York’s secretary hangs up on me before I can even divulge my whole message. I get that it is almost the end of the work day, but damn, she was rude. With the phone away from my ear, I quickly send him a text. I had been hoping to avoid direct communication, hence the call to his secretary. I can’t take the chance he’s with Zander. My heart races just thinking about it. This thing with Zander feels different. He hasn’t been quiet about voicing that he wants me to be his, but it still seems too good to be true. So I’m trying to secretly contact my brother, so he can warn Zander about the latest media buzz too.
The minute our plane touched down in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, my phone has been blowing up. Tabbi is, of course, handling most of the media inquiries, but Sara did have to put her plans in place. I believe we are around plan G right now. And yes, the rumors are true, the owner of BNE is the biggest sore loser in the industry. Everyone in my circle has been threatened, and Sara is currently working on that as well.
“I’m sorry.” Ocean’s hushed tone reaches me, and I stop pacing. After the initial news broke, Ocean’s uncle went crazy. She fled from her home in New York and hopped on a plane to meet me in Philly. He was losing millions, so he put his hands on her.
“No, I’m sorry,” I tell her, before moving to sit across from her on the seat. Ocean’s hands rub together over and over. “We should have prepared for handling your uncle as well.”
Her tiny shoulders lift. “I knew he would be mad. He’s made threats before, but this is the first time…” her voice trails off, and she physically shudders, “I’m just glad it’s over. I’m free. I have control of my life.”
“There is a chance you may have to settle some money with BNE. Your uncle might refuse to pay them,” I remind her gently.
“That’s fine. I have some of my own stashed away. I never told him,” she responds and I can hear the desperate undertone in her words. This poor kid.
I nod along with her. “Let’s make aware of that only if we absolutely have to. I’m going to let Sara handle it. Can you trust me?”
“Yes, I do,” Ocean replies, her dark eyes turning to mine. I reach over and squeeze her hand in mine, right as another text from Tabbi comes in.
Tabbi: She is still trending number one. Rosen Records at number two. Did you tell York that Allister Holdings is firmly holding at number twenty-two?
Me: No. I was only able to tell his new secretary before she hung up on me. Hopefully, she relays the message.
Tabbi: Just call him.
Tabbi: Did you tell Zander, he’s also hit the number eighteen spot?
Ugh! I close out of our text conversation. I can’t think about Zander right now. I already have enough going on with the news about Ocean blowing up and trying to plan a world tour. I should be concentrating on work and not on Zander and his magical fingers and tongue. Though my body heats just thinking about it. He did text me since I left him in the hotel, but I can’t answer. I don’t know what it all means. Thinking about the kisses alone make my knees weak. He stayed the night. I slept next to him the entire night. When my alarm went off for me to get up to catch my flight, he was still there, sleeping in just his briefs, tan and naked skin all over my bed. My brain melted. I quickly grabbed my things and was almost ready to bail, but I didn’t want him to accuse me of running. So I did the mature thing and woke him up before I left. Then scrambled out of there while he sat on the edge of the bed, not caring that he was practically naked, and smirking at me.
He deserves to know about how his association with me has landed him on social media, and for once, it has nothing to do with his business skills. Deep down, I know I’m scared. I don’t want this attention to affect him negatively, and I absolutely do not want him to think I’m using his name to get attention for myself.
My phone vibrating with a call pulls my attention; a number I do not recognize flashes on the screen. It’s almost six in the evening. I can’t think of too many people who would still be working at this hour.
“This is Amelia Rosen,” I answer and wait.
“Hello, Ms. Rosen,” a deep, masculine voice answers, “My name is Ezra Hamilton, I’m a talent scout with New Image Media. I’m calling because I’m trying to get ahold of Ms. Heart.”
“For an interview or to poach her?” My brow rises, and I only let a small hint of humor lace my tone.
He laughs softly. “I knew Ms. Heart from her early BNE days. I just want to check on her, make sure she’s doing alright.”
I can hear the concern in his voice, and I glance at Ocean. She’s watching me, but she must not be able to hear who is on the phone. “I will let her know and give her your information.”
There is a beat of silence before, “That sounds good, Ms. Rosen. Thank you for your time.”
He hangs up and I turn to Ocean. “Ezra Hamilton.”
