His voice is even and calm. “No.”
“Whatever.” My temper flares. Where does he get the nerve? How can he be so sure he’ll never feel anything? “I’ll tell you if I develop feelings for you.”
“You’re cute when you’re flustered.”
“Fuck off. You’re not cute when you’re acting like nothing has ever mattered to you.”
“It’s a compliment.”
“Not to me.”
He nods. “This, us being on the same page, matters to me.”
“Me too.”
“We’re fuck buddies and we don’t lie to each other.” He takes my glass from my hands and sets it on the counter. “And you’ll tell me if you develop feelings for me.”
He offers his hand to shake.
Despite my sweaty palm, I take his hand with a firm grip.
We shake.
And it’s done.
Miles is my friend with benefits.
Miles, rock star sex god, is my friend with benefits.
CHAPTER SIX
* * *
Miles
Fuck, I’m on fire.
The leggy virgin is inviting me to be her first.
No. It’s more than that now. She isn’t some idea I have of a woman who will save me—a smoking hot geek girl who wants to fuck all night and talk Star Wars all day.
She’s Meg. The defensive, biting, guarded woman who wants to keep me out of her heart as much as I want to keep her out of mine.
God, I must be fucked up if that’s my criteria for a friend with benefits, but I can’t say I care.
I’m done worshiping my misery.
Even if it’s the cause of my success.
I meet Meg’s gaze. Her brown eyes are still filled with nerves, but there’s a hunger to her expression.
She needs this as badly as I do.
But she’s new and scared.
I need to be careful with her.
I need to make sure we both savor every moment of it.
I move closer. Until my body is pressed against hers. Until I can feel all the heat of her against me.
Her breath catches in her throat as my crotch connects with hers.
I’m still hard. Our conversation wasn’t nearly enough to cool me down. I’m not sure anything could cool me down right now.
I stare into her eyes as I trace the neckline of her tank top. “Had enough of conversation?”
She nods.
“Me too.” I push her straps off her shoulders then roll her top over her black bra. Fuck, she has nice tits. “Been thinking about this all week.”
Surprise streaks her expression. “You have?”
“Yeah.” What is it about this girl? Why can’t she see the affect she has on me? My body is already raring to go.
I trace the outline of her bra as slowly as I can manage.
It’s torture, not touching her properly, but the way her breath catches in her throat is worth it.
I make my touch harder. Harder. Until a soft groan falls off her lips. “First time I’ve gone a week without sex in a long time.”
“Because of me?”
“Yeah.” My voice drops to something low and seductive. It’s too much like my usual routine. I need to do away with all that bullshit. Even if I’m desperate to make this an experience she won’t forget. “Wouldn’t be right fucking some other girl if I was thinking of you.”
Her brown eyes go wide. Then her eyelids press together. Her head falls to one side. Her dark hair goes with it. It falls over her eyes, nose, lips. Like she’s lost in passion.
I need more of that.
No. I need all of that.
Right now, this isn’t the rock star and the virgin.
Right now, it’s Miles and Meg.
No pretenses. No bullshit. Nothing but our bodies.
Fuck, I haven’t felt like that in…
It’s been too fucking long.
I slip my thumb into her bra. Drag it over her nipple.
She lets out a sharp gasp. An I need this gasp. A this is exactly where we both belong gasp.
There aren’t many places where I feel at home.
Behind my guitar. On stage.
And here.
When sex is real, there’s nothing better.
I toy with her with my thumb. Soft, slow circles. Then harder ones. Then hard enough her tongue sinks into her bottom lip.
A groan falls off her lips.
Her fingers dig into my shoulders.
She looks up at me with a nod. Inviting me to take over. To take her. To show her every bit of pleasure in the world.
Right now, that’s the only thing that matters.
I unhook her bra and roll it off her shoulders.
Fuck. “Your tits are amazing.”
Her cheeks flush. She still doesn’t believe how much I want her. How much I want this. Is it some insecurity on her part of some assholeness on mine? I can’t deny the latter, but, fuck, this is no place for pretenses.
Her eyelids flicker open. Her brown eyes fix on mine for a second, then her lids are closed again.
I’m not going to convince her of anything with words.
I need to do this with my body.
I need to force her out of her head.
I bring one hand to her hip and pull her body into mine. Cup her breast with my palm. Tease her nipple with my thumb.
Her back arches. Her crotch rubs against mine. Her lips part with a groan.
She leans into my touch.
I tease her nipple until she’s clawing at my chest, then I move to her other breast and toy with it just as mercilessly.
I back her into the bed. Go to push her onto it.
But something is off.
She’s tensing up.
I brush her hair behind her ear. Bring my lips to her ear. “You’re nervous.”
She shakes her head. “It’s nothing.”
It’s something. But it’s normal too. “I’ll go slow.” I brush my lips against her neck. “Trust me. I’ve got you.”
Slowly, she nods.
