Almost Married

by Kylie Gilmore

  He didn’t answer, merely teased her nipple with his teeth, doing his best to distract her with his mouth.

  “Please, I want to move,” she begged.

  He ignored that. He caressed both of her breasts, pinching and tugging on her nipples, making her demands to move grow increasingly weak, until he finally silenced her with a hard kiss. He thrust his tongue in and out so she could do nothing but moan. He was very good at distracting her. And teaching her. He moved to nibble along her earlobe as he grabbed her ass, palming it with both hands.

  “Mine,” he whispered in her ear.

  “Yours,” she said on a sigh.

  Pleased, he loosened his grip on her ass, and she moved on her own, too fast for him to keep things going. He stilled her again, hands on her hips, grinding her down hard onto him.

  “Dave,” she moaned. “Please.”

  It was hot, he had to admit, to have Steph begging him, but he had to wait. He rocked his pelvis, appeasing her with shorter strokes and some hip swivels. The opening number was building, and the crowd was roaring, and he wanted her focused only on them. By the time the band moved to the third song, they were both slick with sweat, their bodies straining for more.

  He tilted his pelvis up, thrusting deeper inside, and released his hold on her. She immediately began riding him hard and fast. The buildup over all that time felt incredible as they rushed toward what their bodies ached for. He gripped her ass, felt himself about to lose it. Then she was crying out his name, milking him with her release, and he let go with a hoarse groan, shuddering against her. She collapsed against him.

  They held each other for a few moments, catching their breath. She raised her head and looked at him like he was some kind of sex god. Or just an amazing guy. It was a flattering, well-loved look, whatever it was.

  He flashed a smile. “Nice concert.”

  “What concert?” she replied.

  He wrapped his arms around her. “Exactly.”

  Chapter Ten

  Steph felt a little giddy as she held Dave’s hand on their way backstage. They were headed through a private hallway with a security guard. She couldn’t believe they did it in the private box. Sure they’d been alone, but there was a window. Probably Dave wanted Griff to see, but she knew Griff wouldn’t have been able to see that far from the stage. It was twisted, she knew, but she liked this new possessive side of Dave. It was so sexy the way he claimed her. She’d hoped that his hot kisses when they first started dating were proof that things would be hot between them. She was thrilled to be proven right.

  She turned to Dave and smiled. He squeezed her hand. Just as they reached the door leading backstage, the security guard, a beefy man that could’ve been a linebacker, raised a hand. “Only her. You wait here.”

  “What? No.” Steph stood her ground. “Tell Griff it’s both of us. I’m not leaving Dave behind.”

  “That’s the deal,” the security guard said. “Just you.”

  Steph looked from the security guard to Dave.

  “I told you he only wanted you,” Dave said.

  She stood there, unsure what to do. She didn’t want to leave Dave behind. On the other hand, the entire purpose of this trip was to get those signed divorce papers. She wasn’t leaving here without them. She made a snap decision. The divorce was the most important thing. She’d get the papers and meet Dave at the hotel.

  “I’ll call you when I’m done,” she said.

  Dave looked like she’d slapped him. “You’re really going backstage alone with him?”

  “What choice do I have? I want that divorce. I’ll meet you back at the hotel, okay?”

  “Don’t you see?” Dave asked, his face flushed red with anger. “He’s playing with us. He’s forcing me out. He still wants you.”

  She gave him a quick kiss. “It doesn’t matter what he wants. It’ll be fine. I’ll call you.”

  The security guard held open the door, and she went through.

  “Don’t go,” Dave called after her.

  She turned. “I’ll call you.”

  The door slammed shut as Dave stood there scowling at her. She’d make it up to him later. She followed the guard down a long hallway to a dressing room. She walked in to find Griff standing there, shirtless, a towel draped over his neck. His hair was soaked with sweat. The lights on stage were hot, plus he got a workout dancing, running, and putting his all into the concert.

  “Hey, gorgeous,” he said.

  “Where’s Paulie D?” she asked, looking around. “Where’s Henry and Jake?” They were his bandmates.

