Rock Solid (Rock Hard #3) Seduced By The Rockstar - BBW Erotic Romance (2 page)

“Listen to me.” She was surprised by the
sharp edge to her voice. She tried again. “Gage, please listen to
me. I said that I’ll meet you, but I just need to think first. And
to get some sleep. Plus, Ursula wants to talk to me. She thinks I
screwed up the articles. Call me tomorrow and we’ll meet, okay?
Give me a day to get my head together. Is that okay?”

She heard Gage sigh gruffly on the other end
of the line. “Okay, Kate. I’ll wait. However long you need…I’ll be
right here.”

“I just need the night, Gage. I’ll talk to
you tomorrow.” She clicked the off button but kept the phone in her
hand, squeezing it tightly, hoping that she was doing the right
thing. Her head was pounding, and her heart ached as if were
crumbling in her chest. She was confused; her emotions tangled in a
web of chaos and uncertainty, her nerves shot. He had said it – he
had actually told her that he loved her, and yet she hadn’t
responded in the way that she had wanted to…in a way that he would
have expected and she knew that once again she had hurt him.

She did love him, that much was for certain,
but she wasn’t sure where this was headed or how far it could go.
She didn’t want to hurt him again, yet she couldn’t help but feel
twisted up inside at the tortured tone in his voice. He was
hurting…badly. She knew what she had to do. She needed to get
Ursula under control first before she could deal with Gage. With a
slow hand, she picked up the phone, punching in the number for her
boss.

***

Gage’s suite at the W on Lexington Avenue was
smaller than his usual style, but he had a sense that part of what
overwhelmed Kate was the over-the-top lifestyle she saw him living
while he was on tour. Playing it low-key now seemed like the way to
go, to show her that life with him could be normal.

Belatedly, Gage remembered to call his
manager, listening to the tirade from the man about how Gage had
been irresponsible, disappearing without a trace, for not sticking
around for the press after the last concert. And he gave him hell
for going after Jeremy. Gage let the man ramble and then cut the
call short, telling him he’d be in touch. At least that got his
manager off his back for a while.

He’d been unable to sleep, pacing the floor,
heading out onto the private terrace of his suite. The lights of
New York at night were absolutely beautiful; he would never get
tired of the energy of this vibrant city. Oddly enough, it was one
of the few cities he didn’t own property in. Maybe it was time to
start looking.

Gage wandered back into his bedroom, turning
on some soft music, anything to distract his thoughts from Kate. He
finally flung himself down on the bed. Kate had been endlessly on
his mind since she’d stormed out of the tour bus. There had been a
desperate moment when he’d called her Magazine asking for her. But
the name Gage Stevens opened doors and apparently got snooty
receptionists to put calls though. After an interminable time on
hold, listening to horrible canned synthesizer music, he was put
through to a brusque woman who told him she was Kate’s boss. She
also told him his request was highly unusual. After another lengthy
hold, she returned, giving him Kate’s home phone number. He thought
he thanked her, but he wasn’t sure. She’d started explaining his
manager was looking for him, but he’d already ended the call,
cutting her voice off in mid-sentence.

The conversation with Kate hadn’t gone the
way he’d wanted, but he was finally beginning to understand that he
needed to do this at her pace, not his. Being in control was second
nature to him; letting go and letting her take the lead was going
to be a challenge. But he was willing to do whatever it took to get
her back, and to keep her.

Eventually he drifted off, the soft sounds of
the music lulling him to sleep. He dreamed of Kate, her soft skin
beneath his hands, kissing every inch of her lush body, her breasts
so soft as he sucked her nipples. She responded to his every touch,
arching up beneath him, screaming out his name as she came, as he
came with her, both of them spiraling upward on a whirlwind of
ecstasy…his name on her lips, telling him she loved him…
I love
you, Gage
…

Gage woke with a start, drenched in sweat,
not knowing where he was. He reached blindly for Kate, but the wide
bed was empty. Opening his eyes, he looked around, slowly making
sense of the strange room, finally remembering he was in New
York.