She does trust me. It fills me someplace I’m usually empty. It’s been a long, long time since anyone has had any faith in me. And trust?
I burnt those bridges to the ground a long time ago.
Fuck, it feels so good, the way she’s looking at me.
I bring my hands to her hips and push her onto the bed.
Her breath catches.
Her palms go to her sides.
Slowly, I lower myself to my knees between her legs.
She watches with rapt attention as I nudge her knees apart.
Her tongue slides over her lips.
She nods. It’s something between I trust you and hurry the fuck up.
I want to.
But I need to savor this.
Fuck, how I need to savor this.
Slowly, I take her nipple into my mouth.
She tastes good. And the way she’s tugging at my hair…
This is exactly what I need.
I toy with her until I can’t take her groans anymore then I kiss my way to her lips.
I need more.
All of this.
My hands go to her thighs.
My tongue plunges into her mouth.
I kiss her hard as I slip my hand under her skirt.
She sinks into the bed.
Slides her hand under my t-shirt.
She takes her time exploring my torso.
Her fingertips are just right against my skin. But it’s more than the heat of her touch. There’s something about the way she’s dragging her hand over my skin.
Like she’s desperate for every inch of me.
It’s intimate in a way I don’t recognize.
It’s more than I can take.
This isn’t supposed to be sweet.
Tender maybe, but not sweet.
I push it away as I rub her over her panties. I can get this back to sex. I can keep this about our bodies.
Her moans vibrate down my thr
oat.
Her nails dig into my skin.
Her touch gets hungry. Needy.
Perfect.
Slowly, I peel her panties to her knees.
I watch anticipation spread over her face as I bring my hands to her chest. I toy with her nipples until she’s panting, then I drag my hands down her torso, undo her skirt, push it and her panties to her knees.
She stares up at me, hunger filling her brown eyes.
She’s naked under me and I’m looking at her eyes.
This isn’t good.
And it isn’t happening.
I’m not getting attached. Period.
I’m staring because I want to watch her come. That’s it.
Her teeth sink into her lip as I bring my hand to her inner thigh.
Her breath hitches as I bring it higher, higher, higher…
She gasps as I tease her clit.
Fuck, she feels good.
And she’s already wet.
She’s already desperate for me.
I stare down at her, gauging her reaction. The apprehension from earlier is gone. She’s not nervous anymore.
She’s in her body.
She needs me more than she needs anything.
I’m more than happy to deliver.
I tease her with one finger. “Damn, you’re wet.”
She responds with a groan.
I slide a finger inside her. She tenses. Tugs at my hair. Bites her tongue.
“Close your eyes,” I whisper.
She does.
“Just breathe.”
She nods.
Slowly, her taut muscles relax.
I push my finger deeper.
Pleasure fills her expression.
Deeper.
Her shoulders tense.
I slow my pace until that discomfort fades.
My lips find hers.
I kiss her hard as I drive my fingers into her.
She kisses back like she needs more.
Like she knows exactly what she wants.
I’m about to give it to her when this awful sound cuts through the air.
My phone.
The ringtone set for Tom.
Damn, the asshole really knows how to fuck with me.
I reach for my cell to turn the damn thing off. “Ignore it.” Tom fucks with me enough. He’s not ruining this.
But Meg isn’t here.
She’s tensing up again.
I push off her. “You okay?”
She shakes her head. “The phone. You should get it.”
What the hell? She wants me to answer the call? “You’re about to come and you’d prefer I use my hands to answer the phone?”
Her nod is shy. Hesitant. “Do you doubt your ability to get me back here?”
“No, but I’m going to scream if I’m not inside you soon.”
Her nails curl into her palms. She stares at me like she’s going to devour me.
But she still nods to the cell.
It makes no sense.
I push off the bed with a heavy sigh. Sure enough, there’s Tom’s contact on my screen. It’s like he knows I’m about to defile Drew’s girl’s best friend and he’s trying to stop me. “Yeah?”
“You need to get back here.” Tom spouts off something about our manager being at our place in Hollywood. Being drunk and indignant, threatening to kick us out of the house the label is so kindly paying for if I don’t show him the song I’ve been working on ASAP.
I guess, this time, my hate goes to our insufferable manager and not to the bossy drummer.
It does sound like Aiden.
He likes to throw his power around to try to convince everyone he didn’t get the job because he’s the VP’s nephew.
“Give me an hour,” I say.
“You need to be here yesterday,” Tom replies.
Fine. As much as Tom gets on my last nerves, he’s my friend. I’m not gonna force him to deal with this alone. “I can’t teleport. It will be at least half an hour.”
“Good.” The phone clicks as he ends the call.
I leave my cell on the kitchen counter. Run my hand through my hair.
Not how I want to end tonight. I look back to Meg. “It’s nothing you need to worry about. Just some drama at the Hollywood place.”
“And you’ll be there in half an hour?”
“Around that.”
