Sultry Oblivion by Alexa Padgett
Nash
The show that night was a disaster—not that the fans would know, thanks to Hugh’s continued ability to put out fires and our roadie’s ingenuity when the pyrotechnics failed. But it wasn’t the show I’d planned on, and my head started throbbing halfway through the set.
Still, the crowd roared its approval after I finished the last song with a flourish of my guitar.
The next night had better logistics, but I wasn’t feeling it. I had bigger fish to fry. I missed hearing Aya’s voice—but she still wasn’t taking my calls. I missed my kittens. One more week and we’d be back in Austin. I could hold out that long. I hoped.
Bridger segued into one of the love songs, and my mind drifted toward Aya again. I pictured her in a wedding dress. My breath hitched, but I managed to continue singing. Then, I thought of her with a child on her hip. A girl with big, violet eyes, a mop of sandy-brown hair and dimples.
Fuck, I liked that idea.
I liked it so much, I missed my cue for the verse. But I recovered by putting my hand to my ear and waving for the crowd to sing louder.
“That’s great energy, Charleston,” I yelled. “Let’s see what else you got.”
I barreled into the lyrics, trying to give the fans the show they deserved. The band even played three extra songs, trying to make up for my inattention earlier.
But that image of our kid wouldn’t leave my mind. And I liked it.
A lot.
Our daughter would hang out with Ike, who’d protect her from everything bad in this world. And Cam’s boy would teach her to climb trees and whoop as she jumped into the creek.
The more I thought about Aya and me having a kid, the more excited I became. Also, the more I realized I owed her an apology for shutting her down without even considering the option. I’d acted like an ass.
When I bowed my way offstage after the second encore, chest heaving, and face dripping with sweat, I was exhausted, even as elation skipped over my skin. But the exhaustion won out, and by the time Brandon muscled me through the crowd toward the waiting SUV, my feet dragged.
I dropped my head against the cool pane of the back seat window, not caring who saw me, definitely not caring what they said.
I pressed my cheek harder against the glass and hummed the “Biko” melody. I’d thought I was past this song. Fucking Peter Gabriel. He was not going to mess with the good juju I’d managed to create earlier.
Brandon brought the vehicle to a halt. I peeled open an eye.
“Ready to head up?” he asked.
“Yeah. I’m exhausted.”
“Touring requires lots of late nights.”
“And too-early mornings,” I concurred. “But we do this to ourselves because how long can we expect the public to find our music interesting and relevant? I don’t want to become that guy—the one where people say, ‘Remember him?’”
Brandon’s face remained solemn as we walked. “You’ve been playing in the big leagues for years, so I don’t see that happening. But if it did, what you said is the worst that’ll come from it. Is that really so bad?”
No, I thought. It wasn’t. Because I’d have more time to spend with Aya and my cats. To write songs. To build a relationship with my father and to strengthen my roots with the Grace family. And Aya would be in my bed, in my arms, every night.
“I’m not sure why I tour,” I muttered.
Brandon chuckled. “Loses its luster pretty damn quick.”
I snorted. “This is a mini tour. Just twelve days. Wait until we do the seven-month extravaganza.”
Both Brandon and I frowned into the glossy wood panel inside the elevator. Yeah, moving from place to place held no appeal.
I trudged down the hotel hallway, my feet barely able to lift. I’d spent the last few days fighting sleep because I didn’t want to relive my fight with Aya in my dreams. Now, though, I had something sweet and precious to carry me through those hours: the image of our kid. The one I wanted to tell Aya about.
I fell into the bed, not even bothering to unlace my boots. And I dreamed of the little girl with butterscotch skin, a tinkling laugh, and bright violet eyes.
The sun was shiningwhen I opened my eyes, and George Harrison’s dulcet voice crooned “Something” in my mind. I stiffened.
Aya. I only heard that song when she was nearby.
I lifted my head, scenting the air like a predator. Aya.
“Something in the way…”
Aya.
She appeared in the doorway.
“I’ve missed you,” I croaked. George Harrison continued to belt out his ode in my head. “Wait. What the hell are you wearing?”
“Steve’s shirt.”
“That’s all?”
“No. I have on shorts.”
She flipped up the bottom of the long shirt and flashed me a pair of black linen shorts that showed off most of her toned legs.
George quit singing. “Wait, if you and Steve are here in Charleston, who’s with the kittens?”
