HERO (The Complete Series)

by Bella Love-Wins

  “Is that what this is about? Some commitment I made years ago? Kevin, I was a teenager!” I threw my arms in the air, exasperated by how he seemed to live in the past. “Take an honest look at me, Kevin. Tell me why you’re still trying to hold me to some standard you set for me when I was a child. An orphan with dead parents and no reason to live!”

  The room went silent. I braced myself on the back on one of the dining chairs and stared down at the tabletop. I could feel Kevin’s gaze on me, but would not look up to meet his eyes. The pain was too raw at even the most remote mention of my parents’ death.

  “I’m sorry, Lorne,” Kevin finally said.

  He rarely used my legal name. Coming from him, it sounded foreign to me. I had become Johnny Q Venom around sixteen. At the time, when Kevin had first suggested it, I latched on right away. It was my alter ego, a facade I could put on and wear like a new skin. I could trash hotel rooms, chase women, do crazy shit, and drink too much. And none of it was really me; it was Johnny.

  Over time, the line between the two had blurred. And in the past few years, I had found myself itching to get out of that skin. I just wasn’t sure it was possible. Something about meeting Amanda made me sure I could pull it off. She would understand. I was positive she would like Lorne.

  Kevin continued. “You might have started this path as a way to disconnect from your turmoil. But you have to admit that in the process, you found the thing you were born to do. You were made to do this, Johnny. Making music and entertaining is your gift. Lady and I both saw it from an early age, long before your parents…a long time before they passed. You would copy Lady and her band members when they practiced, and you could enchant every person in the room. You’re a performer. It’s not an easy road to follow, and that’s why I’ve pushed you so hard. I know you can handle the demands, and it’s clear when you’re out there on stage. That’s where you come alive.”

  I was still pissed at him, but he was right.

  “You’ve climbed too high to give it all up now,” he added. “This is what you want, this is what you, what we have busted our asses for over the last decade. This tour is the beginning of the rest of your career. And after this, the fall tour will give you even more options. You’re so close to where you can call all the shots. That’s why I’m so hard on you.”

  “Okay,” I answered. The fight had drained out of me. I couldn’t argue with the truth anymore. His methods may have been extreme, but we both wanted the same thing. More or less.

  “So what are you going to do about Amanda?” Kevin asked after a few minutes.

  I thought we were making progress, but that question got my guard up again. “What about her?”

  “She’s a distraction from everything you’ve been working for.”

  “Is there something I’m missing? You’ve never done this much interfering when it comes to the women around me.”

  “I’m not missing anything, Johnny. It’s clear she means more to you than anyone else you’ve shown an interest in. And in this case, we need her close. That’s a dangerous mix, and don’t even try to deny it either.

  “She’s not a distraction,” I said firmly, hoping that would bring an end to the discussion.

  “I’ve been in this business for a long, long time—”

  “Something you won’t let anyone forget, least of all me—” I added.

  He cleared his throat and continued, “And I’ve seen careers melt down over this exact kind of thing. Just watch. She’ll get tired of this lifestyle, very quickly. Soon she’ll start giving you ultimatums. Things like if you don’t stop touring, settle down, and get serious about making a commitment, she’s going to leave you.”

  “You don’t know her. How can you already think you know what she wants?”

  “I don’t. And I should remind you that you don’t either. But living in a tour bus, flying across the globe, putting her life on hold, just to watch you as you eye-fuck half-naked groupies night after night, or to see you grind up on your music video girls—that will eventually wear on her. No relationship can survive that. Not for long, anyway.”

  My anger rose up again at his words. “That’s not going to happen. She’s not like that. I’m not like that!”

  “It’s either you’re both in the business, or neither of you are.”

  “She knows the business. She was Roxy Punisher, remember?”

  “You can’t compare her minute in the spotlight with your level of success. You’re not even in the same ballpark. And where you’re headed…it’s night and day, Johnny.”

