Music of the Heart (Runaway Train #1)(50)

She laughed. “You have such a way with words.”

“What can I say? You bring out the romantic in me.”

The taxi pulled up to the bus, and I winced. My chest caved in at the prospect of her leaving me, and I had to fight to breathe. I felt like a complete and total pu**y. Dammit, when had I become reduced to a codependent dude who needed a woman to survive? But as much as I hated to admit it, the truth was I needed Abby. She was living and breathing peace to my troubled soul—an angel sent straight out of Heaven. Just a look from her could calm me instantly. With everything happening with my mom, I didn’t know how I would make it without her.

Since she could read me so well, Abby threw her arms around my neck, and she pressed herself tight against me. “I wish I didn’t have to leave you. I need you desperately, but I know you need me more.”

“You’re just a phone call away, right?” I asked, hating the way my voice broke with emotion.

“Yes of course. Day or night. If anything happens with your mom or upsets you or if you can’t sleep, you can just call me, okay?”

I groaned. “You make me sound like an utter pu**y.”

She giggled, causing her warm breath to heat my neck. “You just have an amazing, tender heart, baby. Because of that, you’re always going to feel more and hurt more than other people.” Pulling away, she stared up at me. “Besides, it isn’t a sign of weakness to need other people.”

“No, it isn’t.”

“So you’ll call me?”

“Oh hell yes, I will.” I leaned over to kiss her. Even though I wanted to press her up against the bus and ravage her mouth while running my hands over her amazing tits, I knew I couldn’t do that. Not only because I wouldn’t dream of disrespecting my girl by giving the cab driver or the guys such a raunchy show, but because I didn’t want to move too fast with her. It wasn’t just her lack of experience—it was because I wanted to make everything perfect for her…and for me.

So with all the restraint I could muster, I brushed my lips chastely against hers. When she sighed in frustration, I pulled away. At her disappointed expression, I couldn’t help laughing. Cupping her cheeks in my hands, I asked, “What was your first part of the duet we sang, Angel?”

“Um, it was about not moving too fast and making it last?”

“Nice rhyming, but yeah, that line.” When her brows furrowed, I grinned. “I haven’t had a relationship with a girl since the band hit big. I’m used to loving in the fast lane, and well, you’re the emergency lane at best.”

“Hey now,” she giggled, smacking my arm playfully.

“So we gotta take this slow. I want to savor what I’m feeling and not ruin it with getting too physical too fast.”

Abby pursed her lips at me. “And what if I want some parts of a physical relationship with you? I’m not talking the full deal…well, not yet anyway.”

I threw my head back and groaned. “Thanks for trying to kill me, Angel. You’ve known me a week, and your rules are to be in love with the person, remember?”

She nibbled my bottom lip. “Yeah, well, maybe I’m on my way to falling in love with you.”

At the honk of the cab’s horn, I let out an exasperated breath. “We both have the worst f**king timing.”

“But we’ll at least continue this conversation later, right?”

“Yes, we will.” I grabbed up her suitcase and guitar case.

“Wait, you don’t—”

“Yes, I do. It’s the gentlemanly thing to do.”

She shook her head and then fell in step behind me. I eased her stuff into the trunk and then closed the lid. “Be careful.”

“Thanks. You too.”

“And knock em’ dead tonight.”

“I’ll try.”

I grinned as I opened the backseat door for her. “You will, and you know I’m always right.”

She rolled her eyes but then smiled. “Bye, Jake.”

“Bye, Angel.”

As she started past me to get into the cab, I stopped her. Sometimes there were just moments you knew you would regret if you didn’t follow your heart. Grabbing the back of her neck, I tipped her head up to mine. Then I brought my mouth to hers. This time I let the warmth of my tongue slide her lips open. When she made a little moan in the back of her throat, I tightened my arms around her waist. God, she tasted good. I could’ve kept on kissing her the whole afternoon, but a symphony of whistles and catcalls interrupted my moment of pure bliss.

I jerked away to see AJ, Brayden, and Rhys standing beside the bus. Warmth flooded Abby’s face as I growled, “Thanks a lot, guys.”

“¡Agarrale el culo, chica!".

Abby’s eyes narrowed before she shouted, “Callete, cabron!”

“What did he just say?” I questioned with a grin.

“Grab his ass, girl,” she replied.

“And what did you say to him?”

She grinned. “I told him to shut up and called him an ass**le.”

I laughed. “I’ll make sure to knock the shit out of him for you.”

“Gracias,” she replied. Glancing at the guys, she shook her head. “I’m tempted to give you all the finger, but I’ll just wave instead.”