I tapped my finger against the window of the freaking prop jet we ended up on to get home from Vegas. The promo gig had turned into a clusterfuck when Victoria had shown up in the middle of the acoustic gig we’d been slated to do.

Not only had she disrupted the entire five song set, but she’d brought a twelve-person entourage to make sure everyone’s eyes were on her. The larger our gig was, the greater the chance was that she’d crash it.

Thanks to her latest stunt, we’d missed our flight and had to take the last flight into LAX.

We were currently sitting on the goddamn tarmac and they wouldn’t let us off the freaking plane. We were sixth in line to deplane.

“Fuck.”

Zach had his fingers laced over his middle as usual, his eyes closed. He could sleep wherever and whenever. I envied his and Hunter’s ability to do that. I was exhausted, wound, pissed, and I wanted a goddamn beer.

“What’s your deal, man?” Zach didn’t open his eyes, but he still arched a brow. “Don’t give me that pissy face either. You’ve been a jackass since the gig.”

“I’m just anxious to get home. Instead of a ten o’clock landing, we’re sitting here at one in the goddamn morning.”

“Yeah, so?” He sat up and stretched. “Not like we have a bedtime, man. Or I bet I know.” He grinned. “You have a hot date. That cafe chick, right?”

I shrugged. “Well, I was supposed to see her tonight, but now? Just the capper to a shitty day.”

“The show went without a hitch.” Zach curled his lip. “Sort of.”

I raked my fingers through my hair. “Yeah, the ‘sort of’ part is why I’m still pissed. What the hell was Reed thinking?”

“Dude, I don’t know what the hell is going on with him. He didn’t even come back with us tonight. Victoria Shear snaps her fingers and he goes running like a well-trained dog. I don’t fucking get it.”

I knew there was some additional bitterness for Zach. He and Reed had been joined at the hip since we’d put the band together and now they were the terror twins no more. Bats was acting out or MIA. There was no middle ground.

And more and more, Bats edged toward the missing-in-action end of things. He showed up for studio sessions and left as soon as humanly possible after any of the promotional things we had scheduled.

That left Zach out in many ways. They used to write all the guitar parts together and now they didn’t. Instead of that lack of cohesion between them screwing up the album, Zach had been even more focused on the new music. The tension added another layer to the lyrics as well.

But right now, I didn’t give two shits about any of it.

I wanted Piper.

I wanted this anger and stress gone. And for once I didn’t have to exorcise it with a drum kit or a heavy bag. At least if we ever got off this fucking plane.

When the captain’s voice came over the speaker, I tipped back my head in relief. Finally, we were next in line.

The next half hour was a lesson in patience and I’d run out five days ago. By the time we got to the airport garage, I’d ordered a Lyft to get me to her house. That was if she was still willing to take me.

I was afraid to text her. I didn’t want her to say no.

I shook my head when Zach held the door open for me on the SUV we used for a pickup. “Go on without me.”

“Are you sure? It’s nearly two in the morning.”

“I’m sure.”

“All right. Hope she’s worth it, man. I’m ready for my bed. Alone.”

I’d had enough of alone moments in my bed lately. I wanted a piece of hers.

My huge condo had always been more than enough for me. The view of Los Angeles had been the perfect selling point. So then why was I craving the little house full of cat statues and desert landscapes? And the huge fireplace that gilded a certain woman’s skin.

The coffee-rich scent of a crazy cat lady was my current drug of choice.

When I spotted the car at the designated spot from my app, I ran for it. I didn’t want to analyze why. I just wanted her scent in my head instead of the stale, canned air of the airplane or the smog of the late night in the city.

Thankfully, the driver wasn’t a chatty type. He just nodded to me and headed onto the highway.

Headed to Piper.

I took out my phone and checked my messages. I reread the one I’d gotten from Piper this evening.

Is it wrong that I put your shirt on the moment I got home from work? Hope to see you soon.

My cock twitched in my damn pants just from her words. The fact that I’d gotten the text just as I was getting on stage had done wonders for my performance. Until our unwanted guest.

As the car turned down Piper’s street, I put thoughts of my band, Victoria, and anything else but Piper out of my head. Her house was dark. I looked down at my phone again.

I should go home.

I shouldn’t be coming here this late. Especially when it was the first time I’d be with her. But the idea of going to my empty place was more than I could deal with. I didn’t have it in me right now.

Then her front door opened and my dick went from twitching to full-on hard. My shirt engulfed her. She’d folded back the cuffs, but it still swam on her like a damn tent. Not that it mattered.

