Torn Between Two: The Torn Duet Read online

  He held the pen in his hand and sucked in his bottom lip. “See, I don’t give anything up without getting something in return.”

  My eyebrows jumped to my hairline. “Right here? Sorry, it’s not happening.” My response shot out quick, steady, automatic. I wasn’t going to have a public exhibition for everyone to see.

  “No.” His eyes danced with amusement. “One kiss.”

  My body tensed. I didn’t like being forced into something. Never had. But this was a no-brainer.

  Did I want to kiss one of the biggest rock stars in the world?

  Forbes’s richest entertainer? People’s sexiest man alive? The lead singer of Def Deception?

  I nodded, my heart leaping into my throat, and then before I could say anything, it happened. He leaned forward, his lips meeting mine, and a flame ignited my whole body. His kiss was overwhelming. Warm at first but fire the next. Tingles initiated at our connection, even reaching to the tips of my tiny toes.

  A moan escaped him as the pen slipped from his hand and hit my arm. One hand reached under my shirt to my bare back while the other grabbed the back of my neck and pulled me closer, flush against him. My pulse raced, and my skin warmed as he groaned and deepened our kiss.

  Sanity had left, and so had clarity. Soon, my panties would be next.

  With one flick of his tongue, I opened and breathed him in, his musky cologne with a hint of spice. His tongue intertwined with mine. His hard mouth devoured my softness.

  My hands reached for his hair, lying just above his neck. It was soft and silky, and I gently tugged at the strands.

  His touch and the scent of him were like drugs lulling me toward nirvana.

  When he forcefully moved my body against his erection, my breathing labored, and my body heated. I pulled back, and my heart jumped into my throat. Our eyes locked, both of us a little dazed and a lot breathless.

  He leaned in again to meet my lips, but I pressed him back with one hand to his chest.

  Without giving myself another second, I scrambled from his lap, almost losing my footing in the process. He reached for my hand, but I pulled away, biting my lip, the stinging pain snapping me back to the present.

  I pressed a hand to my thumping heart as it all became so real. I had just made out with Hawke Calvin, doing the Humpty Dance on his crotch.

  And, now, I was leaving with my clothes on and my integrity intact.

  Go me.

  I staggered a little and glanced down. Somewhere between sitting on my idol’s lap and feeling his tongue in my mouth, I had dropped my postcard.

  I took two steps back toward him, bent down to pick it up, and stuck the five-by-seven card in his face. “You can make it out to Sam.” I forced a calm coolness in my smile even though my lips were on fire and my heart was going to fly out of my chest.

  He blinked, momentarily stunned. For once, his eyes were unreadable, his sexual innuendos gone. I lifted an eyebrow and wiggled the postcard in his direction.

  I wanted to ask him so many questions, but I knew I had to go. I smelled like weed now, and I sensed a whole bunch of danger in Hawke Calvin’s eyes, as though he would devour me for his meal and swallow me whole. No part of me would be left unscathed.

  With one tip of his chin to his bouncer, the pen was back in his hand. He balanced the card on his knee and scribbled his name along with his number on my card. Even his signature had personality.

  When I turned to leave, he stood, reached for my waist and spun me to face him. “I need to see you tonight.” His tone lowered, and his alert gaze was set on mine, his fingers grazing my hip.

  His body language promised me more than dinner and a movie. Hell, I doubted that would even happen at all.

  I smiled, turned and reached for Chloe as my cheeks flushed pink. Any normal girl would’ve dropped her panties right then and there, but I wasn’t a normal girl. And maybe if he’d had some manners, quite possibly had said, Pretty please, I would’ve considered it. But, no.

  His hands circled my waist and pulled my body into him, my back now flush against his hard chest. My nipples pebbled from his touch, betraying me.

  He bent down and nibbled the top of my ear. “I don’t beg. Not normally.” His voice was warm against my skin. “I’m in Chicago for a few days. Call me tonight. Please,” he whispered.

  And there was that one word I doubted he used often.

  Despite me not being that girl, everything inside me tingled with want. But I brushed it off and snapped back to Sensible Sam.