His huge erection reminded him of his dream,
every vivid detail making his cock throb and ache. The bathroom in
the suite had a large steam shower and he headed there, the images
of Kate’s body as she arched and twisted beneath him so fresh in
his mind it was almost painful. Gage stood a long time beneath the
hot water, his hand stroking his cock, hips thrusting forward as he
replayed the dream, replayed making love to Kate. As he came, he
called out her name, eyes closed, head back.

Gage rested his forehead on the cool tile of
the shower as he caught his breath. Masturbating in the shower was
nothing compared to the real deal, to making love to Kate. He
turned off the water, grabbed a towel and wrapped it around his
waist, heading to the bedroom and the phone. He’d waited long
enough. It was morning, barely, and Kate had told him to wait a
day.
Close enough.

His hands were trembling as he punched in her
number. Taking a deep breath, he listened as the call went through,
counting the rings.

“Come on, Kate. Pick up.” He paced through
his suite, his towel slipping from his wet body. As he juggled the
phone and the towel, he heard her answer.

“Kate? It’s me. How are you?”

“Hi, Gage. I’m fine. Better than yesterday.
At least more rested than yesterday. How are you? Where are you
staying?”

“Good, I’m good. I’m at the W on Lex.” There
was an awkward silence. He heard Kate’s soft laugh on the other end
of the phone.

“What’s so funny?”

“Us. I mean, we sound like awkward teenagers
on the phone, not knowing what to say. It just made me laugh.”

Gage smiled. “It’s good to hear you laugh,
Kate. I like the sound of your laugh.” He took a deep breath.
“Look, I’d like to meet some place, here at the W or wherever you
want. I just want to see you, not do this over the phone. Are you
ready to see me?”

It seemed an eternity before she answered.
“Yes, I’ll meet you. Not at the hotel though. Someplace else. I
have to meet with Ursula this morning so how about we have lunch at
Sarabeth’s on Park Avenue? I’ll meet you there around say,
11:00?”

“Alright. I’ll be there.” Gage hesitated.
“Kate, I meant what I said. I do love you.”

“I know you do, Gage. I’ll see you at
Sarabeth’s.”

And then she was gone. Gage replaced the
phone. Looking down he realized he was naked, the towel pooled on
the floor at his feet. And he realized the sound of Kate’s voice
had given him another erection. He looked at his watch; it was a
long time until lunch. He scooped up the towel from the floor,
heading back to the shower.

***

Even though she knew he would call
practically at first light, Gage’s phone call had still startled
her. His admission, again, that he loved her sent a shiver through
her body, making her heart sing. But her rational mind kept telling
her not to be swayed by three little words.

She glanced at the clock; if she didn’t leave
now, she’d be late for her meeting Ursula. And she had the distinct
impression being late would be the final straw.

The offices for Stardom Magazine were on Park
Avenue. The building always intimidated Kate, even though she loved
her job. But this morning she was too nervous to even be
intimidated by the glass and metal structure. She took the elevator
to the 30
^th
floor, nodding hello to the receptionist.
But instead of her usually disdainful look, the girl waved her
over.

“Really, Kate? Gage Stevens? What happened?
Spill the details.” The girl leaned forward, eyes wide, waiting for
the juicy gossip.

Kate was at a loss; she didn’t even know the
girl’s name. “Um, well, not much. You know, tour stuff. It was
pretty hectic.”

“Playing coy? No one like Gage Stevens has
ever called here asking for the personal phone number of some lowly
copy writer.” The girl sat back, giving Kate a smug look. She
opened her mouth to continue, but thankfully the phone rang,
distracting the girl and giving Kate a chance to escape.

Kate’s cubicle was just as she left it, with
the same dusty disused air as her apartment. Shoving a messy stack
of interoffice mail to the side, she cleared a space, dropping her
bag on the desk. She pulled out her digital tape recorder, checking
the batteries and listening for a few moments to the audio
recordings. She took out the notebook full of entries from the
tour, flipping through the pages of interviews with the crew, the
band and with Gage. Everything that had happened,
sans her
personal encounters
, was documented, along with her impressions
and thoughts. She smiled at some of the notes she’d made, at some
of the comments of the band members and crew.

