Take Me Home Tonight (23 page)

And of him waiting in the hospital to find out whether or not she'd survive her overdose.

He'd given up his apartment, his band, and his life to make sure she didn't try to take her life again.

She threw back the covers and got up. “I'll get dressed.”

Relief flashed through him. And that was when she got something else. For as much as he was surrounded by his family and all those childhood friends, Calix was essentially alone. He shouldered the burden of his family's well-being by himself.

Walking right up to him, she wrapped her arms around his waist and held him close.

His body stiffened. “We need to get going.”

But she ignored him, burrowing deeper. If she had any doubts about whether or not he wanted her comfort, they were dispelled when his arms wrapped loosely around her.

She slid a leg between his, getting even closer, and his hands shifted slowly across her back until his arms banded around her. And then he was holding her tightly, resting his chin on top of her head. They stood like that for several long moments until she leaned back. “Give me five minutes.”

She gazed up into his eyes, watching the anxiety recede just slightly.

And then she got ready to go.

*   *   *

The
band was on fire. Calix's fingers flew over the keyboard; everyone was in perfect sync. His dad had hired the tumbao group for a few days, which made the sound richer, fuller. And a hell of a lot more fun.

Movement behind the glass caught his eye, and when he looked up, he saw Gus entering the control room. A moment later, the door opened and Laney stumbled in, laughing.

No one had heard from Gus all weekend—not since he'd packed up his truck and moved out. And now, Monday morning, he showed up late and with
her
?

Calix stopped playing. Shit was about to get ugly.

Gus made a grab for Laney, but she flew out of his hold and slammed into Terrence, who whipped off his headphones and shoved his chair back.

Calix took off. As soon as he opened the door, he caught his dad's angry tone.

“Not discussing it with you. Don't have the time. Told you not to fuck up. You did.”

Taking in his brother's bedhead, the dirty, wrinkled clothes, and the bloodshot eyes, Calix caught hold of his upper arm and ushered him and Laney out the door, through the lounge, and into the bright sunlight of a May afternoon.

He stepped right up to Laney. “I told you not to come here.”

“I'm just dropping him off.” Underneath that thick black
eyeliner and cheaply dyed blond hair, she was probably a pretty girl. But she looked harsh and worn-out, and he couldn't miss the wary look in her eyes. This girl had been wounded, and she wasn't done fighting back.

He didn't want to add to her hurt, but he couldn't let her cause trouble around here. “Next time you drop him off, don't get out of your truck.”

Gus pushed between him and Laney. “You don't have to talk to her like that.”

“She's not welcome here, and you know that. So does she.”

“I'm
with
him.” She reached for Gus's hand. “Come on, baby, let's go.”

Gus gently peeled her off. “Lane, wait in the truck. I want to talk to my brother.”

“You're gonna stand up for me, right?”

His brother looked supremely uncomfortable. “Go. I'll be right there.”

She bit down on her bottom lip, watching him carefully. “Your family sucks.”

Calix gave her a hard look. “His family cares about him.”

“So do I.”

“Really? Because you might've just gotten him fired.”

“It's his
dad
. His dad's not going to fire him.” Pressing up to Gus, she gave him a long, wet kiss. Gus set his hands on her hips and pushed her back. “You know why he likes me?” she asked over her shoulder. “'Cause I'm a hell of a lot more fun than you assholes.” She sashayed back down the driveway.

Gus ran a hand through his hair. “We had to get furniture for the new place. We don't have any.”

“You get it after work. You don't bail on your job.”

“Can you get off my back? You and I both know this isn't about furniture. It's about me moving out. Look, I get it. I know you think I'm bailing on Mom, but I'm not. I'm gonna be over as often as I can. But come on, I gotta have a life.”

“You want a life with Laney Morrison?” He shook his head. “That girl is trouble.”

“Only when you treat her like shit. She gets defensive and turns bitchy, I know that. But when I'm alone with her, she's different. She's pretty cool. And you know what? She's fun.
And wild. And I
need
that.” He looked off toward the ocean, obviously deeply conflicted. “You don't know how much I need that.”

“Did you know she fucked with Slater and Emmie?”

His eyes went wide.

“Slater didn't want anything to do with her, so she got naked and waited for him in bed.
Emmie's
bed. After Ben scraped her off, she tried to hook up with Cooper. He brought her to a bonfire one night, and she took a swing at Violet.”

Gus's features tightened, and he looked away.

“That's why she's not allowed here.”

“She's not like that anymore.”

“Because she has you?”

“Yeah, man. Because I make her feel worthwhile.”

“Okay.” He pulled on his scruff. He wasn't going to get him to give up the girl. “You do what you gotta do, but the band's not gonna tolerate you showing up hungover or high. And they're definitely not gonna put up with you making your own hours. These guys are serious about their music, and the only people they let in are on their level.”

Gus kicked at the gravel, blowing out a shaky breath.

“You want this?” Calix asked.

His head snapped up, squinting in the sunlight. “You know I do.”

“I think you know Dad's not gonna tolerate this shit. I'll talk to him, but it might be too late.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “Hear me on this one, though. You don't want to be associated with the woman who fucked with Emmie and Violet.”

“Yeah, I get it. Just . . . it means a lot to her to be part of this.”

“She's not, and she never will be.”

“Yeah, okay.”

He drew his brother in for a hug. “Come by the house tonight and talk to Dad. Let him know you've got your head on right, and that you're not gonna fuck up again.”

Gus nodded tersely, then turned to go.

“Oh, and text me your address, okay?”

