Temptation

by Robin Covington

  I sniffed. I thought the name was perfect. “Merle will have a place of honor on my tour bus this summer. It’s only fitting that he has a name fit for a country music frog.”

  He sounded unconvinced. “If you say so.”

  Laughing easily, we walked along in a comfortable silence and I thought about the afternoon with Max. It had been the most fun I’d had in… forever.

  “Thank you.”

  Max looked over at me, his expression puzzled. “For what?”

  “For today.” I stopped next to my truck, dropped Merle onto the hood, and turned to face Max. “Thank you for giving me a break. For letting me be a ‘normal’ girl for the afternoon. I don’t get a whole lot of normal in my life.”

  He shook his head. “You know there’s something wrong with a girl who has the world at her feet, but can’t do what she wants once in a while.”

  “I did what I wanted for a while and it got me in a lot of trouble. Now, I’m paying for it. I have to be a good girl now.”

  “I get that, but when do you stop paying?” He stepped forward and tipped my chin up with his finger and leaned down so that I could almost look him in the eye. “It sounds to me like you need to take your life back.”

  “That’s the plan.”

  “So, what’s stopping you?”

  Me. The answer was right there but I clamped my lips together, unwilling to spill my guts in the Harris Teeter parking lot.

  He moved closer to me—so close I could smell him, feel his body heat. Like a magnet, my body swayed forward slightly and I grabbed what little control I had left and backed up against my truck. Not a smart move. Max took a couple of steps forward and caged me in between his body and the truck.

  Max leaned in and nuzzled my cheek, murmuring into my ear, “I’m going to end this non–date by kissing you.”

  I normally didn’t like bossy men who crowded me with their bodies, but Max was breaking all the rules for me. I got off on it; he made me hot, wet, and itching to find a horizontal place with a door where we could get naked and sweaty.

  Swallowing hard, I was breathless when I answered. “This probably isn’t a good idea.”

  My body involuntarily arched into his and I exercised restraint I didn’t know I had in order to resist reaching up and run my hands over the hard muscles covering his chest.

  And then he did that bossy, sexually aggressive Max–thing and broke down one more barrier. He reached down and hooked his fingers in my belt loops, pulling my lower body close and nudging a hard thigh between my legs. Deliberately, he shifted his leg up and pressed against my core, and the pleasure was so good I moaned low and deep in my throat. He responded by rocking his cock into me again, his eyes hot and aggressive.

  “Fuck. I love that sound. It makes me hard.” Max touched a curl lying across my shoulder. “Even if this is the worst idea ever, I don’t care.”

  His hand grazed my collarbone and his eyes drifted down to where my nipples poked out against the thin cotton of my tank top. The slight lift of his mouth assured me that he knew exactly what he was doing.

  It pissed me off. Not in a bad way, but in the totally sexy, arousing way that led to long sweaty nights in a big bed where we worked out the power dynamic.

  I let my own gaze wander up and down the length of his body. So big, strong—I took another peek at the bulge in his jeans—and definitely interested. For the past year, I’d been out on dates with slick, phony, musicians or Brad Pitt–wannabees—all arranged by my label’s publicity team. It had been a long time since I’d indulged in what it felt like to be young, healthy, and sexy. Part of my treatment had focused on reclaiming who I was and this was a part of myself that I had yet to bring back online. At my core, I was a steady–relationship kind of girl, not the fling kind of chick, but maybe Max was the guy to help with my first step back into the land of the sexually living.

  It didn’t have to be anything serious. That was definitely in my plans, but Max would be a very enjoyable detour.

  I trailed my hands up his chest, caressing the hardness underneath his T–shirt. He shuddered as I scraped a nail over his nipple. Smiling, I wrapped my arms around his neck, caressing the smooth skin of his nape and tangling in his hair. He pushed against my hand, silently begging for more like a big cat.

  His big hands trailed down my body, grazing the sides of my breasts and momentarily cupping their fullness before drifting lower to pull my hips even closer. He leaned in, his nose tracing a path of fire across my jaw, my neck, and landing just behind my ear. “I’m going to kiss you now. Last chance to object.”

