Out of Time (Face the Music Book 3) (14 page)

‘Do you drink on stage?’

He paused and lifted one eyebrow. ‘Not usually. It’s too damn hot so I drink water. Afterwards, though, a few beers are nice.’

‘I’m curious. You live in this alien world that most people never see.’

He laughed. ‘I’d never thought of it like that. It just is. At least you don’t think it’s all champagne and sleep-ins.’ He finished his scallops and placed his cutlery down neatly. ‘What have you been up to?’

‘Nothing really. Work …’ She didn’t want to go there. Not tonight.

Lines of tension formed around his eyes and he focussed on his wine. He took a drink as he battled with himself. His struggle was clear. He wanted to ask, but he didn’t want to bring death here. She knew whatever he decided she would honour.

Mike placed his glass down. ‘Did you go for any rides? I miss that when I’m on the road.’

She released the breath she’d been holding. She didn’t want ghosts hovering around them all the time. ‘I took a long one down the coast on Saturday and I thought of you. Didn’t think you’d make the distance,’ she teased.

‘You wait until I get some practise in. You’ll be chasing me.’

That was probably true. ‘I look forward to it.’

‘Me too.’ He was fiddling with the stem of his glass again. ‘It’s nice here, very sophisticated.’

She nodded. It was a little more than she’d been expecting. Most people were older. She leaned closer. ‘I feel like they let us in by accident.’

He sighed and smiled, the spark reaching his eyes. ‘Thank God it wasn’t just me thinking that. You’re enjoying sneaking into the fancy restaurant under false pretences?’

‘Yes.’ She looked at him. He didn’t smile enough. Not at the moment anyway. While he wasn’t boyfriend material according to her family, when she was with him she didn’t care what they thought. ‘Are we … is there a we? Is it horribly uncool to even talk about it?’

Was it just assumed or discussed? At what point were they dating? And if they were dating, was he only seeing her?

Mike glanced around the room. ‘I’m pretty sure we’re dating. I don’t take just anyone to fancy restaurants.’

Had she backed him into that by booking this place? But he’d said somewhere fancy. ‘Too much?’

‘No.’ He reached across the table and took her hand. His fingers were cool from where he’d been toying with his glass. ‘I would very much like to date you … I don’t need your father’s permission, do I?’

‘I don’t think he’d give it even if you asked.’

Mike pressed his lips together. He hadn’t taken out the lip ring. Every so often it caught the light. ‘I don’t want to get you into trouble.’

‘Ha. It wouldn’t matter who I saw. Besides, you are worth getting into trouble for.’

By the time they left the restaurant and were in the car, Ava had made up her mind. ‘Don’t take me home.’

He glanced at her. ‘You want to stay over?’

‘Do you want me to?’ Or was she asking too much? ‘Not to, you know.’

He nodded. ‘I figured that … with any other woman I would know what I was doing.’

Ava winced.

‘I didn’t mean that in a bad way. I’m liking the change of pace.’

‘Really?’ She found that hard to believe. He was used to getting laid and she was keeping him back.

‘Yeah, really.’ He placed his hand on her thigh. ‘Last chance to change your mind before I have to turn.’

She drew in a breath. ‘To your place.’

What was she doing?

‘I’ll drop you home in the morning.’

And she’d be doing the walk of shame in last night’s clothes. She’d never done that before. His hand was still on her leg and she was sure it was creeping higher. Her stomach tightened, but her blood was hot from the wine and his touch. She wanted him so badly she ached.

But there were some bridges she wasn’t ready to cross and burn.

***

Mike unlocked the front door. There was a TV on but the house was dark. Kirsten must be watching TV in bed. He was glad that he didn’t have to do the whole introduction thing. He didn’t want to be sharing Ava with anyone else tonight.

She was staying over.

And they weren’t having sex. But there were plenty of other things they could do, and he planned on doing them. She followed him into his room and closed the door.

His stomach tightened. There were the clothes he’d discarded on the floor. The suit jacket on the bed. He hadn’t planned on having a visitor.

‘Give me a moment and I’ll clean up.’

She grabbed his hand. ‘I don’t care about the clothes on the floor. We’re just going to add to them, right?’

‘Yeah.’ All of them?

