“True.”
“Can I give you some advice?”
Unsolicited advice from Garrett Barker? This oughta be good.
“Make sure to take it at face value. The minute you start thinkin’ that you’ve found something real and start makin’ plans with him . . . it’ll fall apart.”
“Are you speaking from personal experience, Garrett?”
A pause followed. “Yeah. Didn’t end pretty. I did my job and kept her safe. She walked away intact, which I was paid to ensure. I limped away, half-goddamn-broken, and that fucked me up big-time.”
“If you had it to do all over again, would you take the job?”
“Yes. But I’d remember it was just a job. It’s not real.”
Liberty tipped her head back, knowing in her gut he was exactly right. “Thanks for talking to me.”
“Anytime. Stay safe. Keep in touch.”
“I will.” She ended the call and tossed her phone on the bed, relieved and yet also worried if she and Devin kept up the level of not only sexual intensity, but intimacy, she’d be nursing a broken heart.
Chapter Sixteen
A week of having Liberty in his bed and Devin still couldn’t get enough of her.
And after the high-energy performance he’d just given—he loved rowdy, loud crowds, especially during a rare afternoon concert—he was damn near desperate to prolong that adrenaline rush.
They were in the media room, acting civilized.
He felt anything but civilized.
Devin angled his head and murmured, “I want to fuck you. Now.”
No one else saw it, but he felt Liberty tremble against him.
“Devin McClain.” A booming voice echoed behind him.
As he turned to face the man, he let his fingers sweep across the bottom of Liberty’s ass.
She hissed, “Stop it.”
“You don’t want me to stop.”
He forced a smile for Jarvis Barnes, the program director for the biggest country music station in three states, and held out his hand when the man finally waddled toward him. “Jarvis. Good to see you again.”
“You too. Can’t believe it’s been a year. The new album is doin’ great. Congrats on ‘Broken Beams’ hitting number two.”
“Thanks. The fact it’s become a fan favorite has taken the sting outta missing that number-one spot.”
“Your next single will get there. And, son, I’d really like an exclusive on which song that’s gonna be. Especially since we didn’t get you booked for an interview at the station this time.”
“Tell you what. My assistant and I were just headed back to my ready room to make a few calls and go over some last-minute schedule changes. I’ll see what Don at the label says and he’ll get back to you.”
“Great.” He clapped Devin on the back. “Spectacular show today.”
“Thanks.” Devin stepped back and looked at Liberty. “Let’s get this handled.”
As soon as they were out of view, he put his hand on the small of her back and said, “I didn’t introduce you to Jarvis because he’s the type of DJ who’s always lookin’ to scoop his competition. I don’t want him takin’ notice of you, let alone mentioning you on air.”
“Because you’re afraid he’ll find out I’m not really your PA, but your bodyguard?”
“No. I don’t wanna share what’s goin’ on between us with anyone in this industry. I deserve to have a private life.”
“So I’m just your dirty little secret, Mr. McClain?”
“Yes. And I make no apologies for keepin’ all the dirty things we do to each other a secret and enjoying the hell out of every single one.”
After a quick nod of acknowledgment to the security guard, Liberty punched in the code that unlocked the door. As soon as they were inside, Devin slid the dead bolt home and pressed the front of her body against the metal door, grinding his erection into her ass.
“I need to be inside you,” he said as he trailed his nose down the arch of her neck, filling his lungs with her chocolate and vanilla scent.
“Then stop distracting me at least until I’m unarmed.”
“Hurry up.”
She pushed him aside, pulling her piece from her waist holster as she walked to the middle of the room to set it on the sofa table.
Devin followed her and snagged a condom out of his duffel bag. As he watched her strip to skin, an animalistic hunger arose. He unbuckled his belt, dropping his jeans and boxer briefs to the tops of his boots. Then he rolled the condom on.
He moved in behind her, and his mouth connected with her ear. “Sexy fuckin’ woman. You’re a damn drug.” He grabbed a handful of her hair, urging her to turn her head. Their mouths met, and the kiss was electric. Passionate. Ramping his need higher.
She made that soft whimper against his mouth when his right hand cupped her mound. He traced her slit with his middle finger, spreading her juices up to her clit. She broke the kiss on a gasp. “We’ve been in here like three minutes. The second you touch me I’m ready to explode.”
“Hands on the back of the couch.” Devin slipped two fingers inside her. The tight, slick heat tempted the animal inside him to ignore everything but slamming his cock into her. She’d be good with that—Liberty turned her pleasure over to him completely.
