Never Say Never (The Price of Fame Series) Page 5

  But her scowl changed that. How could she insinuate she hadn’t enjoyed being close like he had? She looked up at him, her hands fisted in the front of his shirt—probably in anger—but her dark golden eyes gave away her feelings. Her lust. And he wanted her to acknowledge it wasn’t just him who felt it.

  He slid one hand up her back and into the silky waves at the nape of her neck. With his other arm, he tightened his hold and drew her so close every staggered breath pressed his chest against her breasts. The twin peaks pressing into his skin was as much evidence of her arousal as the thumping of her heart.

  He lowered his head and slanted his mouth against her gloss covered lips. She opened up, sighed, and her hands slid around his neck. Arousal crashed through him, and he deepened the kiss, feasted on the sweet, erotic taste of her, and dipped his tongue in to experience it more fully.

  Shit. He didn’t think it would go this far. Hadn’t expected her response to fuck with his head like it did. But her fingers slid into his hair, pulled him closer, made his wavering control snap. His groin tightened along with his trousers and he knew she felt it pressed against her flat stomach.

  He was lost in her, in the torrent of hormones racking his body. There wasn’t a time he’d kissed a woman and felt so…much. Whether it was because she tried to hide her reaction, or he’d been kidding himself thinking he would be able to keep his hands to himself, he couldn’t seem to stop.

  Sander was vaguely aware of bright light flashing against his closed eyelids, but it didn’t distract him from Chloe. Floral and spicy, her scent invaded his senses along with the feel of her, and he doubted he’d be able to stop this even if he wanted to.

  Unfortunately—or fortunately, depending on which way he looked at it—Chloe slid her hands out of his hair, flattened her palms on his chest, and pushed away from him. Face flushed and lips swollen from his kiss, she looked like a sexy goddess. One who brought men stronger than him to their knees.

  The thought sobered him. He couldn’t allow her to bring him to his knees. He never let a woman get under his skin. Watching his mother bring his father to keel had been enough to firm his resolve. That wouldn’t be him. So why did a damn kiss make him feel like he was already on the floor in front of her?

  Chloe mouthed I’m sorry.

  He frowned, but her head was already turned to someone at her right. Another flash caught his attention and he followed Chloe’s gaze to see a sleazy-looking guy with a camera strapped around his neck. A camera aimed right at them. Irritation spiked at the photographer for disturbing the kiss, but considering the fact he’d lost control, he should probably thank the man. It was one thing to prove to her she was as attracted to him as he was to her, another to lose himself in her completely.

  Sander released her from his hold and linked his fingers with hers. Tugging her through the dancers and partygoers, he headed for the upraised box which held his decks. Dammit, he was supposed to have started his set already.

  * * * *

  Chloe allowed Sander to pull her through the throng of dancers without complaint. She was still reeling from the feel of his mouth feasting on hers, and embarrassed by her wanton response. And they’d been caught!

  Her heart fell to her stomach. No doubt tomorrow pictures of her mauling Sander would be all over the papers. What would her mum think? She groaned, the sound swallowed by the music. Rachel’s interrogation would be unbearable.

  Not to mention the humiliating headline. She could see it now. Sexy Musician and Reality TV Star Assaulted by Unnamed Woman in Destiny.

  And she had assaulted him. She’d all but wrapped her legs around his waist and taken him right then. Never before had she felt such an overwhelming ache in her stomach, like not having him inside her to ease it might break her. Chloe was glad his back was to her when he led her up the stairs into the glass booth. Her face was on fire.

  Once they reached the top, he held the door open for her to walk through. Chloe couldn’t look at him. Head down, she walked into the small room brimmed with machinery. The opposite wall was completely glass and at this level, they were in line with strobe lighting above the crowd of dancers below. Chloe made her way over to the wall and looked down at the intoxicated guests. One of them hadn’t been intoxicated though. He was sober enough to snap a picture of their kiss. The bastard.

  In case Sander hadn’t understood her before, she whispered, “I’m sorry. I didn’t think.”

