Little Secret, Red Hot Scandal

by Cat Schield

  “We can’t be seen together like that,” she cautioned, thinking what would happen if a picture got out of the two of them linked romantically. “I don’t want to show up on social media and invite speculation.”

  “I think you overestimate my star power.”

  Mia rolled her eyes. The man had no idea how incredible he was. “I think you underestimate it.”

  “I’m pretty low-key off tour. And I don’t really have one of those faces that everybody knows.”

  “Are you kidding? You’re gorgeous.” She covered her mouth with her hand and laughed self-consciously. “I don’t know why I’m embarrassed admitting that to you. You already know how I feel.”

  “I’m not really sure I do.” Nate frowned down at her for a long moment.

  They joined several other hotel guests in the elevator and got out on the twelfth floor. He took her hand and brought it to his lips. The way he watched her turned her bones to mush. She spent so much time hiding how he made her feel. It was a relief to let her emotions shine.

  His eyes widened. “I never thought I’d see you look at me like that again.”

  “I’ve been fighting this for two months,” she murmured as they walked toward his suite. “It’s been hell wanting you and knowing—” Her voice broke. The last thing he deserved was to hear her say again that she’d chosen being there for her sister over him.

  His fingers tightened against hers as he slid the key card into the electronic lock. As soon as they crossed the threshold he kicked the door closed, gathered her into his arms and kissed her. Mia sighed against his mouth, her lips parting to welcome the plunge of his tongue. She filled her fingers with his soft wavy hair and held him close.

  I love you. The words reverberated in her mind, but she didn’t dare say them out loud. As much as she wanted him, wanted this, she couldn’t commit to anything beyond this night. Soon she would have to consider Nate’s place in her life. This connection between them had grown so fast and Mia wasn’t accustomed to recklessly throwing herself into any situation. And then there were the doubts that rose after Ivy voiced her opinion about Mia not belonging in the limelight by his side.

  Mia took Nate’s hand and drew him toward the suite’s bedroom. He deserved someone beautiful and confident to walk the red carpet and make other public appearances with him. Mia was too used to hiding in the background, and she knew he wanted to partner in everything private and public. But with his hands sweeping down her spine, his palms sliding over her butt cheeks to lift her against his hard body, it was hard to think about all the reasons she wasn’t right for him.

  “I’m going to do all the talking for you tonight,” she told him, panting as his lips found the sensitive skin on the side of her neck. “You just tell me what to say and I’ll say it.”

  There was a mischievous glint in the depths of Nate’s gray eyes as he made an okay sign. He snagged the hem of her dress and skimmed it up her body. The cool air struck her overheated skin and Mia shivered. For a couple seconds the cotton material tangled in her hair as it went over her head and she was blinded. The loss of her sight awakened her sense of smell and she breathed in Nate’s familiar scent of soap and aftershave.

  Immediately she was transported back to that night in Sydney. She’d been a little intimidated by the discrepancy between their levels of sexual experience and what he might expect of her. And then she’d forgotten to be nervous as his mouth traveled over her body and he introduced her to pleasure she’d never known. After having nearly two months to relive that night over and over, Mia was more than ready to do to him all the things she’d been dreaming about.

  His shirt followed her dress to the floor. Once his gorgeous chest was bared to her eyes, she went after his pants with a vengeance. Teeth gritted in concentration, she worked his belt free and had her hands on his zipper when he stopped her.

  “What are you doing?” She tugged, trying to free herself from his grip. “I need you naked.”

  Nate set his forehead against hers and brought her hands to his lips. His breath puffed against her skin as he feathered kisses across her knuckles. Then he turned her in his arms and shifted so they were facing the mirror.

  “Before we do this, I want you to know it’s never been just about sex for me.”

  “I know.” She relaxed against Nate’s strong torso. The hard ridge of his erection nudged against her backside and she resisted the urge to rub against him. “But can’t we talk about this later?”

