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“Yeah. You?” She flattened her palm over my stampeding heart.

I stroked her hair, swiping the long strands off her brow. “My mind is officially blown.”

“Not bad for your first time, right?”

I withdrew, wrapped the condom in some tissues from her nightstand, and tossed it on the floor. I’d deal with it later. After Tia cleaned herself up, I curled in beside her and drew her against my chest. Pulling the sheets over us, I kissed her temple. “I don’t think once is enough to decide if this is a good thing or not.” My heart rate still hadn’t returned to normal.

“Definitely not. I’m happy to do that again anytime.”

“Hmmm. I agree.” I circled my fingertips across her back. Chaotic thoughts pummeled my brain. “Tia? Are you okay if we keep this between us for now? I meant what I said. I’d like to take you out...date. Make sure this is what we both want before we tell everyone. Is that okay?”

She glanced up at me. “Yes. We both need that. It will be nice to let this craziness we’ve fought over the past couple of months to settle. Sneaking around will be fun for a while.” A glimmer of light flashed in her eyes. Why did I sense she was going to enjoy that element too much?

I stroked her hair, kissed her forehead. “It won’t be for long—I promise. A few weeks, tops. You know how important the band is to me. I don’t want to piss the guys off or blow my chances with them if they lose their shit at us being together.” They’d been cool about a kiss, but dating Tia was a different ballgame. I wouldn’t let the guys dictate who I could be with, but I had to make sure Tia was worth risking my career for. I had to be logical and sensible. Was that even possible when she was so damn tempting?

She eased onto the pillow beside me and brushed her soft lips across mine. “We didn’t plan this well. It sucks you’ll be away for four weeks.”

I trailed my fingertips down the length of her arm. I wanted them wrapped around my shoulders, holding me close as I made her come. “I’ll be counting down the days until I’m home.”

“Same.”

“How’s the leg?”

“What leg?” She giggled as she played with the back of my hair. “But in the future, when we do this again and again and again”—she teased her lips against mine between each word—“we’ll have to get creative because I can’t bend my knee or put weight on my leg for too long.”

I caught her hands. Pushing her back onto the pillow, I pinned our entwined fingers beside her head. “If we have to do missionary for the rest of our days, it’s a sacrifice I’m willing to make.”

She jerked her chin back. “What the fuck? I’m not.” She caught my jaw in her hand and skidded her thumb across my lower lip. “I don’t want to scare you off, but maybe before this goes any further, you should know I like to be...adventurous.” She wriggled beneath me, and a mischievous glint sparkled in her eyes. “I like my toys, my games, and my cuffs. Pleasure, not pain. If you’re not open to those things in the future, we should stop now. Or do you think you can handle me?”

My dick hardened. Fuck. She was made for me. I chuckled, low and soft. “You and I are going to get on very well.”

She tugged her hands free and linked them behind my neck. “In that case, want to do some more exploring?”

“Hmm, we should.”

She grabbed another condom. I rolled it on and buried myself inside her again. I had to leave in four hours. I had to sleep and pack. Cole could come home at any second. Shit. Until I passed the next milestone, and I secured my place in the band for tour, Tia and I had to stay under wraps.

I was walking on thin ice. Risking everything.

Was she worth it?

Fuck...I hoped so.

Chapter 21

LEWIS

After having less than three hours of sleep, I handed my suitcase and Cole’s huge roller duffel to the concierge at the InterContinental Hotel in Downtown LA. With dark black Ray Bans covering my tired eyes, I entered the huge light-filled foyer, caught the elevator up to the seventieth floor, and walked along the Sky Lobby in search of my band. My stride had a touch of swagger and a new smile had been etched onto my face. Last night with Tia had been phenomenal, nerve-wracking, and life changing. Clearly, I’d survived. So much for dating and taking things slow. I had a history of going all-in fast. This had been no exception. But I was adamant about moving forward at a steady pace to make sure our infatuation wasn’t a hot fuse that fizzled out quickly. Keeping what happened under wraps would be hard—especially with the guys. But thanks to our busy schedule over the coming weeks, our promotional tour would ensure I remained focused on the band, not Tia.

I headed toward the bar at the far end of the lobby. Flint and Slip lazed on a large gray sofa with April and Blake sitting opposite on comfy chairs.

“How are you holding up? Tia okay?” Flint asked over the rim of his coffee cup.

I’d told the guys last night before we’d left that she’d been tired, her leg had ached, and the reporter had upset her, and so I’d offered to take her home. Since it had been late, they’d thought nothing of it.

“I’m still on a high after our show. Tia’s fine.” Leaving her in bed had been hard, but music was why I was here.

“You tuck her into bed real good?” Slip’s suggestive chuckle made me falter.