“When I look up self-control in the dictionary, your photo is right there,” Harlow teased and then looked around carefully to be sure they weren’t overheard. There was a small, fan club only show for Earthquakes that night so Nora and Harlow had done their yoga and then headed out to the pool to enjoy a day off. Brian drove out to look at natural wonder type shit and hike a nearby canyon.

  Harlow admitted, “He kissed me. Like a real kiss with tongue and teeth. He’s really good with his mouth.”

  “God. You’re never going to get rid of a guy who’s good with his mouth,” Nora said. “Neither would I.” She waggled her brows and Harlow snickered.

  Brian would pass out from embarrassment if he was part of their conversation.

  “I thought he was going to pin you to his chest like a medal or a blue ribbon,” Nora said with a smirk.

  “Miles? What? Why would you think that?”

  “You two were gone for at least forty-five minutes and when you came in Miles was all puffy chested and proud you were at his side. I mean, obviously he should have been. But it was very much clear he’d made some sort of claim and as your lips were swollen and your lipstick was gone, I figured you were okay with that.”

  “I made out with him under the stars on a warm summer night. Honestly, I started writing a song about it when his tongue was still in my mouth,” Harlow confessed.

  “Excellent! You slutty multitasker. I love it. You don’t seem guilt ridden about it. Good.”

  “It was kisses. Not a marriage proposal. We’re fine as long as no one makes a big deal of it.”

  Nora rolled her eyes. “Harlow, eventually someone will make a big deal of it. You and I both know it. But what’s important is what you think. And what he thinks. So, when the inevitable comes and some dishrag of a person pops up in the comments with some nonsense about you riding that dick into the sunset for whatever he gives you, I will kick you in the face if you let yourself believe it for more than one second.”

  “Tough love?”

  “Listen, I gave you a second to feel bad, didn’t I? But that’s all it merits.” Nora’s glare her way told Harlow her friend was serious.

  Harlow wasn’t about to argue because Nora was right. “Anyway. It was nice. He’s a great kisser and he definitely listened to all my signals to be sure I was still on board with everything. He’s a lot, but he understands consent. Sexy as fuck.” Harlow fanned herself. Because Miles was sexy, but also because it was a thousand fucking degrees.

  “It’s a good thing Brian is amazing in so many other ways because this outdoors hiking shit under the nuclear sun is weird. I love him, so I’ll sit here in the shade and judge him behind his back,” Nora said.

  Harlow laughed. “I love that you made him promise to come to the pool when we got back.”

  “He loves the heat and he loves the outdoors. Again, he’s amazing in so many other ways and he never makes me go hiking with him. So he can go hiking and nerd it up with his D&D and all that as long as he doesn’t expect it of me, which he does not.”

  “That’s love.”

  “It is.” Nora nodded. “I’m very lucky I found him so early in my life. If I had to use dating aps I’d die alone.”

  Harlow felt that to her toes.

  Miles looked at the text Harlow had just sent with a smile and then regret that he wasn’t there. She and Nora were in the pool while someone else—Brian he hoped because Harlow was in a bikini and looked delicious—had taken the picture.

  Swimming then dinner. Hope tonight’s show is amazing.

  He took a selfie, angling the shot so she could see the intimate stage set up behind him. Looking beautiful. Wish I was there with you. See you tonight after the show?

  Miles wasn’t used to this uncertainty with a romantic entanglement. Normally he just saw what he wanted and went for it. Which, he could admit, was what he was doing anyway, but with Harlow he wanted her to be feeling this uncertainty too. What he felt was so intense it left him off balance and vulnerable.

  Text when you’re done so I can be awake. Say hey to everyone and that we wished you all good luck tonight.

  I will. If it’s too late, I’ll see you in the morning for the trip to Vegas.

  I’ll be awake.

  Pleasure rolled through him at her words. At the way she’d accepted his need to see her, he hoped because she felt the same.

  “Harlow says hello and have a good show,” he told the other bandmembers.

  “Why didn’t you invite them tonight?” Silas asked from the stage where he’d been working with his guitar tech. His friend had known him long enough to assume everything Miles did was his business too. And it was a good assumption because Silas was very much like a brother.

  “I did. She told me it was good for us to be all about the fans and if she was here she’d just be a distraction or in the way.”

  Silas paused and then nodded. “I like that.”

  “So, this is an official thing now?” Omar asked. “Not even going to wait until after their dates on the tour are done? You’re not usually so…reckless.”

  Maddie gave him a measuring look but kept working.

  Reckless? At times it did feel reckless. He knew Omar wasn’t using the word in a pejorative sense. But Miles, especially after his last relationship had died, tended to be more careful.

  That had been two years and a tour ago and he’d learned a lot about himself and self-control in the time since. Mostly the hard way, and chances were, he’d have scars for the rest of his life. But pain was instructional sometimes, and in the case of him and whatsherface, he had to touch that hot stove to learn his lesson.

  But Harlow wasn’t an unstable fame-hungry monster wearing a pretty face. She was something else. Something he’d never experienced before. Something he wanted more of so much his skin itched.