She pulled off the waistcoat. ‘It can go on the floor?’

She could hang it on the ceiling fan if she wanted. ‘Sure.’

It fell from her fingers, then she started on his shirt, undoing the buttons far too efficiently.

He covered her hand. ‘There’s no rush.’

It would be nice to take his time for a change. He drew her close for a kiss. Licking her lip, dipping into her mouth so their tongues tangled and breathing lost importance. His hand skated over her hip to grip her butt. She wiggled against him, grinding against his erection.

He groaned. She was entirely too tempting. He had to behave. There was only one way he knew how to distract himself. He’d wanted her up against the wall the first time he’d seen her. He took a step, forcing her to go backwards. One more and her back was on the wall.

‘What are you doing?’ She frowned as he pulled back.

His hands skimmed down her body, over her hips, then he dropped to his knees. This wasn’t what he’d originally imagined but it was going to be pretty damn good.

‘Mike?’ Her fingers were in his hair.

‘Trust me … hands and mouth?’

She swallowed and nodded.

He reached under her dress and drew her panties down.

She stepped out of them. ‘Shoes?’

‘Nah, leave them on.’ That would be as sexy as hell.

‘Okay … how about …’ She reached behind and undid her dress. It slithered down her body, leaving her only in her bra and shoes.

His dick twitched and his balls tightened as he looked up at her. ‘That is … um … inspiring.’

‘Now will you take your shirt off?’ Her fingers caressed his cheek.

He could take his shirt off, but he wouldn’t trust himself if he took his pants off. Still on his knees, her pussy only inches from his face, he pulled off his shirt, not caring where it ended up. ‘Happy?’

Her lips curved. ‘Yes.’

He ran his hands up her calves, then her thighs. He took the time to kiss her leg, all the way up to her hip. He tasted her skin and drew circles with his tongue. Her legs trembled and he hadn’t even gotten close to tasting the slickness of her pussy. But he could smell her … and he was going to embarrass himself and come in his pants but he didn’t care.

Slowly he nuzzled his way closer, licked the crease of her thigh.

She whimpered and her nails pressed into his scalp.

Ah fuck, he couldn’t wait any longer.

He buried his face between her legs. His tongue thrusting past her wet folds and over her clit. She squeaked, but edged her legs further apart and rolled her hips forward. He pushed his shoulder forward so she had to hook her leg over his shoulder. The spike of her heel pressed along his back.

She was spread for him. All pink and slick and ready. Carefully, he eased one finger in.

‘Mmm.’ She rolled her hips, the heel of her shoe pressing into his back. ‘Another.’

He glanced up at her. Her lips were parted and her eyes were wide. Was there really any difference between two fingers and a cock? But he knew that there was. This was just play. She could claim that she hadn’t had sex.

His tongue circled her clit and he sucked as he inserted a second finger into her core.

A tremor ran through him and his balls tightened. Pre-cum seeped from his dick.

She gasped again, her breathing nothing more than short pants.

He sucked and flicked her clit with his tongue, determined to get her off before he went off. Her hips bucked and she gripped his hair hard as she came. Her moan swelling in his ears and driving him crazy. He thrust his tongue into her, tasting her as she trembled.

When he released her and eased her leg off his shoulder, he was breathing hard. He bit back on the desire to shed his pants and sink into her. He needed to step back.

He had to step back.

Mike rocked onto his heels and then stood. He looked away, not even trusting himself to look, but he was aware that she was moving, taking off her shoes and bra … totally naked. Her hand slid over his back, around his ribs and then lower, over his belly.

‘Don’t,’ he said, but didn’t try to stop her as her hand slid lower still.

Her fingers brushed his cock. ‘Don’t you want to come?’

He blew out a breath. She had no idea how close that was to happening. She was pressed against his back. Her hard nipples brushing his skin, her lips on his spine.

‘Keep doing that and I will.’ Despite the two layers of fabric between her hand and his dick, it was too much. More arousing than just dropping his pants and going for it.

This meant more, that was why.

He cared about her.

‘Where are the condoms?’

His heart almost stoped. ‘What?’

‘I can return the favour.’ She unzipped his fly.

