The Gamble, page 7
My pulse started to beat faster. “Phil, you’re scaring me right now.”
He sighed. “Stay put. I’m five minutes away.”
“Can you tell me what’s going on?”
“Not right now. Just trust me and do what I say, okay?”
“All right. I’ll stay put.”
“Don’t drink anything, don’t eat anything, just stay in the room and don’t let anyone in, including the bodyguards. Lock the door.”
Chills rushed through my body. “Phil, you’re freaking me out.”
“Are the bodyguards with you?”
“Outside the room.” I glanced over at the closed door.
“Good. Go lock the door.”
Lock the bodyguards out?
I went over and locked the door. “Okay, it’s locked. Why am I locking the bodyguards out?”
“I’ll explain everything when I get there, I promise. Just don’t let anyone in.”
The handle on the door moved. There was a knock on the door.
I stood next to the door. “Who is it?”
“It’s Ally, the station manager. Your next interview is here.”
“Ally, I need a few minutes. Can you tell them it’s going to be about fifteen minutes? I spilled coffee on myself and need to change.”
“Do you need a stain stick or a better place to freshen up?”
“No, I’ll be fine here. Thank you. Please, just give me fifteen minutes of privacy.”
“No problem, I’ll inform everyone and move your schedule back another fifteen minutes,” she said sweetly.
“Thanks, Ally. You’re the best!”
She walked away, her heels faintly clicking on the floor.
“Phil, you still there?”
“Yes. That was good, Sophie. I’m two minutes away. Just hang tight, okay?”
No one had ever made me stay in a room by myself without allowing my bodyguards in before. “Phil, this is creeping me out. Please tell me what’s going on.”
The door handle moved again. There was another knock.
“Who is it?” I called out again.
“Ma’am, we’re going to move you to another room.”
My heart started to thump against my chest. “Why do you need to move me to another room?”
Phil’s voice came through the phone. “Don’t open the door. Do not move rooms, Sophie.”
My mouth went dry.
“Ma’am, please open the door.” The door handle moved again.
“I’m not decent right now. Please stop trying to get in. I need a minute.” My voice sounded frightened. I tried to make it not be, but I couldn’t help it—it was shaking.
He continued to try and get in. “Ma’am, we need to move you now. This isn’t a drill.”
“Sophie, I’m getting out of the car now. Don’t let him in.”
I turned away from the door. “Oh my God!”
“Sophie, what’s going on?” Phil came back through the phone.
I accidentally dropped my phone, and the call was disconnected.
Outside, holding a sign written in red with the words Die Carlotta, was Timothy Jerlew, the man I had just filed a restraining order against. He stood on the sidewalk about one hundred yards away from me.
“Ma’am, we have to get you out of there.” The security guard once again rattled the knob.
I looked between the door handle and out the window at him as he continued to stare at me and smile his sinister smile. He knew I was looking at him, and he opened the side of his jacket and pointed to the gun sticking out of his pants.
My quivering insides started to move faster, and my entire body started to convulse in fear. I ducked down underneath the window so he couldn’t see me.
The bodyguards continued to turn the door handle and knock on the door. There was a lot of commotion between the door handle, knocks, and their voices.
There was another loud bang on the door. “Sophie, it’s Phil. Let me in.”
I jumped up, ran over, and unlocked the door.
Phil drew me into his arms and quickly pulled me out of the room and into a bathroom with no windows. He locked the door. Phil grabbed my face in his hands. “Sophie, you okay?”
I nodded as tears started to drip down my face.
“Shh.” He pulled me into his chest and stroked my head.
Phil held me until my quivering body started to return to normal. He kissed the top of my head.
I pulled back from him. “He has a gun. He opened his jacket to let me know.”
Phil didn’t say anything. He just pulled me back into his arms. “We need to get you out of here, Petal.”
I pulled out of his embrace. “Phil, tell me what’s going on. Why couldn’t I let security in?”
He hesitated, trying to find the words.
I grabbed his face. “Tell me what’s happening!”
Phil closed his eyes and took a deep breath. “We think one of them has been compromised.”
“What? How?”
His phone rang. He held his finger up for me to wait. “Tell me you have good news for me.” He scanned my eyes.
There was a long pause. “When do they land?” He looked at his watch. “The driver is waiting on the runway?” He put his hand on my cheek, then caressed his thumb on my jawline while he listened. “Keep me updated.” He hung up.
“What’s happening?”
“We reinstated the international clearance for your normal bodyguards. They should be landing in the next ten minutes. We’re about twenty-five minutes to the airport. Get comfortable, because we aren’t leaving this bathroom until they arrive.”
Closing my eyes, I slowly opened them and nodded. I walked over to the counter and jumped up on it, then patted the space next to me. “Come sit.”
Phil walked over and sat next to me. He put his arm around me, and I leaned into him.
“We need to cancel the rest of your interviews.”
“Okay. I won’t argue.”
“When your bodyguards get here, they’ll need to assess the situation and determine if it’s safe for you to be on stage tonight.”
