Contracted For Love: Famous Love Series (15 page)

“I decided to come right after the concert. I didn’t want to call and wake you up.”

“Well, you fucked that up. I’m bloody wide-awake, now. I may never sleep soundly again.” As her heart rate returned to normal, her curiosity got the better of her. “What are you doing here? What happened to the tour?”

“The tour may or may not go ahead, depending on how this conversation goes.” He dropped his bag in the doorway and grabbed her wrist.

“What are you doing? Let me go, Jack.”

“No. Shut up and listen to me.” He pushed her toward the bed, “Sit.” She ignored him until he crossed his arms and glared at her. She finally relaxed onto the bed, ready to jump up at any moment.

“Thank you. Now, time for a serious talk. If you don’t come with me in the morning, I’m cancelling the tour.”

She glared up at him. “So cancel. I don’t care.”

He was shocked at her answer and missed a beat before he answered. “That’s not what I wanted you to say.”

“You shouldn’t have fucked Cindy, then,” she said sweetly.

He let out a growl and swore under his breath. “For the millionth time, I have not slept with Cindy! The big week caught up with me and I went straight to bed after the show. She had my phone, unbeknownst to me. I can just imagine what other messages she didn’t pass on.” He sat next to her on the bed and she moved away slightly. “Anyway, forget Cindy. I’ve been waiting for you to arrive, like I told you. I was looking forward to it. I’d much rather be sightseeing during the day with you than partying all night with the boys.”

“And the whores—don’t forget about partying with the whores.”

“You saw all the photos?”

“Hundreds of them. Someone dropped a newspaper under my door with the first couple, and then I made the mistake of breaking my own rule and doing an internet search.”

“See, this is what I told you would happen. Keeping a firm grip on your privacy is the only way.”

“You fascinate me with how you think this is not your fault.” He looked at her and she could see he didn’t understand what she meant. “I said go out and be yourself, Jack. That means doing the things you’d normally do and not worrying about anyone watching you. I didn’t say to go to strip clubs, hit on girls, drink yourself silly, and expect that no one would notice. Those are totally different situations. If you behave badly, the whole world will want to see. When you said you couldn’t reverse any changes you made in your behaviour, I argued with you, but now I see what you meant. The bullshit photos will never go away, Jack, and you let this happen.”

“I know. I regret it.”

Charlotte got up from the bed and paced the room. “You’re not going to like what I have to say,” she paused. “Those photos are exactly what you need, if you’re going to be taken seriously as a rock god.” His mouth fell open as she made that announcement. “It’s the fastest way to make your mark. The question is whether that’s really what you want. I don’t think it’s you.”

“What do you mean? I’m not cut out for rock and roll?”

“Of course you are. What I mean is you’re not a womaniser, Jack. You don’t treat women the way that Reid treats them, but you’re pretending you are that person and trying to hide the good man underneath for the sake of fame and money. Sometimes, I wonder what’s more fake: your public persona or our marriage? Can I please go back to bed, now?”

He grimaced as he glanced at the clock. “Sure. We can talk more in the morning.” Jack flicked the overhead light off, and before her eyes had gotten used to the dark, he’d switched on his bedside lamp.

To her surprise, he stripped down to his boxer shorts. Once he climbed into bed, he looked up at her and indicated she should get in too. She was wearing his shirt, so it wasn’t too dangerous. He put his arm out as he normally did, and she slid into the space that seemed to have been made just for her. He pulled her close and kissed her hair.

“Please tell me tomorrow that you’ll come with me,” he whispered before they both settled down to sleep. It should have been awkward after their fight, but Charlotte found herself nodding off immediately.

She awoke early and lay cradled in his arm while she thought about their conversation last night. Once again, he’d told her that no one out there in crazy-tour-land meant anything to him. Why did it always feel like that wasn’t quite accurate, though? Why did she even care? Maybe she should just relax the no sex clause, so she could stop worrying about it.

“What are you thinking about?” his voice carried through her body.

“I’m thinking maybe you need a mistress.”

“What?” his voice was loud and surprised as he pulled away to look at her.

“Maybe we need to relax the sex clause.”

“Who do you want to have sex with?”

“Not me. My pictures aren’t all over the papers with a bunch of strippers.”

“Point taken. I don’t need the clause relaxed, though. I already told you.”

“I don’t think you’re going to make it three years.”

“Can we not talk about my sex life, please?”

