“OK, what do you think?” I emerged from my bedroom to show my two eagerly-awaiting roommates my outfit.

“No!” they chorused as one.

“Really?” I looked down. I thought I’d chosen pretty well for my date with Ash Black. A deep scarlet top with a wide scoop neck that draped well and a short sparkly black skirt I’d just bought for a holiday party paired with long, heeled boots. I wanted to look good without looking like I’d spent all day trying to look good. Casual but not overalls-causal. Slightly sexy without throwing myself at him. Didn’t it work?

“First of all, you’re going to be cold,” Jillian began. “Want to borrow my turtleneck sweater?”

“This is Ash Black you’re meeting.” Liv sat perched on a stool next to our kitchen counter, the only eating space we had in our apartment. Room for tables and chairs was a luxury I couldn’t afford in New York City.

“I didn’t even think you liked Ash Black?”

“I don’t. He manufactures sellout corporate rock.” Liv preferred German indie punk bands, the kind of soundtrack that would work well in the apocalypse. “But you look like a librarian.”

“I do?” I looked down at myself again. My fitted skirt hit mid-thigh and the heels on my boots were at least three inches tall. I felt like I was kind of pushing the envelope.

“Here’s what you do.” Liv slipped off the stool to demonstrate. “Big coat.” She brought her hands to the front as if clasping two sides of a jacket. “Nothing underneath but a lacy bra, panties and my stiletto thigh-highs. You get to the bar and…” She gave me a wink as she opened her pretend coat.

“I don’t know about public nudity.”

“Oh, get over it.”

“That is a really bad idea.” Jillian held up her finger in admonishment.

Perfect, I realized. I’d chosen the perfect outfit since they both hated it. Crazy, off-her-rocker Liv thought it was too boring while conservative, worrywart Jillian thought it wasn’t sensible enough. Jackpot.

“OK, you guys. I’m heading out.” I wound a scarf around my neck for Jillian.

“At least let me get some eye pencil on you,” Liv asked.

“Go light,” I warned her, standing under the best—also the only—bright, overhead light in our apartment.

She was on me in a second, tilting back my head. “Look up.”

“Think Kate Middleton, not Cleopatra.”

“Boring.” Liv shook her head, but followed instructions.

“Tell him he should be ashamed of himself for what he did to Mandy Monroe.” Jillian handed me my purse.

“OK, I’ll start with that,” I teased her.

“Tell him he’s a corporate brand. He’s not making music. He’s making money.” Liv always sounded so angry.

“OK, thanks! Wish me luck!”

“Good luck!” they called after me as I walked out the front door and then down three flights of stairs. I didn’t know how the winds of fate had paired me with these roommates, but I thanked them. Liv and Jillian were pure entertainment.

The wind whipped, but my coat, scarf and excitement kept me warm. All the way on the subway, I kept smiling and nearly wanting to pinch myself. Ash Black. He could have any woman he wanted, and he’d asked me to join him tonight! It seemed impossible, and who knew, maybe when I’d get to that hotel he wouldn’t even be there. It might have all been a dream.

But maybe not. Maybe he’d be waiting for me and we’d have a lovely time together. Crazier things happened, right? This was exactly the type of adventure I’d hoped I’d find when I moved to the city. My favorite rock star stumbling into the library where I worked and somehow seeming to become instantly smitten with me. Even as I thought of it, it seemed impossible.

But off at the Spring Street stop and down a couple of blocks I strode into the entrance of the Soho Grand Hotel, found my way to the bar and there he was, Ash Black. Sitting at the bar talking with the bartender. The soft lighting and old world grandeur of the surroundings made him look straight out of a movie set. But he was so gorgeous he probably made everything look like a movie, that sweep of dark hair, his strong jaw and that flash of white teeth as he smiled. He turned as I walked in and when he saw me a slow, sexy smile crept across his handsome face. He made me feel like the most beautiful woman in the room.

“You came.” He stood up to greet me, wrapping his arms around me as if no sight could please him more. The kiss he gave me on my cheek met all the technical qualifications of casual, but it instantly set my blood to simmer, the feel of his full lips against my skin.

“Hi.” I gave him a shy smile, all the exhilaration I’d felt bubbling up inside of me on the way over melting into nervousness at the sight of him. He looked so cool, so sexy, his black boots with just the right amount of scuff, a thick leather bracelet on his wrist, a tattoo on his thumb.

“Are you hungry?” he asked. “I can get you something off the menu. They have amazing raw oysters.”

