapter Twenty

M
el spent the evening combing through the schedule for Aaron’s launch for the millionth time, not wanting to leave anything to chance. Turned out sex gave her laser focus and enormous energy. Who knew?

It’d been a week since the arrest, but they were so busy preparing for the launch it seemed like it had happened months ago. Mel kept working the plan with Tiffany, making great strides despite all the hiccups, and she stuck close to Genn, who was having her own issues at work. They’d become a real source of support for each other.

Poor Aaron was continuing to take questions about the arrest in the press interviews Mel had set up for him, but he took it like a champ and the questions became less and less frequent, especially once she started leaking information about a special love in his life. He didn’t care for that part. At. All. But it was working. She’d have to ease him into the idea of the June Skye romance, but she still had a little time.

Mel and Aaron settled into an easy routine as they worked their way through the calendar, putting a big X through each day. It hurt each and every time she had to do it. Aaron made breakfast for them in the morning, and, when she was up for it, she’d take care of dinner. She’d just leave a note for him, listing all of the ingredients she needed, and he’d pick it up while she was at the office. Tonight, she was cooking.

They were now just five days away from the launch party…and seven from the Last Hurrah.

They both were getting jittery.

“I know, he does look a little like Jake Owen,” Mel agreed, as she chatted up a blogger on the phone while she turned the shredded meat in the skillet. She was making pulled pork tacos this evening—her own take on a southern favorite.

“Tell me about your readership again,” Mel said, gauging whether this particular press site was big enough to warrant the full multimedia kit. As Miranda kept reminding her, they were not cheap to produce.

“Whoa, really?” she said when the blogger rattled of the site’s stats. This site was most definitely worthy. “Sure, I’ll have my office FedEx a packet right away. And we’ll see you at the launch? Excellent.”

“Please tell me you’re done for the day,” Aaron said when he walked into the room. He was still a bit hesitant around her, always gauging her response, asking her permission for every little thing. Whether it stemmed from what’d happened with Jayden or he worried that the incident in Nashville had changed her opinion of him, she couldn’t be sure. But he was so dang polite! No mistake, she liked this side of him, too. But Aaron when he wasn’t holding back—that was her favorite.

“That was my last media call for the night.” Mel did her happy dance booty shake. She was sick of walking on eggshells herself. It was time to get things back to normal.

“It smells so good in here, I don’t want work-talk to ruin my appetite.”

They’d both been working so hard that neither of them had the energy to do much in the evenings but talk, eat, and cuddle up on the couch with a movie. It was then that he’d reveal little bits and pieces to his past. Like last night when they watched a Nicolas Sparks’ rodeo film.

“Reminds me of when Graham and I were kids,” he’d said.

It was something so little, so seemingly insignificant, but it meant the world to her that he shared. That he felt safe with her.

She wondered if this was what married life would be like. Or was this just how it was with Aaron? It didn’t matter because he had told her straight out that he didn’t want a woman, a wife, or family. And she knew he had his hands full with his career and with his brother. She, on the other hand, was beginning to think she was ready for more.

“Did you see this?” She pointed to the calendar. “We only have a few of these dinners left.”

“Don’t remind me,” he said as he raked his hands though his hair.

But Mel wasn’t going to let it get her down. They only had a few days left and she wasn’t going to waste them.

E
ven though there was still so much Mel didn’t know about her roommate, she always paid attention to the things he did share—which gave her an idea of where she could take her cowboy before his world turned upside-down for the second time. They needed to get out and have some real fun.

She’d made the arrangements earlier that day, telling him only to dress casual and to be ready at seven.

“So where are you taking me tonight, ma’am?” he asked, hauling her onto his lap and nuzzling her neck. God, she loved when he did that that.

“It’s a surprise.” She quickly batted him away and stood up, her willpower waning. They needed to get out of there pronto, or there would be no going back. She knew how much he needed this, so she wouldn’t succumb to his wicked ways, no matter how much she wanted to. That man and his magical hands.

“I thought you didn’t like surprises,” he said.

When did I tell him that?

“I don’t like them,” she agreed. “But that doesn’t mean I don’t like surprising others. Just give me a minute to change.”

It was strange what they were able to pick up from each other in such a short amount of time. Like with Aaron—he didn’t like violence on TV, not even the news, and he’d click that shit off without hesitation. He ate light in the morning and heavy at night—the opposite of what he should be doing, as she’d told him a dozen times already. He also didn’t keep to a schedule, his wake and sleep patterns centered solely on his music, and, maybe most importantly, he needed white noise to sleep. She learned that when she took his fan into the living room and didn’t return it before he went to bed.

“Don’t change,” he said, grabbing onto her legs before she could make her getaway. “I’m very fond of this look. What color do you call it?” He tugged on her skirt and snaked his hands underneath.

“Turquoise.” Her eyes fluttered shut, the words scraping her throat on the way out.

“Pretty,” he groaned, moving his hands inward. He played so dirty, but she could resist him if she wanted to. His fingers stretched closer. Must. Resist. Before he could get to her fine china, she jumped out of reach and took off running for her room.