His brother just gave a half-hearted wave over his shoulder as he headed down the driveway.

He could see his brother's struggle, and he didn't have a clue how to make things right. Like everyone else, Gus needed to find his legs in the world, and Calix guessed this thing with Laney had to run its course.

But at what cost?

I'm here
.

Happiness shot through him, and he shoved the phone into his back pocket. It'd take her a few minutes to get from the main house to his cottage, so maybe he'd toss his laundry in the dryer. Clean up a little.

On his way, though, he stopped at the window, peering out into the darkness.

Impatience had him bursting out of his skin. He needed a beer, calm his shit. Stalking off to the kitchen, he yanked open the refrigerator, nabbed a bottle off the shelf. Popped the top.

Tipping his head back and letting the cold liquid slide down his throat, he closed his eyes.
Mimi.
Her neck arched, breasts thrust high, as he licked her soft, slick folds.

Fuck. She was so responsive. It made him wild for her. He palmed his dick, willing it to calm the fuck down.

He'd hardly seen her this week. Since his dad had signed the contract, the band was back in the studio full force. And that meant he'd had to miss her third competition—which she'd rocked. And Joey from Florida had failed.

He was used to seeing her every day—so that was probably why he was all worked up.

Eagerness coiled through him, making him edgy. It took all his discipline not to go out there, meet her halfway.

Are you fucking kidding me?
He could wait. He'd wait.

Laundry.
He headed into the small room that smelled strongly of detergent. Lifting the lid of the washing machine, he transferred the wet clothes to the dryer.

That night in her apartment . . . fuck, it had been good. Just
thinking about her mouth, the slam and swivel of her hips, dammit. He squeezed his cock. It fucking ached.

Where was she? He started the machine, let the lid slam shut. As the walls closed in on him, he stalked back into the living room and threw open the front door, started down the stairs. He'd—

“Calix?” Her excitement hit him hard in the chest.

He curled his toes in his boots to keep from going after her.

And then he saw her. Racing toward him, all those curls sailing behind her, a smile so wide it made his heart thunder.

She ran, and he forced himself to stay put. This wasn't some movie scene. He wasn't going to catch her and spin her around or some shit.

And then she flew at him. Knocked him so hard he had to take a step back to keep from losing his balance. Her perfume swirled around him, and her hair brushed over his skin.

That's it.
He was done. Grabbing a fistful of hair at the back of her neck, he tilted her head and found her mouth. Licking into the soft, wet heat made him go dizzy with want.

The moment he lifted her, her legs wrapped around him and her hands scraped into his hair. She kissed him with a hunger that sent him spinning. Lost in her, he was aware of nothing but the velvety stroke of her tongue and the press of her breasts against his chest.

He carried her up the steps and tumbled into the house, kissing her with all the pent-up need he'd shoved down all day.

Fuck. She tasted good, smelled good, and her hands—clutching, pulling, grabbing—edged him to that frantic place where he had to have her. His thigh slammed into the end table, but he didn't pull away. Just clutched her ass and stumbled to the couch.

Dropping onto the cushion, he draped her legs on either side of him. She rolled over his cock, hands digging into his hair, kissing him with fierce desire.

He pulled up her shirt, and she whisked it over her head. Even while kissing him, she reached around to unhook her bra and fling it aside. His hands glided up all the smooth skin of her back, until they hooked over her shoulders, pressing her harder to him.

“Take this off.” She tugged on his shirt, before scrambling off him to peel down her jeans.

When she stood before him in just her panties, he grabbed her around the waist. “Come here.” Drawing her closer, he yanked them down, and he couldn't help himself from taking a lick of that string of pretty red hearts. She honored him with this—giving herself to him—and he loved it. Fucking loved it. His tongue trailed the short path from the last heart to her clit, and then he gave it a luxurious swirl.

Her fingers curled into his hair. “Oh, Calix.” She said it softly, sweetly, and it streamed through him like a melody.

He licked inside her, so slick and hot. Her fingers drove through his hair, pressing on his scalp, urging him on.

More.
He needed more. Catching her hips, he tipped her onto the couch. He fell to his knees on the floor, burying his face between her legs, so fucking turned on when her hips rose and she slammed against his mouth, fingers fisting in his hair. His tongue stroked her, long licks with a circle over her clit with each pass. Each time she cried out, thrusting harder, pulling on his hair.

He loved that she lost herself, let herself go so completely with him. It turned him on like nothing else.

Fuck, his cock ached. He popped the buttons on his jeans, reached into his boxers, and gave himself a hard squeeze. And when she lurched forward, when she curled over him, chanting, “Yes, yes, oh, God, yes,” he focused his tongue on her clit, licking her through an orgasm that had her body convulsing with pleasure.

“Oh, my God.” She collapsed onto her back, breathing heavily. “I missed you.”

But he couldn't talk. He needed to be inside her. Now. He pushed her back on the couch, lowering himself on top of her, pressing his dick hard against her stomach. He fucking ached. Caressing her breast, he sucked the nipple into his mouth, and she arched up into him.

“God.
God
.”

She clutched at him, ground against his cock. He was going out of his mind, but he had to get a condom.

“I'm clean, Calix. You know I am.”

“Yeah, me, too.” But he didn't want to go bare. He'd never done it before, and . . .
you don't go bare with someone you're just dating.
“Hang on a second.”

He tore himself off her, feeling his skin cool as he walked down the dark hallway to his bedroom. Good to have a moment alone. Pull himself together. He hated how carried away he got with her.