Rockstar Romance Boxed Set (12 Book Bundle New Adult BBW)

by Emme Rollins

  “You okay, love?”

  I nodded. “Just needed some air.”

  Dex looked around, but the few people on the street didn’t seem to be paying us any attention. He stepped close to me, reaching behind my head, and tugged my hair down. “Mmm. Much better.”

  “Don’t,” I said playfully. “We both know what happens when the hair comes down.”

  “We sure do.” He brushed his thumb across my lips. “I can’t take this anymore, Becca.”

  “What?”

  “Looking at you and not touching you. I’m going mad. I need you.”

  I sighed. “Thank god it’s not just me.”

  “Let’s get out of here. No one else is at the hotel yet except Ryan, and I’m sure he’s fast asleep.”

  “We can’t just leave.”

  “We have to, or I’m going to tackle you right in front of everyone.”

  “You wouldn’t.”

  “I might.” His finger dipped inside my pants and pressed against the spot where he’d marked me. “When it comes to you, Becca, there’s no telling what I might do.”

  Blushing, I kissed him softly on the lips.

  But when the door of the pub opened, I jumped away from him, crossing my arms in front of me.

  Mia, the tour’s blogger and Ryan’s niece, walked out with two other girls. “Oh, hey, guys.”

  “Hi,” I said. “What’s up?”

  “Not much. This is Kate and Sarah.”

  I nodded at the other girls, but they were ignoring me and staring at Dex. Something primal in me wanted to growl and scratch at them. I guess he wasn’t the only one with a possessive side.

  “Are you all leaving?”

  Mia shook her head. “Nah. Just waiting with them. They’ve got some friends coming to join us.”

  One of the other girls nudged her.

  “Oh, yeah. Umm, Dex?”

  “Huh?” He looked a little surprised and distracted, but finally turned his attention to her.

  “Kate wants to ask you something.”

  “Okay.”

  The girl stepped forward, twisting a lock of long, dark hair around her finger. “I was reading an interview you gave. Said you are half American?”

  He sighed. “Sort of. I’m an American citizen, but I was born outside London, and I’ve lived all over the world.”

  I thought back to when we were heading to catch up with everyone. I’d mentioned going home, and he agreed. More than most people, I understood that home isn’t always a place. Sometimes it’s the people you feel the most yourself around. But I didn’t imagine the drunk girl was capable of understanding that, and she certainly didn’t know that this was not the best time to make Dex think about his parents and his upbringing.

  “That’s really interesting,” she continued, still rolling that piece of hair in what she probably thought was an alluring manner, but struck me as a nervous habit. “I bet you have a woman in every city.”

  He shrugged and cast a quick look over at me. “I meet a lot of people.”

  “Well, if you’re in need of a tour guide, I’ve lived here all my life. Never been nowhere.”

  “Well, thanks. But we’re only here another day and a half. Not much time for sightseeing. But if you like, I’d be happy to hook you ladies up with tickets for the show tomorrow.”

  The girl pouted prettily, batting her eyes at him. “Is that all?”

  Dex slipped into flirting with her naturally. “Is it?” He leaned against the wall, letting a lock of hair fall over his face.

  She giggled and glanced over at her friend before moving closer to him. “There could be more. If you want. I could show you around my neighborhood. And my place.”

  My fingers curled into fists, and stung where my nails dug into my palms. I tried to remind myself this was part of his job. And covering both of our asses. But I’d had enough.

  Oblivious, Dex kept chatting playfully with the girl, Kate. “Now what could we possibly do in your neighborhood? Is there a good pub?”

  “No,” she said, smiling. “But I’ve got a stocked liquor cupboard. I can make anything you want.” Her hand finally left her hair, and moved to play with the strip of flat stomach exposed between her halter top and denim mini. “I am very good with my hands.”

  My eyes narrowed. I was going to explode. “Well, if you all will excuse me, I should get back inside.”

