Rock Stars Don't Like Ugly Bras (11 page)

“I wouldn’t have done that to you.”

“Well I didn’t know that.”  Jake growled

Amber sighed and leaned back in the chair, turning her gaze away from Jake’s.

“So, what happens now?” she asked, still not looking at him.

Jake leaned forward and took Amber’s hand from her lap.  “What do you want to happen?” he whispered, a little afraid of what her reply might be.

Amber now turned to look at him.  Jake’s eyes were full of hurt and his usual grin was missing.  “I want to forget about him and what happened,” Amber whispered eventually.  She gave Jake’s hand a squeeze and looked up at him with hopeful eyes.

Jake gazed back at her, and his heart jumped in his chest.  “I’m sorry, Freckles,” he replied.  “I was a bit angry, a bit jealous and a whole lot stupid.  I should’ve just come and looked for you.”

“So, why didn’t you?”

“I was scared of what I’d find,” Jake said, running his thumb over her palm.

Amber gasped.  “Jake, I wouldn’t disrespect you like that.  Even if I had wanted to get back with Daniel, I’d have told you first.”  Amber tried to pull her hand away from Jake’s, but he held it tight. 

“I know you would.”  He lifted her hand and kissed it gently.  “I’m sorry.  I was blinded by jealousy.”

Amber heaved a sigh.  “And I’m sorry too,” she replied.  “I should’ve come back sooner.  It was rude of me not to.”

Jake tugged at Amber’s arm and dragged her across to him, pulling her onto his lap.  As she landed with a bump, Amber giggled and kissed the tip of Jake’s nose.

“We’re really stupid aren’t we?” she said cuddling into his chest.

“Yeah, maybe we need to start being a bit more honest with each other.”  Jake held his breath, wondering whether he actually had the nerve to be honest.

“Yes, maybe,” Amber replied.  She coughed nervously, as the words ‘I think I love you’ hung off the edge of her tongue.  She swallowed and took a deep breath, but nothing would come out.

“So,” Jake said breaking the silence.  “Do you fancy a drink, or you could kick your shoes off and we could carry on dancing here.”

Amber smiled.  “You want me to be honest?” she asked.

Jake nodded.  “Yeah, I do.”

“Your dancing needs a little work.”

Jake put a hand to his chest and pulled an outraged face.  “Shit, Freckles, I’m wounded by that comment.”

Amber laughed and pinched his cheek gently.  “I’m sorry baby, but it does.  Can we just go to bed instead, I’m shattered?”

Jake laughed and, standing up with Amber in his arms, made his way to the bedroom, with their unspoken words hanging in the air.

Jake smiled and rolled over.  Amber was still snoring softly next to him, her blonde hair half covering her face.  Jake allowed his gaze to roam down her body, which was uncovered to the waist.

“Shit, Freckles,” he muttered.  “What the hell are you doing to me?”

Amber stirred and rolled onto her side, throwing an arm across Jake.  She pulled herself closer to him and sighed.

Jake’s grin widened as he pushed her hair back from her face, causing Amber’s nose to twitch.  Her hand came up and gently swatted Jake’s.  He chuckled quietly and then dropped a kiss on her slightly parted lips.  Jake was hoping that she’d wake up so that they he could make love to her, but Amber simply snuggled closer to his chest and continued to sleep.

Jake reached down and pulled the covers up over her shoulders.  The room was warm enough, but the more he looked at those beautiful naked breasts of hers, the more his early morning erection grew, and it was painful enough as it was.  With a sigh, Jake moved onto his back and put his hands behind his head.  He stared up at the ceiling and smiled.  The feelings that he had for Freckles were so intense and had just crept up on him.  When she’d said that they were just going to have fun, Jake had to admit he’d been disappointed.  However, a relationship was kind of scary, so he’d decided he could go with that; but now…now Jake knew he wanted much more than fun.  There were three problems though: how did he get Freckles to see he was serious about her?  What was he going to tell Luke?  Luke was one of his best friends, but Jake was still scared.  The man was half Italian and was pretty intense at the best of times, but when family were involved he was prone to turning nuclear.  The third, well the third was the fact that he needed to go back to LA.  He hadn’t had to think about it for the last few weeks, but the recent phone calls and texts had brought it to the forefront of his thoughts again.

