Longing for You

  “I won’t say it never crossed my mind, but the idea never lingered. You talked a good game. We both did, but you didn’t follow up on anything you said.”

  “Because I didn’t want you to shoot me down. You were beautiful and popular, and I was just a troublemaker.”

  “No, you weren’t. I saw through your façade. I still do.” She rubbed her foot along his calf as she stroked his face. “You care about people and you care deeply. You love your brother despite what you two have been through. You threw your life away for me. There’s always been more to you than people see…but I see it.”

  Her admission should have been a relief. It meant she saw more than the bad boy, but it also meant she saw the real him. The idea seemed okay when he devised this plan, but he clearly didn’t think it through. Now she had the ammunition to bring him to his knees. She had what it took to rip out his heart.

  But hadn’t she always?

  “I never told you this, but the reason I was there to see Parker threaten you is because I was coming to ask you out. Finally. Then I saw Parker, and I …”

  When he didn’t finish, she eased up and pressed her lips to his. They met in a series of kisses, sensual kisses that reminded him of where he was—between her thighs. He had an urge to work his hips with hers again until she broke away.

  “I wish I had run into you instead of Parker. Then none of this would have happened, including the scene at the bar tonight.”

  “I’m sorry for leaving the way I did. If I hadn’t walked away, I would have relived the past. I couldn’t stand the thought of him touching you.”

  “Why do you want to be around me, Theo? I’m more trouble than I’m worth.”

  She glanced lower but he tipped her chin up. “Listen to me. If I’d known Mike was talking shit, it would have turned out a lot differently. I sure as hell wouldn’t have given him the satisfaction of thinking I believed him.”

  Guilt weighed on Theo. He hadn’t been fair to her by judging her casual relationship with Mike. He’d had his share. Hell, he’d gotten blown in a storage closet the same night.

  “Some of what Mike said tonight is true, on both our parts. You left with him and I left with someone else. But there’s a bigger picture he isn’t seeing. If I’d stayed a minute longer… I don’t know what would have happened between us, but I know for a fact that you wouldn’t have gone to his place.”

  “It’s over now. As long as you believe I’m not with him, the rest doesn’t matter to me.”

  “I believe you.” He caressed her cheek. “But I don’t ever want him touching you again. I don’t want anyone touching you. You’re mine, Cassie.”

  Damn it. He had no control over his mouth. She would think he was some control freak who’d get pissed if he saw her talking to another guy. All he wanted was for her to know how much he wanted her for himself. Not just for a night either.

  And therein laid the problem. He’d be leaving Savannah sooner than he wanted. He couldn’t ask her to commit to him when he would be gone. Why should she wait for him?

  Cassie didn’t object to his claim on her. She nodded at his response, yet her eyes filled with wonder. “I can’t believe you’ve been under my nose all this time. I was convinced we were just friends.”

  “We’ve always been more than friends. We were neighbors, playmates, and partners in crime. Half the stupid shit we did to get in trouble was so I could impress you.” He trailed his fingers down her neck and over her shoulder, teasing her skin with the lightest strokes. “You’re the reason I took up guitar. All my songs…they were about you.”

  “And the ones now? The ones you just recorded?”

  He nipped her lips. “They’re about losing you and the hell I went through in New Orleans. They’re about the way I’ve been wanting you for all these years.”

  Her hips shifted. The erratic movements settled to a steady rhythm, and she swayed them left then right. Her breath beat against his face when she whispered, “You’ve wanted me all this time?”

  “Cassie…no one else has ever compared to you.” He rolled his hips and slid in and out of the wet warmth surrounding him. “You’re the one I compared everyone else to. No one came close. Do you know what that means?”

  “No.”

  She barely had time to answer before a soft moan left her mouth. She rocked her hips with his and wrapped her legs around his waist. The next time he rolled into her, he sank deep. He grit his teeth to keep from groaning. Every inch of him was fully erect as she tightened around his sensitive skin.

  “What does it mean, Theo?”

  He was so far gone that he’d nearly forgotten what he was saying. They were fucking again. He wanted to focus on the feel of her, how she spread her legs wider and accepted every ounce he stuffed inside her. That was his number one concern.

  Still, she deserved an answer, and he knew her well enough to know one thing for sure. She wouldn’t allow him to escape the question for long.

  “It means there’s no one else for me, Cassie. You’re the only one I’ve ever wanted.”

  Nothing else was said. Not with words. Their bodies did all the talking, and the confessions they made were soul shaking. He and Cassie were one and the same. They were two halves of a whole. Being with her completed him.

  The sensual sound of her moaning made him throb harder. He thrust faster, working his hips so precisely that he glided over her clit with every pass. She bucked against him and grabbed his ass, pulling him deeper. When he obliged, she cried out.

  He could never get enough of this or her. She was definitely his match in every way possible. He hadn’t come to Savannah for a relationship. He sure as hell wouldn’t have thought it would be with her even if he had. But the path that led him out of this town was the same one that brought him back. It led him home. It led him to her.

