The Price of Fame

by Gower, Hazel

  He gulped as images flashed through his mind of all the things he wanted to do to her. Growling, he shot a death stare at his manager, and wished he could throw him out. She let out a chuckle as she looked at Gaelan sitting in his corner to make sure he wasn’t watching, and then she slid her hands into his pants. Kylie’s chuckle turned into a groan, and she closed her eyes as her hand brushed his length before she opened her eyes, shot a glance at Gaelan, and quickly pulled her hand out.

  Markus counted to ten and prayed for patience as her cheeks turned a pretty pink.

  She whispered, “Don’t you just wish you were the younger model right now who didn’t have a manager sitting across from him?”

  Oooh, she was going to pay for turning him on and leaving him high and dry.

  Not caring about Gaelan, he pulled her the rest of the way onto his lap. “You are going to pay, my omorphoula. I hope you have the stamina to keep up with this old man. Because when we get out of this godforsaken limo, I’m going to throw you over my shoulder and carry you to my castle where I will ravish you until you beg for mercy.”

  Her eyes filled with lust, and her breath came out in pants. She let out a moan.

  “I can’t wait to get you into my house and my bed.” He smirked at her as she pouted.

  “How long until we’re at your place?”

  * * * *

  She survived the longest car ride of her life, which was a feat, as Markus kept whispering all the things he wanted to do to her all night long. They arrived at his house, and true to his word, he threw her over his shoulder, swatted her bottom, and walked to his room. She saw white everywhere she looked and gave a shiver at the cold feel of the house.

  He placed her on a king-sized bed, and Kylie watched as he took his clothes off, chucking them into a pile in the corner. “What do you think of my … our house?”

  She grimaced. What she had seen hadn’t been very homey. “I didn’t get to see that much of it because an old cave man had me thrown over his shoulder, but what I did see was very, um… white.”

  “You can change anything you like. It’s your home too now.” She didn’t say anything, as she wasn’t sure what to say.

  He slowly crawled up the bed and pulled her clothes off, but her mind just couldn’t seem to get into it. Did he expect her to move to Greece and live here with him? What was she going to do when he went on tour?

  He stopped caressing her stomach. “What’s the matter, my omorphoula?”

  “What do you want from me? Where do I really fit into your life? My life isn’t in Greece. What am I going to do when you’re on tour or doing other celebrity stuff?”

  “I want you to be happy with me. You’ll fit into my life as my wife, partner, and confidant.” Markus pulled her onto his lap so she straddled him. Holding her face in his hands, he looked into her eyes. “I know your life isn’t in Greece, but I want you to give it a chance. I’m happy for us to live some of our life in Australia. My family lives here … your family soon.” Her heart felt as though it were going to explode as the intensity in his gaze sharpened and he stroked her cheek. “I want you with me when I go on tour. I want you to come with me tomorrow.”

  Kylie didn’t know what to say. She knew he was a big star, and she would have to spend some time in Europe, but to live here permanently, when all her friends and the only life she knew were in Australia, would be hard. She didn’t think she could leave all her friends and her dancing behind and start anew. She searched his gaze, trying to find what her answer should be. She didn’t want to be in the spotlight or leave the quiet, simple life she had known, but Kylie knew she would try, for him.

  Pulling away from him, Kylie sat on the end of the bed. Running her hands through her messy hair, she leaned back over him and kissed his lips. “I love you. I’m going to give this crazy life of yours a try. You have to promise me no pressure, though. If I don’t want to do something or go somewhere with you, you will have to understand. Give me time. This celebrity stuff is all new to me. That chaos at the airport was funny and bearable because it still hasn’t sunk in who you really are.”

  Grabbing her waist, he pulled her onto him. “Omorphoula, I promise no pressure with the celebrity stuff.”

  She raised her eyebrow as his hands trailed down her naked body.

  “But what about other things like… How soon can we get married? Because I can’t wait until you’re officially mine. How about me pressuring you not to wear any underwear so I always have access?”

