Relentless Rhythm (Tempest #4) (30 page)

His whiskey colored eyes glittered as he stared expectantly at me.

“Sir,” I added obediently, and I could feel the satisfied grin on his lips when he took my mouth again. He kissed me as if his life depended upon his performance, as if it were the last time he’d get the chance, the pressure enticingly precise, the fervency so intense it made me lightheaded.

He ripped his mouth from mine and rained burning kisses down my neck and across my breasts merciless in his conquest. I began to walk my legs up the mattress, needing more and becoming desperate for it as the flames of urgency licked my body.

“Be still,” he ordered in that dominating tone I couldn’t resist. Though I didn’t consciously move anymore my body still vibrated visibly with the force of my need.

Eyes dark with intent, he lowered his head and went back to work on my breasts, lovingly laving the swells and sucking the nipples deep.

“Dizzy. Sir,” I begged. “More, please.” While watching me, he took a taut nipple into his mouth and bit down. “Harder,” I rasped and he did, pleasure arcing in a straight line from my breast to my core. I started to close my eyes, and he released my nipple with enough suction to make a loud pop.

“No, Kitten. Eyes open. I want to see you.” He rocked his rigid length against me. “You’re so wet,” he praised, moving down my body. His heated gaze met mine for just a moment. “Open for me.” He touched my knees and I immediately complied, loving what he was doing and wanting him so badly that I rattled the headboard pulling on my bonds in anticipation.

He kissed me there, lightly at first giving me a moment to get used to him before he increased the pressure. My head thrashed against the pillows each time his tongue circled. I felt his firm lips and the piercing and sometimes the edge of his teeth but he never touched the tight bundle of nerves where I wanted him most.

“Dizzy. Please. Please. Please.” I was nearly incoherent with want.

He lifted his head. His lips were wet from me and his expression nearly as feral as I felt. “You’ll leave him. You’ll meet me at the Mine after the hospital, and you’ll never go back to that apartment or him. Promise me.”

“Yes. Yes. I promise. I need you. I want you inside of me now.”

He looked at me continuing to hold my gaze. “Who do you belong to?” he asked cock poised so close to my entrance I could feel his heat.

“You. I belong to you. Only to you.”

“Damn straight.” He plunged into me, the full length, all the way to the hilt. No apologies. No regrets. No safe words. Only primal passion. His shoulders tensed. He lowered his lips to mine, knowing what I liked. I started coming as soon as he did. Tension retreating and pleasure expanding sharply in wave after shimmering wave.

I wished I never had to wake.

I wished I never had to let him go.

I wished I could stay right here within our dream.

“Hello, Sir.”

I awakened to the feel of her fingers in my hair. I opened my eyes to find her smiling down at me, her long hair soft and loose against my chest.

“I liked my lesson earlier. Very much.” Her sexy lips quirked higher.

“I’m glad.” I pulled her face down to mine and kissed her decisively. “What time is it? Do we have time for another?”

Her cheeks turned pink, her shyness so alluring considering all we had already done. I wanted to have her again. I lifted her on top of me, positioning her so I could explore her breasts with my mouth, slow and leisurely, watching her face between licks to gauge her response, repeating things she obviously liked. I was so engrossed in what I was doing that I didn’t hear the voices and neither did she.

“The fuck?” Sager exclaimed, standing in the doorway to my bedroom, blocking someone with his arm. April slid off me. I yanked the sheet up to cover her nudity as she turned. Sapphire eyes peeked under Sager’s arm widening then tightening as she took everything in.

“You
bitch
.”

“Mel,” April whispered, her lip trembling.

The betrayal in Mel’s voice stung both of us though the words were aimed at April. Mel fled the room. April scrambled off the bed with the sheet wrapped around her body, frantically searching for her clothes.

Sager shot me a murderous look before he left, too.

“Wait, April.” I grabbed her hand. “Don’t. Let me talk to her.”

She gave me a skeptical look.

“This is my fault. I should’ve latched the deadbolt. But more importantly I should’ve set Mel straight a long time ago.” I ran a hand through my hair, wishing I could turn back the clock.