  I had to go, or I’d be giving him more than a kiss. I had a feeling that this guy would stomp on my heart, and I couldn’t afford to get sidetracked from my ultimate goals in life, especially since it was only recently that I had gained some normalcy.

  I stepped away with my pretty panties still on, integrity intact.

  Chapter 2

  Chloe’s eyes held so many questions, but it was too loud for me to think, too loud to talk. While I was still on a high, we went downstairs and shook our tails to the rave music blaring on the speakers. When my feet felt like they were going to fall off, we strolled out of the club and into the parking lot, laughing like lunatics.

  “What did he taste like, Sammy? I need to know.” Chloe linked her arm through mine, dragging me toward the car.

  With my free hand, I lifted my long blonde strands that were sticking to my back, sweaty from our dancing session. The humid August night air didn’t help. “He tasted like cigarettes, beer, and one hundred percent bad boy.”

  She stepped back, bounced on her toes, and threw me a you’re-so-cool look, as if I were the famous one. “Do you know what you just did in there?” She pointed back to the club. “You kissed Hawke Calvin.” She batted her eyelashes, and the inflection in her voice took on a dreamy tone. “His tongue was down your throat. Do you know how many women would want to be you?”

  With my shaky hand, I touched my lips and laughed. “Yeah.” I pulled the postcard from my back pocket and took in his unreadable signature. “I kinda wish I’d had more time than our less than five minutes make-out session.” Even though I had been the one to walk away, disappointment surfaced. “He wasn’t what I’d expected.”

  “What did you expect?” Chloe smirked as she pressed the button to unlock her Mercedes. “You don’t like the super-hot kind?”

  “No, I just thought he’d have more”—I shrugged—“substance.” Yes, he was hot, but I guessed I had hoped for the non-typical rock star who didn’t have only one thing on his mind.

  Only in my fairy tales.

  “What? Were you going to pick his brain?” Her voice turned incredulous.

  I turned toward her, smiling. “As a matter of fact, I was. I wanted to know what his inspiration was for his song ‘Death by Life.’” It was such a beautiful song that spoke about a woman who had to die to feel alive. Deep, moving, and powerful.

  She flipped her brunette locks over her shoulder, mid eye roll. “Only you, Sam. You’re so odd.”

  I opened the door, slipped in right next to her, and laughed. “I’m a pastry sous chef. We’re all odd.”

  After she pulled out of the parking lot and veered right, she braked to a halt, causing me to buck forward. My palms slammed against the dashboard. A SUV limo had purposely stopped in front of us.

  “What the fuck?” She threw the car in park, flew out the door, and approached the black Hummer limo in front of us that had dangerously cut us off.

  Before she got herself in trouble, I stepped out, muscles tense, eyes cautious.

  The limo was shaking from the music playing inside, causing the windows to rattle.

  “What the hell is your problem?” she yelled, stepping in front of the vehicle

  I tugged at her shirt. “Chloe…” I said in my calm mama-bear voice even though my pulse was racing.

  She pounded at the driver’s black-as-night window. “Are you trying to kill people tonight? Open the fuck up!” Her tone could have cut metal.

  My adrenaline sp
iked, and I pulled at her arm as hard as I could. I didn’t want to go to jail tonight—or worse, be a statistic. “Let’s go.”

  I desperately tugged at her, yet she wouldn’t budge. She was on a mission to beat some ass, and I was on a mission to stay out of trouble.

  When the rear window rolled down, she jerked back, and her eyes widened.

  My fingers flew to my parted mouth, and a low gasp escaped me.

  Hawke was inside, a cigarette between his lips—the lips that I’d had against mine hours ago. The chatter of the people partying inside his vehicle echoed through the open window.

  He tipped his chin. “Hey.”

  Chloe blinked, her face totally shell-shocked, and answered with a, “Hey.”

  His eyes were on me the whole time.

  A dizzying current took over my body, and I focused on the soft breaths leaving my mouth.

  Holy smoking-hot rock star.

  Maybe he had no substance, but he most definitely made up for it with his sex appeal.

  Even if I still wasn’t that girl, only a blind person wouldn’t be able to appreciate his fineness.

