Play Your Heart Out: A Rock Star Romance (Sinful Serenade Book 4) (20 page)

***

I
t's before dawn on my first day when Pete stops by my room to wish me luck. He climbs into my bed, pulls me into a hug, and presses his lips to my forehead. It occurs to me that we could be sleeping in the same bed then I fall back asleep.

When I wake, he's gone, already off to his corporate gig.

I let myself get caught up in fantasies of a real adult life, here, with Pete, as I get ready and drive to school.

Once I'm on campus, my other thoughts drift away. The day passes in a breeze—two classes, lunch at a place off campus, two more classes, checking out articles in the library, the drive home. I love every second of it, even though it leaves me without a moment to think.

There's a lush bouquet of roses on the kitchen table.

Dinner's in the fridge. I'll call at ten. Check your room. And mine.

I'm proud of you.

- Pete

Sure enough, there's a container of takeout in the fridge. Thai food. Chicken and vegetable curry with brown rice. I heat it up in the microwave and eat in the backyard. It's a new habit of mine—dining poolside, under the moon and stars.

I'm on a cloud as I clean up and make my way upstairs. I'm a law student and Pete bought me flowers and dinner.

And there's a wrapped present on my bed.

I tear open the card.

I'd rather watch these with you but I'll forgive you if you can't wait. I have something special reserved for tomorrow night.

I tear the paper off. It's the four
Hunger Games
movies.

My heart melts.

There's a post it note on the back of one of the movies.

Check my room
.

It takes great effort to push myself off my bed, turn the knob, pull open the door, and step inside Pete's room.

There's a gift bag on his bed. It's crimson red with gold paper. USC colors. It's in my school's colors.

I toss the tissue paper on the ground and reach into the bag. My fingers brush something soft. Fabric. But nothing I normally wear.

It's a lace bra and panty set in a soft shade of pastel pink.

I change and go right to the mirror in my bathroom. Checking myself out in my underwear is not part of my usual routine. But, in this gift from him, I feel beautiful and sexy.

He always makes me feel like I'm the sexiest woman in the universe.

Like I'm light enough to float.

My ringtone bounces off the walls. I practically jump to find my phone. There it is on my desk.
Incoming call from Pete Steele
. Thank God.

I answer and bring the device to my ear. "Hey."

"Hey." His voice is deep and even.

"You bought me all of the
Hunger Games
movies."

"I did."

"I warned you about doing that." I fall back on my bed, my head resting comfortably on a soft pillow. "I'm going to fall in love with you if you keep it up."

"Thought that was talking
Hunger Games
."

"No. Anything
Hunger Games
." I run my fingertips over my comforter. It does nothing to ground me. I'm still floating.

"How was your first day?"

I launch into the longest story in the history of the world. I include every boring detail, from the honey mustard dressing on my salad bar lunch to the last names of my new professors. Pete listens with rapt attention the entire time.

His voice is light. Happy. "Fuck, wish I was there. Bet you're beaming."

"I am. I miss you." That's too much too fast, but it can't bring me down from my cloud. "This would be our life if we really were boyfriend/girlfriend, huh?"

"Close to it."

"How much of the year are you on the road?" I ask.

"About a third. Sometimes more."

"That's not so bad." Not that I'm entertaining a million ideas about being with him forever.

"You change your mind about picking up a bass?"

"No, I just mean, if we—"

"I know."

"Was it hard, with your ex, being away?"

"She went to school in New York. Columbia. Didn't make much of a difference whether I was touring or staying home."

"Oh."

He lowers his voice. "Gotta tell you something before I ask what you're wearing."

My cheeks flush. I like where this is going. "What's that?"

"I had an issue today. Took care of it. But it means you're gonna see something tomorrow that's gonna surprise you."

"You're speaking in riddles."

He chuckles. "Guess I am."

"Is it bad?"

"It's taken care of." He clears his throat. "Want you to know that I wasn't under duress. I weighed my options, thought about the potential consequences, and made my decision."

