Second Chance: Sleeping Dogs Book 1, page 25
“I’ll have you know that I like to look good for my dates. Plus, I need to shower and make sure all traces of wax and bleach are gone. I don’t want her to encounter any of that when she’s not at her day job.” He wiggles his eyebrows suggestively.
“Such a gentleman.” I joke.
“I always take care of my lady friends,” he says with a bow. “And with that, I will leave. See you guys another day. Thanks for inviting me to join you today. I love a good girls’ day.” He gives Becca and I both hugs and the next we see him, he’s driving by the pub and giving us a wave as he drives away.
Once he’s gone, Becca and I get up and leave the pub as well.
“So what are you up to tonight?” Becca asks. “Big plans with Connor?”
“Nah, we’re just staying in tonight. The guys have been so busy in the studio that we haven’t had a lot of time just for ourselves.” I’m actually surprised that Ryder joined us today. The other guys must’ve been giving him too much shit again, and he needed to get away for a bit. “What about you?”
“Oh, I have a photo shoot tonight. Some band is doing a small show. I was going to see if you wanted to come, but you’ve already got plans.”
“Maybe next time.” I say.
“I’ll hold you to that.” Becca flags down her own cab. “Let me know when you’re free this week and we can hang out.” She gives me a hug before getting into the cab.
I wave at her and flag down my own cab to take me home.
I unlock the door and disarm the alarm, calling out for Connor as I walk through to the kitchen. I don’t get an answer, but on the countertop in the kitchen, I find a note.
Hey babe,
Bill asked if me and the guys wanted to
play at Rough Mix for a bit tonight.
Come join us at 10
Love you.
-Connor
OK, I’m a little disappointed that we won’t get to hang out, just the two of us, but I’d love to see them play. I go upstairs and grab a quick shower (thanks to Ryder for the reminder to get off any stray wax) and dry my hair a little. I’ve got some time to kill before I need to get dressed, so I pull out the book that I’m reading and settle into the bed to read for a while.
By the time I need to get ready, I’ve finished my book and had a quick nap. Good thing I set the alarm on my phone or I could have slept all night.
Hopping out of bed, I change into my favourite ripped skinny jeans, a Sleeping Dogs tee I stole from Connor and turned into a cropped shirt, and some black Chuck Taylors. I put on my standard mascara and lip gloss, grab my phone and wallet, and then I’m out the door.
I drive my car there because I don’t feel like taking a cab again right now. If I need to leave my car there overnight, so be it. A new playlist of music that Connor made for me makes the drive better. I get to listen to some of the music that he’s enjoyed over the last 20 years we’ve been apart and it makes me feel so close to him. It’s like an old school mix tape without all the hassle of actually doing any recording.
When I get to Rough Mix, I park in the side lot and walk around to the front. There’s a bouncer at the door tonight, which I find a little strange. I don’t remember that from the last time we were here. Maybe the incident when Connor was drugged has caused Bill to increase security?
“Good evening, Miss Wilson,” the bouncer says as he opens the door for me. “Have a great night.”
Ok, now that’s weird. Connor and I have been careful to keep me out of the public eye. Nobody knows who I am just yet. We fully expect our privacy to be violated once the next tour starts, since I am going on the road with the band. We just can’t stand to be apart yet, so it looks like I’m joining them on the road. But so far we have kept our relationship quiet. So this bouncer shouldn’t know who I am.
Walking in the bar I’m met with… silence? And candles? What in the hell is going on?
Suddenly a trail of candles lights up, leading from me to the stage at the far end of the room. I’m clearly meant to follow, so I start walking. Shortly I’m met with a set of stairs leading me onto the stage and to a stool. Before I can look around, more candles light up the stage and I see Connor sitting on a stool close to me, and the rest of the guys are a little further back, set up with their instruments.
“Hi baby,” Connor says to me. “I sort of lied to get you here. The guys and I aren’t really playing a show tonight. We only have one song to play and it’s a new one. It’s called Meant to Be I hope you like it.”
The rest of the guys start playing while Connor grabs his mic and comes closer to me. He takes my hand and starts the song, looking into my eyes while he sings.
Circling around you
Not knowing what was missing
I wasn’t whole
Until you starting kissing me
Circling around you
So close but not enough
Emptiness inside me
Waiting for your love
You make me whole
You fill me up
I’ll keep you with me
Because we’re meant to be
Lives Intertwined
Spinning around you
I’ll keep you with me
Because we’re meant to be
Circling around you
Because to me you are the sun
Circling around you
Because for me you are the one
You make me whole
You fill me up
Will you stay with me
Because we’re meant to be
He leans over and gives me a kiss before handing the mic off to one of the guys. The rest of the band leaves the stage, leaving me alone with Connor. He’s holding both of my hands now, and kisses me again before he begins.
“Alex, we’ve been circling around each other since we were kids, and even when we were apart, there were parts of our lives that remained intertwined. We’ve nearly reconnected so many times over the years, but the fates must have decided that the timing wasn’t right yet. Then the most amazing thing happened; I saw you in the dressing room backstage after a show.”