  Rubbing my body against his, I had nothing. My head told me that this was a really bad idea—why tempt myself with something that couldn’t go anywhere? I was sure one word from me and Max would let me go.

  But I wasn’t going to say it and he knew it. I wanted this. Wanted him. It was time for me to rejoin the world of sexually active twenty–somethings and to enjoy myself. Just for the sake of sex. Just for the sake of feeling good.

  Moving my face to the side, I found his lips with mine and murmured, “Stop talking about it and do it already.”

  The kiss was not what I expected. He’d been fast and frantic before, but this joining was slow and sweet; just a gentle brushing of lips against lips. But it still burned me alive. The heat from his touch started at my mouth and caught fire as it raged through my system. My fingertips were glowing, my toes curling, and fire surged low in my belly. I pulled back a second to catch my breath and found myself looking into his eyes.

  I didn’t think it could get any hotter but Max knew how to play me better than any Nashville musician I’d ever worked with. He cupped my jaw with one hand to hold me in place and that little gesture flipped my switch and I spontaneously combusted, leaning up to take his mouth for my own. He tasted of mint, spicy male, and pure pleasure. His teeth nibbled on my lower lip before soothing the sting with a warm lick of his tongue. I gasped and he took full advantage, invading my mouth with a slow, teasing thrust.

  I really needed to write a song about this.

  Linking both arms around his neck, I drowned in the kiss, pressing my body into his hands as they roamed my back, over my hips, and down my thighs. Groaning against my skin, Max covered my neck with hot, open–mouthed kisses on my collarbone and the skin exposed by my skimpy tank top. I felt him tug on the fabric with his teeth.

  “I want to pull this down and suck on your tits until you come for me.”

  “Yes.” I wanted that, too.

  I grabbed his head between my hands and forced his lips back to my own and it was my turn to control the mesh of tongue, lips, and teeth.

  Max let me have my way for ten seconds before he grabbed my ass and lifted me off my feet. The movement prompted me to wrap my legs around him, bringing my aching pussy into direct contact with the hard length of his cock. Best. Position. Ever.

  “Hey, Max! Whoa! Sorry, man!”

  The voice rudely ripped through my sexual haze. Panting and flushed, I stared up at Max, his bewildered expression surely mirroring my own. Both of our gazes drifted over in the direction of the voice of the intruder.

  Dean, embarrassed, waved his fingers at us while Shannon peeked over his shoulder.

  Damn and double damn.

  And then it hit me. Anyone—fans, the press—could have seen me wrapped around Max in the middle of this parking lot.

  I looked down and realized I was still wrapped around Max.

  Bad. Bad. Very bad.

  Scrambling, I struggled out of Max’s arms and hit the pavement, quickly adjusting my clothes. This whole thing was crazy, and I needed to grab my frog and get the hell out of here, before Max worked his voodoo on me again and I actually fucked him in the parking lot of the Harris Teeter.

  I just needed some space. I needed to let Max know what this was and wasn’t. Set some ground rules.

  “I should go.”

  I turned and grabbed Merle, moving towards the door of my truck. My hands
shook and I was cursing the blasted door lock when I heard Dean over my shoulder. “Nice frog.”

  Resting my forehead on the window glass, I took a few steadying breaths before I turned to face him. He was smiling and I flashed him a grateful look for breaking the ice. “Thanks. His name is Merle.”

  Dean nodded. “The Hag. Good choice.”

  I looked at Max and gave him an “I told you so look”, that he brushed off with a wave of his hand and roll of his eyes.

  Dean cleared his throat. “Sorry about the interruption. We came looking for you two because we need a favor. Shannon, the love of my life, has gotten us involved with a bowling league.” His facial expression was classic whipped male and I had to giggle when Shannon punched him in the shoulder. “Anyway, we’re short two people tonight and need you to fill in.”