Jake sighed and realised that he needed some advice.  He quietly lowered his legs from the bed, pulled on his boxers, picked his mobile up and went into the bathroom.  Sitting on the edge of the bath, Jake dialled Skins’ number.  After a few rings, Skins answered.

“This better be good dick head.  It’s not even eight o’clock and I’ve been up all night,” Skins growled.

“Sorry I just needed to speak to you.  And for the record, I don’t want to know what you and Stace have been getting up to,” Jake laughed.

“Ethan was puking all night, if you must know.”  Skins’ yawned.  “So spill, what do you want?”

“Are you okay to talk?”  Jake asked.

Skins sighed.  “Seeing as Stace is in with Ethan, then yes.  But I repeat, it better be good.” 

“Sorry man, but I need some advice.” 

“From me?  Why haven’t you called Tom?”

“Because it’s kinda sensitive.”

“Ah right,” Skins said. “So, what is it, crabs or herpes?”

“Neither!” Jake cried.  He scratched at his bare chest and took a deep breath.  “Freckles and I have kinda got it on.”

“Really, is that so,” Skins replied, inevitability weighing heavy in his tone.  “Does Luke know?”

“No, but he’s not going to like it, is he?” Jake moaned.  “He’s probably going to kick my arse isn’t he?”

“I think he might my friend,” Skins replied, chuckling quietly.  “And if you ever thought otherwise, then you really are more stupid than I gave you credit for.”

“I didn’t.  I know he’s seriously going to spit his dummy?”

“Maybe he won’t?  Skins paused.  “If you’re making her happy then he’ll be fine.  But, if you mess it up and hurt her, we will definitely be looking for a new lead guitarist.”

Jake blew out a long breath.  “That’s what I figured,” he replied.

“So, is that all you wanted to know, whether Luke would be happy with the fact that you’re having sex with his cousin?”

Jake paused and scratched his head.  “No, not really.”

“What then?” Skins asked impatiently.

“When you met Stace, how did you know that she was the one?”

“Sheesh, it’s that serious?”

“I don’t know!” Jake cried.  “That’s my problem, I have no idea.  I don’t have any experience of a relationship that lasts longer than twenty-four hours.”

“Okay, ask yourself do you want more than just a regular hook up for the summer?”

Jake didn’t hesitate.  “Yes I do.”

Skins gasped.  “Wow, that’s big coming from you, Jake.  Okay, so tell me how she makes you feel.

Jake hung his head and rubbed a hand along the back of his neck.  “Well, I want to be with her all the time, I want to do things that make her happy, she makes me hard when she’s mad at me, she makes me hard when she’s happy, and the sex is just…shit, it’s unbelievable.”

“Damn, did you hear that?”  Skins asked.

Jake furrowed his brow.  “What?”

“Hearts breaking all over the world.  The great lover man, Jake Hughes is finally off the market.”  Skins laugh was loud and deep on the other end.

“Do you think so?” Jake asked hesitantly.  “Do you think that she’s it for me?”

“Buddy, I can’t answer that for you.  Only you know that, but I’d say you’re pretty much on the way to being in love with her.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah,” Skins answered with a chuckle.  “How the hell did that happen?”

“I have no bloody idea,” Jake groaned but with a huge grin on his face.

“Does she feel the same, that’s the big question?”

“I don’t know,” Jake replied with a shrug.  “I think so, but she said at the beginning she only wanted fun.”

“Well I guess you need to have that conversation with her then.”

“Yeah I guess so.”  Jake sighed.  “Don’t say anything to anyone else will you, not until Freckles and I have worked out where this is going?”

