The Road Back (Limelight Series Book 2) Read online

  Rex nodded. “Good, I’m glad it worked. God knows you’re going to need some rest before we hit the road.”

  Rest was the farthest thing from my mind right now. I didn’t know what the fuck was wrong with me. I was about to embark on the first tour in what felt like forever, and I was secretly running around chasing tail. The only thoughts scarier than the ones about the tour ahead of me, were the ones I had about Hadley. Pam was the last, and only, woman that had ever made me feel like this and she was the love of my life. There was no way in hell I could or would ever entertain thoughts of love, but I knew I wanted her more than anyone since Pam, and that thought alone was driving me insane.

  “If you ladies are done with your little cozy time tea chat, can we please get back to playing some fucking music?”

  The boys chuckled and we got back to it.

  Jack

  AFTER THE DAY’S rehearsals were done, we broke for dinner and ironed out more of the final tour details. We’d be hitting the road in a little under a week and musically and personally we were firing on all cylinders. After dinner, we said our goodbyes and headed for home, but I had other plans.

  “I left my headphones back at the studios, so I’m gonna run and grab those real quick. I’ll see you back at the house,” I said to Rex. Hadley and I had traded texts throughout the day and we had decided to meet up at ten o’clock.

  “See you back at the homestead then.” Rex smiled and waved as he drove away.

  After stopping at the store for protection, I got to the studio just after ten but Hadley was nowhere to be found. The parking lot was empty and all the lights were out.

  Shit, she’s chickened out and she’s not coming.

  Moments later, I saw headlights coming toward the parking lot and my heart began to race. Hadley climbed out of the cab and the air left my lungs. She was stunning.

  “Sorry I’m late. I wasn’t sure what you’d be in the mood for, so I brought a few options,” she said smiling and holding up a cardboard drink holder, loaded with assorted coffee and tea.

  “Thanks, but I’m not really in the mood for anything on that tray. I’m only interested in the one who’s carrying it.”

  I walked over to her, set the tray on the hood of my truck and kissed her slowly and deeply. Her hands went to my cheeks and I pulled her closer, deepening my kisses. My tongue was eager to explore her entire body.

  “Let’s go inside,” I said, guiding her to the front door.

  We entered the lobby and I keyed in the security code, then turned on a single lamp near the reception area. I made sure the doors were locked again and the building was empty before sitting on the sofa and pulling her onto my lap.

  “I thought we were just meeting for coffee. Did you lure me here under false pretenses?” she teased.

  “I couldn’t wait any longer.”

  She straddled me and smiled as she leaned down to kiss me. “And I don’t want you to wait any longer.”

  She tasted like caramel and mint and it drove me mad.

  Sliding my hands under her sweater, I cupped her lace-covered breasts, then tugged the material down and rolled her nipples into tight buds.

  She whimpered, dropping her head back and pressing further into my hands. Her quiet mews encouraged me to go further and I slid her sweater over her head, dropping it to the floor before unhooking her bra.

  Fuck, once her tits were free, I nearly came. “Gorgeous, baby.”

  She focused on me with hooded eyes and licked her lips. “Please talk less.”

  I chuckled, sliding my hands up her thighs and ripping the thin strip of lace keeping me from her pussy.

  She gasped. “I liked those panties.”

  “I’ll buy you more,” I promised, and cupped her mound, sliding my fingers into her.

  She rocked against my palm and dropped her head back again, which gave me access to her neck and I took full advantage.

  Kissing my way down her chest, I sucked a nipple into my mouth, then another, biting gently as I felt her soak my hand.

  “I can’t wait, Jack,” she rasped, so I shifted so I could get a condom on, then guided her onto my cock.

  I nearly lost my load and had to take a few breaths. I felt like a fuckin’ teenager. “Fuck,” I breathed out.

  “So good,” she whispered, anchoring her hands on my shoulders and lifting herself slightly before sliding back down.

  I cupped her breasts and rolled her nipples again while she continued to impale herself. Her tight, wet pussy encased my dick and it felt better than anything I’d ever experienced before.