  “Well, you’re neglecting one important detail here. I can’t leave her alone if she’s going to be my full-time bodyguard. We need to have people think she’s my girlfriend. You seem to have forgotten about Agent Carlson’s plan. We need her.”

  I enjoyed the rush of satisfaction that came over me at the exasperation on Kevin’s face. He and I both knew he couldn’t argue with their plan.

  My phone buzzed. My driver, Charles was about to leave to pick up Amanda. I sent a reply, telling him to wait for me, then looked up at Kevin.

  “I’ll be back.”

  “Where the fuck are you going?”

  “Out.”

  “You can’t go anywhere alone, Johnny.”

  “I won’t be alone. Charles is driving. I’ll be back soon.”

  * * *

  I waited in the limo while Charles went inside the airport to look for Amanda. I had no delusions of strolling through the terminal, hiding out in a baseball cap or some such disguise to hide from fans and the paparazzi. LAX had a reputation for twenty-four-seven stakeouts by the paps. The place was the bane of most celebrities’ existence.

  My chest tightened when I saw her approaching the limo. She wore a navy skirt suit with a white shirt under her blazer, and navy pumps. Her hair was pulled up into a ponytail. As professional as she looked, all I could think about was holding her. Charles wheeled her two large suitcases behind him. He opened the door to let her in beside me, before popping the trunk to load up her bags.

  “Welcome back to LA,” I said, startling her when she saw me inside.

  “Hi. I didn’t expect you…” she answered, and sat beside me.

  “I’m full of surprises.”

  “I see.”

  “So how was the flight?” I asked when Charles got back in the car and drove off.

  “Uneventful. And how was it out here while I was gone? All clear at the house?”

  “Yes. No issues. The FBI has moved into my spare office.”

  “Good. Any progress?”

  “No. They’re organized, but the crazy person hasn’t made a move yet.”

  “That’s a relief.”

  “They don’t expect her to strike until the tour starts.”

  “Okay. I was worried about what might happen while I was away…”

  “You can just tell me you missed me, Amanda,” I teased. “No need to be that shy.”

  She laughed and playfully punched my arm. “Geez. There you go again.”

  “By the way, it’ll be a full house until we fly out, and a packed plane and ground transfers for the entire tour.”

  “Yes?”

  I pressed the button to raise the privacy glass between us and the driver. “Yes. All the more reason to…”

  “To what?”

  I leaned over to whisper in her ear. “Tell me the truth, Amanda. Did you miss me?”

  “What? We just spoke yesterday, Johnny. I’ve not been gone that long.”

  We didn’t have much time, and I was not going to waste it. I took her hand and pressed it on my chest. “I’m not gonna lie. I missed you.”

  “Um…I thought we talked about this yesterday.”

  “Fine,” I answered. She was not going to cross into romantic territory anytime soon, so I opted for lust and moved her hand down to my bulge. “See how much?”

  “Johnny, I…” she said. She seemed to search for words to continue, but my guess was the lust was already a
t work. Her eyes blinked and closed, and her hand didn’t move from my jeans when I let it go. I leaned over and kissed her forehead.

  “Get over here and ride me, Amanda,” I whispered. “I want to see that look of abandon on your face.”

  Chapter 7 - Amanda

  I couldn’t deny Johnny was a sweet guy so far. It was still beyond me that he could give me a two-million-dollar check. After our phone session, I got dressed and made sure to get to the bank to deposit it. The teller had to get manager approval, and told me the funds would be on a two-week hold because of the amount. I didn’t care how long it took. I wouldn’t need to touch it for at least a month during the tour.

  Now, in the back of his limo, I couldn’t even pretend to put up a fight with him. Check or no check, I did miss him. At least my body did. So when he told me to ride him, my stomach clenched. I turned my head and his lips met mine for a fierce kiss. I was already wet when he had placed my hand on his hard, throbbing cock. Now there wasn’t any turning back. He pulled me up on his lap to sit sideways, and slid his hand under my skirt.

