All I Need (11 page)

When we’d both finished, I collapsed on his chest.

“Promise me you won’t really leave the band,” I said against his damp skin.

His chest heaved beneath me as he sighed. “Jesus, Ev. Did you just wake me up so you could screw me into a coma and start making demands?”

“No,” I said, kissing his chest and grinning up at him. “But I need you. I can’t do this without you, and I realized something last night.”

“Oh yeah?” he asked with raised brows. “Just one something?”

I snickered. “Okay, I realized a few things. But one of them was that the reason I love the band, love performing, being on the road, all of it, is because of you.”

“And here I thought I was the thoughtful one.”

“You are. But I have my moments.”

He kissed me on the top of my head and tightened his arms around me. “That you do, Everly Abbott. That you do.”

“So you won’t bail on me? Even if this turns into a disaster of epic proportions?”

“Oh, if things don’t work out with the me being both your boyfriend and your guitarist, I’m out.”

My head popped up so fast I nearly cracked my skull on the underside of his chin. “What?”

“Yep, you’ll be finding a new lead guitar player. And good luck finding one with my talent and good looks. You’ll have to hire me as your bodyguard or something instead. I’ll be the hanger-on boyfriend you can’t get rid of.”

He smirked at me, and I shook my head. “And here I thought I was the smartass one.”

“I have my moments.”

Our eyes met and the light humorous mood faded. “So you really don’t want me to call you Jubb anymore?”

“Not unless you want to walk around with a sore ass.”

I nipped his bottom lip with my teeth and then placed a chaste kiss on his mouth. “Hmm. So what are my options?”

He paused, feigning an exaggeratedly thoughtful expression. “Master? Love slave? I’m not picky.”

“Those are good.” I sat up and leaned over him, letting my mess of pink-streaked hair cascade around us. “But I think I know exactly what I’m going to call you from now on.”

“Oh yeah? And what’s that?”

“I shall call you…” I bit my lip, letting the anticipation build as I gathered my courage. I finally understood what people meant when they said being in love was like falling. I was tumbling a million miles an hour head first and never wanted to stop.

“Mine,” I finally finished.

His mouth melded to my lips so fast my head spun. After we’d tangled our bodies together so intricately in his covers that it seemed we’d never get out, I remembered something.

“Um, babe?” I panted, pulling back for just a second. “We’re supposed meet everyone at the bonfire and then head over to the thing at the bridge tonight.”

How different this year would be than last. Dax was probably going to turn a cartwheel when he saw the progress we’d made.

“How much time do we have?” he asked, looking annoyed at the intrusion.

“A few hours.”

He kissed me once more. “That should be enough. For now.”

I smiled so big he probably thought all the sex was causing me to lose my grip on my sanity. “I want to see everyone, I do. But leaving this bed is going to be difficult.” I nuzzled down into his neck. “We could totally skip the festivities if you want.”

“I don’t mind going. It being a tradition and all. I thought this was the most important part?”

The most important part
had a whole new meaning.

“You know, it’s funny. For the first time ever, I don’t care either way. I came back home and performed here to get closure, to get what I thought I wanted.”

His muscles tightened beneath me. “And did you?”

“Nope.” I placed an open-mouthed kiss on his chest. “I got what I needed.”

There aren’t words to describe the way he looked at me. But the way his eyes drank me in, shining as they danced over my skin…it changed me, changed the way I saw myself.

“I love you, Everly Abbott. I always have and always will.”

My own eyes began to water for the second time that morning. “I love you too, Jubb. So much,” I choked out.

He grinned, shaking his head and rubbing a warm palm roughly over my bare backside. “Oh, we’re going to the bonfire and the bridge tonight. If only so I can tell everyone why you can’t sit down.”

“You’ll have to catch me first.” I squealed, jumping out of bed and taking the sheet with me.

He stood with lightning fast speed and grabbed me with both hands. “Chasing you is kind of my thing.”

I laughed as he tossed me back onto the mattress.

“Justin Cohen, if you spank me right now, we really might never leave this bed,” I warned him.

“Fine by me. I’ve got all I need right here.”

This was going to be crazy. Insane. Jubb and me. Me and Jubb. A thing. A couple. A band. Lovers. In love.

He waggled his eyebrows and wiggled his fingers at me and I smiled.

I could hardly wait.

1 year later

“L
adies and gentleman, please welcome the hottest band in Texas!” Everly shouted into the microphone after we’d played our final number.

We made our way off stage and she kissed me hard on the mouth as soon as we were out of sight. I could still taste her adrenalin high from performing when she bit down on my lower lip. Her entire body buzzed with excitement, zapping against the palms of my hands everywhere they connected with her skin. I brushed my lips against hers and patted her gently on the ass.

