Page 24 of Fractured Dreams

Later, as Tex rode his motorcycle back to Noah’s house, he thought about what Lexie had said. Could he see a future with Eden? There was something there that was for sure. But was it enough to risk his friendship with Noah, possibly even the future of the band if Noah was really pissed? The drummer came across as easygoing, and for the most part he was. But there were some things he took very seriously, like trust and loyalty, and Tex had seen firsthand what happened when he lost faith in those things. Noah had made clear his thoughts on Eden dating a musician, would he make an exception if that musician were Tex, or would that make it worse?

Tex’s mind was still in turmoil when he got back to the house. He was both dreading and looking forward to seeing Eden, his feelings still conflicted, but knowing that after that morning his control when it came to her was rapidly disintegrating. He wanted her, and even with all the reasons it was a bad idea, he didn’t know how long he’d be able to resist now that he’d had a taste. Didn’t know if he even wanted to resist anymore.

Tex looked around for her when he got inside, but he could tell she wasn’t there. Relieved he didn’t have to make a decision about what to do right then, he decided to cool off with a swim. After changing into swim shorts in his room, he grabbed his guitar on his way out to the pool, putting it down on one of the loungers before diving into the crystal-clear water.

He swam a few laps; then, physically refreshed, if not mentally, climbed out and sat down on the lounger to dry off. The sun had started to set, and as he watched it make its fiery descent into the water, he picked up his guitar and let his mind wander the same way his fingers were wandering over the strings. He let his thoughts drift where they would, and it wasn’t long before they drifted to Eden. To the guileless blue of her eyes, the curve of her lips when she smiled, the angle of her jaw, the sound of her laugh, her expression when she played the violin, her expression after he’d kissed her…

The random chords he’d been playing morphed into the melody he’d been working on for a few days now. As he played, he added notes and modified the arrangement slightly, to match his current mood. His mind focused in on what he was doing, committing the evolving melody to memory so he could recall it when he had a chance to write it down.

Tex’s mind cleared as he channeled his emotions through the strings of the guitar. Losing himself in the music, he kept his eyes fixed on the horizon as the sun painted it in purples and golds.

Chapter 14

Eden opened the front door of the house, immediately looking around for Tex. His motorcycle was parked in the driveway, so he must have returned from his practice session.

Butterflies beat hard in her stomach as she wandered through the house. She’d spent way too long that morning debating with herself, deciding if what she was craving was worth the risk. Unable to stand being in the house a minute longer, she’d gone for a drive, letting the hum of the car and the view along the coast soothe her frazzled nerves. Eventually stopping at a secluded beach, she’d gotten out and spent some time simply walking with her feet in the cool water as she tried to work out what she should do.

Her hunger for Tex this morning had been nearly overwhelming, as if sheneededhim—needed something only he could give her. And obviously he’d felt it too, or something like it anyway. But they both knew that blurring the lines of their relationship with sex would be a risk, and he’d be risking more than she would. Noah might be angry if he found out they’d done something, but she was his sister—he’d forgive her. She didn’t know if it would be the same for Tex. She’d like to think Noah wouldn’t overreact, if he ever even found out at all that was, but she couldn’t say for sure.

Still, something had flared to life between her and Tex the minute they were alone together. Her body had burned for him when he’d touched her, kissed her. She’d be leaving in a couple of months and she had no idea whether, by the time she saw him again, he might have gone back to thinking of her as just Noah’s little sister. This might be her only chance to know what it would be like to be with him, to have him touch her again, to show her exactly how good it could be.

And who said Noah ever had to find out? It was only her and Tex in the house; no one to witness what they did or didn’t do with each other. Neither of them would tell. And if it were only a one-time thing, just to give them both what they needed and get rid of the tension between them, then perhaps they could even go back to being friends afterward. Maybe by the time Noah got back, everything would have returned to normal.