Her face pales, and she glances away. The look on her face is one I know only too well: pure agony and heartbreak. “I don’t want to talk to him,” her voice is watery, “please block him from my contact list.”
I nod. “Of course.”
Ocean bites her lip. “I’m going to head to bed. Jetlag.”
I watch as she leaves my room to go back to hers. Everything inside that girl went dark, like the life drained from her just hearing his name. I’m in awe again of Ocean. To be so young and to have lived so much already. There is a knock at my door, which startles me and makes me jump. I glance at my phone and see no messages or texts from anyone saying they were coming up. The guys have been respectful of Ocean and me needing space today while we worked. They would have let me know if they were stopping by. Déjà vu hits me next; this is just like last night.
I get to the door, right as there is another knock. On my tiptoes, I glance in the peephole. “No way.” I grab the handle and yank the door open. Sure enough, Zander’s leaning against the door frame, a pair of jeans riding low on his hips and a dark coat over a forest green sweater. His black hair is messy and slightly damp from the rain.
His eyes smolder with intensity and need, as my gaze falls to his lips. We reach for each other at the same time. My arms wind around his waist. One of his hands fists my hair and the other wraps around my throat so his thumb fits under my chin and tips my head back. His grip is firm and my knees grow weak. His lips touch mine with hunger, like I’m a meal and he’s starving, as if he didn’t just see me twelve hours ago.
Zander walks us into my hotel room and kicks the door shut behind him. The wood vibrates and the slam echoes in the room. Probably not proper hotel etiquette, but who the fuck cares when he’s kissing me this way. He walks me backward until my hips hit the edge of the couch, his body pressed against mine. I can feel every hard edge of him, even through the layers of clothing. With his hand on my throat, Zander turns my head where he wants it, exposing the soft skin of my throat. He breaks away from my lips to trail kisses across my jaw and down my neck, softly scraping his teeth against the skin. I gasp and pull air into my lungs after being kissed senseless. I want him to be just as desperate as I feel.
My hands move from his waist to the opening of his jacket, and I force it off his shoulders. Without moving his lips from my neck, Zander helps me, shrugging his jacket the rest of the way off. I keep going though, my fingers curling around the bottom of his sweater and raising it up over his chest. He’s too tall, but he moves quickly to help me with this as well. Soon, he’s standing in front of me, chest bare, muscles rippling. My eyes scan over the black ink running up and down his arm, branches that curl over his heart. I lean forward to place a kiss over that spot and feel the racing rhythm against my lips. Zander’s hands clutch my hair, and he holds me to him.
“I missed you,” he says, and I melt a little more for him.
“You just saw me yesterday.”
“It wasn’t enough,” he replies, his chest rumbling under my cheek. “It won’t ever be enough.”
I tilt my head back until our eyes meet. I let him see everything I’m holding so close to my chest. My confusion, my happiness, my worries, and my love. Without breaking our silent communication, Zander manages to unbutton my white blouse. It falls to the floor, quickly followed by the matching lace bra. His fingers hook on the clasp of my dress pants, and soon, those are in a puddle around my feet as well. I barely take a breath before Zander’s hands grab the backs of my thighs, and I’m lifted off the floor. My legs wrap around his waist and I’m very aware of how sensitive I am, my pussy only covered by a scrap of fabric, as it rubs against his abdominal muscles. He groans at the contact, but keeps moving, until he’s sitting on the couch, my body straddling over his.
My hands dive into his hair, bringing his mouth back to mine. I kiss him like I can’t breathe, and he’s my only source of air. Zander’s hands grip my body everywhere, the roughness of his hands against my skin leaves gooseflesh in their wake. My body rocks against his while I push him closer and closer to losing control. When a moan tears from my throat, I sense the change in him. His hands fist the material at my sides, then there’s pressure and my panties fall away in scraps. One of his hands pushes between us, his fingers sliding through the mess I’m making between my thighs. My hips jerk at the contact, and he grunts, biting on my lip. His other hand is busy squeezing and teasing my breasts. I’m surrounded by him everywhere, all my nerve endings are humming and waiting for him to make the next move. All I can do is hold onto him. When his thick finger slides inside me, I can’t help the way his name is torn from my chest. Once he’s tested the stretch, making sure I’m well-prepared, he adds another, both of them pumping in and out of me, curling up to scrape over my G-spot. It doesn’t take long for my orgasm to build. Zander’s hooded gaze meets mine, our lips only a fraction away from each other’s, while we share breaths in little puffs of air. Whatever he sees on my face has him smirking and another finger circling tightly over my clit. I grind against him, chasing the sensation until my whole-body shudders in his hold. Zander keeps pushing, grinding his palm against my clit, drawing it out until I come again, gasping and crying out into the room.
