When you were with someone you enjoyed and you knew that you only had a limited amount of time together, hours seemed like minutes, and minutes seemed like seconds.

I blinked, and the concert was over.

Hawke’s arm snaked around my neck when we entered their penthouse suite at The Palmer House Hilton. I held the bag of McDonald’s nuggets, the scent of grease filling my nostrils, as it swung against my hip. Getting McDonald’s seemed to be our after-concert tradition, one that I looked forward to.

The music rang loudly in my ears, the bass bumping against my skin. The rest of the band, friends, and groupies were already situated in the massive space—all over the couch, half-leaning on the counters, and spanning every inch of the immense room. The party was in full swing as everyone held a drink in their hand.

A pool table sat in the middle of the room. AJ and Carl were playing a round of pool with other people I didn’t recognize.

“Sunshine. Hawke!” someone called in greeting.

Hawke saluted them with his free hand as he dragged me down the hall.

We passed the group of girls sitting on Cofi’s lap. “Where are you going, Hawkeye?”

Hawke ignored him and continued to usher me behind him.

I heard one of the girls mutter, “He’s such an ass when Sunshine is around.”

I didn’t miss her sarcastic tone either when she said Hawke’s nickname for me.

Clearly, he didn’t care. Hawke closed the door behind him and took the food from my hand, dropping the bag on the center table in front of the TV. The food was forgotten and abandoned. The city skyline was our backdrop, beautiful and clear, while the lights of the skyscrapers lit up the night sky.

He took my face in his hands, framing my cheeks. “I’ve missed you, Sunshine.” His lips encompassed mine, sparking a fire in my belly, as he walked us backward to his bed.

“I’m pretty sure we were just reacquainted in your dressing room.”

I felt his smile against my lips while his fingertips dug into my waist.

“That was a quick hello.”

The warmth of his tongue against the crook of my neck set my body aflame.

“This will be the slow”—his hands caressed my ass, pressing me against his erection—“and forever-lasting greeting.”

Boom, boom, boom.

The loud pounding at the door made me jump.

Hawke stilled, his eyes hard on the door. “What the fuck do you want, Cofi?”

“It’s not Cofi. It’s Alan.”

He let out an exaggerated sigh. The veins in his forearms pushed to the surface as he squeezed my ass. “One second.” He placed one chaste kiss on my lips before he charged to the door and pulled it open.

“We need to talk, man.” Def Deception’s manager walked in with his usual cocky swagger. When he saw me, his lips pressed together, and his eyes narrowed, never breaking eye contact with me. “Alone.”

I sat up straighter on the bed and stared him down. I had done nothing wrong.

Hawke exhaled heavily. “What is it now?”

“Why is it that you’re always in a bad mood when she’s in the room?” He tipped his head in my direction.

Hawke stepped in his line of sight, blocking Alan’s view of me. “Because you’re always butting into the little time we have together.”

The little things he said in other people’s vicinity only justified the reason I was continuing to fall for him. I crossed my arms and smirked for Alan’s benefit.

Alan pinned me with his eyes. “You might not want an audience for this.”

“I don’t fucking care.” Hawke’s voice was void of emotion. “Spill it, or leave. Whatever you have to say can be said in front of Sunshine.”

Alan cleared his throat. “Starx Magazine called me today.”

Hawke threw up his hands. “What the hell does my mother want now? We fucking paid her enough to buy us another five years. Damn it!”

“It’s not your mother this time. It’s another girl.”

Alan’s eyes flickered toward mine, and my stomach clenched into a knot.

Another girl?

My arms wrapped around my center. I wanted to stick my fingers in my ears, so I wouldn’t have to hear what Alan had to say next because, in my gut, I knew it wouldn’t be good.

“So the fuck what?” He ran one hand threw his dirty-blond locks. “What are the allegations now? Rape? I hit her?”

Alan’s lips pursed as he turned an eye my way, and then he said, “She’s pregnant.”