“Oh, no thanks.” I’d grabbed a hot pretzel from a cart before I’d run into the subway after my last piano lesson of the night. It wasn’t much, but tonight it was all I could stomach. Too many butterflies fighting for the space.

“How about a cocktail?”

“Sure.”

“Do you have a favorite, or…?” He looked at me, so solicitous and expectant, and possibly even hotter than he had looked that afternoon. He’d obviously shaved, though I liked him with stubble as well. His black collared shirt was open a couple of buttons and I could see a few thin, braided leather necklaces around his neck, then the lick of a tattoo at the side. Yes, please.

“We have some signature cocktails,” the bartender offered. He stood by us, at the ready. I imagined that happened a lot to Ash Black.

“What do you recommend?” I asked.

“The Bardot,” he answered without hesitation. I raised an eyebrow at Ash to see what he thought.

“It’s pisco,” said the bartender.

“Peruvian brandy,” Ash explained.

I smiled. It wasn’t even the type of thing I was embarrassed to not know. I wasn’t sophisticated and worldly and there was no use in pretending I was. “Never had it before, but I’ll try it.”

I shrugged off my coat and Ash helped me drape it along the back of my tall bar chair, such a gentleman.

“You look amazing.” His gaze raked over me, lingering a moment on my thighs. As I sat on the stool, my skirt rode up and exposed a long stretch of skin. Take that, Liv. I’d still caught his eye, even though I’d covered up my lingerie with clothing.

But I did have on lacy black panties underneath. Who knew where the night might lead? I’d been raised with a strict moral code, of course, and had the virtues of chastity extolled to me on more than one occasion. I had to admit, it had worked its way into my brain. When fooling around with guys, I could practically picture a light-up map of the bases, big red Xs flashing over every one but first.

I’d had sex before of course, with Stan. Stan the man, over and out in five minutes. He’d been pretty proud of his prowess in the bedroom. I didn’t think he had much to brag about, but what did I know, really? Maybe lots of women never had orgasms with their partners? I’d given myself much more pleasure with my fingers and hot fantasies, some of them starring Ash Black. But maybe that was normal? I figured I wasn’t a very sexual person, that’s what it came down to.

But sitting next to Ash, our legs brushing against each other, I felt pretty damn sexual. Every time our legs grazed against each other, every moment his fingers drifted toward my own, lightly caressing my skin, I tingled, a slow, warm buzz forming deep inside. He asked me about the rest of my day, how teaching piano went, what my roommates had thought when I’d told them the story of how we met.

“Oh, they were hilarious. They always are.”

“Did they warn you about me?” He took a sip of his drink and kept the tone of his voice light, but I sensed something more in the question. As if he earnestly cared what I thought of him.

“Jillian warned me, yes. But she’s also worried about every news story she reads about the city. And also weather events.”

“Weather events?”

“You know, like tornadoes. She’s made us an escape plan in place in case one hits.”

“We don’t get tornadoes in New York.”

“You never can be too prepared according to Jillian.”

He seemed amused. “How about your other roommate?”

“Oh, Liv wanted me to wear nothing but a bra and panties to come meet you.” As soon as I’d said it, I couldn’t believe it had slipped out of my mouth. I blushed and took a quick sip of my drink. It went down smooth and delicious, creamy and lemony all at once.

“I like Liv,” Ash declared.

“She put eyeliner on me, too.” He smiled, but his mind clearly was still on the image I’d created a moment ago. I hadn’t meant to say that. Nervously, I asked, “Have you ever worn eyeliner?”

“What?”

“You know, like Keith Richards. Rock star eyeliner.” What was I talking about? Anything other than my showing up naked.

“When I first started out, stylists tried that sort of thing on me for photos. There were a couple of early shoots where they made me look a lot like Captain Jack Sparrow.”

I laughed. “I’d love to see those photos.”

“I’ve burned them all.” He looked deadly serious.

“Really?”

“Oh, no, you can’t get rid of anything these days. Even if you try. Once it’s out in the media, it’s out.”

I nodded, thinking of his recent scandal with Mandy. All around us, I could tell people were noticing him, watching and whispering. He seemed oblivious, but to me it felt like that paranoia from middle school where you were so self-conscious you thought everyone was staring at you in your new shirt. Only this time, it was true. The walls really did have eyes.

“Hi, sorry to bother you guys, but could I take a picture with you?” A middle-aged woman in a big coat interrupted our conversation. She only had eyes for Ash.

