“You okay?” I ask, touching his arm.
He wraps his hand over mine, gripping my fingers. “I’m fine. Go with Tom. And tomorrow, you and I will have a long talk about how you don’t keep secrets from your best friend.” He smiles.
Letting go of his arm, I wrap mine around him, hugging him. “You’re the best friend a girl could ever hope for,” I say against his shirt.
He squeezes me tight. “And you’re the best girl a guy could ask for.”
I lift my head from his chest, looking up at him.
He gives me a rueful smile. “He hurts you, Ly, and—”
“You’ll kick his ass. I know the drill.” I put on a smile.
Right now, I don’t want to tell Cale that Tom and I will be no more by tomorrow, and my heart will pretty much be kicking its own ass. I can confide in Cale when it’s over.
Giving him one last squeeze, I say good-bye and walk back to Tom, who’s waiting for me where I left him.
He’s got a scowl on his face.
“You okay?” I ask.
“Uhum.” His eyes find mine, softening on me, the scowl instantly disappears. He puts his arm around my waist. “Let’s go.”
Tom guides us out a side door of the club, and he opens the door of a waiting black limo, ushering me inside.
The instant we’re seated, I curl my body around his big frame, just needing to feel him. His strength. His warmth.
One hand slides around my back before settling on my hip. His other finds my chin. He tilts my face to his. “You doing okay, Firecracker?”
“Yeah…I’m good. Here with you, I’m happy.”
He stares at me. Then, his eyes close, and he leans in, pressing a sweet kiss to my lips while grazing his knuckles against my cheek.
The limo starts to move.
Settling my head against his shoulder, I ask, “Where are we going?”
“Home.”
“Home?”
“Yeah, my house in LA.”
“That’s a bit of a drive.” I smile, secretly happy at the thought of seeing Tom’s house. Happy that he wants to take me there.
“Don’t worry.” He grins as Usher’s “Scream” starts to play in the limo. “I’m sure I can find a way to keep you entertained for the few hours it’ll take to get us there.”
A Few Hours Later—Tom’s House, LA
I awake to the feeling of the world falling out beneath me. My body jumps.
“I got you,” Tom’s deep voice says from above. “You fell asleep in the limo.”
Then, I realize that I’m in his arms, and he’s carrying me. Sliding my hands around his neck, I nuzzle into his throat, inhaling the scent of his aftershave, loving the feel of his stubble against my skin.
We made out for a while in the limo. Things got a little heated, and I ended up with Tom’s head between my legs where he used his mouth and fingers to bring me to orgasm. I returned the favor by getting on my knees and taking him in my mouth. After he spilled himself down my throat, he hauled me onto his big body and held me. I must have fallen asleep in his arms.
“You okay if I put you down for just a minute? Need to get my key.”
“Sure.”
Tom lowers me to my feet, and I lean against the wall by the door.
He pulls a key from his pocket and unlocks the door before pushing it open.
I wait to follow him in, but the next thing I know, he’s picking me back up.
“I’ll be okay to walk now.” I laugh.
“I like to carry you. You’re like a little doll.”
“I’m not little. You’re just huge.”
“In every way, darlin’.” He winks.
He kicks the door shut with his foot and proceeds to carry me up a wide staircase. I can’t see much as Tom hasn’t bothered to turn any lights on, but from the size of this staircase, I’m guessing his house is big.
Quickly reaching the top of the stairs, he takes us to the left and then through a door a little farther down the hallway.
He crosses the spacious room and sets me down on his massive bed. I watch him walk over to the wall, and he presses a button on a panel. Dim lights come on. Then, he moves over to the iPod docking station, which is set up on his dresser. I watch him scroll through the music before he finally selects a song. The music starts to play through the speakers in the room.
“Last Request” by Paolo Nutini.
Tears instantly fill my eyes. I blink them back while swallowing the pain I feel from listening to the lyrics, from what Tom is telling me with this song.
He’s saying good-bye.
As I watch him walk toward me, my heart breaks. The soulful voice of Paolo Nutini spurring my pain on. Hurting from how much I want Tom in this moment, knowing it’s our last.
The last time I’ll get to touch him. Kiss him. Feel him inside me.
Even with the weight of that bearing down on me, I still stand when he reaches me.
I need to make the most of this night.
I slip my hands under his shirt and press my fingertips against his hard stomach, loving the sound of his sharp intake of breath at my touch.
His eyes glitter down lustfully at me.
Gripping the bottom of his shirt, I lift it. Tom raises his arms, allowing me to pull it over his head.
I drop his shirt to the floor, and then put my hands on his chest. Inching up onto my toes, I brush my lips gently over his. As I move back, Tom takes my head in his hands. His eyes burn into mine with such intensity that it takes my breath away.
Then, he seals his mouth over mine, leading me into a knee weakening kiss.
He grabs my ass in both hands, lifting me, as I wrap my legs around his waist.
Tom climbs up onto the bed on his knees, kissing me still, he takes us down to the mattress.
This time is different. Slower. He takes his time undressing me—caressing, and kissing every part of me. Looking at me with reverence. It’s almost as if he’s memorizing me with his eyes and hands and mouth.
When I’m naked and wanting beneath him, I reach for his jeans and unbuckle his belt.
Tom takes over, sliding it free from his jeans. Belt in hand, he takes both of my hands and moves them up above my head. He looks down at me in question.
I nod, letting him know I’m okay with it, feeling excited beyond measure.
He fits his belt around my wrists with a precision that I choose to ignore.
“Is that okay?” he asks.
“Yes.” I’m breathless with anticipation.
He moves his big body between my legs. “Keep your arms up there. Don’t move them. You move, I’ll make you wait longer to come.”