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A new member of the band has been born.

  “How is Lori?” I ask him.

  “Gorgeous, tired, perfect.” He grins at me. “We have a girl.”

  “You know what this means, don’t you?” Eric asks him with a grin.

  “What?”

  “We get to fuck with teenage boys in about fifteen years. Lori’s a fucking knockout. Just think what the baby will look like by then.”

  “Fuck me, I’m going to jail.” Gary pulls his hand down his face and then grins.

  “What did you name her?” Jake pulls Gary into a headlock, rubbing his knuckles on his head.

  “Do not say Apple,” Cher warns him and he laughs.

  “No, Alexis Mae,” he announces proudly. “Come on, you can come see her.”

  “All of us?” I ask, doubtful.

  “Lori wouldn’t have it any other way. The nurse can kiss my ass.” Gary leads us down the antiseptic-scented corridor to Lori’s room and peaks his head in to make sure everyone is decent before waving us into the room.

  “Hey guys.” Lori grins at us; her face void of makeup and her hair is back in a simple ponytail. She’s holding a little tiny bundle in a pink and blue blanket in her arms.

  “Hey, pretty face.” I lean down and kiss her cheek and peek at the pink face in the blanket. “She’s gorgeous, like her mama.”

  “Thank you,” she whispers. I kiss her hair and back away so everyone else can see the brand new baby. When I turn around, I’m met with dozens of roses in pink and white, balloons, baby clothes and the softest big, brown teddy bear I’ve ever seen. Next to it is a small toy guitar.

  “Read the card,” Gary calls over to me.

  I’m sorry I can’t be there. Congratulations! The guitar is for Maddox. He should have presents too. Best wishes, Samantha Williams

  I’m just struck dumb. My eyes roam over all the gifts again. She sent these things because these are people I love. Because she’s so fucking amazing.

  Not a good person, my ass. She has the biggest heart of anyone I’ve ever met. She just does a damn good job of keeping it hidden.

  I turn back to the guys to find everyone watching me.

  “When did these arrive?”

  “This morning.” Gary grins.

  I stride to the bedside and lean over Lori, looking into her happy eyes.

  “I’m sorry, I have…”

  “Go get her, tiger.” She grins. “We’re fine.”

  I smile back at her and kiss her forehead, then hug all my guys, kiss Cher’s cheek, and start making calls to get back to Seattle.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  ~Samantha~

  It’s only been twenty-four hours since Leo went to L.A. and I’m already going stir crazy.

  This is not good.

  I’m sick of my own company. I don’t want to go to Luke’s or my parent’s. I want Leo.

  So, to clear my head, I decide to go for a run. Leo would most likely spank my ass for running alone this late. The thought makes me smile.

  The man gives good spank.

  I zip my hoodie, grab my keys and palm the pink vial of bear spray I carry with me when I run alone, and set out. The neighborhood is relatively quiet, and the streetlights are on. Because of the late hour, I’ll just run a mile or so. It feels good to be out in the cool air.

  I make a big circle and as I approach the entrance to my building, a see a familiar man leaning against the wall. My first thought is Leo, but Leo is taller and leaner than this guy.

  “Hey, Samantha.”

  What the fuck is he doing here?

  “Brandon.”

  “You shouldn’t run at night by yourself.” He’s frowning down at me as I approach him, panting.

  “I’m fine. What are you doing in town?”

  “I’m here seeing family for a week, thought I’d stop in and see how you are.” He shrugs and grins. “For old times sake.”

  “Old times, right.” I smirk and grin at him.

  “So, how about it? Gonna invite me up?”

  I prop my hands on my hips and tilt my head, eyeing the handsome man interested in getting in my pants. He’s not as tall as Leo, has black hair and blue eyes, a square chin. His body is cut and perfect, and he knows his way around a woman’s body.

  But the thought of fucking him makes my stomach turn.

  “Brandon, we had fun, but I’m seeing someone.”

  “So, it’s true?” He laughs mockingly. “You always told me you were just interested in a hard fuck.”

  “That’s true. That’s all I was interested in.” My walls immediately go up. Brandon is hot, but he’s also an asshole.

