Except I was never going to be king, and there was no reason to follow the rules anymore. All that had gotten me was frustrated. Maybe it was time to take my mother’s advice, push back against tradition and pursue a woman I wanted simply because my entire being reacted whenever she was near me. There wasn’t anything to lose, and now that I’d had a taste, I wasn’t as willing to repress my attraction as I’d been before.

  “You shouldn’t tease a man,” was all I could think to say.

  “Who’s teasing?” She winked and moved off toward a group of people that had come in.

  I watched her with a private smile, wondering just what mischief she would lead me into on this trip. The look on Sandor’s face told me he was already horrified, but as an official guard to the royal family, he felt duty-bound to follow me to the ends of the earth. We’d enjoyed some interesting evenings while we’d been students at Oxford. That was one of the fringe benefits of being a protector of the royal family, as well as a cousin; my father insisted that Sandor be just as educated as I was. So, although Sandor was a couple of years older than me, he’d dutifully waited until I was ready for college before attending himself. However, what we’d thought was adventurous in those days was probably nothing compared to what Casey had in store for us.

  One part of me was excited. I’d been infatuated with her for years, and she’d barely given me the time of day. Now, I was going to be in her company for an undetermined length of time, without Nick—whom I knew she dated on and off—or anyone else to distract her. I wasn’t worried about her music industry friends; had there been anyone of any romantic interest to her in those circles I would’ve heard about it. All I really had to worry about was my own perception that I’d never be the kind of man she wanted. Not that I had any idea what kind of man that was, but could a sexy, successful woman like her truly be attracted to a man she’d already called stuffy and boring?

  I liked to think I was a mature, educated, respectable man who had a lifetime of public service in my future, but when it came to Casey, I felt like an inexperienced teenager with sweaty palms and knocking knees. I wanted to throw convention to the wind and marry her. Today. My parents had long since given their blessing if such an occasion ever arose, which was weird and heartwarming at the same time, and I had a gut feeling this was going to be my one and only chance to win her over. The question was how to do it. Sandor would be no help, and if given a choice, I would’ve preferred Sandor not come along at all. Hopefully, a few glasses of whiskey would put Sandor in a mellow enough mood to leave us alone.

  As the evening wore on, I watched Casey make frequent visits to the bar. Each time she would down a shot of that Tennessee Fire she loved so much, and then walk away with a whiskey and Coke that she would sip as she mingled. She seemed to know everyone, from the publicity people to the band’s managers to their girlfriends and parents. She charmed the record company executives, made small talk with Keegan’s girlfriend, and unobtrusively picked up a piece of lobster dipped in butter and seductively popped it in her mouth. Every man in the room was watching her, and she knew it. I had to admit, I’d never seen this side of her before, and it fascinated me. I’d seen her perform live a bunch of times, and I’d seen her rare television appearances, but I’d never seen her so alive. She was a star, she knew it, and she had a room full of people practically salivating to get close to her.

  “I must admit,” Sandor said as he came up behind me and glanced in Casey’s direction. “She’s never been my type, but she’s a very sexy woman.”

  I smiled. “She’s always been my type, and it’s taking all my self-control not to go over there and throw myself at her feet.”

  We were still chuckling as Casey approached, for the first time a bit unsteady on her feet. She gave us a smile and cocked her head. “You’re talking about me again.”

  “Busted.” I smiled down at her.

  “If you two are going to exchange drool, I’m leaving,” Sandor muttered.

  Casey laughed, linking her arm through mine.

  “So, what do you think?” she was asking me. “Did you like the music?”

  I nodded. “Not bad. I’m more a jazz fan though.”

  “Why am I not surprised?” She shook her head. “Come on, let’s do a shot.”

  “Casey, I—”

  “You what?” She leaned against me. “You want to play without paying first? No way. If you’re not as drunk as I am by the time we leave here, you’re sleeping alone tonight.”

  I met her gaze directly, my green eyes boring into her blue ones. On the inside, my stomach had begun to churn, but I refused to let her see what she was doing to me. “I can match you shot for shot.”

  “I’m about six up on you right now, so you’ve got a lot of catching up to do!” She turned and took a step toward the bar. Then she paused. “Coming?”

  “Soon, I hope.”

  I followed her as Sandor muttered, “You’re insane.”

  “Casey!” a loud male voice shouted from across the room, and I turned to see an extraordinarily tall man with glasses and a blond ponytail open his arms. Casey ran into them, and he scooped her up in a huge hug, spinning her around until they were both laughing. They kissed, but it was without passion, and I forced myself not to react.

  “Lance! What are you doing here? And you’re late!”

  “I’m always late,” he chuckled. “But I was working, so I have a good excuse.”

  “Likely story.”

  “I’m glad to see you though.”

  “So am I.” She turned then, seeking me out. “I want you to meet my friends, Erik and Sandor.”

  Lance frowned slightly and looked in our direction almost suspiciously.

  “Erik!”

  She was calling to me, and I had no choice but to join them.

  “I want you to meet Lance Baker,” she said. “He’s been our tour manager since our first headlining tour, and he’s like family.”