“Careful, hot stuff. Start something here and we’ll miss our flight.”

She giggled, kissing me once more before turning and snapping her fingers toward Dax. “Come on, drummer boy. We gotta get moving.”

Dax glanced up from the blonde who’d made it past security. “Be right with you,” he called out reluctantly.

We’d toured for a full year and finally opportunities were beginning appear around every corner. After winning a battle of the bands competition at the Ohio State Fair and then a national competition in Texas, we’d been signed by a manager with major connections. Pauly Garrett represented some of the biggest names in music and we were ecstatic to be working with him. Well, Ev was. I was just glad to be able to call
her
mine.

Now we were well on our way to becoming a household name but I had a problem.

Her name. I wanted to change it. To mine.

Our hit single, the one I wrote for Ev, is currently number one on iTunes and we’re going to play it tomorrow night at the I Heart Radio music festival in downtown Nashville.

My pulse races at the thought. Everly has noticed the way I react when we talk about it. She thinks I’m nervous about the crowd, the attention.

I’m not.

I’m terrified. But it has absolutely nothing to do with performing.

“Y
ou’re coming tonight? Really?”

My mom laughs through the phone. “Well I can hardly miss my rock star daughter in her first televised performance, now can I?”

“I’m hardly a rock star, ma, but this
is
huge. I can’t believe we even got invited to do this. It feels like…like a dream or something.”

“Sometimes dream come true. Especially when you work as hard as you do.” My mom’s voice softened the way it did when she was about to get all weepy on me. “I’m so proud of you Everly Willow Abbott. I don’t tell you enough, but I am.”

“You tell me plenty, ma. I promise. And hey, I’m proud of you too. It’s been a big year for both of us.”

My mom, the jilted baby mama of Abbott Springs, was finally dating again. She’d kissed a few frogs, but for once she was putting herself out there and having the courage to believe that she deserved the best.

“I can’t wait to see you. And, um, I’m bringing someone.”

“You are?” Now this I had to see.

“Brace yourself, Everly. He’s not exactly…what you might have pictured for me.”

I can’t help but laugh. “Is he a biker? Head of a motorcycle gang that’s going to take over Abbott Springs?”

The silence on the other end confuses me.

When it remains dead air, I check my screen to see if we’ve been disconnected.

“Ma?”

She clears her throat. “He may or may not own a Harley. A Harley that brought us to Tennessee. But no on the motorcycle club. He’s a retired Navy Seal looking to settle down somewhere quiet.”

Well he went to the right place then. “Can’t get much quieter than Abbott Springs.”

“Speaking of which, you’re coming home next month for Winterfest, right?”

“Like you or Bree would let me miss it. Of course I’ll be there. We’re performing again this year.”

After we said our love yous and goodbyes, I finished my makeup and practically ran to the stage where we had soundcheck in less than an hour.

Justin stood beside an amp, tuning his guitar and looking mouthwateringly gorgeous. It had only been a few hours since I’d slept in his arms, but it didn’t matter. Every time I saw him, my heart and stomach did a little happy dance.

As if he can sense that I’ve arrived, he looks up and gives me a grin that’s half wicked can’t-wait-to-get-you-naked and half sweet. My complicated Cohen. I love him more than I knew I was capable of loving another person—more than I love music even.

I still call him Jubby when we argue, or when I’m in the mood for a good spanking. But mostly I just call him mine.

“My mom is coming tonight. Can you believe that?”

He nods, but averts his eyes. Something about this show is really wigging him out but I have no idea why. Granted it the first time we’ll be on national television and it probably is the largest crowd we’ve ever played for. But he’s usually the one calming me down, not the other way around.

“That’s great, Ev.” He kisses me lightly on the forehead and returns to tuning his guitar.

“She’s bringing someone. A former Navy Seal she’s dating. How cool is that?”

His eyes still don’t meet mine. “That’s awesome. She’s a great lady, she deserves a great guy.”

“Well I’ve already got the greatest guy there is so she’ll have to settle for second best.”

Hold onto your gag reflex. I’m not usually this mushy, but he’s acting so strange I’m willing to resort to desperate measures here.

“Mmhm,” is all he says.

Mmhm. Seriously? Sweetest and most vomit-inducing display of affection by me ever and I got an ‘mmhm’?

“What the fuck, Jubb? You sick or something?” I slap his chest lightly because he seems to be intentionally ignoring me.

“I’m fine, Ev. I’m going to go check in with Dax on the changes we made to the bridge.”

With that, he hops off the stage and goes to stand with Dax and a sound guy.