“Devin, I need—”
“Don’t push me to get you there faster or I’ll make you wait longer.”
“You get off on that.”
“Yeah, baby, I do. And so do you.” But he didn’t plan to make her wait this time. With her being tall, he could reach all her hot spots without bending down too far, keeping his mouth attached to her skin as she unraveled.
She started pushing her hips down to try to increase the friction on her clit and shove his fingers deeper inside her. “Don’t stop. Please.”
“I’ll make you come, but you gotta come quietly. Understand?”
She nodded.
He fisted his hand in her hair, pulling hard at the same time he took her earlobe between his teeth and bit down.
A sharp bite of pain, his fingers stroking those wet walls, his teeth on her skin and the rapid rubbing of his thumb over her clit tipped her over the edge.
She bit her lip to stifle the moans as her pussy spasmed around his fingers and pulsed against his thumb.
“Fuck, you’re coming hard. This hot cunt is tryin’ to pull my whole hand inside you.”
She whimpered when he dragged an openmouthed kiss beneath her ear and sucked on the spot that made her wilder yet.
Once the pulses ended, he eased his wet fingers out of her pussy. He growled, “Bend over.” As soon as her belly rested on the back of the couch, he aimed his cock at her warm center and plunged inside.
Fuck, fuck, fuck. There was nothing in the world like this.
With both his hands on her hips, his rhythm became frantic. He should’ve lasted longer, but the heat that blazed between them was impossible to resist.
She was impossible to resist when she arched her back, allowing him to drive into her deeper yet.
He made a low noise in the back of his throat and slammed into her, completely pulling out on each stroke.
Then wham, he was coming, and her cunt muscles clamped down, slowing his thrusts so he felt every spurt almost in slow motion.
When her body squeezed the last throb from his dick, his hands landed beside hers. His chest resting on her back, his mouth at her ear. “You okay?”
“I’m always okay when you’re fucking me.” Liberty turned her face to his and rubbed their cheeks together. “I’ve never had a man want me the way you do. So every time you drag me off and press me up against something or bend me over something, I feel . . .”
“What?”
“Like I’m enough.”
Devin pulled out and gently spun her around, holding her face in his hands and kissing her. What would it take to get her to believe he didn’t want anyone else—just her? Didn’t she know how rare and special it was that for t
he first time in his adult life he’d found a woman who wanted him just for him, not for the outward trappings?
Her arms circled his waist, and she spread her hands over his shoulder blades, digging her nails into his skin.
He slowed the kiss and spoke softly when their lips were a breath apart. “You’re beyond enough. You’re—this is so much more than anything I thought I’d ever have.”
“You trying to turn my knees weak?”
“Yep, because you’ve got an awfully strong will.”
She laughed softly.
Devin placed one last kiss on her sweet lips and he stepped back to right his clothing. He headed to the bathroom to flush the condom. He washed his hands and his face, staring at himself in the mirror. He didn’t look different on the outside, but inside was a whole other matter. Being with Liberty changed him. Even if she didn’t—know it—or believe it—he did and that was all that mattered.
Liberty had already concealed her gun in that funky, slim-fitting pantsuit she wore and waited by the door. “What time are you supposed to be at the children’s hospital?”
“In an hour. Traffic is notoriously bad here, so we’d better get goin’.”
Those magnetic eyes searched his. “Did you call a car service?”
“No. Crash rented me a car.”
“Devin. I don’t know how safe—”
“No one will recognize me. Plus, I wanted to take you someplace nice for supper.” He tugged on a chunk of her blue hair. “You know how I am after these things. You deserve a decent meal for havin’ to deal with my brooding.”
Everything started out all right at the children’s hospital. The staff had set up a big room for them. In addition to designating a performing area, they’d arranged a table for a craft project. The slightly horrified look on Liberty’s face when she realized she’d have to make something out of tongue depressors and cotton balls forced him to turn away to hide his grin.
Devin always spent time with the nurses and aides before the visit. Medical science and the doctors might work miracles, but these people were in the trenches with these kids every day, every night, every step of the way.
These were the true heroes.
As much as he wanted—needed—to do these visits, they weren’t easy. No matter how many times he’d done them, he walked into the hospital with a tight knot in his stomach. Usually at the thirty-minute mark he’d realize he’d relaxed and that knot loosened. It felt natural joking around with the kids, singing a few songs. Letting the oldest kid in the room jam on his acoustic guitar.
