Page 81 of Dirty Rock

“Like a mad man.”

“Raving. Lunatic.”

“He said you told him you wanted me back.”

“Yup.” I just grinned at her, toothy and bright.

“You’re changing, Reckless Rhett.” She beamed back at me. “I may have to take full credit for this growth.”

I smirked and glanced down at my obvious erection poking through the thin hotel duvet. “You can take full credit for another growth first.”

With a laugh, she pushed against my chest and knocked me back until she was able to straddle my waist and press her hands upon my chest.

I ran my rough palms over her smooth thighs and stared up at her. “No more shirking your responsibilities. I.e. Me. No more leaving those who matter. I.e. Me. No more—”

“Yeah, yeah, I’m back. Back and ready to show you who’s boss.”

My hips rose and fell beneath her. “Oh, I know who’s boss. I just happen to have her dick-whipped already, so technically, I’m in charge. This boss of mine should really catch up.”

“If you weren’t so handsome and adorable, I’d fight back, but I like what I’m looking at right now and feel like my energy should be poured into that.”

“Give me all you’ve got, baby,” I said with a grin. “I’m ready for it.”

“Are you sure? It isn’t going to be easy keeping this from the others.”

“Stick with me. You’ll be surprised what secrets I can keep to myself.”

“Feels weird being so secretive, though. Makes me feel like a rebel.”

“Does being bad turn you on?”

“More than you can imagine.” She wiggled her brows.

“Then let’s be really, really, really bad together.”

“We’ll be the worst.”

“So awful.” I scrunched my face up and began to push her against my erection, giving us both a sense of friction that wasn’t nearly close to being enough. “Maybe you should go find yourself a good guy instead. Stay away from the devil.”

“I like the devil. He and I dance well together.”

* * *

Julia and I spent two days in that hotel room, doing everything and nothing. Do you know how intoxicating it is to do everything and nothing with someone you trust and admire? Someone you respect. Someone you actually fucking care about.

Sex seemed to reach a higher level with someone who mattered. Food tasted better. Laying around was no longer boring but a thrill. Not knowing when she was going to wake me to be intimate, or when she was going to let me sleep—really sleep—and enjoy this utterly foreign feeling of peace.Room service, which I used to hate because it made me feel trapped, was suddenly the best thing on the damn planet because it meant we didn’t have to get dressed or leave the four walls we’d locked ourselves inside of.

Thiswas a prison sentence I could handle.

While Julia built herself up to make phone calls to the other guys, I busied myself by writing out lyrics and creating new songs as much as I could. I’d never flowed as much as I did while sitting around wearing only boxer shorts, while she walked around the place in my T-shirts—the grey being her favourite. Her little arse cheeks peeking out from under the edge. Her toned thighs on display.

Apparently, Jules was into yoga and would busy herself with something called the downward dog or some crazy bollocks like that, while I sat back and watched her mould herself into all sorts of poses. She could bend herself backwards, do a handstand that would last for an age, and she never once broke a sweat while she worked those perfect muscles of hers.

All that time we’d spent together over the years…

How little I’d truly seen her.

She spoilt me with her kisses. She ran her hands over my abs constantly. She told me off for smoking too much. She rubbed my shoulders as she sat behind me in the chairs, letting me write and write and write and write. I’d sing her the lyrics along with a melody I had in mind, and she’d listen with no judgement, telling me where she thought Presley, Hawk, Big D, and Coops would fit in.

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