My head jerked up. “I can’t miss a concert. Whatever they need to do to secure the arena, they need to do. Part of the arena’s responsibility is to make sure I’m safe, anyways.”
“Sophie, we aren’t dealing with normal issues here. This isn’t about metal detectors and pat-downs. If they say it isn’t safe, then we’re on the first flight out of here. Your life isn’t worth it.”
I took a deep breath and looked up at the ceiling. “Phil, missing a concert is a no-no. I’ve gone on stage sick with the flu too many times to count. A lot of money is involved in a reschedule. My label and manager will not be happy. Plus, the fans get really pissed off.”
Phil pulled my chin toward him. “I’ll do everything I can to make it happen. But if I say we need to go, then we need to go. Please don’t fight me on this.”
I promised him on the way to the airport last night that I wouldn’t fight him anymore. And I knew he had my best interests at heart. He was a businessman, so he understood the complexities of a concert being rescheduled.
So I decided just to nod and say, “Thank you.” I stroked his soft beard and inched my lips to his. My tongue slid out and licked his bottom lip, then glided into his mouth. He pulled me closer into him, and we lazily explored each other’s mouths. I could taste the tiny hint of mint as he rolled his tongue around mine. My body melted into his once more.
That was the effect Phil had on me. No matter the situation, he always knew how to make me forget. We were locked in a bathroom, my stalker was outside, my security was possibly compromised, but I became lost in him. It was what I needed, and he always delivered.
He quietly groaned and told me between kisses, “You drive me crazy, Sophie.”
I continued to kiss him, but whispered, “Crazy with more work.”
He softly laughed. “At least I get benefits.”
I moved my mouth to his ear and gently sucked on his earlobe.
He moaned quietly.
“I think I owe you extra benefits.”
His hand grabbed my hair and gently pulled my head back. His soft lips moved across my jawline. “I’ll remember to cash in on those,” he hummed into my neck.
“Mmm.” A faint pulse rippled from my toes and up my body.
Phil pulled me onto his lap, and his warm hands crept under my shirt and onto my naked back. Little tingles rushed to the surface of my skin as his hands caressed me.
“You’re so damn sexy,” he murmured in my ear.
I found his mouth again and pushed my fingers through his hair as my tongue urgently started to play cat and mouse with his.
“I think you’re sexier.”
He gently laughed and went back to my neck. “You’re the best work perk I’ve ever had.”
“Even though I’m a bunch of extra stress?”
“You’re not extra stress. If it wasn’t this, it would be something else.” His lips hit my collarbone and sent a small shudder through my body.
His phone rang.
He groaned.
“Don’t get it,” I whispered.
He smiled and pulled back. He picked up his phone and put it to his ear. “Hello.”
I unbuttoned one of his buttons and leaned in and kissed his chest. He watched me and ran his hand through my hair.
“Okay, give us four knocks.” He hung up.
We went back to kissing. About fifteen minutes later, there were four loud knocks and, “Phil, it’s Isaac,” rang through the bathroom.
Phil gave me a final quick kiss, then set me on the ground. He winked at me. “We’ll continue this later.”
I laughed.
He jumped off the counter and put his arm around my waist. He led me behind the door and motioned for me to stay back. Unlocking the door, he inched it open and peeked out, then opened it farther.
My bodyguard Isaac came in. “Ma’am, you okay?”
“I’m good, Isaac. Thanks for coming.”
He smiled at me. “No problem.” He turned toward Phil. “The rogue bodyguards have been detained. It was two, not one. The perimeter is secured, and the car is waiting out front. We should leave now.”
Phil nodded to him and grabbed me by the waist. The three of us quickly moved through the radio station and out of the building, directly into the car. My other bodyguard Rich was waiting for us when we stepped outside.
We went directly to the hotel and up to the suite. Phil was on the phone the entire time we were in the car, and for the first few hours we were in the suite. He finally hung up.
“The police were called, but Timothy Jerlew left before they could arrest him. We don’t know where he went.”
A shiver ran through my body. It was past noon, and I still needed to do sound checks and other things at the arena. “Phil—”
His phone rang. He held up his finger. “Isaac. What’s the situation?” He stood up and started to pace and ran his hand through his hair. He glanced back at me. “If that’s the safest thing, then that’s what we’re doing.”
I sighed. I had a feeling I didn’t like what was coming.
“We’ll get ready. See you soon.” He hung up.
I walked over to him. “Are you canceling my concert?”
He looked at me like he was preparing himself for battle. “Yes.”
I blew out a deep breath. “Okay.”
He squinted his eyes at me. “You aren’t going to fight me on this?”
“I thought you didn’t want me to fight you anymore?”
“I don’t.”
“Then stop expecting me to.”
He slowly grinned at me. “Fair enough. Thank you.” He pulled me in for a quick kiss. “We need to be ready to go. Isaac will be here shortly.”
5
Phil
* * *
I started the flight back to New York on my phone. Sophie pulled a book out of her tote bag and was lying down on the couch, pretending to read it. I knew she was acting because I would catch her periodically sneaking glances at me.
