Treasure Me (One Night with Sole Regret Book 10) Read online

  “I knew that the moment I heard you banging out your composition at the beach. It isn’t possible for the woman who’d created something that stirred me so completely to ever be a disappointment.”

  She tried not to smile at how good he made her feel about herself. She’d become accustomed to living up to her own exalted expectations early in life and not caring what others thought—or so she told herself—but she kept her agent around because he encouraged her, and she definitely wanted to keep Kellen around, so maybe she needed outside approval more than she thought. Maybe her father’s continual disappointment—and his expression of his resentment at her choices—did bother her. She told herself she didn’t care that the only kind of child he’d ever wanted was one willing to take over his financial legacy, but she craved approval from those who cared about her. Even those she’d known for only a few days.

  Kellen placed a hand in the center of her back and urged her forward. The line was moving, but she’d been so wrapped up in him and her own thoughts, she hadn’t noticed.

  “Maybe tonight after your concert we can check out one of my old haunts,” she said. “If you’re not too tired, that is.” He’d been too tired the night before to do anything besides sleep. Since she also zonked out after performances, she’d tried not to take his disinterest in sex personally.

  When she looked up at him, he was smiling at her. His happiness even touched his dark eyes, and she couldn’t help but smile back.

  “I’d really like that,” he said.

  “I think my old roommates still live in town. Maybe I’ll give them a call and see if they’d like to meet us.”

  “I’d like that too.” The line moved forward another customer, and Kellen stepped closer to her. “You know what else I’d like?” His whispered words tickled her ear, shattering her concentration and making her shiver.

  Before she could gather her thoughts, he murmured, “A taste of that honey between your legs.”

  At his suggestive teasing, her honey began to flow for him. She’d been starting to think she wasn’t sexy enough to keep his attention, so she was gratified by his words.

  “Before we head back to the venue,” he said, “we should stop by the hotel to make sure our bags have been delivered to our suite.”

  “Is it possible they haven’t?” She glanced up at him, worried. There were valuable clothes in her suitcase. She hadn’t had time to pack her less formal attire before following Kellen to Beaumont, so she was stuck with the formal belongings in the suitcase she’d left in the car when she’d arrived at the beach house in Galveston. At the time, she didn’t think she’d need her gowns and dressy clothes, so hadn’t bothered lugging the extra baggage upstairs, but now she was just glad she had clean underwear and a couple of changes of clothes with her, no matter how rock-concert inappropriate they happened to be.

  “I’m sure it’s all there,” he said. “It’s just that the dessert I crave requires a location more private than a street corner.”

  “Oh.” Her face went hot. “Yes, we should definitely stop by the hotel. What hotel are we staying at?”

  “I think it’s the Courtyard.”

  “That’s only a few blocks in that direction.” She pointed toward the northwest. “After lunch, we can walk there.”

  They were third in line now after having waited for twenty minutes.

  “I’d really like to start with dessert,” he murmured, his dark eyes glassy with desire. For her.

  “It’ll be better if you wait. The more you want it, the better it tastes when you finally earn your sweet reward.”

  She got lost in his eyes and wasn’t sure if she was suddenly so hot because the muggy New Orleans air had become even more oppressive or because he was looking at her like she was the dessert of a lifetime.

  “Can I help you?” the woman at the counter called out to them. A large gap had cleared out between them and the food truck.

  “Change of plans,” Dawn said. She grabbed Kellen’s hand and hurried up the street in the direction of their hotel, tugging a laughing Kellen behind her.

  By the time they entered their room, lunch and suitcases were completely forgotten. He practically tossed her onto the bed. Her skirt went up, panties went down. He spread her legs wide and stared down at the hot, achy flesh between her legs. She gasped when he bent over her, his breath tickling her pussy. He hesitated just before his mouth claimed the dessert he’d wanted, and yet before she could relax enough to enjoy his warm mouth, he stood.

  “I have a better idea,” he said.

