Plat, page 2
“Do you, I mean…” Lexi looked almost as flabbergasted as I’d felt the first time Dad had mentioned it.
“No, I don’t want to, and I’m not attracted to him, but I’m not sure I have any power to stop it.”
“Jesus, Ariel. Can I help?”
“Probably not, but thanks for asking.” I sighed. “Well, you better hurry and tell me about this deal you’re negotiating with Whiplash before Dad comes down announcing our time is up.”
“They’ve offered us a lot of money to sign with them,” Lexi said, “but we’re in a bit of a debate about the music. They want us to do more pop than rock, and of course, that’s not who we are or what we want to do. However, the contract is a stupid amount of money, like millions and millions.”
“Which is what I thought I heard Darren and Tyler talking about,” I said. “And Darren is throwing me into the mix as an incentive.”
“I think anything with you involved will be an incentive for Tyler,” she said, chuckling.
I flushed. There had definitely been some magic in the room when we looked at each other, but my father would never allow me to date someone like him, so I was trying not to think about it.
“You’re into him, huh?” Lexi appeared to be studying my face.
“I don’t even know him,” I protested, fumbling for an excuse. “He’s good-looking, though.”
“Good-looking doesn’t even begin to cover the hotness that is Tyler Thompson,” Lexi said, shaking her head. “Women lose their minds over him. Well, to be fair, all four of the guys get a lot of attention, but there’s something about Tyler.”
“It’s the bass player thing,” I said solemnly. “It’s definitely a chick magnet.”
“I’m partial to drummers myself,” she said, laughing.
“Does your hubby know you and Bash used to get naked?” I asked curiously.
“Of course. I don’t have any secrets from Zaan. That’s the only way to make it work with jobs like ours, where we’re both in the public eye, even though we’re in different industries. As a pro hockey player, the puck bunnies are everywhere; we try to be open and honest about everything so there are no misunderstandings.”
“I’ll bet.” I glanced around. “We should probably get going.” There was no way I was having any kind of personal conversation in front of strangers, and two women had just come in.
“So, it appears Darren wants you to sing a duet with me,” she said as we walked up the stairs. “How do you feel about hard rock?”
“I love it,” I replied. “But I don’t think that’s what Darren wants.”
“I think he’s going to have to get over it because that’s what we play.”
“Well, whatever I can do to help, whether it’s sing on a song or perform live somewhere, just let me know.”
“Do you have my number?” Lexi asked, pulling out her phone.
“No, but I’ll put mine into your contacts,” I replied, taking it from her and tapping out my number. “There. Now text me, and I’ll have your number, too.”
“There you are,” Darren said as we walked into the room. “How do you feel about doing a song with Nobody’s Fool?” he asked.
“I’d love to,” I replied automatically, since that was what was expected of me.
“We’re recording in Vegas,” Tyler said. “Would it be a problem for you to come out for a few days?”
I glanced at my father, who was frowning, but he rarely went against anything Darren wanted. At least not publicly. I figured I’d hear something about it later, but for now, he was holding his tongue.
Darren looked annoyed but turned to me. “How do you feel about a trip to Vegas, Ariel?”
“I’m open,” I said, feigning indifference since it was easier to pretend I didn’t care.
“Wait a minute, who’s going to pay for her to stay at a hotel, meals, all the expenses to go with it?” Dad asked, folding his arms. “Not to mention me.”
Darren gave him a look. “The label will pay Ariel’s expenses.”
“There’s no way she’s going by herself.”
“Douglas.” Darren leveled a gaze at him that made me want to laugh. Darren was terrifying, but since his wrath wasn’t directed at me, I didn’t care. No one else spoke to my father the way Darren did, and I always got a little charge out of it. “Can we speak in private?”
Dad and Darren moved off to the side, and Lexi cut a glance at me.
“What was that?” she whispered.
“Tell you later,” I whispered back.
“Why are we whispering?” Tyler asked, also whispering.
“I’ll tell you later,” Lexi murmured.
With Dad and Darren furiously whispering on the other side of the room, I had the freedom to chat with Tyler. I felt a ridiculous urge to touch him. I hadn’t touched, or been touched by, a man in a long time, and there had never been anyone I wanted to break the drought for as much as Tyler Thompson. My skin practically tingled when he came near me, and I was suddenly struggling to think. Just looking at him, listening to his voice, made every nerve ending in my body come to life.
What the hell was wrong with me?