  His eyes were like a laser-light beam against mine, unwavering. Now that we were no longer in the club, I took in his strong features—his dirty-blond hair, his prominent nose, the electric-green eyes that seared through me.

  I swallowed. Hard.

  “Sorry about that. I was trying to get your attention.” His voice was calm and smooth, as though his driver hadn’t almost caused an accident.

  He held this demeanor, like nothing fazed him. I bet nothing did.

  “Well, you got our attention.” She smiled, cheeky-Chloe style, and her eyes ping-ponged from Hawke’s to mine.

  He flicked his cigarette out the window and blew out a long puff of smoke that fizzled into the night air. “Wanna get a bite to eat?”

  Before I had a chance to contemplate if I should go or figure out what to say, Chloe interlocked our arms and answered for the both of us, “Sure, we’d love to.”

  He let out a low chuckle. By the look on his face and the fact that he couldn’t stop staring at me, I didn’t think it was a joint invitation.

  This was a bad idea. Bad. Bad. Bad. Especially considering the way my body was reacting to him. “Chloe, I don’t think—”

  He pushed open the door. “Let’s go.”

  “I’ve gotta park my car.” Chloe waved me toward the limo. “Sam, jump on in. I’ll be right behind you.”

  Chloe turned and headed to her vehicle, and I sucked in a breath, focusing on her retreating back. Focusing on anything but the green-eyed male and his intense stare.

  He stepped out and tipped his head toward the door. “After you.”

  The full moon was out tonight, and I knew, if I got in the vehicle, a whole lot of craziness was about to come, but with Hawke sporting his cocky, crooked smile, I couldn’t resist.

  I hopped in, and he slipped in beside me.

  Black leather seats spanned the whole vehicle, and fluorescent lights lit up the bar behind the seats. The bar was stocked with beer and hard liquor and the party had already begun.

  Every spot was taken. There must’ve been over a dozen people in the car. I recognized two of the band members, who were preoccupied with the women—multiple women—on their laps.

  “Hey there.” Two words. Simple and seductive. Hawke’s fingers pressed against my waist.

  Warmth spread through me from where his hands touched my body, and the nervousness I had been feeling jumped up twenty notches.

  “What do you want to eat?” he asked, his hot breath brushing against my skin. “I know what I want to eat, but it’s not food.”

  I didn’t know why his abrasiveness had surprised me, but it had. I wasn’t used to men being so forward. Instead of fighting it, for once, I decided to play with him to calm the jitters stirring inside of me.

  When I smiled and leaned in, his lips parted at my proximity.

  “Oh God…I want…” I breathed heavily. “I want…” I forced a sexiness in my voice that made his eyes flash with lust. “Chicken nuggets and fries,” I whispered back in the most seductive tone, sweet and sexy soft.

  He reeled back, looking confused at first, and then his lips twitched at the corners until a small laugh escaped. “You’re cute, you know that?”

  “I’m here,” Chloe said in her peppy voice.

  And I was glad for her arrival.

  I pressed at Hawke’s chest, needing the room to breathe.

  Hawke scooted in to let her jump in on his other side, but because the limo was crammed like a bus of football players going to an away game, he pulled me onto his lap, one hand resting on my hip. I didn’t protest.

  Chloe’s eyes brightened as she scanned the limo. “Where are we headed?”

  “Apparently, somewhere that has nuggets and fries.” Amusement leaked from Hawke’s tone.

  “Let me guess; that was Sam’s suggestion.” Chloe laughed. “She eats nuggets and fries like it’s a five-star meal.”

  “And her wish is my command.” He laced his fingers together around my stomach, pulling my body flush against his.

  It took all my energy to keep my face level and not melt into his touch. All the while, I was thinking, This is so not happening to me. So not.

  Chloe dreamily peered up at Hawke. I wouldn’t be surprised if she started pawing at him and petting him as if he were a real live pet. Goodness…we could take turns.

  “Guys,” Hawke announced, “say hi to my friends. This is Chloe, and right here is Sunshine.”

  Murmured greetings echoed through the vehicle.

  “Sunshine?” I turned to face him.

