Very Twisted Things (Briarcrest Academy #3) (13 page)

“You have
nothing
to apologize for. Harry—”

“Don’t,” I said. “What you saw out there, I’ve done numerous times. It’s part of the reason I don’t play in public.” I rubbed my face.

“I get that.” He sat next to me and hugged me tight as if he did it everyday. I didn’t protest. He idly doodled on my arm. “What’s the other reason you don’t play anymore?”

I sighed. “After my parents—it’s hard to be the person I used to be.”

He gave me a squeeze. “Want to know what happened to me once on stage?”

I gave him a small smile. “I can’t see you ever doing anything embarrassing.”

He shrugged. “Ha, well, one night we were playing a show in New Orleans at the House of Blues—the biggest one we’d had at that point. I was only twenty and a nervous wreck, so I sucked down some vodka before the show. Then, right in the middle of a song, my drunk ass tripped over some wires on stage and I fell flat on my face. The whole place died laughing.” He chuckled. “Busted my lip, chipped a tooth,
and
broke my nose.” He pointed to his front tooth where I saw a minuscule line. “Had to get a veneer put on.”

I sighed at the image of him on stage. Chipped tooth or not, he’d be beautiful. “My freak-out didn’t freak you out?”

He shook his head. “Not at all. Made me want to jump across that table and smack Harry for getting you upset.” He searched my eyes. “And, I’m sorry to hear what happened to you. I lost my parents too, so I understand how grief changes a person. I was just a kid when it happened, but the pain that comes with loss doesn’t have an expiration date.”

His words moved me, but I didn’t want to go there. It hurt too much.

I flicked my eyes back up at his face, taking in the softened jawline, the careful way he touched my hand. I snuggled into his side. “You smell amazing,” I murmured.

“Yeah, well, you’re trying to change the subject, but I’ll go with it—because you may not know this, but I love to talk about myself.”

“You’re a cocky bastard,” I said on a laugh.

He inclined his head. “Thank you.”

I grinned. “And, I see what you’re doing … making me laugh when I really just want to hide and never have to face those people again. I’m probably fired, too.” I looked down at our now intertwined hands.

“Meh, this place sucks anyway. Plus, I didn’t like how your boss looked at you. I say you let me find you a real gig somewhere.”

“Really?”

He nodded and we were quiet for a moment until, “So, how
do
I smell?” he asked.

The words tumbled out. “Like the brine from the ocean just as the sun is coming up. Like the softest, most expensive man’s shirt I’ve ever touched. Like the most delicious piece of chocolate I’ve ever had on my tongue—” I stopped short and buried my face in his shoulder. “Gah, I went too far, didn’t I?”

He tipped my chin up. “You sound like you’ve put some thought into it.”

“Maybe.”

“So you think about me?” he asked.

I nodded. “Mostly at night when I play … and then later when I go to bed. I see your face, and it helps me sleep.”

He pushed a stray hair out of my face, his fingers tracing the curve of my cheek. “You’re different, V, not like anyone else I’ve ever met.” His voice was husky.

“Different like I might need to check myself into a sanitarium? Different like I might need to use stronger deodorant?”

His gaze captured mine. “Different like I’ve never met anyone with eyes the color of lavender. Different like hearing you play,
then
seeing you nude was the highlight of my year.” He stroked my lips with his fingers. “Different like your mouth is the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen.”

“What about Blair? She isn’t your girlfriend?”

He paused, a struggle on his face until he seemed to come to a decision. He exhaled heavily. “It’s just pretend for the media so I can get more clout in Hollywood, specifically a Hing move.”

“Oh.” That was a surprise. “So you
don’t
want her?”

“You’re the one I want, V. I want to take you to the fucking stars with my mouth. I want to make you come so hard you can’t even think of me without wanting my hands on you …”

I moaned. He’d escalated fast.

“Exactly,” he whispered as his lips took mine. His hands held my face, his fingers splayed out against my cheeks as he explored my mouth with a gentleness that broke me.

But I wanted more. Heat. Sharpness. Roughness.

“Harder,” I managed to say when our lips separated.

