by Dawn Ryder
“I don’t want to do anything except seduce you.” His voice was a whisper next to her ear. “We’ve fucked, but we haven’t made love…”
She shuddered.
“Like the sound of that?”
He moved her farther out the door. There was a private Jacuzzi on the balcony. Several candles were set up around it, their lit wicks the only source of light, giving off a soft golden hue that heightened the sense of intimacy.
Syon kissed her neck, nuzzling against her sensitive skin. She leaned her head to the side as he gathered up her hair and pressed a row of tender kisses against her throat.
The candles had a soft jasmine scent, but she enjoyed the scent of Syon’s skin more, his own personal musk. She turned and buried her nose in his shoulder, inhaling deeply as she stroked his chest.
“Fingertips are amazing things…aren’t they?” he said. Syon leaned back and laid his fingers against her collarbone. “So sensitive…so simple…”
He traced her collarbone, and then down across the bare skin exposed by her neckline. He reached the fabric and slowly dove beneath it.
She was holding her breath, poised on the edge of sensation as she waited for him to touch her breast. He’d done it before, but tonight, anticipation was driving her slowly mad. He finally succeeded, his warm fingers cupping the tender mound, and she let out a contented little sigh.
“I want to stroke you,” he said.
“Alright.” Kate took a step back. It was a sweet torment, feeling his fingers slipping away from her flesh. But there was a reward in the look glittering in his eyes. In that moment, he was hers, devoted to her, fixated on her as she released the buttons holding her dress closed. The fabric sagged, and he reached out to ease it over her shoulders. It slithered down her body to puddle at her feet, leaving her in her underwear.
She reached behind her and unhooked her bra. With it undone, her breasts lowered.
“Perfect.” Syon moved forward, cupping them, smoothing his thumbs over her nipples until they began to pull tight.
She worked the buttons on his shirt, opening it so she could touch him and flatten her hands on his chest. He made a soft sound of male enjoyment. His eyes slipped closed as she ran her fingertips through the crisp hair on his chest. He satisfied every type of sensation: touch, scent, and even those she hadn’t really realized she had.
Like the need to have her desire for intimacy fulfilled.
He stepped back and stripped. The sound of his jeans and shirt being shucked drifted to her ears. He stepped forward again and caught the edges of her panties where they hugged her hips, slowly kneeling as he pulled them down. He left them at her ankles and buried his nose in her curls.
She fought the urge to step back, trying to find the courage to stand steady. He rose back up until he towered over her. Her insides were tightening, excitement prickling along her skin. He slid a hand into her hair and held her steady before sealing his lips over hers.
He took his time with the kiss, teasing her with soft compressions before deepening the touch. All the while, he kept her head prisoner to his whim.
She wanted more.
Kate rose onto her toes, seeking out a deeper kiss. Syon didn’t disappoint her. He opened his mouth, pressing her lips apart and teasing her tongue with his.
She made a sound that was purely sensual. A moan, possibly a growl.
All she knew was he tasted good.
His arm came around her, securing her against his hard frame as they continued to kiss. His cock was pressed between them, feeling out of place. She wanted it inside her. She lifted her leg, leaving her panties on the floor. She hooked it around his hip, clearing a path to her throbbing center.
“Not yet,” Syon warned her. He climbed up the steps to the spa, down into the bubbling water, and offered her his hand.
She took it and smiled as she stepped into the water. It wasn’t too hot, making it easy to follow Syon down into it.
Her lover…
The term fit the moment. Syon pulled her gently into his lap, easing her onto his length. As she sank lower, the water bubbled up around her waist, teasing her skin, his cock satisfying the ache inside her.
“That’s right where I want you, Kate.”
His tone was full of demand. He cupped her hips, controlling their pace. She let him lead, let him take her through a pace that was slow and easy. Need was blistering her insides, but the tempo built the pleasure until it was glowing red-hot. Controlling it intensified it. Syon’s jaw was tight, the muscles along his neck corded, but he didn’t start hammering her.