  “I got a private dressing room since you were coming.” He flopped down onto a sofa. “Paulie D will be here soon. Did you like the concert?”

  She crossed her arms, irritated to be alone with him instead of signing the damn papers. “You did a nice job.”

  “Nice,” he muttered. He grabbed a bottled water and chugged, watching her. “Why Dave?” he finally asked.

  She let out a breath of frustration. “What does it matter?”

  “I want to know. It’s hard to let you go, sweetheart.”

  She rolled her eyes. He’d let her go five years ago. Was he feeling nostalgic? Lonely? In need of a wife? Wait a minute.

  “Do you need a wife for some reason?” she asked.

  He shook his head. “Fans like to think I’m single. Tabloids like to talk about my secret wife. Nothing’s up, if that’s what you’re thinking.” He rubbed his hair down with the towel. “It’s just once I saw you again in person I remembered what we had. It was good once.”

  She grunted. This was not going how she’d hoped. “How long until Paulie D gets here?”

  Griff shrugged. “He said after the concert. Soon, I guess. Let me grab a shower.” He indicated a private bathroom in the dressing room.

  “Might as well,” Steph said.

  After Griff went into the shower, he left the bathroom door open, the exhibitionist, and she could see him through the frosted glass. She averted her gaze and flopped down on the sofa to wait. She called Dave to tell him she’d be a little later, but it went straight to voicemail. Strange. She wondered if he’d turned it off on the jet and forgot to turn it on again.

  A short while later, Griff appeared with a white towel wrapped around his waist. Rivulets of water ran down his muscular chest and abs. Steph focused on his face. He gave her a slow smile.

  “So you never told me why you like Dave,” he said.

  “Would you please get dressed!” Steph exclaimed.

  He crossed to her, stopping a breath away, and she took in his fresh clean scent. She gave him a little shove, trying to preserve her personal space, and he grabbed both her wrists, then brought them down to her sides like they were almost holding hands. They were nearly the same height, and he was much too close, with way too little clothes.

  “Why Dave?” he asked again.

  She focused on a point over his shoulder. “He’s a nice guy. Decent, hardworking, sweet.”

  And he’s everything you could never be. Dave was faithful, committed, a family man. The life Dave offered was one she’d always wanted.

  “I’m sweet,” he countered.

  She snorted. “Yeah.”

  “Look at me,” he urged. Reluctantly, she met his eyes. “Isn’t there some part of you that still loves me?” he asked quietly.

  She pressed her lips in a flat line. “I’ll never forget what you did, what you do, for Joey.”

  “He’s a good guy.”

  Her heart squeezed. Not everyone saw just how wonderful her brother really was. “He always adored you.”

  “But what about you?” he asked. His hands, which had been gripping her wrists, now stroked the sensitive underside. “Do you have any love for me? I can work with the tiniest scrap if you just say the word. I can change. I’ll be faith—”

  “Don’t.” She pulled her hands away.

  “Please, Steph. Don’t make me beg.”

  “I don’t love you.” She force
d the lie out because the truth was she’d always have a place in her heart for him. She wouldn’t have married him if she hadn’t loved him deeply. But that didn’t mean they should be together. She’d moved on out of self-preservation. She wasn’t indifferent to him, as much as she wished she was, though she could be once he left her alone again. And he would; she knew that. He wasn’t the kind to stick around in one place for long. “I—”

  Just then the door swung open, and Paulie D came in. Griff stepped away from her. Steph smiled at Paulie D, relieved they’d finally get this over with. Paulie D was a short man with balding hair and long, straggly pieces hanging down the sides. He was also a bundle of energy.

  “Traffic was a bitch!” Paulie D exclaimed. He thumped Griff on the back. “How ya doin’, Griff?” He turned to her. “Stephanie, we need to talk.”

  Talk? She thought she just needed to sign some papers. She glanced at Griffin, who turned away.

