Play Your Heart Out: A Rock Star Romance (Sinful Serenade Book 4) (21 page)

"Want me to take care of him?"

"What would you do?"

"Know people who can fuck with his future."

I shake my head. "No... that's okay." I stare into Pete's deep brown eyes. "Are you sure this won't get out?"

"Yeah."

"You promise?”

"Anybody who wants to hurt you is gonna die trying."

I take a deep breath. The certainty in his expression eases some of the tension in my shoulders. "Okay."

He runs his fingertips over my chin. "You want to talk about it?"

"No. I want to... not feel so vulnerable."

"Fuck, Jess. I'm so sorry. This is my fault."

"Stop saying that. I knew what I was getting into agreeing to do this. I made my choice and I don't regret it." My eyes meet his. "You leaked those pictures so the site would bury mine."

"Yeah. That a problem?"

"No. It's sweet. Weird but sweet."

The fear in my stomach melts. He's willing to go to great lengths to protect me. I trust him that there won't be any more leaks.

I trust him with my heart.

I... I'm falling in love with him.

His lips curl into a smile. "I have better ones for your eyes only."

"Better how?"

He pulls out his cell, taps the screen a few times, and hands it to me.

Oh my. These are better. He isn't just naked. He's touching himself.

I think I'm going to faint.

"Wait. Did this Hazel person shoot this?" I stare back at him.

He chuckles. "You're jealous?"

"Did she?"

"No. Tripod."

"Good."

He plants a kiss on my lips. "I like you jealous."

***

A
fter a dinner of Thai delivery and a viewing of the ultimate legal thriller
The Firm
, we settle in the backyard. I sit on the cool concrete and dip my feet in the pool.

Pete sits next to me, his hands planted behind him, his eyes on the sky. It's dark enough in the hills that the black night is dotted with shining stars.

They're beautiful. They have nothing on him, but they're beautiful nonetheless.

Between the pool, the stars, and the warm breeze, the mood is disgustingly romantic. If I didn't know better, I'd be tempted to pin him to the concrete and confess my feelings.

I nudge him playfully. "Is this your usual seduction style?"

He smiles. "Not without a bottle of whiskey."

"Really?"

Pete cocks a brow. "You tell me."

I shake my head, trying not to get lost in the light flickering over his eyes. "I don't buy it."

"Don't think I need to try that hard to seduce you."

My cheeks flush. It's true. Judging from the proud expression on his face, he knows it too.

Still... "I confess nothing."

"So I need to present evidence to prove my case?"

I nod.

He slides his hand under my skirt.

It skims my thigh. Closer. Closer. Closer. Then his palm is pressed against me, over my panties.

His fingers slip inside my panties. They skim my sex. I gasp, clutching at his muscular bicep so I'll maintain some hint of control.

He leans in to whisper in my ear. "You're wet."

I groan.

He continues his cruel teasing, taking my earlobe between his lips and sucking hard, rubbing my clit with a feather light touch.

I groan. "Pete. Please. If you keep teasing me, I'm going to report you to the authorities for mistreatment of a contractor."

He pulls away instantly. His expression hardens. "That's not what you think of our relationship."

"How do you know?"

"I know." His voice gets rough. "Why say that?"

Because I can't say what I'm actually feeling. I take a deep breath. "Because I'm scared of the truth."

He doesn't acknowledge my statement. Instead, he slips back to teasing. "Might allow you to make it up to me."

"Generous of you."

A smile breaks up the frustration on his face. He moves close enough to kiss me. He slides his hand around my neck with a gentle touch.

He looks at me like he's going to kiss me.

But he doesn't kiss me. He just stares into my eyes with that penetrating gaze. The one that sees through me.

His voice softens. "Are you gonna make me guess at the truth?"

"No. You know what it is." My eyes meet his. A look of understanding passes between us.

"You have feelings for me."

I nod. "I'm sorry. You've been clear. I can't help it."

"Promise me something, Jess."

"Yeah?" I finally manage to look him in the eyes. All the affection in his expression flows through me. I forget how to breathe.

