I wasn’t ashamed to scream like the girl I was, and my throat and lungs burned by the time the ride eventually came to a standstill. Even though I had thought I was going to die at some points during the terrifying ride, it was one of the best moments of my life.
Kerr continued to test my limits because as an adrenaline junkie, the guy had none himself. But somehow, despite all the new feelings colliding inside of me, he had continued to give me the courage to try ride after ride.
The day was exactly what I had needed because I had been missing Simon badly, feeling homesick for my family over in Colorado, and nervous beyond belief about performing for the first time in front of a large live audience. Until that point I had done a few small malls, controlled studio performances, and recorded for shows yet to be aired.
After eating a junk food dinner and cotton candy, we fell laughing into a taxi cab for the short ride back to the hotel and I felt so thankful for having a friend like Kerr.
What Kerr had said was totally right because from the moment I entered the fairground to the moment I stepped out of the cab after we had arrived back I hadn’t noticed the cold.
Once in the warmth of the cab I thawed out, but as soon as my feet hit the street a cold shiver ran down my spine and I shuddered.
“You’re such a girl,” Kerr teased and wrapped his strong arms around me, hugging me tight. A wave of comfort washed over me and I leaned into him, enjoying the warmth of his body. I sighed a little because it brought back a wave of sadness because Simon wasn’t here with me.
Entering the foyer of the hotel, I was completely focused on Kerr who was cracking jokes again, but he ground to a halt, his body locking up tight and his laughter died in his throat. Glancing up at his face, his expression was frozen as he stared straight ahead.
Swallowing audibly, Kerr let his arms drop from around me and my eyes followed to where his were trained and excitement riddled my body as it flowed through my veins.
My heart almost leapt out of my chest when I saw Simon sitting directly in front of us pinning Kerr to the spot with an unpleasant stare. Simon didn’t need to speak because the sour expression on his face told me he was less than impressed.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Surprised and delighted, I squealed at the sight of him and ran toward where he was sat. I launched myself onto his lap and I gave him an enthusiastic hug. The warm response I’d expected in return was missing and his body felt tense beneath me.
“Simon! I can’t believe you’re here. I didn’t know you were coming, what a surprise.”
“Obviously,” he said, dryly. “Maybe I should have called ahead, huh?” The anger in his tone made me flinch and my eyes darted to Kerr.
“Ah no, buddy, you got it all wrong,” Kerr quickly corrected Simon’s assessment of what he thought was happening. By the time Kerr had finished speaking I had already cottoned on to the suggestion in my boyfriend’s tone.
“Kerr has really looked after me today.”
“I don’t doubt it. Pity I turned up or he may have been taking great care of you all night as well… or has he been doing that anyway?”
His comment took my breath away. Shock turned my adrenaline-fuelled body stiff as my heartbeat pounded in my chest at his less than subtle suggestion. “What the fuck are you implying? Kerr’s a good friend, Simon.”
“A very close one from everything I witnessed just now.”
“Seriously? Grow up,” I challenged and shook my head. I had never seen this side of Simon.
“You looked pretty cozy from here.” When he directed his comment toward us it felt degrading. After all, I had been through the last thing I’d ever do is cheat on someone.
“Really, Simon? You were the last person I’d have expected to be suspicious of me. Maybe it’s something you’d think of doing when I’m not around. Is that why your mind worked overtime? After everything you’ve learned about me, how could you still think I would cheat on you?”
“Maybe not, but do you think it’s okay to have some other guy hanging off your body when I’m not around?
“There’s nothing between Kerr and I except friendship.”
“Does he know that?” he spat, casting a warning glare at Kerr.
Kerr cleared his throat and shot back. “Don’t you dare to judge us by your standards because apparently they’re not very high.”
“What was that?” he asked Kerr, cupping his ear like he was straining to hear him, then he stood and took a step closer. “Hm, what is it they say about being too defensive? Strikes me that this thing between you two is a close-to-more relationship,” he stated.
