Tom nods and steps out of the SUV, striding confidently toward the house. The rest of the group follows him, but I hang back, watching as Dylan and Enzo carefully guide Jax inside, with Lily close behind them. I walk behind her, briefly distracted by her hips swaying with her stride.
Inside the house I pull my attention away from Lily to glance around. The décor is rustic mixed with modern, with exposed wooden beams and plush furnishings. The living room features a stone fireplace and leather sofas and the kitchen has granite countertops and a farmhouse sink.
Tom shows us around, his boots clicking on the hardwood floors. “The fridge is stocked,” he says, pointing to the kitchen. “If y’all need anything, I’m in the second house out back. I’ll put your luggage on the porch for you before I head off.”
The group murmurs a chorus of thank-you’s as Tom departs, and we quickly turn our attention to exploring the remaining rooms, which turn out to be mostly bedrooms. There’s also an office and a small studio, which is probably why Harris agreed to this location.
“I claim dibs on this room!” Dylan yells from the bedroom furthest down the hall. “The bed in here is massive.”
Lily laughs. “They all have king sized beds.”
“This one is definitely bigger,” Dylan insists as he pops his head out of his room.
Lily shakes her head but doesn’t respond to him. Instead, she turns to the rest of us. “Enzo, Marcus, Jax, do you have a room preference?”
Enzo claims the room closest to the kitchen, and I take the one directly in the middle of the hall. We settle Jax in the room between us, ensuring he’s within easy reach if he needs help. Lily ends up in the bedroom second from the end of the hall, with a window that frames a perfect view of the mountains. I can already imagine how stunning it’ll look during the sunrise.
Once everyone’s rooms are decided, Enzo takes the first round of Jax sitting and I head out onto the porch to grab the luggage, dragging it into the living room. Lily joins me, picking up the bag the nurse packed for Jax. She pulls out the instructions, scanning through them for what feels like the seventh or eighth time, sighing deeply.
“Lily,” I say softly, stepping into the kitchen. “Put it down and come with me.”
She looks up, her eyes filled with anxiety. “Marcus, I can’t. I need to make sure everything is in order. What if we forget to do something and it makes everything worse?”
“Just for a minute,” I insist, taking her hand. “You need a break. One minute to worry about yourself is okay.”
Reluctantly, she allows me to lead her out to the porch.The sun has just dipped below the horizon, leaving a soft afterglow that paints the fields in golden light. I sit on a rocking chair and pull her onto my lap.
The gentle creak of the chair and the cool breeze work their magic, and I feel her begin to relax. “My mom would’ve loved this place,” I say quietly.
She looks up at me, her expression softening. “Your mom?”
“She passed when I was young,” I admit, the memory bittersweet. “She always dreamed of moving out of the city and living somewhere more peaceful. Probably somewhere just like this.”
“Do you have any other family?” She asks quietly.
“Just the band. They’re my family now.”
Lily scans my face quietly, then tilts her head up and kisses me, her lips soft and warm. I slide my arm around her waist, pulling her closer as I instantly react and deepen the kiss. For a moment, everything feels perfect.
“We should head inside,” I murmur, pulling back with a grin. “Don’t want to give Tom a show.”
She laughs softly, and I help her to her feet, snagging her hand as I walk into the house. I tug her along beside me as I retreat to my bedroom. As soon as the door closes, the outside world disappears entirely. I kiss her again, slower this time, savoring the taste of her lips. She melts into me, her hands threading through my hair, pulling me closer as I guide her backward toward the bed.
The scent of fresh linen and the distant hum of cicadas outside create a backdrop for our own symphony of sighs and whispers. Lily’s skin feels impossibly soft beneath my fingertips, her breath hitching as I trail my hands across her, committing every curve and dip to memory.
I lean over her, pressing a trail of kisses down her neck, lingering at the hollow of her collarbone. Her breathless moans are a soft symphony, a reward for every touch. My hands glide over her body, tracing the outline of her breasts, her waist, her hips, reveling in the way she responds to me. She arches beneath me, her fingers digging into my back, as I tease and explore her in the ways I have been thinking about for days.
“Marcus,” she whispers, her voice trembling with desire. “Please.”
I couldn’t deny her, even if I wanted to. And I don’t want to.
Slowly, I peel off her clothes and slide inside her, feeling her warmth surround my throbbing length. We move together, our rhythm steady and slow, creating a connection beyond just the physical aspect of our bodies joining together. Each thrust bringing us closer together.
“Lily,” I murmur against her skin, my voice rough with emotion. “You feel incredible.”
Her eyes lock onto mine, her expression a mix of vulnerability and desire. “So do you.”
I lean down, sealing my lips to hers, licking across the seam of her mouth as I quicken the rhythm of my movements. Her soft sighs against my lips spur me to thrust deeper, my hands sliding under her ass to lift her into the motion.
