He needed to look at her beautiful smile every day even if they were miles apart.
Jeremy headed to the window, peered out, and shook his head. “When is this rain ever going to stop?”
“Let’s get some rest,” Adele suggested. “Rodney, you can stay with Dee in her room.”
“Are you sure?” he asked. “I could take the sofa.”
“This house saw it all in the sixties. Nothing you two can do could shock it more.” Jeremy put his arm around Adele. “The memories we made in that room, special one.”
“Some things should stay secret,” she said as she fanned herself and nudged him in the ribs. “Except, you first told me you loved me in there.”
Rodney and Dee entered the bedroom. What a relief to close the door and be private again. He took everything off except his underwear and T-shirt and flopped onto the quilt-covered twin bed on his back. The blue walls soothed him, but not as much as gazing at his woman.
“Rough night, Southern man?” she joked.
Watching her undress down to her bra and panties made him want to repeat the ritual every single night for the rest of their lives.
“Your father leaves no stone unturned, does he?” he asked.
She withdrew a short rose-colored nightgown from a bureau drawer and pulled it on over her head. “He’s very protective of his loved ones.”
“What kind of childhood did he have?” he asked after she turned down the oil lamp and coaxed him to get under the covers with her. “I laid my secrets on the table.”
“It’s a long story, which he’d better tell himself.” She laid her head on his shoulder and her hand on his chest. “But, basically, his parents died when he was a child, and he lived here by himself. He’s a real survivor.”
“Wow. He’s a tough character, but I can’t help but respect him.”
“And I don’t think I’ll ever like Jack, but I’m glad I understand him a little better.”
“I’d hoped the band’s success would straighten him out. When he got his first guitar and Daddy saw how much talent he had, he finally treated him with some respect. Even more when things started taking off.” He blew out a breath. “I guess it wasn’t enough to change Jack. The damage had been done.”
She stroked a section of his long hair, from crown to tip. “Can he really track you down by your cell phone?”
“I suppose so, if he bothers to go to the effort. He suspects we’re together, though.”
Her fingers tightened around the lock of hair. “What are we going to do?”
“We’ll just have to be extra careful,” he said, stroking her arm. “Try not to worry.”
Watching and listening to the rain made their problems seem millions of miles away. He could easily lie here with her for the rest of his life. It felt so natural. So right. Jeremy was correct. Running around in secret couldn’t last. They’d either get discovered or would grow to hate each other because of it.
“What’s wrong?” she asked when he shifted uncomfortably. “Are you tired?”
“Dee, there’s something I want to tell you, but I don’t feel worthy enough to say it.”
“I’d still like to hear it.”
“Okay.” He kissed her softly on the lips. “I wanted to tell you I love you.”
She smiled and clutched him hard. “Why don’t you feel worthy?”
“You plan to help your parents retire. You even want to run for office so you can help society.” He swallowed. “What do I do? Entertain people, try to get more fans to worship me, and sneak around like a criminal.”
“You are worthy,” she said as she stroked his face. “You’re the most kindhearted man I’ve ever met. The fact that you’re even worried about it screams it loud and clear.”
“Thank you,” he whispered.
She arched a brow. “Do you want to know how I feel about you?”
“Not yet.” He laid two fingers across her lips. “Not until I can become what you deserve.”
“All righty, then. I guess I’m going to have to show you.”
By the time she slipped under the covers and pulled his erection out of his briefs, he was already hard as a rock.
“Dee…” he murmured. “You don’t have to.”
“I want to,” she said before gripping the base of his shaft.
And when she slid his length into the warm cavern of her mouth, he could no longer speak.
I don’t deserve her. I don’t deserve her.
He couldn’t stop repeating the litany in his mind as she floored him with each mind-blowing stroke. His toes curled, his thighs trembled, and his stomach clenched tighter than a fist. And he hadn’t even come yet.
Her curls whipped through his fingers as he tried to stroke her hair. But she was too busy, too volatile, to grab ahold of. And when she scored his nut sac with her nails, kneading and coaxing, he roared his release.
Completely disoriented, he stared at the spinning ceiling while Dee cleaned him with her sweet lips and tongue. No groupie had ever come close to what she’d just done. Not only had she given him the best head this side of the Mississippi, she’d told him exactly how she felt about him.
The woman had literally just loved the hell out of him. Shit. Had he actually bellowed like a wild animal? He hadn’t meant to make a sound.
“Hold it down in there, will you?” Jeremy complained through the wall. “We old people need our rest.”
Dee launched into Rodney’s arms, laughing and showering him with kisses. He laughed, too, realizing how long it had been since he had.
He finally fell asleep in her arms, the happiest man alive.
* * *
Dee stirred, half asleep. Where was she? The warmth of Rodney’s solid body reminded her. A hank of his gold hair even tickled her nose. And his outdoorsy scent wrapped around her. She could drown in it for days. Sleep for days…
If only that pounding sound would stop.
Finally, she sat up.
