Rock Me Page 13

  Yawning, Summer reached for hers. “It’s Anna. She’s texting me,” she murmured. “Something about me is blowing up on social media.” She opened her phone and began to scroll through Instagram. “Oh, wow. Ummm… Yeah.”

  “What?” he asked, nerves suddenly awake and aware.

  She glanced up at him with a hesitant expression. “I’m not sure you’re going to like this.”

  He pushed himself back against the headboard. “What is it?”

  “A photo … actually a video of us at the carnival went viral. And we’re not just kissing.” She wrinkled her nose and turned the phone his way.

  His eyes opened wide as he watched himself lick cotton candy off her finger in what looked like a very seductive act. Even watching it caused his dick to harden as the memory of the moment came back to him, his tongue wound around her finger, wishing he could take it further and suck at her nipples, visibly tight beneath her shirt.

  He muttered a curse as humiliation and frustration filled him at being caught out in public. “Fuck.”

  She turned toward him, sitting up in the bed. “I’m sorry. I know this is the last thing you need. I can talk to Dan myself if you want…”

  “It’s fine.” It was actually embarrassing as hell, but hopefully he’d live it down and it wouldn’t affect him professionally.

  He didn’t think Dan would be pissed, and Ben’s position at Alpha Security was secure. Dan was more understanding than hard-ass when it came to his people. They’d had the conversation when he hired Ben on and spoke about his past, but would clients care?

  “My name isn’t mentioned, is it?” he asked, shoulders tight.

  “No,” she murmured. “At least not yet.”

  “What does that mean?”

  “Well…” she said hesitantly. “I was thinking that if Tawny wanted to get involved and stir up trouble for us, she could possibly post who the mystery man in the video is. Because that’s who you are right now. My mystery man.”

  He winced, really not wanting to be outed by name in Tawny’s search for success.

  “I’m sorry. I know it’s a low point of being with me,” Summer murmured, her gaze and expression sad. “If you’d kept your distance like you wanted to in the beginning, this wouldn’t have happened.”

  And he wouldn’t have had such a great day with her, nor would he have memories built and stored away. Did he like the fact that they’d been caught? No. He prized anonymity, and he deliberately didn’t have a social media profile. But he’d known who she was when he’d gotten involved, even if he hadn’t thought through this kind of consequence.

  * * *

  She spent the morning liking messages, talking to fans she hadn’t known she had, and thanking well-wishers who wanted her to win the position as opening act. Ben watched her cheeks flush and her anticipation build as she realized people wanted her to win this competition and open for a major pop star.

  She’d finally pulled herself out of bed and was going to shower when her doorbell rang. It had been awhile since she’d had company other than Ivy, and Ben beat her to the door.

  “Who is it?” he asked. Although things had been quiet since the attempted drugging, he wouldn’t let down his guard.

  “Summer? Who is that?” a female voice called from the hall. “Ira, I think it’s a man,” he heard the woman say.

  “Oh my God. It’s my mom!” Summer grabbed for the handle.

  “Summer?” a male voice joined in from outside.

  “And my dad!” She pulled open the door. “I didn’t know you were in town!” Ushering them in, she grabbed first her mother, then her father in a hug. “I’m so glad to see you!”

  “Who is this?” Her father glared up at Ben, who was, for him, an unfamiliar man in his daughter’s apartment.

  “Ben Hollander,” Ben said, extending his hand. Despite his having worked on Star Power, having been on the set, and having slept with Summer, he’d never officially met them.

  “Ben is my bodyguard,” Summer said, explaining his presence in her apartment. Something Ben thought they ought to already know, and would have if they’d showed any interest in Summer at all.

  “Bodyguard? Why would you need a bodyguard?” Ira, a tall man with gray hair, asked as he shook Ben’s hand.

  “That’s a long story,” Summer said. “But basically it’s a precaution. Something Jade Glow’s people put in place for both me and Tawny.” She shot Ben a look, which he interpreted to mean not to give them details about the specifics of someone wanting to hurt her.

  “Come in!” She settled her parents on the sofa. “Can I get you anything?”

  Her mother shook her head. “We wanted to talk to you.” She shot a glance at Ben.

  He took the hint that they wanted privacy for their conversation. “I can make myself scarce.” He’d go to the bedroom or the kitchen.

  In this small apartment, he’d hear everything, but he wasn’t leaving her unprotected. Anyone watching would know he left the building and see opportunity.

  He was staying put.

  * * *

  Summer didn’t know what to make of her parents’ visit, but she was glad they were here. So much had happened lately that she’d normally talk to her mother about, and she hoped today meant they could make inroads toward regaining their once close relationship.

  She glanced at her folks. Her mom looked as fit in person as she had on the video chat, wearing a striped dress with a belt and ballet flats. Her dad, too, was tanned and healthy.

  “So, you two look great,” Summer said as an icebreaker.

  “Thank you. So do you.” Her mom met her gaze, the same golden-brown eyes Summer saw in the mirror staring back at her.

  Her mother squirmed in her seat. “Honey, I know when I came back I was still on a high from exploring the world, but really, when I think about that conversation, I just cringe.”

  Before Summer could reply, her mother rushed on.