“Sure.” He gave her a gorgeous smile and the sigh she gave in return was audible. Mental note: he has that effect on all the ladies, Ana. Don’t think there’s anything special between you two.

“Could you?” She held her phone up to me and I positioned it to snap a photo of her and Ash. She wrapped her arms around him like she wanted to bring him home with her.

“My daughter’s a huge fan,” she explained. Yeah, right. This woman probably had an Ash Black mug she drank coffee out of every morning.

I took a couple of pictures, Ash looking magnificent in every one of them, and handed it back.

“Thanks so much. You’re so amazing,” she gushed.

Ash gave her a smile and a goodbye wave. Nothing out of the ordinary here. I took a sip of my drink.

“You OK?” he asked, hand to my wrist. Mmm. That shouldn’t feel so good, such a casual touch, but his fingers brushing my skin nearly made me fall right off the bar stool. His thumb stroked my wrist bone, then the sensitive skin inside.

“Um,” I cleared my throat and made myself say something other than ‘That Feels So Good.’ “Are you used to the attention?”

“You mean that woman asking for a photo?”

“Her, yes, but also all the other people here watching you, whispering about you.” In a quieter voice, leaning in, I murmured, “There’s a guy down at the end of the bar who hasn’t stopped staring at you. Not even for a second.”

“Yeah.” Ash nodded. “I know.”

“Doesn’t it freak you out?”

“Sometimes,” he admitted. “Like when I’m getting chased by an angry mob.” He smiled and made light of the scene from earlier today. But he had been getting chased by a mob. They’d been one step away from yelling “Kill the beast!”

“It goes with the territory.” He shrugged. “You don’t get to be famous without that part of it, too. And most people are friendly.”

I sipped my drink, not too sure. It seemed pretty strange to me.

“Does it make you uncomfortable being here with me?” His dark brown eyes filled with concern over my well-being.

“I wasn’t trying to say that.” I looked up at him. “I’m happy here with you.”

“I only suggested the bar down here so you wouldn’t feel weird about meeting me in my hotel room. But it does happen to be a mere elevator ride away.”

“You’re staying here at this hotel?”

“Yes, I am.” He gave me a smile so inviting I just about fell into it. I had to get a grip. But it would be nice to be up in the privacy of his hotel room. No staring, no asking for photographs. Just him and me, me and him. It probably wasn’t a great idea.

Leaning in to me, he rested his hand on my bare, exposed thigh. His cheek so close to mine, his lips right at my ear, he whispered, “I promise, I won’t do anything you don’t want me to do.” My eyelids fluttered closed for a moment. Such promise in that statement. I knew this man could get me to want him to do just about anything. Jillian, my mother and father, just about every Sunday school teacher I’d ever had jumped up and down in my head yelling “Are you crazy? Look at this delinquent with his tattoos and bedroom eyes! Run away!”

But his hand on my thighs felt so good, starting a slow burning heat for him between my legs. I wanted to part them, give him some access, see what he could do with those long fingers. He was a guitar player, after all, a master at playing an instrument. He must be sensitive to every response, so attuned to how each movement played into and aroused the next.

“Let’s get out of here,” he whispered, husky and low, in that voice that made him world-famous. What was a girl to do?

“All right.” The words slipped right out of my mouth. He finished his drink, then carried mine and my coat across the bar, all eyes watching us, tracking every step. I had no idea how he was used to that spotlight.

In the elevator, I sighed with relief. “I don’t know how you do it.”

“You get used to it.”

I shook my head. “I can’t imagine.”

“There are ways to manage. You can control a lot with the right PR and security. I’d make sure it wasn’t too awful for you if you, you know, spent some time with me.”

What was he talking about? My heart beat fast and I had to stop myself from biting my nails. Was he discussing arrangements for how to deal with the press if we started dating? Did Ash Black even date people? I didn’t know every aspect of his life story, but everything I’d heard seemed to suggest that he epitomized Rock Star, from the leather pants to the ever-changing face of actresses/models/popstars by his side. But he wasn’t wearing leather pants right now. He had on jeans, faded ones, though I bet they still cost $500 and it hadn’t been Ash Black who’d broken them in. But, still. Maybe there was a whole other side to him? A deeper, more serious side that wanted to find a real connection with someone? And maybe he needed someone outside of his celebrity bubble to do it?

His hotel suite was gigantic, easily far bigger than the apartment I lived in with two roommates. The living room, alone, had to be 400 square feet, with huge windows overlooking the city skyline at night. Front and center, the Empire State building shone lit up for the holidays, red then green, then red again at the top of that iconic spire.

