Waking up next to Eric Newcastle twice in three days had her pinching herself under the covers. The pillows were just as comfortable as she remembered, but that didn’t stop the hot flush that traveled through her when she looked over at him. Squeezing her thighs together, she retreated to her mantra of professionalism and not wanting to screw this up.

She couldn’t have pictured her life turning out this way only last week. Waking up next to him on a tour bus driving down the highway, to a city she’d forgotten the name of, was something beyond her wildest dreams. She sat up in bed, light filtering in through the drawn blinds and the bus lurched to a stop. She slid down the bed and Eric groaned, rolling over to face her. Why did guys always have such spectacular eyelashes? She resisted the urge to run her fingers over them.

Tiptoeing out of the bed, Keira opened the bedroom and stopped short when the driver came out of the bathroom. He glanced at her quickly, grumbled a good morning, before stomping his way off the bus. Darting into the bathroom and taking care of business, she quickly brushed her teeth and ran a brush through her hair. Glancing at herself in the mirror, she assessed her hair, gave a small shoulder shrug, grinning, she stuck her tongue out then turned, opened the door and ran right into Eric. He grabbed her arms to steady her and she felt the distinct outline of some morning wood down below. His sleepy eyes and small smile, had her grinning up at him.

“I don’t have my glasses on, so I really hope you’re Keira and not Steve the driver.”

“Who’s Keira?” she said, in her best gruff guy voice.

“Well in that case, Steve, I have something to confess. I’ve always found you completely irresistible. And since Keira and I have made a solid pledge of professionalism, I’m going to finally take my shot at you.” He slid his hand along her cheek and threaded his fingers into her hair.

“Steve, your hair’s a lot longer than I remember.”

“Yeah, you know. I’ve been letting it grow out lately.”

“I like it,” he said, pulling her closer, bringing their faces within inches of one another.

“I have a confession,” he said, getting closer.

“What?” she said, her voice sounding breathier than she’d ever heard it.

“I knew it was you all along,” he said, his freckles drawing her in. She laughed.

“It’s good to know I’m not easily mistaken for Steve. Glasses or not,” she said, glad she’d already brushed this morning. Staring into his crystal blue eyes, she felt her mouth go dry and the flutters in her stomach were definitely not food poisoning this time. He leaned in closer and she opened her mouth, inviting him to take possession of her mouth. What had she been saying about keeping things strictly business?

Drawing her in closer, his eyes gazing deeply into her own, she held her breath. The warmth of his lips whispered across hers. They were less than an inch apart when a huge bang jolted them both apart. Eric peeked out from behind the open bathroom door.

“Morning Steve!” he called out. “At least I hope that’s Steve. It was a large grayish blob that sat down in the driver’s seat.”

The bus jerked as Steve pulled out of whichever pit stop they had made and got them back on the road. The two of them held onto the walls as they were rocked from side to side, nearly colliding with one another. A sharp turn had her falling into him, knocking him over and onto one of the bunks behind him. Breathing heavily, with her on top of him, she peeked up at him and he palmed her ass pulling her tighter against him.

“I’m just trying to make sure you don’t fall. Totally not copping a feel,” he said, grinning. She rolled her eyes and shifted her weight only to brush up against something she was pretty sure wasn’t a piece of musical equipment.

“Wait, don’t move,” he said, through gritted teeth. Wow, a little butt cupping and he was already at full mast. She’d have laughed, if her stomach wasn’t already doing summersaults. What If she just had a taste, she thought staring into his eyes. Their gazes were locked, neither able to look away and then, unable to resist anymore, Keira brushed her lips against his.

An electric jolt rocked her, along with the bus, that went from her lips, through her core straight out her toes. He let out a moan as he delved deeper into her mouth. Their tongues dancing and his hands skimming across her skin, as he broken the kiss and made his way down her chin. His thigh slid between her legs and before she knew it, she was grinding on him. Her breath hitching as pleasure rolled through her body. Realizing what she’d done, Keira clutched his t-shirt in her fists, twisting the fabric in her hands before pushing off him and out of the bunk. That was way too intense. That was ridiculously hot and she was kicking herself for thinking she’d be able to settle for a taste.

She scrambled off the bunk and back to the bathroom door. They both panted, out of breath, and staring into one another’s eyes.

“That was an accident. I didn’t mean to—” she said, her crimson face reflected back at her in the mirror right next to her face. How in the hell do you accidentally maul a guy’s face and hump against him until you’re seconds from coming? She barely refrained from slapping herself in the head.

