Tempting Tatum (27 page)

I don’t hesitate to open for him. I know where I want this kiss to lead, but I also know there is only one way for that to happen. Blaise controls the kiss; his lips, soft yet firm, are demanding. His tongue plays with mine. His hard body, every glorious inch of it, is wrapped tight between my legs. His lips travel to my neck, and I melt into him. This man and his intoxicating kisses are going to be the death of me.

Blaise rolls off me and turns on his side. I turn to face him; my legs are intertwined with his, our arms around each other. It’s hard to tell where he ends and I begin. “You’re beautiful,” he whispers against my lips.

“You’re not so bad yourself,” I say, running my hands up and down his bicep, tracing the lines of his tattoo. It’s a flame design, which he and Asher both have. They gave them to each other the day they opened Self Expressions.

He leans in and kisses me, and that’s how we spend the next few hours. Passionate kisses, lots of touching, and nothing more. Blaise is sticking to his word. He won’t have sex with me until I’m his.

At three-thirty, his cell rings. I can hear Ember’s voice. “You got thirty minutes; are you guys getting ready?” she asks.

Blaise chuckles, “Excited much?”

“Yes. So get your asses in gear. I refuse to miss a minute of this concert,” she says, hanging up.

Blaise hits end on his phone and lays it behind him on the bed. “We better get ready; we don’t want to deal with the wrath that is Ember Richards,” he says, laughing.

It doesn’t take long to change. My hair is already curled. It is a little messy from our afternoon make out session, but luckily for me, with a little coaxing, my curls pop right back into place.

When Blaise comes out of the bathroom, I have just slipped on the final touch of my outfit, which is my cowboy boots. His eyes take me in, before they lock with mine as he stalks toward me. Without a word, he bends down and kisses me. Pulling back, I smile. “Like what you see?” I say, flirting with him. Being around Blaise just makes everything brighter.

He runs his hands down my back and tugs me closer, as if that’s really even possible. “You look amazing,” he says.

The knock on the door, along with Ember’s voice, stops us. Blaise groans and I laugh.

With one last chaste kiss, he says, “Let’s go,” and pulls me out of our room.

As soon as we close the door, Ember is linking her arm through mine and leading me to the elevator. Her excitement is contagious.

“You don’t get it,” she says, a serious expression on her face, “I wanted these tickets. I tried to get them the day they went on sale, both pre-sale and general public, but they sold out. She grabs my arms and shakes me. “I am so freaking excited!” she exclaims.

“All right, you,” Jackson says as he throws his arm over her shoulder. Blaise does the same with me. “Where are we eating?”

We settle for a pub on Upper Broadway. After eating dinner, we head back to the venue. It’s just a block over, so we walk instead of calling a cab. It allows us to take in the atmosphere. There is nothing like Nashville. Leah and I have been here a couple times for girls’ weekend in college. Now it’s practically in our backyard.

Blaise has found little ways to touch me all night, hand on the small of my back leading me into a room, gently brushing a fallen hair out of my eyes, hand on my leg at the table. The man has my hormones on overload!

I keep waiting for Tatum to tell me to keep my damn hands to myself. I can’t help but touch her. Earlier in our room, it took all of my self-control not to make her mine. All that was separating us was a few thin layers of clothing.

I’m not really sure what’s going on with us. We have spent every spare minute together over the last week. I haven’t spent the night again, but I want to. I don’t sleep well without her. I tried telling myself it was just because I was worried about her. That’s a small piece of the giant puzzle. The larger piece is, I just sleep better with her in my arms, safe…with me. I’m no longer fighting any of these feelings or thoughts that pop in my head when it comes to the lovely Tatum. I’m rolling with it. I don’t care if I’m pussy whipped well, not technically anyway. I don’t care if the guys ride my ass. It’s just Tatum; everything else pales in comparison.

My sister is pumped about this concert. Jackson and I have been giving her a hard time. I know Tatum’s excited, too. Apparently, it has something to do with Luke Bryan and him shaking his ass. Shit. Give me a V-neck, some tight ass jeans and a mic, and I could do what he does.

It’s good to see her smile and let loose. Each day, I start to see some of the sadness in her eyes lessen. Looking back to that first day I met her and looking at her now, she’s happy. That’s all I want. She can watch Cole, Lee, Luke, and whoever else shake their asses all night long, but at the end of the night, she’s coming home with me.

Ember pulls on Tatum’s arm, causing her to release my hand. I scowl at my sister and she winks at me. Jackson just smiles at her and I want to call him out on it, but really I can’t. He looks at Ember like I look at Tatum. I hope they feel this same…magnetism that I feel with Tate. If my little sister can find that, well, I couldn’t ask for more for her.

I watch as the girls talk and laugh ahead of us. That’s my girl.