She was waiting on me.

I barely remembered to thank the driver as I stepped out and slammed the door. I stood on the sidewalk and drank her in. The light above her was like a halo. She was wearing only my shirt with the three top buttons opened so the curves of her breasts were on display.

Her hair was down and a pair of dark-rimmed glasses made her huge coffee-colored eyes seem even bigger.

I tried not to think about the fact that the driver got a look at her as well. Instead I ate up the distance and lifted her into my arms. She wrapped her arms around my shoulders and smiled down at me as her knees hugged my sides just above my belt.

I loved that she was tiny enough to pick her up and solid enough that I couldn’t hurt her.

God, I hoped I didn’t hurt her.

I walked inside and kicked the door shut. She gnawed on her lower lip and I couldn’t stop staring at it.

“Hi.”

My gaze lifted to her eyes. “Hi. Sorry I’m late.” Then back down to her mouth. For fuck’s sake, it was almost bruised from her teeth. I wanted them to be bruised from me. From the scruff burn of my two-day old beard. I wanted it to be all from me. Christ, I wasn’t used to being this wound up about a woman.

Even the one I’d almost married.

“I almost didn’t come.” God, was that my voice? It sounded so rusty and hoarse.

She licked her lips. “I’m glad you did.” Her knees tightened against my ribs.

“What have you been doing?”

“Working on payroll.”

I nipped her jaw. “Glasses are cute.”

“Oh.” She huffed out a breath and took them off. “Sorry. Super attractive, I’m sure.”

“Sexy librarian achievement unlocked.”

She looked down at the lenses. “Really?”

“Oh, yeah. Maybe I’ll make you wear them for me later.”

“Later?”

I traced my tongue along the column of her neck to the little diamond and gold pendant she wore. “Yes. Remember when you said you wanted to kneel in front of me?” I groaned at the fresh scent of her. Soap and my own fabric softener cologne combo. Me and her combined. I nipped at her skin. “Feeding you my cock with your big, dark eyes staring up at me behind those glasses.”

She pulled back, color high on her cheeks as she nodded. “I’d like to do that. Very much. Now?”

“Fuck. You’re going to kill me even before I get all the way into your house.” That image was going to stick in my brain for days.

She slipped her fingers into my hair. “Can’t have that. I even made us dinner.”

I stopped in the middle of her kitchen, finally noticing there was a whole different scent to the room. She’d made me a meal? I couldn’t remember the last time anyone had done that for me.

My system was on overload. Possessiveness warred with something else I didn’t want to name. I had her in my arms. That was the only thing that mattered right now.

“After. I’ve been dying thinking about you in my clothes since you sent that text. Just like last night.” I cupped her ass and dragged up the material to get to her skin. More cotton. Another pair of her charming underwear?

I couldn’t wait to find out. After I found out what she tasted like.

Subconsciously, I’d known that a taste wasn’t going to be enough. It was the only explanation for each time that I’d bypassed my chance to kiss her.

I set her on the countertop of her kitchen island. She yelped and I grinned down at her. “Little chilly?”

“Yes.”

“Is it because you’re hot and swollen for me?”

She tossed her glasses toward the end of the island then shook her hair back. “No, because I’m not wearing pants.”

I tipped my forehead to hers. “You are a delight, kitten.”

“Why?”

“Because there’s not an inch of subterfuge living inside of you.” I nuzzled her nose. “It’s refreshing.”

She tipped up her head to look into my eyes. “I’m sorry that there are that many people in your life who would make you say that.”

“We live in different spheres, kitten.”

“I know. Believe me, I know.”

I traced my thumb along her chin to bring her up just that much farther. “But not tonight. Tonight, it’s just us.” I swiped the pad of my thumb along her naked lower lip. No gloss, not lipstick, just her. “I’m going to kiss you now. Try not to smash your lips with mine, okay?”

She closed her eyes tight. “You had to remind me of that.”

I brushed my lips over hers. A barely there kind of kiss that woke up all the baser instincts churning around inside me. The ones that wanted to cover her with my mouth, my body, and my heat. The ones that wanted to imprint every part of me on every part of her.

I tried to buck against them because this was supposed to be just a distraction. She was supposed to be a fun way to pass the time as I waited for the tour season to come along.

She dragged in a halting breath and trembled in my arms. Her fingers twisted into the collar of my shirt and the tiny nip of her nails at the nape of my neck urged me closer.