  “Nice to meet you.” I shook his hand and was surprised to find it firm and dry. Lance was probably close to seven feet tall, and his glasses redefined the analogy of Coke-bottle lenses. However, upon closer inspection, every inch of the man was steel, and his voice was deep and sincere.

  “Likewise. Casey running you ragged?”

  “She’s trying,” I laughed.

  “Well, then, let’s do a shot.” Lance turned toward the bartender and automatically ordered a round of Tennessee Fire.

  “We’re going to die,” Sandor muttered under his breath.

  My hopes that the party was dying down were dashed even though the release party was coming to an end, but the band had invited everyone to a club in Greenwich Village, and more than a dozen of the guests filed out to find taxis. Lance joined us in the SUV though.

  “Casey, you really need to do a solo album and tour,” he was saying.

  “I want to,” Casey agreed. She was pressed up against my side and seemed perfectly content there. I knew she was drunk, and that she might not be flirting with me like this if she hadn’t been, but tonight I didn’t care. “I’m not ready to think about the future yet.”

  “Gonna let loose for a while?”

  “That’s the plan.” Casey turned those gorgeous blue eyes to me and leaned in, letting her lips hover millimeters from mine.

  “Oh, bother,” Sandor muttered, staring out the window.

  “Kinda sucky to be the third wheel, ain’t it?” Lance asked him. “I hate it, too, but since I rarely get to hang with Casey, I guess I’m willing to put up with it.”

  To my surprise, Sandor laughed. “I suppose, in an odd way, I feel the same way since I rarely get to spend quality time with my favorite cousin.”

  “Oh, you guys are cousins?” Lance began talking a mile a minute about his own cousins, and Casey looked over at me.

  “What?” I asked softly.

  “Just kind of surreal that we’re here like this.”

  “You’re beautiful,” I whispered. I desperately wanted to kiss her—really kiss her—but this was neither the time nor the place. Not yet.

  “Not yet,” she said, echoing my thoughts. “Later—there’s time.” She looked out the window and let out a yell. “We’re here. You guys are going to love this place,” she cried, hopping out of the car before I could grab her. She linked her arm through Lance’s and called over her shoulder to Sandor and me. “Come on, slowpokes!”

  It was past midnight now, but Casey didn’t seem to be tired at all. She immediately headed for the bar with Lance in tow, and Sandor and I found a table in the back of the private room the band had reserved. Unlike the recording studio where we’d been earlier, this was a nightclub where bands played, music blared, and couples found dark corners in which to make out, dance, or do any number of other things I didn’t want to think about. Casey and Lance arrived carrying a tray with shots for all of us.

  “If we die,” Sandor whispered to me, “I’m going to follow you straight to hell and kick your ass.”

  “At least we’ll be together,” was my response as the liquid burned its way down my throat.

  “Casey, dance with me!” Keegan had appeared, and Casey was whisked off in his arms as he spun her around a raised dance floor.

  For a hard rock musician, he could move, and I watched in irritation. Casey was also an excellent dancer, and they were the center of attention as Keegan dipped her over and over.

  “Don’t worry about Keegan,” Lance spoke behind me. “He’s all but married, quite happily. But his girl is pregnant, so she went home. Casey’s the reason their band got discovered, so they love her—and they’re good guys. Besides, she scares the hell out of them.”

  “She scares the hell out of me sometimes too,” I chuckled, starting to relax.

  “How long have you known each other?” Lance asked.

  I sighed. “Most of our lives, actually. My family lives in Las Vegas most of the year, but I went to school in England so I wasn’t around much.”

  “And she was probably hooking up with Nick.”

  “Absolutely.”

  “Look, I don’t know you or what your story is, but Casey’s like a sister to me. She’s kind of vulnerable right now—don’t hurt her, okay?”

  “Believe me, that’s the last thing on my mind.”

  “Good.” Lance nodded at me and then strode out to the dance floor where he tapped Keegan on the shoulder and cut in on the dance. Lance, however, could not dance, and soon he and Casey were laughing too hard to move.

  A rock ballad filtered through the sound system and that was my cue. “It’s my turn,” I announced, nudging Lance.

  “Cool.” Lance inclined his head and moved toward the bar.

  Casey let me take her hand, and we moved into each other’s arms easily. I’d never enjoyed a dance as much as this one, and we swayed in silence for a while before Casey put her head on my chest. “You smell yummy,” was all she said.

  “You look yummy,” I responded. Her mouth was inches from mine, and she smiled invitingly, but then she was yanked away from me.

  7

  Casey

  “Casey!” A tall black woman was calling my name, and I swung around in frustration. “Girlfriend, what are you doing here?!”

  “Vicki!” I was overjoyed to see my old friend, though her timing couldn’t have been worse. I felt Erik’s sigh and I squeezed his hand before letting Vicki yank me into a hug.

  That was my last chance to be in Erik’s arms for the rest of the night. By the time the club closed at three in the morning, I felt like I’d played a full set with a dozen encores. It seemed like every musician I knew had shown up, and I spent hours moving from one group to the next, talking, drinking, and dancing. I kept my hand in Erik’s, though, hopefully letting him know I wanted him just as much as I thought he wanted me.

