Page 14 of Love Loathe Devotion (Tightrope #3)

I wake up feeling good. Better than I have in weeks.

Maybe it’s the solid sleep, or maybe it’s the knowledge that Laney is under my roof, in my space, where I can keep her safe.

Or maybe it’s the fact that I have a plan—a damn good one.

She’ll be my fake girlfriend for the next four weeks, but by the time this arrangement is over, I fully intend for it to be real.

I toss the covers back and stretch before heading to the shower.

Hot water cascades down my body, easing the tension in my muscles, but it does nothing for the tension building elsewhere.

My balls ache from when I kissed Laney, the hard-on like steel between my thighs.

The moment my eyes close, I’m back in the barn, feeling the way her lips molded against mine, the way she whimpered when I deepened the kiss.

Damn, she’s intoxicating.

The image of her, standing here with me, water slicking over her soft skin, fills my head.

I imagine her pressed against the tiles, her breath hitching as I explore every inch of her.

My body tightens, and I wrap a firm grip around my cock, stroking slowly, deliberately.

The fantasy deepens—her moans, her fingers digging into my back, the way she’d come apart beneath my hands.

My release hits hard, a deep groan spilling from my lips as her name escapes in a whisper.

I brace myself against the wall, panting as the water washes away the evidence of my climax. Shit. I’m in trouble with this girl.

After drying off and throwing on jeans and a T-shirt, I make my way downstairs and start the coffee. The rich aroma fills the kitchen, a welcome distraction from my earlier thoughts. As I take a sip, my mind shifts back to business. I grab my phone and dial Nico.

He answers on the third ring.

“Talk to me,” I say.

A groan of pain echoes in the background, followed by Nico’s unimpressed sigh. “Punks these days have no stamina. Can’t even handle a little incentive to talk.”

I chuckle. “Still like to be hands-on, I see.”

“Somebody has to.”

My amusement fades. “What the hell happened with security? How did someone get close enough to hurt Laney?”

Nico blows out a breath. “Still figuring that out. But I’m sending two of my own guys to watch your back. I trust them completely.”

Knowing full well the men he sends are ‘made men’ and loyal to the Mancini family, who are my family in all but blood, eases some of my tension.

I grind my teeth. “Good. Because if this happens again, I’m holding you personally responsible.”

Nico snorts. “Understood. She mean something to you?”

“She’s mine.” The words come out before I can stop them. They feel right.

A beat of silence. Then, “Shit. This is serious.”

“Damn right, it is.”

“Well, you can breathe easy, brother. The guy who touched her? He won’t be touching anyone ever again.”

I should be surprised, but I’m not. “Appreciate it.”

“It’s the least I can do after someone I vetted fucked up.”

We shift topics, talking about Lucas, Joey, and the kidney donation campaign. Nico asks if I’ve told Lucas about Laney yet, and I admit I haven’t. “I will,” I say, but then I hesitate before telling him about the fake relationship.

Nico laughs, the kind of deep, belly laugh that pisses me off. “This is going to be hilarious to watch.”

I scowl. “Screw you.”

“I’m just saying. You’re playing a dangerous game, my friend.”

I grumble something under my breath and hang up, setting my phone on the counter. I rub a hand over my face, exhaling slowly.

Then I hear soft footsteps behind me.

I turn, and there she is—Laney, fresh-faced, hair slightly damp, standing in the doorway. My pulse kicks up just looking at her.

“Morning, beautiful,” I say, smiling.

She gives me a small, sleepy grin. “Morning.”

She has no idea the kind of effect she has on me. But she will. Soon enough.

I pull Laney into my arms, letting the scent of her shampoo and something uniquely her seep into my senses.

She hesitates, just for a second, but then her body relaxes against mine.

I fight the urge to hold her tighter, to keep her there longer, but I don’t want to push too fast. She needs to get used to me touching her this way—gentle, affectionate, nothing expected.

She tilts her head up, her soft, shy smile making something tighten in my chest. God, she’s beautiful. “How’d you sleep?” I ask, my voice low.

“Well,” she says, and I can hear the honesty in it. That pleases me more than it should.

I drop a quick kiss on her forehead before pulling away, noting the way her lashes flutter at the touch. Small steps. I turn to the kitchen. “Sit. What do you want for breakfast?”

She shrugs. “Whatever you’re having.”

I grin and start cracking eggs into a pan. “Hope you like scrambled, sweetheart.”

She moves like she wants to help, but I shoot her a look over my shoulder. “Relax. I’ve got this.” As I stir the eggs, I glance back. “Any side effects from the drug still?”

Laney shakes her head. “No. I feel a hundred percent better.”

Relief washes over me. “Good.”

We settle into casual conversation as I plate the eggs, setting them in front of her before sitting across the island. She picks up her fork but pauses, tilting her head. “So, how do you know Lucas?”

I cut into my eggs, chewing for a second before answering. “Me, Lucas, and Nico have been tight since first grade. Grew up together in New York. We were from different worlds, but that never mattered to us.”

Laney’s brows lift slightly, curiosity lighting her blue eyes. “Different how?”

“Well, Lucas had the all-American dream life—big guy, broad shoulders, blond, and built like a damn superhero. He was our high school’s star tight end, already being scouted for the pros when everything changed.

” I pause, gripping my fork a little tighter.

“His parents were killed in a car accident. Just like that, his life flipped upside down.”

Laney’s expression turns somber. “That’s awful.”

“Yeah.” I nod, my jaw tightening at the memory.

“He had a full-ride scholarship waiting for him, a ticket to the NFL. But he didn’t even hesitate—walked away from it all to step up for his little brother, Joshua.

