I got out of the car before he could say anything else. My pulse threatened to burst through my skin as I unlocked the front door, not looking behind me, not checking to see if he followed. When the front door shut with a quiet click behind me, I let out the breath I hadn't realized I was holding, though my shoulders slumped with disappointment.At least, they did for the ten seconds or so before Alex pulled the door open again.I turned towards him; he reached for me. Without a second thought, his lips were pressed against mine, urgent and soft and leaving me breathless. It was like being showered with sparks, like something had burst above us and was raining electricity and heat and desire over us in the front hallway.I had never wanted someone so badly in my life.His hands were confident, one holding the back of my head as he kissed me and the other sliding to my waist and around my back, pulling my body tight against his. I gasped as he bit at my lip, tongue flicking over the sp

Eyes still flashing, she leaned back and looked at me, waiting for me to continue. I guess that was something. She wasn't just storming out."I'm not a psychic, and I'm not trying to make any stupid claims that make me into anything other than a jackass that shit all over Jimmy, but his wasn't a story with a happy ending. And yeah, I was a dick. I got it. For the time it took to write those articles and for all the effort it took to avoid telling you it was me, yeah. A big dick."But I'm not going to fall on my sword and pretend that's the whole story. He's sober. He didn't just get sober, he's staying sober. He's cleaned up. He's playing better than ever before. You know where he was yesterday? He was the reward for a high school band class. They averaged an eighty-five for a big test or some shit and he went in and spent the afternoon with them. Jimmy. Mr. Rock Star spent his afternoon jamming with some high school kids because they got good grades. He plays with Leia all the time.

Alex POVI wasn't angry. How could I be angry? It was just. No matter how fucked up things got, you could only get truly angry if you thought that things weren't fair and just. I deserved every bit of this. Ember was fate, slapping me in the face and telling me it hadn't forgotten what I'd done. Two and a half decades had gone by and I'd successfully hidden. My guilt was in the past and I was living my quiet grey life. No love, no glory, no fame but also no pain.Then she strode through the wreckage of my life, making me remember what was possible and what I had lost. I'd fucked women over the past twenty-five years. I'd had good times since my world ended. There were even times when I was happy. But Ember was the first thing since they died that was real. She was the first new person that I felt that I might be able to love. And she turned out to be my son's best friend and I was such a crappy father that I didn't even know she existed.Well played, Fate.I couldn't go back to my bed

He sat down in my office a few minutes later. I got up, closed the door and then sat back down."I'm not sure where to start. I owe you an apology. I'm not going to sugar-coat it. I'm not sorry for what I did, but I am sorry about how I did it. On top of that, I should have told you as soon as you started working here. Not many people know I'm Curt Llama, but you deserved to know.""Okay.""Okay?""Yeah, we're good."I told him we were bumping his pay up to $1,500 a week and then we went over the songs. We discussed his approach, what his thought processes were and why I went in the directions I did. He asked the right questions and seemed excited."So, uh, feel free to say no. I, uh, I sorta started working on my own stuff. I mean, I've always done that. If you play, you don't really have a choice, but I've sorta gotten serious about it. If you could, uh, maybe take a look? When you have a chance? Or not. Whatever."I smiled at how nervous he was. "I'd be happy to, Jimmy. Nervous?""

I came again, and at least one more time after that before Alex groaned and came inside me. He held me tight as he finished, hugging me to him like he would never let go, or maybe could never let go. I fought to catch my breath, kissing his neck and running my fingers along his back as he rested against me."How fast do we have to get dressed?" he asked after moving off of me, his arm extended so I could curl up against his chest."Dunno."He kissed the top of my head."Anyone ever tell you you're loud in bed?""Is that a complaint?""Fuck no.""Well, don't get used to it." I kissed his chest lightly. "We'll have to be a little quieter once you move in. I don't need Leia hearing that."He laughed. "Move in?""Mm-hmm. You're not getting away from me that easy this time.""I'm not sayin' yes, but what if I want you to move into my place?""Okay, but I practically have a built-in babysitter here.""Mm. I see your point. You think we'd need a nanny."I laughed at his gentle teasing, revel