The Sterling Boys(35)

"I thought you were mad at me, or done with me. You've been so... weird for three weeks," she says while letting her eyes fall to the large ring on her small finger.

"I'm sorry, baby. I didn't mean to do that. I was... a little nervous you'd say no. It... I'm sorry. I was excited, terrified, and completely impatient for this night."

She laughs while pressing her lips to his again, and I glance at my watch. I doubt I can handle the overly affectionate couple while also dealing with Tag and Ash. My envy meter is about to burst.

"I think he just topped your proposal," Wren says, smirking at Tag who frowns.

"No," Ash says with a grin, kissing Tag's nose. "Kade's proposal was perfect for Raya, and Tag's proposal was perfect for me. Especially since he used Trip."

"Your kid?" Rain asks, probing for more information.

"Yeah," Ash says fondly, kissing Tag again, and then they're lost.

"This is getting hella gross," Rain groans.

"Ready to get out of here?" I ask, hoping she stands up and relieves me of the torture her ass in my lap has given me. She doesn't even hesitate to get up.

She staggers, but I've got my arm around her waist and steadying her the second I'm upright. The guys come to squeeze the hell out of her with hugs she can't yet withstand, and I scold them for being too rough.

"Just like old times," Maverick pouts, cutting his eyes toward me.

Rain laughs while kissing his cheek, and Corbin scoops her up to carry her bridal style to the car. Mav walks up beside me as I watch Rain and Corbin disappear toward the car.

"Always thought you two would end up like them," Rye says, suddenly right beside me as he sips a beer.

Where'd he get a bottle of beer at a wine function?

Maverick chuckles as he shakes his head. "I think the entire world thought that," he says, surprising me.

"Ah, hell. Dane was always too much of a player to settle down with one girl," Wren says, joining us.

Player? When the hell did I have time to be a player? They'd freak the hell out if I told them I was eighteen before I was ever with a girl. Rain doesn't even know she was my first.

I'm pretty damn sure my lack of experience was evident during our one night together, but she couldn't have known she was my first. I know I was hers, though, and I should have been her last.

"Yeah. Girls used to go crazy talking 'bout Dane Sterling," Rye drawls, laughing as he thinks back.

I don't like this conversation, because I always hated dealing with those rumors in front of Rain.

"I need to go. I'll see you guys later," I mumble.

"Something I said?" Rye asks, having the audacity to sound amused as I walk away.

"Just tired," I lie, cursing the bastard.

But the second I see Corbin putting Rain down, and her sleepy smile becomes aimed at me, my world stops spinning. I'm in love with Rain Noles all over again, and this time I might not make it out without getting completely broken. I'm not sure you can put the pieces back together twice. I need to put distance between us before she shreds me.

When Rain reaches for me, I don't hesitate to wrap my arms around her. I suppose putting distance between us is going to be hard if I can't fucking deny myself the right to touch her as much as possible. And I'm greedy, because I can't seem to get enough.





Chapter 9





RAIN



"So?" Viv prompts. She's dying to know if I've had a stroke of genius yet.

"I've got a couple of things lined up," I say with a grin. "I'll send you some of the rough drafted pages. I've written ten pages a piece."

"What do you mean? More than one book?" she asks, trying not to sound too hopeful.

"Three books."

Surprisingly enough, after just two weeks of being back home, my mind is brimming with new ideas, and I love it. I feel like I'm me again.

"So you found your inspiration. Thank God."

Until she said those words, I haven't thought anything about why I'm suddenly bubbling over with new material. Then he walks into my room, reminding me exactly why I'm inspired again.

"Feel like Chinese tonight?" Dane asks, taunting me with his irresistible shirtless body.

"Who's that?" Viv asks, whispering as though she's eavesdropping on something scandalous.

Oh boy. This is going to earn a squeal.

"It's Dane," I say after cutting the volume way down.

She does scream, but fortunately, my preparations have paid off and I can barely hear her.

"Sorry," Dane says as I slowly start cutting the volume back up. "I didn't know you were on the phone."

"It's fine," I say as he nears me. "It's just Viv about some of my new works."

I lean back as he pushes my shirt up, and I hold my breath as he checks over the fading marks on my stomach.