“Do you do many radio interviews? Is it fun?” If I kept on talking about nothing in particular, we wouldn’t need to go deeper. Sure, I’d come here to go deeper, but my writing was tender territory.

  He barked out a laugh. “You experienced that journalist. Do you think it’d be fun?”

  “I just thought if you had a set interview, it might be easier.”

  “A little. If the interviewer isn’t into bait and switch. You can get away in a parking lot, but in a studio, not so much.” Moving behind me, his hands came down on the muscles between my shoulders and neck, squeezed once. I leaned back and looked up into his upside-down eyes. “God, it’s so weird to have you here,” he murmured, his deep voice dipping another octave. “I thought you would never leave New Hope.”

  I swallowed hard, never looking away from his gaze. “I know what I said, but a lot of it was my own insecurities. I’ve been too scared to move on after Dad and Stephen, even more so than my mother, apparently. Babs made sure I saw that.” It felt weird to admit that, embarrassing yet freeing.

  “She always would get to the bottom of things if you wouldn’t face them.” There wasn’t a scrap of judgment in Gage’s eyes. Just something that looked a lot like forgiveness. “Mom would be ashamed of me, the way I left.” He hung his head.

  I was supposed to be here to make him feel better, cheer him up, not send him back into a negative spiral.

  I reached up and squeezed a hand still resting on my shoulder. “She would have kicked your ass,” I said, changing the tone to a lighter one.

  His face broke into a smile, the light breaking through the darkness in his eyes. “She would have. Is that why you’re here? To kick my ass for her?” He leaned closer to me, heat from my body and his making the air between us grow warm.

  I laughed, and it came out low and sultry, like I was trying to seduce him. “I might kick your ass anyway. You better be good.”

  “Is this good?” Bending down, he planted his hands on either side of my face and covered my mouth with his, giving me an upside-down kiss. The warm, wet of his mouth sent an arrow of ache straight to my center, eliciting a groan from me. Upside-down felt so strange, but delightfully so. His tongue dipped inside, tangling with mine, making me go boneless.

  Pulling back, he spun me around, his eyes flickering over my body. Tingles raced down my arms and into my fingertips as I thought about the ways I could touch him, to take his mind off things…

  This wasn’t why I’d come. My intention had never been to hook up with Gage, but I was already crumbling to this intense need.

  “I…” I tried to find words, to cool the overheated atmosphere, but my mind blanked.

  Gage leaned down and planted his hands on the armrests, pinning me in. Growling my name, he closed the distance between us, kissing me hard. He claimed my lips, then my mouth with his tongue, demanding in a way that made me breathless, at his mercy.

  It also made me reckless.

  And I liked it.

  I also liked that I hadn’t been in the room for fifteen minutes and he’d had the need to kiss me. Truth be told, I’d wanted to jump his bones in just the first few seconds. But I’d come here to offer him comfort.

  Now, my pulse raced, my body giving over all control to him. With his hands on me, circling my waist, kneading my flesh, I wanted to offer him everything I had. It felt so right, I had no power to stop it.

  His tongue circled mine as he pulled me closer, kneeling between my legs. My breasts pressed into his hard chest, and his fingers gripped my waist as I flung my arms around his neck. His scent, spicy and just him, seeped into my blood and raced through my veins. This could be considered a type of comfort, right? Me giving him a respite…

  His mouth moved from mine, dragging kisses over my cheek and down my neck. My fingers knotted tight in his hair that had grown even more unruly since I’d seen him last. His lips moved lower, across my chest, over my abs. When he reached my hips, his teeth sank ever so lightly into my skin through the thin sundress I wore, giving me a little nip that made me squeal. Joy filled me at his touch.

  Hot fingers ran up the insides of my thighs. “Open to me,” he commanded, his voice vibrating against my goosefleshed skin.

  “Oh god, Gage,” I whimpered as my legs parted as if they had been waiting for his order.

  He lifted my skirt, his pupils going wide, covering the green that sparked each time he looked at me.

  “Kelly, you’re so beautiful.” He stroked one finger down the center of my already damp panties, my hips rolling upward to receive the pressure of that digit.