She leaned forward and kissed his neck, continuing with the pace, slowly riding the rising wave. Their breathing accelerated, their gazes meeting as they neared the point of breaking. It broke with a rolling motion that churned through her. Not in a hard snap, but in a tumbling motion that lasted. She cried out, arching back to press herself against him. His grip tightened, his cock bursting as he pushed upward into her with sharp little thrusts.
He pressed her against his chest, still buried inside her as the rapture encased them. Slowly stroking her, petting her, cherishing her. If there was another person alive on the globe, she wasn’t aware of them. In fact, she wasn’t sure where Syon ended and she began. It felt like their heartbeats had fused. Just like their bodies.
It was by far the most intimate moment of her life.
* * *
“Stay in tonight.”
Kate looked over at Syon, feeling like the breath had just left her lungs. He was watching her from beneath narrowed eyes.
“I thought you liked having me at the show.”
Something crossed his face. “That was before you ended up getting hurt. I’ll be fine.”
It felt like he was cutting her from his life, and she didn’t like it.
“It’s not like I can’t handle it. Someone slipped me a roofie.”
He let out a sigh. “I know, and I’m not any closer to finding out who did it, so…”
“So what?” Kate came closer. “The vibe coming off you is curling my toes, and not in a good way.”
“Don’t be pissed, Kate. I can’t back down when it comes to your safety.”
She crossed her arms over her chest. “I’m going to be hurt if you tell me you don’t want me to come tonight. Not pissed. This is personal, between us. Because you want me there, I know you do, and I don’t want to see you cutting me from your life because we had some bad luck. That’s the difference between hooking up and being in a relationship. Boyfriend.”
He reached out and stroked her jaw, a hint of satisfaction flickering in his eyes. “Fine. We’ll do it your way.”
Suspicion tingled on her nape. The feeling that she’d just stepped into a trap came over her.
He moved to the door and opened it. Standing in the hallway was a lean-looking Asian man. He was dressed in a dark suit, with only a half inch of spiky hair on his head, and was at least six feet tall.
“Meet Yoon. Your bodyguard.”
Syon offered the guy a nod before he shut the door. Satisfaction was definitely glowing in his eyes now.
“Don’t be so pigheaded,” Kate argued. “I told you, I don’t need a bodyguard.”
“And we all agreed that making sure you’re taken care of is a better way to go than the lot of us getting thrown in jail.”
Well, she had to concede that point. “That’s a tad unfair.”
“So is the way we react to each other. I lose my head; you lose your head.”
“I just won’t drink,” she offered, “until the show is over.”
“That won’t solve the problem with the press.”
“I’m a little new to this lifestyle. I’ll get better at it,” she said. “It should be my choice.”
Syon shook his head. “No, it’s not. It’s mine, and the rest of the guys agree.”
He was halfway out of the door when she realized he had every intention of leaving her with her escort.
“You can’t just fi
nd me glorified pet sitters.”
Syon flipped around and stepped up so they were nose to nose when she raised her chin.
“I have to concentrate, Kate, and I can’t do that when I’m worried about you being in danger.” He caught her shoulders. “Don’t be difficult, or I swear I will promise him a fat bonus if he doesn’t lose you the entire night. He’ll stand outside the bathroom door.”
“That is insane,” she stated. “You’re insane.”
“Yeah, like I said, you make me insane.”
He pressed a hard kiss against her mouth, absorbing her protest and working his lips against hers until she melted and kissed him back.
Damn him.
She couldn’t think.
She never could when he touched her. The current was flowing between them, burning off everything else. Reality was just a puff of smoke.
He finished up with a last breath-stealing motion of his mouth before he was gone. Kate opened the door to go after him but ended up facing Yoon. He gave her a short, stiff bow. She slammed the door shut, feeling like she had just locked herself in a cage.
She cussed and went into the bedroom to get dressed.
