You Really Got Me (Rock Star Romance #1) (20 page)

It would never change. She could see that. He’d never take her seriously unless she took her own life seriously.

I want you to sign Snatch, and I want to be A&R Coordinator.

Too soon to sign them.

Not too soon to promote me. 8 years. No one knows this biz like I do.

He didn’t respond, so she tossed the phone aside and slammed her head back on the pillow. If she quit her job, she’d have no income. Worse, she had no job possibilities. And, no, she’d never go back to work for her dad. Not that he needed her help. His flavor of the moment did that kind of work for him. Flash might hire her, but in what capacity? All he wanted was for her to make scrapbooks and score swag. Working for Irwin was cool. It had panache. Working for Flash of Frontierland would kill her credibility.

If she quit, her chance of getting a real job anywhere else would diminish. Always better to get a job while employed. God, she felt sick to her stomach. Her life, once so clear and focused, now felt out of control.

Quitting was stupid. It was rash. She didn’t throw temper tantrums. Best to go back to work and continue to prove herself. Say no when he asked her to go to Barney’s to determine the difference between cadet blue, cornflower blue, and dark cyan in shirt colors.

If she went back to New York, she could
live the job
, just like Bax. Earn the promotion not by being Irwin’s
personal
assistant, but by being an assistant in A&R.

If she went back to work . . . she squeezed her eyes shut as the pain spread wide, burning through her soft tissue. If she went back to work, she’d lose Snatch—and she truly believed in them. They’d likely get signed by Flow Records, which wasn’t nearly as good as Amoeba. Eric, the A&R guy, had no big acts other than Piper to his credit. Not what she wanted for her guys.

She pried open her heart enough to face the truth. It also meant giving up Slater. With her ridiculous schedule and his tour, a relationship wasn’t possible. They’d never see each other.

Why was she even thinking about Slater? He was leaving, hitting the road. She knew what that meant.

Okay.
Breathe.
She had to take Slater out of the equation and focus on the job. On Irwin. On
her.
Putting fear aside, what was the best decision for her?

She already knew the answer. She couldn’t go back. She had to move forward.

Her hand closed over her phone.

I’m sorry, Irwin. But I quit.

*   *   *

Weight pressed on the mattress, awakening Emmie with a start. “Slater?”

Before she could fully rouse herself, she felt his big, warm palm press flat to her stomach. God, how she loved his hands on her.

“I’m here.”

She turned over, so filled with relief she flung herself into his arms. “I’m sorry.”

“Oof.” He fell back with her on top. His arms went around her, and he rolled her onto her side. They lay facing each other.

“I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have freaked out like that.” She ran her fingers through his hair. He looked so tired and worn out.

“Naw. I was a dick.”

“No, you weren’t.” He’d been crazy with emotion, and she’d shut him down. Slater didn’t show emotion, so she hated that the one time he let himself go, she’d hurt him. “I got scared.” She was
still
scared. But he didn’t need to hear that. Not tonight. “You got the news?”

“Yeah.” He didn’t look happy. And that just killed her because this was his moment, what he’d worked so hard for, and he couldn’t be happy because of her insecurities.

“It’s good,” she said. “It’s really good for you.”

He barely nodded.

“It’s your dream, Slater. And it’s coming true.”

“Yeah, it’s great, Em.” He sounded testy.

“Were you celebrating with the guys?”

“No,” he snapped. “I wasn’t celebrating. I was driving around, wondering what the fuck to do.”

“About me? You don’t have to worry—”

“Fuck. Are you kidding me? We’re still there? Look, get it out of your head that I’m gonna bolt because we had sex. I want to be with you, Em. The timing sucks. I have to go on this tour, but I want
us
.”

“Of course you have to go. It’s the beginning of everything.”

“Yeah, but it’s also the beginning of us.”

In a million years, she’d never thought she’d hear words like that coming from Slater Vaughn. “I . . .” But he was right. The timing sucked.

“You don’t trust me.” He shrugged. “Why would you? I get that.”

“God, Slater, everything’s happening all at once. I can’t think.”

“I don’t want you to think.”

Oh, boy. The way he looked at her, so serious, so intense, it set her heart racing. He leaned toward her, his gaze drifting to her mouth, his eyelids lowering. She stopped him with a hand to his chest. “So, um, I have big news, too.”

He stiffened, features tightening.

“I quit my job.”

She whispered it, so it took a moment for the impact to hit his features. “You quit your job? Tonight?” Emotion played across his features—surprise turning to concern. And then happiness flashed. “You’d come on tour with us?”

