Chapter Eleven
Ben read over the plan for the media junket for Jade Glow’s album and upcoming tour, located at an upscale hotel in Midtown Manhattan. For Summer, the event, scheduled to last one day, would include portrait sessions, TV and radio interviews, and roundtable conversations with Summer, Tawny, and of course, the star herself.
This go-round, Ben planned to meet up with security and make sure he was satisfied with the situation, the cameras, and the coverage. Although Ben would keep Summer in sight, he’d be damned happy when she wasn’t prancing around in front of media and strangers, at least until whoever was after her had finally been found.
From a rational protection perspective, he’d also be glad when the decision was finally made about who would be the person accompanying Jade Glow on her world tour. But Ben wasn’t feeling particularly rational, because a part of him didn’t want this situation to come to an end. Despite all his internal warnings to himself, he was invested in Summer on every level, and losing her wasn’t something he’d ever be ready to think about.
Jade hadn’t decided definitely when she would be announcing her choice, but she’d been teasing the possibility that it would happen tonight, at the end of the junket. The star was using the mystery angle on social media for the last few days as well as teasing reporters all day, reminding them to stay until the end, lest they miss her possible announcement. Even Ben had bought into the hype, his stomach in complete knots, thinking his time with Summer was almost over. For her part, Summer was jumpy and nervous, to the point where he didn’t know what to say to calm her, her sole focus on the upcoming decision.
During the first hour of chats, she’d been stiff with the interviewers, which wasn’t like her. She was normally bubbly, happy, and relaxed, but Jade’s teasing and the unknown time frame had her nerves shot. The one thing Ben knew for sure was that he wanted her to live her dream, and to do that, she needed to relax and have a smile on her face and an easy answer on her sexy lips.
They had a good chunk of time before her next set of interviews, and the good news was that she had a hotel suite to escape to between sessions. And he knew just how to calm her frazzled nerves.
* * *
Summer had just finished up an interview that didn’t go as well as she would have liked. Tawny was upbeat, interrupting so she had center stage, and throwing Summer off her game. Frustrated afterwards, she walked off, heading for the coffee stand in the far corner of the event floor.
Before she reached her destination, Ben, who was never out of her sight, stopped her. “Come on,” he said, grasping her elbow. “I’m taking you upstairs to chill out.”
“But I need caffeine.”
He shook his head in definite disagreement. “Caffeine is the last thing you should be putting in your body. Trust me, princess, I have the solution.”
“But—”
“No buts. You need a break and you’ve got free time,” he insisted, directing her to the bank of elevators leading to the suite they’d been given as a courtesy for the day.
“Fine. Let’s go up,” she said in a tense tone. She didn’t mean to be a bitch, but she was upset with how today was going. She didn’t want the opportunity to slip by her because Tawny knew how to get the first and last word.
The elevator doors opened, and Ben placed a hand on her back, stepping out into the hall and guiding her to the room at the far end, where earlier they’d dropped off her cosmetics and a change of clothes, just in case.
He slid the key card over the sensor, and the green light flashed. He opened the door, propping it with one foot so she could step inside.
No sooner had she entered than Ben swung her into his arms. “Ben!” She grabbed him around his neck so she could hold on. “What are you doing?”
“I’m going to relax you.”
“How?”
He grinned and strode to the big king-size bed, depositing her in the center. “How do you think?” He slid his wallet from his jeans, removed a condom, and dropped it onto the bed.
“Ooh,” she said, completely on board with his notion of relaxation.
He grasped her legs, sliding her down toward where he stood at the edge of the mattress. Her skirt rode up, revealing her barely there thong panties, which he promptly removed. Cool air rushed over her suddenly damp flesh, causing her hips to wriggle, need flushing across her skin.
His gaze narrowed on her swollen sex.
Aroused, she slid her legs farther apart in readiness, absolutely on board with his plan.
She didn’t want to worry until the next round of interviews. Leave it to Ben to take care of her. “I like the way you think.”
“I realize you have to be back downstairs and need time to pull yourself together after.” He dropped his holster onto the floor, unbuttoned his jeans, his cock springing free, hard and thick. “Ready for a fast ride?”
She ran her tongue over her lips, her gaze on his pulsing erection. “I’m ready for you.”
He bent his head and swirled his tongue around her already needy sex. She groaned and grasped on to the bedding as he ate at her like a man who couldn’t get enough, who had single-minded focus, and whose attention was wholly centered on her. After all their time together, he knew what she liked and needed and immediately zeroed in on her clit.