  “Now. It’s important you understand how much I need you in my life. This isn’t something I’m doing lightly. Can you say the same?”

  “If you’re going to ask me to choose you right now, I can’t. Is it possible for you to accept that I care about you and want this to work between us? I’m not leading you on, but I need time to sort everything out.”

  “You’re asking me to be patient.”

  “And I know it’s a lot. You’re so wonderful and I don’t want to hurt you.”

  “I wish I could tell you I will make it easy on you, but I’m a selfish jerk who wants you all to himself.” He met her eyes in the mirror and gave her wolfish grin. “Now repeat after me...” He began simultaneously signing and caressing her body to act out his words.

  “I love your breasts and the way your nipples go hard when I touch them,” she translated, quaking in reaction to his touch. “Nate, you’re killing me with this.”

  He stopped signing long enough to pop the clasp of her strapless bra. Mia watched it slide off her breasts and hit the floor. Next he skimmed his fingers beneath the elastic of her panties and sent those plunging to the floor, too. Mia stepped out of them. Although she was no stranger to her naked body reflected in the mirror, seeing Nate’s large hand fanned over her stomach was an erotic image she’d never forget.

  “Keep going.”

  “I can’t wait to taste you.” A vivid blush dotted her cheeks as she repeated what Nate had signed. “I love how sensitive you are. It makes me crazy to hear you moan.”

  He trailed the tips of his fingers along her neck and into the hollow of her throat, all the while watching her in the mirror. She half closed her eyes as each of her senses demanded her attention. The silky drag of his lips across her shoulder competed with the tantalizing view of his fingers circling her belly button before skimming downward.

  “Nate.” His name was a plea as she shifted her hips, seeking the promise of greater pleasure beneath his hands. “Yes.”

  “Yes, what?”

  “Am I ready for you?” she repeated, her voice a husky moan. “The answer is yes.”

  He laughed, a brief huff of air against her neck. “I’m ready for you, too. Can’t you feel it?” He rocked his hips forward and drove his erection against her.

  “Then what are you waiting for?”

  She dropped her hand to his thigh and slid her palm along the sinewy length. His muscles bunched and jumped beneath her touch.

  “I like taking my time with you,” Mia repeated, watching as he lifted his fingers to her breasts and brushed the aching tips. She arched her back. “Later you can take your time. Now I want you to make me come.”

  “My pleasure.”

  While one hand cupped her breast, the other slid between her legs and dipped into the heat generated by his tantalizing caresses and sexy words. He touched her with tender confidence, sliding his finger around the sensitive nub until she quaked and groaned.

  “Oh, yes. There.”

  He knew exactly what turned her on.

  With his hands otherwise occupied and his voice out of commission he had no way to convey how he was feeling, but Mia could guess from the wonder that bloomed across his features and the ragged nature of his breathing.

  “Kiss me,” she pleaded. Although it pained her to pull his hands from between her legs, she needed his mouth on h
ers.

  She turned to face him and his hands slid into her hair, fingers pressing into her scalp as he tilted her head and brought his mouth to hers. She gasped at the joy and welcomed the plunge of his tongue, meeting it with her own. Her toes curled at the shudder that ran through him when her hands smoothed over his back and down his spine.

  During their night together on tour, Nate had proved to be very vocal in bed, crooning encouragement and telling her how she tasted and felt. She could tell his need to remain silent was very frustrating, because his hands tracked over her bare skin with feverish longing.

  Mia broke off the kiss and pushed him to arm’s length. “Pants off. Now.”

  With a snappy salute, Nate made short work of his zipper and sent his trousers sliding down his legs. Mia didn’t wait for him to take care of his boxer briefs. Her fingers were already on the waistband, yanking them down to free him. His breath was ragged as his fingers formed the sign for a curse word, making Mia smile.

  “Get ready,” she said. “You haven’t yet begun to swear.”

