River's Heart Read online

  RIVER’S HEART

  A Rock Star Romance

  SHAYNE FORD

  Copyright © 2016 by Shayne Ford

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, organizations and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

  Any trademarks, service marks, product names or named features mentioned in this book are the property of their respective owners and have been used without permission and in an editorial fashion only, with no implied endorsement.

  The publication/use of these trademarks is not associated with, approved of or sponsored by the trademarks owners.

  This book is for entertainment purposes only. The author and publisher disclaim any and all responsibility for any liability, loss, or risk, personal or otherwise, incurred as a consequence, directly or indirectly in relation to this book.

  This book is intended for mature audiences only.

  Written by Shayne Ford

  www.shayneford.com

  Twitter:@ShayneFordBooks

  Cover design by Shayne Ford

  The image on the cover is a licensed stock photo, and it is used for illustrative purposes, any person who may be depicted on, is a model.

  Created with Vellum

  Contents

  Introduction

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Also by SHAYNE FORD

  About the Author

  Introduction

  River and River’s Heart are the companion books to River Steel and Loving River (Layla’s Books).

  Although each set can be read as a standalone, all books are instrumental in understanding the broader picture.

  Please keep in mind that each set of books includes parts specific to that character’s journey.

  1

  “You look better today,” Steve says, cracking up a smile.

  I take the coffee mug from his hand and sink into one of the patio chairs, pushing back a smirk.

  “I fucking do,” I mutter.

  He takes a seat as well and sets his eyes on the panoramic view.

  “Where is she?”

  “Sleeping.”

  He glances at me, a sly smile stretching on his lips.

  “It must’ve been good.”

  I guzzle down water from the bottle and avert my eyes, trying not to grin like an idiot.

  “It was.”

  For a moment, we both look away. Silent.

  “I knew someone like her,” he says, his eyes still rooted to the view.

  I furtively study him.

  I always had this feeling that some story kept him anchored to the past.

  “She was a combat medic as well. Tough. Tougher than me...” he says.

  I have a hard to imagine that.

  His lips curve into a sad smile.

  “As tough as she was, she had the heart of a real woman. Kind and loving. I had a whole life planned ahead with her, but the time was never right for us. And then, when we finally came back home, it was too late.”

  “What happened?”

  He glances back at me.

  “She was shot on the streets of LA,” he says and takes a swig of coffee, avoiding my eyes as he pushes back emotion.

  My eyes linger on him a moment longer when my phone flashes a message. He rises to his feet and pats me on my shoulder.

  “Anyway... If you like her, hold on to her as much as you can,” he says as I read the text.

  Thalia: Your stuff is ready.

  “Anything for me?” he asks.

  I glance up at him.

  “Yeah, I need you to pick up something,” I say pushing out of my chair.

  We both exit the guest house.

  He climbs into his car and drives away while I walk back to my house. His words still resonate with me as I stroll through the living room. I take a left and glance inside the bedroom.

  Still sleeping, Layla lies on her stomach, her head sunk into the pillow, her hair draped over her back. The sheet barely covers her backside. I could go there and slide it back over her, but I might start something else.

  Stifling my impulse, I spin around and saunter to the pool. I spend a good hour doing laps before I slip back into the house.

  Thirty minutes later I walk out of the shower, wind a towel around my waist, and take the stairs to the first level.

  I enter the master bedroom and look for her. A sound of running water comes from the bathroom.

  Quietly, I near the shower booth and peer through the glass wall. Her back is turned to me.

  Without making the slightest sound, I fold my arms over my chest, and soak in the view. She tosses her head back, and runs her hands through her hair, the stream of water rolling on her chest.

  Propped on the balls of her feet, she spread her legs and arches her back, pushing her curved bottom out. Shifting my gaze, I get a side glimpse of her in the wall of mirrors at my right.

  The water drips between her legs, and my blood starts running faster, my cock growing heavy.

  Silently, I crack the door open.

  My eyes follow the journey of her hands as they travel down her body, sliding over her breasts, and caressing the skin.

  Her nipples get hard.

  One hand slips between her thighs, and more blood pools between my legs. Hands clasped on my hips, I take in the view, enjoying every moment.

  Before she has the chance to spot me, I close the gap between us, and lock her in my arms, pulling her into my chest.

  Startled, she shudders.

  “Hey, baby.”

  Our eyes connect in the mirror, and a blush slides onto her face.

  “How long have you been watching?” she asks.

  “Long enough. Can’t you tell?” I ask, my budge pressed against her lower back.

  Smoothly, I start tracing the side of her neck with my lips.

  “Yeah... I can tell,” she says, smiling.

  Her head tilts back against my shoulder as her rear starts rubbing my hard-on.

