by Amy Brent
That was my job as the band’s agent. That was what they had hired me to do, and I would do anything I had to to make it work—even if that meant going through with Sam’s ridiculous plan. I had to swallow hard past the butterflies that were suddenly fluttering inside me.
I looked up at Sam’s profile as he was bent low over his guitar. He was in the recording studio with the rest of the band, but my eyes went back to him again and again.
They were still in the middle of running through the song a few times before starting the recording, but I never got tired of listening to them play. Despite the nerves that still jittered through me, I found myself losing myself in the music, tapping my foot along to the infectious melody.
I felt a surge of fierce pride at how far the band had come, especially now that I knew more about their history, about what they had each gone through to get where they were today.
They’d had a one-in-a-million shot of getting out of the life they had been dealt, but they’d done it. It made me respect Sam even more, not just as a musician but as a man, as a person.
And his dark poet’s eyes that always held so much emotion and pain made more sense to me know, too. I was more than surprised to discover that part of me wanted to go in there and sooth it all away, to tell him that it was all going to be okay, that he didn’t have to let the past hurt him anymore.
But that was what a real fiancée would do, not a fake one.
I was still lost in my own confusing thoughts when Archer walked up beside me. I smelled his cologne long before I actually saw the man, and I hated the cloying, musky scent of it. Sam never wore cologne. It was just pure him, pure masculinity.
“So, how is our star band doing in there?” he asked, shooting a greasy smile my direction, but I just shrugged it off. I was beginning to think that flirting was the only way Archer knew how to communicate with women.
Still, I put a professional smile on my face and answered.
“Everything is going great,” I said, nodding through the glass. “They are just finishing up the seventh track of the album. It’s going to be gold. I know it. They have really come such a long way from where they started. Their sound has evolved so much because of everything they had to go through in the last year. It’s actually really amazing to see—”
“Great, that’s great,” Archer said, interrupting me, and I had to grit my teeth as frustration filled me. Then he leaned close, propping his arm on the wall next to my head, caging me in, trapping me.
Archer’s grin widened even more, and my brows lowered in a scowl.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” I growled. Forget trying to be professional with this guy. He was way out of line. “You need to back up, now. And back off.”
“And why’s that, sweetheart?” He leaned even closer, as if he were going to try to kiss me. “It’s not like you and Sam are really together. It’s all pretend.”
I gasped in outrage at his words. I was so angry, I was shaking with it, but I still noticed the way the thought of being with anyone else made my stomach twist up in knots—the way it made me feel sick.
It struck me like a lightning bolt: I was falling for Sam all over again. That terrified me. It scared me way more than Archer’s pathetic attempt to seduce me.
Suddenly, I couldn’t breathe. I felt catastrophic, as if the walls were closing in around me. I needed to get away.
I bolted for the door, barely stopping to apologize to Rebecca when I ran into her. I hadn’t even seen her standing there, but I didn’t slow down. I stormed outside.
Archer followed after me, but I couldn’t hear his footsteps over the wild pounding of my pulse in my ears and my heart galloping in my chest.
*
Sam
My fingers danced over the strings of the guitar effortlessly, and I couldn’t help but sigh, partly in regret, partly in frustration. If only every other aspect of my life was this easy for me.
I played another riff on the instrument and then adjusted the keys, changing the tension of the strings as I tuned the guitar down half a step to create a more melancholy sound for the song we were practicing.
Alice always wanted us to go through the songs a few times before setting down the recording. She said it loosened us up, but every take made me feel more and more tense. I knew that had nothing to do with the music, though, and everything to do with the dark-haired beauty standing just outside the recording studio.
It had been nearly three weeks since our “engagement.” After three weeks of pretending to be a couple with Faye, a part of me was getting too used to being with her. The problem was that I actually liked her as a person.
She was funny and smart, clever and sarcastic, and she didn’t take any shit from anyone.
When we had gone to book the venue for our pretend wedding, the manager of the place had been aghast that we wanted to rent it out in just two weeks. He’d been beside himself, saying that we would never be ready in time and that we were being idiots for rushing things so much.
And Faye had told the man in no uncertain terms that she would be getting married there on August fifteenth, in two weeks, and if he didn’t want to take the money, well, then we would just take our business somewhere that would be more accommodating.
Within twenty minutes we had the contract signed and everything ready. My mind was still boggled by the price, but at least Archer had finally stepped up and done something decent. He was footing the bill for everything, which was only fair because this whole mess was his fault to begin with. If he’d just dealt with his ex, then none of this would have happened in the first place.
Why did the thought of that have a sudden lump of regret tightening in my throat? I tried to shake it off as I played, tried to focus only on the music and the song that flowed from my fingertips.
I couldn’t quite get my attention back on the practice and glanced up to where I knew Faye had been standing only see her back pressed against the large windowpane that divided the recording studio and Archer fucking Calloway leaning close to her. Way too close. Way, way too close.
