“But that’s how musicians make money now,” I counter, forcing myself to be realistic, no matter how much I want to drag him to the bed and show him how thrilled I am to be his dream all night long. “I know streaming services and pirating have cut into artists’ ability to make a living. And record sales aren’t anything close to what they used to be and no one—”
“All of that is true,” he says, still grinning like there isn’t a cloud on our horizon as he links his hands together at the small of my back, making my nipples tighten as they brush against his chest. “But I have money. A lot of money. Profit isn’t my top priority right now. If it were, I wouldn’t have left a successful band that does very well for itself. I just want to make music I believe in. Music that’s uniquely mine and nobody else’s.”
“And to share it with other people,” I challenge. “That’s a part of it, you know it is. It’s like the tree in the forest. If an album drops and no one listens, did the album drop at all?”
His expression sobers. “The album dropped. The music is still there, and no one can take that away. But, yes, sharing the music is part of the process, and I will have to do some touring if I want people to keep listening. But you and the baby can come with me. We’ll get two buses. One for me, you, and the kids. One for the band and the full-time roadies.”
“The kids,” I echo, throat so tight I can barely get the words out. “That sounds…” I swallow hard. “You have no idea how wonderful that sounds, but what if it isn’t that easy? What if being on the road with young children is stressful and exhausting? What if I’m unhappy and you’re unhappy, and our only choice is to live separate lives while you’re on tour?”
“Then I’ll stop touring,” he says, meeting my doubtful gaze with a certain one. “But I think that’s a decision that can wait until we get to that bridge, don’t you? There’s no need to borrow trouble from tomorrow, not when today is so good.” He beams down at me. “I love you, and you love me. How amazing is that?”
I bite my bottom lip, but Zack shakes his head. “No. This isn’t the time to stress.” Lifting a hand, he gently tugs my lip from between my teeth, the feel of his guitar string-calloused fingers on my mouth making my pulse beat faster. “Now is the time to celebrate,” he adds in a deeper voice. “I don’t think I’ve ever wanted you more than I do right now. I want to be inside you so badly, Cee.”
He shifts his hips forward, pressing his erection against my hip. Instantly, my blood rushes faster and tingles race across my skin, but I refuse to let my body call the shots right now. It’s too dangerous.
“We should use a condom,” I say as he backs me toward the bed. “We’re not finished with this conversation. We shouldn’t risk getting pregnant again until we are.”
He steps away from me so fast that I feel the loss of his heat like someone dumped a bucket of ice water over my head.
“Fine, then we’ll finish the conversation first.” His gaze rakes up and down my body, making my nipples bead even tighter beneath my tee shirt. “Then I’m going to undress you with my teeth, kiss every irresistible inch of you, and take you bare. I haven’t come this far to turn back now, beautiful. I’m coming inside you tonight. So deep inside you.”
My breath shudders out, and the ache between my legs intensifies until the hunger almost hurts. “That’s not playing fair.”
“I’m not here to play games. I’m here to convince you it’s over.”
I blink, confused.
“Your search for the father of your children,” he adds, making my heart flutter again. “It’s going to be me, whether we make them together or end up adopting or both. I’m all in. I want a family with you.”
Tears fill my eyes, blurring his handsome face as he steps closer. “I want that, too, but—”
“No buts,” he says, and then he kisses me, his lips warm and gentle against mine, coaxing, inviting, until I forget everything but how good it feels to be this close to him.
Until I know that everything is going to be okay.
Until there isn’t a doubt in my mind that we’ll find our way.
With love like this, how can we go wrong?
Chapter Twenty-Four
Zack
I’m so relieved I’m vibrating with it, my arms trembling as I guide Colette to the bed. When the back of her knees hit the mattress, she pulls her lips from mine. As her palms skim up my arms to my shoulders, she whispers, “You’re shaking.”