  I brush her hair to the side, and start kissing her neck, slowly trailing to her shoulder.

  Raising her arm, she reaches back to me, her fingers wrapping around my neck as she tips her face to me, waiting for my lips.

  A soft moan vibrates in her throat as we begin to kiss.

  She tastes like spring. Hot and fresh, sweet and wild. She’s getting bolder and adventurous, no longer holding back.

  Her body arches against my palms as I fill my hands with her breasts. Rolling my fingers over her skin, I stroke her mounds and squeeze her puckered nipples.

  Propped up on her toes, she starts rocking her hips, the swell of her butt sweeping the ridge of my cock. I slip my hand between her legs and pull her into me.

  My erection stirs, against her lower back.

  Tearing my lips away from her mouth, I bring the other hand to her rear. She places her palms on the wall and spreads her legs apart as if she knows what’s to come.

  My fingers roll s
moothly onto her clit as I use the other hand to stroke her between her legs. Slowly I draw a path from her butt cheeks to her entrance.

  She trembles with pleasure. Sweet moans come from her lips as her hips starts rolling against my touch. Slowly, I slide my fingers inside her and feel her wet and hot and pulsing.

  I move them deeper, her hips shaking.

  It takes her only a few moments before she tenses, and her nails begin to scratch the wall. The wave of pleasure crashes through her, making her throb insatiably.

  “Oh, River...” she mutters softly as the orgasm starts fading out.

  “What baby?” I murmur close to her ear, gently stroking her swollen clit.

  “I... I...”

  She loses her focus quickly as I increase the pressure and the pace. She starts moaning and grinding against me, a second surge rising through her.

  “Yes?”

  Her muscles tense again as her body arches and the back of her head presses against my shoulder.

  “Oh... my... God!” she quietly growls, shaking in my arms.

  I peel the towel off me and nudge her hands to the metal rod set on the wall above her head.

  She stretches her body as I grab her hips. In one smooth motion, I bury my shaft inside her, her tight, warm core molding on me.

  Damn. She feels good. The sensation zaps through me, coiling tight inside my groin.

  “Ah!!” she cries out, and I still for a moment.

  “Relax, baby.”

  She pushes her bottom out, and I begin to grind slowly, feeding her pleasure, relishing the waving of her body against mine, and her crying moans.

  “You’re so fucking good...” I mutter as I move with her, my body seizing hers, her voice so hot as I ram her harder.

  Her hand slips off the bar and curls around my neck holding onto me as we move like one.

  I shut my eyes and ride with her, her breathing rolling in and out in agonizing gasps, her moaning scaling up.

  Tight, I’m ready to burst a the pleasure ripples through her making he squirm in my arms. I ride that high with her, the tension shooting up my spine, then crashing through me, bringing the release.

  Floating in a blissful agony, we move together chasing the relief.

  Her hands start sliding down the wall, her body slackening.

  She leans on me, and I hold her tight, soaking in her drunken eyes. I brush the entangled hair away from her face and kiss her softly.

  “Give me a minute, baby.”

  I let her down easy on my towel. She bends her knees and brings them to her chest, hugging herself.

  I step into the shower.

  A few minutes tick by before I catch a glimpse of her in the mirror.

  Her gaze floats over my body, her eyes burning and glistening with tears behind the curtain of hair.

  That’s not a good sign.

  “You’re back...” I say, stretching my hand out to her.

  She pushes off the floor.

  I turn off the shower and pull her to my chest.

  “What is it, baby?”

  Her arms twine around my waist. She holds me tight, her face buried in my shoulder. Warmth flows through me.

  I take her face in my hands and make her look up. Her eyes are filled with tears.

  It dawns on me her heart needs mending too, but that would not be easy. The closer she will get to me, the harder it will be.

  I sense her struggle as she tries to keep herself together. I ponder for a moment before I softly speak.

  “I see the fear in you Layla, but I can’t take that away from you... At least not so fast. All I can say right now is that I’ll do my best to make it right for you. Okay?”

  She nods, but her eyes tell a different story and her chin begins to quiver. She closes her eyes for a moment, her tears trickling down.

  I brush them away, and lower my head, breathing softly over her lips.

  Delicate, her eyelids flutter before she pulls her eyes open.

  She watches me with half-shut eyes before I lock her lips and kiss her. Telling her so much more than I can say in words.

  She kisses me back, and for the first time ever, I feel her coming closer to me and trusting.

  Wrapped in a plush robe, she sits at the table, her eyes swinging from me to the food, and back.

  I snatch a bottle of water from the kitchen counter, plop on a chair in front of her, and motion to her food.

  “Eat.”

  Pushing back a question, she starts nibbling.

  Silent, I examine her.

