Текст книги "The Rocker Who Betrays Me"

Автор книги: Terri Browning

сообщить о нарушении

Текущая страница: 6 (всего у книги 20 страниц)

C HAPTER E IGHT

Zander

“You sure this is what you want, man?”

Noah leaned his head back on the couch in the back room at Floyd’s Bar. He wasn’t drinking his usual beer, and he’d had a faraway look in his eyes ever since he’d gotten to the bar half an hour ago. I’d known this was coming tonight, just as Devlin and Wroth had, but Liam had been busy elsewhere all week—meaning he’d been getting high with Tawny—so Noah’s decision was news to him.

“Yeah, man. This is what I want,” Noah assured Liam, but I could see the pain in his eyes. He might have decided that this was what he needed to do, but he wasn’t a hundred percent sure that it was what he wanted.

I was a million percent sure that it wasn’t what I wanted. Noah was leaving the band right when we’d been starting to get noticed. We’d had two managers stop in to Floyd’s over the last few months, all saying we had potential, but none of them had made us an offer to sign with them. Still, we were sure that it was only a matter of time now until we found the right manager.

Noah was worried that even if we did get a manager and then a record deal afterward, he wouldn’t be making the money he needed to support himself plus Annabelle. I knew he was only thinking about his and his sister’s future, but that didn’t make his leaving any easier for my fucked-up mind to understand.

Or maybe it was the thought of what would happen once OtherWorld did actually get a record deal and we had to leave Tennessee. Would I be able to just follow my band-brothers and leave Annabelle behind? Especially after she’d confessed that she cared about me just as much as I did about her.

“But country music? Really?” Liam lifted his beer to his lips and took a long pull from the bottle. I didn’t think he needed the added buzz of a few beers. From the way his eyes were dilated I could tell he’d already been into the coke.

Noah’s lips lifted in a forced smile. “Yeah, man, really. Chelsea and I actually went up to Nashville last week and I played for some radio executive. He was impressed with me and said he’d be in touch.”

That wasn’t news to me and the other’s either. We knew he was going to go the country route and that he was even talking to Chelsea’s dad about asking her to marry him. Her old man liked Noah and was pretty cool about their relationship. He’d even offered to help them out with money if they decided to move up to Nashville, promising to pay their rent if it came to that.

Noah and Chelsea moving, however, meant that Annabelle would be moving with them.

Motherfucking hell.

I lifted my beer to my lips and swallowed the rest of its contents in one gulp before reaching for another on the small table between the couch and the old musky love seat that I was sitting on with Devlin.

Liam’s brows lifted but after a few seconds he shrugged. “Huh. Well, good luck, dude. I’m gonna miss you.”

“Thanks,” Noah muttered and turned his gaze toward the ceiling. He was quiet for several minutes before he let out a forced laugh and sat up a little straighter. “I want to be there when you guys audition my replacement.”

“Don’t do that to yourself, man.” Devlin sat forward on the loveseat and grabbed another beer. “No one wants to see who’s replacing them on any level.”

“Nah, it’ll be okay. It will make me feel better about leaving you fuckers. I want to make sure that whoever takes over for me will get you where you deserve to be.” His smile this time wasn’t nearly as forced as it had been. “Don’t want some idiot wannabe bringing down my boys.”

We waited until the last song that night before Noah made the announcement that it was going to be his last show at Floyd’s. We had a pretty big following from the surrounding area and no one was happy about Noah’s news. Several chicks in the front row started crying, until he told them that he was going country solo. That had a few of them drying their tears, but not many.

I gritted my teeth as we left the stage after the last song. I wanted to get as far away from Floyd’s Bar and my band-brothers as fast as possible. My fucking mind felt like it was bouncing around in my skull and all I wanted was the sweet peace that only one person could bring me.

I didn’t even wait to see if Devlin was going to get a ride home with one of the others before I was jogging out to my truck and burning rubber as I backed out of the parking lot. I drove over the speed limit and kept twisting the knob on the radio even as I tried to fight my OCD not to do it fourteen times while the fingers of my other hand tapped over and over again on the steering wheel. Fourteen. Fourteen. Four-fucking-teen.

I didn’t know why I was stuck on the number fourteen. I couldn’t remember why it was so important, but my brain was obsessed with it. I was starting to hate that damn number and how it was destroying my life.

By the time I pulled into the parking lot of the garage, I hadn’t calmed down any. Jerking open the door of my truck, I jumped out and slammed it behind me. Taking the steps up to the apartment two at a time, I tried to think of something—fucking anything—other than the taste of Annabelle’s lips earlier that afternoon.