Desire slammed into her hard and fast, no slow buildup, just zero to sixty, her climax suddenly and quickly within reach. She moaned and switched her grasp from the bedspread to his hair, holding him in place while she rocked her face against his mouth, chasing the waves of pleasure that rushed through her.
He tongued her clit in a perfect rhythm that had her spiraling higher until she peaked, her orgasm taking her into utter bliss. She was lost to sensation, only coming back to herself when Ben, sheathed with a condom, settled between her thighs.
The head of his cock breached her entrance, but she had no time to focus. His mouth came down on hers, and she tasted her musky scent on his lips. At the same moment, he took her hard, his erection thrusting into her.
“F-u-c-k,” he said, drawing out the syllable. He dropped down over her, bracing his hands on either side of her shoulders, his chest reverberating against hers.
“Ben, God.” She felt him everywhere as he throbbed inside her, her inner walls clasping him tight, her emotions fully engaged as their bodies joined completely.
Instead of a hard and fast taking, Ben rocked into her, grinding against her clit with every shift and pitch of his hips. Sensation began to take hold and build once more. Swirling need enveloped her, and she cried out, the sweet feelings he inspired driving her higher and higher.
“Come with me,” he said, sliding a hand between their bodies and pressing against her most sensitive spot.
“Oh God.” Waves of desire shook her, sparks of pleasure shooting out from her clit to every nerve ending she possessed. “Ben. I’m coming!”
“Right there with you,” he promised and he began a punishing rhythm. She exploded once more, her climax a burst of glorious light and feeling, as he groaned and came, too, her name on his lips.
He collapsed on top of her, and they panted in unison, until reality slowly returned.
“Can’t breathe,” she said, and he rolled off her, keeping her hand in his as he fell onto his back.
“That was a real stress reducer.” She grinned, but inside she was more serious than she’d ever been. Because what had just happened between them?
That was too intense to soothe her. Instead all she could do was feel—Ben inside her, Ben coaxing her to come, calling her name as he climaxed right after her. The sensations went beyond sex. He had tagged every emotion she had: Love, caring, yearning.
Things she would need time to process and deal with. Things she had to find a place for in her life … once she knew what her future held. She felt pulled in two different directions, her love for Ben and the career she’d been working toward her entire life, causing a quiet and somber blanket of emotion to envelop her. She wanted to give Ben the time he deserved, and she didn’t have that ability now.
“I need to wash up,” she said, sitting up in bed, eager to put the intensity behind them as fast as possible so she could prepare for the rest of the day.
“Come.” He rose and walked to the bathroom, his bare ass peeking from beneath his shirt.
The man had a body to die for and drool over and a heart that was bigger than he’d like to admit. And she wished they could spend more time alone here, in bed. Talking. Figuring out them. But she needed her focus where it belonged, on the media downstairs and the probable announcement coming later tonight.
So she pushed herself to a standing position and went to get ready to return to the press junket downstairs.
* * *
Hours later, Summer felt like she was ready to collapse in exhaustion. Her last interview had just ended. There wasn’t a reporter she hadn’t spoken to or a question she hadn’t answered. But she had to admit her romp with Ben had given her the emotional boost she’d needed to push through the rest of the day.
Every time she’d looked up, he’d been there, not just watching over her as part of his job but playing the part of passionate supporter. A thumbs-up, a wink, a smile had all let her know he was there, in her corner, paying attention. She didn’t think she could love him more.
What to do about that love?
“What’s your plan?” he asked her, joining her and interrupting her thoughts.
“Jade said to be back downstairs at eight. I thought I’d lie down for an hour. I’m wiped out.”
Sympathy flashed in his expression. “Let’s get you to bed.”
Memories of their earlier time upstairs flashed through her mind, him making love to her—and she refused to think they’d shared anything less—his big body filling hers, causing her to tremble.
He met her gaze, a knowing grin on his handsome face. “No, princess. Not for that. You need to rest this time.”
She pretended to pout and he laughed.
“Come on.” Ben escorted her upstairs and literally tucked her into bed.
She set her phone alarm just in case she fell asleep, and placed it on the nightstand.
“All set?” he asked.
She nodded.
“Good.” He braced a hand above her head, leaned down, and kissed her softly on the lips, lingering … and she thought maybe he’d be crawling in beside her, but his phone rang.
He pulled his cell out and answered. “Hollander.” He listened and nodded. “I’ll be right there.” He disconnected the call. “That was someone on Jade’s security detail. They want to give me a quick recon of the area Jade requested for her press conference. Since I’ve been all over them about details, I guess they’re being proactive. Can’t say I’m complaining. Though I’ve been pleased with how they’ve handled things so far.”