“When you passed me that whiskey bottle and our hands touched, I knew instantly that this was something special. It was like a bolt of lightning coursing through my body, telling me I was finally home. Because you are my home, Alex. I’ve been lost for so long, but then you walked back into my life and I knew where I belonged. With you. Forever.”
Connor pulls a small box out of his pocket and kneels down on the stage in front of me.
“Alex, I love you. I’ve never stopped. All these years I’ve been missing you and I didn’t realize it. But I know it now, and I never want to miss you again. I want you to be my home, my wife, and my life, forever. Alex, will you stay with me? Will you marry me?”
He opens the ring box to reveal a stunning black diamond ring in a simple rose gold setting. I can barely see it through the happy tears that are now pouring down my face. I stand up, put my hands on either side of Connor’s face, and pull him in to kiss me. I hold his face to mine and kiss him deeply, then I pull away slightly, looking into his eyes.
“Yes,” I whisper against his mouth, the grin creeping up to take control of my cheeks. “Yes, I will marry you. I love you Connor, you’re my home as well.” Then I pull him in to kiss me again.
He wraps his arms around me and lifts me off the floor, deepening the kiss. I pull my legs up to wrap around him, wanting to get closer, to get him inside of me, and then I hear it. Rustling and movement at the sides of the stage.
“Ahem, ahem.” Pops clears his throat. “As much as I’d love to stand here and watch y’all get down to business, I believe I need to congratulate my granddaughter now.”
I quickly lower my legs and end my kiss with Connor. As I’m looking around for Pops, some of the bar lights come on and I can finally see something other than Connor and candles. Everyone is here: all the guys in the band, Becca, Pops, Marcus and Domenic, Denise and her boyfriend Andrew (even though I thought they broke up?), and Devon.
All the people I care about are gathered here. It makes me wonder where Connor’s family is. Not for long though, because soon I am getting hugged and kissed and loved on by all these people, as they congratulate us on our engagement.
Pops comes over and gives me a huge squeeze and a kiss, then he shakes Connor’s hand.
“This ups the stakes, kid.” He tells Connor. “If you hurt her now, you won’t get off with just a beating. Don’t think I don’t know how to make a man disappear, for good. You’ve been warned.”
“POPS,” I gasp. “Don’t threaten to kill him. We’ve only been engaged for a few minutes.” I smile over at Connor. “At least wait until tomorrow.” I’m sure Pops isn’t serious. At least, I think he isn’t.
Pops wanders over to the bar and everyone takes their turn to come and congratulate us. Becca and Ryder confess they were in charge of distracting me today.
Ryder apparently didn’t actually ask the waxing technician out. I’m glad about that since he’s just finally come to terms with his feelings for Denise.
Becca did have something to shoot though, she’s been taking photos of the proposal this entire time. We make a plan to schedule some engagement photos and then she goes off to mingle with the rest of the band. Johnny moves over to let her sit and passes her a drink before they all start laughing and joking again. It’s so nice that all of our friends get along as well as they do. Even Marcus and Domenic are here. After grilling Connor over dinner one night, they determined that he is, in fact, not a scumbag.
Connor has been standing with me throughout all the congratulations, and now that we’re finally alone, he leans over and whispers in my ear.
“You look so beautiful.” he breathes against my neck. “I need to get you home and taste you, and I don’t know how long I can wait.” His fingers stroke my back just above my belt line and he peppers kisses down my neck to my shoulder. I tilt my head to the side to give him better access.
“Well, what are we waiting for?” I whisper back. “Time for my fiance to take me home and fuck me.”
He grabs my hand and begins pulling me to the door while I laugh at his eagerness.
“Not even going to say bye?” Devon yells out from the other side of the room. “Fine, have fun then.”
“Love you guys, bye.” I flip him off as Connor continues leading us to the door.
* * *
Connor drives us home in my car and before long we are naked in our bed.
“God, I love you,” he murmurs while he kisses a line up my body. He wasn’t lying when he said he couldn’t wait to taste me. As soon as we walked into our room, he stripped me out of my clothes and threw me on the bed, kneeling in front of me for the second time tonight. Instead of proposing, though, this time he’s eating me like it’s his job, giving me three mind-blowing orgasms before crawling back up my body.
“I’m going to spend my life loving you and worshipping your body as often as I can.”
His fingers tangle in my hair and he places his forehead against mine, looking deep into my eyes. I reach down and line up his cock with my entrance and then grab his ass and pull him into me, a soft moan escaping my lips.
“I love you, Connor.” I whisper against his lips while he rocks himself slowly into me, again and again. “Fuck, that feels so good.”
Connor leans back and looks down at our bodies, watching himself slide in and out of me.
“Look at us, babe,” he tells me. “See where we’re connected, where we’re joined.”
I look down and watch his cock slide into me slowly before he pulls back, just to do it all again. I can feel myself responding to the sensuality of it, pumping out more wetness, rolling my hips to meet his, as my orgasm builds again.
“I’ve always felt something was missing, and when you came back, I realized it was you. You make me whole, Alex. I’m not me without you.”