“It’s so beautiful,” I admired, taking it all in.

“So beautiful.” He brought his hands to my shoulders and stood behind me. I could feel his heat, how close he stood, and somehow, even with the breathtaking view before us, he made me feel like it was me he was admiring.

“Here, let’s get comfortable.” He led me over to a plush couch, somehow threading the needle between grandly sumptuous and sleekly modern. Everything in the hotel room seemed like a unique piece of art, from the chunky industrial-sized coffee table to the burnished pewter lamp overhead. He must have pressed a button that did something to something, because soft music began, atmospheric jazz, blending perfectly with our view of the city at night.

“Not The Blacklist?” I had to tease him.

“Do you want to listen to my music?” He sat next to me, close, his leg against mine, his large, long arm draped across the back of the couch.

“No, this is perfect.” He handed me my drink and I took a smooth, lemony sip.

“I’m glad I have you here to myself.” His voice, so gritty yet so intoxicating, affected me even more than the alcohol.

“It must be hard, not having any privacy. You can’t go anywhere by yourself.”

“Why would I want to be by myself?” He dipped his head down and nuzzled my hair, not a lot, just a slight gesture but my stomach flipped right over. Even the Russian judge gave it a ten.

“I love walking around the city by myself.” It was hard to keep my thoughts assembled, but I tried. “There’s so much to do here, but sometimes I think my favorite thing to do is listen to music, walk around and people-watch. It’s like being inside a movie all the time.”

“Yeah, I can’t really do that.”

“That’s so sad.” I meant it. He couldn’t even go for a walk by himself. He was so restricted, so trapped.

“Do you feel bad for me?” he asked, toying with my hair, twisting strands between his fingers, feathering it out across my back.

“Well…” It sounded ridiculous, I knew that. Here I was, a nobody librarian feeling bad for a world-famous superstar.

“Do you know what would make me feel better?” His fingers found my neck now, circling, stroking, massaging. Divine. Unthinking, on instinct, I tilted my face toward him and he started kissing me. His mouth, warm and sure on my mine, worshipping me, parting my lips so slow and intense. He kept his hand on my neck, his palm and his fingers so large they circled it, holding me there as he kissed me deeper. His tongue, so wicked, coaxing, seeking me, drawing me out.

His other hand worked its way up my arm, along my side, up to the swell of my breast. He hissed in appreciation as he cupped it, full and round, and swept his thumb across my nipple.

“Oh!” I gasped as he grazed my swollen, pebbled tip, every nerve ending in my body wired into that point. I started to throb between my legs and I clenched my thighs, unable to believe the wild response he provoked.

“Anika.” He caressed my name as he did my neck, my breast, my lips, stroking and working me. “How do you like it?” He started trailing kisses along my jaw, still gentle and light. “Do you like it sweet?” He dipped down, taking advantage of my tipped-back head, my exposed skin to lick and kiss, sending shivers through my entire body.

“Or do you like it rough?” As he asked, he used his teeth to scrape and then lightly bite, pressing into the sensitive skin of my neck. Taking my nipple between his thumb and forefinger, he pinched, not too hard, suggesting what it could feel like if he did get rough.

“Ah!” I cried out, arching my back and pressing my breast into his hand, tilting my head back even more. He felt so sure, so dominant, so good.

“Mmm.” He drew his hands back into my hair, playing with it, his mouth light again at my ear. “You like it rough, don’t you, Ana?” I couldn’t answer. I trembled under his touch, my breathing starting to come in short pants. “Have you ever had it really rough?” As he spoke, he played with me, nibbling my earlobe, licking it, massaging my hair.

“Um, no.” My voice came out in a whisper. I felt half mesmerized, half shocked by the intensity of my reaction. Part of me wanted to get swept away by the fantasy. The other part of me asked what the hell was going on? Ash reached down and found my wrist, easily circling his fingers around it.

“I think you might like it, Ana.” He took my wrist and brought it up by my shoulder, pressing it back into the plush couch cushion. “You might like it, tied up. Your wrists bound.” He put pressure on my wrist as he spoke and I could imagine it, my wrists tied up, fastened over my head. Stripped naked, bared to him.

His lips down at a pressure point on my neck, he licked, then sucked. “What do you think, Ana? Would you like to be tied down and spanked? I’d love to spank you, hard, right before I fuck you.”

Um. “Where’s the bathroom?” I stood up.

He looked up at me, his eyes dark and smoldering. He pointed around the corner.

