“I hadn’t thought of that,” Mike says.
I clear my throat, and they both turn to look at me.
“I didn’t know you had a visitor, otherwise I would have called first,” Mike says, throwing me an apologetic look.
“Can I . . . Can I help you look for Azer?” I ask carefully.
Gavin shakes his head and turns back to his friend. “I’ll check out the penthouse, maybe he’s there. Mike, you should look in Times Square with Alexis or Linden.” Then he turns to me again. “You can stay here and hold down the fort in case he comes back. I’ll tell reception to call the room if he turns up.”
“OK,” I say with a nod. What a drama they’re making of all this! Why is it so bad that Azer took off? He’ll certainly have his reasons.
“Actually, it would be good if your girlfriend kept an eye on the hotel bar.”
“I’m not his girlfriend,” I argue to make the situation clear, because I don’t want anyone to get the wrong idea about me.
“It’s true, she’s just a friend,” Gavin agrees. “But keeping an eye on the hotel bar isn’t as easy as it sounds. This hotel has several bars, so it’s easier if we just tell reception to look out for him.”
“I could look around for him in the city, I live here and know it pretty well.”
Mike smiles at me. “We know it pretty well, too. We had a penthouse on the Upper West Side up until a couple months ago.”
“Fine,” I say.
“I’ll just get changed, and then we can go, Mike,” Gavin says, walking toward me. “Sorry my friend is making so much trouble. I would prefer to be with you.”
“No problem,” I answer, feeling a little flustered. I step aside so he can go into the bedroom.
I’ve been sitting around for an hour staring at the telephone, which is sitting in front of me on the dining table. I already picked up the receiver a few times to be sure it was working, but it remains silent.
The sound of persistent knocking at the door makes me jump. I get up and hurry over, and open it on the chain. A man who’s maybe in his midthirties looks at me with his eyebrows raised. “Where’s Gavin?”
“Who are you?” I ask mistrustfully.
“My name is Joel Young. I’m the manager of Downstair Alley. And who are you?”
“Madeleine Dubois. I’m a friend of Gavin’s, and I’m supposed to wait here until Azer shows up.”
Mr. Young nods slowly, but he’s still looking at me skeptically. “May I come in, Miss Dubois?”
“Of course.” I slip the chain out of the catch and open the door wide for him, stepping aside so he can enter.
He goes directly to the dining table and sits down in the chair I just abandoned.
I close the door and follow him. “Now that you’re here, I guess I can leave, can’t I?”
I don’t know why, but Gavin’s manager gives me the impression that he’s not at all pleased to see me—somehow I’d prefer to stay out of his way. Besides, he knows Azer, and might be able to calm him down if he turns up, which might be harder for me, as a stranger.
“Don’t you want to wait for Gavin?”
“I can leave him a note.”
“It would be better to stay. He doesn’t like it if someone stands him up. Even after a one-night stand, you should have the decency,” he says, which feels like a slap in the face to me. Did that guy just assume I had a one-night stand with Gavin?
“I’m Gavin’s friend, and this was not some one-night stand, but thanks for the advice, Mr. Young.”
He rubs his nose. “Sorry, Miss Dubois, I didn’t mean to offend you.”
“Yeah, you were very careful to be friendly,” I answer, deadpan, and he grins.
“I really didn’t mean to upset you, but usually all the guys except for Linden find girls who are up for a little one-night adventure, that’s why I assumed . . . Well, just forget it. I hope you didn’t take it too badly,” he says regretfully.
Is that true that aside from Linden, they all bring groupies to their rooms? Oh, God, I hope Gavin and I used a condom, otherwise I’ll have to run to the doctor first thing on Monday morning. “That’s OK. You apologized, so I can deal.”
“Do me a favor and don’t mention this to Gavin. I don’t want to argue with him again.”
I shake my head. “My lips are sealed.”
“Thanks.” He looks around. “Do you want to sit down?”
I sit across from him. I rest my head on my hand and stare at the tabletop as I drum my fingers on it restlessly.
