“Two for you, one for me,” I tease, nipping at Lyric’s swollen clit. She jerks at the sensitivity.
“Orgasm ratio? That’s really what you’re doing right now?”
I grin, feeling lighter than ever. “I’ll always make sure you get off more than me.”
“Lucky ladies,” she spews sarcastically.
Narrowing my eyes at her, I consider her intention behind the words. “I said you, Lyric. Just you.” I move up the bed, not ready to go into more detail, and lie back, turning on the television.
I flip through the channels, wishing there were ways we could get off together, like, at the same time. Apparently, I have a serious problem with condoms. Turns out the new box I purchased is defective. The moment I slid the first one on, the condom ripped at the head. Several curse words later, I tried another. Same problem. I kept trying until I’d emptied the entire box and chucked all the contents across the room.
Part of me thinks she likes the fact that we haven’t had sex yet. She laughs at my frustration. And I love when Lyric laughs, so I play it up a little, exaggerating my pout. Her laugh is like an instrument playing the sweetest, softest melody. It just might be my ultimate weakness.
Neither of us could sleep after we went back to my room last night, so we fooled around instead and grabbed breakfast from the hotel café before sneaking onto the bus. We were the first ones on, so we shut the door to my den, as she likes to call it, and collapsed on my bed. This time, we slept.
Hours later, we woke up and realized the bus was moving, which meant Crawley must have peeked in and saw us wrapped in each other’s arms. I don’t give a shit. Lyric smells good. Feels good too. All of that is something the old Wolf would have never known. But with Lyric’s quiet strength combined with our sexual chemistry, I’m not ready to send her packing.
“Maybe you should forego your room when we get to the hotel today. Stay with me tonight.” My eyes are focused on the television while I speak casually. As if what I asked isn’t a big fucking deal.
My arms are secured behind my head and Lyric is snuggled up against my bare chest, eyes focused on me. “Really?” She sounds nervous. Maybe she needs more convincing.
“I’m pretty sure I could go through an entire box of condoms tonight if you let me try.” I smirk, and she laughs.
“You’re such a romantic.”
I freeze and turn to look at her. “Is that what you want? Romance? With me?” I might have to contemplate this if it’s something Lyric wants. Right now, I can’t imagine letting her out of my sight, not even to slip into a room ten feet away.
Lyric’s eyes hold her shock, but she releases it with a laugh. “Don’t do that. Don’t say these things to me in the moment when we both know neither of us can handle a relationship right now.”
Is it so bad to think that I could maybe want a relationship with Lyric? Even I seem to think I’ll mess this up somehow, but what if I don’t? “I’m not promising anything,” I agree. “But it’s different with you.”
Her expression falls, and I desperately wish I could read this woman’s mind. “It’s just because we haven’t had sex yet,” she says with a shake of her head.
I want to grab that head, hold it still, and make her stop thinking so damn much.
“Don’t worry, Wolf. I won’t be that girl, okay? I won’t ask you for something you’ve admitted you don’t do. I just got out of a relationship, anyway, so I’m not ready for that kind of emotional turbulence.”
“With that fuck, Tony? You still messed up over him?”
Lyric shakes her head in frustration. “No, it’s not like that. It’s not about him. It’s about—”
“I know. Rock stars. You think we’re all the same.”
“Aren’t you?” She cries incredulously. “You’ve said it yourself.” She shakes her head, dragging a slow, deep breath between her lips. “Look. I think I’m okay with fooling around. You know, until we call it quits. Maybe at the end of the tour.”
A blow below the belt. “What the hell does that mean?” It might make me a hypocrite, but I didn’t expect this from Lyric. Not that I had plans for us after fucking. That has always kind of been the end goal, but right now, I don’t want anyone else.
My jaw hardens, and I know she sees my expression change because hers does, too. “That’s shitty, Lyric.” I loosen my grip on her, and she tries to meet my eyes again, but I’ve already looked away. If she doesn’t move off me, I’ll move her myself.
“I’m not your type, remember?” Her words come out in a rush. “Isn’t this just about sex? I get it, Wolf. You’re not secretive about your relationship preferences. You don’t have a girlfriend by choice. You’re content to bounce from one girl to the next, and while I’ll never understand that, I’m smart enough to know I need to shield my heart from you. I have no expectations.”
She’s not wrong for saying these things, but they still hurt. She wasn’t supposed to be like the others. Using me for her own release. In the past, the “using” has always been mutual. Women use me for bragging rights and a good time while I use them for the release I need.
No expectations. What if I have expectations? I do. I did. The thought of making Lyric come as many times as possible over the course of this tour came to mind a few times in the last twelve hours. What if I don’t want it to end when our tour does? What if I don’t want Lyric to shield her heart from me?
Shit.
Realizing I brought this upon myself, I bite back my anger and smile. She’s right. I’ve made it no secret that I’m not the type of guy to be with only one woman. But then why does it feel like she just reached into my chest and squeezed my heart with her small, unsuspecting hands?
“You’re a smart girl, Lyric.” This time I manage to roll her off me. I stand and pull my shorts on before taking the three steps to my tiny closet to grab a shirt. Without a word, I leave my bedroom, shutting the door behind me. I walk past the bunks and into the living area to join the rest of the guys in front of the television.
Stryder gives me a knowing glance, and he doesn’t look happy about it. He probably thinks I’ve just fucked Lyric and now I’m done with her. I guess in a way I am, but not by choice. Not at all.