Fuck.

Fuck.

Motherfucking sonofabitch.

Fuck.

I reached the top of the steps and lifted my fist to knock, but the door opened before I could. Annabelle stood on the other side of the doorway, her long pale blond hair tousled, her sleep clothes rumpled and her eyes a mixture of sleepy and worried. “What’s wrong?” she demanded as soon as she saw my face. “What is it?”

Stepping through the door, she grasped my arms, pulling me easily across the threshold into the apartment. “Z, you’re scaring me. You’re shaking.”

I pulled my arms free and wrapped them around her. I opened my mouth, but nothing came out. My voice was locked in my throat from the boulder of emotion blocking its exit. Instead I pulled her against me as tight as I could get her and buried my face in her sweet-smelling hair.

Having her that close, being able to touch the only thing that mattered to me, made it easier to breathe and I sucked in one deep gulp of air after another for the first time all night. Tears of relief stung my eyes and I kept my face in her hair until I could control myself, not wanting her to see my weakness.

Soft fingers trailed up my back under my old T-shirt and stroked up and down my spine. I let out a shuddery breath and kissed the shell of her ear. “Sorry,” I got out in a voice still rough with the emotions still churning through me. “I didn’t mean to scare you.”

“Are you okay?” she murmured softly.

“Better now,” I assured her and, with my arms still wrapped tightly around her, lifted her a few inches off the floor so I could carry her to the couch.

I dropped down onto the old piece of furniture and pulled her across my lap, wishing to God and anyone else who was willing to listen to my silent prayer just then, that I could keep her like that for the rest of my life. Things were changing way too fast and I wasn’t able to keep up. I was losing Annabelle with every passing second, but there wasn’t a damn thing I could do to stop it. Soon she would be in Nashville and I would be who knew where. I just wanted to hit pause on everything, holding her and soaking up every moment of having her in my arms.

Her fingers stroked through my hair as she held my head against her chest. The feel of her soft hands, the soothing strokes as she combed my hair back from my face, and simply having her in my arms, were slowly calming all the noise in my head to a soft murmur and I was able to think clearly once again. Finally I lifted my head and met her concerned blue gaze.

“Hi,” she whispered softly with a small smile.

“Hi, baby.”

“Want to talk about it?”

I shook my head. I didn’t even know where to begin to start and even if I did I couldn’t have voiced the craziness that was eating up what was left of my sanity. As if she understood all of that and was okay with it she lowered her head to my chest, but continued to stroke her fingers through my hair. “Okay.”

We sat there like that for at least an hour. Neither of us spoke, neither one so much as moved except for her fingers through my hair. It was only when she fought back a yawn that I realized I’d woken her up, acting like the crazy man that I was.

“You should go back to bed,” I muttered, thinking about her and pushing down my need to hold onto her and the last thread of sanity I still had.

“I won’t sleep if I do. I’d just lie there thinking about you.” She lifted her head and met my gaze. “Don’t send me away, Z. I’m happy where I am.”

Fuck, she knew how to gut me. “I’m not going to send you anywhere you don’t want to go.” I glanced down at the old couch we were sitting on. Figuring it was long enough and wide enough for us both, I kicked off my boots and positioned us so that she was lying in front of me. I kept her back to my front and reached for the remote that was in its usual spot on the arm of the couch.

I promised myself I’d only stay for a little while. I just wanted to hold her for a few more minutes.

Turning the television on, I found a channel that wasn’t stupid infomercials before lying back. There was an older afghan that Chelsea had brought over and left a few months before and I pulled it off the back of the couch and over the both of us. Annabelle snuggled back against me, making my body throb from wanting her, but I just gritted my teeth and kissed the back of her head.

Just a few more minutes, but I knew I was lying to myself. I couldn’t bring myself to leave her. Would I ever get enough of this?

No. Never.

Within minutes her breathing evened out and I knew she was asleep. Soon my own eyes began to drift closed, but I didn’t fight it. I kissed the top of her head again and I let sleep claim me…

The high-pitched cackle of a cartoon witch jerked me awake the next morning. My eyes snapped open and for a few seconds I didn’t recognize where I was. Then the warm body wrapped around my own shifted and I breathed a little easier when I realized I’d fallen asleep holding Annabelle. My body instantly woke up and I had to bite back a groan as her thigh brushed over my throbbing hard-on.