“You don’t feel very comfortable, do you?”
“Can you tell?” I ask shyly.
“Very clearly, but somehow most of the guys’ girlfriends don’t feel very comfortable around me. Probably has something to do with the fact that I always have to play the bad guy to keep the members of the band in line.” He grins. “But Azer is the only one who’ll be getting a piece of my mind today.”
“I only met him once so it’s hard for me to say, but don’t you think there must be a reason that he freaked out and disappeared?”
His gray eyes shine kindly, which is contradicted by his stern voice. “It’s not the first time he’s been out of control.”
“Do you know why?”
“Last year his girlfriend broke up with him because the manager they had before me played some heavy games. They’d been together for years, and he took it pretty hard. Linden and Thalia almost broke up, too, but they managed to pull it back together. But Azer and Emily didn’t. She wouldn’t believe him when he told her what happened,” he tells me. Now my curiosity is piqued. “Since then, he hasn’t been the same. He’s very professional on stage and at press conferences, but behind the scenes he loses it way too often.”
“I’m sorry to hear that,” I say thoughtfully. Now I know I won’t be going home tonight, sounds like this could take a while to sort out.
It’s late at night when Gavin finally comes in with Azer, half dragging, half carrying him. Mr. Young and I are still sitting at the table, but in the meantime I’m having a hard time keeping my eyes open. Not surprising at three in the morning. “Good work,” he says to Gavin as he stands up.
I get up, too, but remain standing by the table while Gavin greets his manager.
“He was in a bar near Times Square. A waitress I know called me an hour ago to tell me he was there and needed to be picked up,” Gavin says and looks at me. His eyes seem to be apologizing silently. I give him a small smile.
“Was he misbehaving?” Mr. Young asks.
“Apparently not. He was just deep in his cups,” he answers. I’ll bring him to the other bedroom now, so he can sleep it off. You can help me if you want, he’s damn heavy.”
Joel Young goes to Azer’s other side and puts an arm around him. He seems to be asleep. Together they manage to get him into the second bedroom. I was pretty sure from the start that this suite had several rooms, and now I know for certain.
I sit down again and consider how I can help Gavin. I have absolutely no clue how he feels about the situation. I felt more than helpless when Brooke put an end to her life, but it doesn’t seem to be that bad with Azer. At least I hope not.
“Thanks for your help, Joel,” Gavin says as they come back into the living room.
“No problem. I’ll go find the others and see how they’re doing. If anything happens with Azer, call me right away.”
“I will,” he says, and accompanies him to the door.
“See you tomorrow, Gavin.”
“Bye, Joel.” He closes the door behind his manager and rests his forehead on the polished wood. He looks relieved.
I slowly get up and go to him. Standing behind him, I put my arms around his waist and lay my cheek on his back. “How do you feel?”
“Tired,” he whispers with a sigh. Then he turns around and hugs me. “I’m sorry you had to sit here alone all evening.”
“I wasn’t alone. Your manager was here.”
“Did you get along well with him?
”
“Actually, we didn’t talk much after he said I was a one-night stand.”
Gavin lets go of me and looks at me with his eyebrows raised. “He said what?”
“He assumed that we had a one-night stand,” I clarify. “But I explained to him that we’re friends, and that you invited me here. He was pretty embarrassed that he’d gotten it wrong.”
“I hope that didn’t make you mad,” he whispers and kisses my forehead.
“To tell the truth, I was pretty pissed off, but . . . I don’t think he meant it unkindly. No, I’m not angry,” I whisper. I step back from him. “Do you want to go to bed?”
He nods. “Very much, even, but first I desperately need a shower.”
“OK.” I take his hand and lead him into the bathroom.
“So you’re coming with me, or what?” he asks in surprise.
I grin. “Is that a problem for you?”
