Bayou Stix Series: Bayou Stix Limited Edition Box Set (31 page)

Smiling at him, I twirl a curl in my hair and murmur, “No thank you. I’m meeting some friends. I think I see them now.” And I do. I can see Jessie, Cruz, and Jude’s backs clearly from my position. Jessie looks over and catches my eye. His gaze rakes my body and I see him shake his head and smile. He winks at me.

I guess this is my cue.

I slow my walk and twitch my hips. This is the most important part I’ll ever play and I have to nail it!

It’s dark in the bar, but not dark enough that they can’t see me. They just won’t know it’s me until I’m right upon them.

I start to head their way. Jude’s back is to me. He’s sitting on a stool. Jessie is standing, leaning back against the table. Dade is on the other side of the table, with his arms resting on the table top, opposite of Jessie. Liam is sitting in a chair on the other side of the table, directly across from Jude, and Cruz is in a stool sideways, peeling the label from a beer bottle next to Jude.

I’m visible to everyone
but
Jude.

Jessie looks over at me and I see his mouth move. He nudges Dade and he looks over at me. As I get closer, I see all four guys staring at me, but only Jessie recognizes me, as Jude continues to look at the table top.

Once I’m in earshot, I hear Jessie. “Mighty fine piece of ass right there! Shit… I get dibs. Damn, Jude, this girl is fine… you have to see her!”

Really Jessie? Lay it on a bit thicker, will you!

Finally, Jude looks up and his head swivels around. He starts at my feet and his gaze travels upward. Five inch black stilettos, bare glistening legs, short, barely there black leather skirt, completely see through black lace shirt, black lace push up bra, displaying ample cleavage, then his gaze lands on my mouth, which is painted a lush red, before settling on my eyes, dark and smoky… He gets to my messy pinned up hair, with haphazard pieces falling, and he zeros back in on my face.

His mouth drops open in shock.

“Lexi?”

I smile and purr as I walk closer. Into his personal space. His feet hit the floor. “Hello, Jude.” I look around at the band. “Boys.”

Again his eyes take in my clothing. Or the lack of it, really. He stands up and reaches for me. “What the fuck? Lexi? What are you doing? Oh my God. What are you wearing?”

I look down at my clothes and feign a surprised look. “Clothes?”

“No, that is
not
clothes… You… You’re all on display… You… Too much of you is on display!” He looks at the guys who are blatantly appreciating my attire. He growls. “Stop fucking looking at her, assholes!”

Without saying a word he pulls me behind him and drags me out of the bar. Ok. This is not going right… Where is he taking me? Is he going to throw me out of the hotel?

But he only pulls me to the elevator before swiping his card and pushing a button. He closes his eyes and leans his head against the wall of the elevator. What exactly is happening right now?

He doesn’t speak or look at me until the elevator dings. Then he gestures for me to go out ahead of him. I step out and he walks behind me. I have no idea where I’m walking. Stopping behind me, he swipes his key card in front of double doors. Still not saying a word, he opens the door and motions me into the room.

It’s a suite. A nice suite. Much nicer than my room.

He’s still not talking. Why is he not talking? What am I supposed to do here?

I look up. He’s staring at me. Drinking me in. He looks rough. His hair is messy and his eyes are listless. His face has a few days worth of beard on it instead of his trademark scruff. But he still looks beautiful.

I open my mouth to speak, but he holds up his hand, stopping me. Breathing deeply, he closes his eyes and says, “Why are you here, Lexi? What do you want?”

Here it is. It’s all or nothing. Covering the distance between us, I stand right in front of him, and touch his face. He flinches.

God, I’ve hurt him so much. Please let me be able to make it right.

“Jude. Jude, look at me. Please,” I whisper up at him. He swallows and opens his eyes. I stare into them and hold them with my own as I continue. “I’m here for you. I came for you. I’m not me without you. I love you. You
are
the other part of me. You own my body, my head, my heart, my soul. Without you, I exist…
with
you… I live.”

His eyes are glassy. I’m making this beautiful man who never did anything but love me cry. I don’t deserve him. I don’t, but I want him. I love him.

Stepping back, I raise my shirt. Pulling it over my head, I let it drop to the floor. His eyes follow my movements and then rest on my chest. I’m breathing rapidly, but my cleavage is not what he’s looking at. He’s staring at the tattoo on my ribcage. It starts under my left breast and wraps a little around my side. He reaches out to touch it.

“Why? Why would you do this? Why would you mar your perfect skin with this?” His hand traces the top.

“Because, Jude. You are my past. You are my present.
YOU
are my future. You are the first boy and the only man I’ve ever loved. You are the only man I ever want to love. You’re the only man I ever
will
love. I did it for you. Because you
are
my infinity.”

My voice gives out and I have to bite my lip. He just stares at the tattoo. Gently tracing it. The flaming microphone, the pink Gerber daisy, and the infinity symbol on the bottom. My tattoo is an exact replica of his, but for the infinity symbol.

After a few minutes, he’s still silent. I let out a weary sigh, and bend over to grab my shirt off of the floor. I tried… I gave it my all, but I guess it was just too much. He really is done. My throat closes up and I have to get out of here. I step around him.

“Where are you going, Lex?”

