CRASH & BURN (Rule Breaker) (14 page)

Jon stared across the back seat into aquamarine pools and wondered when he had become so cynical. “This is a business, sometimes a not-very-nice business, and you’re treating it as though it were a friendship. Totally different equations. I’m concerned about your inability to make hard decisions. It could damage Orion as an up-and-coming band.”

Potential or not, he’d seen stable bands blow their chance without the powder keg Orion sat on in Christy’s out-of-control partying. At times like this, he wished the power he wielded came with a crystal ball…hell, a
Magic 8 Ball
would be a step up at this point.

“Look, I appreciate everything you’re trying to do. Just because you and I don’t seem to have any self-control together doesn’t mean I’m an idiot. What would it be like if I judged you based on how easily you whip out your…ever-ready dick?”

“Do you think you can go around saying those things? At times, your mouth is a deadly weapon.”

“Calm down. It’s just us. Remember? You were the one who said I could scream as loud as I wanted back here and your driver wouldn’t hear a thing.”

That reminder wasn’t helping him calm down. If anything, the memory of sliding in between Alana’s legs two nights ago along this back seat had him tongue-tied.

“Thanks for the recap.” His eyes shot to her lap. She opened her legs, scooting on her hip, and giving him a view of the top of her thighs.

“It hasn’t been all bad between us. Has it?”

“Alana,” he said, losing ground fast, “what in the world are you doing?”

Chapter Eleven

“Just sitting here,” she whispered, blistered by the heat of his stare. She’d scarfed down half of the bagel, and it had become a lump in the pit of her stomach. Holding her breath, she observed Jon’s eyes move as though searching her face, and move lower, lingering for seconds on parts of her body that no gentleman would revisit. Over and over.

The problem, she gathered, was that he’d keenly marked her body in such a way that each time he approximated a return, her senses were keyed up in anticipation. His gaze caressed her skin, and her heart skipped a beat…several beats.

Grimacing, Jon closed his eyes. When he opened them, he flashed azure fire at her. “Damn me,” he groaned, reaching out and running his hand upward from her knee. “Tell me to stop.”

Her heart began to beat in triple time. There wasn’t enough oxygen in the enclosed space of the back seat. “Don’t…stop,” she finally said, opening her legs.

He pushed his briefcase off the seat, unzipped his pants, and removed himself. “I couldn’t stop, even if I wanted to.”

“How?” she asked, and he pulled her across his lap, her back pressed against his chest.

“Raise your hips,” he said, his fingers tracing along her skin between her legs, separating her thighs.

His erection nudged her opening, and with his hands curved around her hips, she moaned softly from the infernal carnal clamor caused by coming into contact with him. “Jon.”

“God, you’re so wet. So hot.”

She leaned forward, opening her legs wide, and placed her hands on his knees, gripping his muscled thighs and then shuddering as he forcefully brought her down his length.

“I’m going to explode,” she murmured. Without him asking, she said the words he liked to hear to push him. Madden him. “Jon, fuck me so hard that you make me sore, and all I can think of is you doing this to me. All today I’ll think of you. Riding you. Hard.”

“Fuck, baby,” he groaned. That did it. Jon hauled her up and down his cock, grinding into her with powerful, plunging thrusts.

The streets sped by, cars were next to them, and she didn’t care. His fingers dug into her flesh, painfully possessing her. This was the edge they skated. Sharp—cutting away the bindings that imprisoned her. With him, there was no reason to hold back.

She exploded first, calling his name. He’d turned the tables, getting her to launch into orbit, but then he joined her. He muffled his voice against her hair, calling out her name. The sound of his voice echoed within her. Once. Then again, with another shudder wracking his body. His cock pulsed deep inside her.

“God, you feel amazing,” he said. His hot breath washed over her as he moved her body to remain impaled upon him. Jon trailed his fingers over her dress, up her waist, and cupped her breasts. He adjusted her strap and lowered her gown, taking her nipples between his fingers. Rolling each one, he plucked them, and his mouth sucked a point on her shoulder at the base of her neck.

“Please,” she whimpered, holding on to his hands on her chest.