  Better than his mouth on her? Impossible. Unless he was planning to put his cock inside her. He hadn’t done that since before they’d parted in Galveston. She lifted her head and watched him hurry to his suitcase.

  “My suitcase is there, isn’t it?” she asked, feeling more than a little perturbed that he’d stop to check his bag now.

  When he pulled out a length of soft pink rope, she understood his unexpected interest in his luggage. He wanted to tie her. She wasn’t sure she had the patience for that right now. As much as she loved the slow and careful attention he showed her when he turned her body into a work of art with nothing but lengths of rope, sometimes a woman just needed a tongue on her clit followed by a quick and hard fuck.

  “Kellen, it’s not necessary. I’m already beyond turned on.”

  “I need it.”

  At least he was quick about it. Standing over her at the edge of the bed, he tied each wrist to a thigh, still fumbling with the final knot when his mouth latched on to her clit. He sucked and nibbled, licked and kissed, until her back arched and her feet curled and her center pulsed with release. He straightened and entered her, filling her with deep, hard strokes until her orgasm subsided, and then he pulled out. He bent over her to eat her pussy again, quickly bringing her to a second peak. Apparently her shuddering cry of release was his cue to fuck her again. She wanted to watch his face as they came together, but it felt so good to have her clenching pussy filled while she came that she couldn’t open her eyes. And when the ripples of pleasure finally stilled enough for her to pry her eyes open, he was back to sucking and licking and biting and oh, God, what was he doing now?

  She lost track of how many times he brought her to orgasm with his mouth, how often he rewarded her release with fast, hard strokes with his hard-as-stone cock.

  “I thought I could do one more,” he said brokenly.

  He pulled out before she’d settled from her most recent orgasm. A slick pounding sound that unfortunately did not involve her body gave her the strength to open her eyes. Transfixed, her heart hammering in her chest, she watched him stroke his cock with one hand. She yanked at her bonds, wanting that beautiful cock between her palms, and then gasped aloud when he came on her mound. Eyes squeezed shut, he swayed on his feet, rubbing his tip into the cum he’d left on her skin.

  “That was perfect,” he said.

  Dawn agreed and watched as he pulled his pants up, tucking his spent cock into his jeans and fastening them. She had to admit that her body was completely satisfied, but her heart and soul cried out for him as he turned and disappeared into the bathroom.

  She guessed he wasn’t the type to cuddle.

  Dawn realized how uncomfortable her body was positioned after she’d been lying there a couple of minutes. He usually took such care when he tied her, and she wondered why he’d bother tying her at all if he wasn’t going to do it right. Water ran in the bathroom sink, and a moment later he emerged, looking so devastatingly gorgeous and apologetic that she couldn’t stay perturbed at him. He carried a towel and several wash cloths. As he slowly approached the bed, his gaze caressed every inch of her exposed body. Though his knotting technique didn’t live up to his usual care and imagination, it did effectively hold her legs wide open. She let him look at her—not that she had much of a choice—but even if she hadn’t been bound, she wouldn’t have tried to block his view. That sensual stare of his made her feel beautiful and desired, treasured
even.

  He didn’t speak as he leaned over her and very slowly, very gently, began to clean his cum from her skin. His free hand caressed her thigh, her hip, and the curve of her waist as he tenderly washed her highly satisfied pussy. As she lay watching him, feeling him, she wondered why her pussy was the only part of her that felt satisfied. She wanted more of him. Not his cock. Not even that talented mouth of his. She wanted to feel him against her.

  “Kelly,” she whispered, her voice scratchy from all the moaning she’d done.

  He lifted his chin and met her eyes.

  “Will you ever be able to make love to me without tying me?”

  “I hope so,” he said, his hand moving to the ropes that bound her forearms to her calves. “I’m not quite there yet.”

  She tried to be understanding—even nodded—but wasn’t sure why this particular vice of his and his inability to get past it hurt her heart.