“We seem to be doing nothing but that, lately. A conversation now, instead of the next time I find Cindy wrapped around you, might be wise.”

“That’s not going to happen. Anyway,” he pulled away to look at her, rolling on to his side so she had to look at him, “I want you to come on the rest of the tour with me.”

“I don’t want to. I hate Cindy, and I don’t see how she can do her job while I’m hanging around, shooting her the evil eye.”

“Fuck that. Cindy has worked in worse circumstances. After her and Reid stopped sleeping together, he went out with one of the roadies. They fought every day for weeks and she did her job just fine.”

“You have some weird ideas about the world.” She said, as she pulled away and rolled onto her back. “Why would anyone want to put themselves through that? No wonder she thinks she can do no wrong: you idiots put up with her, no matter who else is around.”

“Hey, don’t turn away.” Jack rolled her to face him again.” Say you’ll come. I promise I won’t have a single night out.”

“Did you marry me so quickly so I could be your babysitter? That’s what this smacks of.”

“No, I didn’t. I married you because we agreed to marry. Now we are both sticking to the contract, as agreed.”

She pushed his hands off and got out of bed as he watched her drag her clothes from the floor and throw them on. “I should have put in the contract that you couldn’t be a dick.”

Jack smiled up at her as he sensed victory. “Hindsight is a wonderful thing.”

Charlotte joined him on the tour the next day, much to Cindy’s obvious disgust. She had three weeks until her scheduled few days of filming began in New York. It was another small part in an art house film that might never see the light of day, but she didn’t care; she loved her character, and the film technique was cutting-edge. With so many reasons to take the part, she happily added her signature to the contract. Jay was happy with her progress and kept thanking her for taking his advice and getting married.

What she hadn’t had time to tell Jack was that she’d auditioned in LA for the lead role in a historical romance. She had no idea if she was right for the part, but if she could just snag that one, it would mean she’d have several films released next year. A bulk of work coming out one after the other was a guarantee that she’d finally get a solid foot in the door to a sustainable acting career. Charlotte crossed her fingers every night before she went to sleep and imagined all of it coming together.

The tour was exciting, and she went anywhere Jack requested. They did radio interviews with the rest of the band, as well as a few publicity spots for her upcoming movie. Several times, she was recognised on the street, and she tried not to worry that it was only because of the Paris photos and the wild nights Jack had spent in Denver.

Soon it will be because of my work.

They rode to each new city in the tour bus as they tried to ignore the sounds of Reid and his latest conquest down the hall. They discussed buying ear plugs each night as they snuggled into bed together, and she marvelled at how they’d taken to sleeping wrapped around each other, like an old, married couple who were no longer interested in having sex—except they’d skipped that vital part, somehow.

They explored each new city the band played and Charlotte gradually checked off each state as they visited. She was so excited to see all the things that Jack took for granted, and he soaked in her enthusiasm for even the most mundane of attractions. Several times, she made Jake, their driver, stop so she could take a photo of a roadside attraction. Snaps of the Big Pistachio and Fred Flintstone’s car filled her phone camera and gave her fun things to post on her Facebook page. She caught up on some long-overdue chats with Nikki over FaceTime and loved every moment of her time on tour.

Cindy mostly stayed out of her way, until the day Jay suggested they use her services to promote Charlotte’s image.

“There is no fucking way she’s working for me, Jay. Don’t mention it again.”

“Charlotte, it’s perfect. You’re travelling together, so you could work out your strategy whenever you have down time from the band. PR takes a lot of work, and this could be the perfect solution for you.”

“Did you not hear me?” she demanded as he sat across from her at the hotel dining table. “Cindy will not ever work for me. I trust your judgement, Jay. Hell, I married Jack, didn’t I? Don’t push the Cindy idea, though, because it is never going to happen. Not while I’m alive.”

“Ah… not a fan? Okay, I’ll find someone else.”

“Do that.”

The next morning, Cindy bailed her up at the hotel buffet. “What the fuck have you been saying about me?”

“Me? Nothing, Cindy, why? Does someone think you’re a little loose with your favours? Maybe ask Jack—he’d know more about that than me.” She moved past her to take a plate, but Cindy grabbed her arm.

“You said something to Jay Stevens. I was lined up for some big-time contract and he called today and said it’s not going ahead. I know he’s your agent and that he was here yesterday, so what did you say?” She raised her voice on the last few words, but before Charlotte could reply, Reid appeared between them.