  When I knew I couldn’t wait, I guided her off my lap, pressing her back to the sofa, while keeping us connected, then slammed into her.

  “Oh, God, yes, Jack!” she panted.

  I couldn’t wait. She just felt so fucking good, so I came, but worked her clit until I felt her walls contract around me.

  I kissed her again, gently pulling out of her before wrapping the condom in a tissue and throwing it in the plastic bag from the store. I stretched out beside Hadley again and pulled her close. “I liked that,” I said, and kissed her forehead.

  She smiled. “Me too.”

  I slid my hand to her ass and cupped her. “I like this most of all.”

  She slid a leg over my thigh, pressing her pussy to my dick. “Yeah?”

  “Yeah,” I confirmed, kissing her again. “Fuckin’ sexy as hell.”

  “I like that you think I’m sexy.”

  “Well, that’s a fact, baby, rather than opinion.”

  She smiled, stroking my beard. “You’re really charming when you want to be, huh?”

  “Just bein’ honest.”

  She kissed me gently. “We should get back.”

  “In a minute.”

  She rolled her eyes. “What did you tell Rex you were doing?”

  “Grabbing my headphones,” I said. “What was your excuse?”

  “I was at Lucy’s so I just told her I was heading home. I had more of a problem losing Sully. But I grabbed the taxi before he could catch me.”

  I chuckled. “I’ll drop you back, then.”

  “Um, no you won’t,” she countered. “I’ll grab a cab or an über or something.”

  “Hadley.”

  “Jack,” she mimicked. “Look, if this is going to work, we have to be careful.”

  I sighed. She was right. I didn’t like it, but I had to agree that she had a point. I sat up and pulled my clothes back on. “I’ll wait while we call you a car, then I’m following you back.”

  “Fine.” She rolled her eyes. “Are you always like this?”

  “Like what?”

  “Bossy.”

  I smiled helping her off the sofa. “I protect what’s mine, Hadley.”

  She shook her head. “Okay, handsome, let’s take it down a notch, huh? This”―she waved a hand between us―“is a fling. Before the tour officially starts, this will be officially over. I don’t belong to you.”

  I forced down panic while she dressed. Again, she was right. It’s what we’d agreed to, but now that I’d fucked her, I didn’t think I’d ever let her go. For the moment, though, I’d keep that to myself.

  “Call your car,” I grumbled and stepped into the tracking room to grab my headphones.

  * * *

  Hadley

  I’d excused myself to head to bed just before ten. Jack had followed me (and the confused looking über driver) home, but hadn’t come into the house, and I kind of missed him. Silly, considering I’d seen him just a few hours earlier, but I liked him. Liked his energy, so the fact I wouldn’t see him again until the morning kind of bummed me out.

  I’d been between tossing and turning for about twenty minutes when I felt the bed dip and sat up with a frightened gasp.

  “It’s me baby,” Jack whispered wrapping an arm around my waist.

  I flicked on the lamp next to the bed and faced him with frown. “What are you doing in here?”

  He tugged me onto
his chest, kissing me deeply. “Missed you.”

  “You scared me half to death.”

  “Sorry baby, let me make it up to you.”

  “That’s another thing. You can’t call me ba—”

  Before I could object further, he tugged my T-shirt off and drew a nipple into his mouth, biting down gently. I arched into his touch as he continued to shower attention on my breasts while sliding a hand under the waistband of my panties and between my legs. His finger slid through the wetness and then slipped inside of me. I groaned and pushed against him as he slid another inside. His thumb found my clit and I moaned. I could feel my orgasm building, but before it washed over me, he removed his hand.

  “Jack,” I whispered as he stood. “Where are you going?”

  He pushed his pjs from his hips and removed his shirt. God, he was magnificent. After he slid my panties from my hips, he rolled on a condom and rose up above me, settling his hips between mine and guiding himself inside of me. I wrapped my legs around him and arched up.

  “Fuck, baby.” He slid out of me and then back in slowly. “God, you feel so good.”

  “More, Jack.”

  He covered my mouth with his and thrust deep inside of me.

