“I was thinking that when I saw you with your parents, Alex, and Ronni backstage.” Ty’s eyes were bright, he looked at me like he was asking a question.
“Ronni’s really nice, you were right.” I burrowed deeper into his embrace. “I’ve had so much fun with her the past couple of days.”
“Well, we’ll be back for the Grammys in a few weeks.” Ty stroked my hair and began the tedious task of unwinding a million braids. “I loved these, you’re absolutely beautiful.”
“I had to step up my game for my gorgeous man.” I held my hand against his and squeezed.
“It’s the other way around, always.” Ty’s lips sipped from mine. “I’m excited to head home so we can kick back and enjoy the holidays. And then we get an entire year to make up for all of those other years we missed. I think a tropical destination should be our goal to start.”
“Heaven.” He smelled so good, always grapefruit and leather. It was the scent that instantly made me feel like I was exactly where I needed to be. I couldn’t help kissing down his throat.
“You’re my heaven, Z.” He reached down to the hem of my old Van Halen T-shirt and lifted it over my head, and then unclasped my black bra and pulled it off my shoulders.
I wound my hands around his neck and pulled his mouth to mine. Our kisses were passionate, but they were so much more. Like we were promising each other that after all we’d been through no one would ever come between us again. When Ty rolled my nipple into a taut peak, I moaned. His lips moved downward, grazing my neck before he swiped his tongue over my other nipple.
Weeks of stress and recuperation had pent up a lot of sexual energy. This morning had only scratched an itch and I needed him. I pulled his shirt off and he shed the rest of his clothes. Taking Ty by the hand, I led him to our big bed and pulled him on top of me. He was too careful, but I knew he didn’t want to hurt my ribs. Sweetly, he braced his upper torso on his strong arms, hovering just enough so my beaded nipples brushed against his chest. He rubbed his scruffy day-old stubble along my chin, teasing me before seeking my lips for more kisses.
Reaching between us, I grabbed Ty’s cock and stroked the tip against my wet pussy before arching up to receive him. He sank into me fully, sighing, and resting his forehead against mine.
“This is where I belong,” Ty spoke as though speaking to himself. Like I was where he belonged. Moving together in our perfect rhythm, I threaded my fingers through his long hair and caressed his face. Over and over he slowly and deliberately plunged inside me, taking me to places I could only ever go with him. To places, we could only ever go together.
Epilogue
TYSON
I had gone back and forth about how I wanted to do it, but I ultimately thought that a quiet, private evening at home for Christmas Eve dinner with her closest friend and parents and my bandmates would be the perfect setting. Zoey’s mother and I had prepped a beautiful beef roast, mashed potatoes, gravy, asparagus, and chocolate-peanut butter cake for dessert. While I waited for Zoey to get showered and changed, Alex and her mom had helped me string up a bunch of twinkly lights in the living room while Zoey’s mom arranged dozens of poinsettias and white roses around the room.
The table was set with a gold tablecloth, silver plates and goblets, and a dozen candles. A roaring fire blazed in the fireplace. I took a deep breath and surveyed the scene. I thought I’d feel more nervous, but everything felt right, the room was perfect.
Zoey’s dad opened the front door and all the guys and Carter piled into the house, not knowing what they were about to witness. They immediately teased me while I frantically tried to shush them. Alex joined us a few minutes later, and after what Zoey had told me I noticed that she and Jace deliberately avoided each other but were not unpleasant about it.
Now that everything was ready, I went to find Zoey. Through the door to our bedroom, I could see her sitting at the vanity in the bathroom spritzing her favorite Creed perfume on her neck. Wearing a gauzy, green off-the-shoulder blouse with black satin pants, the front of her hair was pulled back while the rest was long, she had very little makeup on, but a pop of red lipstick. My heart stopped. She literally took my breath away. Catching my eye in the mirror, her whole face lit up as she saw me looking at her.
“Hi, sexy!”
“You look beautiful.” I walked over to her and placed my hands on her shoulders and looked at us through the mirror. I’d dressed in a simple black Prada sweater with black slacks and black boots, nice but understated so she wouldn’t be suspicious.
“Is everyone here?” Zoey turned around and reached for my hand.
“Everyone’s here.” I pulled her up and led her out to the dining room.
When we stepped through the bedroom door into the living room, Zane and Connor strummed the Beatles song And I Love Her. Zoey’s eyes widened when she saw the living room transformed with the twinkly lights, candles, flowers, and our favorite people standing around with glasses of sparkly cider.
“What’s going on? Ty?” Zoey’s gorgeous hazel eyes were darting all around.
Leading her over to the fireplace, I looked around at all our friends and family, and clasped Zoey’s hands in mine and dropped to one knee in front of her. Zoey immediately burst into tears, which I hoped were happy tears, so I forged ahead.
“Butterfly, you’re the love of my life. From the moment I met you, through all of the years we were apart, and even more so now