“You’re no fun,” he called after her, but she didn’t dare turn around. Couldn’t risk it. She changed into a pair of jeans and a white button-down then tied her hair back in two loose pigtails.

Then she grabbed his cowboy hat from the closet and pushed him out the door.

“I
feel like people are looking at me,” Aaron said when they took their seats in the main grandstand, ready to watch the “most dangerous eight seconds in all of sports.” Mel had to hand it to the rodeo marketers. That was a heckuva line.

“They’re not looking at you,” she said. Okay, she caught one or two glances their way, but she was hoping the Stetson and shades would help conceal him, at least a little bit. He needed to get used to the limelight again, but in small doses. Or at least learn how to have fun even if people were taking photos of his every move. “Don’t worry about anyone else. Let’s just enjoy this.”

“Do you know how long it’s been since I’ve gone to the rodeo?” he asked with the sweetest smile she’d ever seen on his handsome face. He was even more striking without all those whiskers hiding his expressions.

“Tell me,” she said. This was exactly what she was hoping for—a chance to connect and a way for him to let her in. She’d didn’t have a lot of time left with him, and she at least wanted this before they went their separate ways.

She dismissed that thought, banishing it from their night. She wouldn’t think about the future when they had the
now
together.

“It was the summer after I graduated high school,” he said. “I was playing gigs all over our neighboring towns, saving up to get Graham and I out of our hometown. That godforsaken place. But after a particularly good week, I thought we deserved a treat. So I bought rodeo tickets and took Graham. I’m not ashamed to say it was about the coolest thing we’d ever seen. Growing up, we’d both had our share of farm work, caring for animals and such. But the rodeo was so much cooler.”

“What was Graham’s favorite part?” she asked, trying not to seem overeager as she took in every detail of his story.

“This,” he said, looking over the stadium as the bull riders geared up for the show. “Adrenaline junkie, that one.”

“What about you?”

He laughed, turning away from her. “I’m not going to say.”

“Come on.” She jabbed his ribs. “Don’t be tease.”

“I’m not,” he said, meeting her gaze. “I just don’t want to ruin my image as a rugged cowboy.”

“Your secret’s safe with me,” she whispered. “Nobody here but you, me, and the ornery bull.”

“Okay.” He shook his head, taping his boot-clad feet on the aluminum riser “It was the babies.”

“Babies? You mean the kids attending the rodeo?”

“No, though they were cute, too. I’m talking the animals. You know, the calves and horses and pigs. We watched a foal birthing and it was the most amazing thing I’d ever experienced. I know that probably sounds ridiculous.”

Mel’s heart squeezed, emotion bubbling up to the surface, but she didn’t get the chance to say anything because the announcer’s voice blared over the loudspeaker as he introduced the first rider.

It was probably for the best. So instead, she linked her hand in his.

Mel had been to the rodeo a ton of times as a kid. As part of her Miss Sweetwater duties she had to make appearances at all the local events, so for her it was more of a chore. She didn’t have any heartwarming stories like Aaron did.

She imagined what it must’ve been like for the two brothers that summer. And she tried not to think about their life before they got out. She hoped to have him tell her that story some time, but tonight was about having fun and making memories.

They watched some of the best bull riders in the country fly out of the shoot on the most massive creatures she’d even seen. Mel was with Graham on this one—the bull riding was where it was at. But she also loved strolling through the different barns, walking hand-in-hand with Aaron. She knew his extra affection was probably because he was feeling melancholy, and she knew she shouldn’t read more into it. That was easier said than done. So she let herself indulge…just for a while.

They ate pizza on a stick for dinner and a deep-fried candy bar for dessert. They even rode on the Ferris wheel in the midway.

Too soon, the sky turned dark and it was time to go back to reality.

Chapter Twenty-One

“T
ell me,” he demanded.

“No,” she squealed as he threw her on the bed. They had quite the interesting conversation on the way home from the rodeo, and he simply had to have more information or he’d go nuts. They talked about what happened with Jayden and how it was for him on the road, and if he missed it, and all kinds of sexual questions that he wasn’t prepared for but answered as best he could. And once she had the answers to all of her questions, he turned the tables to learn more about her.

“This is not something you can just blurt out, Aaron.” She sat up but didn’t leave the bed.

Good girl.

She had let him know earlier that one of the reasons she left Sweetwater was to gain experience in all things—work and play. What he hadn’t known is that she hadn’t really made much progress on the play side. It surprised him, considering how responsive and enthusiastic she’d been with him. It also was an enormous relief, which it shouldn’t have been. She was not his, and he had no reason to feel one way or another about her sex life.

But when she mentioned that she had come up with a list of particulars that she wanted to check off before she headed home, he wanted to be the guy to help her.

“Let me at least hold on to some shred of my pride,” she said. “This is embarrassing stuff.”

How could he deny her request after what she did for him tonight? She said so much with that gesture. The memories and feelings and emotions had hit him hard. He couldn’t believe she would plan that for him. He remembered mentioning his love for the rodeo one night in passing. He had no idea she’d been paying such close attention.