“Be right back.”

I ducked into the dark room and sat down, hands over my face. I needed to get a grip. I had to figure out what I wanted out of this night and I had to figure it out fast. Did I want to have wanton sex all over his hotel room, tied up and who knew what else, a reckless crazy night of abandon and passion? I’d probably have more orgasms with this man in one night than I’d given myself my whole life. OK, that was probably an exaggeration, but I’d never responded to anyone the way I had with him. We’d been sitting on his couch for all of ten minutes and he nearly had me agreeing to let him tie me up then spank and fuck me.

It might be too much. I’d told myself I’d hop on the motorcycle the next time it drove past me in life. But really, who was this guy? What did I know about him? He was sexy as sin and obviously knew exactly how to touch a woman to make her insane with lust, but that was because he’d done it over and over, every day of his life for the last decade, to hundreds maybe thousands of women.

What did I want? Did I really want to join the chorus line of girls who’d been fucked by Ash Black? Was that my life’s ambition?

Damn it. Apparently, you could take the good-girl librarian out of the library, but you couldn’t take the library…no, wait, that wasn’t it. You could take the…Anyway, I didn’t think I could do it. It was exactly the kind of thing that filled my late night fantasies, but this wasn’t that. This was reality. I’d have to rain on this parade, tell him it had been fun meeting him, but I wasn’t that kind of girl.

Shaking, I walked back out into the main room. He was standing next to the window, a tall, dark silhouette looking out at the view. He brought his hand up to his brow and rubbed, shaking his head. I stepped forward.

“Hey, there you are.” He walked toward me. “Listen, I’m sorry. I was, you know, coming on sort of strong there.”

“Oh, it’s OK.” I shrugged it off though, yes, he’d had me in his hotel room all of ten minutes before he’d started in with the bondage talk. That was sort of strong.

“I’m not used to being with girls like you.”

“I should probably go,” I said reluctantly, looking for my coat.

“No!” He sprang over to my side and took my hand in his. “No, don’t go. It’s just that I’m used to being with models and strippers, you know, or celebrities as famous as me.”

“Not helping, Ash.”

“Sorry, I suck at this.”

“You’re not great.”

“I’m sorry.” He really looked it, too.

“No, I’m sorry.” I shook my head. “I should be cooler. I’m pretty nerdy. I’m a librarian and a piano teacher. I knit.”

“Knitting is cool!” he protested.

“No, knitting is not cool. And I’m sure you expected…I mean, you’re a rock star and I came up to your hotel room, so—”

“No, it’s not like that.”

I looked up at him, arching an eyebrow. He broke into a smile. “OK, so it’s almost always like that. But that’s why I like you! You’re different! You’re real. You’re not like the kind of girls I usually spend time with.”

Why did it feel like he was trying hard to convince me to stay? This whole night was surreal. I figured the second I hesitated, he’d have me out the door so fast my head would spin.

“Give me another chance?” He smiled down at me, all charm.

“I’m not trying to tease you,” I clarified, just to make sure he knew I wasn’t playing games. I really wasn’t.

“No, I get it.” He put his hands up in mock police arrest. “I’ll be a perfect gentleman. I just want to get to know you better.”

He went over to the couch again, sitting down and patting the cushion next to him. “We’ll talk. I promise this time I won’t start threatening to tie you up and spank you.”

Blushing, I had to laugh a little. What he didn’t know was how much that had turned me on. The heat still coiled within me, remembering his touch, wanting more of it.

“Come and talk to me. Tell me, what matters to you?”

I shrugged. “My family.”

“Tell me about them,” he asked. That had to be a safe topic.

“My parents.” I sat next to him, my legs crossed, our bodies not touching. “They had me when they were older. My mother was 40, my father 45. They’d thought that they couldn’t get pregnant. Mom calls me the miracle baby.”

“That’s nice.”

“Yeah.” I tucked a strand of hair behind my ear, feeling self-conscious. This had to sound really boring to him. “Are you sure you want to hear about my parents?”

“Yes, absolutely.” He fixed all his attention on me, rapt.

“OK,” I agreed. “Well, my father’s an engineer. They moved here about 30 years ago from Russia, hoping for a better life. He was able to find work at a company upstate and they’ve lived in the same small town ever since.”

“Do you see them often?”

“I try to make it up every weekend. My mother’s a great cook and we have dinner together.”

“Do you like spending time with them?”

