Rock Your Heart Out (Sinful Serenade #3) (20 page)

"Excuse me." I push off the couch. "I'm really tired. I'm going to crash in my room."

"I'll walk you," Miles offers.

"No. I need some time to think." I wipe my eyes and turn back to Pete and Miles with my best
everything is great
smile. "Thanks for offering."

"You sure?" Miles asks.

"Positive. Have fun." I turn before they can object further.

It's difficult to cut through the crowd with every ounce of strength fleeing my body. Finally, I make it to the street. It's a warm night. Humid. By the time I'm in the air-conditioned hotel lobby, my hair is sticking to my skin.

There's no sign of Tom. It's better that no one will see me in this sorry state. I skip the elevator—too much chance I'll run into someone—in favor of walking the four floors to my room.

My bed beckons me. I turn off the lights and throw myself on the mattress. Okay, this is it. This is all the crying over Tom I'm going to do. I might as well make it count.

I curl into a ball and give in to the tears rolling down my cheek.

I'm about to collapse when there's a knock at my door. I'm lucky people care enough to check on me. At the moment, it's hard to muster any gratitude.

With great effort, I push myself off the bed, make my way to the door, and look out the peephole.

It's Tom.

T
om knocks again. "Willow. It's me. Open up."

"Only if you're dropping off my winnings."

He's quiet for a moment. "No, I..."

No, I only made it two minutes
or
No, I'm waiting to see what time we can get?

He taps his fingers against the door. "I can scream my half of the conversation but someone will call security."

I unlock the door. "How was it?"

He slides it open another two inches. "You mind?"

"No. Come in." I step backwards.

Light fills the room as Tom steps inside. He presses the door closed with his back. His eyes connect with mine. He can tell I've been crying. It's written all over his face.

He swallows hard. "I didn't fuck her."

"Why not? She was pretty. Big boobs. Nice ass."

"Maybe. Barely looked at her." He takes a step towards me. "I didn't have any intention of fucking her."

"But you... you left with her."

"Needed to get the fuck out of there so I could think. Told her I wanted a cigarette."

"You don't smoke."

"She didn't know that." Tom presses the pad of his thumb against my cheek. "You've been crying."

"No."

"That's the worst lie I've ever heard."

I shake my head.

"Yeah." He brushes stray tears from under my eyes. "You were crying over me?"

"That's quite the accusation."

He stares back at me.

"Are you really that full of yourself?"

"I am. But you were." He slides his hand behind my neck. "You've been crying a lot."

"Not a lot."

"How much have you cried before that this isn't a lot?" His voice is soft, sweet.

"Too much." I go to step backwards but the damn wall is in the way. "We're supposed to be friends. I can't take this hot and cold thing anymore."

"I've been thinking about you nonstop since we talked. Not sure if you noticed but last night was the shittiest I ever played."

"Tom. No... If this is another upswing on the fucking sine wave that is your feelings towards me, then go now. If you're going to wake up tomorrow and realize this is a mistake and that we should just be friends, then go now. You're playing with my heart and I'm not going to take it anymore." God, I'm talking myself out of having sex with Tom. But it's necessary if I want to live through this tour. "If you're here for anything other than giving a relationship an honest shot, then you need to leave."

"I want to be with you." He slides a hand around my waist. "But I've never done that before. Might not be any good at it."

"That's okay. I'm not very good at it either."

He brushes his fingers against my cheek. "I don't know what to do here, kid. Nothing has ever made me hesitate."

I stare back into Tom's eyes. "You want me."

He nods.

"I want you. We'll figure the rest out. I promise."

"I've never cared about anyone this much. I... I'll hate myself if I break your heart."

I slide my hand around his neck. "You won't. Not on purpose."

"How do you know?"

"Say this goes bad and you break my heart because you're dealing with your own shit. That will cut me to my soul. But running away now would hurt worse." I press my fingertips into his skin. "I've spent the last few years running away from anything that might hurt me, and all I've got is an empty life. I don't want to run. I want you." I arch my back to press my crotch against his. "Please, Tom. I can't bear waiting another second. I need you."