I blew out a breath like I’d just been punched in the gut, and the knot in my stomach tightened. It took a few seconds to get air back into my lungs.

Hawke jabbed his finger in Alan’s direction. “That’s some bullshit right there ’cause I’ve never fucked any girl without a condom, besides Sunshine over there.”

Alan reeled back. “You’re not supposed to be screwing anybody without a condom, regardless of who it is!”

Hawke laughed. “You don’t know how it feels to be inside her.”

I cringed, wishing I could disappear, not enjoying the fact that my sex life was out for open discussion and hating hearing the details of another woman he’d been with. I wasn’t surprised, but it still hurt to hear it.

“Alan, that girl is lying. Print it. I’ll take a paternity test. It’s not mine.”

“You don’t remember a Jenelle Fabson?”

“Really? The only name I remember is mine because that’s all they scream.” He threw his hands up. “You know these women. You know they’re only after their two seconds of fame and quick money that some magazine is going to give them.”

“Think long and hard, Hawke. You’ve always used protection, even when you’ve been as high as a kite?”

My eyes scanned Hawke’s face, but I couldn’t read his eyes. His focus was on Alan.

I clenched my jaw and watched for Hawke’s reaction.

Samantha, what are you doing here?

Pregnant woman? High as a kite?

Those words rang loudly in my ears over and over again, like a skipping record. My heart and mind were like magnets being forced apart. My heart wanted him and his free spirit, but my mind was screaming for me to end this now before I suffered undeniable heartbreak.

“That baby…is not mine,” he said firmly. “Let them print her interview, and then I can have my lawyers so far up their asses, they’ll be paying me for their lies.” He walked toward the door and opened it. “Is that it?”

Alan’s unmoving stance indicated he wasn’t ready to leave, So, Hawke lifted his eyebrows as if to say, What are you waiting for? After a few seconds of uncomfortable silence, Alan nodded and glanced at me one last time before walking out.

After the door shut, I gritted my teeth and staggered to the couch to get my purse. I needed time to think things through and to gain back any semblance of control I’d once had. I couldn’t think with a clear mind when I was in Hawke’s vicinity.

When our fling had begun, I’d convinced myself that it was what I needed, a little fun. Now, I was in too deep. This was too much drama for this small-town girl.

When he approached, I kept my gaze on the splash of art on the wall. It was an array of primary colors against a white canvas. The painting reminded me of my insides, the strings of red like my heart being torn to shreds.

His fingertips grazed my chin and forced me to face him. “It’s not mine,” he swore. “What’s the matter?”

And maybe it wasn’t his baby. But he certainly wasn’t denying that he’d slept with her.

I was falling for a whore. Good God, I was never this girl. There was fun, but there was my integrity and my pride, and I needed both.

I pushed my foot into the Persian carpet and fiddled with the edge of my purse. “I thought I could share, but…I can’t.”

He reached for my waist, but I stepped back. If Hawke touched me, I would be a goner and give in. Give in to the magic of his touch.

With one large step forward, he closed the gap between us, tugging me in by the waist, his hold fierce and uncompromising.

He pressed the softest of kisses to my temple. “I haven’t been with anyone since you. That was before, and this is now.”

I closed my eyes. I hadn’t expected him to say that. It had been weeks since I’d seen him.

But how did I know if he was telling the truth?

“I’m serious. I only want you, Sunshine.” He pulled back, and his green eyes bore into mine. “This charity concert? This was a last-minute thing, and I pushed to come here because of you.”

My hands gripped the sides of his shirt, needing something to hold on to. “I like you. A lot.” Heat formed behind my eyes as deep emotions rushed to the surface. “Maybe more than I should because of who you are, but…”

I couldn’t be with him without losing myself completely. I wanted more than what we were right now, more than a regular hook-up or a random fling. Because I was a relationship type of girl. I’d thought I could do the temporary fun-with-the-rock-star thing, but I couldn’t.