“What the hell does that mean?” I challenged again, shaking my head in disbelief.
Tipping his chin in Kerr’s direction he scoffed, his top lip lifting at one side as he snarled. “Work on getting emotionally close and wait for the opportunity to take advantage of any vulnerability you see. It’s a classic move.”
“Is that what you’re doing, Kerr?” I asked Kerr, but I already knew full well it wasn’t the case.
“Does it feel like that to you, Piper?” he asked, his shocked look matching the tinge of hurt in his voice.
“Answer the question,” Simon ran his fingers through his hair and his eyes narrowed as he scrutinized Kerr more closely.
“Absolutely not.” Kerr said in denial, shooting back an equally angry glare at Simon. I didn’t doubt it. “What I’m doing is giving this girl some happy memories because God knows she hasn’t had it easy so far.”
Simon tossed his head back then looked at me as if to question my judgement about telling Kerr my private business. “She’s got me for that,” Simon answered dryly.
“She does… when you’re around, but you weren’t here,” Kerr reminded him.
“So you thought you’d fill my shoes, huh?”
“Stop it, Simon. That isn’t what Kerr did. To be frank with you, I had one of the best days of my life today, and you had to go and spoil it.”
All conversation stopped, and Simon looked as if I’d slapped him. Kerr rubbed my upper arm then stepped back. “Look, all I wanted to do was give Piper some freedom from everything else that’s been going on. Events have been pretty full on. She had a great time at a fairground. Would you have done something like that with her? Would your fans have allowed her to have an anonymous carefree day like she’s had today?”
Glancing at Simon, I could see him consider what Kerr said, but Kerr didn’t wait for him to answer.
“Sorry you’re pissed, but if you have to be angry at anyone direct it toward yourself. You weren’t here, and she got me instead. Who knows, Piper would probably have had an even better time with you than she did with me, but it is what it is. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m tired and hungry. Thank you for an awesome day, Piper, I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Without waiting for Simon to respond, Kerr headed over to the elevators and stepped inside when a car was already on the ground floor.
Turning to Simon I stared incredulously, “Wow… just… wow.” I sighed, placing my hands on my hips, feeling helpless at what had gone down. I’d never seen Simon so keyed up about anything.
Simon glanced furtively around to ensure no one was watching and guided me by my elbow in the direction of the elevators.
I opened my mouth to speak, and he placed his fingers across my lips effectively silencing me until we entered the elevator car. My heart pounded as my temper grew.
“I can’t believe you caused that scene just now. Kerr has been nothing but kind toward me,” I hissed after the doors closed. And don’t silence me.”
“It’s not controlling I’m protecting you from the press. It takes nothing for people to sell a story. Shout at me all you want but do it in private. Piper you might want to wake the fuck up. What man wouldn’t be kind? Look at you?” he replied, gesturing at me with his hand.
Drawing in a long breath he let it out, stared back at me with a dark look in his eyes and shook his head in frustration.
“Look at me? What is this? Surely it can’t be jealousy,” I stated, “You’re jealous of Kerr? For what? Showing me a good time? Would you rather I sat alone in the hotel room pining for you? You’d prefer me miserable when you’re not around? You—”
Simon cut me off. “For Christ’s sake, stop it. Stop.” He ran his hand through his hair again and sighed. “You’re right, I may have overreacted, but look at this from my perspective. I flew all the way over from Kansas this morning to spend the day with you and when I got here, they told me you’d gone out—with him. No one knew where you were and the guy on the desk wouldn’t allow me to wait in your room. I had to check in to find somewhere to go because the crazies wouldn’t stop asking for my autograph or taking my picture. I was in danger of being overrun with fans.”
My chest ached and my eyes softened. Sympathy replaced rage. Simon came to surprise me, and it had backfired. Stretching his hand out, he pulled me closer and wrapped his arm around my waist.