  “Yes,” I whispered against his lips.

  His tongue slid into my mouth as his cock surged deeper and deeper, faster and faster. I broke the kiss and moaned. “Yes!” I called out.

  “Shhh,” he warned, in a whisper.

  “We really shouldn’t be doing this here, Jack.”

  “You want me to stop?”

  I shook my head. “Hell, no.”

  “Then you need to be quiet.”

  He thrust back into me and I felt my orgasm build and relished the feeling, but when his hand slid between us and his finger found my clit, it was over and I exploded around him. I forced myself not to scream.

  Within seconds, I felt Jack’s cock pulsate inside of me and he kissed my neck as he rolled us onto our sides. “I’ll make that last a little longer next time.”

  I broke our connection, then rolled to face him. “We can’t do this here.”

  He grinned. “We just did.”

  I squeezed my eyes shut and shook my head.

  “Eyes, Had.”

  I focused on him again and sighed. “You’re a really bad influence.”

  He kissed me and I found myself sliding my hands into his hair. It took several minutes to come to my senses and break the kiss and whisper, “Jack.”

  “I can’t not see you, Hadley.”

  I ran my thumb over his bottom lip and he bit it gently. I felt it all the way to my clit. “I like that, Jack, but we leave tomorrow…”

  “Come to my hotel room tomorrow night.”

  “But we were supposed to get this out of our systems and end things before the tour started. That was the deal Jack.”

  “I’m renegotiating our deal,” he said.

  “Maybe I’ll come by.”

  “I’ll rephrase,” he said, sliding his hand between my legs again. “I want you in my room no later than midnight.”

  I licked my lips and rocked against his palm. “I―”

  “Midnight, Hadley. Say it.”

  “Midnight,” I said. “I’ll be there.”

  He climbed off the bed and pulled my body to the edge, sliding my legs over his shoulders. I shifted as his mouth kissed his way down the inside of my left thigh. He gripped both of mine and found my eyes. “Don’t move. Got me?”

  I nodded as I took a deep breath and bit my lip, dropping my head back to the mattress. He lowered his mouth to my clit and sucked until I couldn’t help myself from bucking my hips. He gripped my thighs tighter and lowered my bottom to the bed, spreading my knees. I whimpered as he sucked harder, slipping a finger inside of me. I slid my hand into his hair and arched against his mouth.

  Without warning, he tugged me further down the bed, and slammed into me. I forced myself not to cry out and arched again.

  “Too much, baby?” he asked.

  “God, no. Harder.”

  He grasped my thighs again, holding them against his hips and lifting me slightly as he surged into me. I fisted my hands in the comforter, unable to do much else because he had me anchored to his body. He thrust into me again and again, his body locked as he held me to him. I came around him, but didn’t have time to enjoy it as I was flipped onto my stomach and taken from behind.

  I steadied myself on all fours and Jack reached around me to cup my breasts. His movements were slower now, which only managed to drive me crazy. “You okay?”

  I pressed back into him. “Yes.”

  He squeezed my leg gently. “Spread, Hadley.”

  I spread and his hand left my breast and found my clit. I groaned, grinding against him. He slid in slowly again and I sighed. “Yes.”

  Jack slammed into me again and I shoved my face in the pillow and screamed. His thrusts came harder until I exploded around him, then he surged in two more times and I felt his cock pulse as he came inside of me. He kissed my lower back and then my bottom, before sliding out of me and heading to the bathroom to get rid of the condom.

  I let my body fall to the mattress, my legs nothing but jelly, and smiled as he returned to the bed. “Amazing,” I whispered.

  He leaned over me and smiled. “I better get back.”

  “Okay.”

  He kissed me gently, then grabbed his discarded clothing off the floor. “I got tested yesterday,” he said as he pulled on his pants.

  I leaned up on my forearms. “For?”

  “For everything. I should get the results before we leave. You are on the pill, right?”

  “Yes. I told you that already.” I sat up. “Do you want me to get tested?”

  “When’s the last time you were with someone?”

  “Over a year.”

