by Casey, Ember
“I know, I know,” I grumble, running my hand through my hair. “One more time. I promise I’ve got it this time.”
We start from the top of the chorus, just like we have the last six times, and this time I somehow manage to make it through the first twelve bars without fucking up. By some miracle.
It’s my own fault, I think bitterly as we move through the song. For being so fucking distracted. Sophia hasn’t responded to my last text from this morning, and suddenly I’m a goddamn mess, unable to even get through a song that I fucking wrote. At this rate, we’ll be laughed off the stage on our tour.
We manage to make it through the end of the song, though, and I breathe a sigh of relief. My buddies aren’t ready to let it go, though.
“I bet this has something to with that reporter from yesterday,” Rider says as he tunes his guitar. “The one that was all over you. What happened with her?” To the other guys he adds, “You saw her too, right? She had some sweet fucking tits on her.” He makes a rather obscene gesture, and I turn away in disgust. Rider’s as loyal as friends come, but he’s also a bit of a dog—and coming from me, that’s saying something.
“You mean the princess one?” Charlie says. “I wanted to ask you about that earlier, Pax.”
“Princess?” Rider says. “What is this, some fucking animated movie?”
Charlie laughs. “Have you completely ignored the internet for the past twenty-four hours? Those reporters who were in here yesterday were princesses. Both of them. And Pax was photographed leaving here with one of them.”
“The one with the nice tits?” Rider says.
“Can we stop it with all the talk about her tits?” I snap. “Seriously. We’re not eighteen anymore.”
“Oooooh,” Rider’s eyes light up. “You really do got it bad for this one, don’t you? First you keep fucking up your big song, and now you’re getting offended over the word ‘tits.’ What happened to you, man?”
“I’m fine,” I insist, though I sound grumpy even to myself. “And I’m not offended.”
“Tits!” Rider shouts, grinning. “Tits tits tits tits tits tits tits! Big titties! Little titties! Round titties! Squishy titties!” He strums a chord on his guitar and begins to sing, “What kind of titties does the princess have?”
I give him the finger and turn back to the mic. “Come on, guys. We’ve got work to do.”
“Such pretty, pretty titties!” Rider keeps singing. “Like pretty little kitties!”
Charlie laughs again. “And this is why we never let you write any lyrics,” he says to Rider.
Behind us, Jameson clicks his drumsticks together. Our drummer is a man of few words, but he’s also exactly what the rest of us need—someone to rein in our shit.
“Let’s go,” Jameson says in his deep rumble of a voice.
That’s all we need to hear, even Rider. We fall back into our places and continue the set.
Somehow, despite my distraction—and the googly-eyed looks Rider keeps shooting my way—we make it through. I don’t fuck up again, even though I can’t get Sophia out of my mind. Why the hell won’t she just return my text? Even just to tell me she’s not interested?
I try not to think about her as I head out to my car after we’re done. She’s just a woman. A fascinating, exciting woman, but still just a woman. No need for me to start getting all emo over her. My angsty days are behind me—the memory of them might live on in our new songs, but the emotions they carry will stay buried forever. I can’t deal with that soul-crushing shame ever again. Secrets are secrets for a reason.
Yeah, it’s better she’s out of my life than still hanging around a month from now. Haven’t I always said I wished women weren’t so damned clingy? Either way, we’ll be leaving on our tour next week and she would’ve been out of my life by then anyway. Mick’ll be disappointed we won’t be getting the extra publicity, but he’ll deal.
I slip my keys out of my pocket. I’m about to press the button when I look up and see someone leaning against the side of my car.
Sophia.
“Hey,” she says casually, smiling at me.
I’m so surprised that it takes me a moment to find my voice. “What the hell are you doing here?”
“We have a date, don’t we?” she says.
“At seven. At my apartment. But you never responded, so I assumed…”
“That you were free to go find some other girl for the evening?”
“Maybe,” I tell her. “I’m a busy guy. Maybe I’ve made other plans.”