Crap. I promised her I would help her forget. This isn’t helping her forget.
But you need to sort this shit out or she’s going to have much bigger issues.
I picked her legs up and sat down with her feet on my lap. I had my earbuds in, and I put my phone on the table and continued my conversation with London while I started to give her a foot massage.
“You already went over that. Do you have any new information to give me?” I looked over at her and rolled my eyes. She grinned back at me and bit her lip.
My eyes drifted to her feet. Even her feet were perfect. Her nails were painted electric blue, the same color as her hair. I pressed my thumb along her arch.
A soft moan came out of her. I glanced over at her. She had her eyes shut.
She’s too damn gorgeous and sweet.
“Call me when you have more information.” I hung up, put my earbuds back in the case, and went back to her foot massage.
“Maybe you should start a new career,” she teased.
I just grinned at her.
We didn’t talk for a bit.
She pulled her feet back, grabbed her tote, crawled across the couch, and propped her body up on the back of the couch so her legs were on both sides of my body. She set her tote down next to me.
Laughing, I asked, “What are you doing?”
She reached around the front of my shirt and unbuttoned it. I turned my head toward her and gave her a questioning stare.
“Just relax, Phil.” She smiled at me and pushed my shirt over my shoulders.
I gave her another What are you up to? stare.
She dug down into her tote and pulled a bottle of lotion out, squeezed some on her hands, and rubbed them together. Placing her hands on my shoulders, she dug her thumbs into the knots in my back.
I let out a sigh.
“You’re so tight.” She leaned her head over me, and her soft blue hair brushed against my face. She kissed the top of my head and pushed farther into my knots.
I rolled my head up toward the ceiling, and she brushed her lips against mine.
My phone rang. I went to grab it, but she snatched it first. She turned it off and threw it on the other couch.
“Hey, that might be important.”
“We’re in the air. You can get to it later. Just sit back and stop thinking, Phil.” She nibbled on my ear and circled hard into another knot.
“It’s not that black and white.”
“I can do other things to you if this isn’t working,” she whispered seductively.
I licked my lips. “If what isn’t working?”
“I want you not to think for a little bit. Isn’t that what you need?”
“Is that what I need?”
“Blow off some steam...stop thinking... What do you need from me?”
What do I need from her? Wasn’t I supposed to be making her forget?
Her cherry, tonka, and cedar scent filled my nostrils, and I inhaled extra deep. She made her way across my shoulders, and I started to relax a bit.
The flicker of her tongue slid across my neck, right behind my ear. My dick pulsed against my zipper, and I groaned as my heart started to beat faster.
Heat from her lower body permeated against my spine, creating a buzz of energy through all my cells. Her lips mumbled next to my ear before she sucked on my lobe. “You make me so wet, Phil.”
“Fuck,” I quietly groaned. My eyes were still shut, and I inhaled more of her. She wrapped her legs around me so her calves were crossed around my chest. I crossed my arms tight against her shins and rolled my head to the side so she could have more access to my neck.
“Did you think about me the last few months?”
Did I think of her? Is that even a question?
“You haunted me,” I admitted.
Her soft lips moved across my neck. “Did you try to fuck me out of your system?”
I gulped and nodded. God, she was a vixen. “Yes.”
“Did it help?”
“No.” I didn’t see the point of lying.
Her thumbs pressed into another knot, and I could smell the faint hint of her sweet sex as she circled her hips slowly against my back. Her calves pressed against my chest, and I squeezed them. “I tried to fuck you out of my system, too.”
Normally I wasn’t a jealous person, but when I closed my eyes and visions of the men I’d seen with her in newspaper articles rushed to my mind, the images of her fucking them made me slightly nauseated. It surprised me; she was the first woman about whom it bugged me to think of her with another man. But I couldn’t be mad or judge her—I had done the same.
A tiny amount of panic ran through me. My voice was hoarse. “Did it help?”
“No.”
Thank fuck for that! Somehow, knowing that she had screwed other men thinking of me, but couldn’t shake me, made me feel a bit better.
She grazed her teeth on the back of my shoulder. Her foot flexed, and she started to tease my dick.
I groaned again.
“Did you compare me to those other women?” she murmured near my other ear.
“Yes.”
“Did you think about my tongue?” She snaked her tongue behind my ear.
I moaned. “Mm-hmm.”
Her cheek slid against my beard, and her entire body pushed into me harder. Her heat ground harder into my spine. “Did you think of how I taste?”
I nodded and gulped. My cock tried to rip out of my pants as her foot stroked me further.
“Did you imagine it was my body gripping your cock tight and shattering all over you?”
“Yes,” I groaned as the jet started to shake.
“When they cried out, did you think of my voice crying out to you?” She dug her thumbs in farther and sucked on my earlobe.
“Mm-hmm.”
“Why did you compare me?”
I blurted out, “Because you were all I could think about.”
Cindy came on over the speaker. “Please buckle up. We’ve got some unexpected turbulence.”
The jet took a dive, and we both rolled down to the seat cushion. She fell underneath me, and her tote bag went flying. The contents rolled out onto the floor.