I couldn’t even follow our conversation because I was so intent on the sound of his voice. And his spectacularly blue eyes. His incredibly tan and lean torso wasn’t bad either.
Our eyes met, and there it went—that zing of pleasure that seemed to come out of nowhere. Neither of us moved for a few seconds, as if silently communicating a secret message to each other, and then he quirked up one side of his mouth, giving me a slow, lazy, half-smile.
A blatant invitation.
I just didn’t know to what.
Then he turned and walked away, heading toward the restrooms.
I followed his retreating figure with my eyes, unable to look away, as if he were somehow pulling me along with him. Did I dare follow?
My father and Darren were still arguing.
The band was talking and laughing.
Tyler briefly glanced over his shoulder at me, for another millisecond of magical intensity, before disappearing out the door.
Did I dare follow him?
Yes. Yes, I did.
I truly couldn’t stop myself, and I quickly stole a look at Lexi. She frowned for a second but then smiled and nodded. As if she understood.
I slipped out while my father wasn’t paying attention and caught a glimpse of Tyler’s back. He was moving toward an area of the club I wasn’t familiar with, and I picked up speed to catch up to him. I didn’t know why I was following him, only that I absolutely had to. I’d lived under my father’s thumb so long I’d never even considered doing something like this, but my legs were moving in his direction.
I caught a flash of leather as the door to a unisex bathroom closed, and I hesitated. What if it wasn’t him? This was a rock club, and ninety percent of all the guys here had leather jackets. But he’d only been a little bit ahead of me; it had to be him. And I could always back right out if it wasn’t.
I took a quick look around and then pushed the door open, my heart slamming in my chest with a weird combination of excitement and nervousness.
What on earth was I doing?
He was leaning against the wall, his intense gaze meeting mine as soon as I walked through the door. “Well, hi. I didn’t think you’d come.”
3
Tyler
If I weren’t seeing it with my own eyes, I wouldn’t have believed it. Ariel had followed me into the bathroom. Sure, I’d all but dared her to, but she’d called my bluff. And now I was about to do something I’d been wanting to do all night.
“You want me to leave?” she asked in a throaty whisper, taking a step toward me.
“Hell no.” God damn, she was even prettier up close. And she was getting closer by the second.
“I’m not sure what I’m doing here.”
“I think you know exactly what you’re doing here.” I ran my knuckle along the underside of her jaw.
“What, um, did you have in mind?” She licked her lips in the most beguiling motion ever. It was so god damn sexy, and I couldn’t help but imagine those lips on my skin. My mouth. My cock.
Fuck.
“You know what I have in mind. You take my breath away, Ariel.”
“Ditto.”
Our eyes locked, and it felt like she’d sucked all the air out of the room. I could barely breathe with her so close to me, and there was nothing now but the two of us. Alone.
“Does the door lock?” she asked, reading my mind.
“Uh-huh.” I reached around her to lock it.
“May I touch you?” she whispered, as if afraid I would say no or something equally ridiculous.
Like that was even possible.
“Please do.”
“These…” She ran a finger along the oblique muscles on one side of my abdomen. “Are the sexiest things I’ve ever seen.”
My fucking skin was on fire where she’d touched me, and I needed more.
“Thanks. But I’m going to have to disagree.” I reached out and pulled her against me. “You are the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen.” I lowered my head just as she tilted hers up, and then her mouth was fastened to mine. I couldn’t hold back, diving between her lips and sucking on her tongue. Her lips were soft and sweet, molding to mine as our tongues tangled and danced. I slid my hands around to cup her glorious ass, and she pressed herself against me, fingers digging into the flaps of my leather jacket as if she were holding on for dear life.
I hadn’t been expecting this when I’d come in here, but the ice princess from earlier tonight had morphed into a seductress who was hotter than Death Valley in July. My cock was straining against my leather pants, and I lifted her, resting her crotch against my raging erection. She wrapped her legs around me, and the short skirt she wore slid up, revealing so much pale, silky skin I didn’t know what to touch first.
I spun us around and pushed her back against the wall because I couldn’t touch her and hold her up at the same time, even though she weighed close to nothing. I wanted to enjoy this without worrying about dropping her, which was a possibility since her hand had traveled south and was currently cupping my erection through my pants.
“Tell me what you want, Ariel,” I panted against her mouth.
“You.”
“Right here? Now?”
“Yes.” She hesitated, and then in a voice so soft I almost didn’t hear her, she said, “Please.”
