Riff cleared his throat next to me. “So, things are good with you and Lanie?”
I nodded. I was pretty sure he already knew the answer to that. She’d screamed her brains out in my room during both of our sexual escapades earlier tonight.
“Yeah, things are great.”
I adjusted my ass in the seat. It was hard not to bust out and tell my best friends that I planned to marry her as soon as fucking possible, but I knew the twins had had a lot of reservations about Lane coming on the bus in the first place. They hated drama and had seen the mind-fuck I had experienced with Lane and Sophie coming a mile away. They’d tried to stop it, but I had been ready to go to war if I’d had to in order to get close to Lane again. Lucky for me, I’d had enough pull as the front man of Black Falcon to get my way. The deal with that greedy bitch Diana Swagger had been a terrible thing to do to the band, but I’d had to agree in order to get Lane on my bus for two weeks.
Trip and Tyke had tried like hell to talk me out of bringing her on tour, but had eventually given up when they’d figured out just how desperate I’d been to get Lane back. But me announcing that I was ready to marry her so quickly after all the shit the band had just been through...well, they would have a fit. And while they had every right to be apprehensive about the idea, Lane wasn’t like any other girl we’d brought on this bus. She was smart, and determined to be successful in her own career in marketing. She wouldn’t have time to stir up drama for us, even if she wanted to.
“How long is she staying at your place?” Riff asked while he picked at the label on his bottle.
“The entire break. She’s planning on catching a ride back to Texas with us when we start back on the road.”
He nodded. “A week of freedom before you have to face reality, right?”
I furrowed my brow. “Reality?”
“Yeah, you know, the true test of a relationship. Distance.”
I swallowed hard. I didn’t want to think about being apart from her just yet. It was too hard. The mere thought had me missing her like crazy, and I could only imagine what would happen to me when I had to leave her again.
I brought the bottle to my lips and let the cold beer run down my throat. That was one of the other reasons I needed to get a ring on her ringer. Commitment. I needed it from her, and I’m sure, given that my selfish ass had always put her second to everything in my life, she was going to need it from me too.
Before I could say anything to about it, Lane pulled that damn rolling suitcase down the hallway. “I’m packed. Are we ready?”
I looked over at Riff, and we bumped fists. “I’ll catch you later, bro. Guys.” I smacked both Trip and Tyke in the back of the head while they stayed oblivious to the world.
“Damn it, Noel. You dick! You nearly got me killed,” Trip whined.
I stood and downed the rest of my beer before tossing the empty bottle into the trashcan.
I took Lane’s bag and smiled. “And they wonder why they strike out with chicks so much.”
Lane giggled, and I kissed her lips.
“I heard that! Just so you know, I don’t get any complaints when it comes to how I lay the pipe,” Trip retorted.
Riff nudged his boot into Trip’s back. “It doesn’t count when you pay them.”
“Jesus! For the last time, I didn’t know she was a fucking hooker until afterwards. I should never have told you guys.”
Tyke snorted next to him. “We would’ve wondered where the love of your life ran off to eventually. You had to either tell us, or go broke in order to keep her around.”
I laughed, grabbed Lane’s hand and led her off Big Bertha. Those guys were complete idiots, but I loved them. With my mom and dad out of the picture, they were the only real family I’d known for the past four years. We shared a bond that even I couldn’t really describe. A brotherhood was the closest thing I could come up with.
The minute Lane and I stepped onto the concrete I threaded my fingers through hers, gazing down at her and smiling. She wrapped her free hand around my forearm and leaned into me as we walked toward Kyle, the new bodyguard I’d hired to replace Mike.
Kyle seemed cool enough. He was a built dude, maybe even a little bigger than Mike, and he had this vibe about him—like he was ready at any moment to rip someone’s head off if the situation called for it. The female fans seemed to dig him too. They all tried to touch his shoulder-length, brown hair, but he didn’t let their attention affect him too much. In the short time I’d known Kyle, one of the very first things I learned about him was the fact he was in a serious relationship with a girl named Emily—a girl who meant a lot to him. Immediately, I respected him.