  Mia turned to look at me. In the dim light I couldn’t read her expression, but I had never seen her so alert, which made me nervous.

  “Becca, wait,” Dex said. “Hold on one second.” He turned to Kate and smiled. “Look, darling. I’d love to keep chatting with you, but Becca and I have some band business to discuss.”

  Kate finally spared me a second glance. “You’re with the band?”

  “She’s our tour manager, basically,” he answered.

  She shrugged. “Oh, well, whatever.” Pulling a phone from her pocket, she held it up to Dex. “When you’re done with business, give me a call. It doesn’t matter how late.”

  I very much wanted to punch her. I closed my eyes and counted to fifty while he wrote down her number on a scrap of paper.

  Thankfully, a taxi pulled up right then, and a gaggle of people tumbled out. Kate squealed and started hugging them, still making sure to keep her eye on Dex. But in the madness of the crowd, she was pulled back into the pub and away from us. Mia joined them, and suddenly we were alone again.

  There was a long, awkward silence.

  “That was…something,” I managed to get out.

  “Yes. Look, Becca. I’m not going to call that girl.”

  “I know,” I said, mostly meaning it.

  “I’m serious. In fact, here.” He fished the paper out of his pocket and held it out to me. “Throw it away. Burn it, for all I care.”

  I softened. “That won’t be necessary.”

  He ripped it in half and dropped it on the ground. “Gone.”

  My mouth dropped open in mock horror. “Flirting with girls and littering? For shame.”

  He laughed. “The only girl I want to flirt with is you, love.”

  I smiled.

  “Now, where were we? Oh, yes. You were kissing me passionately, and about to ravish me.”

  “That’s not exactly how I remember it, Dex.”

  “Hmm. I do.”

  I walked over and hugged him. “This is so dangerous. Anyone could see.”

  “Then I guess we better get off the street, yeah? I know just the place.”

  “Is it close by?”

  “Very. We could be there in minutes, if we hurry.”

  “But there’s a whole party going on inside. Everyone is waiting for us. Well, for you.”

  “Fuck ‘em.”

  I laughed and pulled back, taking his hand in mine. “Where’s your patience?”

  “I have none, not when it comes to you. Every second I spend not naked with you is a waste of my life.”

  “We can’t spend all of our time in bed.”

  “We could try.”

  I dropped his hand, and reached back to put my hair up again. “Maybe so. But for now we need to get back.”

  He frowned. “No more sex-kitten?”

  “Not here. Not where we could be seen.”

  “You like this, don’t you? Knowing you’re torturing me. How much I want you.”

  “Maybe. And I kind of like that this…whatever it is, is just between us. That whenever you’re talking to someone, they don’t know what I do. What we do.”

  “So do I, actually. Our secret. No one’s business but ours.”

  I nodded in agreement, but a tiny part of me didn’t like that. Wanted him to want everyone in the world to know about us. Wanted him to be proud to be with me. But was it my own doubts that created that niggling question, or something I felt coming from Dex? Obviously he wanted me. That much was clear. But would he want to introduce me to his family as more than a friend or colleague? Would he gush about me openly to reporte
rs? Smile and hold my hand while paparazzi snapped shot after shot of us?

  Not that I thought any of those things could happen. As much as I loved being with Dex, I needed to keep my job. And whatever his reasons for enjoying our privacy, I wasn’t going to sabotage it with my paranoid thoughts.

  But as we devised a quick plan to leave the pub without drawing attention, I still wondered. Our relationship had bloomed in secret, away from the reality of the tour. If it did come to light, could we survive that? Would he want to? Would I?

  Those questions haunted me a bit. As we managed to return to the hotel together undetected, I was quiet. And when he pulled me close in the elevator, I pulled away.

  The look of hurt on his face embarrassed me. He’d done nothing but open his heart to me, and I doubted him based on one tiny comment. That wasn’t fair.

  “What is it? No one’s in here.”

  “Nothing,” I replied, slipping my arms around him. “I was just thinking.”