* * *
Yoon stuck to her like a shadow. It was both eerie and impressive the way the guy was unshakable. He had one of the sharpest gazes she’d ever seen, and also had one of those pigtailed radio ear pieces. Kate gave a huff as she looked at her hair in the bathroom mirror.
You’re hiding.
Yeah, so what?
You’re hiding in the ladies’ room.
Pathetic, but still, so what?
Back in the performers’ room, Cid’s team of makeup artists and sound techs were busy. The band members were warming up. Ramsey stopped fingering his guitar when she showed up and offered her a drink. He poured it from a bottle sitting on a table behind him with a rather burly security guy standing over the makeshift bar. The security guy looked bored off his rocker, but he stood there in front of the bottles without moving.
“I think I’m going on the wagon for a bit.”
He nodded. “More for me.” He took a swig from the drink before setting it down and starting in on his guitar again.
A soft hand landed on her nape. She didn’t have to turn around to know it was Syon.
She knew his touch. Recognized it on a cellular level. He leaned close, setting off a ripple of awareness. “I’m glad you’re here.” It was a whisper, but one that eased some of the tension balled up inside her.
Her phone vibrated, and she looked at it out of habit. Seeing Percy’s number made her swipe the screen and take the call.
“Sweetie…”
“Don’t sweetie me, Percy.” The instruments slowly died away as the band members looked at her. “I don’t like ambushes.”
“I don’t like getting calls about you being taken to the emergency room,” her partner informed her.
“So you help get me a bodyguard?”
Percy made a soft sound. “You need one, honey. It’s not my fault you and those hunks were slow on the uptake. There are crazy people out there.”
“You’re helping make me one of them,” she groused.
“How much do you suffer with that man animal in your bed, darling?”
“Good night, Percy.”
Her partner laughed before she hung up. But that left her facing the smug looks of four band members. They’d won the round and knew it.
“Percy sends lots of kisses to you all,” she said sweetly.
Drake shuddered and took shelter behind his drums. Ramsey put his lips together and made kissing sounds.
“Does that mean you’re not too pissed at me?” Taz asked. “’Cause I’m getting a craving for sushi again.”
“We can do sushi,” Kate decided. “But I think Yoon is coming.”
Taz flashed her a smile.
Now two seats had reserved signs on them. Yoon parted the crowd easily and sat down next to her. It was an awkward moment, sitting there with the guy but not knowing him at all. They avoided each other’s gazes for a bit before she decided to try and break the ice.
“How’d Taz get you involved in this?”
Yoon offered her a hesitant smile. “I was born in Korea. Good jobs are hard to come by, because everyone has a nephew or cousin they can hire. This was a good opportunity. I get to see the world.” Anticipation edged his tone and shone in his eyes. “But don’t worry. I won’t let my guard down.”
“You’re likely going to do better than me,” she said. “I’ve never had a bodyguard before. So sorry in advance for anything.”
“You don’t look like that much trouble.” He eyed her. “I spent most of the plane flight over envisioning a Kardashian-type socialite.”
He reached up and drew his hand across his forehead and gave her a look of relief. Kate laughed softly.
“Um…you might want to think about losing the suit.”
He considered her for a moment. “My grandmother was proud I landed a job where I could wear a suit.”
“Maybe Taz can help you with that.”
“She was hoping I could talk some sense into him.”
“Well, this is an opportunity.”
Yoon grinned, looking ready to take on the world.
The stage lights started flashing, and the crowd roared. Over ten thousand people were screaming, but the members of the band still had the same problems as the rest of the world—pleasing their families.
It made her laugh.
But she also ached a little.
* * *
“You still mad at me?”
Kate forced her eyes open. “Depends.”
Syon chuckled from where he was sprawled on his back next to her. The bed was in shambles, the sheets and pillows half on the floor. She was pretty sure she couldn’t move. Her toes were still curled.
“On what?” Syon was merciless.