“What? No. I . . . you’re touring with Piper and her band.” Go on tour with them? Where had that come from?

He stroked a lock of hair off her shoulder, his fingers brushing across her skin. “So, what happened? Why’d you quit?”

“I talked to Irwin. I was so sure once I got you on Piper’s tour, he’d promote me. But he won’t. And I finally realized he’s been gaming me all along.” Fear dug in, squeezing her stomach. She’d never been unemployed in her life. Since graduating high school, she’d never been without a paycheck.

Not only was she unemployed, but she’d have to give up her apartment. Which meant she had nowhere to live. Well, sure, the guys would let her live in the house. But still. She had nothing.

She seized up.
What had she done?

“Hey, hey.” Slater’s fingers stroked her shoulder. The warm, sure look in his eyes soothed. “You’re Emmie Valencia. You make things happen. This will open the door for even better opportunities.” He brushed his lips over the corner of her mouth. “How’d he take it?”

She blew out a slow breath. “He’s not happy. But I told him I’m not coming back without a promotion. Do you think I could stay here a little longer, you know, until I find a band he wants to sign?”

His hand pressed harder into her hip. “Yes, of course.” He swallowed. “You okay?”

“I mean, I’m freaking out. But I did what I had to do. And it’s done, and I don’t want to think about it. I want . . .” She drew in a breath.

“What do you want, Emmie?”

“I want . . .”
Oh, just say it
. “I just want my eleven days with you.”

He lunged for her, kissing her with a hunger that stole the breath from her lungs and sent her heart beating so fast she could feel it ticking in her neck. His hands held her face, drawing her closer so he could kiss her more deeply, more urgently.

“I want way more than that, Em.” His mouth moved down to her neck, her collarbone, her breast. His tongue swirled around her nipple while his other hand rode the curve of her waist, the rise of her hip. He slipped a finger between her legs, and her hips rocked into him at the first fiery wash of sensation. “I want more, but I’ll take my eleven days.”

“Slater,” she moaned.

He gently pushed her onto her back, pressing hot kisses along her stomach. His shoulders nudged her legs apart as he kissed the top of her curls, his tongue licking inside, making one slow, luxurious swipe across her clit. She arched off the bed, crying out, as the heat traveled along her limbs, curling around her heart, igniting her with pure erotic sensation.

And then his hands slid under her ass, lifting her, and he licked her with such passion and urgency that she lost herself in the feel of his tongue, his big hands, the delirium that swept her away. As the tension coiled to inexorable heights, she planted both feet on the mattress, raised her hips off the bed, and thrust against his mouth, needing more, faster, harder. She was out of her mind with pleasure, and she had to cry out for some kind of release. And then her body seized in a climax so intense stars exploded behind her eyelids.

He kissed his way back up her stomach, those big hands touching her everywhere, caressing her skin, charting the territory he owned. His mouth covered her nipple, making love to it, sucking so sensuously she felt the pull between her legs. She couldn’t take it anymore. She needed him inside her so badly. She reached between them, closed her hand around his hard, thick length, and guided him to her core. “I’m on birth control,” she whispered.

“Oh, thank Christ. I’m tested and clean.” He held himself over her, a hand at either side of her head, and took possession of her mouth before pushing inside.

His head reared back as he plunged into her, lighting up every nerve ending inside her sensitive channel. Yearning flared deep within, a driving need heightened and intensified with each forceful stroke. “Oh, fuck, Emmie. So good.”

Her hips slammed up to meet his, her body wild to reach satisfaction from this screaming demand for release that kept rising, twisting her, making her strain for something just out of reach.

In a frenzy, he hooked a hand under her knee and lifted her leg up to his shoulder, tilting her hips so that he stroked her clit with every thrust—and God, she cried out from the acute sensations that wouldn’t break but kept rising, making her cry out in frustration. She’d never felt so out of control in her life.

His grunts turned to moans, and then he was shouting as he clutched her hips and hammered into her.

Oh, God, finally, her body tightened as desire tore through her. Her eyes shut tightly as her climax hit, held, and wrung her out.

Harsh pants escaped his throat as he arched back, his hips grinding into her, swiveling. The muscles in his arms tightened, flexed. A few more slow, languid pumps, like he was savoring every last bit of pleasure, and then he collapsed on top of her. He breathed heavily, and his damp body covered hers. She wrapped her arms around his back, holding him close.

He exhaled roughly, then rolled to her side, reaching for her and drawing her in tight against him. “Give me a chance.” He kissed her cheek. “My Emmie.” And then his breathing evened out, and he fell asleep.