  Bunching the skirt in his hand, he pushed it farther upward as his lips claimed my mouth again in a hard, fast kiss. I couldn’t think, couldn’t speak, was lost in the brush of that one finger as he ran it tantalizingly slow around the edge of the thin material separating me from him. My breath grew ragged as he skimmed his touch down my bare thighs, leaving a scorching trail.

  “You have no idea how fucking sexy you are.” Gage’s eyes were fixed upon mine. From his expression, I could tell he knew he held all the power. My hips squirmed. I’d willingly give him more. I’d let him do whatever he wanted to me.

  “Gage, please.”

  His lips twitched before he nuzzled his nose into the cotton of my panties and an involuntary groan flew past my lips. Even through the material, I could feel his breath, his lips, imagine his tongue going straight up my center.

  “I want to taste you, Kelly.” Each word was pure seduction, sending my pulse into overdrive. “I need to.”

  He flicked his tongue out, pressing it against my clit, giving me a brief memory of how good his mouth felt pressed between my thighs. Of so many times we snuck around as horny, desperate teenagers, finding somewhere we could be alone, going as far as we dared.

  “Up.” I gasped as he lifted my hips and yanked the silky scrap down my legs and out of the way.

  I dug my head into the headrest of the chair. If I were being honest with myself, this was what I’d come here wanting.

  He leaned closer again, hovering over the apex of my legs, until I could feel his hot breath on my slit. “You’re an addiction, Kelly Cavendish. I hope you know that.”

  His tongue attacked me in a relentless torrent, flicking my clit hard then licking wider and wider circles around the swollen bud until I was ready to beg. He teased, running his fingers featherlight around my labia. The pressure inside me built, and I brought my feet up, hooking them on the end of the chair to give me leverage, and pressed myself against his mouth.

  But his hands gripped my hips, locking me into place. One long, slow, flat-tongued lick, and he plunged his tongue deep like I wanted it, making me cry out. Then that tongue was tracing over my clit, alternately dipping inside then racing up to tease, tying a knot low inside my belly. I gripped onto his shoulders as I was unable to do anything but need.

  He ravaged me in an onslaught of pleasure so intense I could hardly stand it. There wasn’t a rhythm, no way I could keep up with what he was doing to me. He was everywhere all at once, surprising me when he reached up and pressed my breasts tight together, pinching my nipple between his forefinger and thumb, shoving me ever closer to the edge.

  Two fingers speared into me, making my back arch. “More.” Had that word come from my mouth? I gripped his hair, rolling my hips as he found the spot inside he’d been searching for, and I screamed.

  The intense tightening of my inner muscles flung me into the orgasm at the speed of light, making me lose any sense of up or down. I was a slave to the sensations, focused only on his mouth at my core. Then I was tumbling, falling…dragged under until the flicking of his tongue drowned me completely.

  Once the initial bliss subsided and I spiraled down from the shockwaves, I was out of breath and needed a moment to regain myself.

  “Yes,” he hissed over my sensitive skin, and bolted upright with a hungry, predatory look in his eyes.

  Grabbing a condom from a small bag sitting on the dresser, he came back, lifted me from the chair like I weighed nothing, carrying me to the dresser and shoving the bag, his cell phone, papers out of the way. I laughed as objects fell to the floor, but he growled again as he pressed himself between my legs, his cock teasing my entrance through his jeans.

  Now, the need to tear his clothes off consumed me. My fingers went to the button of his jeans, and he let me unfasten him as he ripped his t-shirt over his head. Pushing his pants over his hips, his boxers with them, he fell into my hand, thick and pulsing. My hips rose, wanting him to be inside me, but he was bare. God, I wanted to feel him bare. His hands pushed up the dress, over my head, letting loose my breasts to his view.

  He rested his forehead against mine, and I could see he was waging a battle, his muscles trembling as those green eyes stared into mine.

  “Kelly, I…” He bit down on his bottom lip, turning his head away and concentrating on ripping open the condom package.