“Ike’s watching them, and Kate said he’s over the moon. Rye said if they have to get a pet because of this, I’m paying for it.” She shrugged. “Seemed fair.”
I relaxed into the bed. I should have known Aya would look after our babies. Babies…my thoughts drifted back to the sweet image I’d created of our daughter. My chest warmed, causing my pulse to leap.
“I don’t like you wearing another man’s shirt,” I growled.
“I don’t like you talking to Lindsay,” she snapped back, eyes narrowed, tone angrier than mine. “You’re supposed to be mine. You promised.”
Damn. My woman was hot.
“And I definitely don’t like you being this low.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “Brandon told me.”
“What was the point?” I asked, even as I drifted closer to her, needing to be near her. “You weren’t here, and it was my fault because I’m a moron who couldn’t let go of the past.”
“Oh, Nash.” Her eyes softened and the tightness around her mouth faded. “You really do manage to self-destruct.”
I pressed my forehead to hers and growled. “You smell like my dad’s aftershave. Do you know how gross that is?”
She unbuttoned the first button, then moved quickly to the next. “I had a bloody nose, and your luggage wasn’t here.”
“It’s on the bus.”
“I don’t know where mine is either. I figured it was better to wear his shirt than nothing.”
“Nothing is always the right choice, pretty girl.”
“You would say that.” She smiled, but then suddenly her eyes welled and mascara dribbled down her cheek. “I didn’t like your conclusions about me the other night.”
“I didn’t mean it. I was angry. And scared. I’m sorry I hurt you.” I pressed my fingers to her lips before gliding the tips up to her cheeks and wiping away the black streaks.
This reminded me of our first conversation, back in the spring. She’d been jet-lagged, her eyes red-rimmed with fatigue and emotion, her cheeks nearly raw. I didn’t want to be in this place again. I closed my eyes.
“I talked to Cynthia. She shed light on quite a few things. My mom was sick for a long time.” I heaved a breath. “It’s just hard, you know? Hard knowing I made the same mistakes.”
Aya pressed her cheek to my shoulder and wrapped her arms around me. “I do know.”
She did. We’d been through so much. No wonder she was such an integral part of me.
“I can’t do this living thing without you, Ay. And I don’t want to. Don’t leave me. Please.”
“I never planned to leave you. We just needed a break from the conversation. You weren’t in a rational place.”
I brushed my lips over hers. “And I jumped to conclusions.”
“Yes, but I’m sorry I didn’t see it from your side. I know my retreating feels like you’re being abandoned.” She rested her head on my shoulder. “My dad’s an arse. He stirred this pot.”
“Yeah, he is. And he did.”
“Why were you with Lindsay?” she asked after a moment. “That made me crazy. Hurt my feelings, too.”
We still had the same old triggers, it seemed, but I had to smile. We were doing the work, both of us. We were having this conversation instead of running away or shutting down.
I collected her closer to me. “Did you know your father hired her as the development director at Clean Water?”
“Yes. She told me, actually.”
“I didn’t know you talked to her.”
“I don’t. Not really. But I alerted her to some of my father’s financial entanglements with Alistair, and when she responded to let me know she appreciated the heads up, she gave me a bit of an update. She also let me know she was officially with Alistair.”
He nodded. “Makes sense, I guess. Well, she was in D.C. for some society thing with Lord Dipshit, so I met up with her. Just to chat about the nonprofit. I didn’t fire her, by the way. She actually seems good at the job, and I figured you’d need to make the choice.” He hesitated. “I bought Clean Water for you.”
She snuggled in closer. “That’s sweet, but also over the top.”
“Yeah, well, it keeps your father out of your life, so it was worth it.”
“Promise me something?” she asked.
“Hit me.”
“Let me fight these battles myself. I asked you to let me do that. I need to know I’m strong enough.”
I cupped her cheeks. “I know you’re strong enough, but you’re right. I promise to listen to you. I’m sorry about how I behaved. Really sorry. I was just so blindsided.”
She seemed to know what I was talking about because she nodded. “I’m not happy with their decisions for us either. I wish my mother had talked to me. But…Nash, I do believe she thought this was the best way to keep my father’s fingers out of my money. He sold Jeddi’s house.”
“I know. I bought it.”
She shook her head. “You own two houses in Austin?”
“That’s where we spent most of our time. Where we fell in love. No way I was letting someone else have it.” I pressed a kiss to her forehead. “Mrs. Ombly’s there. She keeps it up.”