  She dropped to her knees before him and took him into her mouth before he had a chance to realize what she intended. She closed her eyes to savor the warm, smooth skin stretched over his rigid erection. His hips jerked as she rolled her tongue around him and smiled as his fingers bit down on her shoulder. It must be killing him to remain silent. As much as she didn’t want to cause damage to his voice, she knew the fight to stay quiet would only enhance the tension building in him.

  He double tapped her shoulder, indicating he wanted her attention. She lifted her gaze and met his eyes, letting him see how much she enjoyed what she was doing to him.

  “You’re killing me.”

  In answer, she took him deeper, using her hand at the base of his erection to provide sensation along the full length of his shaft. She thought about all the things they hadn’t done that first night, and not getting to do this for him had been her biggest regret.

  The tension in his body built as she worked her mouth on him, but even as his pleasure soared, he broke free and pulled her to her feet. For a long moment he held her cradled against his chest, her ear atop his pounding heart. When he seemed to get himself back under control, he pushed her to arm’s length and signed, “When I come it will be inside you.”

  She shivered and took his hand, walking backward toward the bed. Nate reached into the nightstand and pulled out a condom. He brushed her hands aside when she tried to help him. With him otherwise occupied, she let her fingers drift over the taut muscles of his shoulder and biceps.

  Once he finished putting on the protection, he turned to her and pointed to the bed. “Up you go. I’m going to make love to you now.”

  “That sounds about perfect.”

  She shifted onto the middle of the mattress and he stalked right after her, his hot gaze raking over her.

  “You are so beautiful.” His fingertips grazed her breast, circling the puckered tip.

  “So are you.” The words were barely a whisper as he closed his mouth over her nipple and sucked hard.

  She gasped, the sound escaping her like a half cry as his tongue flicked the sensitive bud. She skidded her fingers along his cheeks and down his shoulders to his back. Muscles bunched and loosened beneath her touch as she investigated each rib and bump in his spine. How often had she watched him move around the stage, his long lithe body filled with such energy and emotion, and wondered what it would be like to be up against his rock-hard abs, a heartbreak away from those mobile, smiling lips?

  And then she had been. After one of the shows, Nate had drawn her into a dressing room and kissed her. It was like being embraced by a power line. All the hyped up energy he’d received from performing had translated into a passionate kiss. It had been crazy magic.

  He grabbed her hand and now pulled it to his mouth. His eyes captured hers as if asking for permission. Her voice was gone so she nodded.

  “I want all of you. Right now. As deep and hard as you want it. Fast or slow,” she finally said.

  Nate closed his eyes and set his forehead against hers. He gave her the sweetest kiss on the corner of her mouth. “I don’t deserve you.”

  You deserve so much better than me. She didn’t dare speak the words for fear it would ruin the moment. Instead, she framed his face with her hands and brought his lips to hers. They kissed and passion overwhelmed them once more. He shifted to lie between her spread legs. Once again his fingers drifted between her folds and found her wet and aching. A shudder raged through him as he slid a finger inside her, making her moan. Mia’s hips lifted off the bed.

  She grabbed his wrist, intent on doing...something to satisfy the tension building inside her. Her gaze flicked to his face and she found him watching what he was doing to her. Her heart tripped and stopped at the level of joy mingling with lust in his expression. And then she was over the edge, her hips bucking as she rode the release Nate had brought to her body.

  She barely noticed when he guided himself into position, but as she experienced the last spasms of her orgasm, Nate drove his hips against hers, filling her.

  Seven

  Air hissed between his teeth as he stopped moving. He was now fully seated inside her and he took a second to appreciate the moment with this spectacular woman. Mia’s internal muscles clenched around him as aftershocks reverberated through her. He stroked strands of hair off her cheek and peered at her flushed face and passion-dazed eyes. She was beautiful and sweet. And all his.