  It’s amazing how she slips back and forth between this two versions of herself. The timid girl and the lustful woman who almost left me out of breath in the bedroom.

  Seemingly, I’m not the only one observing. Once in a while, her eyes steal a glance in my direction.

  Keeping my eyes trained on her, I toss back water.

  “What kind of rock star are you?” she asks, poking the air while pointing to the bottle with her fork.

  I almost gag, hardly containing my laughter.

  Her eyes fill with a smile as she tries so hard to pull a poker face. It’s not the best, but it’s the cutest darn thing.

  “Is that all you drink?” she asks, and I can no longer hold it back.

  I laugh. She cracks a smile.

  “Yes. Is that a problem?”

  “So, you don’t drink, smoke, smash things, get high?”

  I get another gulp of water, set the bottle on the side, and place my elbows on the table. Fingers locked under my chin, I tip my head back and narrow my eyes.

  A slow smile comes to my lips. She manages to hold my gaze.

  “Disappointing, huh?” I say, and we both start laughing.

  “No, not really,” she says, serious this time.

  “What else would you like to know?” I ask, studying her, unable to suppress a mischievous grin.

  She looks down at her plate.

  “Yes?”

  Cocking my head to the side, I wait, smiling and daring her.

  “What about women?” she asks, averting her eyes.

  Guzzling down more water, I push back the simmering laughter.

  “What about them?” I ask, grinning slyly.

  Her nostrils flare with frustration. Raising an eyebrow, she searches my eyes.

  “They seem to... like you.”

  “Yes, they do. And?”

  My teeth sink into my lips to keep my laughter under control.

  “Do you ‘get’ a lot of women?”

  She makes it sound as if I have them delivered to me, which is not so far from the truth. My chest rocks with a chuckle again.

  She keeps her face straight, her eyes brimming with amusement.

  I flick my hand up.

  “Okay... okay. First off, I am not a rock star. Not in the iconic sense. I love music, and it’s a way of expressing myself, but there was a life before this, and there’s a life after it... My money didn’t come from music, some did, but not the most of them, so I am not chained to this industry. I’m not desperate to belong or fit a mold. If music weren’t an option, I’d make money in other ways. I didn’t do all those things before music, and I’m not going to do them now for validation. Does this answer your first question?”

  She nods softly.

  “Okay. Now...”

  A tell-all smile pushes to my lips. Glancing at my hands, I carefully weigh my words.

  “I didn’t get into music to get laid, although I’m not gonna lie... the opportunities have increased... exponentially. ”

  A shadow rushes through her eyes, a blush spreading on her face.

  “However... despite the options, the odds are stacked against what I like.”

  “What’s that?”

  Hmm.

  She’s fast, but I’m not gonna fall into her trap. I cock my head to the side and stay silent.

  “Have you found it?” she asks, nervous.

  “I don’t know. Have you?” I toss at her, serious.

&n
bsp; “Yes, I have,” she says, without a smile on her face.

  Well, that can mean a lot of things.

  “That’s good,” I say dryly and push out of my chair.

  Without offering anything else, I pull away from her and vanish out the kitchen.

  Minutes later, I walk out of the upstairs bedroom, fully dressed. Jeans, jacket, boots. I enter the living room and look for her. I spot her on the patio.

  Hunched on a chair, she hugs herself, an expression of doom and gloom on her face. She glances at me, the moment she notices my clothes, a storm of emotions swirling in her eyes.

  Every single thing I throw at her takes her by surprise and pushes her into a whirlwind of panic. She slices her gaze to me, darkness rushing through her eyes.

  Irritated, she pulls out of her chair and darts into the room.

  Calm, I follow her inside.

  Obviously making a point, she starts searching for her things, fussy and pissed. I motion to the bed. She grabs her clothes and dashes to the bathroom.

  Moments later she emerges, fashioning the whole two inches of her dress.

  Bending at the waist, she puts her boots on, unknowingly flashing her minuscule thong. Any other woman, I would’ve smelled a set-up, but not her.

  Sunk so deep in her self-inflicted misery she has no idea I stare at the soft arch between her legs, my cock rock hard.

  She finally spins around and saunters toward me.

  Damn, she’s hot.

  As furious as she is, it’s hard not to notice the glow on her face and her smoldering eyes. She looks different now, and I know why.

  Pushing back a smirk, I indulge in the sight a few more moments.

  It’s all there for me to see.

  The way she runs her hand through her hair and slightly sways her hips, the mysterious light enlivening her eyes, and the soft curving of her lips.

  “I’m ready,” she grumps as she stops in front of me.

  She waits for my reaction–– no more than two seconds, before she spins around and tries to sneak by me. I catch her arm and pull her back to me.