“Why are you just now telling me this?” she squealed.
“Because it just came up.” I shrugged.
We held each other, content with the silence.
“Will you stay with me? For the rest of the tour?” I asked after a moment. “I feel like we’re better when we’re together.”
She kissed my lips. “Yes. This time. But we do need to figure out how to be apart.”
I gripped her closer, fear curling up my chest and into my throat. “Not now. Someday.”
She laid her head on my chest. “Someday.”
After our all-importantconversation in Charleston, Aya and I did manage some sleep. The next day, we traveled to Nashville, and Aya got to know the guys better.
She glanced over from where she was pulling up a new pair of shorts. Thankfully Steve had found her luggage and dropped it off at our new hotel room last night.
I took a moment to admire her long, toned legs, smirking at the tiny quiver in them as she stopped moving. Her long hair was wet from the shower, but I knew when the dark strands dried, that riot of autumnal colors that had fascinated me so much as a kid would slowly appear. From the streaks of black to the deepest auburn, her hair played hide-and-seek with color. I was so thankful she’d agreed to finish the tour with me.
“What is it?” she asked. She buttoned her shorts and moved toward me, concern lighting her eyes. As she neared, I noted the glimmer of water clinging to her lashes. I loved her most like this—fresh, without makeup or artifice. Not that Aya didn’t makeover well. She was a fucking cover model dream with her hair and makeup, but this… Seeing her just showered, clothed in casual, comfortable items—this was for me.
“Nothing. You look hot,” I said.
She smiled, ducking her chin before darting her gaze up to meet mine. “You just—”
“Fucked you so hard against the shower enclosure my legs almost gave out. I know, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want you again. I love hearing you screaming my name as you squeeze my cock.”
Her chest, with those perfect tits, rose and fell more quickly. I threaded my fingers into her hair, tugging her down over me, smirking as she found my erection and snuggled it between her thighs. Perfect.
“I’m glad you’re here for the show tonight. You’re my talisman. My malas.” I flicked the tassel on the bracelet she’d put back on after her shower.
“Then why were you upset a minute ago?” she asked.
“Not upset.” I waved my phone. “I just looked up how fast you could be attracted to someone.”
She raised her eyebrows.
“Three seconds, Ay. It takes three full seconds for a person to realize they want someone.” I pointed at her with my phone before I tossed it onto the bed. “But you said you fell in love with me in less than a second. And…” I flipped her over, loving her squeak of surprise, the way her fingers gripped my biceps enough for her nails to dig in. I’d wear her marks with pride. I nuzzled into her neck. “I loved you right back, from that second when you looked up at me. It’s your eyes, Aya Aldringham. They slay me. And I can’t get enough of them, looking at me like I’m your hero.”
She sank deeper into the mattress, wrapping her legs around my thighs, her heels resting just under my butt. Aya was a genius; she knew just what we both needed.
“My Superstar.” She touched my cheeks, trailing her fingers down the planes of my face. “You saved me. Saved me from drowning.”
I kissed her, long and slow and deep—just like I wanted.
“When do you need to head over to the venue?” she asked after we broke apart.
“Soon. But after the show tonight, I want to make you sing my name.” I waggled my eyebrows.
“I’ll do my best.”
“That’s pretty damn good.”
She smiled as she stretched. Her shirt was askew enough for me to catch the hint of lavender lace on her bra peeking out the top. My mouth watered.
Each time I looked at her, it was like falling in love all over again. My brain had known years before. Aya was my match, my love. And now I was ready for her, ready to become the man she deserved. Soon I’d make her my wife.
***
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Wantto see if Nash proposes? Pick up FOREVER OBLIVION to find out!
I fell in love in less than one second...
Now, Aya and Nash have it all—love, passion, intimacy, wealth, and a world of possibilities for their future. But Aya knows being with her superstar won’t be easy, and that being together will pose challenges neither of them can anticipate.
Aya must learn to share Nash’s fame without sacrificing her own dreams. And Nash must overcome his compulsion to protect Aya as he wrestles with his persistent demons.
Just when their love seems to overcome any obstacle, fate conspires to destroy their chance at forever….
FOREVER OBLIVIONthe final book in the angsty bestselling rockstar romance series OBLIVION. Start reading now—and fall in beat with Nash and Aya's heart-stealing romance!
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