  “Griffin can’t sign the papers,” Paulie D said. “This will destroy him. He’s not exactly cash rich, if you know what I mean.” He rubbed his fingers together. “The cash runs out just as soon as it comes in. It’s the lifestyle—the mansion, the ski chalet, the island house. The jet. That’s a shared ownership, by the way, with some other bands.”

  Griff quietly dressed in a T-shirt and jeans. He still wasn’t saying anything. Steph was getting a bad feeling.

  “I don’t care about any of that,” she countered.

  Paulie D put his hands on his hips. “He’s already behind on mortgage payments for the island house and, in this market, he’s going to lose money on a sale for any of them. The high-end homes have taken the biggest hit depreciation-wise. I’ve advised him not to sell.”

  Steph huffed out a breath of frustration. “Aren’t you listening to me? I just want the divorce. He can keep the money.”

  Paulie D cocked his head and narrowed his bulgy eyes. “Yeah, yeah, yeah. You say that now.”

  “I’ll sign something that says that,” Steph said.

  “If only it were that easy.” Paulie D started pacing. “Here’s where it’s complicated. If he signs those papers from Connecticut, they’ll determine distribution of property in what they consider equitable. Connecticut won’t rule favorably on account of his, uh, activities.” His bulgy eyes shifted to Griff.

  He meant all the affairs. She was so over that. Besides, she wouldn’t demand half of everything. Unless…

  She turned to Griff. “Either you give me the divorce right now, or I will get a lawyer and take half of everything. I’ve got a pretty good case against you. The infidelities are a matter of public record. You basically abandoned me.”

  Paulie D grew agitated, running his hands through what was left of his hair. “Now, hold on, hold on. No need for threats. We can work this out. If you could just hang on. A year from now we’ll get the finances straightened out. You get a lawyer, and we’ll settle this all up out of court. We’ll make sure you’ve been compensated for your emotional distress. Maybe you could buy yourself a nice house in the suburbs. You’d like that, wouldn’t you?”

  “A year!” Steph exclaimed. “I’ve already waited five years. I don’t want to wait a year.” She snapped her head around to Griff, who was suspiciously quiet. “Griff?”

  Griff shrugged one shoulder.

  “Griff,” she prompted, “are you going along with this?”

  He sat on the sofa and pulled some socks on, then his black leather boots. Finally, he said, “It doesn’t sound like a bad deal.”

  “I didn’t come here for a deal!” she shouted.

  “Give us a minute, Paulie D,” Griff said.

  Paulie D left, quietly shutting the door behind him.

  “Why can’t you just let me go?” she asked Griff.

  He looked in her eyes. “Because I don’t want to believe it’s really over.”

  “Oh, you can believe it,” she snapped.

  Griff stood and crossed to her. “I’m sorry. It’ll take some time, or whatever. When I get in a better position financially, maybe. Down the line. Things are going great. I’ve got a new album coming out in a few months. We’re still putting the final touches on it. They love me in Japan. I’m planning a tour of Asia. Maybe I’ll do a commercial over there too. Bill’s in talks right now about it.”

  She sank to the sofa as the truth finally sank in. Dave had been right. Griff had played her. She should’ve expected it, yet she’d fallen for it because of their shared past, because of her brother, because of the seeming sincerity of his words. She felt stupid and angry and unbearably sad. This was all Griff could ever give, only the smallest gesture when it benefited him at the same time, and she’d wasted years of her life on him. He’d never had any intention of signing those divorce papers. And now she was supposed to wait another year? Suddenly, all she wanted was to see Dave again.

  She shook her head as she pulled out her cell. “I can’t believe this. I’m calling Dave.” She called him, but it went to voicemail again. Dammit. Where was he?

  Griff watched her. “Still not answering?”

  She tucked her cell back in her purse. “No.”

  “Come on,” Griff said. “I’ll give you a ride back to the hotel. He’s probably there.”

  She lifted her chin. “I can ride by myself in the limo.”

  “Let me go with you,” Griff said. “I want to work this out. Let’s talk about the divorce.”

  She eyed him suspiciously.

  “No lawyers,” he said. “Just you and me, working out a deal.”

  “I’m not—” But that was as far as she got before he pulled her forcibly out the door to the waiting limo.