“Then cancel them.” Her grin widens.
“How did you know I was here, anyway?” I ask her, circling around the car to stand in front of her.
“I’m a princess, remember? I have my resources.”
“I’m sure you do.” I’m standing in front of her now, looking down at her, and hunger surges through my body. It takes all of my effort not to grab her and haul her up against the side of the car and do something about it. Instead, I just stand as close to her as physically possible without touching her.
“Let’s get out of here,” I murmur darkly. I have plans for her tonight, and they don’t involve hanging out in a parking lot.
She nods. “All right.”
I stare down at her, trying to read the expression in her eyes. She isn’t like any woman I’ve ever met, and while that’s part of what draws me to her, it also makes her impossible to predict. A couple of hours ago I could have sworn she was indifferent toward me. Now, she seems to be looking at me with the same hunger I feel for her.
Either way, I’m looking forward to uncovering her secrets one by one. As long as mine stay hidden forever.
Sophia
He hasn’t touched me, and yet my body is still ablaze. I’d let him fuck me right here against the car, out in the open for everyone to see.
And he seems to read my thoughts. He tilts his head, and I think he means to kiss me, but he jerks upright, turning around.
I blink a few times before I realize someone else is there. A man has his hand on Pax’s shoulder, grinning at him. “Can’t even wait until you’re out of the parking lot?”
Pax glares at the man but says nothing.
The other man eyes me up and down for a moment, his gaze landing squarely on my breasts. I suppose I did put on my most revealing dress—a slinky, red thing I’ve only worn once before to a club opening in London.
“You should come out with us tonight.” The way the man is looking at me, I know the statement isn’t directed at Pax. “Mick’s looking for you, Pax. He got us the back room at Alibi for tonight. We’ll have plenty of privacy there.”
“We already have plans.” Pax almost growls the words as he looks between the two of us. “Besides, didn’t you tell me you were going to hook up with that girl again? The one you had last night?”
Color blooms on the other guy’s cheeks, and his grin turns into something more sheepish. He extends his hand to me. “I’m Rider. And don’t let this asshole make you think I’m some sort of man-whore. Especially when he’s the one bagging a different girl every night. With me…” His grin widens, and he pulls his hand back, running it through his hair. “Well, let’s just say you might have a chance at more than a single night.”
“Yeah, right,” Pax grumbles. “Get the fuck out of here.”
Rider laughs. “If you change your mind…” He turns back to me, his gaze grazing over my body again. “Or if you decide you want to share…”
“I said to get the fuck out of here.” Pax glares at him, and it’s obvious he’s not kidding around.
“Okay, okay.” Rider holds his hands up, almost like he’s surrendering. “I’m just saying…”
Pax cocks his head as though he’s motioning for him to leave. Rider seems to realize Pax isn’t joking around. He smiles at me, giving me a single nod before he walks over to his car and slams the door as he gets in.
Pax turns back to me. “Let’s get one thing straight. I don’t share.”
; “No?” I grin. “You’re saying you’ve never fucked one of your groupies then let the other members of your band have at them?”
His cheeks stain a dark shade of red in an instant. “That isn’t what I said—”
“Isn’t it?” I take step closer to him so we’re just as we were before—sharing the same space without touching at all. “Are you afraid I might like him better?”
Rider’s car peels out of the parking lot as if on cue, and we both turn for a moment to watch him speed away.
I turn back to Pax. “I think that’s exactly what you’re afraid of.”
“I’m not afraid of anything.”
“Really? Nothing?” I can’t help but continue to grin at him. “What was it he said? You bag a different woman every night?”
His gaze narrows. “Your point?”
I shrug. “It just seems like someone who’s with a different woman every night might—and it’s only an observation, you see—but they might be afraid of commitment.”
He stares at me for a moment, a slow grin forming on his lips. “Oh, I’ll give you a commitment, little princess. I’ll commit to fucking you all night. And if you’re lucky…” He takes a half step forward, sliding his arms around my waist before he tilts his head to mine to whisper in my ear. “I’ll fuck you all morning, too.”