  “Were you clean then?”

  “Gross.” I wrinkled my nose. “Yes, I was clean.”

  He grinned, tugging on his shirt. “Then I think we’re good.”

  “So romantic,” I deadpanned, flopping back onto the pillows.

  Jack chuckled, sitting on the edge of the bed and kissing me gently. “I don’t want anything between us. You’re too beautiful not to feel all of you.”

  I swallowed. Well, that was seriously sweet. “That sounds good, actually.”

  He stroked my cheek. “Yeah?”

  I nodded.

  “Good. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  I nodded again, then he kissed me and sneaked out of my room and I was left sated, but wanting more… a lot more.

  Jack

  THE MOMENT I’M officially ‘on the road’ is one of my favorite feelings in the world. I love being in the studio, rehearsing and writing, but it’s all for nothing if we don’t get out and play for the people. Being in motion soothes my soul. Once the band was over, I’d lost myself in travel. I suppose a part of me doesn’t know how to stay in one place for too long.

  “You ready, Jackie boy?” Rex asked as we began rolling.

  Rex had tricked out our old tour bus years ago, and even though it had a couple of bunk beds and a private bedroom and bathroom, we needed more creature comforts now that we were older and sober, so we’d negotiated (well, Lucy had) for the label to pay for hotel rooms for the bands and their families. Touring these days was a much smaller affair with much smaller budgets. RatHound was footin’ the bill for the crew and roadies for both bands (that part Hadley had negotiated so Roses for Anna didn’t have to pay). In the end, it worked out better for us financially and it meant I could have Hadley to myself.

  “Ready as I’ll ever be.” I smiled. “Thanks for this, Rex.”

  “Thank me? You’re the one who made this tour possible, by saying yes. There was no way we were going to go out without you.”

  “Fuckin’ A,” Robbie added.

  “To the band,” I said raising my plastic water bottle for a toast.

  I was joined by the others with an unsatisfying dull clac
king of plastic, a reminder that the days of champagne and blow were long gone.

  Our first show was tomorrow night in Portland and I couldn’t wait to hit the stage. My passion for music had been reignited by the faith of my best friend and my passion for just about everything else was off the charts thanks to Hadley, who was currently behind us in the Roses for Anna bus.

  I shot her a text. Wish you were here.

  See you at the first pit stop ;)

  The mood on the bus was electric. Spirits had never been higher in the RatHound camp and it was great to be back on the road with so many familiar faces. Lucy was doing an amazing job as the band’s new manager and she was able to hire several key members from our original tech crew including Teddy and Spike, who we’d dubbed “The Road Hounds” back in the day. They were amazing roadies and certifiably insane.

  Teddy, who had now been promoted to stage manager, was a very large man, and not to be trifled with. Spike was a skinny, pale little runt—they were a sort of Laurel and Hardy of their trade. Teddy was now missing his left pinky and eye due to a pyrotechnic malfunction while touring with the Clergy, a band we knew well from back in the day. We joked and told him even though he’d been promoted, we’d have to pay him less now since there was, well, less of him these days.

  Spike was serving as our bus driver, and as was tradition, driving the first hundred miles naked as a jaybird. This may have been our fist sober tour, but I had a feeling it was going to be far from boring.

  “Come on Spike, you pasty sonofabitch, get this bus moving!” Robbie yelled as the bus engine roared. Music, laughter and plenty of stories from our past filled the bus as we drove through the night.

  * * *

  Hadley

  “Boyfriend?” Ray asked, sitting next to me at the little banquette in the bus.

  “Hmm?”

  He nodded toward my phone gripped in my hands.

  “Oh.” I felt heat in my cheeks. “No. Just working on some last-minute details.”

  Ray Samuels was Bam’s drum tech. He had been a roadie for the band for over five years, and was a trusted member of their camp. He was nice, but a little too much in my space at times. He’d always had boundary issues when it came to me and I was fixin’ to either say something to him… or make Bam do it. However, for the moment, I was stuck with him hovering because I wasn’t interested in making things tense on the first day of the tour.