  Shannon took over, her bouncy delivery making me smile. “No pressure, but we’ll have to forfeit if we don’t get two more bowlers.” She clasped her hands in a pleading manner. “Please?”

  “You don’t want me,” I said. “I can’t bowl.”

  “Don’t worry. We just need the bodies.”

  I looked over at Max. This was totally his call. Hanging out one–on–one was cool, but maybe he didn’t want me around his friends.

  Max crossed his arms over his chest, his face expressive but hard for me to decipher. He watched me for a few seconds, trying to gauge my reaction, too, I guess. Finally, he gave a quick nod.

  “I’m in if you are. You said you didn’t get a lot of normal in your life.” His lip lifted in a smirk. “There’s nothing more normal than bowling.”

  Yep, I’d said that and I’d meant it. Lately, I was always living cautiously, following the plan with no deviations. I didn’t have to be in the studio tonight; no rehearsal, no appearances until early tomorrow morning. Why the hell not?

  I closed and locked the door of my truck and turned back to the waiting group. “Okay. I’m in.”

  Pleased, Dean smiled and nodded. Shannon clapped her hands; talking a mile a minute as her boyfriend led her away.

  You really okay with this?” Max asked.

  Was I? Did I want to spend more time with him? Get a chance later to talk about what was and wasn’t brewing between us?

  “Yep. I’m cool with this.”

  Max grabbed my hand in his, weaving our fingers. “Good. We’ll have fun.”

  “Yeah, yeah, yeah. But, tell me this.” I matched his grin as we followed the others across the parking lot. “Why does normal have to involve rented shoes?”

  CHAPTER SIX

  Max

  “Holy shit. She really is terrible.”

  I stood with Dean on the side of the bowling lanes assigned to the league and watched Kit bowl the first ball on her last frame. We both tensed as the ball careened down the lane and finally landed in the gutter—again. I shook my head, as Kit turned to Shannon and lifted her hands in defeat. Shannon stood up and embraced her as they both laughed at something Kit said.

  I checked out her scorecard. Straight gutter balls. “Well, she did warn us.”

  “I know, but it usually isn’t true.” Dean’s face was contorted with laughter and disbelief as he raked a hand over his face. “People just say that kind of stuff to be modest.”

  “She should have let us put up the bumper guards.” I watched her as she grabbed the ball for her second roll and lined up on the lane. I leaned forward slightly as she walked forward, swung her arm out, and sent the ball down the lane. She was still bent over at the waist, anxiously watching the ball progress towards the pins and I couldn’t help but enjoy the view. Her ass was fine and I vividly remembered what it felt like in my hands when I’d kissed her earlier today.

  I could still taste her on my lips and smell her perfume on my clothes. Straightening, I discreetly adjusted my jeans over the permanent hard–on that appeared whenever she was around. What I’d intended to be a light, sexy kiss had blown up into something so hot that I was amazed my lips weren’t scorched.

  “Sorry about interrupting your make–out session in the parking lot earlier,” Dean said.

  “No worries; it isn’t like I won't get another one.”

  “Yeah? You going out with her again?”

  “It wasn’t a date.” I’d told Dean all about Kit’s reservations to call it an actual date. “I wonder how long her label and manager are going to keep her on such a short leash.”

  “If you believe the papers, she cost them a shit ton of money. They’re just protecting their investment.”

  “I guess.”

  “So is this it or are you going to have another non–date?”

  “I want to. She’s very cool.” Truth be told, she was one of the most fun girls I’d ever spent time with and we hadn’t even made it to a bed yet. And I wanted to take it that far with her. Over and over again, for at least one entire night. “I think she’s into me.”

  Kit glanced over her shoulder at me with a big smile before returning her attention to Shannon and the fans who had just realized who Kit was.

  Eyeing the exchange, Dean commented. “If the look on her face is any evidence as to how she feels, she’s into you in a big way. ”

  I continued to watch her as she laughed and joked with the rest of the bowling team. In the midst of a group full of strangers, she exuded warmth and friendliness—and she was so damn hot.

