“What are you doing out of bed?” Jade huffed when she came into the bedroom. We were staying at the rental house she shared with Ari. Ari’s boyfriend Jace would be moving in next week, and Jade would be officially moving out.
“I wanted to sit at the desk and sketch a little. I don’t need to lay down, baby. I’m good.”
“I know, but we ran a lot of errands today, and I don’t want you to overdo it. The next two weeks are going to be a lot for you.”
“I’m good. Come here,” I said, tugging on her hand and pulling her to sit on my lap.
“I don’t want to hurt you, Winslow,” she said, squirming around with a laugh.
“It only hurts me when you stay away.”
“Is that so?” she asked, settling on my lap and wrapping her arms around my neck.
“It is so.”
We hadn’t had sex since my accident, and damn if I wasn’t horny as hell with my hot nurse waiting on me around the clock. I pushed to my feet, lifting her with me, and dropping her down on the bed.
“What is it that you think you’re doing?” She smiled and pushed herself up on her elbows to look at me.
“I’d like to be doing you,” I said, dropping down and propping myself above her. I stared down at her jade greens.
“You’re such a perv.” She rolled her eyes.
“A perv that’s crazy about his girl.” I tipped her all the way back and kissed her neck. Her breaths came hard and fast, and I grazed her ear with my lips as her fingers tangled in my hair.
“I can see that. And I’m crazy about you. But I don’t want to hurt you.”
“I’m going to be performing tomorrow night. I’m also ready to start working out with Gio again. Sex is a walk in the park,” I said with a smirk.
“You’re not working out with Gio yet. Dr. Wallace said you needed to wait four weeks. You have a few more days.”
“So technical, baby.”
She laughed and I swear my chest squeezed. Jade Moore had turned me into a big fucking pussy, but I wouldn’t tell her that.
“Well, a little workout might be fine.” She wriggled her brows.
I took that as my cue and covered her mouth with mine. There was no part of this girl that I didn’t love.
I settled between her legs and pressed into her, so she’d know just how much I wanted her. Hell, I always wanted her.
She arched up and I pulled her T-shirt over her head. She reached for mine, and I helped her yank it off and tossed it to the floor. I unbuttoned her jeans and shimmied them down her legs, taking her pink panties right along with them.
Perfection.
I could sketch this girl for the rest of my life and never run out of inspiration. She was that fucking beautiful.
She sat forward and pushed my joggers down and stopped to trace the small scar on my abdomen with her finger where they’d removed part of my spleen. I reached around and found the small scar on the back of her head.
“These are our battle wounds, baby,” I said, leaning down to kiss her.
“They led us here.”
“Nowhere else I’d rather be.” And with those words, I tipped her back and settled above her.
Taking my time. Kissing every inch of her glorious body. I relished the sweet moans that escaped her and kissed my way down her body, burying my face between her thighs.
Nowhere else I’d rather be.
Wasn’t that the fucking truth.
“More Of Me” was the last song I sang, at my final show as the lead singer of Exiled. It felt fucking good. This song was inspired by my girl, and I was walking my ass off the stage tonight to start a new life with her. And I was more than ready.
The last two weeks on tour had been epic. We introduced new music, I had Jade by my side, and my body had healed to the point that I was feeling like myself again. When I found my girl waiting for me beside the stage like she always did, I pulled her in my arms and hugged her. Her legs wrapped around my waist, and she kissed me hard.
“I’m proud of you, Winslow.” She pulled back to look at me.
“Nothing to be proud of, baby. You and me are just getting started,” I said, glancing over her shoulder to see my brother bent down on the floor beside our mother.
Mom wanted to be at my last show, as she’d been more present in our lives this last year than she’d ever been before. Jade turned her head to the side to follow my gaze and she slid down my body.
“Is she okay?”
“I have no idea. Let’s go find out,” I said.
My mother sat on the floor, her hands covered her face and Lennon was rubbing her back like he was consoling her.
“What’s going on?”
When Mom pulled her hands away, tears streaked her face and her eyes were red and puffy.
“It’s your father, Cruz,” she said, her words broke on a sob. “I just received a call. His body was found a few hours ago in a hotel room not far from the house. He overdosed. He’s gone.”
“Jesus. Who was there? Who found him?” I asked.
“No one. He was alone. The housekeeper found him.”
“What the fuck?” I said, looking up to meet my brother’s gaze. He wasn’t crying, and he didn’t look surprised—but I saw the sadness. The disappointment.
“Are we sure it’s him?” I asked.
“It’s him.” Lennon nodded as he spoke.
“I’m so sorry, Juliette,” Jade said, bending down to embrace my mother.
My brother and I stood there like motionless fucking robots, because I don’t think either of us knew how to feel.
Our father was dead.
The man was the devil dressed in Armani—but he was still our father.
And the fucking irony was not lost on me. He was the final Winslow to take his addiction too far. The difference—he had nothing to live for. Mom, Lennon, and I…we did. And we’d fight every day to be better. To live well. To fucking contribute to the people in our lives. The people we loved.
My father never did.
He’d never loved anyone more than himself.
And he’d died alone. Just like he’d lived.
“I need to make some calls,” my mother said suddenly, as she hurried to her feet.
Lennon, Bailey, Jade, and I went back to the house with her. Though my mother hadn’t been with my father when he died, he’d been the love of her life, and I don’t think she truly ever got over him. She’d learned how to live without him because it was her only chance at survival—but she’d given him her heart, and I don’t believe she ever got it back. And right now, she needed our support.