Music of the Heart (42 page)

“Love ya, Austin and see ya again next year!” I cried into the microphone. As I started off stage, I

waved at the boisterous crowd. Unlike the guys, I didn’t stop at the dressing rooms to change. Instead,

I headed straight for the bus. My hulking bodyguard followed right at my side and didn’t leave me

until the bus doors closed and locked behind me.

Once I was in the safety of the bedroom, I dug out my phone and called Jake. While our long-

distance love arrangement had been running smoothly, I’d been worried about him the last few times

we had talked. In the weeks after I’d left, Susan’s health had begun rapidly deteriorating, and it was

wreaking havoc on Jake emotionally. I wanted more than anything to bail on the tour to be with him.

He answered on the third ring. “Hey Angel, how was the show?”

“Good. It was a pretty big venue, and we sold out.”

“That’s awesome. I miss you like crazy.”

His words caused a fluttering in my chest. “I miss you too. How’s Susan?”

Jake inhaled a sharp breath, and I could almost feel his anguish through the phone. “She’s okay I

guess. She’s having more bad days than good.”

My heart ached for him, and I would have given anything to be able to wrap my arms around him

and comfort him. I knew he needed a distraction, and after more girl talks with Lily, I knew she had

admitted that she often resorted to comforting Brayden’s emotional heartaches with physical love.

After gnawing on my bottom lip, I finally decided to go brazen. “I bought something for you today.”

“You did?” Jake questioned absentmindedly.

“Actually, it’s for me, but I think you’ll enjoy it.”

A hissing noise came from Jake. “Whoa, wait a minute. What did you buy?”

I giggled. “I’m glad I have your full attention now, Mr. Horny.”

He groaned. “Fuck, did you buy some lingerie?”

“Mmm, hmm.”

“Show me.”

“Nope, not until this weekend.”

“
Yes
! Go put it on and take a picture for me!” he commanded in a voice that made me instantly all

hot and bothered.

“Nope. Patience, Mr. Slater. You’ll have a nice surprise this weekend.”

In an almost helpless, pitiful voice, he asked, “Please?”

I couldn’t help grinning at his change in tone. “All right, all right. Give me five minutes.”

“Thank you, baby. You don’t know how happy that makes me. Of course, I’m already hard just

thinking about you getting undressed.”

“Jake!” I cried as heat filled my cheeks.

He chuckled at my outrage. “Okay, go change.”

After I hung up, I peeked out of the bedroom. The boys still hadn’t made it back to the bus. I locked

the door and then slipped on the black and white checkered bra and thong. With white bows along the

edges, it had an extremely naughty school girl look, especially when I slid on the white, lacy garters.

Innocent, but sexy. Once I was outfitted, I stood in front of the mirror and snapped a few pictures from

different angles. Then I texted them to Jake. I’d barely finished sending the last one when he called

me.

“Are you trying to kill me? You’re even wearing garters!”

I laughed. “Does that mean you like it?”

“Oh fuck, Angel, I’ll explode before Friday.” He sucked in a ragged breath. “Are you still wearing

it?”

“Yes,” I replied warily. I had a feeling where this was going, and I wasn’t sure I was ready for it

yet.

“Wanna make love to me over the phone?”

I snorted. “You mean, ‘Let’s have phone sex’.”

“Anyone can make it sound dirty,” he teased.

Fiddling with the lace on my garters, I asked, “Are you in your bedroom?”

After I heard some muffled noises, Jake replied, “Yes, I’m in bed now—naked and hard as a

fucking rock because of your pictures.”

A thrill went over me at the image that formed in my mind. Closing my eyes, I focused on the

familiar sight of his lean muscles, his tight abs and all his tattoos. When heat burned between my

thighs, I got a little more courage. “Do you want me naked?”

“Just your bra first.”

I reached around and unhooked the snaps. Once it fell free, I fought the urge to cross my arms over

my naked chest.

“Is it off?”

“Yeah…”

“Put me on speakerphone.”

“Jeez, you sure are bossy,” I muttered as I put the phone on the bed and punched the button.

“Cup your breasts.” Just as I was told, I brought my hands to my chest. “Are your nipples hard

yet?”