“Mm, that is quite a commitment.” I pull back to look into his eyes. “I’m not sure I can handle that much commitment.”
His eyes are dark with lust, and he gives me a wicked smile. “You handled it just fine last night in the stairwell.”
My body comes alive again at the memory of having him inside me, even for the short time we joined last night. I look up at him. “Perhaps you’d like to handle me again right here?”
His arms tighten around my waist, and he grabs my ass, pulling me so tightly against him I can feel how hard he is through is pants. “Don’t tempt me, little princess.” He jerks upright again, releasing me before he steps away. “Damn it,” he growls under his breath as he turns.
Another man stands behind him, clapping him on the shoulder.
Pax grits his teeth and forces a smile, motioning to the man with his head. “This is Charlie, our bass player.” He turns to the man with a glare. “You were just leaving, weren’t you?”
“Nah, Mick wanted me to tell you to make sure you come to the bar tonight. I guess we’re playing half a set.” Charlie glances at me, but his gaze turns almost instantly back to Pax. “He said not to let you talk me out of it.”
“That’s pretty last minute. Besides…” Pax glances back at me. “I already have plans.”
“Change ‘em.” Charlie shrugs. “Mick didn’t say you couldn’t bring her along. So bring her.”
Pax’s cheeks go instantly red again. “I said—”
“Then call him and tell him yourself. He’s got the VIP room booked and he invited a bunch of people from the label and a couple of reviewers.” Charlie places a hand on Pax’s shoulder. “You never think we’re ready. But we are. If you get the rocks out of your head, you’ll do fine tonight.”
Pax blinks at him a few times, almost as though he’s waking up. “Yeah…yeah, okay.”
Charlie nods at me. “You’re a lucky girl. You chose a good night to hook up with him.”
Something twists in my chest. Perhaps I am merely the flavor of the moment for Pax, and I suppose part of me expected nothing more. But another part of me… Another part isn’t so certain that I want it to be over after a single night.
But that small thought passes quickly enough, and the smarter part of me prevails. Even if I do only have a single night with him, I’m going to enjoy every moment of it.
Pax
This wasn’t how I planned to spend my night—not by a long shot. But Mick knows best, and if Mick says we need to do this, then I’m all in. I’ve been working my whole career toward this album, and I’ll do whatever it takes to make it successful. Why didn’t Rider just tell me about the set in the first place? He knows I’d drop anything for the band. But at least he didn’t start singing the titty song in front of Sophia.
“So?” I turn to Sophia. “What do you say? Want to go listen to some music?”
She looks between me and Charlie and smiles. “Sure.”
I try not to pay too much attention to the feeling of satisfaction in my stomach. Why should I care whether she comes or not? I want one thing and one thing only from her—and as long as she ends up in my bed tonight, I’m good.
Or so I will continue to tell myself.
“Great,” I tell Charlie. “I’ll see you there.”
Ten minutes later, I’m pulling into Alibi with Sophia in the seat next to me. It’s been a long time since I brought a girl to a set, even a short, impromptu one like this—normally, I just pick up a new chick there. Either way, Mick’ll be happy to see I’m bringing Sophia—and I’m sure the execs will, too. They know a publicity opportunity when they see one.
“This will just be a casual thing,” I tell her. “And it probably won’t go too late. We’ll have plenty of time for other activities afterward.”
“I’ve never been to something like this before,” she says. “It should be fun.”
Not as fun as what I have planned for us later, I think. But first, I need to focus on the task at hand. I’ll have plenty of time to think about sex after I’ve shown off our new music.
Before we head inside, though, I can’t resist grabbing her one last time and pressing her against the side of my car. My hands go in her hair, and my lips come down on hers. My thigh presses between her legs as my tongue slides along her lip. Her hands clutch the back of my shirt.
After a moment, though, I pull away, and I’m pleased to see she’s flushed and breathless.