Needing a distraction —and fast —I glanced at my watch and saw that it was still pretty early, but that Gram would be up and making breakfast. She wasn’t used to me not coming home on Friday nights, not like she had been before Annabelle had needed me to be home. She would worry and I didn’t want that.

I leaned up on my elbow and brushed a kiss over Annabelle’s temple. “Hey, are you hungry?”

She yawned and blinked her eyes open. “I could eat,” she murmured sleepily and snuggled against my chest a little deeper.

I stroked my fingers down her cheek, soaking up the feel of her in my arms like that a little longer, storing the memory away for a rainy day. Fuck, it felt good. It felt right. Like she was meant to be right there in my arms forever. Muttering a curse, I lowered my head and brushed my lips over her closed eyes. “Come on, baby. We’ll eat and I’ll bring you back in time for the garage to open.”

She didn’t move for a long moment, keeping her face buried in my chest as she sucked in a few deep breaths. Was she crying? I grasped her chin carefully between my fingers and tilted her head so I could see her face. Her eyes were damp, but no tears had fallen yet.

“Anna—”

She shook her head and gave me a trembling smile. “I’m good, just really happy right now. Does that make sense?”

My gut clenched. “Yeah, babe. It makes perfect sense.” Because even though I was stressing over the future and knowing I’d be without her, in that moment I was happy. Having her in my arms, knowing her feelings ran as deep as my own, I was the happiest I’d ever been in my life.

By the time we pulled into my grandparents’ driveway, I could smell her breakfast in the air. I climbed out of my truck and turned to help Annabelle out before shutting the door. As we walked to the back door, her gaze went to her mother’s house next door.

Things had been quiet over there the last few days, but I’d seen Mrs. Cassidy-Malcolm getting her mail the day before. She’d been holding her usual cup of punch and vodka, stumbling as she walked back to her house. As for Jacob, I hadn’t seen him at all, although I knew he was there since his car was there in the evenings when I got home each night.

I stopped before opening the back door. “I’m glad you’re out of there, Annabelle.”

Her jaw clenched and she nodded, giving me a small smile. “Yeah, me too.”

I pulled her close, stealing a hug before I finally opened the back door and stepped into the kitchen. Gram was standing at the stove, stirring the gravy. She was humming to herself as she cooked and I pulled Annabelle with me as I went to hug the old woman.

Gram grinned up at me when I tapped her on the shoulder. “Zander, I was starting to wonder if you were coming home.”

“I slept at Noah’s last night,” I informed her and nodded toward Annabelle. “I brought company.”

Gram’s eyes fell on the girl beside me and her entire body seemed to light up. She practically pushed me out of the way to get to Annabelle. “Oh, honey. I’m so glad to see you.” She pulled Annabelle into a squeezing hug that proved just how strong she still was, but Annabelle was hugging her back. When she stepped back, her eyes had darkened with concern. “How are you?”

“I’m good, Mrs. Brockman. I hope it’s okay that I came over.”

Gram narrowed her eyes. “Girl, you know you will always be welcome at my table. Always. You’re one of the family, honey.”

Annabelle started blinking rapidly and I knew she was fighting tears. Not wanting her to feel embarrassed, I distracted Gram. “I’d really like some scrambled eggs, if you don’t mind making them, Gram.”

“Of course I don’t mind.” She turned back to the stove. “You two kids sit down. Annabelle, how do you want your eggs?”

She cleared her throat before speaking. “Scrambled is fine, Mrs. Brockman.”

Gram turned to glare at her as I pulled out a chair for her at the kitchen table. “I wish you’d call me Gram, honey.”

Annabelle opened her mouth, but no words came out. It wasn’t the first time Gram had asked her to call her that but, when she was little, her hag of a mother hadn’t wanted her to. Now there wasn’t any reason for her not to start calling my grandmother Gram, and I’d have been lying if I said I didn’t like the idea.

Once she was seated, Annabelle smiled. “Okay. Thank you, Gram.”

Gram was just putting the bowl of gravy on the table when Gramps took his usual place. He greeted Annabelle with one of his rare smiles. “Good to see you, girl.”

“You too, sir.”

My grandparents caught up with Annabelle over breakfast and she was laughing by the time she helped Gram clear away the table. I glanced at my watch and realized that the garage would be opening in fifteen minutes. Grimacing, I stood and grabbed my keys. “I’d better get you back to the garage, Anna.”

