"Sweet revenge?" she asked.
He shook his head. "I regret it now. It was an asshole move. The stupid things kids do."
"Twenty-year-old kids," Kellen said.
"Yeah, well, I'm immature. Get over it."
"So now you prowl sex clubs," Caitlyn said. "What are you looking for, Owen?"
"Nothing but a good time."
"He's still afraid to open up, so he seeks connections that aren't real," Kellen said. "He was hurt too many times when he was young. Becca was the first who ripped his heart out, but she wasn't the last."
"Yeah, see, I learned my lesson. It's better this way, isn't it? Avoid heartache, but still get your rocks off?"
Kellen touched his wristband and shook his head. "No."
Owen watched him for a moment and then turned his attention to Caitlyn. "So does it bother you? Knowing I used to be someone you wouldn't have even considered sleeping with?"
"How do you know that? Not everyone is superficial. Though I must admit that I was first attracted to you because you're so easy on the eyes and I thought having you would make my ex-husband seethe with envy."
Caitlyn covered her mouth and stifled a yawn. Owen wondered if they'd put some sort of sleeping powder in the cheesecake. Or maybe she wasn't used to being up so late.
"Are you tired?" he asked.
She nodded.
"Don't think I'm going to let you sleep when we get to my room."
"I'm sure you'll find a way to keep me awake," she said with a smile.
He loved her smile. It made her inquisitive brown eyes crinkle at the corners.
"That sounds like a challenge."
When the elevator stopped, Owen placed a hand on Caitlyn's lower back and directed her toward his room. He remembered a time when all five members of the band had to share one seedy hotel room. It had been years ago, but they'd been closer then somehow. Of course it was hard not to be close when five guys shared one bathroom, one bottle of whiskey, and a few groupies between them.
Owen opened the door and Caitlyn entered his hotel room without hesitation. She was already comfortable in his presence, trusted him. He wondered how far he could take her tonight. Wondered if she'd stick around after the concert the next night and get to know him even better.
Standing behind her, Owen wrapped his arms around her and unbuttoned the three leather-covered buttons of her tweed jacket. He pulled the garment free and tossed it onto the sofa in the seating area just inside the door.
"Do you always wear suit jackets in the summer?" he asked before planting a gentle kiss on the side of her neck.
"I'm usually indoors, so yeah. Otherwise, I freeze in the AC."
He didn't plan on letting her freeze tonight.
She dropped her head to the side, allowing him to explore the silky flesh of her throat with his lips.
"Owen?" His name was like a soft caress on her lips.
"Yes?"
"I feel like I've known you for a long time. Has it really only been a few hours?"
"I know what you mean." He worked at the knot of fabric at her throat, wanting to sample more of her flesh. "Tell me about your business."
She hesitated and then lifted her hands to help him untie the bow at her neck. "Now? But what I do isn't sexy. I want to feel sexy when I'm with you."
He kissed her ear and lowered his hands to cup her breasts. He squeezed gently. "I always think you're sexy," he promised. "Especially when you're telling me about yourself."
"Like I said, we work on alternative forms of energy. I know it's hard to believe, but I'm sort of a geek." She giggled.
"Are you sharing something you thought I didn't already know?"
She slapped his thigh. "You think I'm a geek?"
"I know you're a geek. I think it's sexy."
She shook her head. "You're a weird guy, Owen Mitchell."
"Are you complaining that I think you're sexy?" He reached for the top button of her blouse and unfastened it.
"No. I'm not sure I believe you. What can possibly be sexy about a woman who is more interested in the flow of electrons than she is in her hair?"
"I love your hair." Thick, black, and lustrously wavy.
"That's because I actually combed it today."
"And I had a great time messing it up."
He unfastened another button on her blouse and then another. She seemed content to fall silent as he slowly unbuttoned her shirt and tugged it free of her jeans. He tossed it aside on the sofa as well. His hands moved to cup both breasts, and he kissed the side of her neck until some of the tension left her body. He rubbed his thickening cock against her sweet ass in case she didn't trust his words. He'd been with a lot of women, but this one pushed every one of his buttons, and he was ready to launch into orbit.