Accidentally Married on Purpose (24 page)

And it sounded as though Tyler’s
plans
remarkably aligned with hers.

Pressing her hips against the metal railing, Sherry bent her torso toward him, grinning at his small intake of air. The neckline
was
a bit scandalous. “You gonna tease me with your
package
all night?” she asked with a wicked grin. “Or are you gonna give it to me?”

This time Tyler widened his eyes, followed by a deep, throaty chuckle. It carried over the noise of the street, settled in her core, and sent her heart racing. Something must’ve flashed in her eyes because suddenly his amusement died. And awareness took over.

Tyler’s gaze sharpened on her face. The thick knot in his throat bobbed as he swallowed, and his dark eyebrow lifted. Knowing what he was asking, Sherry stared straight ahead. She nodded subtly, and his mouth parted.

“You’re sure?”

She smiled. A lot of things between them remained in the air, but of
this
, she was certain.

Tyler snagged her wrist, encircling it with his calloused fingertips. The hold was gentle, but the effect staggering. Her knees went weak and she was grateful for the support of the rail. Flashes went off at their clutch, and the media drew in, trying to capture the moment happening between them.

They’d officially delayed the parade, but presently, clearly neither of them gave a damn.

“Tonight we’re breaking the rules,” she told him, hoping he didn’t catch the slight waver of emotion in her voice.

He glanced down, his chest expanding with a breath, and she briefly wondered if she was about to be rejected again. But then his green eyes found hers, heat where doubt had once been, and he held out his other hand. “I’ve never wanted anything more.”

Excitement ignited under her skin. Sherry accepted the throw, acknowledging its weight without looking down, and then watched as the float crept forward, the parade begun once again. Several long beats later, Tyler broke their stare and resumed his kingly duties, and only then did she study the gift—the special
throw—
he’d given her.

A purple lace garter, a string of coveted Erato-signature beads, and a single perfect rose, wrapped around a thick bundle of yellow Post-it notes. Sherry smiled. It was so uniquely and wonderfully him. Her dopey, lovesick, gone-pecan heart convulsed inside her chest.

…

The Superdome was a madhouse. Bodies were everywhere, marching bands were dueling, and huge floats were coasting down the floor. Somewhere in this chaos was Sherry, and if Tyler didn’t know Tony had personally escorted her here, he’d be flipping the hell out. As it was, he was about ready to crawl out of his skin.

He raised his cell phone and gritted his teeth. Of course, he had no reception. Luckily, he’d thought ahead and instructed the bodyguard to meet him on the Plaza level at Gate D, so that’s where he headed. Nodding distractedly at the fans calling his name, apologizing for not stopping to take a photo. If he did, he’d never make it anywhere.

And after what happened on the parade route, he needed to see Sherry
now
.

Tyler hadn’t slept in more than twenty-four hours. He’d been haunted by the look in her eyes when she’d left his room. Leaving her was the right thing—she needed to pursue her own dream, and life on the road was insane. But that didn’t make saying good-bye any easier.

Selfishly, he wanted to hold on while he still could. Time wasn’t on his side. His plane to L.A. left in fourteen hours…and drunken idiots were tripping over their own feet all around him. Sidestepping a group of cackling women leaving the bathroom, Tyler pushed on, gaze fixed to the sign for the gate. He was so intent on ignoring the mayhem and finding Sherry that he almost walked right past her.

“In a hurry, music man?”

His feet registered the voice a second before his ears. As a result, he nearly knocked out a young woman walking dazedly behind him. He helped her catch her balance, grateful she was either not a country fan or too liquored up to care, and turned to search for his wife.

There she was, back leaned against the wall, her mouth curved in a smirk. “Miss me?”

An unintelligible sound rumbled up his throat.

Sherry had looked incredible on the parade route, but a metal wall, the edge of the float, and a dozen security guards had blocked his path. Now, only a few short feet separated them. And their one, lone guard was smart enough to keep his distance.