  She knew he could hear her. Only a dull thudding from the music traveled through the thick, soundproof glass.

  And she knew that if she hadn’t made the first move, by pressing herself against him to whisper in his ear, the kiss wouldn’t have happened. She’d seen his expression change. Seen it in his smoldering blue eyes. The need to prove her wrong. His determination. The chase. His scorching gaze had made her knees weak and her hormones flare. Who had she been kidding when she thought she’d been dead from the waist down? Dane might have killed her trust in the opposite sex, but he hadn’t taken her libido.

  She heard Sander’s soft steps as he approached her, but she didn’t turn around. Couldn’t. Too afraid her earlier need would overwhelm her. Sander already made it clear funny business wasn’t part of the deal, and Chloe hadn’t even considered it until he kissed her. From her experience, sex led to love and love led to heartache. There was no way she would allow herself to be a fool like that again. She had enough to deal with at the moment.

  “Sorry for what, Chloe?” He stopped behind her. Warmth radiated from what she now knew to be a hard, muscled torso. She squeezed her thighs together in an effort to soothe the ache at her core. “Kissing me back?”

  Shaking her head, she tried to find her voice. “The photographer. It’s going to be all over the papers tomorrow.”

  Sander’s laugh, throaty and sexy as sin, made her turn. His eyes sparkled with…relief?

  “What’s so funny?” she asked, harder than she intended.

  His expression sobered. “Isn’t that what we’re trying to do? Have people believe we’re together?”

  “Oh.” Why did she feel like her heart had been stomped on?

  Did she honestly believe he’d kissed her because he was attracted to her instead of for the publicity it would bring? Or was it because every time Dane told her they couldn’t be seen together because it would ruin his image, she’d longed for him to make their relationship public? If the latter, the fact he still had the power to make her unhappy was infuriating.

  “Who hurt you, Chloe?”

  Was she really that transparent? She’d worked so hard to hide her emotions since she came back to London. For her mum more than anything. Schooling her features into a polite mask, she raised an eyebrow.

  “I have no idea what you mean. Aren’t you supposed to be working?”

  Sander studied her, determination clear in his rigid jaw, but he didn’t comment further. She doubted he saw through her facade. If she could help it, she wouldn’t give anything else away. The sooner she forgot about that panty-soaking kiss and focused on why she was spending time with him, the better.

  He sighed, then nodded. A small smile played around the corners of his full, firm lips. “Yeah, but I admit I got a bit distracted.”

  Chloe rolled her eyes and he laughed. He reached out and ran a finger from her jaw, all the way down to the pulse point at the base of her throat.

  “Sander…” She didn’t know if it was a plea or a warning.

  “Chloe, don’t apologize. We’re supposed to be seen together, and I certainly don’t mind the kissing.”

  His thumb grazed her swollen lip and her breath hissed out. The heat in his gaze made her stomach clench with anticipation. Just as she thought he might kiss her again, he turned, walked over to the decks, and slipped on the headphones. She sagged against the glass wall, both relieved and disappointed.

  “A waiter will be up soon, order anything you like.”

  Chloe turned to look out at the club while Sander got ready for his set. She didn’t want to think about that kiss, or the fact that the secret place between her legs throbbed still. Instead, she focused on the quiet sound of Sander’s music, barely loud in the soundproof room, but she saw the vibration of the glass as it boomed out in the club.

  She turned to watch him, entranced by the light sway as he swung his lean hips from side to side, and the concentration and joy on his face as he expertly worked the decks. He was so focused on the music, looked so relaxed and at ease. Sander didn’t rouse the crowd with cocky words like she’d heard most DJs do in clubs. He let his music speak for him.

  Chloe found it sexy as hell. She’d already drained two glasses of wine, trying to douse the fire inside. It hadn’t worked. She couldn’t take her gaze off the bulging muscles in his arms as he worked the decks, couldn’t take her attention off him at all.

  Looking up, he grinned. Her heart fluttered.

