Outlaw Women

I'm Glad We Had This Talk

Brantley’s POV:
By the time I’d finished my show, I was so ready to get Ashlyn back to my bus that I could care less if the fans wanted an encore or not. All night, I had watched her singing along and swaying to the music. And the sight had been phenomenal. But the thought of that blistering kiss earlier and the sounds she had made as I made her fall to pieces by just toying with her nipples had been playing through my head all night. I was ashamed to admit it but there had been a few times tonight that I had turned the mic out to the crowd because a vision of Ashlyn would pop into my head and make me forget my own lyrics.

Snatching my inner ear pieces out, I stalked over to where Ashlyn was chatting with Luke and Nicole. Not caring that questions would be asked, I walked up behind Ashlyn and wrapped my arms around her, pulling her flush against my chest all while lowering my head so that my lips were almost touching her ear.I didn't miss the sharp intake of breath she took at the contact nor did I miss the questions looks I was getting from both Luke and Nicole.

“Enjoy the show” I whispered and felt her body shiver. 

“I did.” She said softly, tugging to get out of my embrace which only made me hold her tighter. There was no way in hell I was going to let her try to get away. 

“You ready?” I whispered, my lips once more nearly touching the shell of her ear. 

“Yeah.” she replied. 

We both said our goodbyes to Luke and Nicole before I laced my fingers with hers and began the walk to my bus. 

***

No sooner than I had Ashlyn on my bus, I spun her so that her back hit the side of the tv console. Closing the distance between us, I rolled my hops and lowered my head so that my face was buried into her neck. Grazing my teeth over the pulse point that I remember drove her wild months ago, I nipped and sucked yanking a whimper from her. Running calloused hands hungrily beneath her shirt, I felt her shiver once more. Like a man starving, I grabbed the hem of her shirt and was just about to rip it over her head when the spell was broken between us. I watched her back away from me, my breath panting out of me as if I had just ran a marathon. My eyes narrowed and a low seductive growl rolled out as I reached for her. But the look in her eyes stopped me. Something wasn't right. 

"Baby girl," I murmured, stepping closer and cupping her face with one of big hands as softly as I could. I tilted her head back so that I was looking into her eyes. "What’s the matter? I thought you wanted this as much as I do. 

"I do," she whimpered as she tried to move away. Knowing that something wasn't right, I let my hand fall from her cheek. As I did, she turned her back on me and walked into the living area of the bus. "I'm just scared Brantley."

“Of what?” I asked, walking over to have a seat on the couch beside her. Taking her hand into mine, I willed her to tell me whatever was bothering her and what had her so scared.  

“Of us. Of this fire between us.” she said, causing me to look up at her. “Brantley, I’ve never felt like this with anyone. I’ve never felt this pull to anyone. For months now, I’ve tried to forget that night in Vegas because I thought that was what you wanted. But now that I know that you have thought about it just as much as I have, I can help but wonder if this is the galaxy's way of telling us that we are meant to give these things between us an honest shot. No half ass shit. No sleeping with each other because it's convenient. I’m talking about us giving this our all.”

“Ash-” 

“No Brantley. Let me say this while I have the courage to do it. I didn't know that I was really missing anything in my life until that night in Vegas. We may have only spent 20 minutes in a broom closest bumping uglies but those 20 minutes made me realize that I want a man in my life.” said Ashlyn as she stood from the couch and began pacing the length of the living area of the bus. “Sure, I’ve talked a big game, telling everyone that I didn't need a man in my life, that me and my battery operated boyfriend would be just fine. But do you know why I told everyone that?”