Kyle opened the door to the Escalade and took Lane’s bag from me. “You guys ready to get off that bus for a while?”
Lane sighed next to me. “Yes. I can’t wait to see Noel’s house.”
Kyle crunched his brow as he opened the back of the SUV and shoved the suitcase inside.
“You’ve never been there before? I thought you guys had been together since high school?”
I opened the door for Lane.
“We were together all through high school, but then took a bit of a break. Technically, we just got back together,” Lane told him without a stutter before she hopped into the vehicle.
Her delicate phrasing of our time apart was sweet. It was as if my past didn’t bother her, and that shocked me. She was so forgiving and understanding. Even though we weren’t together when I was fucking around with all those other women, I still felt guilty, like I wronged her by doing that in some way. She really was too good for me. I prayed to God that she never asked me how many women I’d slept with since her, because I really didn’t know.
I’d dabbled in a little in drugs over the years until Riff forced my ass into rehab a few months back. My life during that period was a complete fucking mess. Half of it I don’t remember, which is why it was so easy for Sophie to pin shit on me. I’d gotten clean just in time for Lane to walk back into my life. If I’d been strung out when we met back up, she would never have given me another shot.
I slid in next to Lane and rested my left hand on the bare skin of her thigh. I loved it when she wore jean shorts like this. The tips of my fingers drifted to her inner leg but I quickly moved them as I felt my dick jerk in my pants. An hour-long ride with a boner would not be fun. I would be tearing her clothes off the minute we were alone if it stayed that way. I threaded my fingers through hers and thought about getting to my place and showing her the dock. I was excited for her to see it.
I knew it was selfish, even demanding on my part, but I hoped once she saw it, she’d want to stay with me. That she would forget about her original plan to move to Texas with her mom and look for another marketing job. I needed her with me. I hadn’t realized how much I needed her until I’d had her back, and then lost her again.
Kyle hopped into the driver’s seat and slammed the door. I rattled off my address and he tapped it into the GPS before he put the motor into drive.
Butterflies thrashed around in my stomach. It was only a matter of time now until I had Lane all to myself, and I could start phase one of my plan to make her mine forever.
“You going home for the week, Kyle?” Lane asked a few minutes into our trip.
Kyle nodded. “Yeah, I have a flight scheduled in the morning. I miss my Emily like crazy. I can’t wait to get home and surprise her for a couple days. Being on the road away from her is harder than I thought.”
I sighed because I knew after this week I was going to be feeling the exact same way. I gave Lane’s hand a little squeeze and she turned her face toward me. She bit her lip as I surveyed the look in her eyes. The same thing was on her mind. I could tell because her eyes always gave her thoughts away. I reached up and tucked her hair behind her ear with my free hand. The tips of my fingers lingered on her face.
Lane leaned in and kissed my lips before she whispered, “I love you.”
I tipped my head and placed my forehead against hers. “Forever.”
We made small talk with Kyle the rest of the way to my place. About thirty minutes into the drive, Lane and Kyle both kept commenting about how dark it was in the middle of the Kentucky woods. I’d admit it could be pretty unnerving,, until you grew accustomed to being in the country. The band’s agent hated that we lived out here. It was away from everything, including commonly used amenities—the best we could get was satellite internet, and cable. And cell service? Forget it. That was one of the major reasons I loved living out here, because I could really get away from everything.
“Around the curve on the left is my driveway. You’ll see the gate,” I instructed Kyle.
We turned into the drive and Lane sat up straighter in her seat. “I can’t wait to see your house.”
I gave her thigh a gentle squeeze. “And I can’t wait to show it to you.”
Relief flooded me the minute my modest log cabin with its lone porch light came into view. At first glance everything still looked the same, but in the darkness it was hard to tell. I was always taking a chance leaving the house unattended while I was on tour. Someone could rob me blind and I might not find out until months later when I came back. Everyone said I needed a security system but, way out here, I didn’t think I needed it.
It was good to be home. This was the one place I could get away from my life—the one place where I felt normal. Before Lane came back to me, I felt like a piece of meat. Fans, especially the female variety, always wanted a piece of me, and they shamelessly used me for my fame.