Suddenly, Rebecca’s words stabbed through me. Faye and Archer. Faye and Archer together. Like a skipping record, it kept going through my mind, and I just froze. Mid-song, my fingers stopped working as I watched the scene play out with Faye and Archer like I was watching a movie on a screen.
I watched Archer lean even closer. Then I watched Faye turn and walk outside. Archer took a sneaky look around, as if to make sure no one else would see them go off together, and then a moment later he followed after her.
My vision narrowed to the door they had just disappeared behind. Together. They were together. Everything else disappeared and I jumped to my feet. I ignored the questions Alice and Casey shouted after me as I dropped my guitar carelessly onto an empty seat.
There was a storm of jealousy and anger and hurt raging inside me as I turned and rushed after them, following them both outside.
I got outside just in time to interrupt them as Archer leaned toward Faye.
“What the hell is going on?” The words burst from my mouth before I could stop them, and I didn’t care. I shot them both an angry glare. “Well? What the fuck!”
Archer threw his hands up, taking a hasty step backward. “Hey, man, Faye and I were just talking. You can go back inside. There’s still a lot of work to be done on the album.”
I didn’t lessen my glare an inch, only shifted it onto Faye, but I was surprised to find her glaring right back at me.
“What…what are you thinking, Sam?” she finally spluttered. “What do you think is going on here?”
I looked pointedly from her to Archer. “You and him. Together. I think that’s obvious enough.”
“Men!” Faye spat, throwing up her hands in utter frustration. “I was trying to push Archer away, even though he can’t seem to get it through his thick skull that I’m not interested him.” She shot the words at Archer, and he just shrugged
, but at least he had the good grace to look a little abashed. Then Faye looked at me, and her angry gaze was like a laser, singeing me on the spot.
“But you! How could you possibly think that I would do anything to jeopardize my safety? After everything! And you know what,” she said, marching forward and stabbing a finger against my chest, “you have no right to get jealous anyway, Sam. You know that? No right! This is my life damn it, and I’m tired of having to walk on eggshells. Just leave me the hell alone! Both of you!”
All I could do was watch helplessly as Faye turned and stalked away. My anger was already cooling, and regret, cold and bitter, settled in in its place. I had messed up, big time. I was going to have to apologize and try to make it up to her—if I could make her talk to me long enough to listen.
I drew in a deep breath, avoiding Archer altogether as I turned and walked back inside. Damn it. Why couldn’t any of this be easy for once?
Chapter 18
Faye
I didn’t know how long I had been pacing back and forth across the length of my apartment. The whole drive home after that scene with Sam and Archer was a complete blur. I’d gotten home, stormed inside, and immediately gone to the kitchen to grab a bottle of wine.
The bottle was half gone now, but the anger remained. The anger and, if I was being honest with myself, the pain.
I continued my pacing, and fuming, as I took another sip of wine from the bottle. With a frustrated cry, I threw my one unoccupied hand into the air. I’d had it with men, especially egotistical musicians who thought they could do whatever they wanted and get away with it! Without any consequences! Well, not this time.
“I should call off the wedding, every fake pretend minute of it. It’s not happening,” I muttered to myself as I hit a wall and turned, pacing along the other way down the living room. “It’s definitely not going to happen. How can I go through with it now?”
I growled in irritation. What the hell right did Sam have to act like that? Like some sort of jealous lover!
I flushed at the thought, thinking of the nights we had spent together. Even knowing they had been mistakes, I wouldn’t take those moments back. But I should have. I should have regretted them. I just couldn’t force myself to.
With another growl, I threw myself onto the couch and set the half-empty bottle of wine down on the coffee table. Everything had gotten so goddamned complicated. My feelings for Sam were so tangled up, the last thing I needed was to get tied even closer to him.
It would only make things worse. But then why didn’t the thought of calling the wedding off make me feel any better? In fact, I felt even worse than before, thinking that I wouldn’t get to spend any more time with him.
Why did it have to be so complicated? I pleaded with myself, but there were no answers forthcoming.
I was just reaching for the bottle of wine again, hoping that drowning my thoughts in alcohol at least might give me a little bit of reprieve, when there was a knock at the door.
With a jolt, I jumped to my feet, still spurred on by the anger that was running through my veins. I didn’t stop to see who it was, just threw it wide open, but I froze when I saw who was standing on my doorstep.
“I don’t want talk to you right now, Sam.” I said. I knew I sounded surly, but I didn’t care. Hell, I felt surly. I felt more than surly. I was downright pissed off.
“I know, Faye,” Sam said, sending me a pleading look. “Believe me, I know I deserve your anger. I just—”
“What the hell were you thinking, Sam?”
“Honestly?” he said, his expression intent as he stalked toward me. I felt a hitch in my chest. “I saw you and Archer together and I lost it. I know it doesn’t make sense. I know you don’t… I know we’re not really together, but I just got jealous. And I don’t deserve your forgiveness, but I’m going to ask for it anyway—for losing my mind earlier.”
I stared at him for a long moment, trying to make sense of what he was saying, trying to shake off the muddle the wine had made of my mind.