“Too late mate,” Skins laughed.  “Do you not remember drunk dialling Martha last week?”

“Jake groaned, suddenly remembering.  “So you knew all along.”

Skins laughed.  “Yeah, just waiting for you to ‘fess up.”

“Oh shit, Luke knows already then, why didn’t you say?”

“Because he doesn’t.  Martha knows what Luke’s like, she doesn’t want him stressing out for the rest of the holiday, so hasn’t told him.”

“She will though.  All it will take is for Luke to do some extra special sexy thing on her and she’ll sing like a canary.  That woman is a gibbering wreck when he turns it up a notch.”  Jake heard a noise and chinked open the bathroom door.  Amber was leaving the bedroom, tying the belt of a white towelling robe.  “Shit, Freckles is awake.  I’ve gotta go,” he whispered.  “Please get the girls to promise not to tell Luke.”

“Okay, but you know what those two are like when they drink wine.”  Skins replied.  “Listen, just be sure this is what you really want before you talk to Amber, okay?”

Jake bit at the side of his cheek.  “I have something to sort out in L.A., but once that’s done I’m totally committed,” he replied.

“Jake, what the hell does that mean?  You’re either committed or you’re not.”  Skins sighed heavily, worried that Luke was going to kill Jake.  “What’s so important that you can’t commit now if that’s what you want?”

“Just something I need to do,” Jake hissed worry etched over his face.  “I need to go.  Enjoy the rest of your holiday and I hope Ethan feels better soon.”

When Jake wandered into the lounge, Amber was curled up on the sofa.

“Hey, you okay?” she asked, looking up with sleepy eyes at Jake.

Jake sat beside her and leaned over to kiss her.  “Yes I was just having a pee.”

“Hmm, nice vision,” Amber giggled.

“Why did you get up? I was coming back to bed.”

“I missed you, and wondered where you were,” she said with a smile. “What are we doing today?”

“I think we should go back to bed for a while,” Jake whispered into her ear.  “We didn’t get to sleep until gone four.”

Amber gave him a knowing smile and nuzzled her cheek against Jake’s lips.  “Hmm I must admit, I’m quite tired.”

“Well, let’s go back for a couple of hours, because I’ve booked us afternoon tea at The Ritz, followed by some personal shopping at Harrods.”

Amber gasped and flung her arms around Jake’s neck.  “The Ritz, really?”

Jake nodded.  “Yeah, I thought you might like it.”

“Oh Jake, thank you.  That’s a lovely surprise.”  Amber’s face then fell.  “Personal shopping at Harrods though, what does that mean?”

Jake smiled.  “It means I’m going to treat you to something.”

Amber shook her head.  “Nah, not happening, Jake.  I don’t mind going, but there will be no personal shopping.  You’ve spent too much money on me already.”

“Sorry, Freckles, but it is happening.  So deal with it.”

When he saw that Amber was about to protest, Jake took hold of her lips and pinched them together.

“Stop arguing,” he said. “I said it’s happening.”

Amber shook her head while Jake still held her lips.  Jake nodded.  Amber shook her head.

“Oh for God’s sake,” he sighed.

Letting go of Amber’s lips, Jake moved in and kissed her.  It was deep, sensuous and electrifying and by the end of it, Amber had forgotten what she’d been disagreeing with.

“Come on then Jake, get on with it.”  Valerie lifted her leg and shoved her foot under Jake’s nose.  “A foot rub was promised, and a foot rub is what I’m going to get.”

Jake grimaced as he stared at Valerie’s foot.  Her second toe was longer than her big toe and her toe nails were a lovely shade of green.

“Are you sure I can’t give you a back rub instead?” Jake asked.

Amber snorted behind him.  “Sorry,” she coughed.  “Something stuck in my throat.”

Jake threw her a look that told her she was going to be in trouble later.  Amber giggled and heat began to flush up her neck and onto her face.  She knew exactly how Jake liked to punish her and it was all she could do not to drag him home now.