So yes, he should’ve given her a break regarding her little secret. But he wasn’t going to. Not when the subject matter was this juicy. And there were other reasons, too. He wasn’t a completely selfish bastard.

Mel wasn’t going to be his roommate forever, and she’d already done so much for him. She definitely drew the short end of the stick in this arrangement, and he wanted to pay her back. In a big way.

“I will get it out of you, Melody Sharp.” He joined her on the bed, tugging at her pigtails.

She cleared her throat and turned the most incredible shade of scarlet. Oh hell, this had to be good. He fixed his eyes on those plump lips, ready to hang on her every word.

“Okay,” she said in a raspy voice that made him ache. Shit was getting serious. She looked at him from under her lashes. “So one of the things on my list is oral sex.”

He interrupted her. “Hell, that shouldn’t be anything new. It’s the mainstay of every healthy relationship and even the unhealthy ones. Don’t tell me you’ve been with guys who had an issue with it?

“You didn’t let me finish,” she said impatiently. “I mean doing it at the same time.”

“You mean sixty-nine?” he asked.

“Yep, that’s the one.” She dropped back into bed, throwing a pillow over her head.

“You never did that with Teddy?” The name of her ex was rough on his throat.

She shook her head underneath the pillow, but he pulled it off. He needed to see her face as she said, “I always thought it sounded interesting, but well, it never worked out.”

Never worked out?
How was that even possible?

“Honey, it’s not interesting, it’s fucking fantastic. Filthy and erotic and hot. It can be pretty damn intimate, actually.”

“What makes the difference, do you think?” He hated seeing the longing in her eyes, the shaken confidence in the way she held herself. This was a serious hang-up.

“Who you’re with, I guess. And how much you’re willing to give…and receive.”

“Has it ever been intimate for you?”

“It’s come close, I guess. But to be honest, most of my experience was on the road, as you know. Not exactly an intimate environment. These days, well, I really haven’t gone to that point with anyone in a long time.”

“Ah,” she said, and he couldn’t help the next words that fell out of his mouth.

“Not until you came along and squeezed your little ass into my life. With you, it’d be intimate. I think it’d be special. Is that something you want to try with me?”

He wasn’t sure who was more nervous about this proposition. She didn’t say anything for several seconds, but he felt this was what she wanted and he wanted to be the man to give it to her. He had to be.

“It is,” she said softly, in a very un-Mel-like manner. That was how important this was to her.

He thought it through. Damn, there were several ways they could go about it, and the most insanely erotic images flashed through his brain.
Calm the hell down.

In the end he decided they’d take this slow—lying down with her on top. That way she could control the speed. The depth. The intensity.

“Come to me, Mel.” He patted the bed between his legs. Just thinking about it had him quaking with need. He had to touch her.

“Hold on now,” she told him, holding her place. “Let me get my bearings.”

“I will help you set those bearings. Come.”

She crawled over to him so that she was flanked by his thighs, her own legs draped over his. “So, how are we going to do this?” she asked, her voice trembling.

“I don’t even want you to think about it, honey,” he said as he unbuttoned her shirt. “I’ll guide you. And you stop if anything is uncomfortable or you don’t like it.”

“Okay.” Her voice steadied, bringing him great relief. He wanted her to enjoy every second of them pleasuring each other.

He slowly undressed her despite their awkward positions—but this was nothing compared to what they’d be doing next. It was best to prepare her ahead of time.

Her shirt came off first, rather easily, as did his. He flicked the front clasp of her bra. It fell open, giving him an eyeful. He couldn’t get enough of her breasts. The gentle slope of them, sitting high on her chest. The weight of them in his hands. Her pert, rosy nipples. He pulled one into his mouth until she shuddered. Her reactions gave him the biggest rush.

“Lift your butt, sweetheart,” he told her, continuing his quest to have her naked and on top of him as soon as possible. He pulled her jeans down to her knees, taking her panties along for the ride, and then freed each leg. She giggled as he maneuvered her.

Just wait, little Mel.

She helped him do the same with his boxers, but it wasn’t nearly as pretty.

“Okay, now scoot down there on the bed and kneel,” he told her gently, trying to keep his enthusiasm in check. He had to hold it together, or he wasn’t going to last more than two minutes. And he wasn’t going to ruin this for her. But damn, she was so beautiful waiting for him. He joined her, on his knees at first so he could feast on her mouth. He wanted her drenched by the time they began.

Skimming his thumb over her bottom lip, he made her open for him so she could wet his finger. She complied without question and was rewarded in kind when that finger reached her center.

He swept his tongue into her mouth as he worked his finger at her core, circling. She moaned into this kiss as he claimed her with each stroke, each touch, pushing his way further inside. She became almost pliant as he thoroughly worked her over.

It was time.

Breaking the kiss, his tongue drew a path down her body, savoring her sweet taste as she bowed into him. When he reached her center, he parted her with his tongue, consumed by the addictive scent of her arousal. She was just as he wanted her—all warm, wet heat.

He flipped onto his back, and she tensed as he worked his way between her legs so she was straddling his head.

“I’m going to start now, Melody.” He gripped her thighs, bringing the part he craved closer to his mouth. “You can join me when you’re ready.”