I tagged my boxers from the floor and punched my legs into my jeans. “Don’t leave,” I commanded, but when I turned back around the sweet compliant woman that I’d had in my bed was gone. April looked totally and completely freaked. She had her clothes held to her chest, and was staring at the doorway as if by the power of her thoughts she could redraw the scene. “I’m serious.” I put my hands on her shoulders and shook her gently. “I’ll talk to her. It’ll be ok.”

“No, it won’t,” she said low, her gaze focused on my chest. “It’s over. It’s all over.”

“What are you talking about?” I lifted her chin. When I saw her eyes my heart dropped.

“This,” she said dully. “It should never have happened. It was a mistake.”

I stood there bleeding out from the raw wound she’d just opened up in my chest with those words. I couldn’t move. I watched the motion of her throat as she swallowed.

“I knew what I was doing. It’s my own fault. I just had hoped for a little more time.”

“Don’t do this, April,” I pleaded.

Something dark flickered in her gaze. “He’ll find out now. Everyone will know. How could I have been so stupid?”

Then I started to get mad. I wasn’t worried who knew, and I definitely could take care of that sadistic bastard of a husband. “April, stop it right now!” I shouted.

She flinched.

“So your friend found out. It had to happen sometime. But we’ll talk to her. You’ll talk to her. Everything’s going to be alright.”

She didn’t look like she believed me.

“It will. You’re gonna have to trust me. Go to the hospital. We’ll meet up later at the Mine just like we agreed.”

I caught up with Sager and Mel down in the parking garage. Mel was standing next to her Fiat. Her cheeks were stained with mascara trails, her eyes lasers of blue fire.

“Hold up, man.” Sager held up a hand to stop me from coming closer.

“Mel,” I called, shoving Sager’s arm aside. “Listen. I’m sorry. I never meant to hurt you. I thought we were friends.”

“Funny, I got the feeling that I meant a lot more than that to you. Seems you’re not very good at communicating, but then I guess that’s not very important to a guy like you.” She made a disgusted sound. “I think you were just using me as a cover so her husband wouldn’t suspect the two of you.”

I cringed. She’d hit pretty damn close to the truth, but she needed to know why and it’d have to be April to tell her. “Please, come back upstairs so we can talk this out.”

“I’m done talking to you. Her, too. You can pass along the message.” She flipped me off. Her gaze slid to Sager. “I’m done with all of you.” She slammed her door. Her engine roared to life. A moment later she peeled out, leaving my explanations and justifications in the dust.

“What a cluster,” I mumbled, staring at her tail lights. Completely blindsided, Sager clocked me, knocking me flat on my ass.

“Ponder that, you piece of shit.” Our bassist was usually pretty low key, but he was cranked up maximally now.

I scrambled to my feet, and rubbed my jaw. “What the fuck, man?”

“You royally screwed things over for me. What the hell? Her best friend? Her married best friend? Are you kidding me? Are there not enough bathroom skanks to shag?”

My eyes narrowed. “It’s not like that with April. You don’t understand.”

He studied me for a minute, his face loosening a fraction. “You’re serious about her.”

I nodded. “She’s leaving her husband.” I tugged up my jeans. They’d started to slip since I hadn’t bothered to button them all the way. I remedied that.

“Your business, I guess.” Sager frowned staring in the direction Mel had gone. “Stay away from the pixie, though. She’s mine.”

Mel wouldn’t answer her cell so I left a message. “I’m so sorry, honey. I never wanted to hurt you. I know it sounds cliché, but it’s complicated. Please give me a chance to explain.” My throat closed before I could think of what else to say. I heard a bloop letting me know I had another call. My heart raced when I saw the incoming caller id. “Mom what is it?” I asked.

“The nurse says it’s time, honey. Best if you come back right away.”

By the time I got to the hospital I was completely frazzled. I’d left Dizzy’s apartment in a daze and caught a taxi. My mom was waiting on one side of George’s bed. A nurse sat beside him on the other.

“That’s probably the last dose of morphine he’ll need to ease his passing.” The tiny nurse scooted past me. “I’ll leave you to say your goodbyes.”

I crossed to my mom, my eyes filling as were hers. I threw my arm around her and my brothers scooted in close. Michael’s eyes were large as drink coasters. John was trying real hard not to cry. My throat tightened. I leaned down and kissed George’s pale bristled cheek.