Summer smiled at his professional tone. “Jade’s not going to take her own safety for granted.”
“And I’m not going to take yours,” he said, dead serious.
She hooked her arms around his neck. “I always feel safe when you’re around.”
“Good. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”
“Okay.” She closed her eyes and heard the hotel room door slam shut behind him.
She sighed, allowing her body to relax and meld into the mattress. She refused to think ahead to tonight’s decision. Jade, in calling for the special gathering after the junket, had obviously decided to announce her choice in opening act. Despite her flipping stomach, nerves, and anticipation, for now, all Summer wanted to do was just be.
She was so relaxed beneath the covers that she almost didn’t hear the knock on her room door until it became a persistent banging that interrupted her tranquility. Ben had a key card, so she kept her eyes closed, hoping whoever it was would go away.
When the noise didn’t stop, she shoved the heavenly covers off herself and padded in her bare feet to the door, glancing into the peephole, finding Michael there.
She frowned. Anna, she knew, would be here tonight, now that the decision was imminent, but until she arrived, Michael might have information Summer needed.
Still annoyed at the interruption of her rest, she opened the door and leaned on the frame, not letting him into her private space.
“Summer! What took you so long?” he asked, sounding frantic.
“I was resting. What’s wrong?”
“Jade. Jade wants to meet with you and Tawny before her announcement tonight. I’m assuming she’s going to tell you her choice before the rest of the world. I need you to come with me.”
Summer’s stomach flipped in excitement. “Where is Tawny?”
“She’s already downstairs. Come on. Let’s go!” He moved in closer, but she didn’t open her door for him to step through.
“Ben’s not back yet,” she said. “I can’t just leave.”
“Do you want to blow your possible chances? The bodyguard will understand. You’re with your agent. Well, closest thing to your agent until Anna shows up later. Now move it!”
She jumped into action. “Let me grab my shoes.” She shut the door in his face and slipped back into her high heels, rushing back to meet Michael in the hallway, where he continued to pace back and forth, his nerves worse than her own. “I’m ready.”
“It’s about time,” he muttered, grasping her elbow and turning the opposite direction from the bank of elevators.
“Where are you going?” She tugged her arm out of his grasp.
“The paparazzi are all over downstairs, waiting for a glimpse of Jade or you and Tawny. I’ve been using the service elevator. It’s safer.”
Summer frowned but she agreed, having been through the crush of photographers and reporters earlier. He held on to her arm, walking her to the far end of the hall and the single elevator there. A housekeeper joined them, waiting for the lift, which seemed to take forever. Probably because many people had the same idea to avoid the press in the lobby.
Michael was practically hopping from foot to foot, his nerves driving her crazy.
“I can’t believe I’m telling you to relax,” she said, taking in the irony. It was her life about to change, one way or another.
“It’s a huge day,” he muttered, staring at the housekeeper’s back. “Let’s just take the stairs.”
“What?”
He pulled her by the arm, and she teetered on her heels before righting herself. “Michael, chill out! We’ll get there.” She followed him across the hall, into the stairwell, and down a flight of steps.
Her feet hurt and her ankles wobbled in the too high heels.
“Michael, let’s just go wait for the service elevator. I can’t do stairs in these shoes.
He held on to her tightly. “No. Here’s fine.”
“What are you doing! Let go of me!”
“We’re alone now and we need to talk,” he said. “I need your help. You have to do something for me and I’ll pay you well.” He was talking fast, rambling.
“What is it?” she asked, nervous because he was in her personal space, his big fingers digging into her bare forearms.
“Drop out of the competition. I’ll pay you a hundred grand. Just say you’re overwhelmed and it’s too much for you so you’re giving it up to Tawny. Use the money to rent a studio. Go indie. Do something, anything with the cash,” he said, shooting out ideas in an obvious panic.
She looked into his wild eyes and saw real desperation, which, along with his hold on her arm and her proximity to the edge of the stairs in her ridiculously high heels, scared her. “What’s this about?” she asked quietly, hoping to calm him.
“My life. Life as I know it. Tawny’s threatening to tell my wife about our affair if I don’t secure her this opportunity. I have a prenup. Cheating means I get nothing. Nothing!” he shouted at her.
He was sleeping with Tawny? And she was blackmailing him? “Michael, were you behind everything that’s happened to me? The trashing of my dressing room, attempting to drug me?”