“No,” I murmured.

“Pinch them.”

Against my better judgment, I did as I was told. “Does it feel good?” Jake asked.

“Yeah,” I murmured truthfully. Okay, maybe I could get into this a little bit.

Jake’s long moan echoed throughout the room. “Oh baby, I wish I was there. I would have my

mouth and hands all over your breasts.”

“I wish you were here too.” Biting my lip, I hesitated before I asked, “Are you touching yourself?”

“Oh yeah. But I’m imagining it’s your hands on me or I’m sliding in and out of your warm mouth.”

While slightly mortified by his dirty talk, a shudder went through me at his words. The dull ache

between my legs began to grow. “Do you want me to take my panties off now?”

“Mmm, yeah. But keep on the garters.”

I slid off the thong and then buried myself under the covers. “Okay, I’m naked.”

“Are you wet?”

Warmth entered my cheeks as the reality crashed down on me again of what I’m doing. “Jake…”

“Come on, Angel, tell me.”

“Yes,” I whispered.

“Mmm, I love how wet you get for me. Now stroke yourself nice and slow,” Jake ordered. Once

again, I did as I was told. Closing my eyes, I pictured him and his delicious fingers touching and

probing my center. “Now faster.” When I sped up my tempo, I couldn’t help gasping with pleasure.

“Oh baby, that’s right. Let me hear you.”

Even with the TV on, I still didn’t want to be too loud in case the boys came in. So instead, I bit

down on my lip, stifling some of my cries. “You’re holding back,” Jake panted.

“Yeah, well, I’ll let go if you let me hear you,” I countered breathlessly.

At the sound of his grunts and groans, I felt myself building closer and closer to coming. “Oh

Jake!” I cried as I went over the edge. Just as I started coming down, Jake’s breathing grew even

more ragged. “Angel, oh fuck!”

I lay there for a moment, trying to catch my breath. It was a few seconds before either of us spoke.

“That was fucking fantastic!” Jake exclaimed.

A giggle escaped my lips. “Yeah, it was. Now you’ve even taken my phone virginity.”

“I love that you did that for me, Angel. But most of all, I love you.”

My heart thumped wildly in my chest. “I love you too. I can’t wait to see you Friday.”

“Will you promise to wear the lingerie under your clothes?”

“Of course I will. I’d do anything for you.”

“God, I love you, Angel.”

“I love you more.”

***

Three days and two performances after my infamous phone call with Jake, I lounged in a giant

hotel suite the label had provided for my brothers and me. I was counting the hours and minutes

before I could see Jake again.

At the sound of a Mariachi ring tone echoing through the room, I grinned and picked up my phone.

“Hello, AJ, what’s shaking?”

“Hola, Abuela, como estas?”

My brows furrowed as I pulled the phone away to make sure it was really AJ. Then I replied in

Spanish, “Um, I think you have the wrong number.”

Still in Spanish, AJ replied, “Yeah, I got the right number. I just can’t speak freely at the moment.

That’s why I’m talking in Spanish.”

I gasped. “Is it Jake? Is something wrong?”

He drew in a ragged breath. “He’s in bad shape, Angel. He’s totally shut down, and I don’t know

what the hell to do.”

“But why? What happened? I just talked to him last night.” My mind spun frantically as I tried to

remember anything unusual about our conversation. He’d mentioned the nurse was worried Susan’s

pneumonia might be getting worse, but Jake hadn’t told me much more.

“The pneumonia took a greater toll on her system than the nurse and hospice people thought. She’s

been practically comatose all day.”

My stomach churned, and I fought the urge to throw up. “Oh God…poor Jake…poor Susan,” I

murmured, gripping my phone tight as tears burned my eyes.

“Even though he won’t say it or admit it, he needs you. Can you come?”

My mind whirled with the next few days of shows. The logical answer was I couldn’t go, but there

was no way in hell I was leaving Jake alone when he needed me most. “Of course I can. I’ll get the

next flight out.”

“Good. I’ll come pick you up, okay?”

“Thanks. I appreciate it.”

“See you soon.”

“Bye.”