“Alrighty, I’m going to go take a shower. You guys can catch up.”
I went to move, but Cash held me firmer. “Want some company?”
“Sure.” I gestured to the boys, sassing, “You guys want to join in?”
They all took a step in our direction, and Cash put his arms up in the air, halting their descent. “You stay right fuckin’ there.”
He let me go long enough to break free, and as soon as I took a step, he smacked my ass really hard.
“Ouch! What was that for?”
“Don’t fuck wit’ me, Little Miss Thang. You know exactly what it’s for.”
I smirked, eyeing the guys again and teasing, “First one to Cash’s shower gets to see my boobs!” I took off running with Cash hot on my tail. Hearing him chuckle through the hallway when I picked up speed.
“Why you runnin’, Junie?”
“Because I’m not stupid!”
Once I made it into his room, I rapidly turned a little too quick and lost my footing. Cash grabbed ahold of my arms and yanked me against his torso, the momentum throwing our bodies onto his bed. My body impelled backward, and I slightly gasped, expecting him to fall hard right on top of me.
He didn’t.
Breaking our fall with his sturdy arm wrapped around my waist, he eased his muscular frame on mine. Instantly caging me in with his arms, he pinned me beneath him.
Whispering against my lips, “You okay?”
I nodded, unable to form any words. My mind was too scrambled with thoughts and emotions I’d felt for him since day one. My chest rose and fell fast with each deep breath that escaped my lungs.
Digging in deeper and deeper.
Inch by inch.
I crumbled underneath him, and he wasn’t even kissing me.
My body reacted, placing my arms around his neck.
I. Kissed. Him.
For the first time, I took the lead. Wanting to be the one in control of this moment. He achingly groaned from the depths of his chest like it was all he’d been waiting for. Pushing me further into the mattress as I kissed him harder and with more determination. Demanding something I couldn’t quite place. My tongue slipped into his awaiting mouth, and I bit his bottom lip. Earning myself a heady, primal growl.
Making me go crazy with want and need.
With his possessive hold around my neck, he rasped, “Fuck, Junie ... I want ya so goddamn much. I’ve never wanted anyone or anythin’ as much as I do you.”
“More than wanting to be a rock star?”
“More than Johnny loved June.”
I think I died right then and there.
He kissed me slower, more delicate, less frantic and desperate this time. Continuing with the same intensity and passion as before. I did what seemed natural when it came to us.
To only him.
I reached for his belt buckle, and he growled louder. The sensation rumbled down deep in my core. He kissed me one last time and stopped my hands with his solid grasp before resting his forehead on mine.
I whimpered, immediately feeling the loss of him.
Of him.
Slowly, my eyes opened to meet his dark, predatory, yet sexy as hell gaze. Cash was made for sin and sex. It was written all over his strong body. Especially when he was looking at me.
“What are you doing? Why did you stop me?”
“We got all the time in the world, Junie. We ain’t doin’ this here.”
“But I—”
The sound of the floor creaking brought our attention over to the door.
“Jesus Christ! You fucks!” Cash roared, catching all three of his bandmates standing there watching us with lovey expressions on their faces.
“Awe!” they coaxed in unison.
“More than Johnny loved June! We’re using that shit in a song!” Jude remarked, smiling wide.
Stixx cocked his head to the side, grinning. “Bro, when did you grow a pussy? That was so sweet and lame all at once.”
Cash laid his head into the mattress beside my face. “I’m gonna fuckin’ kill ’em. We need our own bus.”
“Erroneous! Erroneous on all accounts!” Jude quoted Wedding Crashers. One of my favorite movies.
I laughed, making Cash laugh with me.
“The door was wide open, gawd!” Beck argued, triggering Cash to snap.
He promptly stood and in two strides was slamming the door in their faces.
“Rude!” Stixx shouted through the door, kicking it.
Jude chided, “He should just fuck her already. He’s obviously being a dick because he needs to get fucking laid.” He kicked the door like Stixx.
“Get the fuck away from my door!”
“Oi! Woe is me!” Beck sarcastically taunted. “I have this super-hot virgin begging me to fuck her, but I suddenly lost my balls and don’t know how to do it. Get your shit together, Cash Motherfuckin’ McGraw! You’re a goddamn rock star! You’re making us look bad!”
“One more word, motherfuckers! One. More. Word. And I’m demandin’ a separate tour bus!”
Silence.
I leaned up on my elbows, smirking. Thinking they were gone, and we could get back to what I started and wanted to finish. For a few seconds, we didn’t hear a thing until one of them kicked the door again, spewing, “Word!”
Cash opened it as forcefully as he shut it, sending all three men running down the hallway, laughing their asses off.
My head fell back on the pillows from chuckling so hard. Incapable of resisting their adolescent humor. Cash kicked the door shut, striding toward me.
“Oh, you think they’re funny, do you?”
I nodded, my belly hurting from giggling. “I guess the saying is true.”
“What sayin’?”
“Rock stars never grow up.”
Cash broke my fit of laughter, setting his body in the same position it was prior to getting interrupted.
“They’re fuckin’ idiots, but they’re my family.”
“I know. I love that you have them. I can tell they love you too. When you took off the other night, Beck stayed up waiting for you.”
“Yeah, he does that.”
“How often?”
“Junie, we all look out for each other.”
“That’s what Beck said after he ignored the same question you just did.”
“Beck?” he muttered, narrowing his eyes. “When did you talk to him?”
“That same night. I was waiting up for you, and I sat with him for a bit before he sent me to bed.”
“What did he say to you?”
Trying to ease his worry, I pulled him closer to me by the strings of his hoodie. “How different you are now that I’m around.” I kissed him. “How driven you are, and nothing is ever good enough, which I already knew. You were like that when I was younger too.” I kissed him again. “How much music means to you. How you can’t live without it.”
“I see.”
“He called me your muse again. Said you still do my special gesture on stage. And that...” I kept my lips against his, breathing out, “You love the shit out of me. Those were his exact words.” I beamed.
“You wear a smile like a loaded gun.”
“I think I’ve known since I was a little girl that you’re my once upon a time.”