We arrive at the venue an hour before the concert starts. The radio station Ember won the tickets from included VIP treatment. We get to tour backstage. At first, Ember is disappointed she doesn’t get to meet any of the artists, but Tatum reminds her she would still get to go behind the scenes. It doesn’t take much convincing for Ember to believe this is still a bonus. Once the tour is over, an attendant leads us to our seats. Front row. Jackson and I smile as we watch our girls squeal with excitement.

The lights go down and the band starts to play. This has the girls on their feet; Jackson and I follow suit. “The opening guy’s name is Cole Swindell,” Ember says. He’s fairly new, but she loves his stuff. My sister is a freak about her music. He’s pretty good. I’m enjoying myself just watching my sister and Tatum with huge smile on their faces. They’re both dancing and swaying their arms in the air.

Cole says he’s going to “slow things down.” I watch as Jackson pulls my sister into his arms. I reach for Tatum and bring her back against my chest. I lean down and whisper in her ear, “Hey you.” Her body shivers. Not sure if it’s my words, or the close contact. Maybe both.

The song is called “Swaying” and it’s perfect for this moment. I hold Tatum tight against me. My arms around her, we gently sway to the music. Not able to resist, I bury my face in her neck. All I see is her. I can no longer hear the band. I don’t see the thousands of people who surround us. Just Tatum. I am completely consumed by her. This is scary shit. I’ve never felt this way. Nothing compares to this feeling of her in my arms. I can’t help but wonder if she’s feeling it too. Surely she is. As the song comes to a close, I get my answer.

Tatum turns in my arms. Her small soft hands caress my face as she stands on her tiptoes and presses her lips to mine. I want to devour every fucking inch of her. I want to take her back to the room and make love to her. Funny how I’ve said those words before in the past with my ex, but never have they held more meaning than in this moment with Tatum. Making love to Tatum would be a game changer. I know this; that’s why I need her to be in this with me, all in, before I do.

Tatum pulls back as the song ends. I bend down and hug her tight while whispering in her ear. “You own me, Tate.”

I gently turn her, so her back is once again pressed tight against my chest so she can continue to enjoy the show. She places her hand over mine, which is resting on her belly. Her hands are shaking. I move mine over on top of hers and lace our fingers together.

As the first set ends, the lights come up and the roadies prepare for the next artist, Lee Brice. Jackson and I go and grab us all a drink. Standing in line, he and I are shooting the shit, just waiting, when a group of girls walk up beside us. I recognize them from the shop, but I don’t remember their names.

“Hey, Blaise. What do you say you guys come out with us after the show?” the redhead asks.

I’m shaking my head before she’s even finished. “No can do. Jackson here is dating my little sister, and I’m off the market myself,” I tell them.

One of the girls, this one I’ve never seen before, reaches out to touch my chest. I grab her wrist and place it gently at her side. “I’m taken,” I grit out.

“We won’t tell,” the redhead says.

What the fuck is wrong with these girls? “Not happening. Enjoy your night,” I say, stepping up to the counter to order four beers.

Walking back to our sets, Jackson says, “So you and Tatum are official? Congrats, man.” He sounds like he’s happy for us.

“Not yet, but we will be,” I tell him.

Jackson raises his eyebrow in question. “I don’t’ see anyone but her.” Just Tatum.

He nods his head. “Trust me, I get it.” We don’t say anything else until we are almost to our seats. We stop at the end of the aisle to let a couple pass. The girls spot us and wave. “I love her,” Jackson blurts out.

I turn my head to look at him. “I do. I haven’t told her yet; I want it to be special for her,” he says, looking me in the eye.

I believe him. “She’s loves you, too. She didn’t tell me, but I know my sister. Don’t break her heart,” I warn.

We reach our seats and I bend to place a chaste kiss on Tatum’s lips before handing her the beer I brought her.

She laughs.

“What? Is that the toll I have to pay to get a drink? A kiss for a beer?” she asks, smiling.

Her smile lights up her face and those green eyes of hers sparkle. “You’d be amazed at what I would do for one of your kisses,” I say with a wink.

The lights dim and Lee Brice takes the stage. I place one hand on her hip and bring her body against mine. She settles against me and we enjoy the show.

The concert is great. All three artists put on a great show. All three artists also sing songs that remind me of me and how I feel about Tatum. Although, here lately, everything reminds me of Tatum and how I feel about her. Not a second goes by that she’s not on my mind.

As we walk back to the hotel, I watch as Jackson whispers in Ember’s ear. They stop and she turns to face us. “I think we’re just going to head back to the room,” she says.

I look to Jackson and give him a slight nod, letting him know I approve and he should tell her how he feels.

Tatum looks up at me. “What about you?” she asks me.

As if I would be anywhere she’s not. “As long as I’m with you, next to you, I don’t care what we do or where we go.”

A soft smile graces her lips. “I think I’m ready to head back, too,” she says.

Decision made; we head to the hotel. I’m ready for a good night’s sleep with Tatum wrapped in my arms.