Beginning at her feet, Tyler slowly traced the length of her crimson gown. His gaze lingered on the high slit up her thigh. Paused at the plunging neckline of the bodice. And rested on her parted lips before finally reaching the mesmerizing pools of her eyes.

Her words from the viewing stand hung in the air.
“Tonight we’re breaking the rules.”

God Almighty, he needed her.

“Yes,” he answered without a trace of flirtation in his voice. “I did miss you.”

Her mouth tumbled open, as if in surprise. “Well…uh.” She shifted on her feet. “That’s good.”

That slight hesitation, her small flare of uncertainty, prompted him into action. Two steps closed the distance between them, and he never once broke eye contact. Sherry needed to see the desire in his eyes,
feel
what she did to him. Their future was iffy at best, improbable more likely, but he’d always wanted her.
Would
always want her. Probably long after she’d forgotten about him.

He pressed his body into hers, and they shared a gasp. Sliding his arms up against the wall, he caged her head on either side. Then he ducked down, tilted her chin, and kissed her.

The response was immediate.

Sherry’s hands latched on to his forearms as he devoured her lips. Sweet, soft, and wet, her lips had filled the majority of his dreams. The memory of their taste would drive him insane on the road. Impatient, Sherry opened her mouth beneath him, clutching his arms as she invited him to delve inside…but he waited. Something he’d wanted so badly for so long was finally within his grasp. Tyler intended to feast.

Sherry moaned, frustrated, and the softened bite of her nails through his jacket made him grin. “Ty…”

“You burning, baby?”

She nodded as he slid his nose along her jaw, inhaling her scent until he reached the gentle lobe of her ear. He tongued the delicate skin, sucked it into his mouth, and then whispered, “Me too.”

She moaned again as he leaned his head back, inadvertently crushing his hips against hers. He hissed a breath. “Ready to go?”

Her thick lashes were slow to lift. Rimming her bottom lip with her tongue, her gaze skated over his tux. “But…you’re the king.”

The breathlessness of her voice made him ache with desire. “I did a ton of interviews this morning,” he told her, “and made a speech for the execs a few minutes ago. The news got plenty with our halftime show in the stands.” At that, she grinned wickedly, and he chuckled. “My duties here are over.”

Sherry’s dazed eyes met his as his words sank in. Then, with a curt nod, she replied, “Let’s get the hell out of here.”

Chapter Seventeen

The moment the driver closed the door, Sherry hiked up her dress and straddled Tyler’s lap. High slits rocked.

“I think…” His voice trailed off as she simultaneously slipped her hand beneath his shirt and sucked the skin of his neck into her mouth. Beneath her lips, she felt him swallow hard. “I think maybe we should talk first.”

Isn’t that supposed to be my line?

“No,” she replied, a bit forcefully. Talking was the
last
thing they should do. “Kiss first.”

The stubborn man went to protest, and she pushed up on her knees. She licked a trail down his neck, returning the favor he’d given
her
ear in the Dome, and he hissed a breath as he clutched her hips.

Talking was overrated. It led to problems, questions, and revelations about feelings. Since she had the messy love kind for Tyler, and he didn’t reciprocate,
that
would lead to her doing the ugly cry. So not attractive. No, if talking had to happen, it’d be after sexy time. After they ended their month-long fairy tale with a lovely memory she could cling to.

Tyler’s fingers pressed into the satin of her dress, massaging and grasping her curves. Sherry loved her body. Getting to that point had been hard earned, and she owned her confidence with pride. But her husband was the first man who made her feel as though
he
loved her body, too. Not just liked her curves, but
reveled
in them. That feeling was like a drug.

The limo came to a stop, and Sherry glanced out the window. They were still a block from the hotel. “Just a red light,” she whispered, bringing her mouth down again.

The imagined
tick
of the clock counting the seconds until their relationship’s eventual demise made Sherry’s motions frantic. She assaulted Tyler’s mouth, ground her hips against his, and tugged the silky strands at his nape. But he wasn’t a meek participant. Tuxedo pants whispered against the leather seat as he fought to wrest control, and the rest of the limo ride blended into a blur of grunts, moans, hisses, and touches. Such wonderful, tingle-inducing touches.