Hawke’s one hand made its way up to the nape of my neck. “None of that fucking matters. All that matters is me and you.”

“I’m afraid of getting hurt.” I chewed on the inside of my cheek and tried to keep it together.

“You’re the only one I’ve been with since the last time we were together. You’re the only one I want to be with.” His eyes never wavered from mine, revealing the intensity of his words. “Ignore Alan and the rest of them. I haven’t touched drugs in years, and I don’t even know that woman. That baby is not mine. All that matters is me and you, right now.”

When I didn’t answer, he spoke more fiercely, “Me and you, Sunshine. Okay?”

I peered up into his eyes. I wanted to believe him. I wanted to ignore the noise around me and pretend like we could work even though doubt plagued my mind. It was more than the other women; it was his whole rock-star lifestyle. It was the fact that there would be weeks where he wouldn’t call me. Weeks where I wouldn’t hear his voice. Weeks where I’d wait and wonder if our time together even mattered to him at all.

But, when he bent down to meet my lips, I let him have me, and all my sanity flew out the door.

This time, my heart won the battle against my mind.

* * *

We ignored everyone else for the rest of the night and lay in bed. The city lights filtered through the floor-to-ceiling windows. Who knew what time it was?

Naked and in utter bliss, I turned over to find Hawke staring at me. I released a long sigh, knowing this was our only night together until our next night together—whenever that would be.

He brushed an escaping strand of hair from my face and intently stared at me. His eyes held a seriousness that I’d never seen before.

“Come with me,” he whispered.

“Where?”

“Wherever I go. Just come with me.” He smiled his carefree smile. It was the kind of smile that showed he didn’t have to think about how he would make rent next month, the kind of smile that showed he had access to all of life’s desires. “Come with me on tour.”

I stared deep into his eyes. Rich, famous, and no cares in the world. But I had cares. I had a career and friends and a life. Could I leave all of that behind for something that might not even work?

“I can’t.”

“Yes, you can.” His fingers trailed to my stomach, teasing me.

“No, Hawke.” Oh, how badly I wanted to give him a different answer. But it was true. I’d been wondering how I’d feel when he finally asked me to stay, to come with him, to be with the band, to live this life. But…now that it was staring me in the face, I couldn’t. “I have work, and I’m applying to Cordon Bleu soon, along with some other schools in case I don’t get accepted.”

His fingers inched lower. “How about I employ you?”

When his fingers pierced my insides, a low moan escaped me.

“I’ll take that as a yes.” He dropped his head against my neck and chuckled. Wetness met his touch as his length hardened against my leg. “I already booked you a one-way ticket.”

I gripped his hand and stilled him before my brain turned to mush, and my words were incomprehensible.

He lifted his eyes to mine. Vulnerability showed through the green irises staring back at me.

“Even if I wanted to, I couldn’t.” I had to still get all my recommendations together and apply for school. I had goals, dreams, and ambitions that went above and beyond the rock star. Goals set in motion when my mother had been alive and goals that I would accomplish now that she wasn’t here—for the both of us.

He wasn’t giving up, his panty-dropping smile heavy on his face. It was as if I were talking to the Devil himself, and he hadn’t heard a word I’d said.

Want, want, want. Take, take, take. That was what he was used to.

“You should do whatever you want to,” he mumbled around kisses against my stomach.

“I have a job,” I choked out, already falling under his spell again, caused by his soft, warm kisses.

“So what? You need money? I have all the money in the world. I’ll add you to the payroll.”

I didn’t respond, but I started to pull away from him.

He sat up and sighed. “You’re serious, aren’t you?”

For some reason, I didn’t think many people said no to Hawke.

“Very serious. I have obligations, Hawke. A job. I want to be a chef someday, have a career. I have aspirations beyond being your…whatever it is that I am to you.” I jutted out my chin, my determination strengthening.

