~Joy~
“I forgot to tell you,” I say the next morning as we’re cozied up in Jace’s bed, drinking coffee and enjoying a lazy start to the day, “Meredith Williams invited you, me, and Levi to her house this afternoon for a BBQ. I said yes. It sounds fun.”
“Okay,” Jace says, reading an article on his iPad.
“Whatcha reading?”
“An article on bloodless open-heart surgery in infants,” he replies as calmly as if he’d said, “I’m taking a quiz on my personality type based on my favorite color.”
“What are you reading?”
“I’m looking at Amelia’s Instagram,” I inform him. “She already put up a couple of photos from yesterday. Did you know she has like two million followers on here?”
“Yeah,” he says and takes a sip of his coffee. “It’s pretty cool.”
“Her feed is beautiful,” I say and smile at a photo of her and Wyatt as the pastor said, “you may now kiss the bride.”
“I have to admit, I’m surprised your brother got married again. I’m happy for him.”
“Mm-hmm,” Jace says, still reading his article.
“I mean, his ex was a grade-A bitch from Hell. I never did like her. And after everything that happened with catching her fucking that guy, and the way she acted all through the divorce, I wouldn’t blame Wyatt if he swore off marriage forever.”
“He did,” Jace reminds me, “until he met Lia.”
“Exactly.” I sip from my mug and set my phone aside. “I like her. She seems sweet.”
I glance over and find that Jace is still reading his article, and I’m beginning to feel ignored.
So I lie back on the bed and pull the covers down to my waist, exposing my naked breasts. My nipples pucker from the cool air.
I raise my arms over my head, thrusting my chest into the air a few more inches and sigh dramatically.
“What should we do before we go to the BBQ?” I ask, hoping he looks down at me and does me.
“Whatever you want,” he says, his eyes still glued to his iPad.
I want you to fuck me seven ways to Sunday.
But rather than say that, I decide to be a little more . . . subtle. I drag one hand down my face, my neck, over my breast and belly, diving under the covers and finding my already hard clit.
I close my eyes and imagine that it’s Jace’s fingers tickling the nub, sending zings over my skin. I sigh, dip my fingertips into my wet pussy, then return to my clit, making slow, smooth movements back and forth. My hips move as if I were riding him.
Suddenly, Jace latches his lips around my nipple, and I open my eyes, smiling at him.
“Well, you are paying attention.”
“I never stop paying attention to you,” he says before kissing his way over to the other breast and sucking it hard into his mouth, then pulling up with a loud pop. “I heard every word you said. And I’ll never complain about this kind of a show coming from you. It’s fucking hot as hell. Do it every day if you want.”
“It’s your turn now,” I say, pulling my hand away, but he shakes his head.
“No, I like watching you pleasure yourself.” He tugs my nipple through his teeth, making me gasp, then goes back to kissing and sucking the underside of my breast, which is, coincidentally, more sensitive than the nipple itself. “I fucking love your nipples.”
“They’re too small.”
“Not from this view,” he says and rubs his nose back and forth over it. “Keep touching your clit. I want you to make yourself come.”
My cheeks flush, and I’m suddenly shy. This was a bad idea. I just wanted to catch Jace’s attention and let him take it from there.
The plan backfired on me.
He peels the covers off me and holds my thighs open as he watches my fingers move over the most sensitive part of myself.
“You’re too nervous,” he says and leans in to kiss my thigh, right next to my pussy. “Close your eyes and imagine that it’s me. Just do what you’d want me to do.”
That’s easy. That’s what I was doing to begin with. So, I follow his instructions and close my eyes. Now that I’m not watching him watch me, it’s easier. My muscles loosen, and my thighs fall apart effortlessly.
“Gorgeous,” he whispers before planting a wet kiss on my belly. “Put a finger inside.”
I comply, but it’s not enough. It’s not Jace, so I add another finger and sigh, biting my lip.
“You like that?”
I nod, but he bites my side, hard. It makes my pussy squeeze around my fingers. “Words, Joy.”
“I like it.” My voice is breathy and needy. I’m chasing a killer orgasm.
“What do you need?”
“You.”
I feel him smile against my skin, and it ticks my arousal up a notch, approaching unbearable.
“Jace.”
“Yes, sweetheart.”
“Please fuck me.”
“Well, since you asked nicely.” He flips me over, pulls my hips back and I hear him fumble with the condom. He pushes inside me, making me immediately explode with an orgasm. “Fucking hell.” He grips onto my hair at the nape of my neck. He doesn’t pull hard, but he has a firm hold, and it’s maybe the best sex I’ve ever had in my life.
Although, I think that every time Jace and I have sex.
He clenches onto my hip with his free hand, and I bury my face in the pillows as he fucks me ruthlessly.
He groans and slows, pushing all the way to the root, and loses himself in me.
“Is that what you were after?” he asks in my ear, panting.
“Oh, yeah.” I swallow hard, trying to catch my breath. “Yeah, that’s the stuff.”
He chuckles as he pulls out and collapses to the side of me. “So glad you approve.”