  “I want you now,” he groaned, rubbing his hand against my inner thigh.

  He cradled my neck with his other arm, looked up into my eyes for a brief moment, and pulled me into his smoldering hot body to kiss me again. His kiss was so raw, so full of need, it released any hesitation I had. He parted my lips, exploring my mouth with his tongue. I spread my legs and let his hand have full control through the sheer fabric of my panties.

  “God, Johnny,” I murmured through the mind-blowing kiss.

  He hiked up my skirt and held me around my waist to turn me into him.

  I lifted my hips to straddle him, and sat facing him on his lap. He unbuttoned my blazer and shirt, shifting my bra over to the side. He leaned into me and circled his tongue around each of my already tingling breasts.

  “God woman, you’re so beautiful,” he moaned, pulling away to look up at me with those seductive eyes.

  He wrapped his arms around my ass and spread my ass cheeks. His arousal grew firmer between my legs. My hips rocked on him, grinding my pussy on his hardness. I was ready for him, wet and completely undone. I quickly undid his belt and tugged on his zipper. He lifted his hips effortlessly with me on top, freeing his cock beneath me.

  “Fuck me, Johnny,” I moaned, reaching my head down to kiss his ear.

  He returned to my breasts, licking and caressing each nipple as I nibbled on his ear lobes. He growled deeply, and his cock became stiff as a board, pressing against my folds to enter me. I lifted myself up and slid my panties to the side as he grabbed my hips, pulling me down on his shaft. I just about squealed as he moved deeper inside me. My hips undulated, and I gripped tightly on to his shoulders to hold on, letting that elemental pleasure take over my body.

  “Oh God. It feels so good inside you, baby,” he said.

  His pace sped up, and I matched his movements, riding high on the heights of desire. His thrusts deepened, and he squeezed my ass cheeks so I could feel his thrusts hitting deeper inside me. I moved my hands into the small of his back, anchoring myself to him as his cock hit my pleasure spot over and over again.

  “Come for me, Amanda,” he muttered.

  “Oh God!” That extra leverage took me straight over the edge. He tilted his hips up and plunged deeper, following me to his own climax as my body shook. On two sharp jerks, he came, pulling me down hard on his cock. He buried his head between my breasts and groaned through his orgasm. I rested my chin on the top of his head. Neither of us moved for some time, waiting to renew our energy. I closed my eyes. As much as I enjoyed it, I reminded myself this was just sex. And temporary.

  Chapter 8 - Johnny

  I took Amanda’s luggage to the bottom of the stairs and led her down the hall to the main floor bathroom. She wanted to neaten up quickly before her meeting with Agent Carlson and his team. If it were up to me, we would be up in my bed, finishing what we started in the back of the limo. I appreciated that she was a professional and had her head on straight when it mattered.

  The agents had briefed Kevin and me earlier in the day. They told us they would be monitoring the house, and would keep an agent near the front door at all times. As if on cue, Agent Carlson and Kevin entered the hallway as Amanda exited the bathroom.

  “Hello Amanda,” Kevin greeted her. He was trying to be professional, but I could hear the irritation in his words. “Pleasant flight back?”

  “Yes. Thanks again, Kevin,” she answered, and turned to Agent Carlson. “Good to see you again, sir.”

  “Welcome back,” Agent Carlson answered. “All set?”

  “I am,” she told him confidently. “I understand you gentlemen are working on the timeline for the tour. Do you need any help?”

  “We should be fine,” Kevin spoke up, “but there have been a few adjustments. The biggest change is we’re flying out tomorrow afternoon, to accommodate a final photoshoot in the morning.”

  “So we get to Greece on Saturday night?”

  “Yes.”

  “That doesn’t leave much wiggle room for a Sunday concert, does it? Never mind the jetlag. Do you have anyone arriving there ahead of schedule to clear the place and check for vulnerabilities at the location?”

  “We should be fine,” Kevin answered. “We’ll have less setup and practice time in Greece now, but it doesn’t deviate too much from what you already know.”