“Chill, ladies. Not at the breakfast buffet, okay? Take this fight upstairs, if you want to tear each other’s hair out. Of course, I reserve the right to watch.” He smiled at them both and put a calming hand on Cindy’s arm. Charlotte looked at that hand and almost lost her cool. Why was everyone always looking after Cindy?

“Unlike you, I have no desire to work up a sweat over Cindy,” she said to Reid. She turned to the woman, “Listen, you silly bitch. Does your small brain not tell you that the big-time contract you’re referring to was me? Jay approached me about working with you and I told him no. I didn’t tell him why, just that it would not work anytime in the future.” She paused to let her words sink in. “As if you’d want to work for me, anyway, you moron.” Charlotte walked away to her table without filling her plate, just as Jack appeared from their room. Having missed all the excitement, he looked unsure of what to do when she flung her cutlery down and stormed off to the bathroom. When she returned, Cindy and Reid had left the dining area, and Jack was sitting alone, eating his bacon and eggs.

“Everything alright?”

“Yep, if you consider having to talk to Cindy before breakfast a bonus, which I don’t.”

“What did she do, now? Do I need to talk to her?”

“No, just leave it. Anything interesting in the paper today?”

“Justin Bieber has been walking around naked in his backyard and of course there are photos. Apparently the boy is quite well endowed.”

“He’s not a boy. He’s 21 years old.”

“Well. Let’s hope he’s stopped growing then,” he chuckled at his own joke. “I should have given him my privacy speech when I first met him.” He smiled at her and changed the subject, “What time do you fly out?”

“Just after lunch.”

“More importantly, when are you coming back?”

Charlotte smiled at his question. If she didn’t know better, she’d think he was coming to rely on her being around to make his life fun. “I’ll be away for three days and then back for the final days of the tour.”

“Great, so you’ll be here for the final night.” He looked down at his paper, seeming satisfied. “Good,” he said to himself.

“I’ll get a taxi to the airport after breakfast.”

“I’m free—I’ll come with you.”

“To the airport?”

“Sure.”

“Okay. If you have nothing better to do.”

“Even if I did, I’d still take you.” Jack smiled at her and she tried to ignore the faint flutter in her chest.

New York was everything Charlotte had hoped for and more. The shoot went well and she was on a plane three days later, just like she’d promised Jack. He’d called her every night to make sure filming was on track, and he’d seemed anxious for her to return. Maybe he remembered the debacle last time she’d gone away while he was on tour.

The only downside was that she’d had no one to explore New York with. She’d become used to venturing out with him, and without him there, it seemed like she should wait until they were here together to see the sights. She walked around Times Square one night and took herself to the movies on the second, but mostly she stayed in the hotel.

After the movies, she’d called Jack, and their phone conversation had taken an interesting turn. She was lying down, laughing at something he’d said, when he suddenly fell silent. Charlotte nearly fell out of bed when Jack finally told her what he was thinking.

“I have an idea. You may be disgusted by it.”

“Spit it out. It can’t rival how disgusted I was at the thought of you and Cindy together. You deserve better.”

“I agree. So, how about we consider upping the stakes of our contract?”

She was silent as she screwed up her face. He couldn’t mean what she thought he meant, could he? “How?

“Well, we’re legally married and we’ll be together for three years, if we can make it to the end of the contract. The media appear to love our union. What if we agreed to have a baby?”

The silence on the line was deafening, and Charlotte could just imagine what her face looked like as she pondered this turn of events. “Char, are you still there?”

“I’m here. I’m just in shock.”

“You don’t have to answer now.” He sounded embarrassed. “Just think about it and we’ll discuss it when you get home.”

“Um. I don’t think there’s anything to discuss. Do you know what you’re asking?”

“I do. It’s a big step. Let’s talk about it once we’re together.”

“Okay. I have to go.”

Several seconds of silence followed before the line disconnected. Charlotte wasn’t sure she’d heard him right, over the clanging of her heartbeat.

He wants to have sex with me?

She couldn’t even begin to work out how she felt about his proposal. Her immediate reaction was to say no, and punch him hard in the face. Still, she considered whether she could give herself to him without a commitment of love. She guessed it would be just like a one night stand, except she had no experience with those. Sex without love had never appealed to her. Putting it completely out of her mind, Charlotte decided to worry about it when she got home. It would be much easier to tell him no when they could have a face-to-face discussion. A baby for the sake of their careers was a ridiculous step, and she already knew she wasn’t prepared to go that far.

Sex with him isn’t out of the question, though.