When my thighs finally stop shaking and the stars are blinked out of my eyes, I raise my face to his. Zander’s jaw is clenched, and he’s still carrying so much heat in his gaze. It turns me on, and I contemplate asking for another round, but decide I want to take care of him instead. I need it. I want to taste him.
I slide off his lap and onto my knees between his legs. His eyes widen for a fraction of a second in surprise, before they grow hooded with desire again. When I reach for the button on his jeans, he gets onboard with my plan, lifting his hips, so I can pull the material down his legs. He kicks his pants and boxers off, and I swallow roughly at the sight of dick. I don’t think it will dislocate my jaw, but it’s going to be a stretch. I feel my core heating and growing wet again just thinking about it.
Zander chuckles and my brain melt. His hand reaches for mine, taking it and wrapping it around the head. My hand moves from the head to the base, pumping twice, and his head falls back against the couch. When my lips touch the smooth skin, he growls, and when they wrap around him, taking as much of him in as I can, his hands tangle in my hair tugging and pulling. That’s all the encouragement I need. I suck and use my hand to pump at the base. I groan around him. His hips tilt with small thrusts while dirty words fall from his throat, encouraging me, begging me not to stop. It’s thrilling having him this way, at my mercy and completely mine.
Zander takes ownership of my mouth, just as he did my body, not asking for permission or stopping. He pushes as far back as he can, finishing down my throat. When he’s done, he pulls me off the floor and across his lap. I snuggle into his chest, my cheek pressed against his heart again, listening to the frantic rhythm. His arms band around me, keeping my still naked body warm.
“Fuck, baby,” his voice is scratchy and a little breathless, “do you feel it yet? I need you, Amelia.” I instantly turn to putty in his arms. “We’re meant to be together.”
I nod slightly and turn to wind my arms around him in any way I can. I still can’t form the words he wants to hear. I only hope he can feel how much I need him too. I’m just scared to admit it. We sit that way for what feels like hours. Eventually, Zander carries me to the bed and puts a t-shirt on over my head, before grabbing a new pair of boxers from his bag. I didn’t even see he brought a backpack with him.
We order room service right before the kitchen closes, and Zander wants all the details about what’s happened since the Ocean announcement. I tell him about BNE’s threats and how Sara is handling things. His eyes narrow. “She’s the best at what she does.” I nod my head at his statement and take a bite of my burger.
“Then I got a call from Ezra Hamilton. Do you know anything about him? He wanted to talk to Ocean and see how she was doing. She wants his calls blocked,” I tell him warily.
Zander grins. “Interesting, I don’t know, but I’ll find out.”
“You don’t have to,” I tell him, waving him off, “I’m sure you have your own work to do. Plus, you flying here to see me probably already pushed important things off.”
His hand snakes out and, gripping the back of my head. “Nothing is more important than you, Amelia.”
My face heats at his words. His face is so serious, and I can feel the intensity of his feelings for me down to my core. My heart perks up, listening too. “Okay,” I manage to breathe out. Again, not exactly what he wanted, but he seems satisfied. His grip falls away, and he places a kiss on my forehead.
We finish our meals and keep talking about the music tour I’m working on with possible venues. “Can you imagine The Kid, Ocean Heart, and Rise Above all in concert together? It would be incredible.”
“I have no doubts, baby.” Zander smiles at me while we clean up the mess. “I’m going to stay the night, if that’s okay with you? My flight back home is at five, so I’ll be up early.”
I can’t not grin and nod my head. “Yes. I want you to.”
Zander pulls me under the covers with him, half my body on top of his. The heat from his skin blankets around us, and soon, I’m warm and drifting off to sleep in his arms. Just like last night, I feel his lips on my hair. “Good night, Amelia.”