  “Time for a break.” He switched to another album, one which didn’t require mixing, and placed the headphones at the side of the table.

  Picking up his untouched beer, he strode over to where she sat next to the glass wall. He lowered himself into the chair next to her. The stem of the wine glass almost snapped in her hand. With labored breaths, she tried not to think about what it would be like if he kissed her again.

  “I know this is boring, but I’ll be finished soon.”

  “I’m not bored. It’s fascinating watching you work.”

  Sander brought the bottle to his lips and took a long pull. “I’ve never played with someone watching before.”

  She’d wondered about that. The DJs before him had played at a booth at the side of the dance floor. “Why don’t you play down there?” She pointed toward one of the stages.

  Sander shrugged and l
eaned back in the soft leather chair, his muscled legs spread. A flush crept up her neck when he caught her staring and laughed.

  “I’m in the spotlight enough. This is a hobby. I don’t do it for the fame.”

  “Oh.” She didn’t know what to think of that. Dane loved being in the spotlight.

  “What is it?” he asked.

  “What do you mean?” Had she let her feelings show again?

  Shifting in the chair to face her, he studied her face intently. “Your mother told me not to break your heart, said you’d suffered enough.”

  Chloe was shocked speechless. What was her mum playing at? How did she even know? Not once since she came home had she mentioned Dane to her mum and there was no way Rachel would have said anything. Rachel knew the subject wasn’t something she wanted to discuss.

  The minute Joyce called and told her she had dementia Chloe was on the first flight home, making a deal with herself that she wouldn’t tell a soul about her shattered heart. Not that she thought anyone other than Rachel would believe her. She’d been one of Dane’s dirty secrets.

  “She shouldn’t have told you that. I…didn’t explain we’re only pretending to be lovers. Chances are she’d forget anyway. My mum’s memory isn’t great with short-term things.”

  Sander raised a brow. “You can’t tell me it isn’t true, Chloe. You’re pretty good at hiding your emotions, but your eyes give you away every time.”

  He straightened, leaned closer, and she fought the urge to close her eyes. Keep her secrets hidden.

  But they were her secrets, and they weren’t dating, not really. Indignation flared and she straightened her spine and glared at him.

  “I never said it wasn’t, but I don’t want to discuss it. Anyway, wasn’t it you who said we only need to know the essentials?”

  His brows rose and his hand fisted on the neck of the beer bottle. “I did, but I’m curious.”

  She almost blurted out why, but stopped herself. Her wits had already buggered off once tonight, she wasn’t willing to allow them to go a second time. The more time she spent with Sander, the more danger she was in of…pouncing on him. Or worse, letting him in.

  “As am I, but like you said…need to know.”

  He nodded thoughtfully, his attention shifting to the clubbers below. When Chloe realized the interrogation seemed to be over she relaxed back into the chair and sipped her wine. The minutes trickled by in silence while they finished their drinks.

  Maybe she’d been too hard on him, but she couldn’t talk about Dane. From the terror she’d experienced merely looking at a dress he’d given her, it was clear the wound was still raw. That topic was a definite no-go.

  “Back to work,” he announced. Rising, he placed his beer on the table. He looked down at her expectantly.

  Chloe smiled politely, wondering what he was waiting for. The possibility he wasn’t entirely lucid still played on her mind.

  “Wanna learn?” He flashed her a sexy, panty-soaking grin.

  Chloe’s heart shot into her throat. “Excuse me?”

  “Come on.” Sander held out his hand. “It’s easy. You’ll be the next top DJ in London in no time.”

  He must be two pennies short of a pound. Letting her near the decks would empty Destiny in a heartbeat. She studied his expression, and her stomach dipped when she saw challenge glint in his eyes.

  “It’s easy. I’ll show you.”

  He reached down, snared her by the waist and hauled her out of the chair with very little effort, ignoring her yelp of protest. Instead of putting her down, he pressed her against his body and carried her over to the decks. The smell of him, expensive and taboo, mixed with the heat of his strong body made heat sizzle through her.