Usually his hug was all the contact I needed to melt in his arms, but not this time. I remained tense because of how he’d challenged Kerr like he wanted to be more than my friend.
“How is that Kerr’s fault, or mine for that matter? I’m sorry I wasn’t here, but after the last few days where we’ve either been stuck on the bus or performing, I was thankful Kerr was thoughtful enough and wanted to spend time with me.”
“You’re sure that’s what it is? Thoughtful? I’ve seen the way he looks at you; he fucking adores you.”
“Not every man is trying to get in my panties, Simon. Perhaps you think like that, but it doesn’t mean all men do.”
“Don’t be so naïve, baby. A man knows when another man is casing his woman.”
“And that’s what you think Kerr is doing? Casing me? You’re wrong. Kerr has a gorgeous girlfriend back home. He’s in love, Simon. I don’t want to fight with you, but I can’t live my life waiting for you to come from wherever you are to spend time with me. Are you going to do the same? Stay in your room when you’re on the road?”
Simon blew out a breath he’d been holding. “Soon you won’t have the luxury of going out without the media being all over you. What happens when the rumors and accusations start flying around? How are you going to deal with those?” He sighed and fell silent for a moment and the elevator arrived at my hotel room floor. Stepping out, of it he stood facing me as the doors closed again.
“What about Kerr’s girl? How do you think she’d feel? From what I saw when the two of you walked in, he wasn’t behaving like a man who was concerned about how his girlfriend would view the two of you together.”
Why had I not considered this? Why hadn’t Kerr? I found it hard to believe Kerr was hitting on me. “We’re close, very close, but it’s purely platonic. We find comfort in spending time with each other on the road. Surely you out of everyone knows how lonely it can get?”
“Very close? You’ve known him what? A month at the most?”
“And I’ve only been with you for a few more weeks than that. Are we not close? Tell me, what is it you’re trying to say here?”
Seeing pain in Simon’s eyes almost killed me. The last thing I had ever wanted to do was to hurt him. I wouldn’t have imagined being capable of that.
Simon was everything I wasn’t, a rock god, and he said it himself, beautiful, rich, and famous women texted him daily and flung themselves at him wherever he went. If anyone should have had insecurities, it should have been me.
He nodded slowly and gazed into my eyes and rolled his shoulders back.
“What I’m saying is being your dependable friend is how it all starts. Then the emotional dependency grows until one night there’s too much beer or tequila. From then on comes the drinking games and laughter and someone catches your eye. Fleeting glimpses become stolen glances until before you know it you’ve had a sloppy fuck and there’s no going back from that.”
“Wow, sounds like something you sure know a lot about,” I stated, curtly. Simon shrugged with a wry smirk on his face and I knew it was something he’d done himself in the past.
I huffed and stared him out. “Are you warning me? Perhaps it’s something at the back of your mind, Simon? I’m not as naïve as to think there won’t be an abundance of women on your bus. Who’s to say you’re not warning me about the temptations in your own camp?”
“Trust me, I’m well aware of the temptations and the manipulations of the opposite sex. I’m not interested in anyone else. No matter how lonely the road gets.” His jaw flexed with frustration and his piercing hazel eyes studied mine. “Look, you’re young, you're inexperienced with guys. It would kill me if someone took advantage of you like that, and I want to protect you from it.”
“Kerr is not taking liberties with me and you’re starting to sound like Gibson.”
Simon’s breath hitched in his throat and his tongue poked at his cheek. I knew immediately he felt insulted. His body tightened, and he dropped his hand from my waist. “Let me ask you this; if you were the one sitting on that couch and you watched me walk in with a great looking woman my age how would that make you feel?”
“That’s different?”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah.”
“How?”
I sighed in defeat because I knew I’d immediately feel inferior to her, even though I was his girlfriend. “If you were with another woman, you’d have done something other than go to a fairground.”
“Such as?”