“Yes.” I answered, honestly. “I mean, they can drive me a little crazy with all their worrying. They’d be much happier if I were already married and pregnant. Or if I’d become a concert pianist. Or both. But, yeah, I like seeing them. I love them.”

“So…” he paused, seeming to find my statement hard to comprehend. “You don’t just love them. You like them, too?”

“Yes,” I laughed, a bit confused at the trouble he was having understanding this. “They’re good people. They’re hard-working and they care about me. Why, don’t you like your parents?”

“My father passed away this summer.”

“Oh, I’m so sorry.” How painful that must be for him! I knew it was an inevitable event, the natural cycle of life and death, but I hated to think about it.

“We weren’t close. But it’s strange with him gone.” He drew tight and tense for a moment. “But I’d rather hear more about you.” He drew his arm along the back of the couch again. “You’re amazing.” His attention back on me, he looked down as if marveling over a strange, mythical creature.

“The way you’re looking at me.” I shook my head, flushed under his admiration. “I should be looking at you that way. You’re the rock star. I’m just average.”

“I’ve never met anyone like you before.”

I laughed. “You’ve got this all wrong. I’m supposed to be saying that to you.” He brought his hand back to my hair, starting to caress it again as if he couldn’t stop himself. I didn’t want him to. He made me feel so cherished, the way he stroked me and played with the strands of my hair. The quiet jazz, the soft lighting, the musky, masculine scent of him, drawing me near. I think I was the one to kiss him first, leaning in and finding his lips with my own.

With strong, sure arms he eased me onto his lap, holding me there as we kissed. And kissed. No more bondage talk, no more pinching my nipples, just his warm, full lips on my own, drinking me in as if he loved my taste.

“Anika,” he breathed, as if he were enchanted by everything about me. “You’re so gorgeous.”

This time it was me kissing along his jaw, down at his throat. So masculine, so powerful, his shoulders so broad and I could feel his thickly roped muscles in his arms though he still held me loosely, gently.

“Ana,” he groaned deep in his throat as I kissed him, licking the hollow of his neck. He started moving his hands, and I realized how much he’d been holding back, forcing himself to stay still while I kissed. Now his hands encircled my waist, up my back, down at my legs, caressing my bare thighs. Breathing harder, I kissed his mouth again as he worked his way along my inner thigh, stroking, massaging, intimate.

I knew a short while ago I’d told him no, but now all I wanted was him to make his way up, reach my sex, touch me there where I was throbbing and starting to get wet for him. My skirt had already bunched up high. I parted my thighs in invitation.

Slowly, gently, he worked his wicked, magical fingers up the soft skin of my inner thighs. With a soft brush, he grazed me with his knuckle, a light touch to my lacy panties.

I moaned in response, my hands twining into his silky black hair, my lips along his neck. I needed this. I know I’d had my doubts, and I still wasn’t going as far as he’d suggested earlier. But this, I wanted. I wanted him to touch me, stroke me, show me how good he could make me feel.

A finger up now, he drew it along my panties. He hissed appreciatively. “Wet for me, Ana.” He pressed his thick finger into me, running it along my seam. “So wet.” I whimpered it felt so good, and I started to pant as he drew my panties to the side and touched me directly on my wet, throbbing sex.

“So pretty.” He started stroking my pussy, finding my clit and circling it, brushing against it, then bringing his finger up inside my wet heat. “You feel so good.”

“Oh!” I tilted my head back, unable to keep focused enough to continue kissing him, wanting nothing more than this building heat. The way he touched me, coaxing, stroking me so masterfully, up at my clit. Unable to stop myself, I started pressing against him, pushing into his hand, needing more.

“Does that feel good, Ana?” His voice, like dark silk, flowed over my body. His fingers, up inside me, plunged in, fucking me in a steady rhythm. His thumb stroked my clit, strumming me, circling.

“Ash!” I cried out, my hand to his broad shoulder, clutching him, fisting his shirt. I pushed my mound onto his hand, legs spread, lost in sensation. Waves of pleasure rose within me, building up, growing stronger with each stroke.

“Ana,” he murmured, two fingers deep inside me now, sliding in and out as he thrust in a faster rhythm. “Do you like how I fuck you with my fingers?”

“Yes!” I’d never had anyone talk dirty like that to me before, never admitted I liked anything like that.

“Tell me, Anika. Tell me you like my fingers fucking you.”

“Oh!” His words brought me so close. I panted and cried out and dug my nails into his shoulder and hard-muscled chest.

“Say it,” he commanded.

“I love it!” I cried out, bucking into him, his thumb pressing into my aching clit.