Normally Liberty remained outside during these visits. But today she sat in the corner—farthest away from the craft table—and closest to him.
He’d just finished playing one of his kid-friendly songs, “That Dog Don’t Hunt,” when he asked if anyone had a request.
A frail-looking girl in the back shuffled forward, dragging her IV behind her. She stopped right in front of him and wheezed until she caught her breath. “I have a request.”
“Sure, sweetheart. What would you like to hear?”
“‘You Are My Sunshine.’”
That knot in his belly tightened up again. He never played this song, even though it was great for kids to sing along to. He never played that song because it was the first—and last—song his sister had sung. He managed to ask, “Why that song?”
“My sister sings it to me when I’m sad to cheer me up.”
“Are you sad today?”
She nodded.
“Why?”
“Because my sister couldn’t come visit me this week. I miss her.”
“If I play it, will you sing along with me?”
Her eyes lit up. “Really?”
“Really.” He strummed the opening chord. “What’s your name?”
“Michelle.”
That’s when his world fell in. That’s when he couldn’t breathe; he couldn’t move; he couldn’t think. He stared at the girl in front of him—the same age, the same coloring as his sister—and for a split second, her image wavered and she was his Michelle.
The knot in his stomach crawled into his throat and threatened to choke him.
He must’ve made some distressed sound, because Liberty was by his side in an instant. She smiled at the girl and said, “Give us a moment, okay?”
Then Liberty’s cool hand rested on the back of his neck and her voice broke through the roaring in his ears. “Devin. Breathe. You’re all right. Just take a quick break.”
He moved his mouth, but no sound came out.
But somehow, tears were streaming down his face. Every anguished second he’d spent missing and mourning his sister rolled over him in an unending wave of sorrow.
Liberty pried his fingers off the neck of his guitar and plucked it out of his hands. She faced the room, blocking him from view.
“You guys ever get a frog in your throat?”
A few kids made a ribbit ribbit sound.
She laughed. “Just like that. It even happens to professional singers. So while Devin gets a drink and tries to drown that frog, you’re stuck doing a sing-along with me. Problem is . . . I don’t play guitar.”
While she cajoled the kid from earlier to come up front and play, Devin found the will to move. He coughed a few times as he scooted over to the refreshment table.
A nurse handed him a cup of water. Another nurse rubbed soothing circles on his back and whispered, “It’s okay. It never gets easier for any of us either.”
At some point he crawled out of the dark hole of memories and refocused on the present.
Liberty had a rollicking round of “Row, Row, Row Your Boat” started that ended in fits of giggles and laughter.
When he smiled at her, the tense set of her shoulders relaxed. He drained his water and strode toward her.
“How about a round of applause for Miss Liberty Bell?”
She rolled her eyes at him.
He settled on the chair with his guitar. “Before I honor Michelle’s request”—he swallowed hard— “how about if I get that frog in my throat to sing like Kermit? Anyone wanna hear ‘Rainbow Connection’?”
The kids clapped and a few even whistled.
Still, when he ended the song, he knew what was next.
Devin picked at the strings until he sensed the kids getting restless. Enough stalling. “Michelle requested ‘You Are My Sunshine’ and I’m thinkin’ it must be a Michelle thing, since that was a favorite song of my little sister, Michelle, as well.” He strummed the opening chord and started to sing. But when he hit the fourth line, his voice didn’t falter; it plain gave out.
Liberty jumped in with her pure alto, and the wave of relief brought tears to his eyes. By the time she started the chorus, he’d chimed back in and harmonized with her to the end.
The nurse in charge took that as her cue. “Everyone say thank you to Devin and Liberty for stopping by to entertain us today.”
When the kids mobbed him, Liberty hovered—but not for the same reasons as she usually did. And as they walked out of the hospital, she held her hands out for the keys, knowing he was too distracted to get behind the wheel.
She didn’t ask where to. She just drove, leaving him to work through the things he normally tried so hard to forget.
When Devin finally snapped out of his stupor, he realized they were parked in front of a . . . ? He craned his neck to look up at the flashing neon sign with a pin and two bowling balls that resembled a cock and balls. “Where are we?”
“Duh. At a bowling alley.”
“Why are we at a bowling alley?”
“Because the name of this joint is Liberty Lanes. Come on, Devin. That’s a sign!”
“I think the gigantic dick and balls sign is what first caught your eye,” he said dryly, “not your name in neon.”
“That too. The big dick and balls reminded me of you, baby,” she cooed with total sarcasm.