“Alana,” he said, his voice coming out hoarse. “I want you like no other woman. Do you understand? If it weren’t for this meeting, I’d tell Dwayne to turn around and take you back to the house, or we’d catch a flight to the Mediterranean to escape all this. Just you and me.”

His admission both shocked and thrilled her. With the sensation of his mouth pressing against her shoulder and his fingers kneading her breasts, she had the feeling of being carried away on a sea of ecstasy.

Her body responded to him, and she pushed aside her worries. Falling, diving, swimming, she savored this warm, languid current of longing. Seconds passed silently, and she allowed herself the complete freedom to put aside the past and future. Reveling in that moment, she craved him completely. This wasn’t about her career or how she’d be able to help her family, this was about Jon and her. Nothing else mattered.

“And then what? Am I to give up my career? I don’t want to be put in that position. But each time we’re together, you’re too hard to resist.”

She refrained from glancing over her shoulder, afraid of what she’d encounter. She faced the glass partition—a highly reflective surface. He tunneled fingers through his hair with his eyes closed. Alana freely contemplated him from this position. Jon’s handsome features were drawn, giving her the distinct impression that he was equally as conflicted as she, and that knowledge made her desire for him soar.

“Of course not. But I don’t want to give this up. Dammit. It should be a simple decision.”

“Simple decision?” she asked. “Easy for you. You’ve nothing to lose.” Lifting off him, she moved farther away from him. The insides of her legs were swollen and her muscles trembled.

“It all boils down to what do you want?” He removed a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped himself off. He sighed, quirking a brow upward. “Not to worry. There’s a washroom in my office. I’ll direct the receptionist to have everyone in the conference room so you can get ready.”

The car pulled into the parking lot behind his building. They exited and he showed her to his office, greeting staff and introducing her along the way. Jon waited by the door and his expression turned serious. “I’m on your side.”

“I believe you. Can you send Christy up here with my things?” Stinging pricked her eyes.

“Alana, I want what’s best for you. You might not think so.”

“Strangely enough, I don’t doubt you’re thinking along those lines. But I’m not certain we’re using the same yardstick. It’s not all about the money and flying by the seat of my pants. Not for me.”

He opened the door to the bathroom. The room was large, done in black granite and chrome and complete with a shower. “Towels are in the cabinet. Would you like another cup of tea?”

“Not right now.” She shook her head, unwilling to ask him the questions plaguing her. “Just want to get ready.”

“Hey,” Christy called out. “Heard you were here. Big day, Lanie.”

“I’ll leave you, then. Join me in the conference room.” Jon stepped back. “Good morning, you all did a tremendous job at the conference.”

“We give good press,” Christy flashed him a smile.

Alana watched Jon step through the doorway of his office; turning to leave, he swept his gaze over her, and her whole body clenched in response.

“He’s a genuine charmer, isn’t he?” Christy set the suitcase down next to Alana.

Seeing her friend, Alana wanted to crumple within her arms, and ask,
how did it all become so complicated in a couple of days?
Or really, how had her life spun out of control in the presence of one man.

“You look fabulous. How do you do it?” Alana asked, preferring to focus on innocuous things…like appearances for the moment.

“What?” Christy held up her arms and pirouetted. “Look totally amazing with two hours of sleep? Skill. Or luck, more like. I hope what I packed was enough.”

“We can go back. It’s not a safari down the Nile. And, yes,” Alana gave her friend another once-over. “You do look awesome. Things looking brighter this morning?”

“After the press conference, Billy was pretty incredible. Wished I had a photographer to capture some of the positions he managed last night.”

Alana’s stomach pitched. She recalled the photographs that Jon had shared. Her fingers fumbled opening the bag.
How to begin?
This wasn’t going to be easy. No, this wasn’t the time. Not right before contract discussions. “Remind me that later I need to talk with you. Seriously.”

Christy stopped applying a shade of deep purple lipstick to her mouth. Their gazes met in the mirror. “Anything I should be aware of before we all sign our lives away?”

Alana inhaled deeply to steady her voice before replying. “Just girl stuff. I’m going to take a quick shower.”

“Is this about your fucking Lansing?” Christy arched a pierced brow at her.