  Markus’ mouth captured hers, and his tongue met hers as he slid a finger into her slick core. “You’re so wet for me. Just the way I like you. Did all our teasing in the car do this? Do you like it when I tell you all the things I want to do to you?”

  She nodded as he nibbled his way down her body.

  He circled her nipple with his tongue. “Ah, you like it when I tell you how I’m going to lick every inch of your body. And suck on your tits while I fuck you.”

  She let out a groan as he sucked one breast into his warm mouth.

  His finger explored her pussy and rubbed her nub. “I’ve been waiting hours to have you again. All that talking in the car got me just as worked up as it did you. Anytime I think about you, I get hard, which means 99 percent of the time since I’ve met you I’ve had an erection.”

  Pulling his fingers out of her pulsing vagina, he moved down her to her core, sucking his fingers into his mouth before his face came between her thighs and he dove in. She bucked as his tongue lapped at her pussy. “Mmm, you taste so good.”

  Gripping the covers, she quivered in ecstasy as her orgasm built. His tongue probed her slick, wet heat, and his mouth nipped at her clit. She felt the inferno building inside her as his hands caressed her body, and his mouth brought her closer to the combustion she sought.

  As she was about to reach her peak, he pulled away, sliding back up her body, nipping at her sensitive flesh.

  Cupping her face, he growled, “I want you on your hands and knees so I can watch that ass wiggle as I slam into you from behind.”

  Her breathing picked up as he moved off her, and she turned over so her bottom was in the air. Markus slapped her ass, which caused her to let out a squeal.

  “Markus, I need you inside me. Please, I’m empty.”

  Feeling his hard body as he slowly covered hers, she closed her eyes as he kissed her neck and played with her tits. “Oh, omorphoula, when I’m finished with you, you will never feel empty again.” Markus drove into her in one swift thrust. She screamed as his cock hit her in a spot she hadn’t felt before, adding a slight burning pain to the pleasure that built.

  Markus was relentless as he pistoned into her, cupping her breasts and tweaking her nipples. “Boreíte épese san ton oyranó. Poté den eímai epitrépontás sas na páte. S 'agapô.” He spoke in Greek, turning her on even more.

  Feeling her peak within reach, she spread her legs and moved one of her hands down to play with her nub so she could fall off the edge. He seized her hand.

  “No. You will come only from me. No help from yourself. I want to know it was all me when you come around it and squeeze the life out of my dick.”

  Nibbling the side of her neck, he pulled out, leaving only the tip of his cock inside. Then he bit down, slamming home, the combination of the pleasure and pain igniting her. “Oh, Markus, I’m commmminnng.”

  He yelled her name as he came, following her. Kylie felt the warmth of his seed fill her as she fell to the bed, Markus following, his dick still inside her.

  Kissing her shoulder, he murmured, “I didn’t hurt you, did I?”

  She closed her eyes, loving the feel of him at her back. They lay there for a while before she answered. “No, you didn’t hurt me. I love the way you make me feel.”

  He kissed her neck, and then he slowly eased his soft member out of her and moved them to the side, turning her so she faced him.

  “There is one thing I’ve been waiting for you to ask me about, or at least say somethi
ng about. We haven’t used protection once. Are you on anything?”

  She stiffened against him as his words sank in. “Do you have anything I should know about?” She didn’t think he did, but she didn’t want to think about the other things, like when she’d last had her period.

  “No, I don’t. I was checked before I came to Australia. You’re the only woman I’ve ever been with without a condom.” He kissed her lips gently. “I know I’m the only person you’ve been with. Are you on anything? The pill or any other contraceptive?”

  She closed her eyes and tried to shake the sinking feeling as she started counting days. Terrified, she shook her head. “No. I’m on nothing. I didn’t … I mean… Look, can we leave it at that for tonight, please?”

  Markus stared at her and must have seen the fear in her eyes because he sighed, nodded, and pulled her as close to him as possible.