“So glad you don’t suck in bed,” I reply and then laugh at his look of surprise. “What? I mean, it would not be good if you were a horrible lover.”
“Are you saying you’re just with me because of the way I bone you?”
“No.” I shove my hair out of my face and laugh again. “Also, I love how romantic we are when we talk about having sex together.”
“I can’t believe you’re just with me for the humping,” he says, making me laugh harder. “Here I thought it was my sparkling wit and sense of humor.”
“I’m all about bumping uglies,” I say, still giggling. He cracks up, his abs clenching with the action, and I reach out to trace them with my fingertips. “These help, too.”
“My stomach?”
“Your abs. They’re hot. Let’s keep them.”
“I’ll do my best.”
“It didn’t occur to me that Will Montgomery would be here,” I whisper to Jace as we carry our drinks out the back door to the gorgeous outdoor living space. Meredith, and her husband Mark have a beautiful home. It’s something out of a Magnolia Home magazine.
I wouldn’t be surprised if Joanna Gaines decorated it herself.
“The Williams family is very close to the Montgomerys,” Jace says as he sits in a love seat and motions for me to join him.
“I know, I guess I just didn’t consider it.”
“Do you want to leave?”
I stare at him, blinking slowly. “No. No, I don’t.”
He smirks and sips his beer just as Levi joins us. Kids run around the yard and to the playhouse that’s a replica of the main dwelling.
“This is a great house,” I say, sipping my margarita. “Mer said Mark built it.”
“He’s a contractor,” Levi says with a nod. “He and Isaac Montgomery run Montgomery Construction.”
“Cool. There’s a lot of people in this family.”
“You’re not kidding,” Meg, Will’s wife says as she joins us. “It intimidated the hell out of me when I was first with Will. But they’re nice, and they only bite if you ask nicely.”
I smirk and glance at Jace, remembering the way he sank his teeth into my side earlier. If I’m lucky, I’ll have marks from it later.
Another woman comes outside and sits in the shade of the gazebo. My mouth is suddenly dry, and I can’t remember my own name.
Because, holy shit, that’s Starla.
As in, Starla the megastar. The voice of a generation. She can sing, dance, act. You name it, she can do it.
“Hey, girl,” Starla says to Meg, then plops down in a chair and sighs. Her hair used to be bleach-blond and short, but it’s grown long and is auburn now. She’s a tiny, petite woman, yet a powerhouse all at the same time.
I saw her Belladonna tour several years ago, and I’ve had a massive girl crush on her ever since.
I had no idea that she’d be here today.
“Starla, this is Jace and Levi Crawford, Wyatt’s brothers, and Joy Thompson.”
“Hi,” Starla says with a kind smile.
“Pleasure,” Jace says as if he’s meeting anyone, and Levi just nods.
I can’t even remember how to say words, so I just smile.
“So, what do you do, Starla?” Levi asks, pulling me out of my speechlessness. I stare, wide-eyed at Jace, but he doesn’t seem to know who she is either.
They’re idiots. Have I taught them nothing?
I’ve failed them.
“I’m a musician,” Starla says with a smile, tilting her head and hooking a piece of her hair behind her ear. Meg and I glance at each other.
“So, do you play the piano?” Jace asks.
I want to go hide in the playhouse. I can’t believe them.
“I do,” she says. “I play the guitar, too.”
“That’s awesome,” Levi says. “But what do you do to pay the bills?”
“Are you kidding me?” I ask at last, staring at both of them with disgust, then turning to Starla. “I apologize for them. They don’t get out much.”
“No, it’s actually really fun,” Starla says with a laugh and turns back to the guys. “The music gig pays the bills.”
“That’s fantastic,” Levi replies with a nod.
“What do you do?” Starla asks him.
“I’m a detective,” he says.
“Oh, do you work with Matt?” she asks.
“Yes, in a different department, but also for the Seattle PD.”
“Small world,” she says.
“Do you really not know who she is?” I ask Jace, who glances at me and gives me a wide-eyed look that says he’s lost.
I sigh, pull up my phone and find Starla on Wiki, then send him the link. He nods when he pulls it up on his phone, and then smiles down at me.
“Hi, guys,” Meredith says as she joins us. “I’m so glad y’all came. There’s food inside, but Will is already loading a plate so there may be none left by the time you get in there. I, however, am not eating much.”
“Why?” I ask her.
“Because we have a show tonight and it always makes me nervous.” She smiles and glances at Starla, who nods her head. “You guys have to come! Starla’s playing in town, and Jax and I get to dance with her, just like the good ol’ days.”
“I’m in,” I say immediately. Jace and Levi nod, not that I would have let them say no. We’ve just been invited to a Starla show. “And now I think I could use some food.”
I jump up, hurrying inside, hopeful that Will is still by the food. Of course, he’s married, and I’m in a relationship, and I’m just silly.
But holy fuck, he’s hot.
And when I move into the dining room where the food is set up buffet-style, I come to a screeching halt.