Regret flashed in his eyes. “I had no choice. You didn’t take any hint. When you performed on The Morning Show, you should have bombed and slipped away in disgrace. Instead you pulled out a win.” He ran a shaking hand through his hair. “You didn’t scare off after I warned you to drop out. I thought if you took that drink you’d get so sexually aggressive with your bodyguard I could film you and it’d go viral. I never thought he’d be one step ahead of me. I have no choice. Please. Take the money,” he all but begged her.
She should have been shocked, but hadn’t Ben had a bad feeling about him? But she couldn’t just walk away from Jade’s competition. She’d invested her entire life to have this one chance at stardom.
She glanced at Michael, who watched her anxiously.
“I can’t,” she said. “Don’t you see? This opportunity is everything to me. Maybe if you talk to your wife, apologize…”
“Shut up! Just be quiet. I can’t lose everything. My kids. The money. My reputation.” He punctuated every word with a near violent shake. Her heel slipped and she nearly fell down the stairs. Only his grasp kept her upright.
Her heart pounded hard in her chest, real fear taking hold. He wasn’t at all rational in his panic. Jade’s deadline had made him crazy.
“All you need to do is say you changed your mind. Say you can’t handle the pressure of opening for such a big star.” He repeated his earlier words. “And I’ll wire money into your account today.” He pulled his phone from his pocket, never releasing his grip on her with his other hand. “Here. I’ll record.” He held up the video camera on his phone.
“Michael, this is ridiculous. No one will believe—”
“Say it!” he shouted, shaking her hard as he punched a button on his phone and turned the camera to face her.
She didn’t want to tumble headfirst down the stairs in her designer heels courtesy of a clearly unhinged man. So when his fingers pinched her skin, she spoke, repeating words she never thought she’d say.
To her shock, after getting what he wanted, Michael released her arm and took off downstairs, running to the press to release the video and ruin her life.
* * *
Ben returned to Summer’s room pissed off. He’d gone downstairs only to be told that no one on the security detail had called him for a walk-through. They didn’t know what he was talking about, and Ben hated wasting his time. The more he thought about the fake call, the warier he became, and he picked up his pace, rushing back to Summer.
He let himself into the room. In case she was sleeping, he didn’t call out, but he headed straight back to the bedroom, where he’d left her a few minutes earlier.
The bed was rumpled … and empty.
“Summer!” He called out her name but already knew she wouldn’t answer. Someone had distracted him long enough to lure her away.
He pulled out his phone. No calls from her. No messages.
He dialed her number, but her phone rang uselessly on the nightstand, where she’d left the device earlier.
“Fuck.” He strode out through the suite and into the hallway, glancing in either direction, seeing no one.
Suddenly the exit door burst open, and Summer ran into the hall, tripping on her heels. She caught sight of him immediately.
“Ben!” She kicked off her heels so she could run to him.
He caught her in his arms, taking a needed few seconds to hold her tight, breathe in her scent, and know she was safe.
“What the hell happened?” he asked, pulling her back, his gaze taking her in to make sure she was visibly okay.
She gestured to the stairwell with shaking hands. “You were right. It was Michael. He came to my room and said Jade wanted an immediate meeting with me and Tawny,” she explained in a rush. “He said Tawny was already there and I needed to hurry. I rushed out with him and forgot my phone.”
He swallowed over his urge to yell at her because he knew Michael had chosen the one thing that would coax her out of the safety of her room. “What did he really want?”
“You won’t believe this, but he’s sleeping with Tawny, and she threatened to tell his wife about their affair if he didn’t secure her the opening act. He’s been behind everything that’s happened because his wife has a prenup and he’s afraid of losing everything.” She swallowed hard. “He offered me a fortune to drop out, and when I said no, he started shaking me on the stairs, and I was in these heels and petrified I’d go flying down. I mean he’s totally crazy. He made me say I was dropping out on a video recording, and he’s downstairs right now playing it for the media.”
Ben glanced at her stilettos and groaned, imagining her toppling down headfirst. “That stupid fuck. All you have to do is go down there and explain why you said those things.” And he’d get the cops to arrest Gold as soon as possible.
Summer shook her head. “I told you he’s insane. He’s not thinking clearly or else he’d know that.”
“But you’re okay? He didn’t hurt you?” he asked, hating that she’d been alone with him, even for a short amount of time.
“I’m fine.”
He inclined his head, forcing himself to breathe calmly and believe her. “Then let’s go fix this mess.”
He pulled out his phone and hit the stored number he had for Jade Glow’s security, quickly relaying what he knew about Michael Gold. “Coming down now,” Ben said and shoved his phone into his pocket. “Come on.” He grabbed her hand and led her to the main set of elevators. “You need to recant that video.”