Just dive in, man.

I slowly sipped from her. The tip of my tongue flicked along her lower lip before I drew it between my teeth. I slid my hand up her thigh and under the shirt to find her soft skin.

Her breasts flattened against my chest as the kiss spun out way more quickly than I wanted it to. I’d rushed her into the house and demanded her attention and her touch. There was only one first time with her and I wanted to savor it. To slow it down and find all the pieces that made Piper sigh, moan, and groan.

I wanted a lot of things.

What I got was a greedy kiss that destroyed any sense of control I thought I had on the situation. She hooked her arm around the back of my neck and climbed onto me again. I gripped her ass and swung her up the rest of the way until she was firmly in my arms. I didn’t bother with formalities. There was only one destination for this evening.

I pulled my mouth away from hers long enough to mumble, “bed,” against her lips.

She tipped back her head and I took advantage of her neck. “Hallway. End. Hurry.”

Fuck, yes.

I stalked down the hall, never so thankful for my long-legged stride. I used my knee to push her bedroom door open. She had a wide, four-poster bed with a bench at the end of it.

Perfect. I had plans for that bench.

Later.

Right now, I only had plans for the wide, flat surface of her fucking mattress.

I deposited her on the center of her bed sideways. She scrabbled back, the tails of my shirt parting to show blue panties with stars on them.

Sweet.

Innocent.

So not in my wheelhouse.

I peeled them off of her. I didn’t want to think about the fact that she didn’t do this sort of thing. That we didn’t belong together. That this was anything but smart. I didn’t want any of that in my brain tonight. I just wanted her under me.

Maybe over me if I could stand it.

I flung the panties over my shoulder and opened her wide. I scraped my teeth along the inside of her thigh and up to her pussy. Please God, be wet enough for me.

She went up on her elbows and stared down at me with those huge, guileless eyes.

I hooked my fingers under her knees to dump her onto her back and went down on her like a starving man. It wasn’t far from the truth. Not only had I been less than interested in anyone of the fairer sex for too many months to count, but this particular woman had poked holes in my usual routine and left me stirred up in ways that defied logic.

At least my brand of logic.

She arched off the bed and gripped my hair, but I didn’t stop. I utilized everything I knew about her from our conversation the night before. The things I’d said to her that got the most response, I made sure to duplicate.

“Wait. God, oh my sweet Lord, where did you learn how to do that?” She slapped the mattress and tried to wiggle away from me.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

“I want to be part of this little party you’ve got going on in your head. Stop trying to rush me to the finish line.”

I pressed my mouth against her inner thigh as I peered up at her. “You want me to stop this?” I resumed my slow circles around her clit.

She tried to prop herself onto her elbows again but fell back and tangled her fingers in her hair.

Christ, I wanted to be the one to do that.

Instead I focused all my attention on her clit. Sucking and flicking until her legs trembled and she tried to inch across the bed.

I grabbed her ankle and dragged her back down so I could get back to the spot making her crazy. She tasted like sunshine and shadows at the same time. Heady and perfect with a side of wonder.

I slid my hands under her ass and held her still as she wiggled and thrashed. I chased each reaction until a pillow came down on my head.

A pillow in the shape of an…arm?

I licked her off my lips and kneeled at the edge of her bed. “What the fuck is that?”

“My boyfriend.”

“Your what?” I took the weird pillow away from her. It was wearing half of a dress shirt and shaped like a B with the arm curled out and ending in fingers sewn together. “What is this?”

“It was supposed to be in my closet, but I got distracted this morning and forgot to put it away.”

It still didn’t make sense that she had half a stuffed shirt in her bed. “And why did you hit me with it?”

“Because you’re not listening to me.”

“You really want me to stop?” I gave the crazy pillow another look before shaking my head and throwing it onto the chair across the room.

“No, of course not.” She blew out a slow breath. “I’m pretty sure I’m seeing in colors that aren’t on the normal spectrum of vision. I was about a second away from coming my brains out.”

“This is a bad thing?” I crawled over her and pressed my denim-clad cock against her pussy.

“I don’t want to come alone again.”

My chest tightened. “How the fuck am I supposed to reply to that?”

“Think about it. I had a solo orgasm the first night you came here—okay, maybe more than one. They sort of all rolled together. And then again last night with your voice in my ear. Don’t make me have another one.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Can’t make that promise. I plan to give you many.”

She huffed out a breath. “I want to have it with you. With you inside me.” She wrapped her leg around my hip. “I love that you want me so crazy—and believe me, I’m a hot lick away from crazy—but I want you more.”

