Page 39 of Hard Rock Desires

“I told you already.” Her pupils were wide and dark, the pretty blue now only a thin ring.

“You told me you were reminded that this was a bad idea,” I said.

She nodded, her breathing turning shallow. I brought my head down until my lips were inches from hers.

“What’s so bad about the two of us?” I murmured.

“You’re too…” Her voice was breathy.

“I’m too… what?” I asked.

I shifted to bring my knee between her legs. Her whole body shuddered. Her core was hot on my thigh. Fuck, all it would take is one swift movement and I’d have her lying on the counter underneath me.

“The whole lifestyle is…” Her cheeks flushed.

I put my hands on her hips and tugged her closer. She let out a small gasp.

“What about this whole lifestyle?” It felt like I was dragging answers out of her.

Grace squeezed her eyes shut. “All the partying, and the women, and the drinking, and the acting out—” She pressed her lips together.

“Whoa, hey.” I laid a hand on her warm cheek. “Is that what’s got you worried?”

She peeled her eyes open, her expression a combination of fear and arousal.

The arousal I liked. The fear, not at all.

“It’s not always like that,” I told her. “Sure, we like to let loose, but we’re serious artists. We’re pros. It’s not all just the wholesex, drugs and rock ’n’ rollthing. We work hard at what we do.”

“I know you do.” Her lips trembled. “But I can’t help feel that I’m just not cut out for it.”

I stepped back, giving her space. She took a deep, steadying breath, nearly clinging to the counter, as if her knees wouldn’t hold her weight. I worried I’d gone too far, overwhelmed her too much. But she didn’t run away screaming, so that was a good sign.

“What if I can prove to you it’s not always like that?” I asked.

“How?” She looked doubtful as she straightened up, now firmly on her feet.

“Come to a release party with me.”

“Another party?” She almost cringed.

“It won’t be like after the concert,” I said. “This is all professional stuff. A best behavior kind of thing. Suits and ties, and all that. I promise, the only thing they’ll be serving is tiny flutes of Champagne and those tiny little appetizers.”

A small smile crept across her face.

“Will I get to wear a pretty dress?” she asked.

Only if I get to rip it off you afterward.

The thought popped into my head, but I bit my tongue to keep it from slipping out of my mouth as I nodded.

“You really want to bring me to something like that?” she asked. “Like on a…?”

Hm. It did sound a bit like a date, didn’t it? Whatever. I shrugged it off inside. I’d already told her I wanted her. What harm would there be in calling it a date?

“Come with me,” I asked again. “I’ll show you a whole other side to the industry. Deal?”

She wrung the cloth between her hands again, but nodded.