She glanced at the clock above the stove and gasped. “Noah is going to be worried if I don’t get back in time.” She quickly hugged Gram and then brushed a kiss over Gramps’ cheek as she followed me to the back door. “Thanks for having me, Gram.”

“You come back anytime, Annabelle.” Gram stood at the back door as I helped Annabelle into the truck and waved as I backed out of the driveway.

Annabelle was quiet for several minutes as I drove her back to the garage. When she finally spoke, her voice sounded sad. “Thanks for that, Z. I didn’t realize how much I missed your grandparents until this morning. You’re so lucky to have them.”

I knew exactly how lucky I was. My grandparents had supported my mother when she’d come home from college pregnant. They hadn’t judged her as most of the people in West Bridge had when she’d had me. Then when she’d died of breast cancer, they’d made sure I stayed with them instead of letting my father’s family adopt me. My father’s family had had little to do with me until my mother’s death, but as soon as she’d died they’d suddenly wanted custody of me. My grandfather had fought them tooth and nail until my other grandparents had given up. It was then that I knew exactly how lucky I was to have them love me so much.

Pulling into the garage, I saw Devlin’s dad’s truck already in its normal spot along with Noah’s. Noah’s truck hadn’t been there when we’d left that morning, so I figured he’d just slept at Chelsea’s the night before. Getting out, I helped Annabelle down, but didn’t move toward the garage’s office. I didn’t want to see Noah or Wade and I didn’t want them to see me saying goodbye to Annabelle.

Holding onto her hand, I pulled her close and brushed my lips over her cheek. I felt her shiver and it took everything in me not to pull her against me and kiss her the way I really wanted to. Lifting my head, I met her bright blue eyes. “Tonight I’ll bring pizza and a movie from Blockbusters. Okay?”

“Sounds good,” she breathed.

Unable to resist, I brushed another kiss over her cheek and reluctantly let go of her hand. “Seven?” She nodded and I climbed back into my truck. “Call my house if you need me.”

 

C HAPTER N INE

Annabelle

Noah and Wade were already working on someone’s car when I entered the office. Sitting down behind the desk, I was glad to be alone for the moment, needing to soak up the incredible morning I’d had with Zander.

It felt like bubbles were in my blood. I was walking on clouds as I went back and forth from the office to the back room. I wanted to hold on to the feeling and never let it slip away.

Waking up with Z’s arms around me had been something I’d missed all week and, for the first time, I’d gotten a full night’s sleep. My heart had felt like lead when I realized he’d have to leave me soon, but then he’d asked me to have breakfast at his grandparents’ house and I couldn’t help the tears that had nearly spilled free. How could something as small as going for breakfast have brought me to tears so easily? For the first time in forever I’d felt truly happy, and it was all because of Zander Brockman.

Without realizing it, a stupid grin lifted my lips and I was still sporting it several hours later when Noah came into the office to wash his hands and grab a quick snack. My brother opened his bag of chips as he sat down on the edge of my desk where I was sorting through invoices for our latest parts shipment.

“Zander put that stupid look on your face?”

My head snapped up and my grin faded as I glared up at Noah. “Shut up,” I snapped at him, not wanting him to make fun of the bubbly feeling I was still having.

He popped a Dorito into his mouth. “Don’t get all defensive, Annabelle. I’m just curious what or, more to the point, who put that silly grin on your face. I like it. Looks good on you, baby sis.” He shrugged and popped two more Doritos into his mouth. “If it was because of Z then I’m cool with that. He’s good for you.”

I bit the inside of my cheek. “Really? You’d be okay if we…?” Noah shrugged again and my heart melted with love for my brother. “Thanks, Noah.”

He grimaced. “Don’t thank me yet, honey. We still have to talk about Nashville. The way things are looking we might be moving up there by the end of next month.”

“Nashville isn’t that far away. I could see Z on the weekends…” Noah was shaking his head. “Why not?”

He tossed his now empty bag of chips in the trashcan by my feet and wiped his cheesy fingers on his grease-stained jeans. “Don’t tell Z, but when I went to Nashville this week, I told the radio exec about OtherWorld. He gave me the number of a guy and I’ve been talking to a manager who wants to hear the band. As soon as I find my replacement, I’m setting up a meeting for them. If this guy likes what he hears, then the band will be moving to California to start looking for a record deal.”

I gasped, seeing the pain in my brother’s eyes. “I’m sorry, Noah.” Tears burned my eyes and I tried to keep them at bay, but a few fell free. Noah was giving up so much to take care of me. Anyone who knew my brother knew that OtherWorld was his life. His giving them up and even helping them in the process must have been killing him. I didn’t know if he was going to be happy going solo, but I knew it wouldn’t fill the void OtherWorld did.

