Myfingers tangled into her out-of-control hair as my eyes found hers. “Whyshouldn’t it be you?”
Herhand splayed over my chest with the tip of her pointer finger gently rockingback and forth against one of my piercings. She knew that drove me crazy, butthat wasn’t her intent now. This was absentminded, not meant to arouse, and Iswallowed a moan.
“Idunno,” she replied with a soft shrug. “I guess in myhead I’m still just some unknown girl from Texas. It’s weird that people knowmy name, or the words to my songs. I mean, before, when I’d be with a guy, Iwas lucky if Hank remembered his name. Buteverybodyknows who I’m with now. It’s just …” She shrugged, a small, wistful smile onher lips. “It’s surreal.”
Iunderstood what she meant, and I nodded. “Yeah, it is.”
Hermouth curved into a gentle frown. “Can I ask you a question?”
“Ofcourse.”
Shehesitated and bit her lip before asking, “Why didn’t you talk about your ex tothe public much?”
It’dbeen nearly two months since Ali and I had broken up, and with the excitement Ifelt for my relationship with Molly, I hadn’t given my life before her muchthought. Now, with that mention, I furrowed my brow and considered thequestion.
“Rememberwhen we first startedhangin’ out again, and you, uh,so delicately mentioned that she and I weren’tgoin’anywhere?” I twirled a curl around my finger and smirked.
Mollywinced apologetically. “Yeah, I guess I didkindasaythat.”
Inodded. “I didn’t like the questions or criticisms I got whenever she wasmentioned.” I scoffed and gestured toward the door. “Hell, these assholes likedto tease me on a pretty regular basis aboutputtin’ aring on her finger, and I never liked to admit that it washer, not me.”
“Youwere embarrassed.”
Noddingonce more, I answered, “Yes.”
“Butyou’re not embarrassed to say you’re with me?” Her insecurities rarely came tothe surface, but every now and then, they reared their ugly heads. I was alltoo glad to push them down again, with the hope that one day they’d drown.
“Darlin’,I’d be a fucking idiot to be embarrassed of this.” I nudged her lips closer tomine and kissed her.
“Chad.”She hummed contentedly, moving her hand to the side of my face. “We’re supposedto be getting ready and we’ve been in here for a while,” she whispered.“They’regonnastart wondering.”
Achuckle rumbled through my chest as I coiled my fingers tighter into her hair.“They’re notwonderin’.”
“Butwe have to get ready …” She was speaking in protests, but her body screamedcompliances. Her leg lifted and slid over mine, and without breaking the sealof our lips, she straddled my waist.
“Wait,I thought we had to get ready.” I laughed between kisses, sliding my hands toher hips, as her wild hair curtained around us and my body seemed to find itsway into hers. My groan was strangled in my throat, shushed by her mouth, andshe giggled, rocking her hips against mine.
“Quiet,”she whispered, and slid her tongue between my lips, ensuring I remainedspeechless.
Inthe weeks we’d been together, I found that love making with Molly came with twosettings—desperation heavily pelted with aggression, or toothachingly sweet anddeliciously languorous. She knew exactly what she wanted and when, and I wasmore than eager to deliver, because she wanted it withme. There was no question about that, as her eyes remained openuntil the very last moment, when her lids shut against her will and everythread of her composure frayed under the weight of passionate undoing.
“Fuckinghell, Molls,” I whispered, wrapping my words around another groan, as I watchedhead tipped back through hooded eyes. The dark, wild mess of her hair spilledover and her hands grasped for her breasts. My own pleasure was nearlyforgotten as I took her in, using my body to meet her own needs. It was hard tobelieve this was the same woman who didn’t want me to turn the light on thatfirst night. This woman above me was now uninhibited in every definition of theword, and I couldn’t help but wonder if she’d ever been like this with anyoneelse. If she’d ever been this comfortable, this in control.
Muffledvoices neared the thin door separating us from the bus’s hallway. My gazedarted toward the doorknob to make sure it was locked.
“O-oh, Chaddington,” Sebastian chidedteasingly from the other side, rapping his knuckles against the door.“Tick-tock, tick-tock, Baby Bear.”
Mollywhined a little moan before whispering, “Make him go away.”
“Holdon a second,” I called out, then pulled myself up, pressed my chest to hers,and whispered into her ear, “Gottamake it quick,darlin’.”
Withthe suggestion, she shifted gears and began to move with precise determination.She kissed me hard, stole my tongue with her own, and lifted, dropped, liftedher hips until my groans were sliced with the whimpers of her own release. Justlike that, and just as quickly, she climbed off the bed and hurried around theroom, collecting her clothes for tonight’s show. I could only flop back againstthe pillows and watch her with sudden astonishment that she, in all herconfident glory, was somehow here withme.My eyes hooded, recalling the wish I’d made months ago on the night of mythirtieth birthday. To find happiness. To find security. To find love. I hadwished and assumed Ali would be the vessel to make it all come true, but then …there was Molly.
“What’sthat look for?” she asked with a giggle, as she reached around to secure herbra.
Ishook my head as a smile stretched over my lips. “Nothin’.Just …” I swallowed at the warmth crowding my heart and my lungs. “You’re mybest friend.”
Shetugged a tank top on and sighed, her exhale lingering in the air. “You’remine.”