I'm not coming close to following. "What?"

"It's not a big deal. You'll see tomorrow."

"Promise it's nothing bad and I'll drop it until tomorrow."

"I promise."

"We're not allowed to lie to each other."

"I know."

I trust him. If he says it's okay, I believe him. "Then we can go on to the next part."

"Which part is that?" His voice is light, teasing.

I take a deep breath. I'm sexy, confident, in control. "Phone sex. How does it work?"

He laughs. "I love that." He imitated my confident voice. "We're having phone sex." Then he feigns cluelessness. "How does it work?"

"Enough teasing, Steele. I demand an explanation."

"Way I like to do it, is I describe what I want to do to you while we both get off."

"Yes. Let's do that. How do we start?"

"What
are
you wearing?"

"That lingerie you bought me. It's gorgeous."

He groans.

"You want a picture?"

"No." There's frustration in his voice. When he exhales, it's gone. "It'll be better if I wait till I can see you tomorrow."

I'm not sure I believe him.

"Fuck. I'm already hard thinking about it." His sigh is heavy with desire. "Put the phone on speaker."

Thoughts flee from my brain at an alarming rate. I put the phone on speaker. "Done. What are you wearing?"

"T-shirt and boxers."

Mmm. "What color?"

"Black."

"Damn, I like you in black."

"I know. Take off your bra."

I reach behind my back to unhook the bra and peel if off my shoulders. There's something sexy about stripping for him, even if he can't see me.

"You don't have to try with this, Jess. Just let the words wash over you."

"Okay." I run my fingertips over my stomach. I'm already flushed and wanting, knowing he's waiting to listen to me. "Take off your t-shirt."

There's a sound on his side of the phone. Then his breath is heavy in my ears.

"Gone," he says. "How do you want me?"

For a second, I feel shy. I push it away. "In the bed. With me. On top of me."

"I'm there. I take your hands and bring them to my hips. You can feel my cock over my boxers. I'm that hard just thinking of you. You push the boxers to my knees then wrap your hands around me."

I push my panties to my knees and bring my hand between my legs.

"I've got my lips on your neck. Kiss my way to your tits. Then I'm sucking on your nipple. Biting it. Hard enough you have to scream my name. Take my hand between your legs. You're already wet."

His breath hitches. He's getting close.

It spurs me on. I stroke my clit. Harder. Harder. There. Just enough pressure. I let out a low moan.

"Mmm. Where do you want my cock?"

"Inside me."

"Want to split you wide open."

I groan a yes.

"I pin your knees to the bed. Drive deep inside you. You feel like heaven. Like you were made to take my cock."

My sex clenches. I groan. "I'm gonna come."

"Come on my cock."

There isn't any shyness left. I stroke myself harder and harder, moaning and screaming so loudly that I can't make out any of his words.

Then there are no words. Just his breath and a low, deep groan. He's almost there too.

It's better than words, his groan. It echoes around the room, filling me in a way nothing else can. A few more brushes of my fingers and I'm at the edge. Pleasure spills to my fingers and toes as I come.

I scream his name.

It's not enough. With the way he's groaning, he's close. I want to be there with him.

"Louder," I breathe. "No more words. Just fuck yourself. I want to hear you come."

His groan is deep and animal. It's the most beautiful music I've ever heard.

I wait until his breath is hitching, until I'm sure he's almost there, and I stroke myself again. Within moments, I'm at the edge.

"Jess," he groans.

With my next stroke, I come again. It's more intense. Tighter, heavier, better. He's there too. His voice gets higher. Then he's groaning my name again and again.

Then he's letting out this delicious sigh of satisfaction.

For a few minutes, we listen to each other breathe.

He breaks the silence. "How was that?"

"I like listening to you."

"Me too."

"I like touching you better though." I let out my own sigh of satisfaction. "When do you get back tomorrow?"

"By dinner. Don't start without me." He chuckles. "It's late and it's a school night. You should go to bed."

"I'm in a bed."

"Go to sleep."

"Okay. I... I miss you."