He stares back into my eyes, and I know he understands me. He feels it too, needs me too.

"I'm going to kiss you," I say. "I know you don't normally—"

His lips press against mine before I can finish my sentence. Yes. Better than in my dreams. Better than anything.

Just a peck and Tom pulls back to look at me. There's so much in his gorgeous green eyes. Desire, affection, need.

He kisses me again. Any hint of reservation is gone. He sucks on my lower lip until I sigh with pleasure. His tongue slips into my mouth, swirling around mine.

He tastes good. Not like the three shots of whiskey I watched him drink. Like spearmint toothpaste. Like Tom.

He got ready for this.

He got ready for me.

I don't catch my breath until our kiss breaks.

His eyes meet mine. Different than before. Hungrier. He brings his hand to the bottom of my dress. I spread my legs to guide him.

Slowly, he drags his fingertips up my thigh. Almost. They skim the edge of my panties.

"Please," I breathe.

He presses his lips against my ear. "I love the way you say that. It's fucking sexy."

I arch my back to press my sex against his hand. "Please."

He kisses me hard. His tongue slides into my mouth, exploring it. He's damn patient as he strokes me over my panties.

I tug at his hair. Now. I need all of him, now. I drag my fingertips over his chest, his neck, his ears.

He groans.

Yes, the ears. I run my fingertips over his earlobes with a feather light touch.

Tom pulls back. He grabs my hands and presses them hard against the wall. "Let me lead, kid." He slides my panties to my knees. "I want to savor this." He drags his fingers up the inside of the thigh. "I want to feel every second of your pleasure."

My sex clenches. I want him leading. I trust him with my body. And that's everything.

Tom takes his sweet time unzipping my dress and sliding it to my feet. He drags his fingertips up my calves, my thighs, my hips.

He unhooks my bra and slides it off, one shoulder, then the other. His eyes go wide at the sight of my breasts. Like it's the first time he's ever seen a woman naked.

Or maybe it's the best time.

His touch is light over my stomach, my chest, my collarbones. He catches my bottom lip with the soft pad of his thumb. I slide his digit into my mouth and suck gently. His eyelids flutter closed.

He drags his hand back down my torso then cups my hip, holding me upright. A good thing because the moment his fingers skim my clit, my knees buckle.

His touch is light. My body throbs in protest. More.

His lips make contact with mine. He strokes me harder. Harder.

Harder.

I shudder. Yes. There. I groan into his mouth instead of speaking. He keeps the same speed. The same rhythm.

Drummers, they know how to keep a fucking beat.

Tension builds as he strokes me. When I can't take the rising bliss any more, I pry my lids apart. Watch the expression of fascination on his face. His eyes are wide, transfixed. Right now, I'm the most important person in the world. The sexiest woman in the world.

My eyelids press together. My hands find his shoulders and tug at his t-shirt. Then under it. There's something right about our skin connecting. I want my fingers on every inch of his body. His fingers on every inch of mine.

God, Tom.

Conscious thought melts away. I'm the flutter of his lips against mine. The sigh of pleasure as his fingers find the perfect rhythm. The arch of my back bringing our bodies together.

Pleasure wells up inside me. It knots tighter, tighter, harder. I break our kiss to cry out. How is it possible for anything to feel this good?

God, the way he's looking at me. It makes it hard to stand.

With his next touch, the knot releases and pleasure spills through me. My sex pulses as I come.

He pulls his t-shirt over his head, and presses his bare chest against mine. Every nerve in my body lights up at once. He's against me. Just him. Just me.

Tom presses his lips against my neck and shoulders. Kissing, sucking, biting gently. His fingers tease my sex. Slowly, he slides one inside me.

Yes. God yes.

His eyes connect with mine. He's watching me, watching my reactions. I'm so wrecked with need that I barely manage to nod. He pushes deeper then slides another finger inside me.

My body tenses. It hurts for a moment then it feels really fucking good.

I take my time exploring the hard muscles of his chest and stomach as I work my way down his torso. Tom's eyes flutter closed. He lets out a low groan as I cup him over his jeans.