  Something so far away from what it was with anyone before he popped up into her life, he could do nothing but pursue it. Because this was lightning in a bottle. A unique combo he knew to his toes was special. And, perhaps, fate.

  This recklessness was in him not waiting. Like he should. Omar hadn’t been the first to bring it up, Maddie had too. And they were right to call him out. But anyone who knew him as well as they did would see the difference.

  “Just, she’s maybe not at the Miles Brown level of involvement. Don’t break her,” Omar added.

  It was his baby sister who came to his rescue. Poppy turned to glare in Omar’s direction. “I like her. And Miles isn’t a dickbag. He’s not going to use his power to sex up some helpless person and then walk away.”

  Omar’s hands went up immediately. “Obviously I trust and respect Miles, and don’t think he’d take advantage of Harlow to get laid. I like her too. I promise! It’s just we’re all together for the next eight weeks. What if it goes horribly wrong? We all remember whatsherface,” Omar said.

  Miles snickered at Omar’s continued refusal to use his ex’s name. “She wasn’t on tour with us. She’s not anything like Harlow. And she wanted to cause drama so she could get clicks. Harlow has a job she seems to do really well. Without my influence or involvement. The Miles and Harlow deal is on equal ground.” Which had turned out to be more important than he’d realized until it was happening, and his soul was happy about it.

  “We don’t need to worry about Miles breaking Harlow. Sophie broke you,” Maddie said softly. “Sophie took something private and turned a spotlight on it. She took your trust and she hurt your family and friends as well as you. You felt responsible for that.”

  “She didn’t break me permanently. Just for a while. Maybe to get me ready for Harlow.” Miles paused as he realized maybe that part wasn’t a joke after all. “As for what Sophie did and how it blew up all over my family and friends? It’s my fault. I am responsible for it.”

  Omar made a rude noise, and a drumstick sailed his way that Miles was barely able to avoid. “How the fuck are you responsible for what she did? That’s totally on her and I’m not going to let you wallow in something you didn’t do. When you fuck up, I’ll say so. You drank too much with her. You did too many drugs. You forgot yourself for a while. I assume the sex was fantastic.”

  “Why didn’t you all say something then?” Miles demanded.

  “Ha!” Silas shouted. “Fuck off. You weren’t up for hearing anything anyone had to say about her. So, we called you out when you showed up to work high. We called you out when you invited her fucked-up friends to stuff. But you had to find your own way out of your relationship with her. The Miles you were at that time wouldn’t have heard a damned thing we said.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “You apologized back then. There’s no need for you to keep doing it. Who among us has not fucked with some folks we shouldn’t have? And found out?” Maddie snickered. “All of this is just us making sure you’re thinking about outcomes with Harlow that might affect the tour. We like her and we love you.”

  “All right. I did think about waiting. And then I kissed her the first time and now I want more. Not just the sexy stuff, but I want to know her better. I promise you all I’m doing my best to think about how this might impact everything so I’m stepping carefully.”

  At his side, Poppy huffed a quiet breath of impatience and he loved her for it even more. Still, his friends were being his friends. Keeping an eye on him and speaking up when they were concerned. Which, given what they’d just said about why they didn’t call him out over Sophie, meant they trusted him more than they did then.

  Shame washed through him. No matter that they’d all told him he wasn’t responsible, nor did they hold him so. The way Sophie had exposed their private life to the world, the way she’d taken the small things she knew about his family and had used that to raise her own profile, not caring about the wreckage it might have left was enough for him to finally let the dying gasp of their relationship go.

  Still, she’d been allowed access into his inner life and he’d trusted the wrong person. And he hadn’t been the only one to be punished for that mistake.

  “Folks are queued up outside if everyone is ready,” Poppy called out after she squeezed his shoulder briefly.

  They headed backstage and at his back, Miles heard the beginning of what would be a packed show at an intimate venue. He could see faces and interact more. The pressure still there, but different because these were their most active fans. Many had been with them since the very first few months of their fan club. Miles and the rest of the band wanted to give their all to these people who’d been supporting them since the start.

  And afterward, he’d seek Harlow out even if just to say good night in person.

  She got his text at nearly midnight. Harlow was still awake and waiting and at the buzz of her phone, happiness rolled through her.

  Are you around?

  She typed back, Yep.

  I know you’re sharing a room with Brian and Nora and I don’t want to disturb them. Would you be weirded out if I asked you up to my room?

  No. But I’m not fucking you tonight. Frowning, Harlow deleted that last bit. Though it was true, and she was for sure not going to do the sexytimes with him that night, it seemed a bit presumptuous.

  She settled on, No.

  I’m in 2401.

  Be there soon.

  Brian was still up reading so Harlow told him she was going out but would be back shortly.

  “What’s his room number so we know where to look if we’re worried?” he asked her quietly.

  “I’m just going up there to say hello and probably let him kiss me a lot. I’ll be back soon. We have an early day tomorrow.”

  “You don’t need to explain yourself to me, Harlow,” Brian said with a smile. “I like this guy and the way you’re responding to him. It never hurts to be safe. We love you and want that for you.”