His words are making me too emotional. I can’t speak, so I lift my head and meet his lips with mine, pulling him into a kiss. We match the languid rhythm of our kiss to the unhurried pace of our love-making until we are both climbing toward our release. My climax builds and builds as we continue to rock our bodies against each other until finally it explodes from me with incredible force. Stronger than anything I’ve felt before, it truly feels like we are becoming one being in this moment. Stars explode behind my eyes as I contract around Connor, pulling him over the edge with me. He groans my name as he comes, filling me, his cock pulsing over and over again. When we both finally still, he rolls to the side and pulls me to him.
I relax into his embrace, loving the feel of his skin against mine. I can’t believe we’re going to get married. All these years after Connor first became a part of my life, now he’s going to be part of it forever.
“Shit!” He leans up over me. “We forgot a condom.”
“Oh.” I say quietly, surprised.
“I’m so sorry, baby, I’ve never done that before. I was so caught up with how wonderful everything felt, and with you agreeing to marry me.” He bends and kisses my forehead. “Are you ok?”
I chuckle a little. It’s not funny, but it’s also not the end of the world. “I’m fine, Connor. I’m sure everything will be fine.”
He visibly relaxes. “I love you, Alex,” he says as he takes my mouth again.
“I love you, Connor.” I say with my lips pressed against his. “Now shut up and kiss me like you’re making me your Mrs.”
He barks out a laugh. “You got it, wife. Come here.” He kisses me with everything he has while rolling onto his back and pulling me with him.
I know that this time, there is nothing that can happen that will keep us apart. Now or ever.
The End
Face the Music (Sleeping Dogs Book 2)
Keep reading for a sneak peek of Face the Music, the next book in the Sleeping Dogs Series. Available August 2021.
Chapter 1 - Ryder
Present Day
“I am so glad you guys worked out your differences,” I say around a mouthful of prime rib. “Your weekly dinners are the only time I eat well all week.”
Ever since Alex and Connor reconnected, and then made it through the bullshit that was that groupie drugging and trying to rape Connor a couple of months ago, Alex has been hosting weekly family dinners at their house. She’s a professional chef and loves cooking. And I am more than willing to eat any of the delicious things she makes.
My dad wasn’t much of a cook while I was growing up. His specialty was mac and cheese and takeout. I was always fed, but it probably could have been healthier. It’s not his fault, though. Being stuck raising two young boys all alone because their mom decides she wants nothing to do with them is tough. He did the best he could with us. It’s just really hard to compete with an actual chef.
“I’m just happy that you all come every week and give me a chance to feed you. It’s been tough since I haven’t been working. Who knew that taking nine weeks off would have such an impact on my employability.” Alex is serving up extra Yorkshire puddings that she’s just pulled from the oven. I immediately put my plate up to grab a couple of those crispy little golden puffs of goodness. Maybe it’s a good thing that Dad couldn’t cook like this. I’d never have been able to maintain my girlish figure.
“How is your hand feeling now that you’ve had your cast removed?” Denise asks. She’s sitting opposite me, next to her clean-cut looking doofus of a boyfriend. Dude hardly ever talks, except when he whispers something into Denise’s ear. She never looks pleased with what he’s said when he does that either. The guy gives me a weird feeling, but I can’t put my finger on why. He just gives me the creeps.
“So much better. I can’t believe they made me keep it on for nine weeks. I can shower without help now, which is nice.”
Connor comes up behind Alex and runs his hands around her waist as he pulls her toward him. “Oh babe, you know I’m still going to help you in the shower.”
“Get off me, perv.” Alex laughs while pushing Connor away.
They’ve come a long way in the ten weeks since Alex broke her hand defending Connor from that groupie. It was subconscious since she didn’t know that Connor had been drugged, but she beat the chick so hard she fractured her hand and saved Connor from sex that he didn’t want. They’re so happy together it’s gross, but in a good way.
I hope one day that I can find love like they have, but since I’m only interested in one person and she is dating a stupid asshole named Andrew, I don’t think that’s likely to happen. You could say my crush on Denise is why I have a problem with Andrew, but it’s not. Well, it’s not the only reason, anyway. He’s just not quite right.
I look across the table at Denise. She’s got her long black hair tied up in a red bandana with just her long bangs hanging down over her forehead. It goes great with the tight jeans and flannel shirt she’s wearing tonight. She looks like a pin-up queen out for a casual stroll. That idiot Andrew leans over and whispers in her ear while I’m looking. Denise looks at him and shakes her head a little before he whispers to her again. She looks away from him and rolls her eyes while letting out a huge sigh.
“Well, I hate to say it, but we’re going to have to get going now. I’ve got some early meetings tomorrow and there are some things that I need to get sorted tonight to get ready.” Denise says while standing and placing her napkin on her plate. “Thank you so much for dinner, Alex. It was delicious as always.”
“You’re leaving already?” I stand when Denise does, a remnant from when I was a kid and my brother and I would spend half of every summer vacation with my grandmother. She drilled into me the importance of being a gentleman. I may be an asshole, and I may drink too much, but I still use my manners, especially with women like Denise. Standing when she does is the least I can do.