The look of bliss on his face is the best thing I've ever seen.

He pulls his hand away, reaches into the back pocket of his jeans, and pulls out a condom. He shimmies out of his jeans. "Tell me if it hurts."

I nod.

His boxers join his jeans on the floor.

Almost.

Tom's eyes go straight to my chest as he rolls the condom on. He cups my breasts as he presses his body against mine. His hard cock presses against my stomach. Not quite where it needs to be.

He brings his hands to my ass, kissing me as he kneads my flesh. We're close to where we need to be. Almost.

He lifts me, holds me against the wall. The muscles of his arms flex against my flesh. I should feel scared. That he'll drop me. That this will hurt. That everything will somehow go wrong.

But I'm not scared.

My eyelids press together. My breath hitches. I hook my legs around his waist, spreading as wide as I can, giving myself to him.

I want to be his. Want him erasing the memories of anyone else.

Tom's breath is slow, even. He shifts, his cock nudging against my sex. Almost.

Almost.

He groans as his tip strains against me.

My sex stretches around him. I dig my nails into his shoulders to contain the overwhelming sense of being filled. One delicious inch at a time, he enters me. His eyes darken. His breath hitches. He nips at my neck, his groans vibrating against my skin, filling my ears.

Deeper.

Then it's too deep. Too much. My teeth clench. My neck tenses.

He stops. Cups my neck.

I take a deep breath. I want all of him inside me. Every damn inch. I bring my lips to Tom's, slide my tongue into his mouth. He holds me upright with one hand. The other goes to my breasts, teasing my nipples until my muscles relax.

Tom looks me in the eyes, watching my expression as he slides all the way inside me. I can feel every inch of him, the way my body stretches around him. We're two puzzle pieces, finally locked together.

The world is right.

A groan escapes his lips. He moves slowly, unbearably slowly, thrusting deep inside me and pulling out again and again. With every thrust, the discomfort fades, replaced by pleasure. He's in control. I'm safe with him. As his.

My eyelids press together. It feels too good to do anything but moan. His lips find mine. Our kiss is as deep and slow as his movements.

We're locked together for minutes. Not fast. Not even a little. He's gentle as he fills me with long, slow thrusts. Again and again and again until I'm close enough I'm shaking.

He plants kisses along my jaw, my neck, my shoulder.

Tom Steele is a patient, gentle lover.

Who the hell would have guessed?

I shudder.

Almost.

I arch my hips to push him deeper.

God, he feels good.

He thrusts into me with those same slow, gentle movements. Minutes pass. I'm lost in some world where everything feels good.

My sex clenches. Tighter and tighter and tighter. It's the slowest orgasm in the history of the world.

I keep my eyes glued to his until I can't take it anymore. My lids press together. One more thrust and I tumble over the edge. I come in spasms, pulling him closer, tighter.

He stays inside me until I'm still. His grip tightens against my hips. Our bodies come untangled as carries me on the bed. My back hits the mattress. My legs splay open.

He brings his body on top of mine. His arms plant outside mine. I spread my legs, arching my back to give myself to him.

His tip strains against me. I bite my lip, not sure if I can take him at full force. He's big.

Tom brings his hands to my hips, not holding me, but cradling me. He presses his cheek against mine.

"I've got you," he whispers.

He does. I only barely nod. Tom teases me with his tip. Again and again. And again. Until I'm desperate for all of him. Now.

With one swift movement, he thrusts inside me. It's deep. Hard. My eyelids close. My fingers dig into his skin. I give in to the bliss spreading through me. My hips move of their own accord, matching his movements, pushing him deeper.

He groans as he moves faster and harder.

Another orgasm rises up inside me. My sex clenches again and again as I come. It pulls him closer, deeper.

Tom's grip tightens around my hips. He goes harder. Deeper.

Within moments, he's there, groaning into my ear and digging his fingers into my skin as he comes. I soak in every second of his orgasm. The way his breath goes erratic, the way his voice goes higher, the way his body shakes against mine.

He presses his lips against my neck, untangles our bodies, and does away with the condom.