  “I still feel guilty for wanting you. For acting on it.” His smile became wicked. “Just not guilty enough to stop.”

  “Do you tie me so you feel like all the blame for our coming together rests on you? Because I’m definitely half of this equation.” And while she enjoyed when he took control and made her come over and over again while she was forced to accept whatever he did to her, she would also like to be more than a recipient. She’d like to give him as much pleasure as he gave her.

  After a moment, during which he watched the action of his hands as he continued to wash her skin, he again lifted his head. “That’s part of it,” he said. “I guess I like to feel miserable about my choices.”

  How could anyone like to feel miserable?

  “But the bigger part is even more selfish. I love the way you look when you’re all helpless and at my mercy. If you weren’t tied right now, I doubt you’d be holding still while I clean you.”

  “I’d be plastered to your body so I could feel every inch of you against every inch of me. I want that.”

  “I’d be happy to make all your wants a reality,” he said, working at one of the knots that kept her immobilized.

  “You would?”

  “All you have to do is ask.”

  Her leg came free, and he massaged her hip to help her extend it. Her shoulder ached a bit as she straightened her arm and before she could complain, he massaged that joint as well. He untied her other leg and repeated the gentle massages on that side. She shifted to a seated position, wrapped her arms around him and pulled until he tumbled onto the bed on top of her. She pressed her chest and belly up against him, disappointed that they were both still partially clothed.

  “Take your pants off,” she said, putting a hand on his chest and squirming for a bit of space so she could shed her shirt and bra.

  His body stiffened, and his heart thudded faster beneath her palm. “I’m not ready for this.”

  His eyes were wide as a spooked horse’s.

  “I don’t want more sex,” she said. “Just some skin on skin cuddling.”

  When her words didn’t relax him, she stroked his back with slow, gentle caresses. She figured she was stuck with above the waist petting for now. She was okay with that.

  “Leave them on then,” she said. “It’s okay.”

  “I’m already getting excited again,” he said with a breathless chuckle. “And we both know where that will lead if I take my pants off.”

  She didn’t want to pressure him—much—but she was more than ready to go exactly where that would lead. He wasn’t, though. “Just relax,” she said, her voice low and hopefully soothing. “I won’t make you do anything you don’t want to do.”

  “But I want to do it all. With you.”

  He released a long breath and allowed the stiffness to flow out of his muscles, so that his weight was on her. She couldn’t stop herself from sighing in contentment. Yes, she needed this. To feel his body against hers. To be surrounded by his scent and his warmth. To delight in the tickle of his long hair brushing her neck. To hear his breath close to her ear. After a moment of lying in her arms, he shifted onto his side, drawing her against him. That was when her hands began to wander and her lips began to caress his neck, his jaw, his chin. She couldn’t be expected to just lie there when she had this much man in her arms. To her surprise, he didn’t stop her. His hands and lips began to wander as well. He left no inch of her unexplored, unkissed, and yet just when she was certain he was at a point of excitement where sex sans ropes was inevitable, he pulled away from her and climbed from the bed.

  “We’d better head back to the venue,” he said, retrieving her panties from the floor and slipping them over her feet. “It’s getting late.”

  She figured it was bad form to complain that she was excited and aroused when it had been her idea to cuddle, but they’d done so much more than cuddle. Eventually they’d make love together rather than him making love to her while she had no choice but to take and take and take some more, but apparently that wouldn’t be happening just now. She’d wait, wait for however long it took for him to allow himself pleasure without guilt. He was worth the wait. So she found her discarded clothing and made herself decent, noting that he was facing the wall with his hands on his hips as he waited for her.

  “You don’t want to watch me dress?” she asked.

  He shook his head, and she grinned. He was turned on too, she knew he was. It was his stupid little rule to keep promises that should have long ago been broken that prevented them both from being fully satisfied, but she’d wait. He was worth the wait.

  When she finished dressing, she went to him, resting a hand on his back and dropping a kiss between his shoulder blades, where the gorgeous gray-scale rendering of a life-like stallion decorated his skin.

