How to Catch a (Rock) Star (The Dead Hour #1) (27 page)

‘You don’t have to decide right away, Lil. We’ve got time,’ he laughed again, squeezing her against him. ‘God, I’ve missed
you, Lillie,’ he whispered into her hair. ‘You don’t know how much.’

Lillie tipped her head up and looked into his eyes, so green and expressive, as he stared down at her. She smoothed his hair back from his face and raised herself up on her tiptoes to kiss him, gently, briefly, on that insanely sexy mouth of his.

‘I do know,’ she said quietly, leaning her cheek against his, her heart rocketing in her chest. She blinked back tears, determined not to cry. Jed pulled his head back and cradled her face in his hands and she closed her eyes, relishing the feel of his fingers on her skin. He kissed her eyelids before saying,

‘I wrote you a song on the way here. For your album,’ he hesitated. ‘If you want it.’

‘Will you play it for me?’ Lillie said. ‘Later, though.’ Jed looked hurt. “First, I have to tell you something,’ she tried to look serious. ‘But you need to be naked for it,’ she continued, tugging at the bottom of his t-shirt and pulling it over his head, dropping it to the floor.

Jed gave her his lopsided grin, scooping her up in his arms and she directed him to her room, laughing when he threw her on the bed. She knelt up, stripping her own t-shirt off and putting her arms around his neck, pulling him to her, sighing at the feel of his skin on hers. She wanted him more than she ever had, undoing his jeans with trembling fingers as he pushed her backwards onto the bed. She’d been fantasising about this for months but she hadn’t done him justice. He took his time, savouring every inch of her body, taking her to the edge of climax three times before finally allowing her to tip over into the abyss, sinking himself deep inside her as she bucked and writhed her body in the most powerful orgasm she’d ever experienced.

Afterwards, they lay entwined, Lillie’s fingers tracing the shape of Jed’s pecs as he sang her the song he had written on the plane.

‘It’s really beautiful, Jed,’ she said. ‘Don’t you want to use it for your album?’ Jed caught her fingers in his own and kissed them.

‘No, it’s yours. I wrote it for you, but I won’t be offended if you don’t use it.’

Lillie was about to answer when her phone beeped.

‘It’s probably Johnny wanting to know when he can come back,’ Jed laughed. ‘I kinda chucked him out.’ Lillie checked the message and laughed, sending a quick text back.

‘It was,’ she said. ‘He wanted to know if we’d finished ‘making up’ as he’s freezing and wants to come home.’ Jed smiled and pulled her against him.

‘We should get up then,’ he said, making absolutely no move to do as he had suggested. Lillie kissed his chest and murmured her agreement, moving to straddle him, pressing her breasts against his chest.

‘Lillie…’ Jed admonished, shutting up as she kissed her way across his chest and down his stomach. ‘Well, I guess we’ve got time for that,’ he said, gasping as she took him in her mouth and Lillie brought him to an orgasm.

By the time Johnny let himself into the apartment, they were dressed and waiting for him in the kitchen with a pot of tea.

‘So,’ he said, ‘all sorted then?’ He winked at Lillie and she blushed. ‘Where are we living? London, New York?’ He helped himself to a biscuit and dunked in his tea.

‘We haven’t decided yet,’ Jed said. ‘We’ve been a bit busy.’

‘I bet you have,’ Johnny smirked.

‘Talking,’ Jed said, with a pointed look.

‘Right. That’s why your t-shirt is inside out and Lillie’s got sex hair,’ Johnny laughed. ‘Hey, it’s cool. I get it. It’s the first thing I’d do too.’ Lillie’s cheeks were flaming now.

‘Anyway,’ Jed said, taking Lillie’s hand under the table. ‘We both wanted to say thank you for being there for both of us and not giving up on us, even when one of us punched you in the face.’ Lillie gasped and looked at Jed in horror. ‘Long story,’ he said, his cheeks colouring slightly. ‘Now, let’s take a look at the songs you guys have been writing. I can’t wait to see what you came up with.’

‘Wait,’ Lillie interrupted. ‘First I need you to take a photo of me and Jed so I can send it to Kate and Tess. You know, let them know what’s happened.’

She sat herself on Jed’s lap, arms around his neck and they grinned at Johnny who took several photos with Lillie’s phone. She sent it to Kate and Tess, wondering aloud who would phone first.

Her phone chimed and she looked at the screen. Kate.

‘Hi, honey!’ she sang down the phone.

‘Lillie! Is he there? Is Jed there right now?’

‘Yep!’ Lillie laughed at Kate’s squeals of delight.

‘When did this happen? How did this happen?’ Kate demanded. Lillie could hear Chris in the background and Kate shushing him.

‘Short version. I went for a walk and came back and he was here. In the apartment, waiting for me.’

‘Oh my God, Lillie. We are so happy for you both. It’s about bloody time!’ She lowered her voice. ‘What about the whole Steve thing?’

‘Never happened. Jed bumped into him on New Year’s Eve and he admitted everything.’ Jed muttered profanities and Kate joined in.

‘What an absolute fucker,’ she said, relaying the news to Chris, who added his own expletives.

‘Yeah, well. He’s had his nose broken twice so I think he’s probably learnt his lesson.’ Kate laughed and said she couldn’t wait to hear those stories. ‘How are you guys doing?’ Lillie asked. ‘Is it snowing?’

‘We’re good. I’m having a great time. Just trying not to think about coming home in a few days,’ Kate replied. Lillie heard Chris reassuring her in the background and made her decision.

‘Well, you won’t have to miss Chris for long. Jed and the band are going to be in London for a while,’ she looked at Jed and Johnny, who both grinned. Johnny whooped and Jed squeezed her tight, kissing her cheek.