“No it’s my feet that need the attention,” Valerie sighed.  “Do you know how many hours I’m on them every day?”

“A lot?” Jake replied, looking warily at Valerie’s foot.

“Exactly.  A lot.  Plus, I’ve a carbuncle on my back, and if you pop it, well I can guarantee you’ll never eat mayonnaise again.”

As Jake gagged, Amber snorted back a laugh.

“Now,” Valerie said, poking Jake in his shoulder with a bony finger, “do what you promised and take me to heaven.”  Then she winked at Jake and grinned.

Amber saw the look of fear on Jake’s face and bit on her lip to stifle the laughter that was brewing in her chest.  He looked as though he was about to tightrope walk across a canyon filled with man eating sharks.  Looking at Valerie, Amber understood his fear – she definitely looked as though she was ready to eat him alive.

Jake turned to Amber and opened his eyes wide, silently pleading for help.  Amber smiled sweetly.

“Make sure you get in between Valerie’s toes.”  Amber was having far too much fun to help Jake escape the shop keeper’s clutches.

“Here’s some baby lotion,” Valerie said, handing Jake a pink bottle.  “Good job I had another bottle; Trevor and I used a whole bottle last night.”

Jake’s head shot up.  “Sorry?”

“First Tuesday of the month,” she grinned. ”Sex night.” Valerie sat back in her chair, folded her arms across her chest and closed her eyes, ready for Jake to work his magic. “All right then, get going.”

“Sex night!” Jake mouthed silently to Amber.  “What the...?”

Amber, unable to hold her laughter in any longer, ran from Valerie’s lounge, muttering something about going to the bathroom.

“Blah,” Jake groaned as he pretended to heave.  “It was awful, and you were no bloody help.”  He poked Amber gently in the ribs as they walked back to the house.

Amber wiped the tears of laughter from her eyes.  “Oh God, I’ve not laughed so much in ages.  My stomach aches.”

“Yeah well, I’m glad you found it funny, Freckles.”  Jake took Amber’s hand and laced their fingers.  “Her toes were hairy.”  He grimaced and shook his head as if trying to shake the memory of Valerie’s toes out of his brain.  “I think I’d have preferred to take my chances with the carbuncle.”

“Ah, poor baby,” Amber cooed as she reached up to kiss Jake’s cheek.  “Did the nasty lady scare you?”

Jake stopped walking and pulled Amber to his chest.  “Yes she did, and you loved every minute of it,” he said with a grin.  “So, I may have to punish you when we get home.”

Amber melted against him and sighed with satisfaction as Jake’s lips met hers.  The last few weeks had been amazing and were getting better in every way.  Jake was getting really good at being a boyfriend.

After the incident in the club, the rest of their stay in London had been utter bliss.  Afternoon tea at The Ritz was wonderful, and yet strange.  There she was sitting with a tattooed rocker who looked as sexy as hell in dark jeans, a Ramones t-shirt and the obligatory leather jacket, but eating triangle sandwiches and cupcakes from china plates.  When they walked in, Jake’s presence caused a mass of heads to swivel to watch them.  Amber sensed that it wasn’t the fact that he wasn’t dressed for The Ritz that caused people to stare, but his demeanour.  Even if they didn’t know who he was exactly, the way he walked and talked with ease and confidence signposted that he was a star.  Although, she also realised that most of the women looking at him were definitely drooling.

After that they’d gone on to Harrods and, as promised, Jake spoiled her.  Amber had argued and at first refused to try on any of the outfits that the personal shopper had picked out for her.  Jake, however, had other ideas.  When Emily, the personal shopper, went off to find some shoes to match a beautiful lemon and white summer dress, Jake pinned Amber against the changing room wall and gave her the most erotic kiss she’d ever had.  It had left her breathless and begging him for more.  Jake smiled and shook his head, refusing to touch her for the rest of the weekend unless she tried on the clothes.