His chest rose as he stared at me intently. “I didn’t bring you back here for this, but if we start, I can’t promise I’ll stop this time.”

“I didn’t ask you to stop.”

He growled and came back at me. Desperate. Clutching his hair, I gave it back to him tenfold. Our lips were wild, greedy, hands and mouths and teeth demanding payment from the other, as if we’d waited an eternity to find each other.

This is what I’d craved since the moment I’d played for him.

“Can I touch you?” he breathed, his eyes heavy-lidded, imploring me to say yes.

I nodded and unbuttoned my dress until it slipped down my shoulders and drifted to my waist.

“V, you’re too much,” he hissed and tugged my demi-bra down until my breasts spilled out. He traced light circles around my areolas, making me crazy until finally he fingered my nipples and twisted.

I gasped. “Just like that,” I whispered. “Again.”

His mouth captured my breast, his tongue lashing at my tender skin, teasing me with flicks and pulls. His teeth nibbled at me, and I arched my back. Closer.
Yes, yes, yes
. I bit his neck, and he dug his fingers into my waist and groaned.

“Yes,” I breathed as he shoved my dress down further, his fingers teasing the waistband of my panties.

He pressed his forehead to mine and stared into my eyes. “I’ve been dreaming of this since you played that first night. I’ve wanted my cock inside you while you played … you on my lap, my hands on your ass, your tits in my face … damn, it sounds weird when I say it out loud.”

Desire knifed through me. “I like it,” I breathed. “Say it again.”

“Straddle me first,” he said.

I did and he shuddered as I ground myself against his hardness.

He tossed his head back. “V, don’t ever stop what you’re doing.”

I didn’t plan on it. My dampened panties slid over his jeans as he massaged my breasts, his fingers plucking my nipples, stretching them out. I arched my back, my body burning to have him inside me.
Yes.

He tore out of his jacket like a madman, and I helped yank his shirt off, until finally our flesh met skin to skin. His muscled pecs quivered as he clutched my back and held me, his breath coming in gasps.

“You’re shaking,” I murmured.

“I’m fucking dizzy over you, V.” The words came out haltingly as if he didn’t understand it.

“Me, too.” I unzipped his pants, eased my hand inside and stroked him. Full disclosure: his cock was a monster, at least eight inches and as wide as my wrist.

“Scared?” he teased as I paused to take him in.

I licked my lips. Maybe a little. I didn’t know if he’d fit.

“I’ll go slow,” he promised huskily, cupping my face.

Tapping noises seeped into my consciousness, voices invading our sanctuary.

“Fuck!”
Sebastian said on a groan as someone called his name and then mine.

Then a softer voice whined. Bubbles.

“V, we have to stop,” he said, his voice laced with heavy disappointment. He pressed his lips against my neck, bit me gently and then kissed the spot. “Spider’s liable to burst in on us.”

“Tell them to go away. I want to put my mouth on you first.” I stroked him, my fingertips ghosting over the head and twirling, rubbing the wetness from him down his length.

“V,” he ground out, swiveling his hips closer to me as I used both hands to pump him.

More knocks. More yelling from Blair.

“Dammit!”
He stilled my hands. “Look, we have to stop, okay? Not only are they waiting, but this is your boss’s office.”

Reality hit.
Fine
. I rubbed my face and pushed down my need for him. Why did I always do the wrong thing when it came to him? First, I’d kissed him, and now I’d practically begged him to fuck me. I sat back. I needed to breathe.

He kissed me gently and stood to tuck his shirt in. “Plus, I need to check on Blair. We’re supposed to go to a club tonight for pics.” He touched my face. “You wanna come too? Maybe we can sneak—”

“What? Sneak in another office? A bathroom?” I stood as well. Nope. This was all wrong.

“Okay, if that’s out, then let’s meet back at my place later, then. What do you say?” He cupped my shoulder and tried to pull me to him, but I resisted.

I pulled out of his touch and adjusted my bra, refusing to meet his eyes.

How could he be so cool now?

“I don’t think so.”

He stiffened at my sharp tone. “Hey, don’t be mad at me. I was up front with you about her.”