He needed to understand that I was serious.

His facial features fell, and the mood shifted when my stare didn’t waver from his. He was the first to break eye contact.

He let out an audible sigh and narrowed his eyes. “Is that what you really want? To leave?”

And, like that, he shut down and turned away.

I reached for his face, trying to erase the disconnected look in his eyes. I didn’t want to hurt him any more than I wanted to be hurt by him. “You’re accomplishing your dreams, and I still want to accomplish mine.”

I lifted my lips to kiss him and lighten the tension in the air, but he stiffened on contact. After a moment, he gave in, deepening the kiss, leaving me breathless and unable to speak.

He whispered against my lips, “What do you want?”

I angled away from him to read his eyes.

“Sunshine, what do you want?” he repeated. The fierceness in the span of green staring back at me tightened my chest.

Everything. “Nothing.”

He huffed, dropped his head against the pillow, and faced the ceiling. With one hand, he pulled his long, wavy strands to the top of his head. “There’s always a price. Everyone wants something. My mother, management, the band, the fans…” He blew out a hard breath. “And the thing is”—he leaned into me— “this is the first time I feel the need to give a woman everything she wants. So, tell me what you want.” His eyes searched mine for answers. “Whatever it is, it’s yours.”

“Hawke…” What could I tell him that wouldn’t leave me defenseless?

I wanted the happily-ever-after, the American dream. To do that, I needed to stabilize myself, get a secure job—my dream job. I wanted more than my mother had had, more than she’d wanted for herself. I wanted more from him. I wanted exclusivity even though I didn’t know how that would work between us.

My breathing slowed as flashes of the past few months rushed back. “This whole thing with you has been amazing. I wouldn’t have been able to go to Europe and experience everything without you…” My voice trailed off because it sounded like I was breaking it off with him.

“Shit, you’re saying no.” He rubbed at his brow, disbelief crossing his features. “This is a first for me.”

“Did you think I would just drop everything and go on tour with you forever? Stick around until you got sick of me?” I wrinkled my nose.

“That would never happen.” His fingers brushed against my cheek, sending warmth down my neck. “What do you want?” he asked again. “A relationship?”

I’d seen his lifestyle, the women throwing themselves at him and the band on a daily basis. I hadn’t even contemplated a relationship. I wasn’t sure it was a viable option.

“Sunshine,” he said his nickname for me, sounding tortured.

Say yes, my heart was begging me. Yes!

But I had my doubts. Could this even work?

“I can’t go with you,” I groaned.

“That’s not what I’m asking.” His eyebrow furrowed, thinking deeply, before scanning my face. “I don’t do relationships. They’re for pussies. But…” His face turned serious, as though he were turning something over in his head. “I want to try it with you.” His face became hopeful, his green eyes shining. He wiggled both eyebrows in a non-Hawke-like playful way. “They have smartphones and Internet everywhere. We can video chat. Phone sex every day?” He sucked on his bottom lip and gripped my hip. “Come on, will you be my girlfriend?” The intensity of his stare seared through me.

I pulled back, searching his face for any doubt, but there was none that I could see. Only resolution. He was willing.

Shouldn’t I be as well?

Butterflies stirred in the pit of my belly, the kind that made me giddy, but I forced my face to stay even. “Okay.”

“Okay?” An impish grin spread across his features. “Don’t seem too enthused about it.”

There was no way I could go on tour with him, so we would have to do this long distance.

I stared into his hope-filled eyes, took a deep breath, and decided to take this leap—not only because of my want for adventure, but also because I genuinely cared for him and wanted to make this work.

I pushed gusto into my voice, yelling, as though I were experiencing an orgasm, “Yes! Yes! Yes, I’ll be your girlfriend!”

A crooked smile touched his face. “That’s better, Sunshine. Much better.”

Then, he closed the gap between us, and I met the lips of my boyfriend, the biggest rock star in the world.

No big deal.