  “Do you mean worrying?”

  “A little.”

  “What will it take to make you stop?”

  “I’ll be fine.”

  “That’s not good enough.” He crowded me up against the wall of the elevator. “But I can fix it. As soon as we’re behind a locked door, I’m going to strip you bare. And then I’m going to make you come so many times you forget everything except me. Us.”

  His words shot right through to my core and I whimpered, grabbing on to the hem of his shirt. “Oh, honey. You’re killing me.”

  “Now you know how I feel.”

  And for all my stupid doubts, I did. He was an open book to me. And, true to his word, once we got back to my room, he made me forget everything. For hours.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Another day, another airport. One of the few times I actually felt like the babysitter Ryan referred to me as, was trying to wrangle everyone through the airport to catch a flight on time. After another great show and an early morning departure time, we were all moving slowly. I thought about the ease of strolling onto the private jet that brought us across the Atlantic Ocean, and missed it terribly.

  I was a little cranky from lack of sleep, and antsy about the next leg of the trip. We were headed to Paris, finally. I’d dreamed of visiting, and now I’d be going. And not alone. I’d have Dex with me, and I couldn’t imagine anything more romantic. It was a big enough city that we could get lost. Find some out of the way places, and just be ourselves. It would be fun, and hopefully help banish my worried thoughts for good.

  Plus everyone was exhausted, and after tonight’s charity event, we’d have two whole days off. Heavenly. The band only had to play two songs and weren’t allowed to bring any of their own equipment, so there wouldn’t be much work to do for the afternoon, either.

  Liss and I were waiting for everyone to clear security, and planning the shopping and eating we’d do on our girls’ day out. Mia was invited, but had been strangely noncommittal about joining us. Not that I minded that much. She was nice, but we didn’t connect, really. And ever since the night outside the bar, she’d been watching me closely for some reason, brushing off my questions about it.

  Finally, when we’d all been cleared, we trudged upstairs towards our gate. But when we arrived, my good mood went south quickly. A big sign indicated long delays, and the grumpy crowds we had to slog through finally made sense.

  Ryan and I pushed forward and managed to speak to someone on staff. Apparently there were big storms in the area, delaying flights in and out of the country. At this point there weren’t any firm estimates of when our flight would arrive, let alone be ready to depart with us on it.

  I sighed, and went back to the group to deliver the bad news. Which is when things got even worse. In the three minutes I’d been gone, the band had been spotted and identified. Obviously all the press they did had worked. It was a zoo. Upwards of a hundred people crowded around them, some trying to get autographs, and everyone snapping pictures.

  And then even people who weren’t involved started to yell. The crowded terminal became a roiling mass of noise, a knot of people blocking everything.

  “Shit. We have to get them out of here,” I shouted to Ryan.

  “No kidding. Do something!”

  I rolled my eyes, and went back to the man we’d just spoken with. “Sir, I really need your help with this crowd. Someone will get hurt.”

  “Security is on the way,” he said calmly.

  “That’s great, but if we’re going to be here for hours, we need to move. Is there somewhere private we can go?”

  “Let me make some calls.” He turned back to the desk, and picked up a phone. I couldn’t hear a word he said, but within a few seconds he was hanging up and smiling. “One of our private lounges is being emptied for your use. When the security team arrives, they will escort your group over there.”

  “Thank you so much.”

  “No problem. And frankly, it is helping me too. I don’t need more chaos.”

  I nodded, and went back to tell Ryan the good news.

  “Fine. But next time you should think about this sort of thing. Plans and contingencies, Rebecca.”

  “Yes, Ryan. Of course.” What a jackass. Like I could have foreseen a mob of fans, storms, and a packed airport?

  Fortunately the promised security detail arrived quickly. After a quick chat with our own security, Red, they surrounded the guys and walked them over to the lounge in a sort of scrum. It was actually kind of hilarious.

