Suddenly, forever didn’t seem like long enough.
EPILOGUE
“What are you wearing?”
Oakley smiled into the phone. “My husband’s vintage Guns N’ Roses T-shirt and a pair of white cotton panties.”
“Fuck, that’s hot. Is he there with you now?”
Oakley rinsed out her toothbrush. “No, he’s busy being some kick-ass drummer, the jerk.”
“That must be hard, him being on the road so much. Has to get lonely.”
“Mmm, it definitely does.” She flipped off the light in the bedroom, plunging herself into darkness, her body already stirring in anticipation for what she knew was in store. This had been her and Pike’s routine over the last few weeks while he traveled. They’d talk during the day about what was going on in their lives, and he’d have his daily chat with Rae when she got home from school. But at night, he and Oakley would find each other in the dark—touching through the distance.
This call was a bit of surprise, though. He’d told her he’d be in New York tonight and may not be done until after she was asleep. But she should’ve known he’d find a way. He rarely missed a night. Though after the summer they’d had, it never felt like enough.
After the wedding, he’d asked again if she and Rae would come with him for the summer leg of the tour. Reagan had been over the moon about it, and Oakley had fallen into that new-city-every-night routine again more quickly than she would’ve suspected. During the day, they’d all spend time together, see a little of whatever city they were in, and then at night, they’d watch Pike play. It’d been fun and exciting and a whirlwind. And to Oakley’s surprise, Reagan had thrived despite the chaos of being on the road. The guys in the band had taught her some new things on her guitar, and Pike was trying to teach her drums. She seemed determined to learn every instrument out there. And while Reagan occupied herself with that, Oakley had gotten some quality time to work on her songwriting, strumming out new songs on the brand-new Martin guitar Pike had given her for a wedding present.
But schooltime had come up soon enough, and Rae had needed to be back home. Oakley had needed it, too. Both to get back to work so she could start her new position and to take care o
f the legal stuff she needed to put in place to protect Reagan from Liam.
It had gutted her to leave Pike after three months of nonstop togetherness. And she could tell it had torn him up, too, that they’d had to leave. But he also had a commitment to his band and to his fans.
“You want some company, then?” Pike asked, his voice low, tempting. “I bet I can make you feel good.”
“You sound mighty confident. I’ll warn you. The bar’s set high. My guy is a pretty fantastic lay.”
“I bet I can do better.”
“Oh yeah? Try me.”
The phone went quiet for a few long seconds, and Oakley toed off her socks, preparing to get in bed and curl up with the sound of Pike’s voice.
“Still there?” she asked.
No answer.
Well, hell. Damn cell signals. She pulled her phone from her ear, but before she could check the status, a hand clamped over her mouth from behind. She screamed but the hand muffled the sound.
Lips brushed her ear. “Be a good girl and I won’t have to hurt you.”
She gasped—both out of relief that it wasn’t some psycho and shock that Pike was actually here. She turned in his hold, feeling for him in the dark. “Oh my God, are you actually here or am I just having that hot dream again?”
He chuckled and his hand coasted over her hair as if reminding himself what she felt like. “I’m really here, mama. Fuck, you smell good.”
She reached over and clicked on a lamp, needing to see his face. She blinked in the sudden light and then shifted back into his embrace. His hazel eyes were still smudged with liner and his hair mussed, but he looked as gorgeous as ever. She ran her fingers over his jawline. “You look like you just got off stage. How are you here? Did you get a break between shows or something?”
“I hopped on a plane right after the show. I couldn’t wait.” He brushed her hair away from her eyes. “I needed to see your face. I needed you.”
She closed her eyes, inhaling his familiar scent, her entire body awakening to his presence. What a gift to have him here unexpectedly. She’d thought she wouldn’t be seeing him until Halloween. “How long do I have you?”
His mouth kicked up at the corner. “Forever.”
“I mean for this visit.”
He lifted her hand and kissed her wedding band. “Same answer.”