He comes closer and pushes up against me from behind. His hardness is obvious. “Absolutely not.” He pushes me gently ahead of him and reaches for the edge of my shirt. With one fluid motion, he pulls it off me. Then he turns me around, goes down on his knees, and helps me out of my jeans. When I’m standing there in front of him wearing nothing but my underwear, he stands up and kicks off his shoes, and quickly loses his T-shirt and jeans.
Finally we’re standing there naked, devouring each other with hungry glances. He leads me into the big, luxurious shower booth. Then he turns on the water, and the cold stream hits my back. I jump against him with a surprised shriek. Gavin laughs softly. “Cold?”
“You did that on purpose!”
“Maybe,” he says with amusement, and pushes me back under the water. It feels like raindrops stroking my skin.
“You did,” I say.
“I would never be so mean to you, Madeleine,” he says with a wicked grin.
“Why don’t I believe you?”
“Because I’m not very convincing,” he replies, and kisses me.
I’m overtaken by a wave of desire, and my response to his kiss becomes wilder. Desire can make you crazy, can’t it? But is there anything more beautiful?
Gavin presses me against the wall while our tongues meet in a desperate battle. I moan as his hand closes gently around my breast and begins to toy with it.
Suddenly he releases me. “Don’t move.” He slips out of the shower booth. Have I done something to drive him away? I blink the water out of my eyes and reach for the shower gel and begin to wash. After I’m soaped up, I turn toward the water to rinse off my breasts.
Suddenly I feel him behind me. “I told you not to move,” he whispers in my ear, and reaches around to put his hands on my breasts. He pinches my nipples between his fingers, and I lean into his body. My booty caresses his hard rod, and he groans. Suddenly he pulls me around to face him and kisses me greedily. I can hardly withstand the pressure as his tongue pushes wildly into my mouth. His hands explore my body—his fingers circle my navel and the heat that shoots unhindered through the very center of me almost drives me wild. One hand drifts lower, and his fingertips gently stroke my mound and inner thighs, making me quiver with delight.
“I want you, Lane,” he whispers.
I look at him expectantly. His intense, shimmering gaze has completely robbed me of my power of speech. Gavin grabs me under my butt and pulls me up, and I wrap my legs around his hips. Then he reaches over and turns off the water, and carries me out of the shower. I’m a little afraid we’ll fall, because the floor is tiled and he’s wet and barefoot, but then he sets me on the counter next to the washbasin. His lips cover mine before I can say a word. He tears open a condom package and rolls one over his penis. It only takes a moment before he’s pressing into me. I quickly get used to the way he stretches me and fills me. I close my eyes and begin to caress his neck with my lips and tongue. He begins to move inside me slowly. He slides out and glides deeper inside, and every time he does, my lust increases. I arch my back and support myself with my hands on the cool ceramic surface, and Gavin pulls me closer to the edge. Now he plunges even deeper, and my moans become louder. He takes my left breast in his hand and his lips close around my nipple. He sucks, nibbles, and circles it with his tongue, sending shocks of pleasure through my entire body. I quake at every new thrust of his hips. I feel my legs, which are wrapped around his body, beginning to tremble with light spasms. He tenses, and his breath comes fast and tight right before he releases into me. His trembling brings me my own orgasm, and I arch my back as it hits me. As Gavin glides out of me, he leaves behind a feeling of warmth.
He kisses the valley between my breasts lightly, then rests his forehead there. “Oh, man . . . I could do that again and again,” he says softly.
I could, too! I stroke the back of his neck. Suddenly he sits up, taking me with him. “I still have to shower,” he says with a laugh.
“I already did,” I reply with a smile.
He carries me into the bathroom and sets me on the counter again. “But I made you dirty again.”
I put a hand over my mouth to cover my giggle, but then I break into laughter.
“So you’re coming with me?”
“As a special favor,” I answer with a grin.
After our shower, which almost ended with sex again, we’re lying in bed. Gavin is singing to me softly, it’s a song he wrote recently. It’s a ballad about two people who are in love, but who live in totally different worlds. As he sings, he holds my left hand tightly between his own, and I watch as he plays with my fingertips.