I couldn’t even formulate a response to that because she’d moved her hand into my pants and, since I wasn’t wearing underwear, was squeezing my cock. I growled, pleasure and need racing through me. Her touch was thrilling, keeping my mouth affixed to hers and my body completely under her control. I was bigger and stronger, but she was in charge. And I fucking loved it. Because before this was over, I was going to make sure this ice princess completely melted.
I cupped one of her ass cheeks and then dragged my hand between her legs until I moved aside the tiny thong she wore. She was dripping wet after just a few minutes, and my gut told me she would be responsive as hell. I dipped a finger into her, and we both moaned. She was warm and tight and so ready for my cock. I didn’t know what the hell was happening here, but I didn’t care.
“Hang on,” I muttered, digging into my pocket for my wallet. “Condom.”
“Hurry,” she whispered, her eyes filled with more passion than I’d seen in a woman in a long time.
Once I’d sheathed myself, I kissed her again, pillaging her mouth with mine, until there was nothing between us, probably not even air. Her hands were in my hair, her skirt bunched up around her hips, and I adjusted my position so I was poised for action. I caressed her warm, wet folds, getting even more turned on by her arousal.
I slid two fingers into her this time, curving them up and in until she moaned, long and deep. I moved them in and out, watching her face as she rode my hand.
“Fuck, Tyler…” She was making the sweetest, sexiest little sounds.
“More?” I asked, taking a split second to be a thousand percent sure she wanted this.
“Fuck me, Tyler.”
I pulled out my fingers and thrust up into her so hard we both grunted.
“God damn, that’s good.” She fastened her lips to mine again, and I grabbed her by the ass. Her cheeks were round and firm, and I squeezed harder and harder as I pumped in and out of her.
“More, Tyler…” She squirmed against me, completely impaled on my cock, and it was so fucking hot I had to slow down for a minute or I was going to embarrass myself.
“Harder?” I growled.
“Wreck me,” she whispered, looking me square in the eye.
Well, fuck. That was the best offer I’d had in a long time. I picked up speed, jackhammering into her until I was slamming her into the wall, but I couldn’t stop, and by the way she was meeting me thrust for thrust, she didn’t want me to.
“You ready, baby?” I grunted, sweat breaking out on my forehead.
“Yes! Please, god, yes!”
“Hold on tight.” I squeezed her thighs around me to let her know she had to hold herself up. Then I slid a couple of fingers between us and pinched her clit.
I crashed my lips to hers to muffle her scream as she jerked against me. Watching her come was fucking beautiful, and I let go a few seconds later. Each aftershock made my back arch and her breath catch, until we were spectacularly spent. Neither of us moved, our bodies still attached, my forehead pressed to hers.
“That was…” I began.
“Glorious?” Her eyes fluttered closed, and she slid her arms up to close around my neck.
“That’s one word for it.” I couldn’t help but lightly kiss her. Her lips puckered softly beneath mine, and we stayed that way longer than I expected we would, but I didn’t want this orgasmic insanity to end. From a couple of electrifying looks to mind-blowing sex up against the wall of a public bathroom. What had just happened?
“Delicious?” she asked after a moment. “Decadent? Magnificent?”
I rumbled out a laugh. “Do we need the perfect adjective to describe really hot sex?”
“No. But it’s fun to find the right one.”
“It is.” I paused. “Exhilarating? Indescribable?”
She chuckled. “Indescribable might be my favorite.”
Someone knocked on the door, and we both sighed.
“I’m gonna put you down, okay?” I whispered.
She nodded, and I gently set her on her feet after reluctantly pulling out. I was still hard as stone and would have done almost anything to go another round, right here in the bathroom.
We both cleaned up, and she straightened out her clothes. I’d hooked up in clubs before and after shows hundreds of times, but it had never been quite like this. There was something about Ariel that was…indescribable. That was exactly the right word for this. And her.
I watched her touch up her lipstick as someone banged on the door again, but I didn’t intend to rush her. It was somehow satisfying to know I’d put that look on her face, the one that would tell the world how well-fucked she’d just been.
“So, uh, this is between us, right?” She turned, suddenly extremely serious.
“Well, I mean, I wasn’t planning to announce it or anything.”
“I mean, my, um, well, it’s complicated. My dad can’t know. Or anyone else.”
“I know you’re not underage,” I said slowly, trying to figure out where she was going with this. “Please tell me you’re not married.”