“Sam, I…I don’t know what to say. I wouldn’t do that. I’m not interested in Archer that way.”
The grin he shot me was so painfully sardonic, it almost made me flinch. “I guess we’ve both been screwed over by people in the past. It’s made it hard for me to trust anyone, Faye.”
He took another step toward me, staring at me through slashing dark brows. “I swear I’ll try to do better.”
“Look,” I huffed, growing flushed as Sam drew even closer. It was just because of the wine; that was all. It definitely wasn’t the heat that suddenly flared to life in his eyes. That same heat that kindled inside me. “Look, Sam, I don’t trust easily either. I told you about Bryce. It just… I don’t think…”
Sam put a finger over my lips, cutting off my words. “Then don’t think. Not tonight. Just say that you forgive me. Please, Faye. I need to know that I didn’t hurt you.”
I looked up at him, and I could read the sincerity in his dark, melting gaze. He meant every single word. He really didn’t want to hurt me. He had just let his emotions get the better of him. Hell, I knew exactly how he felt, wild and out of control.
I could still feel the heat from Sam’s touch like a brand across my lips. I let out a shaky breath as desire, sharper and fiercer than I’d ever felt before, swept through me.
“I’ll forgive you on one condition.” I looked up at him through a fringe of dark lashes, wondering what he would think of me, wondering what I should think of myself, but I didn’t even know where to begin.
“Anything,” Sam said eagerly. “Just name it.”
I inhaled as deeply as I could before be letting the air rush out of my lungs, trying to find the courage to reach out and take what I really wanted: him.
“Kiss me.”
*
Sam
Kiss me. Kiss me. Her words echoed in the room. I was stunned. That was the last thing I had expected her to say. I’d been ready for her to throw me out, to tell me that she didn’t want to see me again or that this whole thing was over.
I never would have guessed those two words. Although I really shouldn’t have been surprised. Faye had a way of twisting my expectations on their head, of always doing the exact opposite of what I thought she would. She was as unpredictable as the wind, stormy one minute and calm the next.
I realized in that moment that it was going to be harder than either of us had thought to make things work, but I knew Faye was worth it. She was worth every moment.
I stalked forward until Faye was stopped by the wall at her back. “I will do anything you want, Faye, anything I can to make you happy. I need you to know that.” My voice was serious, and I hoped she could see the truth of my words in my eyes. I didn’t know how else to tell her.
She must have seen my sincerity and more, because her own mysterious dark gaze opened wide in surprise and she let out a tiny gasp. I swooped down, taking advantage and swallowing the sweet sound. I didn’t give her a chance to answer, at least not with words anyway. The way her body melted against mine was answer enough for me. More than enough.
I wanted her so badly that my whole body was shaking like a twig caught in a summer storm. But that was Faye. Being with her was like a rollercoaster, and I never knew what was going to happen next. All I could do was hold on for the ride.
I kissed her hard and fast, taking her mouth with mine, holding nothing back as I pressed against her. My body instantly hardened at the contact, but it still wasn’t enough, not even fucking close to enough.
“I need to see you.” I gasped the words against her ravaged lips. “I need to see all of you. I need to taste all of you.”
The words were a fevered whisper as I spread my fingers through her soft hair and pulled her head back enough to expose the long, graceful line of her neck. I could see her pulse beating rapidly, an exact match to the frantic rhythm of my own racing heartbeat.
I kissed her then, thrusting my to
ngue into the warm haven of her mouth, mimicking the rhythm the rest of my body was desperate for. I could feel in the way she writhed against me that she was just as desperate.
I kissed from her swollen lips down across her jaw, nipped at her delicate skin with my teeth, just hard enough to draw a gasp from her throat. The sound spurred me on like a whip. I couldn’t wait any longer. The need was frantic inside me.
I tried to slow down but my blood was like lava in my veins and my cock was so hard it felt like it was trying to burst through the denim of my jeans. I pulled her hips close against mine, desperate to get closer to her, but I need more.
My hands were shaking with urgency as I stripped off her top and then fumbled at the buttons that held her skirt together. In my haste, I ripped it apart and the buttons scattered across the floor with a loud clatter, but I was barely aware of the noise. All I could hear were the moans of pleasure and need coming from Faye.
I finished stripping her and quickly made my way down her trembling body. I stopped to tease her nipples into hard peaks, tweaking one with my fingers and sucking the other into my mouth until she cried out my name.
Only then did I drop down to my knees on the hard floor in front of her. I pulled one of her thighs over my shoulder, not giving her any warning before leaning forward and lapping at her sweet pussy. She was drenched with honey and trembling in my arms. She was the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen in my entire life.
There was only one thought that I could hold in my head: I wanted to bring her more pleasure than she’d ever felt before. I wanted to obliterate the memory of anyone else’s touch. I wanted to wring every ounce of ecstasy that I could from her body, and then I wanted to push her even farther, as far as she could go, all the way to the edge of her limits and past. That was where I was—way past my own limits.