"I miss you too."

––––––––

F
riday is another blur of class and sunshine. I already love law school. Even if I have a mountain of work to finish this weekend.

The house is still quiet when I arrive. I go to check my phone for word from Pete but something else catches my attention.

A text from my old friend back home. The only person I can still stand.

Kathryn: Isn't this your boyfriend?

There's a shortened link attached. I open it without asking for clarification.

It's a gossip site with the headline:
Not So Leaked Nude Photos of Bassist Pete Steele.

I clean my glasses and read again. The headline remains the same.

What?

I try to skim the text of the article but my brain refuses to cooperate. Not so leaked nude photos. What does that mean?

I have to see them.

Now.

There's one at the bottom of the page. It's not a cell phone picture. It's a real portrait, artsy, black and white, and hot as hell. Tragically, it's chest up.

But it's still fucking sexy.

There's a link to more of these. On some photographer's website. Hazel Alexander.

Well, if it's not leaked, there's no reason for me not to look.

I click away. There are a solid two dozen pictures. The first few are chest up. Then they go lower. Lower. Lower.

Holy shit.

That's Pete, standing there, totally naked and totally yummy.

I spend far too long studying the photographs. By the time I put my phone down, I'm completely desperate to have him.

These are there, on the internet, for anyone to see.

I'm sure gossip sites, Twitter, and Facebook are ablaze with commentary. Thankfully, I gave up all of them when my friends starting reaching out with
wow, you know a famous person
messages.

What was it he said—he made a decision knowing the consequences? I get lost trying to figure out what that means. I'm so deep in thought I don't notice the door open until he's three feet away.

His eyes fix on mine. "Take it you saw the pictures?"

I nod and push myself to my feet. "What was that?"

"Explain in a minute. Come here first." He slides his arms around my waist and pulls me into a slow, deep kiss.

Mmm. He tastes good. His body feels right against mine. I don't want him to explain. I don't want to talk at all.

When our kiss breaks, he stares into my eyes.

Okay. This seems important.

"Need you tomorrow," he says. "Meeting with the label. Everybody wants you there."

"Really?"

"Yeah."

"Why are you meeting on a Saturday?"

"Has to be right away. The usual ego BS." He runs his fingertips over my chin. "But it's handled. Aiden isn't gonna bother you."

I nod to my cell—it's still displaying one of the pictures of him. "The explanation."

"Had an offer from an old friend I had to take up. Hazel's our photographer on tour. She was in Chicago."

"She offered to take nude photos of you?"

He nods, but there's guilt in his expression. He's hiding something.

"We promised honesty," I say.

"Yeah." He runs his hand through his hair. "Sit down."

"What happened?"

"Sit." His eyes cloud with frustration.

This is serious. I sit.

He kneels in front of me and takes my hand. His eyes find mine. "Somebody leaked a topless picture of you."

"Oh." No... it's not as devastating as it used to be, getting caught naked on the internet. But it could tear my career chances in half. Lawyers are still held to certain standards of behavior.

Who would do that to me?

My stomach is in knots. I sent Nathan pictures a few times. And there might be some left in one of the accounts Madison has access to. I know my trust meant nothing to them, but this is a new low.

This is my future. Someone is trying to destroy it. Or they're willing to trade it for a quick buck.

"Hey. It's gonna be okay." He runs his hand through my hair. "I know it's scary, but Tom's got his eye out. Anything else comes up, we'll convince the site to change their story."

"But... this could destroy my career before it starts."

"I know." He pulls me into a tight hug. "I won't let it."

"What if you can't stop it?"

"I'll die trying."

"But what if you don't catch it in time?"

He meets my gaze. "There a lot of pics of you floating around?"

"No. Three or four maybe."

"Same person has them?"

"Yeah."

"Then they probably sold them all in one go. If something does get through, I'll do everything it takes to shut the site down."

"But... who would do this to me?"

"Your ex had the pictures?"

I nod. "I didn't think he'd... did he really think that little of me?"