  “The naughty naked lady is all covered now,” she said.

  “You’d think years of celibacy would make this easier,” he said with a pained chuckle. “I think it actually makes it more difficult. I wish I could take everything you’re offering me, Dawn.”

  “You can.” One arm wrapped around his waist, and she splayed her hand over the center of his chest. He covered her hand and held it there against his pounding heart. “The only thing stopping you is you.”

  “I know. I make myself sick!”

  She laughed. He was worth the wait. He had to be.

  He’d better be.

  *****

  A limo was waiting to take them back to the venue, and Dawn didn’t complain as they slid into the cavernous back seat. She wouldn’t have minded a bit more snuggling while they rode, but Kellen whipped out his phone and checked his messages. He immediately burst out laughing. When Dawn nudged him and lifted her brows, he passed her the phone.

  “Is that Owen?” she asked, squinting at the screen and the rather white ass filling it. “What is he doing?”

  “Mooning cows.”

  Dawn cocked one brow at him. “Why?”

  “Letting off a little steam. I’m glad Jacob got him away from Lindsey for a couple of hours. They’re bringing back crawdads and jambalaya for dinner.”

  Dawn’s stomach growled, and she covered it with one hand. “Good. I’m starved. Not naming any names, but someone distracted me from getting lunch.”

  “That’s unfortunate. I enjoyed the most delicious honeyed dessert.”

  Dawn crossed her legs and squeezed them together as her body very clearly remembered his sweet feasting.

  When the limo pulled to a halt, the door immediately opened, and Gabe—looking very stern—practically yanked Dawn out.

  “If you let me stay, I’ll talk Mel into a threesome,” said a pretty, young brunette to the crimson-Mohawked drummer. Gabe firmly shook his head. “Come on, Force,” the woman said. “We’d rock your world.”

  “I don’t want to have a threesome with you, or anyone else for that matter. I’d just like a little time alone with Melanie, if you don’t mind.”

  As soon as Kellen emerged from the car, Gabe began to stuff the good-time woman inside. “Parker, take her
back to the hotel. Don’t let her talk you into any side adventures, be they threesomes or anything else.”

  “Uh,” the limo driver muttered, his eyes wide and mouth agape.

  “I’m sure Parker knows how to have more fun than you do,” the woman sputtered. “What kind of rock star doesn’t want to bang two gorgeous chicks at the same time?”

  “The kind trying to make a serious connection with the friend you claim to care about,” he said, slamming the door before she could reply.

  Dawn exchanged a confused look with Kellen, who shrugged. The limo window hummed as it rolled down.

  “I do care about her.”

  “Then give her a fucking break, Nikki.”

  Nikki scowled at Gabe before she slumped back into the seat, crossing her arms over her chest and setting her beautiful face into an unbecoming pout.

  “I just want to have a good time,” she said. “I’m sure you could easily talk Melanie into a threesome with us.”

  “I will not now, nor will I ever, pressure Melanie into spreading her legs for you, Nikki.”

  “You’re so mean,” she said, tears falling in torrents from her blue eyes.

  Dawn might have felt sorry for the obviously distraught woman if Nikki’s reason for crying hadn’t been so absurd.

  The limo eased forward.

  “And stay out of trouble!” Gabe called after the retreating car. Nikki gave him the finger and rolled up the window.

  “Do I want to ask?” Kellen asked Gabe.

  “Melanie’s baggage is driving me insane.” Gabe offered Dawn a nod of greeting, which she returned, before he stalked off toward the arena’s door.

  “Are threesomes common among rock stars?” Dawn asked, hiding a teasing smile behind a fake cough.

  “Depends on the rock star.” Kellen wrapped an arm around her lower back and directed her toward the backstage entrance.

  Owen practically pounced on Kellen the moment he entered the dressing room, launching into a spiel about being chased down by an angry bull and Jacob being more concerned about preserving the moment in pictures than saving his life.