“Of course not.” She shook her head. “I’m just… Don’t you know about my life? About…me?”
I frowned. “I think I probably know more about you than some considering the last fifteen minutes, but if you’re talking about tabloid shit, no. That’s not my jam.”
“You will,” she said softly, reaching for the doorknob. “Just promise me you won’t say anything to…anyone.”
“No, but—” I called out to her as she opened the door. “Ariel, wait!”
But it was too late. Three people pushed inside the bathroom, and by the time I got into the hallway, she’d disappeared.
4
Ariel
I barely noticed how grumpy Dad was on the drive home. “I can’t believe he spoke to me that way,” he grumbled, though I barely heard him.
“It’s a good opportunity,” I said absently, my thoughts still back in that damn bathroom. “You might want to listen to him.”
“You don’t have any idea what you’re talking about,” he said. “You leave the business deals to me. You don’t need to add that kind of stress to your life.”
“I’m twenty-five, Dad,” I said quietly. “And you’re overprotective.”
He grunted. “If you recall—”
“I was seventeen,” I said, my tone a little curter than I normally used with him. “Are you ever going to forgive me for that?”
“It’s not about forgiveness—it’s about your safety.”
“I’m not Mom.” I stared straight ahead, biting my lower lip to keep from saying anything that would get me into trouble. I never knew what would set him off, and it was exhausting when he was in a bad mood.
“She died because I left her unsupervised, and I won’t let it happen to you.”
“She was an adult who made her own decisions.”
“She was mentally ill and incapable of making good decisions.”
I pursed my lips. This was the same old argument, and I didn’t know how to convince him I was okay. I wasn’t a child, and knowing what I knew about mental illness, I wasn’t going to do anything stupid.
“At some point, you’re going to have to trust me,” I said. “I’m almost twenty-six. Someday I’d like to have a family of my own, and you can’t be there every minute of the day.”
“Does that mean you’re coming to your senses about Darren? He’s the perfect option for you, Ariel. Someone who’ll make sure you stay on your meds while also having your best professional interests at heart.”
“I barely know the man,” I said out loud. “There’s a lot more to getting involved with someone than just being in the same industry. And frankly, he’s older than you.” I glanced at him. “Would you marry someone thirty-five years older than you?”
“No, I don’t want to, and I’m not attracted to him, but I’m not sure I have any power to stop it.”
“Jesus, Ariel. Can I help?”
“Probably not, but thanks for asking.” I sighed. “Well, you better hurry and tell me about this deal you’re negotiating with Whiplash before Dad comes down announcing our time is up.”
“They’ve offered us a lot of money to sign with them,” Lexi said, “but we’re in a bit of a debate about the music. They want us to do more pop than rock, and of course, that’s not who we are or what we want to do. However, the contract is a stupid amount of money, like millions and millions.”
“Which is what I thought I heard Darren and Tyler talking about,” I said. “And Darren is throwing me into the mix as an incentive.”
“I think anything with you involved will be an incentive for Tyler,” she said, chuckling.
I flushed. There had definitely been some magic in the room when we looked at each other, but my father would never allow me to date someone like him, so I was trying not to think about it.
“You’re into him, huh?” Lexi appeared to be studying my face.
“I don’t even know him,” I protested, fumbling for an excuse. “He’s good-looking, though.”
“Good-looking doesn’t even begin to cover the hotness that is Tyler Thompson,” Lexi said, shaking her head. “Women lose their minds over him. Well, to be fair, all four of the guys get a lot of attention, but there’s something about Tyler.”
“It’s the bass player thing,” I said solemnly. “It’s definitely a chick magnet.”
“I’m partial to drummers myself,” she said, laughing.
“Does your hubby know you and Bash used to get naked?” I asked curiously.
“Of course. I don’t have any secrets from Zaan. That’s the only way to make it work with jobs like ours, where we’re both in the public eye, even though we’re in different industries. As a pro hockey player, the puck bunnies are everywhere; we try to be open and honest about everything so there are no misunderstandings.”
“I’ll bet.” I glanced around. “We should probably get going.” There was no way I was having any kind of personal conversation in front of strangers, and two women had just come in.
“So, it appears Darren wants you to sing a duet with me,” she said as we walked up the stairs. “How do you feel about hard rock?”
“I love it,” I replied. “But I don’t think that’s what Darren wants.”
“I think he’s going to have to get over it because that’s what we play.”