Kid was only twelve at the time, lost and grieving, but Lucas never let him feel alone.

Did whatever it took to raise him right. ”

Her fingers brush over the edge of her plate, thoughtful. “That’s… incredible.”

“Yeah, he’s the best of men.” I exhale, shaking my head. “Deserves every damn good thing life has to offer, and yet he keeps getting thrown into the fire over and over again. And there’s fuck all we can do to stop it.”

She frowns, her lips pressing together. “I can’t imagine how hard that must’ve been for him.”

“He never complained. And I know he doesn’t regret a second of it. Joshua’s in the UK now, studying to be a microbiologist.” I smirk slightly. “Kid’s a genius.”

Laney tilts her head. “I’ve never met him.”

I arch a brow. “Really?”

She shakes her head. “No, Lucas never mentioned him much. But he never talks about his past at all. I had no idea he’d lost his parents so young.”

“Lucas is the best of us.”

Laney sips her coffee. “He is, I just never realized how good until now. What about his brother? Is he nice?”

I nod, sipping my coffee. “Josh is a good man, just like his brother. Quiet, studious, always had his nose buried in a book. Lucas used to joke that he got all the brawn while Josh got all the brains.”

She smiles softly. “Sounds like they’re close.”

“They are. Lucas did right by him. Kid’s going to change the world one day.” I set my mug down, giving her a look. “Just like you.”

She flushes, her eyes darting away.

I grin. Yeah, I like getting under her skin. Maybe a little too much.

“What about you?”

“Me? I had no one—my parents weren’t exactly winning any awards. And Nico…” I huff a quiet laugh, rubbing the back of my neck. “Let’s just say, the Mancini family had a little more… influence.”

She picks up on my hesitation. “Influence?”

I shrug. “His dad, Enzo Mancini, is powerful. The kind of man you don’t cross. But he was good to me and Lucas. Treated us like family, still does. Gave us a place to belong when we needed it.”

Her expression softens. “That’s really nice of him.”

I hold back a chuckle. Nice isn’t exactly the word I’d use for a man like Enzo, but she doesn’t need to know the whole story. Instead, I nod. “Yeah, he offered both of us a spot in his world. Said if we ever wanted in, there’d be a place for us. But we had different plans.”

I sip my coffee, glancing at her. She’s listening intently, her plate nearly forgotten.

“I wanted to try my luck in Tennessee—see if I could make it in country music. Lucas…” I exhale, shaking my head.

“He fell in love, got married. Had Joey.” My voice drops a little at the mention of the kid. We both know how that story played out.

Laney frowns, toying with the handle of her fork. “How did you end up in Ohio, then?”

“Grew up in New York, but when I landed in Tennessee, I finally felt like I was home. I spent years there, chasing the dream, making it happen. But it was also lonely as hell.” I gesture vaguely.

“I used to spend summers here with Nico and his family. His old man had a summer place not far from here. So, when I started thinking about settling somewhere permanent, I came back. Found this plot of land—it was nothing but trees and a busted-up barn—but the second I saw it, I knew it was mine.”

Her lips curve. “You built all this?”

I nod. “Took time, but yeah. That barn? It’s my recording studio now. It’s where I wrote and recorded my biggest hit, ‘Midnight Dune’.”

Laney’s eyes widen. “That’s where you wrote that song?”

I smile. “Yep. Lucas followed me out here a year later, met Sam, and well… the rest is history.”

She leans her elbows on the counter, resting her chin in her palm. “I love that song.”

My smile deepens. “Yeah? I kinda gathered that when I heard you singing it in the park.”

She looks away, her cheeks flushing slightly. “Yeah.”

My chest warms, but I force myself to play it cool. “Well, maybe I’ll play it for you in the barn sometime and we can sing it together.”

Her smile is soft. “I’d like that.”

Damn. I need to be careful. This woman already owns my heart, but right now, if she asked, I’d hand over my soul too. Needing to break the spell, I change the subject. “I’ll drive you to Christie’s so you can get your things.”

Laney’s fork stills on her plate. “Are you sure you still want to do this?”

I frown. “Why wouldn’t I?”

She exhales softly, then looks down at her hands. “Because you’re this big star, and I’m just… nobody.”

A sharp bolt of anger—not at her, but at whoever made her feel this way—rushes through me.

I push back my chair and crouch beside her, taking her hand in mine, and reaching out with my other to tip her chin up, forcing her expressive eyes to look at me.

God, she takes my breath away. “Don’t ever say that again.

” My voice is firm, but not unkind. “You are not nobody, Laney. You’re everything.

And anyone who can’t see that is a fucking idiot. ”

She shifts her gaze, her fingers trembling slightly in mine. I can see the war inside her, the disbelief battling against something else. Hope, maybe.

Her fingertips skim along my cheek, soft and hesitant. Heat flickers in her eyes, mirroring the fire roaring inside me. She pulls her bottom lip between her teeth, and my control snaps.

With a groan, I cup her neck, bringing my lips to just barely skim hers. “Unless you want me to bend you over this table and fuck you right now,” I rasp, “get your sweet ass in the car.”

Her breath hitches. I see the indecision in her wide eyes, the unmistakable flicker of need. Then, suddenly, she bolts, shoving her chair back with a startled squeak.

I chuckle, pleased, despite my raging hard-on. She wants me. She’s not ready yet, but I can feel the way she’s starting to fall.

I grab my keys and call out, “I’ll be in the car.” Then I stride outside, sucking in the cool morning air, hoping it will cool the fire burning under my skin.

Adjusting myself in my jeans, I groan. This is going to be harder than I thought.

But fuck, I love a challenge.