  His crooked smile was on display, the same smile that had stared at me from my bedroom poster and fueled my teenage dreams.

  “Cheery and bright,” he said, amused by his own nickname for me. Then, he grabbed a strand of my sandy-blonde hair. “Sunshine.”

  My hair was a natural yellow. My mother used to describe it as being as yellow as the brightest sunflower.

  A broader male with a crew cut, right in front of Chloe, spoke up, “How about you? Are you cheery and bright, too?”

  In the dim light, Chloe blanched. We glanced at each other with recognition, her eyes widening. When Cofi, the drummer of Deception, smiled his devastatingly beautiful smile, I knew Chloe was a goner.

  “Not cheery and bright,” she said. “More like sweet hard candy.”

  He laughed and beckoned her over, patting his knee.

  Without hesitation, Chloe hopped onto his lap. The woman sitting right next to him scowled at Chloe, but Cofi ignored her and whispered something in Chloe’s ear that made her giggle.

  “Sunshine, you’re going to make this hard for me, aren’t you?”

  I swallowed. “What?”

  He reached for my hand and placed it on his jeans. The length of him hardened underneath my palm, and my breath caught in my throat. Someone needed to press the Pause button. Stat. Super stat.

  Playing the game, I squeezed, knowing he was well endowed, and I rubbed against the ridge in his pants. He leaned back, and his eyes filled with a lust so strong, my heart raced.

  I creeped up, close enough to whisper something in his ear, “It’s too bad what they say about rock stars isn’t always true. Such a shame really.” I released him, pinching my finger and thumb together, and shrugged.

  He smirked, tugged at my shirt, bent down, and trailed his tongue from my neck to my ear. The wetness of his tongue against my skin caused warmth to pool between my legs.

  “Oh, I’m going to show you, that’s far from the truth. I’m the epitome of a rock star in all things.”

  My stomach fluttered, my pulse skyrocketed, and my breathing hitched. I pulled back and stared at him, still pretending to be unaffected by his proximity, which was the opposite of the havoc happening internally. There was no doubt his words were true, judging by his cocky smirk.

  “I doubt that.” My tone shook like a glas
s on top of a washing machine.

  He flicked his tongue against my lips. “Better watch out. I might take you and never give you back.”

  I smiled, but in the next second, I pressed my hands against his chest and turned toward AJ, the bass guitarist. I needed to focus my attention on something, anything, anybody else because my cool demeanor was slowly fading in front of Hawke.

  Breathe, breathe, breathe.

  “Where are we eating?” AJ asked.

  “Wherever we can get nuggets and fries,” Hawke called out.

  “Like chicken nuggets?” AJ asked. “McDonald’s!”

  “Yeah”—Hawke nodded, meeting my eyes—“McDonald’s, it is.”

  I rubbed my cheek against my shoulder. “Aw, our first date at McDonald’s. Calorie-infused foods. What can I say? I like what’s bad for me.” Somehow, Sensible Sam turned into Playful Sam.

  “You’re a good girl, but you’re into bad things?” Hawke’s eyes darkened.

  I had no idea where all this flirting was coming from.

  Who knew I had it in me?

  I straightened and smiled, fully knowing I was playing with fire that would burn me to ashes and leave nothing behind. “If you define bad as greasy and artery-clogging, then yes.” It was hard to keep the googly eyes off my face because, seriously, the rock star was hot. Not pepper hot. Not curry hot. Hot-sauce-burning-your-tongue-off caliente hot.

  No wonder he had gained the massive fame that he had. The band was insanely talented, and their leader was crazy gorgeous.

  I couldn’t stop staring.

  Painfully tearing my gaze from his, I turned to the tinted windows. “Rock ’n’ Roll McDonald’s. Is that where we’re heading?”

  We were in the middle of downtown, stuck in late-night rush hour. It might be a while.

  “Who knows?” He shrugged. “Our driver will know.”

  “Don’t tell me, you’re just going to get out, stroll into McDonald’s, and buy a burger. You’ll start a riot.”

  He laughed. Even his laugh was sexy, hoarse, deep, and delicious. I wanted him to do it again.

  “No, we’re ordering food and going back to the hotel.”