“Well, whatever I can do to help, whether it’s sing on a song or perform live somewhere, just let me know.”
“Do you have my number?” Lexi asked, pulling out her phone.
“No, but I’ll put mine into your contacts,” I replied, taking it from her and tapping out my number. “There. Now text me, and I’ll have your number, too.”
“There you are,” Darren said as we walked into the room. “How do you feel about doing a song with Nobody’s Fool?” he asked.
“I’d love to,” I replied automatically, since that was what was expected of me.
“We’re recording in Vegas,” Tyler said. “Would it be a problem for you to come out for a few days?”
I glanced at my father, who was frowning, but he rarely went against anything Darren wanted. At least not publicly. I figured I’d hear something about it later, but for now, he was holding his tongue.
Darren looked annoyed but turned to me. “How do you feel about a trip to Vegas, Ariel?”
“I’m open,” I said, feigning indifference since it was easier to pretend I didn’t care.
“Wait a minute, who’s going to pay for her to stay at a hotel, meals, all the expenses to go with it?” Dad asked, folding his arms. “Not to mention me.”
Darren gave him a look. “The label will pay Ariel’s expenses.”
“There’s no way she’s going by herself.”
“Douglas.” Darren leveled a gaze at him that made me want to laugh. Darren was terrifying, but since his wrath wasn’t directed at me, I didn’t care. No one else spoke to my father the way Darren did, and I always got a little charge out of it. “Can we speak in private?”
Dad and Darren moved off to the side, and Lexi cut a glance at me.
“What was that?” she whispered.
“Tell you later,” I whispered back.
“Why are we whispering?” Tyler asked, also whispering.
“I’ll tell you later,” Lexi murmured.
With Dad and Darren furiously whispering on the other side of the room, I had the freedom to chat with Tyler. I felt a ridiculous urge to touch him. I hadn’t touched, or been touched by, a man in a long time, and there had never been anyone I wanted to break the drought for as much as Tyler Thompson. My skin practically tingled when he came near me, and I was suddenly struggling to think. Just looking at him, listening to his voice, made every nerve ending in my body come to life.
What the hell was wrong with me?
I couldn’t even follow our conversation because I was so intent on the sound of his voice. And his spectacularly blue eyes. His incredibly tan and lean torso wasn’t bad either.
Our eyes met, and there it went—that zing of pleasure that seemed to come out of nowhere. Neither of us moved for a few seconds, as if silently communicating a secret message to each other, and then he quirked up one side of his mouth, giving me a slow, lazy, half-smile.
A blatant invitation.
I just didn’t know to what.
Then he turned and walked away, heading toward the restrooms.
I followed his retreating figure with my eyes, unable to look away, as if he were somehow pulling me along with him. Did I dare follow?
My father and Darren were still arguing.
The band was talking and laughing.
Tyler briefly glanced over his shoulder at me, for another millisecond of magical intensity, before disappearing out the door.
Did I dare follow him?
Yes. Yes, I did.
I truly couldn’t stop myself, and I quickly stole a look at Lexi. She frowned for a second but then smiled and nodded. As if she understood.
I slipped out while my father wasn’t paying attention and caught a glimpse of Tyler’s back. He was moving toward an area of the club I wasn’t familiar with, and I picked up speed to catch up to him. I didn’t know why I was following him, only that I absolutely had to. I’d lived under my father’s thumb so long I’d never even considered doing something like this, but my legs were moving in his direction.
I caught a flash of leather as the door to a unisex bathroom closed, and I hesitated. What if it wasn’t him? This was a rock club, and ninety percent of all the guys here had leather jackets. But he’d only been a little bit ahead of me; it had to be him. And I could always back right out if it wasn’t.
I took a quick look around and then pushed the door open, my heart slamming in my chest with a weird combination of excitement and nervousness.
What on earth was I doing?
He was leaning against the wall, his intense gaze meeting mine as soon as I walked through the door. “Well, hi. I didn’t think you’d come.”
3
Tyler
If I weren’t seeing it with my own eyes, I wouldn’t have believed it. Ariel had followed me into the bathroom. Sure, I’d all but dared her to, but she’d called my bluff. And now I was about to do something I’d been wanting to do all night.
“You want me to leave?” she asked in a throaty whisper, taking a step toward me.
“Hell no.” God damn, she was even prettier up close. And she was getting closer by the second.
“I’m not sure what I’m doing here.”