Amber had been tempted to call his bluff.  However, the way Jake kept looking at her and slowly licking his lips had her hot between the thighs and she couldn’t risk the chance that he might actually keep to his word.  So Amber tried on the clothes and had to admit they were all beautiful and suited her curves – Emily was very good at her job.  She came away with two sundresses, a leather mini skirt, a silver vest top, two pairs of skinny jeans, and a sheer red blouse, a pair of white wedge heel sandals and some stiletto, black leather ankle boots.  Amber had to admit that she was glad that she’d succumbed, particularly when she saw how happy it made Jake to be able to spoil her.

Gently pulling away from her, Jake stroked a finger down Amber’s cheek, bringing her back from her reverie of their weekend.

“What are you smiling at, Freckles?” he asked dropping a kiss onto the end of Amber’s nose.

“Oh just the weekend, and how great it was.”  Amber threaded her arms around his neck.  “Did I thank you for everything?”

Jake nodded.  “Yeah, you did.  Three times I think it was,” he laughed, recalling how Amber had pounced on him as soon as they’d got back to their suite.

Amber giggled.  “Maybe I need to thank you again,” she replied.

“If you like, I’m not arsed either way,” he said with a shrug of the shoulder and hint of a smile.

Amber hit Jake’s chest and tutted.  “You couldn’t refuse me, no matter how hard you tried.”

“You think?”  Jake leaned back and studied her face.

Amber nodded.  “Yes, I do.  You don’t have the self-control, Mr Hughes.”

“Is that a challenge Miss Mahoney?  Because if it is, you know that you’ll lose.”

Amber thought for a few seconds and then nodded with confidence.  “Yes, it’s a challenge and I bet I can win.”

Jake left out a snort.  “You have no idea who you’re playing with here, Freckles.  I have so much self-control it’s unbelievable.”

“Okay.  Here’s the bet then.  Whoever caves first and initiates sex, has to act as a slave for the day.”  Amber grinned and held her hand out to Jake.  “Deal?”

Jake hesitated for a second.  “How long does this bet last?  I mean, we’re not talking a whole week or anything are we?” he asked, a little concerned.

“God no!” Amber cried, who despite making the bet wasn’t sure she’d be able to last a day, never mind a week.  “Let’s say, forty-eight hours.”

Jake thought about it and then nodded.  “Okay, deal.”  He shook Amber’s hand and then picked her up and threw her over his shoulder.  “However, sweetheart, it doesn’t start until 8 a.m. tomorrow morning, so until then, you’re all mine.”

Amber heaved a sigh of relief and smacked Jake’s backside.  “Great idea, now hurry up and get home because we’ve only got twelve hours left.

As Amber passed Jake on the landing, she looked over her shoulder seductively and winked. 

Jake rubbed a hand down his face and groaned.  “Shit Freckles, if you want to play dirty then game on.”  His gaze wandered up her body, taking in her bare legs and her pert butt cheeks poking out from white lace boy shorts underneath one of his Dirty Riches tour t-shirts.

“What?” Amber protested.  “I’m not doing anything,” she giggled.

“Oh no, of course you’re not.”  Jake gently smacked her backside and walked past her into his room.

“Damn it,” Amber hissed to herself.  “You’ll just have to try harder, Amber.”

It was only eighty-thirty and she was already desperate for a kiss or hug from Jake.  They’d gone straight to bed the night before and enjoyed some amazing sex; wild and fast
and
slow and tender.  When she’d woken, wrapped tight in Jake’s arms, Amber had been anxious for another round, but realised that their bet had started.  Unfortunately, her longing hadn’t disappeared with the cold shower that she’d taken.  Shaking her head, Amber went to her room to think about her next move.