I was costing him OtherWorld. He was leaving the band because of me, so that he would be able to take care of me. I was choking with the regret I felt over ruining his life. Things would have been so much simpler if I’d just kept my mouth shut. I could have dealt with Jacob if I’d known just how much I would fuck up Noah’s life.

He lifted a hand and wiped away my tears. “This isn’t your fault, Annabelle. I don’t ever want you to think it is. I’m the one who is making this decision. You didn’t force me. I’ll still have music, so it’s not like I’m giving it up completely. I have you and Chelsea. That’s all I need. Nashville will be a good fit for the three of us.”

“But—”

Noah clenched his jaw and stood, walking around the desk. “No buts. I’ve got work to do.”

“Noah…” He stopped at the door and turned his head to look at me. “I love you.”

His face relaxed. “Love you, too.”

My grin didn’t return for the rest of the workday. I spent the hours trying to go through the invoices and other paperwork that needed my attention, but I couldn’t remember what I’d read or actually done with it all. My mind was caught on the fact that Zander could be leaving me in just a matter of weeks. Part of me was ecstatic about the opportunity for him and OtherWorld, but a bigger part was heartbroken.

Zander would move to California and become a rock god. There would be girls, so many fucking girls. He’d hook up with them all, live the life of the badass rocker I knew he would be. He’d forget all about me…

Muttering every vicious curse word I knew, I tossed the paperwork into a filing cabinet and locked up the office before stomping up the stairs to the apartment. My chest was so tight I felt like I was going to pass out from the pain. I practically ran into the bedroom and locked the door behind me before falling onto the bed and crying like the baby I was.

Z was going to leave. OtherWorld was too good for that manager Noah had mentioned not to want to help them move up in the rock world. As long as they found someone with the right vocals to take over for Noah, there would be nothing to stop them from getting signed.

Sob after sob shook my body, each of them leaving my throat tortured and raw. My heart was breaking and Zander wasn’t even gone yet. I knew it was only a matter of time, though. The countdown had already begun and it was just a matter of weeks before he would be gone. I wanted to beg and plead for him to stay in Tennessee, for me. For us. I’d love him for the rest of my life if he would just stay and hold me.

The tears came faster, the sobs so intense I felt like I was destroying all of my organs. It wouldn’t have mattered if I had. The second Zander was gone, I wouldn’t need any of them. And he was going to leave.

I wasn’t going to beg him to stay. I wouldn’t plead. Not because I thought Zander wouldn’t, but because I knew he would. Z was just too good of a man. If I begged him to stay, I knew he would and I couldn’t do that to him. I couldn’t ask him to stay when I knew he deserved to be out there sharing his music with the world.

Turning over onto my back, I wiped away the last of my tears and glared up at the ceiling. My head was killing me from all the crying I’d done, my entire body aching like I’d just been hit by a bus, but I’d come to a decision that I was going to stand by. I’d take what little time I had left with Zander and cherish every damn second of it. I’d live off the memories forever if I had to, but I wasn’t going to ask him to stay. I wouldn’t be selfish.

I’d already ruined my brother’s life.

I wasn’t about to ruin Z’s.

By the time I heard Zander’s truck pulling into the garage’s parking lot, I’d gotten myself under control. I’d showered, changed into a pair of running shorts and a tank top, and then put chilled spoons on my swollen eyes. There were no signs that I’d had a complete breakdown just a few hours before. I couldn’t let him see that I was so close to shattering into a million pieces at his feet.

Zander knocked on the door and I forced myself to take a few extra seconds to compose myself before I opened it. As soon as my eyes fell on him, I had to fight back the urge to cry again. No, Annabelle. Just stop it. Ruining two men’s lives in one week wasn’t going to happen. I forced back the tears and let my eyes trail down over the delicious boy/man standing on my doorstep, needing to commit everything about him to memory for those days I knew I’d need it the most.

Dressed in old jeans and one of his favorite Nirvana T-shirts, Z looked good enough to eat. His hair was rumpled, as if he’d been running his fingers through it, and his eyes were green with those damn gold flecks I loved so much burning down at me. I wanted to throw myself into his arms and never let go, but that wasn’t possible with his hands full.

He held a box of pizza in one hand with two VHS Blockbuster rentals on top. In his other hand he had a bag that was full of chips, drinks, and my favorite chocolate bars– Reese's. Smiling at the sight of the familiar orange candy wrapper, I reached out to take the box of pizza from him.