  “Aw. You’re awesome and I love you too. He’s in 2401. Nora has Poppy’s number so you can text her if you need anything. She’s right next door to him.” Harlow hugged him quick before heading out.

  Miles waited at the elevator, leaning against a nearby wall and looking like a GD snack.

  “How’d the show go?” she asked him.

  He took her hand and they walked to his room. Suite.

  Harlow spun to take it all in. “Very nice.”

  He blushed. “Some of the rooms we’re in on this tour are pretty luxurious, I can’t lie. The promoter has some deal with a few different hotels. Anyway. Hi.”

  Suddenly shy, Harlow looked up into his face as he stepped closer, pausing just short of contact.

  “The show went great. We don’t play in small venues very often anymore, but I do love it when we can. Especially a fan club gig. When I can see the audience better you know what I noticed?”

  She shook her head.

  “I kept looking for all that gorgeous dark hair and glitter and couldn’t find it. Even though I knew you weren’t there, I kept seeking you out.”

  Her heart pounded hard enough to hear it in her breath.

  “And then once we came offstage, all I could think about was getting back here to see you even if it was for just a few minutes.”

  He reached up to cup her cheek briefly.

  “I’m kind of all about you, Harlow. That going to be okay?” he asked. “Not just for a quick kiss in the dark by a pool. I want more.”

  She waved a hand back and forth between them. “This is a bad idea while on tour.” There. She’d said it and now could ignore it, or he’d listen and decide she was right and that would suck.

  He laughed and then leaned in closer. “Yeah, well. I like to think it’s actually a great idea. Unexpected. But then again, this thing between us is unexpected. I like that. Anyway, I don’t always do what I’m supposed to. Not when I want something. Or someone.”

  A full body shiver slid over her skin at the way his voice went silky at the end.

  “But.” He reached out and caught the curl that had escaped from her braid and tucked it back. “Never if they don’t want to be caught. It’s no fun if everyone isn’t interested.”

  Harlow licked her lips as she tried to think logically but realized there was no logic to this chemistry between them. Christ. She bet he knew lots of fun things to do while naked. And she couldn’t really find the energy to push it away. Because she wanted him too. Timing could have been better, but sometimes, hell, most of the time, the best things came when you weren’t expecting them. And having fun in a carnal way with this gorgeous man standing in her line of sight wasn’t something she wanted to pass up. Reckless definitely. Delightful? She had a very strong feeling based on a handful of kisses and caresses that was a yes.

  “I can’t work up any arguments as to why it would be a problem to have you be all about me. I mean, I can make up a lot because it’s silly and we both know it.” She grinned at him. “None of them matter really because I’m in. I’m all about you too.”

  In a breath, he had leaned in and the scent of him rolled over her senses. Corduroy and sunshine and sex.

  Her heart raced as she tipped her face up slightly to meet his kiss. The other kisses they’d shared had been nice, but this was something else entirely. This was decisive and full of barely leashed sexual power.

  He banded an arm around her waist and slid his palm over her throat until he cupped the back of her neck as he continued to devastate her senses with lips and tongue and the bite of the edge of his teeth over her bottom lip.

  He smelled great, but he tasted even better, and she warmed from her belly outward, softening into his hold.

  Harlow was tall, over 5’8, but he topped out at about six one or two, so he still managed to make her feel powerful and petite all at once. He held her like she was precious, but it wasn’t overly gentle. More like he…like he was pleased to have her there against him. Pleased with her body and the feel of her. Not using his size or strength for anything but pleasure.

  They stood in the living room part of the suite, wrapped around one another, tasting, kissing, and caressing until she was nearly boneless.

  In the back of her mind, she knew if they took two steps they’d be at the couch and then…well then there’d be naked stuff and it was way too late to stop this thing between them, but also too late at night or early in the morning after she’d just decided to take this leap and she needed to rest and get herself together before sex.

  It would happen. Very soon.

  He broke the kiss, chest heaving. “It’s after one. We’ve got a drive to Vegas in the morning. I’m going to walk you back to your room before I ask you to come into my bedroom.”

  Harlow found her voice as she put a hand on his chest. “I’ll go on my own. You don’t need to walk me.”

  “I’m not tossing you out at one twenty in the morning after having my mouth all over yours and making you walk alone to your room.”

  She put a hand on his arm a moment. “You’re right. This isn’t tossing me out. I need to sleep. You need to sleep. We’ll see each other in like nine hours. What we don’t need are any spectators to Miles Brown walking me to my hotel room at this hour.”

  He frowned and she knew he was going to be a handful.

  Heh. More than a handful if that pressure against her belly from his cock was any indicator.

  “I’ll text you when I get in the room. So you know I got back okay.” She went to her toes as she grabbed two fistfuls of his hair and pulled him down for a quick kiss. “See you later, bossy. Thanks for the kisses.”

  She let him walk her to the elevator because there was no stopping him and he pointed out that the only rooms they passed by were Poppy and Maddie’s so who was going to see and tattle? Back in her own room, shared with Nora and Brian and it still felt…lonely. Shoving that away, she quickly changed into pajamas and got into bed, knowing her dreams would be full of Miles.

  CHAPTER

  EIGHT