“I don’t know. Probably somewhere more sophisticated… a fancy dinner or something?”
“What are you trying to say, Piper? You're unsophisticated? Tell me because it sounds very much as if you think I’m too old to do the things Kerr is doing with you.” I could have argued he was twisting my words but maybe he was right. Maybe I was. I swallowed as tears burned my throat.
“It’s not that…”
“Save it.” He snapped, sounding tired. “I accept you didn’t see any harm in going out with him today. Hell, maybe he was being a genuinely nice dude, but I don’t want you to fall into another trap like you did with that Doobie guy.”
“I learned my lesson from that,” I shot back in frustration, “And Kerr is nothing like Jeff. He makes me feel… comfortable.”
“As long as that’s all he makes you feel,” Simon scolded, still struggling with his feelings. Threading his fingers through mine he clasped them tight, and I felt the desperation in his grasp.
I shook my head. “Damn, you really are jealous,” I said, stunned at the insecurity in his statement.
“Damn straight I am. As you say, we’re still new. I’m not the insecure type usually, but this feels different. I’m out of my depth because it’s you… I can’t explain, but I flew all this way because I was desperate to talk to you; to spend the day with my girl, and all we’ve done since the minute I saw you is talk about the guy who actually spent time with you.” His comment made me feel guilty again.
Before I could dwell on this, he leaned in and kissed me hard. The passion in his kiss radiated between his soul and mine.
My heartbeat raced, and I squeezed my thighs together. Sliding his hands down over my ass he pulled my front flush against him.
Despite all the negative feelings running between us he was rock solid, his erection pressed hard against my belly.
With each second he kissed me, my anger dissolved until I couldn’t think of anything but him and my only feeling was desire.
Breaking the kiss, he turned and hurriedly led me down the corridor. It was like he could hardly wait to get me alone, but I couldn’t stop giggling when he cussed loudly when he had to enter the hotel suite keycard three times before the door unlocked.
We tumbled inside the door and he kicked it closed with his heel as his hands fought their way into my coat. Kissing me hungrily, he shoved it recklessly over my shoulders then his hands fumbled at the hem of my woolen sweater.
“You don’t let men put their grubby hands
on you, you hear me?” he ordered possessively as another agonized moan of need passed over his lips.
Breaking the kiss briefly, he tugged my sweater roughly over my head. “God, I’ve missed you so much, baby,” he breathed shakily against my ear as he urgently stripped me out of my clothing. He kissed me again, urgent and fiercely, leaving me breathless. When he broke the kiss my lips felt swollen and bruised as I gasped for air.
Excitement made my body hum as his gaze turned carnal when his eyes took their fill of my body.
“Beautiful, sweetheart,” he whispered, as his mouth seduced me by tracing tiny kisses from my neck to my ear. “You’re so fucking delicious I want to eat you,” he told me playfully, a hint of desperation in his tone.
Stepping back, he tipped his head to the side, brazenly regarding my body. Tracing his lips with his tongue, I watched a small smile break through and he shook his head again.
“I can’t stop looking at you,” he admitted and the heat of being perused so openly melted all other thoughts than my need of him.
“See this?” he asked, tracing his middle finger over my pale skin stained red with the desire burning within me. “This is everything to a man. Knowing I set you on fire makes me feel like a king, Princess.”
Being with Simon made me feel weak, but in the most incredibly pleasurable way. Since we’d been together, there had always been something he did that made me feel unique.
I swallowed nervously because although we’d had sex many times in the previous few weeks, the way he was memorizing every line and curve took my breath away.
His fingertips traced the trail his eyes made over my body, tracing the curve of my breasts. His tender seductive touch made me moan and my skin reacted with goose bumps on the outside and fire blazing beneath.
Swallowing roughly, he licked his lips and his hungry eyes fell to my jeans. Kneeling in front of me, he whispered adoring words as his large hands made short work of the button and zipper there.
Piper: A Last Score Spin Off Page 23