***

The closing days of the tour were in Vegas, and she caught a flight directly there the next night. Jack thought she’d be home in the morning, but she’d managed to grab an earlier flight and would be able to make the concert, if there were no traffic delays. She loved to watch him when he didn’t know she was in the audience; he was so intense and so foreign from the Jack she knew when he was at home. Charlotte couldn’t tear her eyes away from him whenever he was on stage, and tonight was no exception.

The thought that they might soon do more than snuggle together between the sheets had her heart pounding throughout the entire show.

***

Charlotte skipped up the three steps of the tour bus and stuck her head around the corner. Rob, the tour manager, looked up from his phone, “Hi, Charlotte, what’s up?” He looked down at the screen, avoiding her eyes. She stood and watched him as sweat broke out on his top lip and he flushed a deep red.

Interesting. He’s normally chatty.

“I’m looking for Jack. He wasn’t in his dressing room, so I wondered if he’d already come out here to the bus.”

“Wouldn’t he normally wait for you?” He didn’t look up.

“Yes, but I’m home a day early and he didn’t know to wait for me, which is why I’m a little concerned. I waited there for ages, but there’s no sign of him. Reid and the others have gone to the bar, but he’s not with them. I don’t think he would have just gone home, would he? He would have gotten you guys to drop him there with all his stuff.”

“Oh.” That was it; she got nothing else from him. She was trying to decide whether to return to the venue or stay in the bus when she heard a giggle from somewhere in the back. Rob snapped his head up at her and she suddenly knew exactly why he’d been blushing.

He knew where Jack was.

She made a move toward Jack’s bedroom and Rob jumped up and stepped in front of her. “Get out of my fucking way, Rob,” she ground out between gritted teeth.

“Please, Charlotte, don’t. Just come back later. Pretend you were never here.”

“Not a fucking chance in hell.” She pushed his chest, but he stayed firmly in place. Slowly losing her cool, but not wanting to make too much noise and break up whatever was happening in Jack’s room, she growled at him, “Move!”

He sighed and she shoved him aside as she headed for the door. Her face was flushed and her heart was pounding. As her hand moved to the door handle, she noted with fascination that her hands shook. She wanted to vomit; she was certain of what was behind this closed door, but she couldn’t turn away. Charlotte opened it quietly and her worst fears were confirmed.

Jack was lying on the bed and Cindy was minus her clothing, yet again. She was unbuttoning Jack’s pants while he laughed and playfully swatted her hands away. “Come on, Jack. Enough of this playing around. Let’s get down to it.”

“Cindy, we’ve been through this.”

“Come
on
.” She said with force as she ran her hands down his thighs. “Feel how hard you are for me, Jack. I want to taste you—I want you inside me. How can you deny that you want me when you’re sporting this?” With that, she pulled his pants down and let his impressive manhood out into the light. It was, indeed, rock-hard and standing to attention for her.

“That’s a physical reaction to boobs, Cindy—not a reaction to you. Come on, get out.”

She ignored him, captured both his hands, and pinned them by his side. After sliding herself down, she pressed her mouth against the end of his hardness. She gave him a little lick and he groaned as he asked her to leave again.

“You don’t want me to leave, Jack,” she said between kisses that elicited more groans. “You want me to love you. I want to love you, baby. Let me make you come. We have ages before Charlotte comes back from New York; I can do you five times before then.”

“Really?” Charlotte said from the doorway.

“Shit, Char!” Jack yelled as his eyes shot open and he pushed Cindy away. She fell heavily off the bed, and her screech of annoyance was so loud that the roadies packing up inside the building could probably hear her. He struggled to do up his pants and slide to the end of the bed.

“Don’t let me stop you two. I just came to let you know that you’re free now, Jack. I reject your suggestion from last night. Cindy, you can jump back on, honey.” With that, she turned and fled the room, fighting the tears she was sure were about to explode in a gushing torrent.

She got all the way down the steps, after giving an apologetic Rob the middle finger on the way past, before a bare-chested Jack grabbed her by the arm and spun her around. “Char, don’t go. It wasn’t what it looked like.”

“Oh, for fuck’s sake, Jack. How many fucking times are we going to have this conversation? You told her to leave, but you didn’t
make
her. I was standing there for a while; your eyes were closed and you weren’t far from giving in.” She shoved him in the chest. “So just give in. Stop pretending to be someone you’re not. How can you fucking live your life like this? Stop being a fucking child star and be a fucking
man
. I’m done.”