When the car came to a stop, Sherry waited until the last possible moment to lean back and put her dress to rights. The driver rapped on the window.

“We’re ready.” Tyler’s searing hot gaze ripped through her, as his words hinted at so much more.

“Hell, yeah, we are,” she replied, twisting off his lap with a wicked smirk.

The Roosevelt Hotel on Baronne Street was un-freaking-believable, like something out of a fairy tale. Though the setting was fitting, Sherry didn’t give a flip. As her heels clacked on the marble, her gaze swept the high ceilings and fancy digs with one thought in mind. “Where’s our room?”

Tyler’s response was a firm tug on her hand toward the elevator bank.

As they stood waiting for the lift to arrive, he pulled her back flush against him. The rigid feel of how much he wanted her shot through her core like lightning, making her weak in the knees and clutching the tight arm around her waist. His lips nipped at her ear.
Soon
, they seemed to warn.

Bring it.

Finally, the sleek doors popped open. They rushed inside, and Sherry turned in Tyler’s arms, ready to pick up where they left off. Only, just before the doors closed, a very elegantly dressed elderly couple snuck on board. At her groan of frustration, Tyler winked.

At their floor, the halls were silent. Empty. And thank God for that, because she practically mauled the man. His palms held her head as his mouth descended, walking her backward as his lips drank from hers. She gripped his biceps, clinging for balance. Her heels caught in the lush carpet and she kicked the suckers off. That was better.

A few feet down the annoyingly long hallway, Tyler backed her against a wall. As his hand snaked into his coat for the key, he rained kisses along her jaw, making a path to her ear. “Tonight, you’re mine.”

A picture on the wall shook as her head fell back. “That’s the plan,” she replied breathlessly. Fire licked her veins, her body one giant inferno. Had she
ever
felt like this before?

Would she ever again?

She squeezed her eyes shut and dove for his mouth, but Tyler evaded her. Opening her eyes, she found him watching her, pupils dilated so wide only a thin circle of green remained. Breaths sawed in and out of his chest as his hands flexed on her waist.
Uh oh.

“Look, about tomorrow…”

Sherry threw out her hand. A familiar pressure sprang in her sinuses and blood pounded in her ears. Her desperation not to hear what followed those words was almost manic. She couldn’t even
think
about tomorrow, and she refused to do so now.

“One rule break at a time, okay?” She widened her eyes, begging him to drop it. He was about to ruin everything. “Tonight, let’s just live in the moment, like we said. Take what we can. Enjoy each other.”

To accentuate her point, she arched her back, bringing her hips flush against his.

“Can we do that?”

His penetrating gaze studied her as a muscle ticked in his jaw. Desire transformed the sliver of green into jade, dark and hypnotic, and she hoped to God he’d say yes. She wasn’t sure she could survive if he didn’t.

The muscles in his throat moved as he swallowed hard, and he shifted a hand to her hip. Threading the fingers of the other through the strands of her hair, he pressed his forehead against hers. Mint and bourbon scented breath hit her lips. “We’ll talk in the morning.”

Relief washed over her and Sherry nodded. Then her husband took over the seduction.

…

Sunlight from the opened curtain they’d forgotten to close spilled across the room, and with it, the knowledge that the fairy tale was over. Pain sliced fresh in Sherry’s chest and she buried her face in a pillow to muffle her sob.

Last night had been amazing. Every bit as hot and sexy as her Vegas flashbacks had promised…and surprisingly tender and romantic like her heart longed for. It had been the perfect ending to their story. Only now, she had no clue how she was supposed to leave him.

Long after Tyler had fallen asleep, arms wrapped around her as she lay on his chest, Sherry stayed awake watching him. Mapping the shadows as they shifted along his face. Memorizing the dark slashes of his eyebrows, the gentle slope of his nose, the almond shape of his eyes. The perfection that was his lips. She wanted to remember everything about him. Not Tyler Blue, international celebrity whose face she could study on Google, but the one lying beside her. The man who even in his sleep held her close. Her music man.