Kate flipped to the last handwritten page,
cringing at the notes she’d scrawled on the plane home, in the dim
light of the cabin as she flew through the dark, running away from
Gage. The notes were terse, barely legible, but still captured the
intense feelings of joy and exhilaration she’d felt as she’d
watched Gage perform from the crush and heat of the audience. She’d
been so close to the stage he could have reached down and touched
her. The fans around her, all girls, had been in a frenzy,
screaming Gage’s name. But for a moment, it had been just her and
Gage, their eyes meeting, the noise fading away. She’d been so
proud of him, to see him giving so much of himself to the crowd, to
his fans, letting the music he’d created wash over them. He was
truly in his element and it showed.

And then the spell was broken. The sounds of
the crowd came rushing back, filling her ears, bodies jostling her
roughly. Gage was waving to the screaming audience, leaving the
stage, the concert over. And then, unbidden, the rest of that night
came rushing back. Kate closed her eyes, willing the memories back
where they came from.

But the feel of Gage’s hands on her body, as
they made frantic passionate love on the tour bus, his whole body
claiming hers, made her skin prickle with goose bumps. She closed
her eyes, helpless as the flood of impressions filled her mind. An
unbidden heat rose through her body, an involuntary shudder
coursing through her.

“Kate Preston. It’s about time you grace us
with your presence.”

Kate swung around in her chair. Ursula was
standing in her cubicle, hands on her hips.

“Ursula. I’m…I’ve…sorry I’m late.”

“My office. Now. And bring your notes.”
Ursula turned on her heel, leaving Kate’s cubicle. Kate gathered
her notebook and recorder, and followed, trying to avoid the
curious glances of her co-workers.

Ursula held the door for Kate. As soon as
Kate was seated, Ursula closed the door. She took a seat behind her
desk, looking coolly at Kate for a long moment.

“You know that this assignment was given to
you because your previous interview with Gage Stevens had been so
extraordinary. We all assumed, perhaps incorrectly, that your
relationship with Mr. Stevens would aid you in getting us a stellar
series of interviews based on his recent tour.” Ursula took a
breath.

“But apparently your ‘relationship’ with Gage
has perhaps interfered with that assignment?” Ursula leaned
forward.

“I need you to be honest with me, Kate. What
do you have?”

Kate took a deep breath. “I have my
recordings of every interview, along with my notes, my impressions
of the concerts, my thoughts on the interviews. There’s over 30
hours of digital content and a full notebook.” Kate set the
recorder and notebook on the edge of Ursula’s desk.

Ursula sat back, looking at Kate. Kate felt
like a mouse, waiting for the cat to make its move. She tried to
look composed, not to let her emotions get the better of her.

“Do you think you can write this series and
have it in by deadline?” Ursula’s voice had dropped the sharp edge;
she sounded more like the boss Kate was used to.

“Yes, of course. I’ve started the outline for
the first article, laying out the format I’ll use for the rest of
the series. There’s enough digital content for at least one major
player interview per week, along with a strong article to run with
the interview as a sidebar.” Kate stopped for a breath. She
realized she was babbling and she forced herself to slow down.

“I also have a series of photos from the
concerts. They’re candid, action filled shots of the stage from the
audience perspective. And I obtained some stills from Gage’s…from
the manager to use with the interviews.”

Ursula leaned forward again. After a long
moment she spoke. “Okay. You have one week to get me something to
print. I want this in the next issue. Get the photos to Dave so he
can start work on them. That’s all.” Ursula dismissed Kate with a
wave of her hand.

Kate nodded, gathering her recorder and
notebook. Once she was back in her cubicle, she allowed herself to
finally draw a deep breath. One week. Completely doable. She called
Dave in the art department and arranged to download her photos to
the Magazine’s system.

As she hung up the phone, she glanced at the
clock. It was coming up on 11:00. She’d need to leave now or she’d
be late for her meeting with Gage. At the thought of seeing him
again, her heart began to thump erratically. She drew a ragged
breath, stuffed her recorder and notebook in her bag and headed for
the elevators. Once she hit the lobby, she avoided the receptionist
and hailed a cab.