“What do you love?” he demanded.

“I love your fingers fucking me, Ash.”

“Yes, that’s it.” He coaxed me, praised me, plunging his fingers in deep. “Now, Anika, come for me.”

Pleasure burst from deep within me at his command, welling up and overflowing into every inch of my body.

“Ah! Ash!” I called out, quivering and quaking at his touch, his fingers drawing every last ounce of pleasure from me. Warm, languid, I drifted back, slowly regaining consciousness of sitting there on a couch with Ash Black, his fingers now back at my knee, his mouth at my ear.

“You’re incredible,” he murmured, just when I was about to start getting self-conscious. “You’re so sexy, so responsive.” He nuzzled into my hair, breathing me in. “I can’t wait to spend the month with you.”

“Mmm,” I purred in his arms, so warm, so adored. Wait, what had he just said? “Spend the month?” I asked, looking up at him.

“Yes.” He stroked my hair, looking at me hungrily. “We’re going to have a whole month together. Lots of time to do that to you again and again.” He looked into my eyes and I saw so much heat in them, so much passion I nearly got swept away with it all again. Nearly.

“What’s this about a month?” I asked.

“Right, we need to talk about the terms.”

“The terms?” I adjusted myself, settling down again at his side instead of his lap.

“I’ve got an NDA you’ll have to sign. My lawyer Nelson can talk to you about all the details. Or he can talk to your family’s attorney if you have one.”

Lawyers? NDA? What was going on here? “I don’t understand.”

“OK, big picture, I’d like you to pretend to be my girlfriend for the month.”

“Pretend to be your girlfriend for the month?” Was he joking with me? I looked around. Was someone filming us, like on a reality show?

“Yes, one month. We’ll fake having a whirlwind romance. Ice skating at Rockefeller Center, candlelight dinners, you name it. It’ll all be fake, but that doesn’t mean we can’t still have some fun on the side.” He smiled at me. I didn’t smile back.

He continued. “Anyway, I’ll propose to you on New Year’s Eve at my big show in Vegas. And then one month from now, around the middle of January, you’ll break up with me. The average girl, breaking my heart in front of a bunch of cameras. It’ll be huge.”

I stood up. Had he just told me he was going to propose to me on New Year’s Eve? As in ask me to marry him? And then I’d break up with him? Maybe he was insane, completely unhinged. Maybe I’d missed all the signs, too awestruck by his good looks and star status.

“I probably should have had you sign the NDA first. I can tell you’re surprised.” He exhaled, his hand up to his brow once again.

“I don’t even know what an NDA is.”

“A non-disclosure agreement, standard stuff. You agree you won’t discuss this with anyone, no tell-all interviews, books, etc.”

“What the hell are you talking about, Ash?”

“Listen, I probably should have brought this up earlier. But you know this thing with Mandy Monroe?” I nodded, listening with one foot proverbially out the door. “It’s made me look real bad and I need to clean up my image. Make people think I’m not an asshole.”

“So, you want to date me?”

“Just pretend to date you,” he clarified. “You’re perfect. I can’t even believe I ran into you. You’re so sweet and average, a piano-teacher and a librarian.”

Oh. My. God. I was such an idiot. Here, I’d actually thought Ash Black liked me. That he’d met me and somehow been swept away by little old average me. But he only wanted me to play pretend with him, to clean up his image.

“I’ve got to go.” Powered by humiliation, I pushed past him and looked for my coat. Where had he put it when we came in? I’d been too amazed by the view, too blinded by everything around me to see what was actually happening.

“No, don’t go, please.” He got in front of me, both hands up at my shoulders. “You don’t like this idea?”

“No! It’s insane.”

“Where do you want to go, Ana? Cabo? Bali? I’ll take you. You want to go sky diving? We’ll do it. I’ll make it fun for you, I promise. Give you gifts, jewelry, whatever you want.”

“Ash.” I shook my head. This was all ridiculous. I couldn’t believe I’d actually thought he’d liked me. And I’d just let him finger-fuck me on his couch.

“What’s the matter?” he asked, bewildered. He really had no idea why I’d have any reservations. He’d been so sure of himself.

“I thought you liked me.” My voice came out like a whisper and I hated the way it sounded, all young and vulnerable and pathetic. But it was true. It was how I felt.

“I do! I like you, I do.” His empty words rolled down and away like marbles. Like hell, he did.

