Taming the Storm

We’re just staring at one another. Tom’s breaths are deep and fast. Mine are even faster. My panties are wet, and he hasn’t even touched me. I’m so wet that it’ll be embarrassing when I have to stand.

His eyes dip to my lips. I squirm at the sight of his teeth dragging over his lower lip.

He’s going to kiss me.

And I’m pretty sure that I’m going to let him.

The bathroom door bangs shuts.

Tom and I jerk away from each other like we’ve been shot.

Seconds later, Cale comes wandering into the kitchen. “Fucking Sonny. Beat me to the bathroom, and I’m dying to piss.”

My eyes are still fixed on Tom. He’s standing by the bench he was just sitting in with his hand gripping the back of it, his eyes on Cale.

“Too much info as usual,” I say, dragging my eyes from Tom to Cale. “And please don’t piss in the sink,” I add, knowing that has happened on more than one occasion in the past.

“Spoilsport.” He chuckles. “Mornin’,” he says as he moves past Tom to the kitchen cupboard.

Tom gives him one of those manly chin nods.

Cale comes back, bowl and spoon in hand. “Scoot over,” he says.

I shuffle over, making room, and take my now empty coffee mug with me.

“You sleep okay?” Cale asks me, knowing that I always struggle to sleep well on the first night in a new bed.

“The alcohol I drank last night helped.” I grin at him.

“Getting into the rock-star lifestyle already?” he teases.

I give him the middle finger.

Chuckling, he slings his arm around my neck and pulls me to him before planting a kiss on the top of my head. Laughing, I push him away.

I grab the box of cereal and pour some into his bowl. “Eat your breakfast, and stop hassling me.”

Shaking his head, smiling, Cale reaches over to get the milk.

That’s when my eyes meet with Tom’s.

He’s silently watching Cale and me. Arms folded tight across his chest, his face is perfectly blank, but in his eyes, I see a flare of anger.

He seems to realize that I’m staring at him, and he loosens his arms and gaze.

“We’ll be stopping to refuel soon, so if you need anything, get it then because we won’t be stopping again until we reach Boise.” Then, Tom walks away.

I watch him move down the galley to the driver’s area, and he slams the door shut, the same door we always keep open.

Is Tom angry because Cale interrupted was about to happen between us? Or is it because of the affectionate way Cale was with me?

Cale is always that affectionate with me, so it’s not unusual.

Because if he is pissed over Cale, then that would mean—

No.

I’m not thinking about what any of this means, and I’m definitely not thinking of the fact that I came pretty close to kissing Tom.

Or that I just gave him my life story.

The only ones who know my shit are Dex and Cale, and even Cale doesn’t know all of it.

But now Tom knows, and I don’t know what to do with that. I don’t know what’s happening between us.

One thing I do know is that I trust Tom with my past. And to me that means a lot. A real lot.

Later That Day—A Club, Boise

“Are you fucking Cale?”

I turn, wide-eyed, ignoring the heat of Tom pressed against my side. His breath hot as he speaks into my ear over the loud music.

We’re in a club in Boise, and we just finished playing our set fifteen minutes ago. We decided to stay, have a drink, and listen to the rest of the bands play before we have to get back on the road.

I’m at the bar, waiting to order drinks for me and the guys. Cale, Van, and Sonny are already out fishing, and Tom, so it seems, has a seriously inappropriate question for me.

“What?” I say slowly.

His jade green eyes are burning down on me.

I expect him to retract, or maybe I made a mistake and didn’t hear him correctly.

He keeps his gaze fixed on mine as he leans in, putting his face close. He tucks my hair behind my ear, his fingers lingering there.

“I said, are you fucking Cale?”

I push away from him. “Are you being serious right now?”

“Deadly.”

I stare at him, completely taken aback.

I’ve hardly seen him all day, and when I did, he was a moody bastard.

Now, the first words he speaks directly to me all night is to ask if I’m having sex with Cale.

Ignoring him, I turn back to the bar just as the bartender approaches. “Three beers and a vodka and tonic, thanks.”

The bartender’s eyes shift to Tom. I wonder if he knows who Tom is.

“Add a double Jack to that order.” Tom hands the bartender his credit card.

“I don’t need you to buy me a drink.” I scowl at him.

“I thought maybe you’d answer my question if I did.”

“Why does it matter to you if I am sleeping with Cale?”

Saying nothing, he stares at me.

I start to fold under his intensity.

“It’s none of your business.”

“I need to know what the members of my band are doing.”

“Even their bedroom activities?”

He steps close to me. “Even that. Knowledge is power.”

“Well, Sonny should make you plenty powerful then.”

He barks out a laugh. Then, moves in closer, his hand going to my exposed lower back. “Answer the question, Lyla.”