  “I would have given you anything you wanted, you know.” He shakes his head and scowls. “I’ve been in love with you for years.”

  My mouth drops. “We were fuck buddies,” I counter.

  “That was your call,” he responds softly.

  “Well, I’m sorry that we weren’t on the same page, Brandon. Had I known…”

  “You would have stopped calling.” He interrupts. “I know.”

  “Well, good luck.” I turn toward my building, but he stops me.

  “How about you invite me in, and I remind you how good I make you feel?” He steps close to me, and pushes his hand up under my hoodie to cup my breast.

  “How about you take your hand off me right now and I don’t kick your ass?” My voice is cold and hard, and I shuffle the bear spray in my palm, ready to show him who’s boss.

  “Come on, baby, don’t be like this.”

  “I believe she said no.” A hard voice comes out of the darkness. Brandon immediately releases me and steps away as Leo – Leo! – strolls to me and wraps his arm around my shoulders, kisses my temple and glares at Brandon. “Are you deaf?”

  “Fuck off,” Brandon sneers.

  “I believe she pretty much said that to you, too.” Leo chuckles. “Cut your losses, dude.”

  “You don’t know anything about us,” Brandon begins, but Leo holds up a hand, stopping him.

  “Do you want to press charges for sexual assault?” Leo asks.

  “No, I want him to go.”

  “Fine.” Brandon’s scowl roams my face. “Your loss.”

  “Okay.” I shrug and turn my back on him, buzz Leo and me into the building and into the elevator before I jump on him, wrapping my legs around his waist and arms around his shoulders and kiss him silly, biting his lips, his piercing, soaking in his warmth and his smell.

  “I missed you,” I whisper against his lips, grinning.

  “Me too, and I’m pissed at you.”

  “Why?” I hop down and frown up at him.

  “You went running at midnight.”

  “How do you know?” I ask and bite my lip.

  “Well, you admitted as much to that asshole down there, and you’re dressed for a run.”

  “Wait, you heard our entire conversation?” I ask incredulously. I wrack my brain, trying to remember everything that was said.

  “I did.” He nods and sighs and runs his fingers down my cheek. “I almost killed him.”

  The elevator arrives at my floor, and I lead him to my door.

  “You seemed very calm.”

  “I almost killed him.” At the sound of his voice, Levine comes running from the bedroom, jumps onto the arm of the couch and cries for attention.

  “He missed you too.”

  He strokes Levine’s back and watches me, his eyes steady and warm, but his mouth is set disapprovingly.

  “I don’t want you running this late.”

  “I only went a mile,” I counter.

  He sighs and pulls me into his arms. He doesn’t just kiss me. He takes ownership of me.

  And damn if I don’t love it.

  “Please don’t do it again,” he whispers. “If anything happened to you, it would kill me.”

  Well, when he puts it like that…

  “Okay,” I agree.

  “Thank you for sending the baby gifts today.”
/>   I smile widely and bounce on the balls of my feet. “They got there?”

  “Yeah, they’re pretty great. Maddox will love that guitar.”

  “He should have a guitar like his daddy.” I nod. “How is the baby?”

  “Small.” He laughs and shrugs.

  “And Lori?”

  “She’s great.” His eyes are happy as he lifts me into his arms and carries me to the bedroom.

  “Do you want something to drink?” I push my fingers into his soft brown hair.

  “Later,” he murmurs and kisses my temple.

  “What do you want now?” I ask with a grin.

  “I haven’t been inside you in too many hours to count, sunshine.” He sets me on my feet and strips me naked, his lips kissing my skin as he uncovers it. By the time he pulls my socks off my feet, I’m panting and on fire.

  He pulls his shirt over his head, shucks his pants and guides me onto the bed, onto my back.

  “Spread your legs, sweetheart.”

  “Gee, this is awfully fast. I usually ask a guy to buy me dinner before he can just insist I spread my legs.” I giggle and he pinches my thigh, then bites it and kisses the hurt away.

  He systematically kisses his way up my body; his hands are moving over me, gently caressing my breasts, my nipples.