  When the club closed, a group of us moved the party to an after-hours club where there was more drinking, more dancing, and a lot more sexual tension between Erik and me. Sandor gave in to exhaustion and dozed in a chair against the wall sometime close to dawn, and it was around that time that Vicki and her husband, Ice, snuck out. Lance, Erik, and I did our final round of shots at six in the morning, and Lance carried me out to the waiting SUV while Erik nudged Sandor awake.

  We dropped Lance off at Penn Station so he could take the train home to his Long Island apartment, and we arrived back at our hotel around seven. Sandor did his perfunctory check of our adjoining rooms, assured himself we were safe, and then promptly fell on his bed and into a deep sleep, fully dressed.

  “You look tired,” Erik whispered, standing in the doorway of my room.

  “I gotta pee,” I whispered. I went into the bathroom to freshen up and give my pounding heart a few minutes to settle down. He wanted me, and I wanted him, so I didn’t know why I was so nervous, but it was now or never. I pulled off my dress and slowly walked back into the room in nothing but my matching bra and panties.

  “Let’s get you to bed,” he said with a gentle smile.

  “Will you come with me?” I whispered, leaning against his strong chest.

  “I will, but nothing is going to happen when you’re in this condition. If and when I make love to you, you’re going to be completely sober.”

  “How chivalrous,” I murmured.

  “I try.” He tugged me toward the bed, and we crawled under the cool sheets. He’d removed his shirt at some point, so the warmth of his torso seared my skin as he pulled me close. This, I thought as I drifted off to sleep, was heaven.

  I came awake slowly, acutely aware of my aching head and the erection pressed against my butt. Oh, god. There was no way I was wasting this opportunity, the chance to be intimate with the man I’d been thinking about for years. I moaned with desire as last night’s events came rushing back and Erik’s arms tightened around me. The clock on the nightstand told me it was only noon, and though my mind screamed with exhaustion, my libido had a mind of its own. The muscular body draped around me was too hard to resist, and I turned over to face him. He was still wearing pants, and I fumbled with his zipper in frustration.

  “Casey, what—” He spoke sleepily, slowly opening his eyes.

  “I want you,” I breathed.

  “Sweetheart…”

  I silenced any protest with my mouth, softly kissing his lips. I reached out to touch his face, stroke the line of his jaw, mesmerized by the powerful man that he was. I had no delusions about the future, but the present was overpowering all sense of reason. And that dip in his chin was all mine for the touching. Or licking. Or both.

  His body reacted to my touch, and he managed to slide his jeans down without breaking contact. Then he dug his fingers into my hair and pulled me to him, kissing me like no one ever had before. His tongue stroked mine with delicious precision, each flick igniting a tiny flame inside of me I’d never known existed. His mouth was a veritable feast, taking pull after pull, all while giving me a taste of delirium. I’d never been kissed like this, with such intimate perfection, and I raked my fingers down his back, desperate to have him closer.

  “Easy,” he whispered against my mouth.

  “Erik, please…” I moaned his name, lifting my hips as he tugged at my panties and pulled them free of my legs. My legs fell open of their own volition and then he was there, his cock thick and heavy against my thigh.

  “Oh, god, yes.”

  He slid into me, and I didn’t remember anything being so natural. We’d barely touched, had barely done anything at all, yet I was wet, needy, practically on the verge of orgasm the second he was inside me. I wrapped one leg around the back of his thighs as he kissed me, our bodies moving together in a frantic rush. I’d never done anything like this before, and the orgasm that ripped through me caught me off guard.

  “Shit, I’m sorry,” he groaned, jerking inside of me.

  “Holy shit.” I was breathless and confused, but utterly helpless to stop whatever was happening, the intensity almost bringing me to tears.

  “Are you all right?” he whispered against my hair, holding me tightly.

  “I think so.” My eyes were closed but I was smiling.

  “What just happened?” His fingers found mine.

  “Do they not teach this kind of thing to the royal family in Limaj?”

  “Not like this.” He shifted so he could look at me. “Do you know how long I’ve been waiting for this?”

  “As long as I have?” My eyes met his in the semidarkness.

  “I thought I was stuffy?” he asked, leaning forward and nipping my lower lip.

  “I see that you’re not all that stuffy when you’re naked.” I grinned, wrapping my arms around his neck. “In fact, you’re not stuffy at all when you’re naked.”

  He finally pulled out and a strange look crossed his face as he did.

  “What’s wrong?” I asked.

  He blew out a slow breath. “Honey, we didn’t use protection.”

  Oh, shit. I blinked and looked down at our naked bodies, as if that would somehow affirm or negate what we’d just done. Without protection. Boy, when I got stupid, I didn’t hold back.

  “Are you…” He looked as shocked as I felt.

  “No.” I swallowed. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what came over me. One minute I was asleep and then we were…”

  “Naked,” he sighed. “It’s my fault. I seduced you.”

  “We’re both responsible, but I swear to you, I don’t have any diseases. That was my first time not using a condom. Ever.”

  I looked at him. “Me too.”

  “Are you upset?”

  I stared at him. “How could I be upset? When I woke up and realized you were beside me, all I could think about was touching you…being with you.”

 

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23