  Before I could ask him what he was going to say he was slipping himself between my folds. I wrapped my legs around his pelvis to drag him all the way in. Tossing my head back, I slapped my palms behind me on the dresser and lifted my hips just as he plunged inside.

  Heat pooled in my belly and swept through my limbs, sending me back to the brink. My walls clamped tightly around him, my body not wanting to let him go.

  He wrapped my hair around his hand and pulled my head back even more as he pulled back and rammed inside me again, dragging his rock-hard erection over the tissues that wanted to grip him tight.

  His mouth met mine again, his tongue matching each thrust, his hand gripping my ass and tilting me to meet him until he had no farther inside me to go.

  “Oh…Gage.” The waves were rising inside me, threatening to swamp me without him. I reached down, wrapped my fingers around the soft skin of his balls and cupped them.

  He reared up, every muscle going corded. I watched as his eyes landed on where we joined, an expression of awe coming over his face. He roared, and I lost it, tumbling as he exploded. Hard, fast swells washed through me, breaking, as with a guttural groan he came, the pleasure of seeing his release consuming me. As each after-wave rocked through me, I enjoyed watching him, savoring being connected to him, just for a few seconds longer.

  “Kelly, come to…New York with me,” he said as he caught his breath. “Stay with me, let me show you the city.”

  I wrapped my arms around his neck, not answering him right away because my gut reaction was that I needed to be back in New Hope. I couldn’t just take off to wherever I wanted. Plus, I wasn’t sure he meant it, in the heat of the moment. But the idea didn’t seem quite so impossible anymore. I could actually picture myself in New York, a part of Gage’s life, enjoying time with him. At least for a little while.

  By coming to Gage, by letting him back in, I was putting myself at risk. At risk of losing the man I loved, had loved since I knew what a woman’s love for a man felt like. We’d finally made it here. Did I have enough courage to take the next step? Fear loomed over me suddenly, threatening to suck me back into my very uncomfortable comfort zone.

  “You don’t have to answer right now. Think about it.” He pulled away, and I shivered, missing his warmth immediately.

  Tears shimmied to the surface, and I blinked them back before he could see.

  “There’s a floor-level tub in the bathroom. It’s big enough for two. I don’t know about you, but I need to soak some sore muscles.” He wagged his eyebrows when he said it, and the giggle that came out of my mouth sounded like me back when I was a junior in high school.

  “Well, when you put it that way, I suppose I could use a good soak.”

  And it would put off the decision about New York.

  “I hope you decide to come with me.” He winked, diffusing the seriousness of his tone, before walking into the bathroom and starting the water running.

  I didn’t have to make a decision now. I could enjoy the night, and Gage, and see what came in the morning.

  New Hope had always called out to me whenever I went far from it. Now its beckoning had been replaced by a new call, one that was pulling me toward New York and the man I’d loved since he was a boy.

  23

  Gage

  Something tickled my arm, and I opened one eye. Dark, wavy hair spilled over my arm.

  Kelly.

  I couldn’t believe she’d showed up yesterday. That Andy had called her.

  I frowned, wondering what Andy said to get her to fly all the way out here. I’d discuss that with him later, but for now, I wanted to languish in the fantasy that was snuggled up next to me.

  Her hip pressed against mine, her soft cheek lying on my shoulder. Emotions swamped me, and my eyes stung. God, when had I fallen in love with her? Had it been back in those days before the band, or had it happened when I returned to New Hope?

  I suddenly wanted to wake her up, blurt out those three words, but they backed up in my throat. I gulped, forcing myself to look at the reality of the situation. Kelly had left New Hope, come here for me. What if telling her how I felt made her run right home?

  No, better to hold back and try to be casual. Not overwhelm her too much right now. I certainly wasn’t going to tell her that the condom had broken last night. I hoped it would be okay, but it was too late now. Besides, there were worse things than a miniature version of Kelly.

  I could get used to being on the road like this though, Kelly with me, exploring each new place together.

  Kelly stirred, blinking up at me, adorable in the dim morning light.

  “Morning, gorgeous,” I murmured, pressing my lips against her cheek. “How are you?”

  “Mmm.” She stretched, the sheet pulling down from her chest, exposing one pink nipple.