Not sex … but she was offering a head job with a condom. Nope. ‘I’d rather feel your hand than rubber.’

‘That’s going to make a mess.’

He laughed. He couldn’t care less about that. She slid her hand into his briefs and wrapped her fingers around his length. His stomach tightened and all remaining blood rushed to his groin. Pre-cum slicked his skin. He closed his eyes; he was almost there.

‘Get the condom.’ She released him.

Fuck.
He stepped away, and out of his pants, yanked open the bedside table drawer and pulled one out. If he hadn’t confessed to being such a slut then she wouldn’t be being so careful. Yeah, and he’d feel worse about lying and it would come out eventually and she’d never trust him again.

She pulled down his briefs, freeing his dick, but she didn’t touch it. He tore open the packet and rolled it on. He wanted her. His finger curled. Then he took a step and flopped onto the bed. He tucked his hands behind his head so he didn’t try anything. She stood there for a moment, looking at him.

Did he measure up?

After a moment she joined him on the bed. She straddled his thighs as though she were about to sink on to him. He was not going to start hoping … but it was too late, the thought was there. Then she touched herself, her fingers slipping between the lips of her pussy, then that hand gripped his shaft.

She made slick, sure strokes. Her body moving in time. His dick was completely tricked as her grip tightened.

Ava leaned forward to kiss him. Their lips had barely touched before his climax ripped through him, tearing away coherent thought. He thrust into her hand a few more times as the rush traced over his skin.

He’d never had not-sex like that.

It was better than most of the sex he’d had over the last year.

She kissed him now, and he threaded his fingers into her hair. He was going to have to get up in a minute and deal with the mess. But for the moment he just wanted to enjoy being with her, instead of zipping and leaving like he had so many times.

Tonight, neither of them was going anywhere.

That meant they had all night.

Chapter 14

He almost hadn’t got on plane. After being home he didn’t want to leave again. He wanted to spend more time with Ava. But she was working and he had work to do. He’d been at the gate, they’d been doing the last calls, and he’d been standing there wondering what the hell he was doing. His mother was dying and he was leaving her. She’d been happy to see him, but he’d also seen the strain that talking to him had caused. When they’d called his name he’d finally boarded. The hostess had looked at him as though he wasn’t all there. He wasn’t. He was in pieces scattered all over the country. He had no idea what to do, only that he had to do something.

His mother wanted to hear the new album. She’d asked specifically this time, as though she could sense his reluctance. If he didn’t get on the plane he’d be letting everyone down.

Now he was in Melbourne, Mike was sure he shouldn’t have bothered. His head wasn’t in the right place and while no one had said anything, it was only a matter of time until they quit gritting their teeth and exploded.

If he had his bike here, he’d be throwing down his sticks and getting out. Nothing cleared the head like dodging cars. ‘Give me five.’

He walked away before they could say anything.

It wasn’t supposed to be this hard. This was something that he loved doing; he wanted this album done … didn’t he?

He paced up the corridors of the recording studio and raked his hand through his hair. Stalling on the album wouldn’t change anything. He knew that … and yet …

When he turned, Gemma was there.

‘You draw the short straw?’ He walked towards her as there was nowhere else to go and he’d never been big on running from a problem. Ignoring for a while, yeah. He did that frequently, until the truth was in his face and needing to be dealt with.

‘Nah, I don’t trust those two idiots not to make it worse.’

Mike almost managed a smile. Gemma the peacemaker. She could smooth out anything.

‘There is no worse, Gem.’ He leaned against the wall then slid down until he was sitting on the floor.

‘None of us can relate, but we know you’re hurting.’

That was pretty fucking obvious. He closed his eyes. He was not going to fall apart. A couple of slow breaths later he was a little more in control. ‘This is going to sound dumb.’

‘You say dumb shit all the time.’

‘You’re confusing me with Dan.’ It was such a boring normal conversation. Is that how she did it, she made it seem easy instead of hard? ‘Nah, it is dumb.’ He went to stand and get back to it.

She put her hand on his arm. ‘I don’t think anything could be considered dumb at the moment, unless you’re quitting, in which case I’ll have to kick your ass.’

‘I’d like to see you try.’ Gemma was only a little taller than Ava and he was at least twenty kilos heavier.