“I’m going to flat-out lie if you decide to prove anything else to me tonight.”
He laughed and rolled over. At least he gave her the courtesy of groaning just a tiny bit before he propped himself on his elbow next to her. “I like proving things to you. Especially when it requires fucking the hell out of you.”
He teased one of her nipples, stretching out his neck and catching it between his lips. “In fact, I think you should be mad at me at least twice a week.”
“It’s not funny, Syon. I think you’re overreacting with Yoon.”
He drew in a stiff breath. “I don’t want to think about you having to deal with pricks who ask you if I use you as a sex slave. Everyone knows you’re my girlfriend now. It’s only going to get worse. You’ll see. I’m going to have to get Yoon a partner, so there is a twenty-four-hour watch.”
She groaned, feeling her privacy being shredded. What made it worse was the logical nature of Syon’s demands.
Shit.
“Can I win this argument?” she asked at last.
He shrugged and sat up. “Only if you want me to not worry about you.”
“Ouch.” She rolled over. “Kill the guilt trip. I get it. I don’t like it, but I get it.”
He kissed her bare shoulder. “Thank you.”
It was a whisper, but she heard how important it was to him. She turned her head and found him watching her. For a moment, it felt like they were connected, in that soul-deep way only he was able to touch her. It scared her, but at the same time, she craved it. Wanted to just sink down and roll around in it until it coated her.
“You should tell Yoon to lose the suit on show night.”
Surprise flashed across Syon’s face before he laughed. “Bet that was interesting to see.”
There was a squeal of a guitar from outside the patio door. The hotel faced a private pool area again.
“I promised the guys a look at what I’ve been writing.”
Syon stood up and pulled on some jeans. He walked through the suite and opened the sliding door. The evening air came in as he greeted his bandmates. Kate pulled
on a dress so she could move closer. The four members of Toxsin had their laptops out and were reading the music. They were every bit as raw playing for no one but themselves, pushing the music out of their souls and sending a ripple of awareness across her skin.
It was who they were. She was fascinated by it. Even if she was slightly intimidated too.
Tomorrow, it would be on to a new city. It was almost like they were too much to contain in one city for very long. She fell asleep listening to them.
* * *
“Sushi!”
Taz landed on the ground outside the music coach when they pulled into Memphis, and cupped his hands around his mouth.
“You promised, Kate!”
“I’m pretty sure we’re having sushi tonight,” Kate said to Yoon.
He flashed her a grin and reached up to button the top button of his dress shirt. Undoing that button was as far as he’d gone in “loosening up” his wardrobe.
Syon caught her up against him. “Are you making dates with my band bro?”
“Taz has needs,” she explained.
Syon growled and nuzzled at her neck. “So do I.”
“Hey, Mr. Lead Singer”—Taz was suddenly there, pulling Syon away from her—“you have an interview. You know, the one that only wants the Marquis? Give me my sushi date. You’re busy.” He captured Kate’s wrist and started pulling her toward a waiting SUV. “Bye-bye, Mr. Lead Singer.”
Syon flipped him a double bird, one on each hand. But Cid was closing in on him. The road manager had his customary happy-go-lucky smile on his face. A makeup girl was there, with her box slung over her shoulder. Another polo-shirted team member had several pairs of Syon’s pants and leather vests on hangers. Syon gave in and walked toward another waiting SUV as the semitruck backed into the loading dock to begin prepping for the next concert.
Taz was fired up. He said a couple of things to Yoon in Korean as their driver took them through the business area of town. They ended up in Korea town, their SUV pulling up in front of a large restaurant.
There was only a single story to the place, but it was humming. There were tables with large burners set into them so you could cook your own Korean BBQ, with huge vents overhead to pull off the steam and smoke. But there was also a counter with sushi chefs behind it. Taz called out a greeting to them as they entered. Kate did her best impression of a bow before a pretty waitress guided them through the mass of people to one of the back tables.