“I think you know exactly what you’re doing here.” I ran my knuckle along the underside of her jaw.
“What, um, did you have in mind?” She licked her lips in the most beguiling motion ever. It was so god damn sexy, and I couldn’t help but imagine those lips on my skin. My mouth. My cock.
Fuck.
“You know what I have in mind. You take my breath away, Ariel.”
“Ditto.”
Our eyes locked, and it felt like she’d sucked all the air out of the room. I could barely breathe with her so close to me, and there was nothing now but the two of us. Alone.
“Does the door lock?” she asked, reading my mind.
“Uh-huh.” I reached around her to lock it.
“May I touch you?” she whispered, as if afraid I would say no or something equally ridiculous.
Like that was even possible.
“Please do.”
“These…” She ran a finger along the oblique muscles on one side of my abdomen. “Are the sexiest things I’ve ever seen.”
My fucking skin was on fire where she’d touched me, and I needed more.
“Thanks. But I’m going to have to disagree.” I reached out and pulled her against me. “You are the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen.” I lowered my head just as she tilted hers up, and then her mouth was fastened to mine. I couldn’t hold back, diving between her lips and sucking on her tongue. Her lips were soft and sweet, molding to mine as our tongues tangled and danced. I slid my hands around to cup her glorious ass, and she pressed herself against me, fingers digging into the flaps of my leather jacket as if she were holding on for dear life.
I hadn’t been expecting this when I’d come in here, but the ice princess from earlier tonight had morphed into a seductress who was hotter than Death Valley in July. My cock was straining against my leather pants, and I lifted her, resting her crotch against my raging erection. She wrapped her legs around me, and the short skirt she wore slid up, revealing so much pale, silky skin I didn’t know what to touch first.
I spun us around and pushed her back against the wall because I couldn’t touch her and hold her up at the same time, even though she weighed close to nothing. I wanted to enjoy this without worrying about dropping her, which was a possibility since her hand had traveled south and was currently cupping my erection through my pants.
“Tell me what you want, Ariel,” I panted against her mouth.
“You.”
“Right here? Now?”
“Yes.” She hesitated, and then in a voice so soft I almost didn’t hear her, she said, “Please.”
I couldn’t even formulate a response to that because she’d moved her hand into my pants and, since I wasn’t wearing underwear, was squeezing my cock. I growled, pleasure and need racing through me. Her touch was thrilling, keeping my mouth affixed to hers and my body completely under her control. I was bigger and stronger, but she was in charge. And I fucking loved it. Because before this was over, I was going to make sure this ice princess completely melted.
I cupped one of her ass cheeks and then dragged my hand between her legs until I moved aside the tiny thong she wore. She was dripping wet after just a few minutes, and my gut told me she would be responsive as hell. I dipped a finger into her, and we both moaned. She was warm and tight and so ready for my cock. I didn’t know what the hell was happening here, but I didn’t care.
“Hang on,” I muttered, digging into my pocket for my wallet. “Condom.”
“Hurry,” she whispered, her eyes filled with more passion than I’d seen in a woman in a long time.
Once I’d sheathed myself, I kissed her again, pillaging her mouth with mine, until there was nothing between us, probably not even air. Her hands were in my hair, her skirt bunched up around her hips, and I adjusted my position so I was poised for action. I caressed her warm, wet folds, getting even more turned on by her arousal.
I slid two fingers into her this time, curving them up and in until she moaned, long and deep. I moved them in and out, watching her face as she rode my hand.
“Fuck, Tyler…” She was making the sweetest, sexiest little sounds.
“More?” I asked, taking a split second to be a thousand percent sure she wanted this.
“Fuck me, Tyler.”
I pulled out my fingers and thrust up into her so hard we both grunted.
“God damn, that’s good.” She fastened her lips to mine again, and I grabbed her by the ass. Her cheeks were round and firm, and I squeezed harder and harder as I pumped in and out of her.
“More, Tyler…” She squirmed against me, completely impaled on my cock, and it was so fucking hot I had to slow down for a minute or I was going to embarrass myself.
“Harder?” I growled.
“Wreck me,” she whispered, looking me square in the eye.
Well, fuck. That was the best offer I’d had in a long time. I picked up speed, jackhammering into her until I was slamming her into the wall, but I couldn’t stop, and by the way she was meeting me thrust for thrust, she didn’t want me to.
“You ready, baby?” I grunted, sweat breaking out on my forehead.
