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“Mine,” he mutters against my neck. “Mine.”
God, I love the way he claims me in moments like this. As if he’s leaving his mark on me, warning off anyone else that might dare even give me a look.
It’s sexy as fuck.
“Go over.” He bites my shoulder, just the way he knows I love, and I quiver around him. “Damn it, go the fuck over, Sidney.”
I couldn’t stop if I wanted to.
And I definitely don’t want to.
I cry out, and he covers my mouth with his hand to keep me quiet.
That’s only hotter.
And when we’re both spent and recovered, he lowers me to the ground and grins.
“Thank God for condoms,” I say, breath still heaving. “Because otherwise, I’d have a mess on my hands.”
“I kind of like the idea of you walking around with me inside of you,” he says with a shrug.
“No. That’s a mess. And I’m in a short skirt. No thanks.”
He just snickers, tucks himself away, and before he opens the door, he leans in to kiss me, soft this time.
“I love you.”
My heart flutters with those three little words, and I can’t help but wrap my arms around his neck and hold on tight.
“I love you, too.”
“It’s damn early,” I grumble as I reach over to answer my ringing cell. “Why are you calling me at seven in the damn morning, Annie?”
“It’s nine here,” she replies easily. “Wake up. I need you to be with it for this conversation.”
“Then you should have called two hours from now.”
I sit up and wipe the sleep from my eyes. Keaton walks into the room with a mug of coffee for me.
“Thank you,” I mouth to him and take a sip. “Okay, what’s going on?”
“That song you put out on social media? ‘Little Miss’?”
“Yeah?”
“It’s blown up big time and caught the attention of everyone in Nashville. Babe, we’re getting calls from all the labels, including the assholes who let you go.”
“Wow, that’s great.” Awake now, I walk to the foot of the bed and slip on Keaton’s T-shirt, then to the dresser to get some underwear. “Okay, I’m not naked anymore. I feel better about this conversation.”
“That makes two of us. Honey, you’ve been invited to sing ‘Little Miss’ at the ACMs this Saturday in Dallas. Janelle Turner had to back out of the show because of a family emergency, and they want you to fill in.”
My gaze whips over to Keaton, who’s sitting on the bed, listening to every word.
“Wow, that’s awesome. Of course, I’d love to. I can do it.”
“Hell yes, you can. I’ll email you all the details. I’ll be in Dallas, as well, so we’ll talk more about contract offers when I can see you in person.”
“Wait.” I rub my hand down my face. “The popularity of songs doesn’t last forever, Annie. Should we move on this now?”
“I hear what you’re saying, but I think we can talk about it in a couple of days. I’ll have more information by then. Can you come to Dallas early on Friday so we can have some meetings then, before rehearsals?”
“Sure.”
“Great. Expect an email from me within the hour. Have a good day, Sid.”
And with that, she hangs up, and I just stare at Keaton.
“Shit’s happening,” he says with a soft smile.
“Yeah.” My stomach starts to jitter with butterflies. “I knew that song was a hit.”
“It’s a fucking fantastic song. Leo will be stoked.”
I nod and set my phone aside. “I’m going to ask you a question, and I probably already know the answer, but I have to ask anyway.”
His eyes sober, but he reaches for my hand.
“Will you please come with me?”
Keaton sighs and slowly shakes his head. “I support you, 100 percent. I know you’re going to kill it. But I can’t go with you, Sid. I’m sorry.”
“I understand.” It’s the truth. I really do understand. Keaton has some kind of horrible anxiety when it comes to this stuff, and the fact that we’re able to work this relationship out at all is a miracle. “Like I said, I had to ask.”
“I’m seriously proud of you,” he says and brings my hand up to his lips. “So fucking proud.”
“Thanks.” I grin and then do a little shimmy. “Do you think it’s too early to call Leo?”
“Probably. But you should do it anyway.”
Chapter 16
Keaton
“I don’t know what to wear,” Sid says with a deep sigh. “I didn’t know I was doing this, so I didn’t have time to have a dress made for it.”
“You don’t have anything that hasn’t been seen on TV or been photographed?” I ask her.
“I do, but they’re in Nashville. Wendy!”
She grabs her phone and starts talking a mile a minute when her housekeeper answers the phone. After a few minutes, Sid hangs up and grins at me.
“You’re a genius.”
“I didn’t do anything.”
“You gave me the idea to call Wendy. She’ll send a couple of things to Dallas for me to choose from. She’s overnighting them, so they should be at the hotel when I get there tomorrow. That works perfectly.”