  “Sander,” she breathed on a sigh. “Put me down.”

  His chuckle vibrated through her and electricity sparked her body to life. Who was she trying to kid? Her body came alive the first time he’d touched her in the coffee shop.

  “Are all women scared of mixing a little music?” he teased as he let her slide to the floor, still not allowing her an inch to breathe. Not that she could if she wanted to.

  “I’m going to make a mess of this and your name will be mud.”

  Sander laughed and ruffled her hair. She scowled at him while she tried to smooth it out.

  “Sweetheart, if I screw this up, the press will assume it’s because I brought my girlfriend up here with me.” He wagged his eyebrows suggestively.

  “No.” She gasped, shook her head. “No way. I don’t want to have my face splashed all over the press for having funny business in a nightclub!”

  He slid on the headphones, keeping one ear free. Golden waves stuck out in tufts around them. It would have been cute on a guy who wasn’t bursting with testosterone. Messy hair on him only made her think of bed-head and that made her tummy flip. Bloody hormones. She’d be better off without them.

  “Chloe, I’m kidding. It’s easy, I’ll show you.”

  Before she could protest further, his hand circled her wrist and he spun her to face the scary looking machinery. Everything looked so…breakable. “Sander…”

  “You’ll be fine. I won’t let you mess up.” He plugged in another set of headphones, moved to stand behind her, then slipped them onto her head. “Just feel the beat. I’ll show you.”

  Reaching from behind her, he circled both her wrists in each of his hands and guided them to the LPs spinning on the machine in front of her.

  “Don’t be nervous. I’m here.”

  And that was the reason her hands were trembling. His warm body pressed against her back, his arms bracketed hers, and his breath whispered against the side of her head. With her whole body zinging with electricity and sparks, Chloe didn’t think she’d be able to pay attention.

  “Why don’t you use CDs?” She felt like she’d been thrown back to the eighties.

  “Preference,” he mumbled.

  Chloe scowled down at the black discs. She was sure CDs would require little in the way of input from her. Less chance of her buggering it up that way. Sander flicked numerous switches and buttons with expert precision. Once he finished, she heard beats and electric-like sounds thumping in her ears. It wasn’t Chloe’s thing, but she could appreciate the complexity of the music. He reached for her hands again, then lowered them so her forefingers skimmed the spinning black discs. The friction heated her fingertips, but it wasn’t painful.

  “Now we’re going to mix it up,” he whispered into the ear not covered with the headset. His breath brushed against the sensitive skin on her neck, raising goosebumps. “Watch the crowd.”

  Chloe looked toward the glass wall. Below she could make out hundreds—no, surely thousands—of people, swaying and jumping around to the music. Without warning, he lowered her hands to the disc and applied pressure, not once releasing her. The sounds in her ear shifted, jerked, but at a part which sounded natural. He continued to guide her through the song, mixing it up, just like he’d said.

  As they went into the next song, Chloe’s confidence rose and Sander’s hands slid from her writs to rest on the tops of her hands. He held her loosely, only pressing gently when he wanted her to move the discs. It was so intimate, the trust, the closeness of their bodies. Not to mention thrilling. She couldn’t help but beam with joy.

  She felt like Demi Moore in Ghost, sans the pottery. This was the most intimate she’d ever been with a man while still wearing her clothes, and she didn’t even know him. Not really. The song came to an end and Sander announced via the mic that the club was closing soon. Chloe couldn’t believe it was so late. Time had flown by, and she didn’t want to leave, didn’t want him to let her go.

  Several heartbeats passed. She was still bracketed by his arms, still craving the closeness of his body. Chloe didn’t know whether it was the trust he’d shown by letting her have a go at the decks, or the spine-tingling kiss he’d given her earlier, but she leaned back against him. His warm, firm hands slid to her stomach and she sighed at the contact. His chin rested on her head while they watched the crowd get ready to leave.

  Sander’s hands skimmed up her sides to her shoulders. He slipped her headset off then removed his and dumped them on the machinery to the side.