“Where’s Noah?” he asked as he followed me into the kitchen.

“Probably at Chelsea’s.” I hadn’t seen my brother since our talk earlier that day, but Chelsea’s was the most likely place he’d be. He couldn’t go more than a few hours away from her. I thought it was adorable the way they were together. Even when they were arguing—which was at least once a day—you could see how much they loved each other shining out of their eyes.

Setting the pizza on the counter, I grabbed a stack of paper plates before opening the box. When I saw what toppings were on the pizza, my heart clenched so hard I had to suck in a deep breath. Half the pizza was covered in enough meat to feed an army—or at least one hungry Zander Brockman. The other half of the pizza had sliced tomatoes, green olives, and just a little bit of bacon. Exactly how I loved my pizza.

He hadn’t called to see if that was what I’d want, he’d just known.

Gulping in a shuddering breath to fight back the urge to break down and sob like a baby again, I busied myself with piling our plates with slices of pizza while Zander fixed us each a glass of the sweet tea he’d brought. I carried our plates into the living room before going back for the videotapes. It was only then that I actually looked at the titles on the Blockbuster boxes.

Z was normally all about action movies, so I was surprised at the first movie. Fear starred one of my favorite actors, Mark Wahlberg, as the obsessed villain who falls in love with the teenaged Reece Witherspoon. Glancing at the second movie, I nearly laughed. I wasn’t a big fan of scary movies, but I’d still watch them if I had someone to watch them with. I had avoided watching Scream, though. Movies that could actually happen were so much worse for me than ones that had monsters and ghosts.

Deciding to get it over with first, I put Scream in the VCR and dropped down on the couch beside Zander.

“You just had to, huh?”

Z grinned at me before taking a huge bite of his pizza. “I got you Wahlberg, baby. That’s about as far as I can go.”

I grinned back. “You’d better not make fun of me if I scream.”

“Wouldn’t dream of it.” He grasped my hand and tugged me toward him. “If you get scared you can hold on to me. I won’t ever let anything happen to you, Anna.”

I melted against his side and rested my head on his shoulder. Watching a scary movie didn’t seem nearly as bad all of a sudden.

Zander

I stretched and had to bite back a groan when my aching body brushed against the warm female snuggled so tightly against me. Blinking open my eyes, I realized that for the second night in a row I’d fallen asleep on the couch with Annabelle in my arms.

Grinning at my good luck, I brushed my lips over her ear and pulled her even tighter against me. Shit, this felt good. Right, so damn right. It didn’t matter that my dick was as hard as a sledgehammer. I wasn’t about to let that fucker ruin the peacefulness of the moment for me. This was my paradise and I wasn’t in any hurry to leave it.

The night before had been perfect. We’d watched movies and eaten pizza. I’d gotten to hold Annabelle during the scary parts of both movies I’d rented and then we’d stretched out together on the couch to watch old episodes of Happy Days before falling asleep. As far as dates went, it had been a great one for me. Considering I’d slept over and hadn’t fucked the brains out of my date, it was definitely a first for me.

My throbbing body didn’t consider it nearly as great as I did, however. I was rock hard and the tip was already damp with need for the beauty sleeping so peacefully in my arms. Biting back a curse, I shifted to try and adjust my aching flesh. Sleeping in my jeans was not something my dick thought was amusing. The way it was pressed into the zipper at that moment was the punishment I obviously deserved.

Annabelle sighed softy and I glanced down at her in time to watch her lashes flutter upward, revealing those incredible blue eyes. As soon as she met my gaze, her pink little tongue slipped out of her mouth to dampen her ripe lips. Groaning, I leaned down to brush my own tongue over her bottom lip.

Just a taste. One. Little. Taste…

I knew it was a mistake as soon as I made contact. Her taste exploded on my tongue and it was like my entire body was set on fire. No one had ever affected me the way that Annabelle did. No one. My dick was now trying to drill its way out of my jeans. I didn’t care. All I wanted was more of her taste on my tongue, her hands on my body, her soft sighs in my ears.

Before I could make the move to take more, she was already demanding it. Soft fingers combed through my hair and pulled my head down until our lips met. I thrust my tongue deep, wanting to taste every square inch of her hot little mouth. My hands developed a mind of their own and started exploring. I touched every inch I could reach, but tried to avoid her amazing tits because I knew once I touched them I’d need to focus all my attention on them to give them justice.