  Despite where his career took him, he’d always make his way back to that path. He’d come back home because home was where the heart belonged, and Cassie owned his heart. She was more than some girl he’d always wanted to fuck. She was the only girl he wanted. He’d be damned if he let anyone take her away, even after he left.

  One way or another, he’d find a way to make sure she remained his.

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  The sweet slumber holding Theo captive finally released its grip. His eyes opened to a semi-dark room. What little light filtered in was drab and dim, making it difficult to judge the time. The clock was nowhere in view. Neither was his phone.

  It was daylight, yet the sky was dark. Millions of raindrops unleashed from the slate-tinted clouds. They raced toward the ground as lightning zipped across the horizon. The brilliant light flashed before him then disappeared.

  Thunder echoed in the distance.

  He ignored the storm and focused on the warmth surrounding him. It wasn’t just the covers providing heat. Cassie’s body was too. Her cheek rested on his chest as she snuggled close. The richest red locks splayed across his arm and down her back. Lush lips beckoned him forward…

  He remained still, avoiding the temptation of her mouth. All he wanted was to stare at her. As if he hadn’t enough last night, or should he say this morning? After four rounds and four a.m., neither could move. He had enough energy to roll to his side and collect her in his arms. Once his head hit the pillow, it was over.

  Their entangled bodies made it hard to think about anything else. He reveled in the thought of fucking her all night. She’d submitted her body to him, right along with her will. He could have parted ways with her and walked away like he’d planned. She even mentioned something about getting dressed and out of his hair.

  Then the tightness returned to his chest. He’d wrapped his arms around her and refused to let go. She didn’t resist.

  Damn… He’d gotten himself in a mess. The two things he’d always wanted were lying before him on two separate paths—a chance for his band to hit it big and a chance for something more with Cassie.

  If he played things right, it wa
s possible he could have both. If she was willing to accept him being on the road at times, he’d make up for it when he came home. There was no way she would go with him. She had a job, one she enjoyed. Asking her to give it up and follow him wouldn’t be fair.

  Even if she was okay with him being gone, it didn’t mean things would be easy. Each time he left would be like reopening a wound—raw and painful. Most wounds healed in a short amount of time. His wouldn’t until he returned to her. Then the time would come and they’d repeat the same agonizing routine.

  Still, it would be better than the alternative. He’d spent six years without her. To do it again was unfathomable.

  He gazed down her body, unable to resist the urge to touch her. He would suffer the pain of leaving each time if it meant he could come home to her. Maybe one day, he’d come home to her and their kids…

  There was no question about wanting a family, but he wasn’t in a rush. Thank God she was on birth control. Otherwise, they would be taking a huge risk. If they decided to be together, it had to be for one reason—because they didn’t want to be without each other, not because he’d knocked her up.

  Truthfully, he’d want her even if he did. After last night, he knew there wasn’t anyone else. But did she feel the same?

  He swept his fingers over her shoulder, down her arm, until he reached her hand. It was curled below her chin, against his chest. One leg overlapped his and bent at the knee. The rest of her body wasn’t in view, but he felt her. Everywhere. She was stuck to him, had been all night, and he loved every single second.

  Pressing his hand to her back, he placed the other on her hip and thumbed over her skin. Holding her felt amazing, natural even. It was better than he’d imagined. The way their bodies fit together…it was as if she were created for him. Her body was so light that he could manipulate it with ease. He’d proven as much last night.

  The urge to pin her to the bed overcame him. He could spend a week in this same spot, taking her whenever he needed and still not get enough. She had to agree to be with him. He’d lose his mind if not.

  Cassie’s movements chased away his thoughts. Her body stiffened as she stretched her muscles and wiggled against him. The more he felt her, the harder he fought not to flip her over and begin round five.

  She batted her lashes then opened her eyes. They were aimed at his chest, but they made their way up to his. Part of him worried that the only reason she’d slept with him was because she’d gotten drunk. The liquor sure as hell gave him the courage to take the initiative.

  He searched her face for any sign of regret but saw none. Instead, she smiled, with her mouth, with her eyes, with the gentle way she sighed. She radiated with peacefulness, something he hadn’t felt since he left Savannah.

  “Morning, gorgeous.”

  “Good morning.” She glanced toward the window then back to him. “What time is it?”

  “I haven’t checked. I’ve been too busy staring at you.”

  Her cheeks turned a rosy shade as she gazed toward his chest. “How long have you been awake?”

  “Ten minutes at most. It hasn’t been long.” He raised up long enough to find the clock on the other side of the bed. The numbers he saw made him do a double take. “Would you believe me if I said it was eleven-thirty?”

  “After crashing at four? Yeah, I’d say that sounds about right. At least it’s Saturday.” She snuggled in closer as another rumble of thunder vibrated the window. “I hope it doesn’t rain tonight. The place we’re going has a gorgeous patio out back. It looks like a maze of hedges and is perfect for privacy. Maybe we’ll show it to Ally and Jonah then slip away so they can talk.”

  He nodded, concentrating on the soft skin under his fingertips. He trailed them over her shoulder, down her back, repeating the path as he answered, “I like the way you think.”

  “Only because my thoughts can be as devious as yours. You’ve met your match, Theo McCabe.”

  That he had, but he still had the upper hand.