  My side of the sheet raised in salute.

  Kelly grinned at me, a teasing light in her eyes. “Somebody awake?”

  “Awake and saying good morning.”

  She laughed, a high tinkle that grabbed me by the balls. Then she dove under the sheet and said good morning back. When she wrapped her lips around the tip, I groaned.

  I was helpless when she slid me into her mouth, the warm dampness of her mouth making my erection swell even harder. I buried my hands in the pillows, gripping, letting her take control, her fingers caressing the V of my legs. Those tickling fingers ran lightly over my balls before her mouth joined them in a rhythm that had my heart ready to burst in my chest. Wrapping them tight around my shaft, her mouth met her knuckles as she bobbed up and down. Each time, when she reached my base, she followed her grip downward with her mouth. Taking me deeper, the pressure building.

  When the back of her throat met my head, I couldn’t wait. “Stop. Wait. I’m going to…”

  The room disappeared. Light exploded in my eyes as I exploded in her mouth. She moaned and sucked harder, as if she couldn’t get enough of the hot liquid. By the time I surfaced, she was lying with her head on my thigh, smiling the smile of the very wicked.

  It made me smile too.

  I dragged her up my body for a kiss. The taste of myself on her lips had my cock reawakening, and I fell back into the pillows with a sigh.

  “Are you going to come to New York?” flew out of my mouth. I had no suave when it came to this woman, couldn’t stop my own rambling. “It’ll be the first time you’ve ever seen me play on a decent stage.” I smiled, trying to disguise my nerves. “You can come backstage if you like, see the real action.”

  “A decent stage? Radio City Music Hall is a decent stage? God, it will be weird to see Gage Strickland, the rock star.”

  “Andy told you where we’re playing?” Her eyes widened for a second before she looked away. “Kelly?”

  “I’ve been following the tour.” Her already flushed cheeks, made that way by giving me pleasure, flushed a deeper shade of pink. Adorable.

  “Following…” I dared not hope she’d been keeping up with me for the three months since I left.

  “On my phone. An alert.” She stared at the sheet, making figure eights with her finger.

  I wrapped one lock of softly curling hair around my finger, realizing she had me wrapped the same way the hair was.

  “Will you come? I’ll let you be my harshest critic.” I didn’t know what I’d do if she said no. I flopped back on the pillow and waved my hand before saying the opposite of what I was thinking. “Actually, now I’ve changed my mind, I don’t think it’s a good idea.”

  “Don’t be ridiculous.” She pinched my side, smiling at the old game. “I’m coming now, too late.”

  My damned heart leaped. I sent it a mental message that getting back to New York would be a much needed break. And that was all.

  “I didn’t fly all the way here just to hookup for one night and go back home again. I’m sticking around for a bit.” She nestled against me once more.

  “Fair enough, I suppose I can’t take my invite back now. You’ll just have to be kind in your review, know that as the front man for a rock band, my ego is fragile.” Good, now I had time to decide what to do about Kelly Cavendish. Time to decide whether I was going to chance my heart again. And hers.

  “Are you wanting me to become another ‘yes-man,’ telling you what you want to hear?”

  “Yes-man! I don’t have yes-men, and I’ll prove it by ordering us breakfast. They’ll bring it cold and rubbery, and the coffee will taste like melted tires.” I kissed her cheek.

  Her stomach growled as she laughed. “Breakfast in bed?” She snuggled closer, pulling the sheets up over us. “Now I really am living the dream!”

  Prying myself out of bed, I dragged on last night’s clothes and went out to the living room to hunt down a phone. I always had them removed from the bedroom. I went to push the button for room service but knew that my prediction would probably come true, and I wanted Kelly to have a nice breakfast, especially after the morning delight she’d given me. Could I make it down to the restaurant and back without drawing attention?

  Putting on a ballcap, I snagged my key card, catching my reflection in the mirror with a smile so wide it looked like I’d had sunshine blown straight up my ass. No way I could keep the joy to a minimum. Like a ray of sunshine in my neverending storm, the woman who had been my always had come to drag me from the pit.