‘What? Really?’ Kate sounded shocked. ‘How come?’

‘Jed’s spoken to the label already and the band can be in New York or London so – ‘ Lillie trailed off, Kate had put her hand over the phone and was talking to Chris. She could hear the excitement in her voice and then Chris’s low rumble of an answer. Kate dropped the phone and shrieked in delight. Lillie laughed, tears in her eyes. She could imagine the scene at the other end of the phone. New York would have been cool but London meant Kate could be with Chris and, after the last three months, the least Lillie could do was give Kate that opportunity. New York could wait.

Finally, Kate picked up the phone again.

‘Lillie, I am going to get you the biggest box of Twinkies I can find,’ she said. ‘I’ll see you in a few days,’ she paused. ‘With Chris!’

They rang off, Lillie’s eyes shining with happiness.

‘So, London then,’ Johnny said. ‘Mmmmm. All those hot British girls with their accents. Hey, doesn’t Tess go to school in London?’ he teased Lillie.

‘Don’t you even think about it,’ she warned and he held up his hands in mock apology. ‘Speak of the devil,’ she said, picking up her phone again and going through much the same conversation with Tess.

They spent the rest of the afternoon refining the songs they’d already written and writing one more, which Lillie was really pleased with. Finally, Jed announced it was time for dinner, apologizing to Johnny that they were leaving him alone as he wanted to take Lillie out to celebrate.

‘No problem,’ Johnny smirked. ‘I think I’ll go out and celebrate myself. You can have the place to yourselves tonight. My gift to you,’ he said, winking at Lillie.

‘Glad to see you’ve got your mojo back,’ Jed said. ‘How about we all go for a drink before dinner?’

‘Yeah, sounds good,’ Johnny said, turning to look at Lillie. ‘You taking first shower, babe?’ Lillie nodded. ‘Cool, gives me time for some press-ups before I get myself cleaned up ready for some lucky lady.’ He flexed his muscles at Lillie and she rolled her eyes, kissing Jed before she headed down the hall to the bathroom. She could hear Johnny and Jed talking about London and couldn’t stop the massive grin from spreading across her face.

In the shower, the chorus of the new song Jed had written for her span round and round her head.

He caught a star, buried it deep in his heart

A light inside for all his eternity, no more dark

Half untruths could not tear him apart

From that pure and shining brilliant spark.

It was exactly how she felt about him. Jed had given her everything, shone a spotlight on her, helped her to be the person she was always meant to be. She touched the charms on her necklace, the key and the heart Jed had given her, smiling. His heart and the key to it.

She sang the words out loud, lathering shampoo into her hair, jumping when she felt Jed’s hands on her waist, turning her to face him.

‘I was thinking it might sound better as a duet,’ he said, his voice low in her ear. She kissed him soundly in agreement.

‘Everything’s better as a duet,’ she whispered, kissing him again.

‘It sure is, Lil’ he replied, wrapping his arms around her and kissing her soapy hair. ‘It sure is.’

THE END

Acknowledgements

First, I’d really like to thank someone who remains nameless to me but, without whom, I probably wouldn’t be a published author. A few years ago, I was lucky enough to get onto the Romantic Novelists’ Association’s New Writer Scheme (highly recommended if you’re an unpublished romance author, by the way) and the feedback I received from my anonymous reader was so encouraging and motivating that it kept me going through several drafts and a fair few rejections. If you read this book and recognise it (it has changed a fair bit), I would love to know who you are!

My second thank you goes to Abingdon Writers, whose constructive criticism and support helped me to write a final draft I was happy with. They shared their knowledge, experiences and research on how to get published as well as their thoughts on my work and provided much needed confidence boosts (and sometimes cakes and biscuits!). I miss you guys!

In particular, I’d like to thank my beta readers, some for really early drafts, a couple from much later drafts – Liah Thorley (who’s read all the drafts – so biggest thanks to her), Nicki Thornton, Jo Wyton, Verity Saegert and Callie Tyler. Thanks for all your comments and suggestions.

Finally, a big massive thanks to my wonderful publishers, So Vain Books. Thank you so much for taking a chance on me – I hope I do you proud!

Follow Gabrielle Aquilina on her website

Visit www.gabrielleaquilina.com and follow her on Twitter to stay updated on what’s coming up next!

Sophie Childs

Behind the Scenes

Bethan Brooks works in London for the ultimate boss from Hell, trying to support her wannabe rockstar boyfriend. But are The Vampire Squirrels really ever going to make it big or is she doomed to be a secretary forever? Luckily, Bethan finds the perfect escape when going to the cinema. There she loses herself in another world and forgets all about the dreaded filing and monotonous office work. Imagine her surprise when one day she encounters her favourite actor on the Tube. Suddenly, she finds herself part of the glamorous movie world she only ever dreamed about. With more at stake than she could ever realise, does she really want to know what goes on behind the scenes?

Out now on So Vain Books, Amazon and anywhere else books are sold online!

Jessica Redland

Searching for Steven

When Sarah Peterson accepts her Auntie Kay’s unexpected offer to take over her florist’s shop, she’s prepared for a change of job, home and lifestyle. What she isn’t prepared for is the discovery of a scarily accurate clairvoyant reading that’s been missing for twelve years. All her predictions have come true, except one: she’s about to meet the man of her dreams. Oh, and his name is Steven.

Suddenly Stevens are everywhere. Could it be the window cleaner, the rep, the manager of the coffee shop, or any of the men she’s met online?

On top of that, she finds herself quite attracted to a handsome web designer, but his name isn’t even Steven...

During this unusual search, will Sarah find her destiny?

Coming out in June 2015