I had been looking for a love to replace Lane’s—to get her out of my head and heart—but I couldn’t find anyone that ever compared to her. The women never wanted me, not really. They wanted a rock star, and most of the time they couldn’t care less if it was Riff or me they ended up sleeping with. People always called men dogs but in reality, women were just as bad.
Kyle pulled up next to the house and cut the engine. “Wow, man. This place is secluded.”
I chuckled as I opened the door. “Just the way I like it.”
Kyle headed toward the trunk as I helped Lane out. “I could never live out here like this.”
He stacked our luggage on the front porch. “After the crazy life I live most of the time, I love being away from it all.”
Lane fixed her hands on her hips as she peered around her surroundings. “Well, I like it.”
I raised my brow. “You do?”
She nodded before she turned and threw her arms around my neck. “It’s peaceful, and a nice change from the bus.”
My hands slid around her waist, and I drew her into me. Her chest pushed against mine as I leaned down and kissed her sweet lips. “You mean you won’t miss living in cramped conditions with a bunch of drunk assholes?”
She giggled in my arms and shook her head. “They aren’t so bad, but I am looking forward to some alone time with you.”
A grin spread across my face. “Be ready, babe. Right now starts an entire week of just you and me. Speaking of which...Kyle, we’re good here, man. You can head back.”
Kyle shut the doors on the Escalade and pulled the keys from his pocket. “All right, then. I’ll be back on Tuesday morning to pick you guys up.”
Lane rested her cheek against my chest and placed her hand on my chest. “Be careful driving back.”
Together we watched as Kyle drove away. The minute his taillights were out of sight, I scooped Lane into my arms.
She tossed her head back and laughed as I carried her toward the front door. “Aren’t you Mr. Romance?”
The warmth of her body against mine stirred every nerve within my body. I didn’t think I was ever going to get enough of this woman. After I stepped onto the porch, I tipped her up and she planted both feet onto the ground. Lane wrapped her arms around herself and shook a little from the slight nip in the night air as I lifted the welcome mat to retrieve the key to let us inside.
She twisted her lips. “Really? Who knew mega-famous rocker Noel Falcon kept a hide-a-key.”
I chuckled and unlocked the front door. “The hiding place stays between us.”
Before she could answer with another smart-ass remark, I lifted her back into my arms and carried her through the door.
She shook her head. “Noel, you’re such an idiot. This is a tradition for newlyweds.”
I shrugged. “Practice makes perfect.”
After a quick peck, I set her down again and flicked on the lights. Relief flooded me. The entire place was just as I had left it. Hardwood floors throughout the cabin gleamed against the glow of the recessed lighting. The great room was clean and orderly, with each of my pillows still perfectly placed on my black leather sofa.
Lane rubbed her hands together, taking in the layout of the room as I shut the door, closing us inside. “Do you have a housekeeper?”
I bit my bottom lip as I pulled her into me again. It was nearly impossible to keep my hands to myself around her. “Nope.”
She scrunched her nose. So fucking cute. I stretched my finger up and tapped it.
“You don’t think I’m capable of keeping a clean house?”
Her hair trailed down her back and I caught a strand of it and wrapped it around my finger.
She licked her lips and peered into my eyes. “I didn’t know that was one of your many skills.”
Holy hell. A naughty glint twinkled in her eyes. She was going to kill me if we kept going at this pace. Not that I was complaining. Death by sex? It would be the best fucking way to die. But, three or four times a day would definitely have me addicted to making love to her. How would I ever get anything else done? I still needed to be a functioning human being.
I grabbed the waistband of her jeans and yanked her forward so she was flush against me. “I’ve got enough skills to keep you surprised and satisfied for a lifetime.”
She grabbed fistfuls of my hair and yanked my mouth down to hers. The warmth of her mouth sent a signal below my belt that it was time for action. Our tongues danced together while I slid my hand under her shirt. The silk of her bra was all that separated my hand from her perfect skin. I dipped my fingers inside the cup and shoved it underneath her breast. The nipple became rigid beneath my hand and I squeezed it roughly, causing my cock to jerk hard inside my jeans.