AllFreeNovel
Share Us
He pushes his chair back and paces around before placing his hands on the panel and staring out into the studio.
“You’re kidding yourself. The tatted, insult-slinging, Harley-riding badass is too scared to give this a try.” He says it to himself, turning around with an angry glare in his eyes.
“Fuck you, Navarone.” I’m glad Dad is busy talking to the guys and not able to overhear our exchange. I promised him I would behave.
“Right back at you,” he replies, crossing his arms. “I gave you space, gave you time. What do you want?” he asks, playing the pity card. Well, fuck him.
“I was doing fine on my own.” I focus on the whiteboard again and the songs we still have to record. “I can’t deal with this, having you here looking like—” I motion to his attire. Black jeans that cling to his tight ass, his washed-too-many-times Clash shirt with the holes in it that I gave him as a present. His tousled hair, his dark eyes boring right through me.
“Too hot for you?” A smug smile warms his face.
“You’re such a teenager.”
He chuckles at my response. “Fuck, Allie, can you look at me? I’m sorry for what happened at the strip club. But I’m not sorry for what happened at Sterling’s place, how I can still make you shiver like that.” Taking a seat.
“Let’s forget about that night, shall we?” I groan, pretending I didn’t make myself come late last night, thinking back to all the ways he made love to me.
“Is that what you want me to forget? To forget the way you bucked under my touch? The way you moaned when I slipped my fingers inside of you?” Sitting forward, he continues, “The way you screamed my name when you came? You’re full of shit. The one lying here is you.”
Facing him, I hope the look in my eyes will make him pull back. But then I remember he is never a man to turn away.
“I’m not there yet. And the truth is, I don’t know if I ever will be again,” I say, staring at my dad sitting behind Paulie’s drum kit, twirling a stick in his hand, explaining to him what he wants to hear.
Navarone leans back, his fit-to-perfection jeans straining around his strong thighs. Brushing both hands through his hair, he sighs. “So let’s start over again. Let’s start the fuck over.” There is not a doubt in his voice.
I give him an incredulous look. “Start over?” I hesitate, not sounding like my normal confident self. I peek up when I hear a scratch of Sterling’s guitar and all the guys laugh in response. Navarone’s mouth hikes up a little, gazing at his band brothers.
My palms are sweating. Having him sitting this close to me brings back memories, some good and a lot bad. His scent reaches my nose: sweat mixed with pine and motor oil. Weird. The first thing that comes to mind is Grandpa’s house in the woods.
I’ve decided with pain in my heart that it isn’t possible to buy the house. My cheeks heat when I think about living with Rone and making it our home, writing songs and raising kids together. I catch myself smiling, and I shake my head.
“What’s that smile?” he asks, nodding to Sterling who whistles for him to get back into the action.
I cover my mouth with my hand. “Nothing,” I say, my voice croaking.
What to tell him? The way he smells brings back memories? Like I’m a teenager again, hoping for a perfect happily ever after.
“Were you thinking about us, babe?” He waggles his eyebrows, a naughty smile shining through.
“No,” I counter.
The look in his eyes tells me he knows I’m lying. He leans into me, his mouth an inch away from my ear. Then he growls before turning his head toward me, reaching out to grab the back of my head, and I melt into his touch.
His breath ghosts across my lips when he says, “Face it, Alice, we ain’t done.” And he lets me go.
“We are,” I blurt out, my eyes widening when I catch his familiar scent, making my mouth water.
Standing, he runs his tongue along his plump bottom lip. “Stop lying to yourself,” he says, and I’m lost for words. He reaches out, brushing a stray lock behind my ear, his fingers lingering on my cheek.
I breathe in a lungful of air when I’m on eye level with his crotch and see him straining against his zipper. The currents move up my body and my cheeks flame knowing I still have this effect on him.
Dad breaks the spell when he and the guys walk back into the control room. Immediately Navarone takes a step back, leaving me sitting alone like nothing has happened.
As he goes over the latest song with the guys until deep in the night, I barricade myself in my office, still thinking about what Rone said when we left Vegas.
