Melody of the Heart (Runaway Train, #4)(25)

I opened my mouth to say how much I wanted him to do just that when a guy’s voice interrupted me. “Just try to keep it down, will ya? I’m watching a movie.”

At the stranger’s voice, I squealed and gripped Brayden’s shoulders tighter. “Dude, what the f*ck are you doing here?” Brayden demanded.

“Uh, last time I checked, I lived here.”

“You said you were going home this weekend to stay with your parents.”

“I said I might go home.”

Brayden grunted in frustration. “You said you would because you knew Lily was coming this weekend.”

“Oh yeah, I kinda forgot about that.”

“Sorry, baby,” Brayden said, before he gently eased me onto my feet. Considering I was in my bra and jeans, I pivoted around to hide behind Brayden.

“You told me she was a hell of a looker, but you didn’t mention that she was so shy. Of course, she didn’t sound shy when you guys were out in the hallway.”

“Oh God,” I moaned, as mortification filled me.

I heard the guy rise off the couch and start over to us. When I shrank farther behind Brayden, he said, “Come on, mi amor, a bra is like a bikini top. Nothing to be ashamed of.”

Slowly, I peeked around Brayden’s shoulder. A tall, dark-haired, dark-eyed guy stood grinning at me, his arms crossed over his broad, bare chest. The only article of clothing he had on was a pair of boxer shorts that hung low on his hips. If I hadn’t been totally in love with Brayden, I would have probably fallen to the floor in a pool of lust for this guy. He was that good-looking. But the thing I liked most about him was his warm smile and the mischievous glint in his eyes.

“Lily, this is my roommate, AJ,” Brayden introduced.

Throwing out his hand, AJ said, “That’s Alejandro Joaquin Resendiz actually. And I’m not just his roommate. I’m the drummer in his new band.”

With a resigned sigh, I stepped around Brayden to shake his hand. “It’s nice to meet you.”

He winked. “Nice meeting you in the flesh. I feel like I already know you because Bray talks about you all the f*cking time.” Smacking Brayden’s chest playfully, AJ said, “He’s such a sap.”

While Brayden’s cheeks reddened, I couldn’t help smiling. “I’m glad to hear that he talks about me and isn’t having wild and crazy orgies while I’m gone.”

AJ snorted. “This guy? Never. Jake and I have been calling him the Old Man.”

“Because he’s the oldest?”

“Because he acts like an old married man.”

“You’re full of shit, AJ,” Brayden muttered.

The thought of him talking about me to his bandmates and having eyes only for me made my heart swell. Overcome with emotion, I leapt at Brayden, smothering him with kisses. “What dare you doing?” he asked, with a confused grin.

“Showing you how thankful I am that you’re such a good boyfriend.”

“I have some other ideas of how you could show me.”

I giggled. “Is that right?”

“Oh yeah.”

AJ groaned. “Would you please take it to the bedroom?”

“I’m sorry. It’s just I haven’t seen him in two weeks,” I replied.

“Yeah, yeah, go f*ck each other’s brains out. I’ll make sure to turn the TV up,” AJ replied, before walking back over to the couch.

“There’s some earplugs in one of the kitchen drawers,” Brayden said.

“Tempting. Very tempting.”

Brayden swept me into his arms and started for the bedroom. “Goodnight, AJ.”

“Goodnight, Lovely Lily.”

I grinned as Brayden kicked the door shut behind us. “Aw, he called me Lovely Lily like Paul McCartney’s Lovely Linda.”

“Makes sense to me,” Brayden replied, with a smile.

***

The time apart made Brayden and me insatiable for each other. We kept at each other for most of the night until finally falling asleep just before dawn. With my naked body sprawled across Brayden’s, I wasn’t expecting the door to fly to open just a few hours after we had managed to go to sleep.

“Brayden!” AJ cried.

A scream erupted from my lips at the sight of AJ in the doorway. He quickly spun around to where he faced the door. My reaction freaked out a dead-to-the-world, Brayden. He shot straight up in bed, sending me tumbling to the floor.

“Ow!” I cried, as my butt slammed onto the hardwood.

“Oh f*ck, I’m sorry, babe. Are you okay?” Brayden questioned, leaning over the side of the bed.

“I think I broke my butt,” I replied, with a smile.

“I’ll kiss it and make it better,” Brayden offered. He then got out of bed and helped me up.

As he rubbed my aching backside, Brayden demanded, “What the hell are you doing in here AJ?”

With his head down, AJ said, “I knocked a million times. I guess you guys didn’t hear me.”

“Barging in here at—” Brayden glanced over his shoulder to look at the clock, “at f*cking eight am? You better have a damn good reason.”

“I do.” When he started to turn around, I dove under the covers. As soon as I was decent, he turned the rest of the way around. “Jake called me just a few minutes ago. Apparently this guy down at Eastman’s called him in a panic. The house band he had to perform on Friday and Saturday nights broke up, and he’s desperate for an act. He wants us to play tonight.”