“What are you talking about?” Alana’s diaphragm went taut, and she felt heat beginning to rise up her neck into her face.

“Your neck is covered with bite marks, and there are telltale bruises on your sides and arms. I’m not stupid, or blind.”

“We’ll talk about that also. Okay? Later.”

“I’m just going to say this once, so don’t stop me. Lots of people in this industry do the meet and greet and fuck. I know you’ve got these tougher-than-hell standards, but give them a break. Just for a few days. Lanie, you look…you’re glowing. And he looks, what’s the word,” Christy snapped her fingers. “Like he could eat you alive. He has a reputation as a high-class prick but, equally…” Christy hesitated. “Epic that little ole you has him wrapped around your finger.”

“I doubt that. He’s not the type of man to give up control. We fight and argue all the time. There’s nothing romantic going on. If anything, I’d say he likes a challenge. Novelty. Nothing more.”

“Bullshit. I’ve seen that look.”

“Look or not, I’m not going to be the one on the hook. I won’t.”

“Alana, who says it has to end up that way?”

“I’ve got to get ready. So no more talk about J.P. Lansing.”

Christy pretended to zip her mouth and throw away the key. Humming softly, Christy returned to eyeing her own reflection and reapplying a swath of lipstick.

After showering and dressing, Alana pinned her hair on top of her head, and dusted her face with some loose powder, lined her eyes with dark charcoal, and applied a coat of lip gloss. She walked back out into Jon’s office and picked up the file he’d given her with printed copies of each agreement and the marketing analyses. Christy was talking on her cellphone, laughing and yucking it up with someone, but she rolled her eyes as though it were a chore.

Alana opened the file, scanning the stack of documents clipped into piles. She’d studied each last night. The wide discrepancy between one music genre and another floored her. The solo agreement allowed her the ability to co-produce her own music. She supposed that was the sweet deal most artists gravitated toward in so-called guided contract discussions.

“How did the practice go yesterday?” Alana asked when Christy hung up.

“Really well. The studio was maxed out in high-tech gear. Amazing acoustics, and I didn’t have to hop over mice running in between our equipment. Top-shelf all the way.”

Alana opened the office door. “Ready?”

“Let’s do it. You still confused about what you and Lansing discussed last night?”

“I don’t really understand all that’s being offered. Like I said, this morning, it’s going to be a group decision. No changes in the last hour.”
Like hell.
This was insane, and for the last couple of days it had been a surreal rollercoaster ride that kept her off-balance. Unable to adjust, especially in Jon’s presence. The fire in his eyes consumed her. She’d just experienced for the first time in her life a man who had the power to make her forget everything she’d ever worked for. And it scared her completely.

They walked down the hall toward the stairs. “I’ve another voice lesson with Stella today.”

“She’s scary. But in a good way.”

“I think she’s helping me.” Alana smiled and sauntered toward the sound of male voices. Inside the conference room the guys were talking, and then the whole room got quiet. All eyes stared at the doorway she and Christy had come through. Alana looked behind her, to see who was there. No one. “Don’t stop on my account,” she murmured.

Carl jumped up. “Come sit here, beautiful.”

Jonathan stood up and buttoned his jacket. “I’ll be right back,” he said.

“Seriously, guys, what’s going on?” Alana asked, glancing from face to face.

“Nothing. Looks good,” Billy said, pushing the contract across the table. “Alana, we all realize the game that’s on, and it’s centered around you.”

“How can you say that? I feel like you guys are ready to say goodbye.”

Hank spoke up. “None of us want to do anything that would jeopardize our future. Or yours.”

“How much do you know about the various roads our contract can take?” she asked.

At that moment Jonathan walked back into the conference room with a young woman, laughing. His torso blocked most of the woman from view. “Oh, Jon. You, of all people. Remind me to recall this moment the next time we meet for drinks.”

Alana’s whole body stiffened, and her smile froze. She stared at the attractive woman with her shoulder-length, wavy blond hair held in place by a small silver clip.

Jon turned to the group. “Your attorney, Danielle McPherson.”

“Please, call me Dani,” the woman said, placing her briefcase on the table. “And you must be Alana St. James?”