I stare up at his face and watch him bite his lip, like he’s trying to make this last as long as he can while he gazes at me. The idea of him enjoying the way I feel causes another orgasm to rip through me.

“Trip!” I cry out his name and his movements become more ridged and intense.

“Ah, fuck. Yeah.” He follows my release with his own and collapses on top of me, peppering my face with soft kisses. “You are so fucking amazing.”

I giggle beneath him and play with the wild strands of hair poking out from his head. “I have to say that was a first for me.”

Trip raises his head and looks me in the eye. “What was?”

I shrug. “An orgasm.”

His eyes widen. “You’ve never had one before?”

“Oh, I have, just never with someone else involved.” A blush creeps over my cheeks as I admit that out loud.

“Really?” He lifts an eyebrow and grins. “Get ready, sweetness. There’s a whole lot more where that came from. I’m the self-proclaimed Orgasm King.”

I laugh. “By yourself doesn’t count.”

He shifts his hips and slides his still erect shaft back and forth inside me. “You know it’s true. I just gave you two in less than fifteen minutes.”

“Mmm…maybe you better show me again so I can see if you warrant that title,” I tease.

“It’ll be your pleasure.” He smirks as he goes to work kissing on my neck.

TRIP

Holly leans back against my chest and I wrap my arms around her before kissing the top of her head. It’s been a long time since I’ve cuddled like this after sex. Normally I stick to fucking in a neutral space so I can easily escape without all the expected sappy time after the fun. But this time is different. I want to be here with Holly. In fact, just like I was afraid of, now that I’ve gotten a real taste of her sweetness, I’m fucking addicted.

She traces light circles on my forearm with the tips of her fingers. “What are you thinking about?”

I sigh. “About how I’ll never be able to leave this place now.”

“Oh?” I hear the curiosity in her voice. “Why’s that?”

“Because of you,” I answer truthfully. “You’re a pretty amazing woman.”

She turns in my arms and throws her legs over one of mine while we sit on the shop’s counter. “I’ll never be able to look at this counter again. Every time I see it, I’ll think of you…us…and tonight.”

“Who says it has to be just tonight?” I ask with optimism. “I’d be willing to stick around a little longer.”

She turns her gaze up to mine. “Don’t you have bands to manage? Won’t they miss you?”

I shrug. “They’re kind of on break right now. Besides, maybe if you and I work out, you’d come on the road with me for a while, after we get this business back on the right track.”

She shakes her head. “I don’t know, Trip. Being around famous people just isn’t my thing. I’m just not into the whole drug and party scene—not to mention what jackasses they are. Look at Jackson for crying out loud. He’s just gotten a little taste of fame and he’s so full of himself he can barely see straight.”

My heart sinks. “Not all famous people are like that, and for the record, I’m almost positive Jackson’s always been a douchebag.”

“You’re right. I don’t know how I missed it all these years. I guess now I understand why my dad won’t listen to reason about my mom. He still loves her after everything she’s done to him—us—and lets her walk all over him. I never understood why he did that, but I guess I’ve been sort of doing the same thing with Jackson. He’s never really treated me very well.”

“I’m glad you got away from him, and who knows, maybe your dad will wise up one day too.”

“I don’t think he will. He’s still giving her money, which is a bad thing considering she’s a drug addict.”

“Bill told me about her,” I say, not wanting to pretend that I don’t already know Bill and Grace’s history.

“What did he say?” she whispers.

My stomach ties in a knot as I think about Bill trusting me with his HIV secret, and making me promise not to tell Holly or he’ll expose my identity to her, which would be bad. She just sat here and said she hates people like me. I need more time to prove to her I’m a decent guy. I like having her around, and I want to keep it that way.

She’s still waiting on me to answer her, so I say, “Not much, just that the two of you no longer get along and he talked a little about why that was.”

“I can hardly look at her. She doesn’t even look like my mom anymore. Every time she comes around, I’m reminded of how she chose drugs over us, and despite everything my dad is always willing to help her. I just don’t understand. I’m so scared I’ll be like her someday. That’s why I went away to college and was studying psychology. I guess I was hoping if I understood why addicts do the things they do, I would be able to stop that from happening to me.”

I tip her chin with my finger, making her look up at me. “You won’t be like her. You’re too smart for that.”

Holly gives me a sad smile. “I hope you’re right.”

“I know I am.” I kiss her lips.

She bats away a tear from her eye. “I’m sorry I’m crying. I know that’s a guy’s worst nightmare after sex.”