She bit down on her lower lip. “I hope you’re right. And what about Tawny? She was blackmailing him!”
“We’ll get it sorted.” He met her gaze and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, hoping to reassure her.
She retrieved her shoes and they waited until the elevator doors opened. They stepped onto the level where the press junket had taken place. Photographers and reporters were gathered in a group, lights flashing, as they surrounded someone Ben assumed was Michael.
“Come on. Let’s sneak up on him.” They started to walk around the group of people when a voice called out.
“It’s her!” All eyes turned back, finding Summer, and the crowd started toward her.
Ben kept a firm lock on her waist, standing by her side as she was surrounded by reporters.
“Summer!”
“Summer! Is it true? You dropped out? You’re handing the opening act to Tawny Renee?”
She squeezed Ben’s hand and released it, then drew a deep breath and spoke. “What’s true is that I made that tape under duress. Michael Gold, Tawny’s agent, lured me to a solitary stairwell and offered me a huge amount of money to drop out, and when I refused, he nearly pushed me down the stairs while demanding I make that video.”
“Liar!” Michael lunged forward but security grabbed him, holding him in place.
The crowd erupted, shouting more questions, the predominant one being why Michael would go to those extremes.
Summer glanced at Ben, and he gave her a subtle nod, encouraging her to tell everything to the press.
“Mr. Gold is having an affair with Tawny Renee. According to him, she was blackmailing him, threatening to tell his wife about the affair unless he did whatever he had to in order to get me to drop out of the competition. I’ve been the victim of quite a few incidents, including an attempted drugging—all documented by the police.”
“You lying bitch!” Michael would have gone after her if two men weren’t already holding him tight, but Summer eased closer to Ben.
“She’s not lying.” Tawny pushed through the throng of reporters and faced Michael. “You had one job and you couldn’t do it right. I didn’t ask you to hurt her; I just asked you to get me this position.”
“You threatened to reveal everything to my wife! What did you think I’d do?” Michael shouted back.
“Do they not realize they have an audience?” Summer whispered to Ben as reporters captured every word between them, as did the police, who’d arrived and surrounded Michael and the security holding him.
“Let me go!”
“We’re bringing you down for questioning. You, too, Ms. Renee.”
Tawny appeared horrified. “What? No. I had nothing to do with this crazy scheme of his!”
“From what I understand, Mr. Gold is being accused of false imprisonment, he’s accused you of blackmailing him, and according to police reports on file, we have numerous other offenses that potentially involve you both. So you can come willingly or we can do this the hard way.” The officer pulled out handcuffs, giving Tawny a choice as to how she wanted to proceed.
“Fine. I’ll come. But you’re going to realize I’m innocent. And I want my lawyer,” she said, stomping off with the officer in charge.
Michael was already being taken away by the police, photographers and reporters documenting the entire humiliating thing.
Summer turned to Ben, looking up at him, gratitude and what he wanted to believe was something more in her eyes. “Thank you. I don’t know how I would have gotten through this without you by my side.”
He didn’t want to say he was just doing his job, because although that’s how this had begun, it was by no means how it was ending.
She placed her hand in his. “I don’t know what’s going to happen next but—”
“Summer!” At the sound of her name, Summer turned.
Ben glanced over to see Jade Glow approach, surrounded by security of her own. With her long, flowing red hair, green eyes, and heavily done makeup, she stood out in any crowd. But once she drew closer, Ben realized she looked younger than the persona she liked to project to the world.
“Summer, I can’t believe everything I just heard! I’m so sorry I set you up for a competition that led to something like this,” the pop star said. “Let’s talk.”
Summer shot Ben a regret-filled glance. He understood she felt pulled in two directions, wanting to finish her conversation with him and needing to see what Jade wanted to discuss.
Knowing what he had to do, for her sake, he stepped back and let Jade take Summer’s attention. Summer’s agent joined them soon after. Summer kept glancing over her shoulder to see if he was there, guilt and worry in her expression. He couldn’t have that. As much as Ben wanted to wait around, all that would accomplish was pulling Summer’s concentration away from where it needed to be.
He headed up to her room to wait, but after an hour, he realized she wasn’t coming back anytime soon. He had his duffel with all his things because he packed light and they’d talked about staying over depending on how late today’s event ran. If he walked out of here now, he had no reason to go back to her place except to talk. And he didn’t know if or even when she’d arrive there, tonight or tomorrow.
And she no longer needed a bodyguard, which meant he had no choice but to go home.