“Yes! Please, god, yes!”
“Hold on tight.” I squeezed her thighs around me to let her know she had to hold herself up. Then I slid a couple of fingers between us and pinched her clit.
I crashed my lips to hers to muffle her scream as she jerked against me. Watching her come was fucking beautiful, and I let go a few seconds later. Each aftershock made my back arch and her breath catch, until we were spectacularly spent. Neither of us moved, our bodies still attached, my forehead pressed to hers.
“That was…” I began.
“Glorious?” Her eyes fluttered closed, and she slid her arms up to close around my neck.
“That’s one word for it.” I couldn’t help but lightly kiss her. Her lips puckered softly beneath mine, and we stayed that way longer than I expected we would, but I didn’t want this orgasmic insanity to end. From a couple of electrifying looks to mind-blowing sex up against the wall of a public bathroom. What had just happened?
“Delicious?” she asked after a moment. “Decadent? Magnificent?”
I rumbled out a laugh. “Do we need the perfect adjective to describe really hot sex?”
“No. But it’s fun to find the right one.”
“It is.” I paused. “Exhilarating? Indescribable?”
She chuckled. “Indescribable might be my favorite.”
Someone knocked on the door, and we both sighed.
“I’m gonna put you down, okay?” I whispered.
She nodded, and I gently set her on her feet after reluctantly pulling out. I was still hard as stone and would have done almost anything to go another round, right here in the bathroom.
We both cleaned up, and she straightened out her clothes. I’d hooked up in clubs before and after shows hundreds of times, but it had never been quite like this. There was something about Ariel that was…indescribable. That was exactly the right word for this. And her.
I watched her touch up her lipstick as someone banged on the door again, but I didn’t intend to rush her. It was somehow satisfying to know I’d put that look on her face, the one that would tell the world how well-fucked she’d just been.
“So, uh, this is between us, right?” She turned, suddenly extremely serious.
“Well, I mean, I wasn’t planning to announce it or anything.”
“I mean, my, um, well, it’s complicated. My dad can’t know. Or anyone else.”
“I know you’re not underage,” I said slowly, trying to figure out where she was going with this. “Please tell me you’re not married.”
“Of course not.” She shook her head. “I’m just… Don’t you know about my life? About…me?”
I frowned. “I think I probably know more about you than some considering the last fifteen minutes, but if you’re talking about tabloid shit, no. That’s not my jam.”
“You will,” she said softly, reaching for the doorknob. “Just promise me you won’t say anything to…anyone.”
“No, but—” I called out to her as she opened the door. “Ariel, wait!”
But it was too late. Three people pushed inside the bathroom, and by the time I got into the hallway, she’d disappeared.
4
Ariel
I barely noticed how grumpy Dad was on the drive home. “I can’t believe he spoke to me that way,” he grumbled, though I barely heard him.
“It’s a good opportunity,” I said absently, my thoughts still back in that damn bathroom. “You might want to listen to him.”
“You don’t have any idea what you’re talking about,” he said. “You leave the business deals to me. You don’t need to add that kind of stress to your life.”
“I’m twenty-five, Dad,” I said quietly. “And you’re overprotective.”
He grunted. “If you recall—”
“I was seventeen,” I said, my tone a little curter than I normally used with him. “Are you ever going to forgive me for that?”
“It’s not about forgiveness—it’s about your safety.”
“I’m not Mom.” I stared straight ahead, biting my lower lip to keep from saying anything that would get me into trouble. I never knew what would set him off, and it was exhausting when he was in a bad mood.
“She died because I left her unsupervised, and I won’t let it happen to you.”
“She was an adult who made her own decisions.”
“She was mentally ill and incapable of making good decisions.”
I pursed my lips. This was the same old argument, and I didn’t know how to convince him I was okay. I wasn’t a child, and knowing what I knew about mental illness, I wasn’t going to do anything stupid.
“At some point, you’re going to have to trust me,” I said. “I’m almost twenty-six. Someday I’d like to have a family of my own, and you can’t be there every minute of the day.”
“Does that mean you’re coming to your senses about Darren? He’s the perfect option for you, Ariel. Someone who’ll make sure you stay on your meds while also having your best professional interests at heart.”
“I barely know the man,” I said out loud. “There’s a lot more to getting involved with someone than just being in the same industry. And frankly, he’s older than you.” I glanced at him. “Would you marry someone thirty-five years older than you?”