“That’s just a preview of what comes later,” I murmur to her. Then I grab her hand and pull her after me into the bar.
Alibi has always been a favorite of mine, and not just because of the industry connections I’ve made here. It has the easy charm of a hole-in-the-wall joint but the class of something much swankier—you get your pool tables and casual atmosphere, but you also get your top-shelf liquor. The VIP lounge is at the back of the establishment, and though it’s fancier than the main room, it’s still not stuffy like some of the hip, trendy places downtown.
The rest of the gang is already here, and most of our equipment is already set up. Mick sees me from across the room, and he hurries over.
“Glad you could make it,” he says. “Sorry this is so last-minute, but I knew you wouldn’t want to turn this down.” He looks over at Sophia. “Are you going to introduce me?”
“Uh, of course. This is Sophia. Sophia, this is Mick, our manager.” I’m not sure what the proper etiquette is in this situation—am I supposed to use her title? If there are any rules for this sort of thing, I don’t know them.
But Sophia doesn’t seem offended either way, and I know Mick knows exactly who she is with or without “Princess” in front of her name. He extends a hand, and she accepts it. Mick smiles.
“It’s good timing for our boy here, the two of you getting together,” he says. “I was able to get that reservation for tomorrow night, don’t you worry.”
“What reservation?” Sophia asks.
“This is the first chance I’ve had to talk to her all day,” I say quickly. “We’ll sort out all the details after the set.”
“Oh, okay,” Mick says with a shrug. “Just let me know. I don’t want this opportunity to go to waste.” He gives me a wink then runs off to greet one of the execs who’s just entered the room.
Sophia spins to look at me. “What is he talking about? What reservation?”
“Don’t worry about that right now,” I tell her. “We’ll talk about it after the show.”
Her eyes follow Mick across the room. “He knows who I am.”
“Well, yeah. It’s not like you’re some random woman. You’re the princess of a freaking country. I might not have recognized you, b
ut it’s Mick’s job to know who people are.”
“He didn’t know who I was when Victoria and I interviewed you yesterday.”
“And since then you and I have been caught by the paparazzi,” I remind her. “Most of the city knows you’re here now. I’d be surprised if most people in this room don’t know exactly who you are.”
She glances around, suddenly looking uncertain. “I probably shouldn’t have come here. I didn’t realize it would be so public—” She starts to turn away but I grab her arm.
“What are you afraid of?” I ask her gently. “We’ve already been seen together. The photos are already out there. Who cares if you’re at a private set for Twisted Throne? Aren’t princesses allowed to like rock music?”
“That’s not it,” she says with a shake of her head. “I really shouldn’t be seen with you.”
“Ah, I get it,” I say. “You don’t want to get in trouble with Daddy, is that it? You have to keep up the image of the good little princess.” I know I shouldn’t provoke her, but the thought of her leaving has my stomach in a knot. I don’t like it.
Her eyes flash. “Don’t be ridiculous. I can make my own decisions about what I do and who I’m seen with. My father has nothing to do with it.”
“If you say so,” I say with a shrug. “I’m just saying, it would be a pity if you ran off so soon, especially considering everything I have planned for later…” I step closer to her, running my fingers up her arm. I feel a shiver move across her skin.
“Don’t go,” I murmur into her ear. “If you want, there’s a dark corner over there where you’ll be out of sight.” I gesture to the place, and her eyes follow.
“Yo, Pax!” calls Charlie from the small platform we’ll be using as a stage. “You ready or what?”
I straighten away from Sophia.
“Go on,” I tell her, nodding again toward the corner. “Wait for me there.” I catch her gaze in mine, dropping my voice even further. “Please, Sophia. It would mean a lot to me.”
She only hesitates a moment before running off. I look around, wondering how many people caught us speaking. And wondering why she’s suddenly so damn skittish about being seen together. Who the fuck cares if she’s spotted with me? I’m a fucking catch, aren’t I? It’s not a rejection from her, not exactly, but I still don’t like the feeling it leaves in my stomach.