Emmie’s body thrummed, her nerves tingling all the way to her fingertips.

God, she loved his passion, his intensity. Believed, in this moment, he meant every word.

It was just . . . she knew something he couldn’t possibly know. Absence didn’t make the heart grow fonder. No, it weakened the bonds, lessened the intensity. It made lovers forget.

She knew what it felt like to wait at home while her man was on the road. It was excruciating. Never knowing what he did with his time, wondering at each voice she heard in the background over the phone. Anxiety driving her to do things she didn’t think herself capable of—like checking his Facebook messages, his jeans pockets.

Awful. It was just awful. No way to live.

She couldn’t go through that again, not for anything. She already knew how it ended.

But she had her eleven days. And she’d enjoy every minute of them.

The guys had trashed the house. Slater picked up a lamp and grabbed a few beer bottles on his way into the kitchen. He dumped them in the recycling bin before heading to the coffeemaker.

He was glad he’d missed the party. He’d needed the time to drive, to get his head on right. What goddamn timing. He wanted Emmie—wanted her so damn much—but he
had
to go on tour, obviously. But no way—no fucking way—would she wait for him. Not after what her pussy ex had done. Not with what she’d seen in this business.

So what was he supposed to do? He’d just gotten her—he couldn’t let her go. He had to prove himself to her—if she’d let him.

Would she?

At least she’d given him the next ten days. He’d have to show her what she meant to him in that time. How much he wanted her—for real. Not just for sex or a good time.

For real.

Damn. He thought of the way they’d kissed, the intensity of their fucking, and it made him hot and hard all over again. As the coffee machine popped and sputtered, he lowered his head, letting himself fall back into her touch.

And then he felt her hands slide around his waist, her soft breasts press against his back, and need jacked him up. But they were in the kitchen. Sure, the guys had partied hard and late, but he couldn’t take her here. Not with the chance someone could stumble in. So he held on to her hands, pressed them to his body.

She kissed his back, her hands lifting his shirt, gliding up his stomach to his chest. Pressing harder, she let her hands roam down his stomach, slide beneath his gym shorts, and clasp his cock. She murmured into his back, but he couldn’t hear anything past the roar of blood in his ears.

He spun around, grabbed her ass, and lifted her off the ground. His foot dragged out a kitchen chair and he sat down, placed her on his lap, and devoured that sexy mouth. She ground on him, her hips making little circles as she rocked against his raging erection.

“Fuck, not here, Em.”

“Here. Now.”

He was powerless when her tongue was in his mouth, her hands gripped his shoulders, and her pussy rode his cock through their clothes. His hand went up her shirt, the feel of her soft, round breasts filling him with out-of-control lust. He had to have her. Now.

“What the fuck?” roared Derek.

Emmie’s body jerked, and she scrambled off Slater. Before he knew what was happening, Derek rushed him. Emmie screamed, “No!” and threw herself in front of Slater. Slater caught her around the waist, taking Derek’s fist to the side of his head.

“You fucking scumbag motherfucker, I will kill you. I will fucking kill you.”

Ben stumbled into the kitchen, Cooper following close behind.

“Derek, Jesus Christ.” Ben threw himself at Derek to hold him back.

“Are you okay?” Slater asked Emmie.

She looked shaken, her gaze trained on her brother, who struggled to get out of the hold Cooper and Ben had on him.

“Stop it, Derek. Just stop it.” She stood, straightened her T-shirt.

But Derek pulled at his restraints. “You touched my goddamn sister? I warned you, man. I fucking told you to stay away from her.”

“No, Derek,” Emmie said. “You don’t understand. Let me talk to you privately.”

“No,
you
don’t understand. He fucks girls. That’s all he does.”

“Derek.” She reached for Slater’s hand. “It’s not like that. We’re together.”

Derek’s eyes widened, his face bright red. “You son of a bitch.” He tore out of Ben’s grip, then yanked himself away from Cooper and flew across the room. Emmie stepped in front of Slater again, and Derek barked, “Move. I’m going to kill you, motherfucker.”

“No,” Emmie shouted.

Slater’s girl was not going to get hurt, so he lifted her, set her aside, and let Derek come at him. Using Derek’s own momentum, Slater stepped back, grabbed his friend’s shirt in one hand and his arm with the other, and rammed him into the counter. Derek grunted before going down.

“Fuck.” He rolled onto his back, cradling his shoulder.

“Oh, my God, Derek.” Emmie rushed to her brother, kneeling beside him. “Are you hurt?” She set her hands on his arm.

“Fuck you, Slater.”