  She blew out a breath and lifted her gaze to his. He saw a hint of the shyness that always intrigued him. As if she couldn’t quite believe he’d noticed her.

  As if that was possible.

  He raised his eyebrows in a silent question.

  “I’m perfect. You’re perfect. This—” Mia purred as she ran the soles of her feet along Nate’s thighs “—is perfect.”

  It was all he needed to hear. He began to move, pulling out slowly, before driving back in, loving the way her breath caught and her lashes fluttered. Two months without her was two months too long. Already he could feel pleasure tighten in a frantic ache that pulled him toward completion.

  “Harder,” she begged. Her nails dug into his back. The tiny pain shot straight to his groin. “Yes,” she moaned as he picked up speed. “Like that.”

  Staying silent during sex was way more frustrating than anything he’d experienced in the last two weeks since his surgery. Curses flooded his mind as he sank into Mia’s tight, hot body over and over. He wanted to tell her how good she felt. How she was unlike any woman he’d ever known. Instead, he kissed her, letting his mouth speak in other ways.

  His orgasm was close, but he needed her to go first. As their breath rushed together in frantic pants, he slipped his hand between them and cupped her. She uttered a soft cry that sounded like a garbled version of his name and then threw her head back. Her muscles clamped down on him hard and she was going over the edge.

  Nate kept himself from climaxing long enough to watch her, and then he couldn’t hold it back any longer. He buried his face in her shoulder as his body exploded in pleasure. His lips moved, forming her name against her skin as he gave one final thrust and spilled himself inside her for what felt like endless seconds.

  As he became aware of the room again, Nate rolled onto his side, taking her with him.

  “Incredible,” he signed.

  “You can say that again.”

  He made the sign a second time and she laughed. Brushing aside a damp strand of hair, he made another sign. “Stay.”

  She shook her head. Already he could feel her starting to disengage.

  “I can’t.”

  He fought down his disappointment. “An hour more?”

  When she gave a reluctant nod, he brought his lips to hers. It wasn’t much time, but enough to ma
ke certain that the next time he asked her to stay, she’d have a much harder time refusing.

  * * *

  Club T’s was in full swing when Ivy and three of her besties were escorted past the line of attractive twentysomethings waiting by the velvet ropes for their chance to get in. Mia trailed behind the group, anonymous and forgettable in a sleeveless black dress that skimmed her curves but left everything else to the imagination. In contrast, Ivy wore a red sequin romper with a plunging neckline that showed off her long legs, toned by hours of dance rehearsals and yoga.

  The group bypassed the dance floor and headed straight for the VIP area. The DJ was cranking great tunes and with Ivy preoccupied for the moment, Mia let herself fall a little behind.

  Their private table was set up with bottles of vodka, champagne and assorted mixes. Flanked by her entourage, Ivy slipped into the booth. There was enough space between the couches and the table for the women to rock their hips to the music and fling their hair extensions around. Ivy was in high spirits, yelling that she loved every song that played.

  Mia perched on the far end of the couch, suddenly overwhelmed. By the concussive beat. The dazzling light show. The hyped-up customers all around them, whooping, dancing and sucking up all the oxygen. Dizziness consumed her. Mia closed her eyes, wishing she were somewhere tranquil and quiet.

  Someone shook her shoulder. Mia’s eyes opened and she spied Ivy bent over the table and frowning at her.

  “Did you order this?” Ivy demanded, pointing to the bottles. “It’s Grey Goose. I wanted Belvedere.”

  “You always drink Grey Goose,” Mia said, feeling very much like screaming.

  “Not lately.” Ivy rolled her eyes. “You never pay attention.”

  “I’ll go find someone and get it fixed.” Mia was glad for the chance to escape. “Be right back.”

  With the mixes disguising the taste of the liquor, Mia doubted whether Ivy could distinguish one type of vodka from another. Most often she made demands to remind everyone that she was the celebrity. Mia was probably one of the few people who recognized she did it out of insecurity.