Page 102 of The Drummer's Heart

“That was the point, though. And it’s probably better that you didn’t. It would’ve affected your performance.”

“Absolutely, it would’ve. Especially back then.” I exhaled. “But I can guarantee that while you were up in the nosebleeds, I was thinking of you. Because I’ve never played a song when you haven’t crossed my mind at some point. Even when I was mosthurt over us, nothing ignited the passion inside of me like you. At my best and at my worst, I play for you. Just like those days in the basement when you watching from that couch made me feel like the king of the world.”

She threaded her fingers through my hair. “Well, now you know my little secret.”

I buried my head in the crook of her neck, taking in a long, slow breath. Knowing this woman was pregnant with my baby made me absolutely feral for her.

I tugged at her shirt. “Can you take this off? I want to see you.”

She slipped the shirt over her head. Tossing it aside, she unsnapped her bra, displaying her gorgeous breasts. Her nipples were three shades darker than the last time I’d seen them.

I ran my tongue over my bottom lip. “These nipples…”

“I know. They’re huge and darker.”

“I love it.” I circled my fingers over one of them before tracing the line on the skin of her stomach. “Look at you with this baby inside of you. I’ve never seen you so beautiful, and I still can’t believe this is real. I’ll never deserve this.” I ran my tongue along her nipple, then kissed down to her stomach. “This is why I needed to leave the tour. Look at everything I was missing.”

“Well, now you don’t have to leave.” She massaged my scalp.

I looked up at her. “What changed? I know it wasn’t just the chemicals in the salon…”

Nicole sat up on her elbows. “I’m fortunate that I have a job I can always go back to, clients who have stuck with me through the years. It hit me that I’ll never get this time with you again. I have no way of knowing whether this is the only pregnancy I’ll have. We’re not guaranteed anything in life. I just felt like I needed to come.Wantedto. And that means putting aside my fears about tour life.” She grinned. “I never imagined you were on your way to me.”

I rested my head on her chest and placed my hand on her stomach.

“Oh my God.” She jumped.

“What?” I lifted my head, afraid I’d hurt her.

“I think I felt our baby move.”

“Really?”

“It’s too early for you to see it move, I think. But I definitely felt something.”

“Our kid is happy we’re finally together, maybe?”

She giggled. “He just did it again. Your baby likes to kick.”

I rubbed my hand over her skin. “Maybe he’s drumming…”

CHAPTER 35

NICOLE

A couple of days later, when everyone went down to the arena for a sound check before the show, I let Atticus know I’d be heading back to the bus to take a nap. Being pregnant made me tired.

The bus was empty when I got there. It was probably the only time I’d ever been on it all by myself. I was just about to get under the covers in the back bedroom when I realized the door was still open a crack. But after I got up to lock it, I heard voices.

There was a peephole on the bedroom door, which I’d always found odd, but it was very convenient at the moment. I peeked through, and my pulse calmed when I realized it was Ronan.

His back was to me. “I only have a few minutes,” he said to someone—I couldn’t see who. “I told them I needed a break and I’d be right back.”

“You lied and came to find me? Sounds pretty desperate,” a female voice replied.

“Iamdesperate for you. You’re right.”

Then came the sound of lips smacking.

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