“Of course, a mistake,” A big smile on his face. “Can’t say I wouldn’t mind a few more of those,” he said, moving her to the side into the hall outside the bathroom door. “I can be patient and walk you through any more mistakes you might want to make later. You know where to find me,” he said, grinning and closed the bathroom door in her face. She walked back to the bedroom and plopped down on the bed, staring at her feet.

Shit! Why had she done that? His lips looked so freaking soft and kissable. And once her fingers touched his solid chest she’d lost her mind a bit. How could she resist him? Did she really want to?

* * *

When Eric’d woken up, he ran his hand over the bed next to him. He popped up when he found the space beside him empty. Without his glasses, he trusted his hands over his eyes. Where had she gone? The loud flush of the toilet in the hall clued him into her whereabouts. Deciding against wearing the glasses on the bedside table, he stumbled out into the hall outside the bedroom and ran smack into Keira. Even as a blurry blob, waking up and seeing her first thing in the morning brightened his soul in a way he hadn’t known possible.

Their playful banter, so free and without reservations made him happier than he had been in a long time. He’d have to give Steve a tip for his ace driving that ended with his lips pressed against hers. Fully on board with not taking this any further than she wanted, once her lips were on his, the searing heat of their skin radiated through him. Her hair, so silky and smooth, ran through his fingers and he couldn’t help but try for more. Once her fingers gripped his t-shirt he was sure this would be the end of her protests of them being together in a more than professional way. It was her soft moans as she ground against his thigh that almost had him exploding in his pants like a high schooler.

But she reeled it all back in, leaving him wanting more. The morning wood transformed itself from a biological quirk to a massive hard on for her. Her protests only showed him that he would have to bide his time, but she wasn’t completely against them being together. He could make her see how good it would be, but for now he needed to take care of things in the bathroom away from her, lest he embarrass himself.

Washing his face, he stumbled back out of the bathroom and into the bedroom. Keira sat up on the bed, leaning against the headboard with the blanket over her legs. Sick of not being able to see her clearly, he begrudgingly picked up his glasses and put them on. Sitting in the bed next to her, he picked up his notepad and flicked it open to the song he’d been working on before the one Keira inspired last night. Instantly, his stomach turned. Talia. He needed to get this out. Get this done and banish Talia from even a fleeting thought forever.

They sat in companionable silence for a bit, out of the side of his eye he could see her staring at him.

“Yes, I know. Glasses.”

“They’re cute,” she said and he almost believed her.

“Sure,” he said, going back to his notepad, angrily stabbing words onto the page. The click of a camera snapped him out of his irritated trance. He whipped off his glasses and put them on the table.

“You cannot show that to anyone,” he said, putting his notepad down.

“Why not? I think you look cute in your glasses!” she said, snapping a few more pictures.

“Coke bottle glasses are not exactly known to win over the music loving masses.”

She let her camera dangle around her neck. “What about Buddy Holly? I think those glasses worked out pretty well for him. Plus, it’s a side that fans don’t get to see of you. I think they would love it.”

“Keira,” he warned.

“Okay, fine, fine, no glasses pictures. But I still think they’re cute.”

His heart warmed at that. Growing up as a nerdy kid with shitty eye sight, a dorky demeanor and a freakishly intense love of music, he hadn’t ever thought that a woman like Keira would go for him. She exuded an easy confidence that told him she’d always been one of those girls. A girl who had an easy way about her that made everyone around her love her without even realizing it. He was halfway there and he’d only known her for a few days.

The early morning stop and late flight had screwed up both of their sleep cycles. Eric knew that ‘breakfast’ didn’t usually happen until eleven, so they had a little bit longer until that stop. Keira’s stomach growled next to him and he chuckled.

“I might have a protein bar or something in my bag. They haven’t stocked the kitchen yet, but I’ll be sure to get some supplies for us today. Food stops on tour are always a bit off the normal schedule.”

He climbed out of the bed and dug around in his bag for a protein bar he’d stashed there earlier. His stomach grumbled when he finally found it. Keira perched on the edge of the bed and he held it out to her. She shook her head.

“You’re just as hungry as I am. You have it. I’m good.”

“No, I’m fine. Seriously,” he said, holding the bar out to her.

“How about we split it?” she said, taking the bar, unwrapping it and breaking it in half. She held out the other end to him and he took it from her, grateful that she’d been willing to share. They chowed down on their bars and started to get ready for the day. Moving into the living area after getting dressed, they found a pack of cards and got down to a brutal game of War, while trying to keep their minds off their grumbling stomachs.

Stocking up on snacks became the top priority. He wasn’t exactly showing off the best aspects of touring right now. But he vowed that he’d make sure this was a tour for her to remember.