“And there is still love between us,” he sings the last line to the end, and kisses the back of my hand. “Do you like it?”
“It’s very sweet . . . and somehow sad.”
“I just wanted to try writing in a different style for a change. Now I have to convince the guys and Joel that it’s a good song,” he says.
“I don’t think that will be very difficult.”
“Sometimes it’s more difficult to convince them than you’d think. I’ve known them for years, but as soon as I write a ballad, they say it’s corny, or it doesn’t fit with our style. The only song of mine they ever took was one I wrote with Thalia.”
“If they don’t want this song, you could record it as a solo,” I suggest. “It’s really a beautiful song, and it shouldn’t be lost just because your friends don’t want to sing it. It would make a better solo, anyway.”
“Do you think so?”
“I’m totally sure of it.”
Gavin turns and kisses my forehead. In the meantime, I’ve closed my eyes, because I’m incredibly tired. I was already almost falling asleep while he was singing—his deep voice is really relaxing. “Sleep well, Lane.”
“Sweet dreams, Gavin,” I whisper.
“Hopefully dreams of you,” he says, kissing me one more time and switching off the bedside lamp.
Chapter 6
There’s a crashing noise, and I startle out of my sleep. I realize I’m alone in the bedroom again, and I feel sick to my stomach. I’d hoped at least to be able to cuddle with Gavin this morning.
“Will you calm down, Azer?” I hear Gavin shout.
“Why? There’s no point anymore, anyway!” Azer replies loudly.
“Because I have a guest here, and yesterday we had to search all over the city for you. You’re acting like a complete asshole, so cut it out, you goddamn drama queen!”
I slip out of bed and dress quickly. Maybe I can try to smooth things out between them before they start getting physical. I actually doubt it will come to that, but I don’t really want to have to throw myself between them naked. As soon as I’m wearing jeans and a black top, I go into the living room. “Good morning . . . Why are you making so much noise?” I look at the clock, which is hanging above the fireplace, and start in surprise. It’s already eleven a.m.
“Morning, Lane,” Gavin grumbles.
“So you’re fucking the dancer?” Azer asks skeptically.
Gavin balls his ha
nds into fists. “Take that back.”
“It was a totally normal question,” Azer responds.
Gavin slowly, threateningly approaches his red-haired friend. “I said, you should take that back. And you can apologize to Lane.”
Azer leans away from him. “Are you nuts? You’re not usually so oversensitive if I call things like I see them, and besides, that’s the way you talk about your conquests yourself, once you’ve gotten rid of them.”
Ouch! “Guys?” I say.
They both look at me.
“If you want to beat each other up, maybe you could go find a room which isn’t decorated with sinfully expensive antique furniture.” Then I turn and go back to the bedroom, and sit down on the bed.
“Lane?” Gavin calls. I hear his footsteps and look up. “I’m really sorry you had to hear that.”
I shrug. “That’s OK.”
“Azer shouldn’t have talked about you that way.”
“Aha, but you’re allowed to, as soon as I’m out the door and out of your life?” I say softly.
He looks like he’s been slapped. “That’s bull. I would never talk about you like that.”
I clench my teeth together to keep from saying something I might regret. “I should go.”
“Why?”
“Because you’re not any different than any other guy,” I reply with annoyance as I stand up and start to pack my bag.
Gavin comes to me and grabs my wrist. “Did I do something wrong, Lane? Did I give you the feeling that you’re just a goddamn weekend fuck?” He’s almost shouting at me.
“Let go of me!” I order angrily and try to pull myself out of his grip.
“You want to go because you think I used you? Can’t you tell the difference? If not, then go!” he shouts, letting me go and storming out of the room.
I rub my wrist to soothe the burning sensation that his tight grip caused, and then I pack my things and slip into my shoes. I just want to go home, because it hurts that it ended like this. After I’ve gotten everything from the bedroom, I just need my laptop and cell phone, which are still in the living room. I slip through the door.
Gavin: Pure Passion (Hamptons Book 1) Page 9