He growled and rocked his hips into mine, the hot, hard length of him pressing at my belly. “I’ll show you where it fits.” Need poured through me like a waterfall, and Royce chuckled low. “Go to your room before I keep you here all day.”
“I like that idea better.”
He went soft, touching my cheek. “If you really want me, Precious? You need to wait. Wait until you’re sure. Until you really know who I am. That I won’t be a mistake.” The last was stern. Laced with bitterness.
I pushed my mouth up under his jaw, inhaling his scent, cedar and smoke and a vestige of me. “I don’t think that’s possible,” I murmured, “I don’t think I could regret experiencing a single thing with you.”
Tearing myself from him, I eased off the bed and forced myself to head for his balcony door.
Before I stepped out, I glanced back, my sight full of that sinful, mysterious man lying across his bed with a flare of morning light striking across his body.
Exquisite.
Devastating.
Before I ran back to him, I forced myself to step out into the rising day, shuffling on my bare feet back over to our shared wall.
I hoisted myself up so I could slide over it. The second my feet touched down on the other side, Royce was there faster than I could process it, leaning over the wall, a big hand splayed around the back of my head to tug me in for a mind-bending kiss.
That’s what being kissed by Royce Reilly felt like.
As if I’d been altered.
No longer the same.
Everything shifted around inside, shuffled in an outright disorder to settle into a newness where everything fit.
I pulled back with a smile, heat on my cheeks and hope in my belly. “I’ll see you in a little bit.”
“I can’t wait,” he said, watching me edge back across my balcony to the sliding door.
Finally, I tore myself away, spinning on my heel and racing into my room. I didn’t even take the time to look at my phone that still sat on the nightstand connected to the charger. I went right for the shower, turning it to hot, letting steam fill the room as I lifted my nightgown over my head.
For a second, I pressed it to my nose, relishing in his distinct smell that lingered there, wondering what direction we were heading.
I stepped under the spray, knowing wherever it was, I couldn’t wait to get there.* * *Thirty minutes later, I was showered and dressed. I didn’t wait for Melanie to pick out my outfit.
I was feeling too good and too free and too right, so I pulled on my favorite white dress and slipped on some strappy wedge heels.
I dried my hair and applied a small amount of makeup. I leaned away from my reflection to crane my ear when my phone started to go off with a string of messages from the other room.
Then it dinged with more.
I sped up a little to finish getting ready. Once I did, I moved into the main room, which was a junior suite this time, just like Royce’s next door. A couch and table were in the front portion and the bed was in the back without a wall to separate them.
Going for the nightstand, I grabbed my phone and swiped across the screen to find the group text.
Richard: Did everyone hear?Rhys: No, man. What’s up?Leif: ???Richard: Got some good fucking news.Rhys: Yeah?Rhys: Let’s hear it.Rhys: Don’t leave us hanging, asshole.Richard: Everyone meet in my room in two.By that time, five minutes had already passed, and there was a battering at my door before I heard a card sliding into the lock and the door unlatching. Melanie pushed her way through without an invitation.
“Oh my god,” she gushed as she flew inside.
Holding my phone in my hand, I turned my attention to her. “What’s going on? Richard said there’s good news.”
She skidded to a stop in the middle of the room. My best friend vibrated with excitement. “Richard got a call from Karl Fitzgerald this morning. He’s procured a spot for Carolina George to perform at the ACB Awards this weekend if you sign! Oh my god . . . the ACB Awards!” she shrieked. “Can you believe it?! I guess something happened with one of the bands that were supposed to be performing, Fitzgerald called, and boom. He’s making good on his promises to make y’all superstars.”
The ACB Awards were the premiere country music awards. Marrying country and pop and rock. It gave the Super Bowl audience a run for its money.
She took a surging step toward me and grabbed me by both hands, giving them a fierce tug. “This is big, Em. So big. Everything y’all have been dreamin’ of. Can you imagine it? Up on that stage. God, I have to find you something amazin’ to wear. Oh crap. Crap, crap, crap. We don’t have a lot of time.”