  He nuzzles my belly button and sighs. “Sexy.”

  He leaves open-mouthed, wet kisses on my skin and climbs up to rest his pelvis against my own. His lips wreck havoc on my neck, making me squirm beneath him, my hips circling and inviting him inside me.

  “I missed you,” he whispers.

  “Me too, but it was only one day.”

  “Missed you anyway.” He kisses his way over to the other side and sucks my earlobe, grazes my jawline with his teeth and settles in to kiss me stupid.

  His hand brushes down my ribs and between us to cup my center.

  “You’re so wet, baby.”

  A finger slips inside me, his thumb brushes my nub, and I gasp. “Want you.”

  “Mmm…” He agrees. “Do you know how amazing you are?”

  I can’t even think at the moment. “If this is a pop-quiz, I’ll take the zero ‘cause I don’t remember my name right now.”

  He chuckles and bites my lower lip, brushes my hair from my face, and continues to drive me crazy with his fingers. I gasp when he adds another finger, my toes curl and I push my pelvis against him.

  “You amaze me,” he whispers. “Come.” He bites my chin, pushes my clit with his thumb, and I see stars, clenching his fingers tightly, moaning and shaking under him.

  And he’s not even inside me yet.

  He pulls his fingers out of me and sucks them clean, his eyes laughing down at me. “You’re delicious, sunshine.”

  I just grin as he grips both my hands in his, linking our fingers, and pulls them over my head as he rears back and sinks inside me, quick and hard.

  “Ah, shit,” I mutter and strain against his hands, but he holds me strong, his gray eyes pinning me in his gaze, and pumping into me, over and over, harder and harder. His breath is coming hard and fast, and finally he clenches his eyes shut and lets go, shuddering as he spills himself inside me.

  “Love you,” he whispers and kisses me softly.

  “Love you back.”

  He kisses me once again and then lifts off me, pulls out and staggers off the bed to walk into the bathroom to clean up.

  I watch him leave, happily admiring his tight ass, when his shoulder catches my eye.

  “What the hell is that?” I demand and pull myself off the bed. He reappears in the doorway, wiping his hands on a towel.

  “A tattoo,” he replies.

  I roll my eyes. “Clearly. When did you get it? You didn’t have it when you left last night.”

  “I got it this morning. Kat got me in early.”

  “Kat?” I frown and then my eyes go wide. “That Kat?”

  “I know people.” He turns to walk back into the bathroom and I follow him, inspecting the new ink in the mirror.

  It’s spectacular in the light. It’s a yellow and orange sun, outlined in black. The rays look like they’re moving in a riot of color. Surrounding it, and between the rays, is a vibrant blue, like a blue sky.

  “It’s beautiful,” I breathe. “I hope I didn’t hurt it when I hugged you.”

  “I’m fine.” He smiles. “She did a great job.”

  I can’t look away from it.

  “The blue is your eyes,” he murmurs and turns to me, cupping my face in his hands.

  “You put permanent ink on you that reminds you of me?”

  He frowns for a moment and then sighs. “Yes.”

  “Is it okay if that freaks me out a little?”

  “Yes.” He laughs and nods.

  “Good, ‘cause it freaks me out a little.” I look at it in the mirror again and warmth spreads through me, knowing that he wants something of me on him, but at the same time, it’s a big commitment.

  “Tell me why you’re freaked out.” He’s watching me closely.

  “It’s permanent,” I whisper and he just nods, waiting for me to continue. “Shit, Leo, it’s more permanent than a ring.”

  His eyes narrow. “Trust me, when I get a ring on your finger, it’ll be there permanently.”

  When he gets a ring on my finger?!

  “Leo.” I begin and pull out of his arms. “I thought we were on the same page. I’m not interested in having a ring on my finger.”

  “What are you talking about?” he scowls.

  “You said that marriage doesn’t interest you. It doesn’t me either.” I shake my head and cross my arms over my chest. “We can be committed to each other without rings on our fingers.”