The old me reared up. She’d been doing it more and more lately, and I was glad to see her. “Yeah? Well, let me be upfront. I don’t play second violin. I play first. Always.”

He groaned. Exasperated. “Listen to me. I want you in my bed. I’m done trying to stay away from you, V, but we have to make sure the press doesn’t know. It would look bad if I was caught ‘cheating’ on her.” He stroked my face, his hands trailing down to my breasts where he thumbed my nipples.

My heart dipped. “Wait. So this is just about sex
and
you want to keep it a secret?”

He shrugged, a wary look growing on his face. “Don’t you? You don’t seem like the type to like the kind of attention I garner.”

“I won’t share you with Blair, even if it is pretend.” I inhaled a sharp breath. “I’ve been running from relationships for two years, Sebastian, and I’m ready to stop. I didn’t even realize it until now but—I want something more. I’m ready.”

He stiffened and took a step back from me. “Don’t make me choose between you and her, because she’s my career.”

“You don’t need her to make it big, Sebastian. Make other movies.”

“This one will make me a star.” He paced around the room. “My brother gave up his music for me. He quit his band and raised me, and I—I want to make him proud, V. I don’t expect you to get it. Apparently, you’re an heiress.”

I threw up my hands. “You live in the Hollywood Hills. Isn’t that making it?”

“I want more, V. I always have. Maybe it’s because I started with nothing.” He rubbed a hand through his hair, straightening it where I’d mussed it.

“Are you sleeping with her?”

He crossed his arms. “This feels like an interrogation. You don’t own me, V.”

He didn’t answer me. Which meant
yes
.

I wiped at my lips. Trying to scrub him off me.

His chest heaved, an uncertain expression on his face. “Look, I don’t want to fight with you. I just want to have fun.”

He wanted to get laid.

I gave him nothing but silence as I buttoned my dress.

He sighed. “I’m trying to give you honesty here.”

“Well, it hurts,” I whispered.

A mask fell over his face, distance building in his eyes as he stared at me. Regret and perhaps even sadness flashed over his face. “Shit. I never want to be part of your pain, V.”

More knocks. More whining. This time I twirled around and opened the door.

Spider bounded in with Mila and Blair right behind him.

“Cover your eyes, girls, they’re naked,” he exclaimed and then laughed at our expressions. “What’s up with the weird faces? Wait, were you two shagging? For reals?”

“No,” we both snapped.

Sebastian slipped on his jacket and nodded his head toward the door. All businesslike. “What did we miss out there?”

Spider smirked. “Ah. You missed dessert and Blair’s scintillating conversation; Harry had to leave, it’s past his old-man bedtime; and most everyone in the room took pics of you carrying V around like some kind of modern day Rhett Butler. I predict a full-color spread in the
Hollywood Insider
tomorrow.”

Sebastian groaned.

“You and I had a deal, and you’re ruining it with this girl,” Blair bit out. “No one crosses me, Sebastian.”

“Chill out with the drama. I had a panic attack, and he was helping me,” I said to her. “That was it.”

She gaped at me like I was an idiot. “Reporters spin what they want, and him leaving me for some upstart is huge. Hello, Brad and Jennifer? Demi and Ashton?”

Please
. No way was she that big.

Spider swatted her on the butt. “Come on, Blondie, I’m sure there will be more pic opportunities for you and Sebastian later. Let’s get you to the club where you can shake that arse.”

She sent Spider a cutting look and took Sebastian’s arm. “You ready? I’m sick of this place and your friends.”

Sebastian exhaled heavily, his eyes on me. Of course, he’d chosen her—we barely knew each other.

He looked at Mila. “You mind making sure V gets home?”

“I drove here. I can drive home,” I snapped.

He tried to argue, but I ignored him until he gave up.

They walked out the door. Beautiful stars going out to follow their dreams.

Once, I’d been a star, too, with my music, but I’d allowed the darkness to swallow me up.

Phil swept into the room and tossed my violin case at my feet. “You’re fired,” he snarled and showed me the door.

I gasped and ran to the case and opened it, running my hands over the strings, checking for injury. I let out a sigh. Thankfully, everything seemed fine.

My heart was another story.