She’d have to make sure Tex knew she wasn’t going to expect anything more from him, though; that she wouldn’t try to make more of it than it was. That she understood it was only physical, and he didn’t have to worry about her clinging on and making things awkward for him afterward. She was an adult, and if she knew going into it that it was going to be just sex, then she was confident she’d be able to keep her emotions out of it.

Having come to a decision, Eden turned and made her way back to the car. Now she had to get Tex to see past her being Noah’s sister. To see her as just a woman, like any of the many other women that would give anything to touch him—to have him touch them. She wasn’t sure how she was going to do it, but she’d find a way.

And right then, standing by the back door watching him play his guitar by the pool as the sun set, Eden knew that it was now or never. That if she let this moment pass, she might not muster up the courage again. She let herself admire him for a minute longer, her eyes lingering on the broad expanse of his back, his muscular biceps, his smooth, tanned skin covered in inky black lines that moved with the flexing of his muscles.

Eden’s heart began to pound. Was she actually going to do it? Risk him rejecting her again the way he had this morning. She had her answer when she kicked off her sandals, slid open the door, and stepped out.

The heat of the paving stones warmed the soles of her feet as she walked quietly over to him. He didn’t notice her straight away, and she let the melodic strains of the music wash over her as she stood behind him. Then, taking a deep breath, she stepped to his side.

Tex stopped playing as he registered her presence, turning to look up at her. The intensity of his gaze as he watched her, not saying anything, made her pulse race. She reached out and took the guitar from his hands, placing it carefully down on the ground next to the lounger.

Tex still said nothing, just continued to watch her, expression guarded.Now or never,Eden told herself, and reaching down to the hem of her dress, she dragged it up and over her head, dropping it on the floor at her feet and leaving her standing in front of him in only her lacy bra and panties.

Heat flared to life in Tex’s eyes, though his jaw clenched. Taking a deep breath, Eden put her knee on the side of the lounger next to his hip and straddled him, lowering herself onto his lap.

His eyes darkened. “Eden,” he growled. It sounded like a warning, but she didn’t think it was.

She rolled her pelvis against his and he swore and grabbed her hips as his own thrust up involuntarily, before his hands tightened, holding her immobile against him.

“Don’t tell me to stop, Tex,” she said. “Please, I need this. I need it fromyou. Just pretend I’m any other woman, it doesn’t have to be any more complicated than that.”

“But you’re not any other woman, Eden.” His voice was gritty, tense.

Her skin heated with embarrassment, tears of humiliation stinging her eyes. He wouldn’t—or couldn’t—see past her being Noah’s little sister. She blinked, trying to stop the tears from falling as she started to scramble off him. But before she could, Tex grabbed her chin and made her look at him, his gaze burning into hers. “That doesn’t mean I’m not gonna give you what you need,” he said, the rasp in his voice causing Eden’s whole body to clench in response. “So, what do you need, sweetheart?” His tone, dark and low, sent a bolt of heat straight to her core.

“You,” she breathed.

And that was all it took. He wove his fingers through her hair and yanked her down to him, taking her mouth in a fierce, demanding kiss. She whimpered, her fingers running over the muscles of his shoulders, his arms, his chest, stroking the smooth skin warmed by the setting sun.

Eden ground herself against the hard ridge of him through his shorts and he groaned low in his throat. He pulled his hands out of her hair and reached around her to undo the clasp of her bra, dragging the straps from her shoulders so it slipped off, then discarding it to the side.

She broke the kiss and sat back, heart pounding and hunger pulsing through her as she watched him looking at her, his whiskey-colored eyes darkening, pupils dilating as they took her in.

“You’re beautiful,” he said, cupping her breast and stroking his thumb over the taut peak of her nipple, the roughness of his guitar-string calluses sending a shiver coursing through her. Leaning forward, he took her into his mouth, and she moaned at the heat and suction as he plied her with tongue and teeth until she was panting, clutching him to her as her head fell back.

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