Will is holding a sleeping baby girl against his shoulder as he dishes up a plate. For a mere mortal, it would be difficult, but this is Will Montgomery we’re talking about. He’s balancing the baby and dishing up his plate effortlessly. And when he turns his head to kiss the baby’s cheek, I’m pretty sure my ovaries explode.
Damn. What is it about a man holding a sleeping baby?
“Hi, Joy,” Jules says when she sees me. “Come on, we have tons of food. I hope you’re hungry.”
“I am definitely hungry,” I agree. “And that baby is beautiful.”
“Thanks,” Will says with a proud smile. “I made this. Her name is Erin.”
“Yes, he made her all alone,” Natalie says, rolling her eyes.
“Nah, Meg helped.” Will kisses the baby’s head again. “Do you have kids, Joy?”
“No.” I shake my head as I set a pulled pork slider on my plate. “I have a busy veterinary clinic, and I’m not sure I have time for kids.”
“You can be successful and have kids,” Jules says. “It’s work, but it’s possible.”
“Well, I’m not in that position right now. But you never know.”
“You never know,” Jace says from behind me, startling me. I spin and find him smiling, not irritated in the least. “That looks good.”
I take a bite of the slider. “Delicious.”
“Wasn’t talking about the food.”
I blush, aware that we’re not alone, and I don’t know the Montgomery family well. But Will laughs as he walks past Jace.
“Good one, dude. You’re going to fit in just fine.”
“So, she was engaged,” I inform Jace after the show as we watch Starla take photos and sign autographs during her post-show meet and greet. We’re with Meredith and Jax, Jules and Nat, and most of the Montgomery clan as we wait for Starla to finish up and celebrate with us.
“Was?” Jace asks.
“Yeah. His name was Rick. He was a race car driver and died in an accident just a few months before their wedding date. It was really sad.”
“That’s horrible,” Jace says. Levi stands a few feet away, watching Starla and her fans closely.
“What the fuck is her security doing?” he demands. “Do they always let people touch her like that?”
“She doesn’t seem upset,” I say, watching as she says goodbye to the last person, takes a deep breath, and then walks over to us with a tired smile.
“That was fucking epic,” she says, offering her fist to the others for a fist-bump. “Seattle always rocks the house. And having Mer and Jax with me again was just . . . amazing.”
“It was wonderful and humbling,” Meredith says with a laugh. “I’m reminded that I had two babies and haven’t toured in about five years.”
“You kicked ass,” Starla assures her.
Jace and I are good at being wallflowers. We like to people watch, always have. We drink, stand together, and take everything in, then talk about it all after the event is over.
The good thing about tonight? It’s loud enough that we can talk about it in real-time.
“Your brother has the hots for Starla.”
Jace frowns. “How can you tell?”
“Seriously? Look at him. He’s been watching her like she’s the president and he’s the secret service all night.”
“The secret service doesn’t watch the president,” Jace says, shaking his head. “They watch everything but the president, in case they have to jump into action.”
“Okay, he’s been watching her like she’s a chocolate cupcake and he wants dessert real bad.”
Jace snickers. “He does enjoy a chocolate cupcake.”
We watch in avid fascination as Levi approaches Starla, and they step to the side so they can speak privately.
“I wonder what he’s saying,” Jace says.
“Let’s do the lip-sync game,” I suggest and take another sip of my martini. “Oh, Levi, you’re so big and strong. I love that leather jacket you’re wearing.”
“Yes,” Jace says, playing along, “my jacket is impressive. But you should see what I have going on under it.”
“Really? Do you have muscles? Tattoos? Are you packing heat?”
“I do get very hot in the summertime, wearing this jacket.”
I spit my drink out in laughter, then nudge Jace with my hip. “Maybe you should take your jacket off.”
“No, I need to keep it on, to look mysterious. You sure are pretty. When are you going to sing?”
“Aww, you’re making him sound stupid,” I protest, frowning up at Jace. “We already heard her sing.”
“He is stupid,” Jace says with a laugh. “Okay, she’s talking now. You go.”
“I think we should go back to my place. I’ll play my favorite playlist for you.”
“Is that all you want to do?” Jace asks. “We could take a shower, and I could show you the size of my gun.”
I giggle and then gasp. “Wait. Holy shit, they just traded phones. Your brother just snagged Starla’s number.”
“Atta boy,” Jace murmurs.
“Levi has game,” I say, impressed.
“I taught him everything he knows,” Jace says, puffing out his chest, and I dissolve into laughter.
“You’re so full of shit.” I shake my head and take a sip of my drink. “You don’t even know how to spell game.”
“I’m hurt.” He covers his heart with his hand. “Truly devastated.”
“There, there.” I pat him on the cheek, putting some force behind it. “I’ll make it up to you later.”
“I don’t know, you’re in a rough kind of mood.”
“I’ll be gentle with you.”
He sweeps me up into his arms and kisses me soundly, then plants his lips next to my ear in that way he does when he has something just for me to hear.
“I’m not going to be gentle with you.”
“Thank the baby Jesus.”