  Yeah, I’d fantasized about her, but the reality was so much better. And the crazy part? If the kiss was any indication, then Dean might be right, and she also felt this wild chemistry between us.

  We were going to fuck each other. For one night? For more? I had no idea, but it was something we needed to iron out. I always made sure the women knew where I stood and Kit was no different just because she was a celebrity. As soon as we got that straight, I’d consider it a green light.

  I didn’t know if she was looking for a picket fence, but I wasn’t offering one.

  Forget the whole movie–of–the–week bullshit about a regular guy and a celebrity; they had the cold reality of the situation to deal with. I’d brushed up against the life of the rich and famous in this town since I was a kid and had ended up way the worse for wear. Frankly, I didn’t know how she dealt with all the lies and bullshit in the music industry, but I did know that my future plans did not involve being in any tabloid.

  Kit was smack–dab in the middle of the very public fishbowl in which she had chosen to live her life, and anyone who wanted to be with her had to take that on. Always watching what you did, what you said, what you wore—it was exhausting to think about it. And now she was faced with having to play the part of the good little girl for the court of public opinion.

  A good girl. The words reminded me of the Daily Scoop reporter. The guy still called every day and I continued to refuse his offer. It must fucking suck to have assholes like that following you around all the time, buying your secrets from people who went cheap.

  After today, I had some secrets to share—at least some insight into her world and what she was really like. For some reason she trusted me, at least enough to let down her guard a little bit. If I was a dick, it would be so easy to use that trust and get her to reveal so much more. And if I got her to give into this attraction, and didn’t mind sharing the details? I could be at least five grand richer for the price of an afternoon at the local carnival, a condom, and a cell phone video camera.

  “So, what are you gonna do now?” Dean’s voice cut into my thoughts, dragging me back to the present.

  “I’m going to have the talk with her and then see where it goes.”

  “Don’t.”

  “Dean, don’t start.”

  “Max, I know I’m starting to sound like a broken record, but why do you set rules that kill any chance of you having more? You don’t have to marry her.” He leaned in like he had a secret to share. “There’s this thing called dating and some people think it’s a fun way to spend your evenings and weekends. You do it until you want to make i
t permanent because you love each other or you break up and change your statuses on Facebook. Why don’t you just try it and see where it goes?”

  “It’s not my thing. You know that.”

  “All I know is that every woman isn’t Sarah. You’ve got to let go of the past.”

  “I’m not the one who keeps bringing her up.” I reined in my temper. He was my best friend and he thought he was doing the right thing, but it was getting old. The disaster with Sarah went down four years ago and I’d learned my lesson and moved on. “Just fucking drop it.”

  “Hey Max!” Shannon skipped over to us, slinging her arm around Dean’s neck. It was hard to maintain the tense atmosphere when she was around. “Kit says she’ll be ready to go in a few minutes.” Her face beamed with excitement. “I can’t believe I got to bowl with Kit Landry! I have to call my mom!” She was practically levitating with excitement as she skipped away, dragging Dean in her wake.

  I decided to sit down and observe Kit while she wrapped up the last autographs. She gave each person focused attention, asking questions about them and their families. Her entire vibe was warm and approachable and she seduced them all with her authenticity. It was no wonder she had so many loyal fans.

  This afternoon with Kit had rocked my world and I didn’t want it to end today. Not yet. But, I wondered if she would be up for what I had to offer.

  No strings. A little fun between consenting adults.

  It was all I could offer. Ever.

  There was only one way to find out.

  Fifteen minutes later, the last fan walked away, excitedly looking at his photo with Kit now saved on his cell phone. She wandered over to me, smiling apologetically. “Sorry about that. Occupational hazard.”

  I stood up, letting her lead the way out of the bowling alley and towards my truck. “No worries. I liked watching you work.” I gestured towards a few fans still in the lot. “They love you.”

  She climbed up into the cab and I rounded the truck and was seated before she answered with a heavy tone. “They love the image. They don’t know me.”