I can’t look at him. I can’t stand to see in his eyes that he’s finished with me. “Home I guess. I’m sorry.”

He grabs my arm. “The hell you are!”

I gasp as I fall into his chest from the force of him spinning me around. Looking up, I see the ire in his eyes. “I’m sorry. I thought… I mean… I assumed…”

He cradles my head as he tips my chin up. “Lexi. Lexi. Lexi. When are you going to learn your lesson? Don’t assume anything with me! Ever! I have never lied to you. I never will. I lost eight years with the woman I love because you assumed I’d cheated on you. I have never. I will never. I was never going to let you go. I can’t. I meant it… you’re my kryptonite. I can’t exist without you. I’m not alive without you.
You. Are. Mine.
I’m never letting you go.”

“You still love me?”

“Yes, you crazy, exasperating woman! I love you. I’ve always loved you! I’ll never stop loving you! You are
it
for me!” Each sentence is punctuated with a kiss.

Wrapping my arms around his neck and grabbing fistfuls of his hair, I find his mouth with mine and sweep my tongue against his lips. His beard is rough against my face and it’s scratching it, but I don’t care. It’s been way too long since I’ve felt this man’s mouth on mine.

Pulling back, he grabs my hips and lifts me up, wrapping my legs around his waist. His hands cup my ass and he squeezes. He kisses me hard. “You’re going to marry me, Alexia Sloane!”

I look at him, shocked. “Are you asking me to marry you?”

He shakes his head no. “No, it’s not a question. You
are
going to marry me. Not today, but soon. Very soon!”

Laughing, I say, “Yes, Sir.”

He swats my ass. “Good answer. That’s always the proper response.” He drops me on the bed. I bounce. Climbing up on my knees, I grab for his belt. Slapping my hands away from him, he smiles at me. I frown. What the hell?

He reaches into his pants pocket and pulls out something. He leans over me. “Give me your hand, Lexi!”

“Huh?”

Impatiently, he pushes me back, and I lose my balance falling onto my back on the bed. He reaches over and kisses me gently. I hear a box open and he slides something onto my ring finger. Pulling away from him, I look at my hand. A gorgeous, huge pink and white diamond ring is sitting on my finger. My mouth opens wide, and I stare at him. He smirks and rubs my finger, where his ring is sitting pretty.

“I told you we were getting married. I never intended to let you go, Lex. You always have been and always will be…
MINE
!”

I throw myself at him and pull him into me. “I love you. I love you. I love you!”

“Well, duh. I love you, too you frustrating female! Now you need to plan a wedding. Just make it snappy! I’ve been patient long enough!”

Jude

It’s full night now and I look over at the gorgeous woman sleeping next to me.

Lexi. My love. My life. My fiancée.

Things are not easy, but we’ll make it. Her beside me is the only way I can exist…

I lift her hand and kiss my ring on her finger. This is the first day of the rest of our life.

One thing is absolutely certain; things will never be boring…

Clarity
 – Zedd

Scream
 – Usher

Dance Me to the End of Love
 – The Civil Wars

All or Nothing
 – Theory of a Deadman

You and Me
 – Lifehouse

Rockstar
 – Nickelback

It’s Not Over
 – Daughtry

So What
 – Pink

Asking Too Much
 – All That Remains

I Can’t Stay Away
 – The Veronicas

Wanted You More
 – Lady Antebellum

One More Night
 – Maroon 5

Blow Me (One Last Kiss)
 – Pink

If I Didn’t Have You
 – Thompson Square

Home
 – Michael Bublé

Not Over You
 – Gavin DeGraw

Why Do You Love Me
 – Garbage

Photograph
 – Nickelback

Broken
 – Seether, Amy Lee

Desperately Wanting
 – Better Than Ezra

Blame
 – Cavo

Come & Get It
 – Selena Gomez

Everybody’s Fool
 – Evanescence

If I Ever Get Around To Living
 – John Mayer

Fortune and Pain
 – Kyle Turley

I Could Not Ask For More
 – Edwin McCain

Thanks To You
 – All Time Low

Trying Not To Love You
 – Nickelback

Cruise
 – Florida Georgia Line

When You Were Mine
 – Lady Antebellum

You Don’t Know Her Like I Do
 – Brantley Gilbert

Lost In You
 – Three Days Grace

You Lie
 – The Band Perry

Screwed Up and Beautiful
 – Better Than Ezra

Who You Are
 – Jessie J

Something To Talk About
 – Bonnie Raitt

Someone Else Calling You Baby
 – Luke Bryan

The Man Who Never Lied
 – Maroon 5

First Time
 – Jonas Brothers

After All
 – Cher and Peter Cetera

Think Twice
 – Eve 6

Thank you so much for reading my debut novel.

Lexi and Jude have been in my head for a long time, but it has taken quite awhile for me to have the courage to pursue my dreams and actually put their story out there.

I hope you loved the book as much as I loved writing it and I hope that you’ve fallen as in love with my characters as I have.

If you DID in fact love the book, please:

*Leave a Review

Reviews help Indie Authors sell books.

*Recommend the book to others.

*Lend the book. One time lending is enabled on Alluring Turmoil.

I have much more to tell you about Bayou Stix and some other books as well, and I pray that you allow me to share my stories

Thanks…

Skye Turner, Author