“Not gonna let you hurt my girl.”

Emmie cut Slater a look, her features going all soft and melty, before turning back to her brother. “Just tell me if you’re hurt.”

“I’m fine.” She helped him to his feet. Ben walked him over to a chair.

“What happened?” Ben asked.

“He had his hands all over my sister.”

Cooper sucked in a breath, looking at Slater for confirmation.

Ben looked at Slater like he’d known all along Slater would fuck things up.

Yeah, well, fuck him. He wouldn’t. Not this time.

“I warned you.” Derek slowly got to his feet.

“You warned me about hurting her. I don’t plan on hurting her.”

“Why her? You can have any girl you want. Why my
sister
?”

A heavy tension filled the room, pressing in on him. Everyone stared at him, waiting.

So he told the truth. “Because I want her.” And then emotion got him in a clench, and he said even harder, “I want
her
.”

Emmie’s eyes flared, and he knew that sultry look. Happiness suffused him.

“Em?” Derek said, grimacing in pain.

She shrugged. “I want him, too, Derek. I do.” Her eyes glimmered with tears.

“We’re
leaving
, Em,” Derek said. “We’re going on tour. Thirty-six cities in fifteen states. He’s not going to keep it in his pants.”

“You think I don’t know that? You think there’s anything else on my mind
but
that?” She gave him a pleading look. “I can’t help it, Derek. I want him. And I can’t walk away. I just can’t. Not yet. Let me just have my time with him, okay?” She put her hand on her brother’s shoulder. “Do you need an ice pack?”

Derek shook his head.

Her time with him. Slater hated that she wouldn’t think past their few days together.

“Well, I need a shower.” She gave Derek a meaningful look. “Don’t hurt him. This is between me and him. I love you for looking out for me, but stay out of it.”

She went upstairs.

Slater gave Ben and Cooper a look, and they quietly left the room. Pulling out a chair next to Derek, Slater sat down, keeping his mouth shut so Derek could wrap his head around what had just happened. He’d let Derek go first.

“What’re you doing, man?” Derek finally asked. “You don’t do relationships.”

“I’ve never met anyone I wanted one with.”

“Why my sister? I mean, shit. I’m serious, you’ve got a thousand chicks to choose from. You didn’t have to choose her.”

Slater knew he had to pick his words carefully. So he took his time. Derek rubbed his shoulder, grimacing in pain. “You want some ice?”

“What I want is for you to leave my sister alone.” Derek set his elbows on his knees, hands coming together. “She’s a really good person.”

“I know it. And I’m the lucky bastard she wants. You think I should walk away from that? What, because I’m not good enough for her? Bullshit. If I’m lucky enough to be the guy she wants, you can bet your fucking life I’m going to take it.” And prove to her he wanted more than ten damn days.

Derek didn’t look angry. He just looked . . . confused.

Slater got up and poured himself some coffee. “I know you don’t see it right now, but when you calm down, you’ll see. Emmie and I . . . we fit. And I’m not going to fuck it up. You don’t have to like her with me, but you do have to stay out of it. She’s made her choice, and now all you can do is be there for her. Just like she’s always been there for you, whether she agreed with your choices or not.” He poured a second cup for his girl, filled it with cream and sugar, and followed the scent of her up the stairs.

*   *   *

Nudging the door open with his knee, Slater came in and put her mug on the nightstand. He sat beside her on the bed, wanting nothing more than to ease those worry lines around her eyes. He took a fortifying drink of his coffee, then set the mug down.

“Come here.” As he stretched out on the bed, he pulled her to him, and they curled up together.

“That was awful.” She caressed his arm. “I should’ve told him, like you wanted.”

“I’m glad it happened.”

She gave him a reprimanding look.

“I am. It showed me something. Your brother put it right in your face—your worst fear. And you came right back at him. You told him you knew the risk but were going for it anyway.”

She lowered her head onto the pillow, relaxing a little. “For ten days.”

The fear in her eyes told him she wasn’t in this with him. Not yet. “Hey. I’m not your pussy ex.”

Irritation crossed her pretty features.

“You can’t lump all musicians together.”

“Slater—” She started to object, getting all worked up again.

He lifted up on an elbow. “Christ, give me a break. I know what it feels like to be with groupies, Em. I’ve done it enough to know exactly what it’s like. If I wanted more of it, I wouldn’t be fucking with you.”

“What does it feel like?”

He hadn’t given it much thought before, but he knew he needed to now. He had to nail it. So he looked away to find the words, the feelings. “It’s reckless. It’s titillating. It’s fast and hot and raunchy. And then, thirty seconds later, it’s done. The high is gone. And she’s no longer this sexy object of lust. She’s a girl. A little drunk, a little disheveled. And, worst of all, a total stranger.”