  She told herself she would worry tomorrow. Slowly, she relaxed into him and fell into an exhausted sleep.

  Chapter 9

  Markus debated whether to wake her as he had kept her up late and knew she hadn’t slept well after their conversation about protection. He hoped she knew how happy he would be if she was expecting. He paced the room, worried. Maybe Kylie shouldn’t have flown as far as she did yesterday. He was used to the long flights and late nights, but Kylie wasn’t, and if she was…

  He shook his head to clear his thoughts. He had no idea if they were even true until Kylie confirmed them. Having been up for hours, he now reluctantly went back into the room to wake his sleeping beauty because he had no choice.

  He had just over an hour to tell Kylie he was going to perform their song at the awards ceremony, that he had arranged for special designer dresses to be delivered, and that he had paid for everything, including the makeup and hair artists who were coming. She wouldn’t be happy, as she wasn’t one for attention.

  Leaning over her, he kissed her cheek, whispering, “Omorphoula, it’s time to wake up. You’ve slept most of the day away.”

  She let out a groan and pushed him away. “Go away. You kept me awake most of the night.”

  He lifted her up in his arms when she stretched, and she let out a squeal as he walked with her to the bathroom. “It’s shower time. Time to get ready.” He held her with one arm as he turned the taps on with the other. Not caring about the shorts he had on, he got under the warm spray. “As much as I’d like you to stay naked and in our bed, I made a commitment to go to the ceremony, and they were nice enough to move people around so you could come.”

  Wrapping her arms around his neck, she mumbled, “Fine. Put me down. I’ll get ready.”

  He gently slid her down his body. She grinned up at him as she felt the evidence of his arousal. He lathered his hands with her shower gel and washed her body.

  “You are a machine.” She rubbed herself against him as she trailed her fingers down his chest. “How long does this awards ceremony go for?”

  Closing his eyes, he prayed for patience as she slipped her hand into his shorts and started stroking him. He stopped cleaning her and took a deep breath before moaning, “Omorphoula, stop. I have people coming soon, and if you start this, they’ll hear things you might not want them to.”

  She paused in her exploring and glared up at him, the water splashing over her face and cleaning the shower gel off. “Who is coming?”

  Turning off the shower, he got out and wrapped a towel around himself and held out a towel for Kylie. She grabbed it and flung it around her while she marched past him into their room.

  “I’ve had someone drop off my suit, and some dresses should arrive for you soon to save you searching for something to wear. I also have a makeup artist and hair stylist coming to give you an extra hand.”

  She didn’t say anything as she dressed in a yellow summer dress, and then turned, staring at him. Finally, she nodded.

  “Thanks, I will use them as long as I get a choice, and if I don’t like something, I can say no.”

  Letting out a breath, he nodded back and hoped this was the only drama of the night.

  * * * *

  Standing back stage, he agonized about not being smart enough to cancel. He didn’t know how long Kylie would last at this rate. She’d come out of their room hours later, after the stylist and hairdresser had finished, looking stunning. She walked to him in a long, flowing sky-blue dress that plunged in the back. It emphasized all her curves, and he’d been tempted to just stay home, but when his manager showed up to shoo them along, he guided her to the limo.

  Their arrival together caused a media frenzy as the press bombarded them with questions. The one thing he hadn’t anticipated was the nastiness of some of his supposed fans. They yelled at her to go home, to be with one of her own men, or rude things about her body, basically anything nasty. Grateful she didn’t understand Greek for once, he was relieved to get inside and to their seats, only to groan at who he’d been seated next to—his ex-girlfriend, Helena, and her new man.

  Kylie knew as soon as the woman smiled at them and introduced herself as an old friend what Helena had been to him. She went stiff and slowly removed her hand from his, not saying a word.

  He’d won all of the awards he’d been nominated for and was now closing the show.