  “Samantha, I was a different man then.” He props his hands on his hips, just over his low-hanging jeans and boxers. “Meeting you, falling for you, has changed that. You’re mine.”

  “Yes, so you keep reminding me. Often.”

  “Because apparently you need the reminder. You’ve marked me, and this tat is me showing the world that I’m yours, permanently.”

  I continue to scowl at him, but holy shit, he’s mine. Permanently.

  “Leo, I am committed to you, but marriage…”

  “Jesus Christ,” He interrupts. “It’s not like I’m down on one knee with a ring.”

  “Okay.” I frown.

  He closes the gap between us and pushes his hands into my hair, holding me still. “I’m yours, sunshine. Get used to it. The rest will work itself out.”

  “You are so mine,” I agree and feel my insides loosen.

  “God, you’re fucking stubborn. Most women would be thrilled that their man inked himself for her.”

  “At least you didn’t have my name tatted on your neck.” I shiver as he laughs.

  “Not really my thing.” He shakes his head and sighs. “What am I going to do with you?”

  Just keep loving me. I don’t say it aloud. Instead I stand on my toes and press my lips to his.

  “Your new tattoo is pretty,” I whisper.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  One Month Later

  “You don’t have to walk me to the door. I remember where Jules and Nate live.” I smirk at Leo as he walks me down the hallway of Jules and Nate’s building to their door.

  “I don’t mind. So, you are all going to meet us guys at the venue at six thirty, right?”

  “Yes.” I nod and roll my eyes. This is the third time he’s reminded me since we left my place, and I only live four blocks away. “Why are you so worried about us being there on time?”

  “Because women have a tendency to be late as it is, six of you getting ready together and getting somewhere on time? Impossible. The show starts at seven.”

  “Oh ye of little faith.” I laugh and ring the doorbell. “We’ll be there in time. We have like three hours to get ready.”

  “Hey! You’re here!” Jules opens the door, dressed only in short red cut-off sweats and a tight bla
ck tank. “We’re doing hair now. I already have an idea for you.”

  “Thanks for the lift.” I turn to follow Jules, but Leo snags my hand and pulls me back to him, kissing me deeply and possessively, before pulling back with a smug grin.

  “You’re gonna be great tonight, baby,” I whisper to him. He smirks, but I know he’s a little nervous.

  “Wear something sexy for me.” He smacks my ass as I walk away.

  “Yoga pants it is!” I call over my shoulder and wave as he laughs and closes the door behind him.

  “Hey guys!” I call out, set my over night bag on Jules’ bed, along with everyone else’s it seems, and saunter into the bathroom. “It looks like a beauty supply store has exploded in here.”

  “You’re here!” Natalie kisses my cheek happily. Stacy and Brynna are hunched over the sink, studiously applying makeup.

  “This is a rock concert, you know. You’ll sweat a lot of that makeup off.”

  “No I won’t.” Stacy laughs. “I don’t sweat. I glisten.”

  Meg laughs. “Just wear waterproof everything, you’ll be fine.”

  She looks awesome. Her hair is a riot of red and blonde curls, and she’s added purple streaks around her face.

  Jules and Natalie have both gone for the long, sleek straight look with their hair.

  “Sit,” Jules instructs me.

  “I can do my own hair.” I scowl. “I’ve been doing it for a long time.”

  “Don’t be a pussy. I’ll do something really awesome.”

  “Gee, great. Just don’t rat it like the hair bands from the 80’s.”

  Jules grins and pushes me into a chair, reaches for her flat iron and gets to work.

  “Sam, how do you like your new job?” Stacy asks and smiles over at me.

  “I love it.” I grin as I think of my new job at Wine Northwest, a popular magazine that showcases wines and wineries in the Northwest.

  “Do you get to sample the goods?” Jules asks as she rubs some sort of gel shit in my hair.

  “Actually, yes. It’s awesome.”

  “Good for you.” Nat finishes her lipstick and primps her hair. She doesn’t even look pregnant yet. “We’re proud of you.”

  “Thanks, it’s just a relief to be employed again.”

  “Is Leo nervous about tonight?” Brynna asks, catching my eye in the mirror.