Wonderlust (Steel Roses #1) (20 page)

I should have been happy spending time with my parents in San Francisco, but I wasn’t. Alex had flown me up first class to spend a few days with them. The cruise had anchored there for three days, so we’d checked into a hotel.

We spent the days sightseeing, looking at antique shops and catching up. The problem with my parents was that they could read me like a book.

“You seem very distracted, Natty,” my father mused, looking over his newspaper at breakfast. “Is everything okay?”

“It’s difficult to switch off from my job. It’s been nonstop since I started.”

He looked over at my mother, giving her a wide smile. “Can you believe that our little girl is the PA for the biggest rock star in the world? We’re so proud of you, Sweetheart.”

“Thank you, Daddy.” Taking another piece of toast, I turned to my mother. “Are we going to have a spa session today before you head back to the cruise ship?”

“Yes. It will do you some good. You need to look after your skin, too. Bambino, are you drinking enough water in LA?”

“Yes, and I’ve been eating my fruits and vegetables. Mary, the housekeeper, is very good to me.”

“I’m glad someone is looking out for you. Now, are you going to fill us in on Alex? You’ve hardly mentioned him these past few days.”

“There isn’t much to tell,” I sighed. “He’s your typical rock star. It’s all parties, drink, and women.”

“He seemed protective of you in the photos we’ve seen in magazines.” My mother paid too much attention sometimes. “There were even some taken at a bar in New York. You looked very
cozy
.”

“What are you saying, Mother?”

“Only what the press is.” Shaking my head, I laughed. “Just be careful. You know what they say about him.”

“Mum, the press have no idea! Okay, he’s egotistical, but he’s allowed to be. He’s famous, but he has another side.”

“Really?” My mum seemed
too
interested. “What’s this other side like, then?”

“He’s just…
normal
.” It was true. Behind closed doors, Alex was a normal man, trying to find his way through life.

“I see.” My mother looked like she was plotting something while she sipped her coffee.

“You two better book your spa sessions. We don’t have that long until we set sail again.” Today was my last day with them, but I was excited to know that I’d be heading back to LA later this evening.

Alex and I had spoken a few times while I’d been in San Francisco, but we’d mostly been texting. I looked down at my phone as it suddenly went off and tried to hold in a giggle.

I slept in your bed last night. Hope you don’t mind. Jackhammer misses you, too. ;)

I needed something witty to send back to him. While brushing my teeth, I quickly replied.

Did you get chocolate on your sheets again? Tell Jackhammer that I’ll see him soon. I’m off to the spa to get ready for him, actually. ;)

“Are you ready, Natty?” my mother called from our suite. “Your father is going to sit in reception with his book while we’re at the spa.”

“Almost. I’m just brushing my teeth.” I called, snorting at Alex’s response.

I’m going to get something on my sheets after THAT message. Or should I say your sheets? I’m in your bed, after all. ;)

I didn’t have time to respond to him. My mother was waiting impatiently by the bathroom door. I’d see him later today anyway.

“You and Dad seem to be enjoying the cruise,” I stated. I’d been scrubbed, waxed, and massaged practically everywhere, and felt so relaxed that I could hardly keep my eyes open as I lay on the lounger.

“It’s wonderful. We should have done it sooner.”

“Do you think you’ll do it again sometime?”

“Maybe in a few years. How long do you intend on staying in LA?” She had me there. I truthfully had no idea. “Don’t you miss London? What about Liv and David?”

“It wasn’t going anywhere, Mum. He is
engaged
. ”

“Engagements break off all the time. The man doesn’t have a ring on his finger yet.”

“Mother, I’m not going to chase a man that is
already
spoken for!”

“I worry about you, Natty. Don’t you want to settle down? This job in LA…are you sure it’s you? Mixing with all those…” She was struggling for a word.

“Celebrities?” I asked, arching my eyebrow.

“No, drug addicts!”

“Oh, Mum, please. I’m twenty-nine. I can look after myself.”

“I don’t want you mixed up in all of that!”

“Alex would never put me in harms way. His mansion isn’t some drug den.”

“That doesn’t make me feel any better! Are you sure this is the right choice for you, Nat? You and David…I always thought one day he’d open his eyes and realize what he has with you.”

“He wasn’t interested in me in that way. It was just sex.” Sometimes I wished I wasn’t so open with my mother. She knew everything about my life. Well, except for the fact that I
was
sleeping with Alex. She’d blow a fuse if I told her, though.

“It’s never just about sex. There
must
have been more.”

“You don’t know the modern man very well, do you? I’m happy, Mum, and I know what I’m doing. Please don’t worry about me.”