  Without warning, he flipped her to the mattress and leaned up on his arm. Part of his body pinned her to the bed, the other remained at her side. He thought he’d caught her off guard, but she laughed, causing him to do the same. Then he leaned over and kissed her.

  He kept it short, sweet, and just tender enough that when he pulled away, her eyes remained closed. When they finally opened, he ran his finger over her lips. “I never had any doubt you were my match. You’re not like any woman I’ve ever known, Cassie Clarke. I like that about you. You are perfect for me.”

  The room grew quiet, minus the rain beating against the window. Something seemed off. She remained silent but kept focused on him. “Are you okay?”

  “Yes. I just… What are we doing, Theo?”

  “Laying in bed together.” He made light of the situation even though he noticed her tensing.

  “Yeah, we are, but what are we doing? Is this just a one night thing, or a while you’re in town thing, or what exactly?”

  The moment had arrived. She’d given him the opportunity to discuss where things could go. All he had to do was take the chance.

  “What if it’s neither, yet a hell of a lot more?”

  She drew her brows together and shook her head. “My mind can’t process riddles right now.”

  “Then answer this. What do you want this to be?” He nipped her lips. “What do you want us to be?”

  “I didn’t realize there was an us.”

  “There can be, if that’s what you want.”

  The seconds ticked away as she gaped at him. It was like being caught between desire and aversion. Either she wanted him as much as he wanted her, or he’d pushed things too far. He wasn’t sure which, and patience wasn’t his best trait. Quite the opposite. The lump forming inside his throat grew thicker the longer he waited for her response.

  Then she touched his cheek. “Yeah… I think I want there to be an us.”

  “Okay, but you have to decide what you want it to mean.”

  “What about you? Do you want the same?”

  Did she still need convincing?

  He worked his fingers through her hair and lowered his head. She had him in a haze again. The truth would come out no matter how much he resisted. So he didn’t.

  “I want you, Cassie. I want you now, tonight, next week, next month, next year. I’ve always wanted you. Nothing has changed that. Nothing will.”

  “But define want.”

  “I already have. I don’t want anyone else touching you. In my mind, you belong to me, but the choice isn’t mine to make. It’s yours.”

  “And your career?”

  The hardest part in all of this was giving her an answer to something he didn’t know. There was no way to know where his future was headed, but she was the one he imagined beside him. He wanted her in his life.

  “I don’t know what’s in store for the band. Things may be hectic at first, but we can get through it. When I’m not on the road, I’ll be with you.”

  The tension between them remained as she gazed off. “Women are going to throw themselves at you. Are you sure this is what you want?”

  “Cassie, I don’t care about any other woman but you.”

  “I heard it gets lonely out there, even for people in committed relationships. Temptation arises, and—”

  He silenced her with another kiss and wedged himself between her legs. When he felt her relax, he eased back on his knees. “I don’t care if some woman lays down in front of me and spreads her legs. It won’t affect me.” He grabbed underneath her knees and bent them toward her waist. “These are the only legs I want to be between.”

  He lowered his chest to hers and rocked his hips. One slow, steady thrust sent his cock deep. Her mouth parted, then she released the sexiest moan he’d ever heard.

  Sinking deeper inside, he filled her completely and swept over her lips again. “No one else can make me feel what you do. I wouldn’t risk losing you for a moment of pleasure with someone else.
Not even for a night. Not even if I knew I could get away with it.”

  Her breathing increased as she wiggled her hips beneath him. “How can you be sure you’ll always feel that way?”

  “Because”—he withdrew slowly then drove back inside, repeating the motion until a steady rhythm formed—“I’ve never wanted anyone but you. I swear, I never will.”

  She rolled her body with his. Each time he plunged inside her, she bucked against him. Her nails scraped across his ass. Then she gripped it. The tighter she squeezed, the harder he thrust.

  Her hips gyrated with his. She was panting, moaning, and whispering his name. As much as he wanted to kiss her, he wanted to hear her voice more. He focused on the sound and quickened his pace.

  His original plan to conquer her was over. The victory lay beneath him, but he was far from collecting his prize. Her heart would be the ultimate one. If he wanted her forever, owning it would be the only way.

  He had to remind her of why she should say yes. Every thrust he gave her was meant to do just that, but not because he wanted her hanging in a web of desire only he could unweave. She had to see that no one else would worship her the way he did.

  Whatever she decided, he would have to accept, but he’d fight for his chance to convince her until the end. Five rounds of mind-blowing sex should be sufficient enough. And if not, there was always the chance she could change her mind before he left.

  He’d hold on to that thought, regardless of what the odds told him.

  * * *

  Time was the enemy. Theo realized that fact the minute he woke this morning and found Cassie in his arms. He knew this moment would come, the one where he had to release her. He couldn’t keep her locked up in his room all day and night no matter how tempting the thought might be. At least the separation was temporary. Come evening, they’d be together again.

  The glass cooled his skin as he pressed his forehead to the window and stared toward the street. Cassie was opening the back door of a cab. He didn’t miss the way she peeked over her shoulder and smiled toward the hotel before she ducked inside and closed it.