  I let Kevin and the agent do their thing, and stood back to admire Amanda. She was a true professional. No one had any clue what the two of us were up to just minutes before. And until Kevin backed off, it would stay that way. I wasn’t sure how long I would be able to hide what was really going on. In some ways, Kevin had already figured it out. But being brazen in front of him was just not smart. He would only make it more difficult for Amanda.

  Agent Carlson took Amanda to meet his team and do a walkthrough of the logistics for the first tour stop. Kevin went with them, and I excused myself to get some things finished up in my main floor office. After about an hour, I returned to the guest office to see how they were doing.

  “We’re just finishing up,” said Agent Carlson.

  “Good timing.” I turned to Amanda. “You’ve had a long flight, and we’re all boarding another one tomorrow. I’ll get your bags up to your room so you can relax a bit.”

  “Not a bad idea,” Kevin agreed. “I still have some packing to finish at home, and it will be the last few hours of quality time I get with Lady before this month-long tour. I’ll see you all this evening.”

  Kevin left, the agents resumed their planning, and Amanda followed me as I went to get her bags.

  “Thank you,” she said to me, glancing back to look at Kevin.

  She followed behind me. An odd tension settled between us as we climbed the stairs and went to her guest room. I laid her bags on the bed. I wanted to say something to get her to open up again, but settled for, “Are you hungry?” Food was usually a safe offer.

  “Thanks, but I’m all right. What I really need is a few hours rest. Good call, by the way.”

  “No problem. Want me to hang around while you rest?”

  “It’s probably better if I go this one alone,” she answered. “You don’t mind, do you? I’ll come to check on you a little later.”

  “Sure, sure. See you,” I answered. I left the room, and she closed the door gently behind me.

  My chest tightened. I didn’t expect that. But then again, I knew she wanted to keep things above board when the others were around. And she didn’t let up on not wanting anything more than sex. At least I could take some comfort that I would see her every day for the next month. She would be closer with the FBI’s plan being set in motion once we were on the road. I would take Amanda as my pretend girlfriend until she figured out I was for real. This chance took three years of waiting. I was crazy about her long before she met me. Now that she was this close, I was not going anywhere.

  Chapter 9 - Amanda

  As soo
n as Johnny was gone, I leaned back against the door and let out a long sigh. I had hoped that my day and a half away would give me the space to clear my mind and figure out what I wanted. It didn’t. He had dominated most of my waking thoughts. By the time I was boarding my flight back to LAX, I was more confused than ever. I had been drawn to him like a magnet since the moment I met him. There was something about him that haunted me. I couldn’t figure out what it was that had me almost hung up on him. Almost.

  I wasn’t sure if it was the fact that he turned out to be so different from what I had expected. Or maybe it was how he treated me. He was so sweet and kind, I could get used to it. And he had no problem handling me just being myself. I found it easy to have hot, passionate sex with him one night, then share a couple of beers and watch a football game like old friends on the next. He didn’t even flinch when I told him I couldn’t have kids. There was no awkwardness or anything. The way he got me off over the phone…that was a bonus. And I couldn’t tell him this, but my legs were still shaking long after I rode him in the back of the limo on the way over. I had to step in the bathroom downstairs to get my composure back. Putting all of that together, it was no wonder the man could wreak havoc on my body chemistry and make me crazy.

  Even with the money safely in my bank account now, I had kept Kevin’s threat top of mind as my ammunition to keep my feelings out of it. It was bad enough the man who could make or break this gig seemed to hate me. I reminded myself that this was business—my golden ticket. If I ever wanted to start my own security firm, I still needed to press on, remain professional, and work my ass off to earn that big fat paycheck. That was the only way I’d be able to keep the funds in the end to use as seed money. If I blew the contract over some guy, I would never forgive myself. Of course, Johnny was not ‘some guy’—protecting him was the objective of the contract—but that’s what made it more difficult. We had to remain close.