Jake, in his own room, was struggling just as much, but he was equally as determined not to lose the bet.  He sat down on the edge of his bed and looked around the room for inspiration, but there was nothing.  When the band got back together a couple of years ago, Jake and Tom had started to stay at the house more and more so, Martha had decorated them a room each, to their specifications, in an attempt to make it more like home for them.  Jake’s room was decorated in white and grey with black, high gloss furniture; all very manly and nothing that gave him any inspiration on how to seduce Amber.  Jake laughed to himself.  Since when had he had a problem seducing a woman?  However, this was Freckles, she was stubborn and there was a bet involved.  Then Jake’s eyes landed on his guitars and he had an idea.  Stripping his shirt off, Jake picked up his guitar and made his way downstairs.

When Amber went into the kitchen, she expected to see Jake making his breakfast.  She’d peeked into his room on her way past, but he wasn’t there.  With no sign of him, Amber decided to start breakfast for them both.  As she turned on the tap to fill the kettle, she heard the sounds of music coming from the lounge. 

Pushing the door open, Amber stood in the doorway and watched Jake.  He was sitting over by the window.  She drew in a sharp breath and felt her stomach flip and her legs quiver.  He looked beautiful as the morning sunlight beamed through the window, creating an ethereal glow around him.  He was shirtless; the muscles in his arms taut as he plucked at the strings of his acoustic guitar, his eyes were closed with his luxurious long lashes touching his golden cheeks.  Amber held back a groan as he began to sing.  His voice was rich and deep, and evoked images of melted chocolate for Amber.  She watched intently as his full lips formed the words to Joe Cocker’s ‘You Are So Beautiful’, and almost passed out with the desire he was eliciting in her.  With her heart pounding, Amber slowly walked into the room and sat on the sofa opposite to Jake.

As Amber’s scent wafted around him, Jake opened his eyes and gazed at her; his own heart doing a little shuffle at the sight of her in his t-shirt and a pair of denim shorts.  Staring intently into her eyes, Jake carried on singing.  The words were meant for her; they could have been written for her.  The bet momentarily forgotten, Jake simply wanted to convey to Amber how he felt about her – how his feelings for her were changing.

As he finished the last note, Amber sighed dreamily and leaned across to kiss Jake’s lips.

“That was so beautiful,” she whispered, running a hand down his cheek.

Jake blushed and dipped his head.  He groaned inwardly.  Tom would definitely be calling him pussy whipped if he was here now.  What was it about this woman that turned him into a mushy, romantic fool?

“Glad you liked it,” he replied.

Amber reached out and gently prised Jake’s guitar away from him.  As she did, Jake realised that he was possibly about to win the bet.  He didn’t care about it anymore, but couldn’t help the self-satisfied smile.

Unfortunately, Amber noticed it too.  “You dirty, rotten pig!” she cried.  “You sang that just to get me to cave, didn’t you?” 

“I can’t help it if you’re addicted to my penis,” Jake cried indignantly.  “I mean I get why, but it’s not my fault.”

Amber screwed her face up and poked him hard in his stomach.  “God you’re such a slime ball.”

“I’m not a slime ball, and that hurt.”  Jake rubbed at his stomach, flashing puppy dog eyes at Amber.

“Good, and just because your plan didn’t work, it doesn’t mean those eyes will.”  Amber stood up and flounced out of the room.  “And you can make your own breakfast,” she called from the hallway.

Jake groaned and dropped his head into his hands.  This was going to be so much harder than he thought.  He stood up and followed Amber to the kitchen where she was making tea and toast.  A single teabag in a single cup, Jake noticed, no teapot.  So he was definitely making his own breakfast then.

“I’m sorry Freckles, but you started it by playing dirty.  Doesn’t mean I didn’t mean it though; you are beautiful to me.”

“Save it Jake and I did not start it,” Amber said as she buttered her toast.

“Oh yes you did.  Prancing around in little knickers and my t-shirt.  I could see your bum cheeks, and you know what they do to me.”

Amber allowed her hair to fall over her shoulder to shield her face.  She was grinning as that was exactly what she’d planned on – Jake going wild for her bottom.

“Not my fault you’re depraved.”