I’m close. So freaking close. I switch up my movement slightly when a muffled groan sounds from above. Yes! That’s all I need. Knowing Leighton can’t keep quiet as he finds his release pushes me to chase my own. My pulse speeds, my skin beads with sweat, and all at once I break apart. Soaring. Flying, as my muscles spasm with pleasure. Before I come down from my orgasmic high, I reach for my phone and type out a message.
Me: Thank you! Now I can finally sleep!
His deep chuckle sounds from above.
Leighton: Speak for yourself. I made a mess.
Me: I’d help you clean up, but . . .
He groans aloud and it’s all I can do to keep from letting loose a giggle. I let a smile of satisfaction paint my lips as I type out one final reply.
Me: Good night.
I plug in my phone and turn onto my side, curling into a satiated mess of heavy limbs. My eyelids drift shut, the thrum of the bus easing me to sleep now that I’m not wrestling unquenched lust. There’s a shuffle overhead and Leighton’s feet hit the floor a second later. The sleep partition enclosing my bunk slides open just enough for his head to push inside my space.
He presses his lips to my forehead. One chaste kiss and he whispers, “Sweet dreams.”
Before I can reply he’s back out and the partition shuts, cloaking me in the dark with the warmth of his sincerity. How does he manage it? The sexy and the sweet. It’s enough to steal a girl’s heart, but he’s already done that with mine. As I drift to sleep, the grin on my lips stays put, and I can’t help but believe I’m the luckiest woman in the world.
* * *
The next morning,I roll out of bed and rub the sleep from my eyes to find everyone else still passed out. This last week’s schedule has been grueling. We’ve been all over the east coast, hitting big towns and a few music festivals, too. Tonight the guys headline the show in Philly, then tomorrow it’s back up to NYC for a show at Madison Square Garden. But that’s not all. Saturday they’ve been invited as the musical guests on The Tonight Show. The guys are stoked, both because it checks off one of their band bucket list items, but also because we get two nights off the road to stay in hotel suites.
It’s all Trent can talk about because Lexi will be joining us. My sister’s last show is tomorrow and she’s taking a flight out the day after to meet us in New York. Sean and Austin have been teasing Trent relentlessly. Apparently, he really needs to get laid.
After last night I can’t help but hope Leighton wants to go all the way with me. I shake my head and open the fridge. That’s ridiculous. Of course he does. With a bounce in my step and a smile on my face, I whip up the breakfast of all breakfasts. Pancakes. Bacon. Eggs. The aroma of food pulls the guys from their slumber and I happily dish up plates for everyone. After I flip the final pancake, I join them at the table with a cup of coffee. I’ll get a plate in a minute, but for now it’s satisfying to sit and sip.
“Hey, Opal?” Sean tips his chin across the table.
“Yeah?”
“Trent and I were talking last night. We came up with the perfect way to surprise Lexi about the guitar and your song writing.”
I bite my lip and press my thumbs against the warm ceramic mug. I’m still nervous about playing for my sister. I don’t know why, other than she’s a freaking genius when it comes to songwriting and music. What if I suck? What if my song is bad? Though I doubt the guys would let me make a fool of myself if they didn’t think I was ready. “Oh?”
“Yeah, when Lex meets up with us for sound checks we won’t say a thing. Just pick up my guitar and start playing. We’ll all join in. It’ll blow her mind.”
A grin pulls at my lips as I visualize the shock on my sister’s face. It’s a good plan. “Yeah, I like that. Thanks, Trent.”
“She’ll love it.” He winks.
I nod and catch Leighton’s puzzled stare from the corner of my eye. Crap. He has no clue Lexi is my sister, but how’s that gonna go once she’s here twenty-four-seven. Not to mention the fact I want to sleep with the man! I drop my gaze and blow out a shaky exhale. I have to tell him. I will. I can’t imagine keeping such a big secret from him, not if we’re together intimately.
My cell pings with a message. It’s from their publicist at Off Track Records so I pull it up immediately. I scroll the details and my eyes bulge wide with the news.
“Everything okay?” Leighton says from across the table.
“Oh, my! Oh!” My gaze darts to his and I practically jump up and down in my seat as I try to get the words out. “Rolling Stonemagazine!” I stare at Trent, then Sean and Austin. “They want you! This is big, right? Really freaking big?” I shove my phone into Trent’s face.
“Fuck, yes!” He scans the email, eyes wide and mouth gaping. I don’t know much about the music industry, but I do know this isn’t some everyday occurrence. “The front cover. They want to give us the fucking front cover. Oh, my God! Yes, Opal. This is really freaking big.”
“Tell me you aren’t fucking with us.” Austin, normally unshakable, stares wide-eyed and open-mouthed.
“Check your email, Gray Bush.” Trent hands my phone back and then slaps Austin’s back. “We’re all cc’d on the email. Tomorrow before the show at Madison Square we’re spending the afternoon with Rolling-fucking-Stone Magazine.”
“What do I wear? Fuck, I don’t even know what to wear.” Austin’s eyes go a little wild and he pushes to his feet.
“I’ll message Kelli and Stu right now,” I say, and tap on my text messages, happy to be helpful. I catch sight of another I received last night, part of a thread from a certain sexy drummer. It only shows the first few words, but they’re enough to make me blush.I can’t believe we did that.