  Taking a deep breath when his name was called out, he walked out on stage with his guitar and sat on the chair. He closed his eyes for a moment before starting, and then he opened them as he sang, searching out Kylie, only to find her seat empty. Closing his eyes again so he could concentrate on the song, he prayed she hadn’t left, and for the first time in years, he hoped this would all hurry up and end so he could go and find her.

  * * * *

  Kylie didn’t speak much Greek, but she had been trying to learn to surprise Markus. She understood some, and the woman next to her hadn’t helped when she repeated things in English, saying she was just trying to help. Kylie wasn’t stupid. She knew the woman had had a relationship with Markus. It didn’t bother her that much, but everything else was getting to her. She had understood some of what had been yelled at her outside, and she couldn’t get over the cruel stares from most of the women.

  Needing a moment before she had to return to the chaos, she’d snuck off to the restroom, only to be locked in. So here she sat, looking around the lavish room, thanking god she had put her foot down about bringing a purse with her phone and ID.

  Only having Markus’ number, and not knowing who else to call, she sat in the restroom and debated what to do. When she’d called Markus, he hadn’t picked up. She’d known he wouldn’t, but she had no one else to try. She doubted the police would take her seriously, plus she didn’t speak Greek. She had banged and yelled on the door until her hands were bruised and her voice hoarse, but no one came.

  Now she sat looking at her phone, trying to decide what to do next. Bored, she called Gemma and got voice mail. Without thinking, she called James. He answered, sounding pissed.

  “Where the fuck are you?”

  Thanking God the media in Australia didn’t care if she was engaged to a celebrity, she took a deep breath and slowly told him where she was and what had happened. “I was going to come and talk to you, but…”

  She heard things smashing in the background. “Tell me this is all some weird joke. Tell me I’ll wake in the morning, and this will all have been a dream.”

  She winced and glanced around the bathroom. Her heart broke as he whispered, “Tell me you said no, or that you haven’t known him long enough to marry him.”

  She looked down at her ring, and then darted another glance around her. “I’m sorry, James. I love you like a brother, but I love him with all of my being. Maybe I haven’t known him long. Maybe he will break my heart, but I’m willing to give it all a chance. I would love your support. You are my best friend.”

  “Kylie, you are locked in a bathroom in a foreign country because of him.”

  “It’s the country I’ll be living in from now on, and he didn’t l
ock me in here. Someone else did.”

  He let out a groan. “Fine. I’m always here for you. I’ll come and get you at any time you need me.”

  She muttered her thanks and hung up as the door opened and a very angry Markus stared at her with his fists clenched at his sides, his face pulled tight, and his body rigid.

  He spoke in rapid Greek to the big man next to him, and without saying a word, he walked to her, looked her over, and almost dragged her out. She followed, confused, unsure of what was going on as two large men followed behind her. They went in a direction she hadn’t been before.

  Kylie didn’t know what to say. She watched as everyone went the opposite direction. Markus’ hold on her tightened every now and then as he nodded to people. They reached two already opened fire exit doors, guarded by the big man who’d been with Markus when he entered the bathroom. They walked out, and she saw a limo parked. Another guy in a black suit opened the door for them to slip inside.

  Once they sat in the car, the doors closed, and the car began moving.

  Markus turned to her, his face still a mask of anger as he gritted out his words in heavily accented Greek. “How long were you locked in the bathroom? You couldn’t wait the thirty or so minutes until everything finished?”

  He bashed his hand on the car door arm rest. She began to get angry at him for making assumptions. It sounded as though he believed she’d locked herself in the bathroom, not that she was the victim who’d gotten locked in. Kylie knew he was angry about the situation, and she wanted to keep the peace, so a little white lie wouldn’t hurt, she hoped. “I needed to go to the bathroom for a while, but held it off wanting to be there for you. So almost as soon as you left to get ready back stage, I left, thinking I would have plenty of time before your performance.”

  She jumped and slid back from him as he yelled in a combination of English and Greek.