"Promise you won't apologize for your feelings ever again."

"Why should I promise you anything?"

"Cause you want to get in my pants."

"Do I have to work that hard?"

He nods.

His lips curl into a smile. It does things to me, that smile. He takes my hands, his fingertips skimming my palms.

His gaze is fixed on me. I can feel it, even with my gaze on my thighs.

He has feelings for me too. I know he does. But does he realize it?

He slides his hands around my waist and pulls me into his lap. I squeal, clutching at his shoulders. No way am I falling into that pool.

In one swift motion, he lies on his back and pulls my body on top of his.

The way he's looking at me with affection, the way he finds the tie holding together my French braid, pulls it out, and digs his hands through my hair—he must know what he's doing.

I take a deep breath. I have to ask. "Do you have feelings for me?"

"You really want to know?"

I nod.

"Yeah. I do." He brings his palm to my cheek, running his thumb over my chin with all the affection in the world. "But this isn't going to turn into something forever. Don't want a relationship."

"I know," I whisper.

"And you're okay with that?"

No. Yes. It's confusing.

What the hell am I supposed to do with all these feelings?

I care about him.

He cares about me.

We're sharing things we've never shared with anyone else.

But somehow, this can't be forever.

It doesn't add up. For a second, I wish I'd majored in math instead of literature. There's always an answer with math. Two plus two is four. With literature, everything is open to interpretation.

But then Pete isn't an algebra equation. He's fucking
Heart Of Darkness
—impossible to understand without careful scrutiny.

I want to tell him the truth. "I don't know." My eyes find his. I'm hot and cold at once. Every part of me wants every part of him.

Which is worse—my heart breaking now or later?

"I don't want to hurt you," he says. "I care about you."

"I..." I take a deep breath. It's better to get him now, whatever that means later. "I'm okay with it." I think. Mostly.

My stomach clenches. It's close to a lie.

He stares back at me, picking me apart. Can he tell it's close to a lie?

I'm not sure.

"I had something planned for tonight. Still want to do it." His eyes bore into mine. "If you're sure."

I nod. "I'm sure."

"Haven't told you what it was yet."

"I trust you."

His lips curl into a half smile. "I want to tie you up."

Instantly, my body is buzzing. I'm not sure which way is up or which way is down. I want him every way I can have him.

If this is the only way, it's better than nothing.

It's better than most things.

He stares back at me. "Talk to me, Jess."

"Yes. Now."

He takes my hands and pulls me up with him.

––––––––

By the time we're in my bedroom, I'm buzzing. Pete is going to tie me up.

Holy fucking hell.

He's seamless about sliding his arms around my waist and throwing me on the bed. I bounce from the impact. I'm hungry. I'm desperate.

I let my legs splay open. I arch my back. I toss my glasses on the bedside table.

He's on top of me in an instant. The weight of his body sinks into mine, pins me against the mattress. This one is springs, not foam. It has little give.

I get every inch of him. Not the mattress. Me. I'm greedy enough that it matters.

His lips press against mine. He's just as hungry. Just as desperate to be out of his head.

He drags his teeth over my lower lip. It draws all my attention back to the moment.

He does it again, harder. I gasp into his mouth. My hands go to his hair. God damn, how I love that thick hair of his. Just enough to grab. I hold his head against mine, parting my lips for him, sliding my tongue around his.

Is it possible to get off from a kiss? It must be with the way my sex is pulsing.

This isn't going to turn into something forever
.

The words echo in my brain. I have to prove him wrong.

Is it even possible to prove him wrong?

I have to make him realize it.

Somehow.

The decision eases the tension in my back. No more thinking. I need to go back to light and free, the way I felt before, the way I only feel with him.

I kiss him harder. Bring my hands to his shoulders then down his back.

He groans into my mouth. I groan back. It's not enough of him. I need all of him. I wrap my legs around his waist and pull his body onto mine. Better. I can feel his hard-on. Only the thinnest layers of cotton between us.

Pete breaks the kiss. His eyes meet mine. Right now, I know exactly what he's thinking.