  ~ ~ ~

  Dave was not happy with the security guard escort out of the stadium and was even less happy when they got to a private parking lot, where a silver sedan with tinted windows stood waiting.

  “Get in,” the security guard said.

  This was just like every thriller movie he’d ever watched. You should never get into the strange car with tinted windows. You could end up dead, or left for dead on the side of the road.

  Dave backed up and found his way blocked by the guard’s hand on his back.

  The guard pushed him forward. “Get in. This is your ride.”

  “I’ll call a cab,” Dave said, pulling his cell from his pocket.

  The man grabbed him by the arm and pushed him forward. Dave struggled; the cell hit the pavement and smashed into pieces. The front of the phone shattered. He could see the circuitry on the inside. Shit.

  “You destroyed my cell!” Dave hollered before he ran. He didn’t stop running until he was well clear of the stadium. Thankfully, the guard didn’t follow him. He stepped into a convenience store, managed to get the clerk to allow him a phone call on the guy’s cell, and called a cab back to the hotel. He could only hope that Steph would be waiting there with the signed papers.

  ~ ~ ~

  Steph fumed on the limo ride back to the hotel. Griff tried to apologize for the legal complications, but Steph didn’t want to hear it. He was like a puppet that just did whatever his people told him to. Even when that hurt the people he supposedly loved.

  She looked out the window. It felt like they’d been driving a long time. She wasn’t sure where the hotel was because they went straight from the airport to the stadium, but she’d thought when Griff’s assistant reserved her a room, she would’ve picked somewhere close to the airport. “Where is this hotel?”

  “West Hollywood,” Griff replied. He glanced at her and quickly looked away.

  “Is it much further?”

  “I got us reservations for dinner. Reserved the whole place for late night. Cool?”

  She gritted her teeth. “No, it’s not cool. Dave is waiting for me. He thought I was just going backstage to sign the papers.”

  “Don’t worry. He’s at the hotel. Probably already asleep by now.”

  She scowled and called Dave again. Still went to voicemail. She was getting a v
ery bad feeling about this. Why wasn’t he answering his phone?

  “Come on, Dave,” she muttered, staring at her phone. It wasn’t like him not to answer. Unless he was really, really mad at her.

  The limo stopped. She peered out the window. They were stuck in traffic.

  “Damn traffic,” Griff said. “The one thing you can count on in L.A.”

  “What’s the name of the hotel?” Steph asked. She’d try the room.

  “Relax,” Griff said. “I just want to be with you a little longer. You’ll see Dave soon enough.”

  Panic shot through her. She reached for the door handle. “I’ll walk back.”

  She tried to open it. Locked. She turned wide eyes to Griff.

  “Chill, Steph. I’m not going to hurt you. I just want one last dinner. It’s this cool place in Beverly Hills. You’ll love it. We never did get to have dinner.”

  “Is the hotel the Sunset Marquis?” she asked, already looking up the number. It was Griff’s favorite hotel. Rock stars loved the place because of its location, right off the Sunset Strip, near House of Blues, Roxy, and Viper Room, and it had a recording studio in the basement.

  Griff smiled. “You remembered. Yup, that’s the place.”

  She placed the call and asked for the room. The phone rang, twelve rings, no answer. She disconnected and stared at Griff. He held a crystal glass of whiskey in one hand, legs stretched out in front of him, mirrored aviator shades on as he gazed out the window. In that moment, he looked every bit the rock star he was, and she hated what he’d become. But she wasn’t in a great position here. She just needed to get back to Dave. What must Dave be thinking right now? She went alone backstage with Griff and still hadn’t come back hours later. He would think the worst. He usually did freak out where she and Griff were concerned.

  “Did you take his cell?” Steph asked.

  Griff frowned. “I’m not a thief. No.”

  “What did you do to him?”

  He took a sip of whiskey, pushed his shades to the top of his head, and regarded her with annoyance. “I called for a car to take him back to the hotel. He’s probably relaxing poolside at the Sunset. Poor guy.”