“You really think we’re going to… in thirty minutes?”
Fuck no. I shake my head. “That’s not enough time to do this right.”
“Oh.” She pulls her arms over her chest. “I guess you’re leaving then.”
Yeah. But maybe that’s for the best. I need to untangle my head. To make sure I don’t get attached. Still—”I’d really hate to leave without making you come.”
“Oh.” She squeezes her thighs together. Slides back against the bed. Her fingers curl into her sheets.
That trust we had before is gone.
I stare back at her. Offer my best apologetic expression. Apologies are not my strong suit, but this is all I’ve got.
Her expression softens.
She nods. Forces a smile. “You have a serious time crunch there.”
That, I do. I take a seat on the bed. Place my body next to hers.
No more talking this time.
No more thinking.
Nothing but my hands on her skin.
And her groans in my ears.
I brush my lips against her neck.
Drag my fingertips over her nipples.
I copy her posture, sit up with my back against the headboard, my legs flat on the bed.
My hands go to her hips.
I pull her body onto mine.
She sinks into my skin.
Her crotch brushes mine.
Her eyes find mine.
I stare up at her like she’s everything I want.
Maybe she is.
But this is it.
My hand curls around her neck. I pull her into a deep kiss.
Slip my other hand between her legs.
This is sex.
Me bringing her pleasure.
Period.
The end.
My tongue slips into her mouth as my thumb slides over her clit.
She begs for more with her kiss.
But I take my time.
Rub her softly.
Then harder.
Harder.
There.
She breaks our kiss to groan.
Her nails dig into my shoulders.
I keep that same pace, that same pressure.
It’s exactly what she needs.
She moans.
Kisses back like she’s trying to consume me.
Fuck, her lips feel good against mine.
She tastes good.
And the way she groans like I’m everything she needs…
I rub her with that same pressure.
I take her all the way to the edge.
Her nails dig into my skin.
Her tongue slides around mine.
Her hand tugs at my hair.
Then she’s there, pulsing around me, groaning my name.
I don’t give her a chance to rest. I can’t. This feels too fucking good.
I stroke her harder. Harder.
Until she’s wound up again.
She sucks on my tongue. Arches into me. Presses her thighs against my wrist.
Then she’s there.
She pulls back to groan my name.
She growls it loud enough to wake the neighbors.
Pleasure spreads over her expression as she falls onto her back.
She looks up at me with a hazy smile.
Fuck, that feels good too.
Too good.
I lean down to press my lips to hers. “My cock isn’t going to forgive me for leaving.”
“I’m not sure I will either.”
“I’ll make it up to you.” I slide off the bed. My head is already full of thoughts of driving inside
her. Waiting a week to do it… it’s going to be the sweetest torture. “Sleep tight.” I grab my stuff and move toward the door.
“You too. Once you get home, I mean.”
I nod a goodbye.
Then I leave.
But my thoughts stay on her the entire ride home.
When I get back, Aiden is already asleep on the couch.
God, this is all such bullshit.
I head to my room, collapse on my bed, and I think of Meg.
But I keep it every bit as dirty as it should be.
That’s all it is.
All it can ever be.
There’s no way in hell I’m falling for her.
Even if she is my last thought before I fall asleep.
Want More?
Get the rest of Meg and Miles’s story in Sing Your Heart Out, available now.
IRRESISTIBLE REFRAIN
TEMPEST ROCK STAR SERIES BOOK 1
MICHELLE MANKIN
Tempest Rock Star Series
A completed series of standalone rock star romances featuring Seattle rock band Tempest.
Irresistible Refrain, Tempest Rock Star Series, Book 1
Two years ago everything changed for the remaining members of the Seattle rock band Tempest.
Two years is a long time.
Too long to keep on remembering.
Not nearly long enough to forget.
In trouble with nowhere else to go songstress Lace Lowell seeks refuge with the band during their stop in New York City. It's a risky move for her because they are both there, two impossibly good looking men whose lives are inseparably entwined with hers. One who bruised her heart and one who smashed it into pieces.
Warren “War” Jinkins, the mercurial lead singer of Tempest, has always had a thing for Lace. But then again so does his best friend and band mate.
Bryan “Bullet” Jackson, the sinfully handsome tat-sleeved lead guitarist, has a bad boy reputation befitting his nickname. For the past two years Bullet’s had a rule with the groupies: one time, never twice, leave ‘em satisfied, but always leave ‘em.
Two guys, one woman, and a host of dark secrets all together within the tight confines of a tour bus as the group travels cross country.
Can the past be forgotten and buried?
Will friendships prevail?
Or will the three of them succumb to seductive impulses too addictive to resist?
Refrain:
To keep oneself from doing, feeling, or indulging in something; a regularly recurring phrase or verse especially at the end of each stanza or division of a poem or song: chorus; also: the musical setting of a refrain
Rock Star Romance Ultimate: Volume 1 Page 90