Surviving (Surrender 2)
Our hotel bar is still open when we get back, and we have one more drink before splitting up to our rooms. All I cared about was falling into bed with Raven next to me, naked.
Chapter 33
Launch Party
Raven
I’m glad I worked so hard the last few weeks in school because, after today, I’m done until January. I secretly think Mike and Declan arranged the launch party for tonight knowing my semester was over.
MJ Labels rented out the back room of a restaurant for the party tonight. He’s expecting over one hundred people throughout the night. He extended invitations to our friends, families, bloggers, MJ employees, and other local music executives.
The article in the Tennessean came out on Tuesday, and the response was astounding. Amber, Jay and even Mike were fielding calls like crazy. Amber and I scheduled a meeting tomorrow afternoon to put together a calendar for upcoming interviews and possible radio appearances.
There’s only an hour for me to get ready, so I run through the house screaming my greeting on my way to the shower. I’m bent over shaving my legs when his hands circle my hips pulling me into him.
“Sweetheart, we don’t have time. My exam ran late.”
“Shhh, baby we have all the time we want. They’re not going to do anything without us there. And besides, I knew you’d be late, so we actually have two hours.”
I give him a dirty
look but then grin. He really does know me. Without saying a thing, he picks me up and lowers me onto him. He makes love to me slowly massaging my ass in rhythm to his strokes. We keep our foreheads pressed together staring into each other’s eyes. When my stomach drops and I feel the familiar release starting, I squeeze him to let him know that, I’m close. He must sense it because he moves faster, and we scream out at the same time.
Still holding me tight he turns me back to the hot water spray and sets me on my feet. I tremble a little but hold onto him for support.
“What was that about?”
“Do I need to have an excuse to make love to my fiancée?”
“No, but that was unexpected.”
“Two reasons: one, we always celebrate the end of your semesters. You ran by so fast, you missed the champagne I have chilling; two, tonight is quite possibly going to change our life, and I needed to start it out right.”
There are no words, so I smile and finish my shower. While I’m drying my hair, Declan comes back into the bathroom with two flutes of champagne. The sight of him makes my heart race and puts butterflies in my stomach. His grey slacks and black button down mold to his body. He’s decided to keep a small amount of scruff on his face most of the time.
I bought a dress specifically for tonight with a pair of killer heels. The dress is ruby red and gathers on the sides with rhinestones. The shoes are black and red print with a spike heel. I purposely keep them hidden until we’re ready to get in the truck. When Declan turns on the alarm, I slide them on my feet and pull on my coat.
“Sweet Jesus, where did those come from?” he hisses.
“They’re new.”
“I know that but where were they thirty minutes ago?”
“Come on you horny man, we have a party to get to.”
“You think you’re sly, but I already have images of later tonight that include you naked, those shoes and a blindfold.”
He leads me to the truck as I quiver at the thought.
*****
The hostess leads us to the back room where a huge crowd has already formed. Declan’s dad and my parents are at a table and Mike, Robbie, and the rest of Sayge at the bar. Someone comes by and takes our coats, and we walk towards our families first.
Our parents hug us and tell Declan repeatedly how excited and proud they are. Mike joins us and goes over the small agenda again. I roll my eyes because tonight is embedded in my brain, and I shared with the guys until they memorized it.
We chit chat for a few minutes until dinner is announced. We find a spot to sit with Cooper and his family. Whereas Cooper’s image screams ‘rock n roll’ in every sense of the terms, his parents scream ‘conservative.’ Robbie joins us with Tripp. And they dominate the conversation arguing once again about some sporting event.
There’s a flash of blue at the door but then someone steps directly in my vision. I scoot back and gasp. Ember is standing in the doorway looking around nervously. She is stunning in a deep blue cocktail dress and silver heels. She wore her hair down in soft waves. I jump up and whisper to Declan to save the last seats at the table. He sees her too and raises his eyebrows.