  And once we were all comfortably ensconced in the well-appointed lounge with a gorgeous view, I did let myself have a chuckle. This was the strangest job in the world, and at that moment, I wouldn’t have traded it for anything.

  Ryan and I split up tasks. He stayed in contact with the airline, and I handled making back-up plans for Paris if we were delayed too long. Everyone I spoke to was very understanding and helpful, and I was soon certain we’d be able to handle whatever occurred.

  After about an hour, airport staff brought in food and drinks for everyone. I stepped into the business center attached to the lounge for a little peace and quiet.

  “You’re not hiding from me, are you?”

  I smiled and turned around. “Of course not, Dex. Things were just a little frantic there for a while. I needed a short break.”

  “Still stressed? Can I help?”

  Glancing at the frosted glass door that hid us from view, I stepped close to him. “What did you have in mind?”

  “All sorts of things. In fact, I have a list.”

  I grinned. “You do?”

  “Yes. You’re a good influence on me.”

  “Tell me what’s on your list.”

  “Well first, I could have you give me an opinion on the song I’ve been working on. Or we could say to hell with everything, and just get naked in here.”

  “That’s only two options, Dex. Not really a list.”

  “Ah, but it is. Option number two allows for many different scenarios. All of which I’m imagining right now.” He pulled me tight against his body and leaned over, burying his face in my neck.

  “No. Stop it. We’re literally steps away from everyone else.”

  “But we could be stuck here for hours. How am I supposed to control myself that long?”

  “I have no idea. Why don’t we start with you telling me about the song, and we’ll go from there.”

  “Damn. I knew I shouldn’t have told you about option number one.”

  “Be a good boy,” I teased.

  “Do I get a prize if I am?”

  “Yes.”

  “What?”

  I tangled my hands in the hair at the nape of his neck. “I’ll find us a really private spot. Just you and me.”

  Dex kissed me on the chin, and pushed me away. “In that case, down to business, Ms. Hall.”

  With a laugh, I sank down into one of the swivel chairs in front of the computers. “I do believe I’ve found the trick to motivating you.”r />
  “Mmm-hmm. Used to be booze. Now it’s you. My new drug of choice.”

  “How flattering,” I said drily.

  Dex grinned, and sat down next to me. “You know what I mean.”

  “Yes. I do.”

  We stared into each other’s eyes for a while, just enjoying a moment of quiet together.

  “Okay,” I finally said. “About this song.”

  “Right.” He cleared his throat, and shoved his hair back from his face. “I’ve got most of the melody, I think. And some lyrics, but they’re rough.”

  “That’s okay. Sing it for me.”

  He nodded, and moved his fingers over his thighs as if playing his bass. A few seconds later he began to sing. I realized I’d never heard his voice like this. Without wailing instruments and the others guys joining in. It was low and gravelly, insanely sexy.

  And as he sang on, certain lyrics hit me like darts, stinging my heart beautifully.

  “Let me in, we can go deep. Don’t be afraid of the light we create, no price is too steep.”

  I flashed to a memory from my childhood. Sitting in the studio with my dad. One of the rare times we’d been alone there, no “friends” with drugs and girls to peddle. No other musicians messing with the kid for fun. Just us. He’d pulled me into his lap, and held me there as we listened to what he’d recorded earlier. The magic of my father’s voice and the piano accompaniment hypnotized me. I sat there, listening with my eyes closed, transported inside the song. It was safe there, and perfect. Nothing to be afraid of. That was the day I realized that no matter what, music would always be a part of my life. And as I grew older, and the things I saw became scarier and more dangerous, I held onto that memory. Holding it out against me as protection to keep me from abandoning that first love.

  And now, seated across from Dex, I felt the same thing. But so much more. The song was beautiful. Melancholy in a way, but hopeful.

  “How long have you been working on it?” I asked when he stopped singing. My voice was thick with emotion.

  “Not long. I started the first time I kissed you.”

  I blinked back tears. “It’s beautiful, honey.”

  “No. You’re beautiful. The song needs work.”