“Because I’m so wonderfully average.” I would have liked to have sounded light and amused, as if this were a hilarious story I couldn’t wait to tell my roommates. But this one I might not relish sharing, the day I’d met a rock star and been stupid enough to think he actually liked me. Then he’d fingered me until I came and told me I was so average I was perfect to hire as his fake girlfriend to improve his image. Awesome.

“Ana, you’re perfect.”

I looked at him, now knowing my skepticism, my doubts, my ‘this can’t be happening’ feelings should have been what I’d trusted.

“I’m sorry this all came out wrong.” He fumbled for words. “I’d honestly love to hang out with you for the month. And I really need you. I’m desperate.”

I’d desperately needed him, about five minutes ago on the couch when I’d practically humped his hand. How many times would I make a fool out of myself if I allowed myself to spend anymore time with him?

“No sex,” he offered, seeming to read my mind. “We’ll put it in a clause. No sex, no touching even if you don’t want to.”

“I can’t, Ash. I’m sorry.” Why was I apologizing to him? He’d wanted to use me to improve his image, stage something fake to make him look like less of an asshole. What an asshole.

There was my coat, draped over a chair by the door. I bee-lined to it and put it on.

“Wait,” he called after me as I reached for the doorknob. “I have an idea.”

I turned toward him, giving him a moment. I shouldn’t have. I should have kept on walking, but I was too damn polite.

“Didn’t you say something about the library you work in shutting down? How you’re out of money?”

I nodded. “We’ll find out in January. They don’t have enough money to keep all the branches open.”

“I’ll pay for it.”

“What?”

“I’ll pay to keep it open. Set up a fund to cover all operating expenses for the next ten years.”

Really? He’d keep the library open? “It’s a lot of money. I don’t even know how much, but it’s a lot.”

He looked at me and I realized he could do it. It wouldn’t even put a dent in his wealth, would it? Holy shit. “Really?”

“Really.” He stood before me, looking dead earnest. “I’ll put it in writing, get everything put in place.”

I thought about it. One month of pretending for years of that library branch staying open. How many years had he promised? “How about twenty?”

“What’s that?”

“You said ten years of operating expenses. I’ll do it for twenty.”

“Done.” He struck out his hand for a shake. I should have asked for thirty.

“And no sex?”

“No sex.” He put his hands up, signaling no contest. Those hands that did such wickedly good work. Could I really be considering this?

“I promise, I’ll make sure you have a good time,” he pleaded with me. “You’ll be backstage at all my shows. We’ll put you up in the best hotels. Who do you want to meet? Anyone famous? I can introduce you.”

You, I thought but didn’t say. He’d been my celebrity crush for who knew how long.

“Please, Ana.” He looked deep into my eyes, his voice husky as he added, “I need you.”

Inwardly, I melted. I didn’t stand a chance against this guy. Outwardly, I thought I maintained my composure. All business. “All right.” I stuck out my hand for a deal-sealing shake.

“All right?” His face lit up with delight and even the brief touch of his hand to mine sent a single down my spine.

“OK then.” I quickly took my hand away.

“I’ll have my lawyer send you all the paperwork tonight. You’ll need to sign it ASAP.”

“All right.”

“And tomorrow my family has a huge holiday party. You’ll have to come.”

“OK.” I felt numb, wrapped in cotton. This wasn’t actually happening. I wasn’t actually agreeing to be the pretend girlfriend to rock legend Ash Black, starting tomorrow? Cabo, Bali, jewels, what had he promised me again?

“Thank you. You’ve made me very happy. I’m a lucky man.” He kissed my hand, giving me that panty-melting intense look again as he drew up to his full height and bid me goodnight.

I looked up at him, his dark inviting eyes, his mouth-watering lips. Even though I knew it was all fake, he only liked me because I was so boring and average I’d somehow sell him back to the public’s good graces, I still felt a pull. And I’d just agreed to put myself in close quarters with him for the next month. We’d have to go places together, flirt, hold hands, maybe even kiss for the cameras. A whole month of being so close to those fingers I now knew for certain could bring me nearly mind-shattering bliss.

Uh oh.

“I’m going to enjoy this month very much, Anika.”

“OK then.” I opened the door and walked out into the hallway.

“Good night,” he called after me. I gave him a feeble wave and walked toward the elevator, but it wasn’t until I stepped inside and headed down that I started to breathe again. You couldn’t hold your breath forever.

How was I going to make it through an entire month? What trouble had I gotten myself into now? I had to focus, remember why I was doing it. Even if all I could think about there in the elevator was how I’d felt with his fingers stroking me, coaxing me, making me forget everything but him.