  “We had our neighbors DVR your Morning Show appearance and your whole childhood came rushing back.” She sniffed and wiped a tear. “I’m so proud of you. You could have fallen apart or walked off the stage, but my God, you stepped up.” Her voice cracked with feeling. “I couldn’t imagine what you were going through, alone there, dealing with things.”

  Summer’s eyes glazed, emotion clogging her throat. “I wasn’t alone. I had…” She’d been about to say Ben, but then she’d have to explain to her parents that she was sleeping with her bodyguard while he was no doubt listening from the other room. “I was okay,” she said over the lump in her throat. “But I did wish you were there. Or at least watching.”

  Her father nodded. “That’s why we’re here. Seeing the performance was a wakeup call to how selfish we’ve been, only thinking about our feelings and not yours. We were hurt,” he said. “And angry that after all we’d done to help you get to where you were, you didn’t think we are good enough to keep around.”

  Summer shook her head. She’d never wanted them to feel that way. “That wasn’t it. Honestly. It really came down to experience in how to negotiate with people who’ve been in the industry for years.” She’d tried to explain the situation at the time, but they’d been too hurt to hear. “You were great when I was younger, but things got so crazy during and after Star Power, and I needed qualified people in my corner. But I never wanted you to all but disappear.”

  “That was mostly my fault,” her father said in a gruff tone. “My ego took a hit, and I decided if you didn’t want us managing your career, then you could handle things on your own.”

  “It was petty and juvenile,” her mother said, eyes still watering.

  Summer no longer cared about what they’d done or why. She was just grateful they’d had an epiphany. She’d really missed having her parents in her life in any meaningful way. “I’m just happy you’re here now.”

  Her mother pulled her into a hug, and her father followed. Her parents’ loving, strong arms reassuring her she had them in her corne
r.

  “Now what’s this about a bodyguard?” her father asked. “I wish I’d known about it. You could have told us.” He attempted to scold her, but she wasn’t going to let him.

  “No, I couldn’t have.” She pursed her lips, waving a chiding finger at him. “And you know now.” Time for a change of subject, she thought. “Want to stay for lunch?”

  “We’d love to, but we have show tickets for later today. How about tomorrow? We’re here for a few days, and we hope you’ll make time for us.”

  “You know I will.” She was fine with them not being able to stay. She’d gotten all she could have wanted from them today anyway. “I’ll walk you out.”

  Ben was out of the kitchen in an instant, taking the lead and opening the door. “Nice to meet you,” he said, holding the door open as her father left first.

  “Take care of my little girl,” Ira said in a protective tone.

  Ben inclined his head. “Count on it.”

  “He’s hot,” her mother leaned down and whispered in her ear.

  Summer couldn’t help but laugh. And for the first time in a long time, everything felt right.

  Chapter Eleven

  Ben read over the plan for the media junket for Jade Glow’s album and upcoming tour, located at an upscale hotel in Midtown Manhattan. For Summer, the event, scheduled to last one day, would include portrait sessions, TV and radio interviews, and roundtable conversations with Summer, Tawny, and of course, the star herself.

  This go-round, Ben planned to meet up with security and make sure he was satisfied with the situation, the cameras, and the coverage. Although Ben would keep Summer in sight, he’d be damned happy when she wasn’t prancing around in front of media and strangers, at least until whoever was after her had finally been found.

  From a rational protection perspective, he’d also be glad when the decision was finally made about who would be the person accompanying Jade Glow on her world tour. But Ben wasn’t feeling particularly rational, because a part of him didn’t want this situation to come to an end. Despite all his internal warnings to himself, he was invested in Summer on every level, and losing her wasn’t something he’d ever be ready to think about.

  Jade hadn’t decided definitely when she would be announcing her choice, but she’d been teasing the possibility that it would happen tonight, at the end of the junket. The star was using the mystery angle on social media for the last few days as well as teasing reporters all day, reminding them to stay until the end, lest they miss her possible announcement. Even Ben had bought into the hype, his stomach in complete knots, thinking his time with Summer was almost over. For her part, Summer was jumpy and nervous, to the point where he didn’t know what to say to calm her, her sole focus on the upcoming decision.

  During the first hour of chats, she’d been stiff with the interviewers, which wasn’t like her. She was normally bubbly, happy, and relaxed, but Jade’s teasing and the unknown time frame had her nerves shot. The one thing Ben knew for sure was that he wanted her to live her dream, and to do that, she needed to relax and have a smile on her face and an easy answer on her sexy lips.

  They had a good chunk of time before her next set of interviews, and the good news was that she had a hotel suite to escape to between sessions. And he knew just how to calm her frazzled nerves.

  * * *

  Summer had just finished up an interview that didn’t go as well as she would have liked. Tawny was upbeat, interrupting so she had center stage, and throwing Summer off her game. Frustrated afterwards, she walked off, heading for the coffee stand in the far corner of the event floor.

  Before she reached her destination, Ben, who was never out of her sight, stopped her. “Come on,” he said, grasping her elbow. “I’m taking you upstairs to chill out.”

  “But I need caffeine.”