“What do you mean?” He followed her as she headed for the carpark. “What does that mean?”

“I mean I’m fucking done with you, with the contract, and with everything to do with this insane lifestyle. I’ve been tagging along after you for weeks now, and I’m fucking sick of it. This is total bullshit; everyone is kissing up to you and you’re lapping up every second of it. Go fuck that whore. Fuck a man, for all I care.” She spun around to face him. “Just decide what you want and get it for yourself!” She poked him hard in the chest. “No more worrying about what everyone thinks and doing things only to further your career. No more fucking
drama
.” She put her hand out to hail a cab, and then she turned her glare on Jack. “I’m taking my own advice, too: I want out of this whole charade. We should never have done this. You said you’d pay for the divorce, so expect the papers.”

Jack’s eyes showed his panic as he grabbed her arm and tried to pull her toward him. She peeled his fingers from her arm and pushed him away. “Don’t.”

“Please, Char. This is not what I want. I want us to stay married.”

“Why the fuck would you want that? You can’t have sex.
I
can’t even have sex. What were we thinking when we agreed to abstain for three fucking years, Jack?”

“I can go that long. Please, don’t leave me.”

“I’m not just leaving you, dickhead—I’m running as far and as fast as I can. Don’t expect a postcard.” The cab arrived and she dove into the back seat as Jack tried to get in with her. “Get away! I don’t ever want to see you again.” She pulled the door closed and directed the driver to his house. She had to get the hell out of there.

***

As Charlotte was throwing her belongings into her suitcase, Reid appeared at their bedroom door. “How the fuck did you get in here?”

“Mrs. Jones let me in, but Jack sent me. Why are you packing?”

“I’m packing because I’m taking a trip—a long, long trip.”

“So it’s true: you’re leaving?”

“I am. Go home, Reid, I’m not changing my mind.”

He held up his hands in front of him. “I didn’t come here to change your mind. Jack wanted to make sure you were okay, and he knew you wouldn’t talk to him.”

“What a fucking genius he is.”

“He doesn’t want you to go.”

“He should have considered that before he let Cindy suck his dick.”

Reid laughed and then put his hand over his mouth when she glared at him. “Sorry. She’s always trying to get him into bed. It’s nothing new; you shouldn’t let that drive you away.”

“This is not the first time I’ve caught them together, and you know it. He had his eyes closed, Reid, and he didn’t push her away. Anyway, it’s not the only reason. I can’t discuss the other details with you.”

“Is this about the fake marriage?”

Her hands stilled as she was pulling the zipper closed on her suitcase. She looked at him as her mouth fell open. “What did you say?”

“The fake marriage,” he sat on the bed. “Jack told me some of how it works. The no sex clause has got to be a killer for him.” He looked up at Charlotte and his eyes were bright. “Maybe for you, too. I could help you take care of that, and you could stay?” he phrased it like a question—like an offer.

She let out a hysterical laugh and quickly clamped down on it. If she let out too much, she worried she’d curl up in a ball and never stop crying and laughing. “He told you?” she whispered as she sank onto the bed beside him.

“He did. A few weeks ago, when I asked why he didn’t just bone Cindy and get it out of the way.”

“Why would you encourage him to do that? We’re married, as far as you’re concerned!”

“So? People in this industry fuck around all the time, Charlotte.”

“Wow, Reid. You’re a real piece of work. I was beginning to think you were just misunderstood, but you really are an asshole.”

“Thanks,” he said cheerily. “So, are you staying?”

“No. I can’t stay when he obviously needs more than I can give. It was a big mistake for us to get married. I tried to kid myself that we’d play house and further our careers. We’ve done the second part, but I can’t do the first, anymore. He’ll just have to wear the fallout.”

“Are you in love with him?”

“What? Of course not! Why would you ask me that?”

“You react mighty badly to the Cindy situation for someone with no emotional ties.” He mused to himself, “Maybe you don’t even know it, yet.”

“I’m not in love with him. I’ve enjoyed our time together and I thought we were friends. I would have expected him to talk to me about it, if he had issues. Now, you need to leave. I have a plane to catch.”

He stood up and lifted her from the bed with his hands lightly on her hips. She had to admit that Reid Rogers had a certain presence about him, and even while she was furious with Jack, standing so close to Reid threatened to make her breathless. “Please don’t go—he needs you. I’ve never seen him the way he’s been these last weeks. You guys are great together.”