I dropped my forehead to her chest. “Dammit, Piper.”

“What?” She smoothed her fingers through my hair.

“Why can’t you just do what I expect?”

She smiled. “You didn’t think I was just going to lay here and let you ravish me, did you?”

“Maybe.”

“I’m not that kind of girl.”

“I’m learning that.”

She rubbed her pussy against my erection and fumbled with the buttons of my shirt. “And I need you naked. Please?”

There was no way I was going to argue with her there. I finished the row of buttons with her help and stripped off my shirt, then reached behind my head for my undershirt.

“God, why is that so hot?”

I tossed it over the edge of her bed and halted with my hands on my belt. “What?”

“The way you took off your undershirt thing. I think there’s some contracting inside of me.”

“Is that right?”

She nodded, her teeth attacking her lush lower lip again. She was still wearing my shirt though the buttons were undone at the top and bottom, leaving a very brave one in the middle hanging on for dear life.

It was only right to release it from its duty.

I flicked it open and parted the material. Her skin was smooth and golden with curves for days. I started at the skin just above her necklace and trailed my fingertips down between her breasts. “Contracting here?”

She swallowed and shook her head. “Nope.”

I pushed the cotton aside further to reveal a tight, dark pink nipple. I traced the heavy lower curve of her breast and then back up to the taut tip. I tugged gently. “Here?”

She let out a slow breath. “Nope.”

I skimmed down her ribs and over to her navel. “How about here?”

“Maybe a little bit there.”

“Good to know. Am I getting warmer?” I asked as I followed the hollow of her belly to the silky skin above her slit. The little triangle of dark hair led me back to where I’d been a few minutes ago.

She swallowed and tipped her chin back as I continued to my destination. I slowed the course until she finally looked at me again. I parted her pussy with two fingers and slowly slipped inside of her. “Here?”

“God, yes.”

She was hot and so damn tight. I almost withdrew the second finger, but she lifted into my slow thrust until she took me deeper—another knuckle.

I ripped at my belt as she undulated into each thrust of my fingers. Her back arched and she spread her arm out over the sheets to twist into the edge of her blanket.

“Touch yourself, kitten.”

“I want to touch you.”

“Soon.” It was all I could manage as she writhed in front of me. I turned my fingers and circled her clit with my thumb until I could work her open for me. Just a little more.

Dear God, I wasn’t going to make it through this.

“Hudson.” She rose up enough to grab at my belt. It slipped through the loops and she gasped as she gripped the leather.

“Don’t give me ideas with that belt, kitten.”

Her eyes widened. “What sort of ideas?”

“Next time.”

She actually pouted and I laughed as I finally got my zipper down enough to get some relief.

Her gaze immediately went to my jeans before she hissed out a breath. “God, how long are your freaking fingers?”

I grinned down at her. “Fucking long.”

“God. God. Wait, oh sweet Mary, wait.”

“Throw all the religious names you want at me, I’m not waiting.” I flicked my thumb around her clit again and again. We were definitely at the end of waiting. I palmed my cock and stroked it for a modicum of sanity, but I was so very far gone.

I dug for my wallet and flipped out the contents until I found the pair of condoms I’d brought with me.

She levered herself up off the bed with her heels, but I slammed her back down and kneeled between her thighs. “Now you do have to wait. You said you wanted me to come with you, then you wait for one goddamn second.”

“Sadist.”

I laughed before tearing the damn wrapper off with my teeth. I rolled the latex down my shaft one-handed and covered her before I could string a thought together.

There was only getting inside of her.

I slipped my fingers out of her then curled my arm under her to swing her around length-wise on the bed. I needed every goddamn inch. She scrambled up on the bed under me. The soft curve of her open thighs fit me perfectly.

I looked down between us, then guided myself along her opening and slid inside with a groan so deep it hurt my chest. She wrapped her legs around me and pulled me even deeper.

Her name was a prayer, a promise, and a curse all wrapped into one as I sank into her again and again. My arm collapsed along the side of her until we were one gliding frenzy of slapping flesh. Our mouths fused together like our bodies and I lost all reason.

I was a live wire snapping and burning from the inside out. I surrounded her as she sheltered me in the same instant. Feeling her finally give in was my undoing. I buried my face in her neck as I lost the fight with my willpower and let go.

She didn’t let me go.

Even as her shudders subsided and her sighs matched with my slowing breaths, she didn’t let go.