He wants me.

He wraps his hands around my wrists and pins them over my head. "You sure about this?"

A shiver runs down my spine. I can't remember ever being more sure of anything. I nod. "I want to try everything with you."

He straddles me then reaches for the restraints. "You can tell Tom about this tomorrow. He'll flip."

"You've got me in used restraints?" I tease.

He nods. "I think they're clean."

"Think?"

"You want to back out?"

"God no."

Despite his insistence that he hasn't done this before, he cinches the leather restraint in seconds. Then he's onto my other wrist.

"Why are you so good at this?" I ask.

"You know what they say about bassists."

I shake my head. "What's that?"

"Great with their hands. But they're not showy about it." He reaches under my back and unhooks my bra.

I groan as he pulls one cup down. He teases my nipple with his thumb. The whole time his eyes are fixed on mine.

It's intense, the way he's looking at me like he wants to consume me. I understand him here. I'm going to understand him everywhere.

But we are here. And I like here. I take a deep breath as my eyelids press together. I'm in this moment. Only this moment. Tomorrow doesn't exist. The end of this, whenever that is, doesn't exist.

He presses his lips against mine. It's a hard kiss. My wrists tug against the restraints as I go for his hair. There's a pressure but it doesn't hurt.

It's different kissing him without being able to touch him. I can feel more subtleties in the movements of his mouth—the way he sucks on my bottom lip then scrapes his teeth against it. The way his tongue slides into my mouth. The vibrations of his groans against my skin.

I kiss back and wrap my legs around his waist. I get lost in the movements of our mouths.

His lips break with mine. They plant on my jaw, soft and wet. Then they're on my neck. My collarbone. My shoulder. The top of my chest.

Lower. Lower. There. His mouth closes around my nipple. My instincts scream that I want to grab him, hold him, do something to react. Instead, I groan his name.

"Pete. Please. Stop teasing."

He flicks his tongue against me. "This is nothing."

He smiles a truly evil smile that screams
I'm going to tease you until you're begging
. My sex clenches at the thought. God damn, I love what a tease he is.

He spends minutes sucking on my nipple. Harder and harder until I'm groaning and squirming. I wrap my legs around him, my thighs against his hips. I buck my hips in hopes of some contact for my aching sex but get none.

"Please," I groan. "Please touch me."

"Soon."

He moves to my other nipple and teases it just as mercilessly. He's sucking hard when he finally brings his hands to my hips. He pulls our bodies together, so his cock presses against my clit. God damn underwear is in the way. It's still enough to send a wave of pleasure through my body.

Now.

I need him now.

My groans run together as he scrapes his teeth against my nipple. It's light enough it doesn't hurt, but the difference in sensation sends shock after shock of pleasure to my sex.

Mmm.

"Please, Pete. Are you really going to make me beg?"

"Make you beg? No." He rocks against me. "This is what you want. I'm not gonna make you do anything."

Pleasure shoots to my fingers and toes as he rocks against me again.

He shifts. In one smooth movement, he nudges my legs apart and pulls my underwear to my knees.

There. It's at my feet. It's gone.

"I want you to come on my face." He scrapes his teeth against my inner thigh. "Is there a problem?"

"No," I groan.

His lips trail up my thigh. Almost. Almost.

His tongue flicks against my clit. With my hands bound, I can't hold him against me. Can't tug at his hair or claw at his back. All I can do is groan and move my lower body.

He teases with another feather light flick. Again. Again. Again.

I'm at his mercy. Completely under his control. But then, that's always been true. It's just a little more technical this time.

Anticipation courses through me as he teases and teases and teases.

His tongue slides over me, flat and wet and just the right amount of pressure. I sigh with relief. A thank you rises up in my throat but it comes out as a mumble of vowels.

No more teasing, he licks me up and down. I gasp as his tongue plunges inside me. Holy fucking hell. This is the most intense sex I've ever had. Period.

Tension knots in my core. Closer. Closer. He works his way back to my clit, replacing his tongue with one finger. Then two.