He leaned toward her. “It’s empty. And when I’m done, all I want is to get away.” Did she get it? He could still see the apprehension, the doubt. So he dug deeper. “The thing is, I’ve been alone all my life. Even when I was with my parents, I was completely alone. Because my dad didn’t want to know me. He just wanted me to do what he wanted, when he wanted, and how he wanted. Same with the women. So there’s nothing more familiar to me than that feeling of a one-night stand. And now I know what it’s like to be with
you
. This connection we have, this . . . I mean, you get it, right? You feel it?”

Her features softened, and she nodded.

“So, then, why would I ever trade
this
for my old life? Ever?”

“You’ll forget. You’ll get lonely.”

“Not if we
try
. If we Skype and text and email and Facebook and phone each other, how can I get lonely?”

“You sure you can handle all that technology?”

He smiled. “Testament to how badly I want you is my willingness to learn all that shit.” Leaning toward her, he sifted his hands through that silky hair. “I’ll take my ten days if that’s all I can get. But dammit, Emmie, I want more. I need more. Don’t you? Can you really walk away from this?”

She surged into him, kissing him, her hand wrapping around his back. “I don’t want to.” She pressed into him, her tongue slipping into his mouth, coaxing his out. Desire burned through him, and he couldn’t help grinding against her thigh. “Oh, God, Slater.”

Her hand stroked down his stomach until she reached his hard cock. She closed her hand around him.

He inhaled sharply when she tightened her hold, running her hand slowly up his length. “Emmie.”

She kissed him, her tongue stroking into his mouth, her hand pumping his cock, making his hips move in rhythm . . . his spine tingle . . . his body burn.

“Ah.” Prying her hand off him, he sat up. Reaching for her shirt, he said, “Off.”

She tugged it off, skimmed out of pajama shorts and panties, tossed them off the bed. He smiled at her, emotion rushing in.

“What?” she said breathlessly.

“I’m happy.”

He leaned over her, kneed her legs open. Grabbing hold of his cock, he rubbed it along her slick seam. Her neck arched off the pillow, and she let out a soft, slow moan. God, she was so wet, so fucking hot. Her hips lifted, rubbing herself against him, wedging his cock deeper inside. That scorching heat, the clenching, satiny flesh. Christ, he couldn’t take it anymore. He thrust inside her, and her back came off the mattress.

She twisted, eyes closing in ecstasy, as he pushed all the way inside her slick, tight pussy. Gasping, she reached down, grabbed his ass, and pulled him even deeper, squeezing his flesh and holding him tight to her body.

Oh, fuck, he’d never felt so much. His heart couldn’t take all this . . . this happiness. How could he go from such an empty life to this—this fullness? It was like he’d been living in shadows, and now suddenly his world exploded in color, heat, laughter . . . She made him so damn happy.

He needed to see her, all of her. Gripping her ass, he rolled them over so she was on top. Damn, those eyes, hooded with lust. She rolled her hips, and her hands stroked over his chest. She moved slowly, like she was getting the feel of him. But he didn’t have time. He seriously couldn’t take the sight of her looking so wanton and sexy. Just as her head tipped back, her hair cascading behind her, he grabbed her hips, thrust up into her. She swung forward and had to grip his shoulders, dig her fingernails into his skin as he rammed up hard inside her.

She cried out, draping her body across his chest. He could feel her nipples rub over him with each thrust of his hips. He pounded into her so hard, perspiration dampened his skin. She was slick, tight, and so fucking wet. He knew she needed it slow, but he couldn’t for the life of him control this ferocious need to have her.

“Em, fuck. I—”

But she wouldn’t let him go wild. No, she just rose lazily, giving him a seductress’s smile as she dragged her fingers down his chest. Leaning back, her hands gripped his thighs as she continued to ride him in the hottest way he’d ever seen. Her breasts bounced, and her long hair softly whipped his legs. Desire rushed him so hard he stuttered out awkward, pained sounds.

“Oh, fuck, Em. Jesus fucking Christ.” His mind gave over completely to this wild, driving demand for release. He couldn’t stop the frantic bucking of his hips, couldn’t ease the tight, commanding grip on her skin as he guided her.

“Please come, Emmie. Oh, fuck, fuck, fuck, please come.” He found her clit, circled it with his finger.

She lurched forward, her hair spilling over her chest, covering her breasts. “Oh, God, oh . . . oh, my God.”