  He shook his head in definite disagreement. “Caffeine is the last thing you should be putting in your body. Trust me, princess, I have the solution.”

  “But—”

  “No buts. You need a break and you’ve got free time,” he insisted, directing her to the bank of elevators leading to the suite they’d been given as a courtesy for the day.

  “Fine. Let’s go up,” she said in a tense tone. She didn’t mean to be a bitch, but she was upset with how today was going. She didn’t want the opportunity to slip by her because Tawny knew how to get the first and last word.

  The elevator doors opened, and Ben placed a hand on her back, stepping out into the hall and guiding her to the room at the far end, where earlier they’d dropped off her cosmetics and a change of clothes, just in case.

  He slid the key card over the sensor, and the green light flashed. He opened the door, propping it with one foot so she could step inside.

  No sooner had she entered than Ben swung her into his arms. “Ben!” She grabbed him around his neck so she could hold on. “What are you doing?”

  “I’m going to relax you.”

  “How?”

  He grinned and strode to the big king-size bed, depositing her in the center. “How do you think?” He slid his wallet from his jeans, removed a condom, and dropped it onto the bed.

  “Ooh,” she said, completely on board with his notion of relaxation.

  He grasped her legs, sliding her down toward where he stood at the edge of the mattress. Her skirt rode up, revealing her barely there thong panties, which he promptly removed. Cool air rushed over her suddenly damp flesh, causing her hips to wriggle, need flushing across her skin.

  His gaze narrowed on her swollen sex.

  Aroused, she slid her legs farther apart in readiness, absolutely on board with his plan.

  She didn’t want to worry until the next round of interviews. Leave it to Ben to take care of her. “I like the way you think.”

  “I realize you have to be back downstairs and need time to pull yourself together after.” He dropped his holster onto the floor, unbuttoned his jeans, his cock springing free, hard and thick. “Ready for a fast ride?”

  She ran her tongue over her lips, her gaze on his pulsing erection. “I’m ready for you.”

  He bent his head and swirled his tongue around her already needy sex. She groaned and grasped on to the bedding as he ate at her like a man who couldn’t get enough, who had single-minded focus, and whose attention was wholly centered on her. After all their time together, he knew what she liked and needed and immediately zeroed in on her clit.

  Desire slammed into her hard and fast, no slow buildup, just zero to sixty, her climax suddenly and quickly within reach. She moaned and switched her grasp from the bedspread to his hair, holding him in place while she rocked her face against his mouth, chasing the waves of pleasure that rushed through her.

  He tongued her clit in a perfect rhythm that had her spiraling higher until she peaked, her orgasm taking her into utter bliss. She was lost to sensation, only coming back to herself when Ben, sheathed with a condom, settled between her thighs.

  The head of his cock breached her entrance, but she had no time to focus. His mouth came down on hers, and she tasted her musky scent on his lips. At the same moment, he took her hard, his erection thrusting into her.

  “F-u-c-k,” he said, drawing out the syllable. He dropped down over her, bracing his hands on either side of her shoulders, his chest reverberating against hers.

  “Ben, God.” She felt him everywhere as he throbbed inside her, her inner walls clasping him tight, her emotions fully engaged as their bodies joined completely.

  Instead of a hard and fast taking, Ben rocked into her, grinding against her clit with every shift and pitch of his hips. Sensation began to take hold and build once more. Swirling need enveloped her, and she cried out, the sweet feelings he inspired driving her higher and higher.

  “Come with me,” he said, sliding a hand between their bodies and pressing against her most sensitive spot.

  “Oh God.” Waves of desire shook her, sparks of pleasure shooting out from her clit to every nerve en
ding she possessed. “Ben. I’m coming!”

  “Right there with you,” he promised and he began a punishing rhythm. She exploded once more, her climax a burst of glorious light and feeling, as he groaned and came, too, her name on his lips.

  He collapsed on top of her, and they panted in unison, until reality slowly returned.

  “Can’t breathe,” she said, and he rolled off her, keeping her hand in his as he fell onto his back.

  “That was a real stress reducer.” She grinned, but inside she was more serious than she’d ever been. Because what had just happened between them?

  That was too intense to soothe her. Instead all she could do was feel—Ben inside her, Ben coaxing her to come, calling her name as he climaxed right after her. The sensations went beyond sex. He had tagged every emotion she had: Love, caring, yearning.

  Things she would need time to process and deal with. Things she had to find a place for in her life … once she knew what her future held. She felt pulled in two different directions, her love for Ben and the career she’d been working toward her entire life, causing a quiet and somber blanket of emotion to envelop her. She wanted to give Ben the time he deserved, and she didn’t have that ability now.

  “I need to wash up,” she said, sitting up in bed, eager to put the intensity behind them as fast as possible so she could prepare for the rest of the day.

  “Come.” He rose and walked to the bathroom, his bare ass peeking from beneath his shirt.

  The man had a body to die for and drool over and a heart that was bigger than he’d like to admit. And she wished they could spend more time alone here, in bed. Talking. Figuring out them. But she needed her focus where it belonged, on the media downstairs and the probable announcement coming later tonight.

  So she pushed herself to a standing position and went to get ready to return to the press junket downstairs.

  * * *