“I’m your mother. It’s my job to worry.” I nodded, giving her a sympathetic smile.

“Try and worry a little less, then.” I knew what I was doing to a certain extent, and I certainly wasn’t going to stress her out with what was really going on. I had to trust myself and my feelings. Not that it mattered. I was in too deep with Alex already. Falling for a rock star. After everything I’d already been through, how did I let that happen?

It was emotional when we said our goodbyes. My parents still had four months left on their cruise, but seemed reluctant to leave me. It was more my mother, but I was a big girl now, even if she did worry about me.

I sat on my first class flight back to LA with butterflies in my stomach. I’d only been apart from Alex for three days, but my body was burning for him. It made me wonder how he’d coped without me these last few days.

I caught a cab from the airport. My plane landed quite late and I didn’t want to disturb Shane. Jimmy was on night duty and let me in. The place seemed pretty quiet compared to a few weeks ago when Central Demon had been here.

Walking into the house, I dropped my bags and headed toward the kitchen to get a drink.

“Oh,
you're
back,” a female spat from behind me. I froze taking a sip my water, recognizing the voice. What the fuck was
Maddison
doing here?

“What the hell are you doing here?” I couldn’t control my rage. Why was it that every time my back was turned, some bimbo was trying to make a move on Alex?

“I was invited.”

“Like fuck you were!” I wanted to throw my water in her face but held off.

She walked toward the large metal fridge and took out a can of whipped cream. “I only came out for this. I don’t want to keep
him
waiting.” Her words struck me down. Who was she talking about? Woodenly, I followed her. When she walked into the
entertaining
room, I’d seen enough. Rushing upstairs before the tears began to fall, I burst through my bedroom doors. What a fucking asshole.

The tears were falling thick and fast as I wandered over to my bed. Out of all the women Alex could want, why did it have to be
Maddison
? A sob broke from my chest.

“Nat?” Alex suddenly sat up. He must have been lying on my bed. My eyes were so stained with tears that I hadn’t noticed him. “Nat, what the fuck is wrong?” He was at my side in an instant, pulling me into his chest. I began to sob even more, angry with myself. Why did I keep thinking the worst? Deep down, I knew he wouldn’t do that to me. He knew how I felt about Maddison. “Nat, you’re scaring the shit out of me. What’s wrong?”

Taking a deep breath to control my sobs, I spoke. “I’m sorry, it’s just…it’s just…”

“Aren’t you happy to be back? Is it David? Did he get ahold of you?” What? “He called earlier, demanding to see you. He didn’t believe me when I said you weren’t here.”

“I…I…haven’t seen him.”

“You’ll need to talk to him at some point. He isn’t going to take no for an answer.” Touching my chin, he lifted my tear stained eyes to meet his. “Straight Lace, talk to me. What’s wrong?”

“Saying goodbye to my parents was difficult,” I lied. “I’m sorry. I wasn’t expecting to find you in here.”

“I was missing your scent. I’m sorry if I crossed the line.”

“It’s your home, Alex.”

“But this is
your
room. I don’t want you to feel as if you’ve got no privacy. You could have stayed with your parents longer. You only had to ask.”

“No. They’re enjoying their cruise. Ignore me. I get sensitive when it comes to my folks.”

“You’re lucky. I hardly see mine.” He flopped back on the bed. Noticing he was only wearing his boxers, my eyes widened. Why were we even talking? I hadn’t seen him for three days. “My dad is too busy with the new wife, and my mother, well she’s trying to divorce husband number five.” I didn’t know a lot about his parents. They had always shied away from the media when it came to their son.

“You’re not close to them?”

“God, no,” he snorted. “They fucked up my childhood because of their volatile relationship. Steel Roses was a blessing. It gave me the separation I needed.”

“You don’t talk much about your Steel Roses days,” I mused, sitting back against my bedframe to get more comfortable.

“Those days are tainted now.”

“Why don’t you want to do a reunion tour with them? Do you have any idea how high the demand would be if Steel Roses got back together?”

“Nat, I don’t want to talk about this shit right now. I’ve been wanting to bury my cock inside you for three days. I waited here to surprise you but you turned up sobbing. Diego has been going on at me, telling me to treat you right. You didn’t tell me that you’d
told
him about us. My brain is fried right now with
out
talking about Steel Roses shit!”

“You just want to fuck?” His eyes gleamed over and a playful smile crossed his face. “Why didn’t you say so?” I giggled, pouncing on him. Within seconds, he had me pinned down on the mattress with a fierce kiss.