I texted Grace to tell her that her devious plan had worked, and Austin and I took off. As we headed away from the club, he pulled a baseball cap out of his back pocket and pulled it down low on his head. It was dark enough that it helped shield his identity. Less chance that he would get recognized by fans or paparazzi.

It was warm out, the wind ruffling my hair as we walked. At some point, Austin reached out and took my hand, linking his fingers with mine.

“Where are you taking me?” I asked, feeling happy and free.

“Still good with video games?” he asked with a grin.

I smiled. That had been one of the things we had done together when we were younger and he was visiting for the holidays. We’d get out the video games and go to war. Luke would play for a little bit, but he always got bored and left the two of us alone. We were pretty evenly matched, so we could battle for hours.

Austin took me to a vintage arcade and got us both a bagful of quarters.

“What are we playing for?” I asked when he handed me the bag.

“Whatever you want,” he said, a suggestive tone in his voice.

“Hmmm . . .” I thought about it for a moment. “How about a trophy that says, ‘Mia is the best at video games and everything else’?”

Austin smirked. “That’s what you want?”

“Why?” I teased. “What do you want?”

“You,” he said, leaning in close. “All night.”

I swallowed hard, my blood heating up.

“I think I can agree to that,” I managed, holding out my hand.

He shook it, and I realized that this was one bet I wouldn’t mind losing at all.

---

We played for hours until the arcade closed, and in the end, I lost track of who lost and won. I was having too much fun to keep score: laughing and joking, and stealing kisses in the shadows of the room. Austin was more relaxed than I could remember him ever being, and I decided to just pretend we were a regular couple. No rules, no limits, just a normal date like regular people. Then, as we were walking out, Austin got a text. “It’s from Zoey,” he said, slinging an arm around my shoulders. “The Hold Outs are playing a secret show in Brooklyn.”

“What?!” I squealed. “They’re my favorite band!”

“Gee, thanks.”

“You know what I mean,” I laughed.

“Do you want to go?”

“Um, yes!”

He laughed. “I’ll tell Zoey we’ll be there in twenty minutes.”

We hopped in an Uber and headed out to Brooklyn. It was a Wednesday night, but everyone was out. It was one of the reasons I loved New York—it truly was a city that never slept.

Like at the club, we were met at the door by the paparazzi, though I managed to shield my face with my hand, occasionally ducking behind Austin himself. We were led past the line wrapping around the corner and straight to the VIP section, where Zoey was waiting for us. She greeted me and handed over VIP passes that would take us backstage after the show.

“Have fun,” she said.

“You’re not staying?” I asked.

She shook her head. “I’ve got to network,” she told me. “A manager’s job is never done.”

We settled into our seats. “So who was that guy?” he asked after a few moments.

“What guy?”

“The guy at the club,” he prompted. “The one who was standing with you at the bar.”

I looked over at him. He had an innocent look on his face, but I could tell he was more interested than he wanted to show.

“Are you jealous?” I asked, trying to hold back a smile.

“No!” he said quickly. Too quickly.

I decided to put him out of his misery. “I don’t know who he was,” I told him. “He asked to buy me a drink. I declined.” I put on a faux thoughtful face. “Do you think I should have let him buy me a drink?”

Austin gave me a look, and I shrugged innocently.

“What?” I teased. “Best offer I’d had in a long time.”

“Oh really?” He crossed his arms.

“Present company notwithstanding,” I corrected.

“Good to know.” But Austin still looked a little pouty.

“You don’t have anything to worry about,” I told him. “Before this whole thing”—I gestured between the two of us—“I hadn’t really been having much luck on the dating scene.”

Austin turned towards me. “I have a hard time believing that,” he said. “You’re gorgeous, and smart, and funny, and sexy as hell. Men should be knocking down your door.”

“That’s what I’ve been saying,” I readily agreed with him, while being secretly flattered by his words. “But not all of us can pull a guy into a bathroom at a party and go to town.”

Austin groaned. “I’m never going to live that down, am I?”

I shook my head. “Absolutely not.”

“Would you believe me if I said that was the first time I’d ever done anything like that?” he asked.

“Not for a second,” I told him.

He sighed. “What if I told you that it had been a while since I had been involved with anyone? In any way.”

I was going to shake my head, but I got a look at his expression and something about it made me believe him.

Not that I had a chance to offer, because the lights dimmed and the show started.

---

It was an amazing performance. And even better was the fact that we got to go backstage after the show and meet the band. I tried to take it all in, but it was impossible. The room was crowded with other musicians, all of them talking and drinking. Everyone started clapping when the band entered—myself included.

I was completely content to just stand there, enjoying the moment, but Austin put his hand on my back and guided me towards the lead singer, who was standing off to the side with a bottle of beer dangling from her fingers.

“Austin, darling!” she greeted him, arms wide.

“The show was amazing,” Austin told her, giving her a kiss on the cheek.

“You think so?” she asked, tossing her hair over her shoulder and giving him a sultry look. Totally flirting with him. But if Austin noticed, he ignored it, putting his arm around me and introducing us.

“I’m a longtime admirer of your work,” I said, hating that I probably sounded just like every other fangirl she encountered.

But she gave me a warm smile. “Thank you,” she said, “I never get tired of hearing that.”

We laughed, and chatted some more, until she was pulled away.

I took Austin’s arm. “Are you ready to go?” I asked him, my voice low. “I think it’s time that you cashed in your prize.”

It took a moment for the implication to sink in, but once it did, I had Austin’s full attention.

“I didn’t know we decided on a winner,” he said.

“I’m feeling generous tonight,” I told him, smiling. “Besides, when you win, I win too.”

He smirked. “Damn right you do.”

We said our goodbyes and caught a cab to Austin’s place, although the journey was a blur to me. His hands on my body, his mouth, claiming mine in a searing kiss . . . I couldn’t wait to get him inside and turn this party from PG-13 all the way up to R-rated.

Austin clearly agreed. He paid the driver and then practically dragged me into the lobby. This time we were able to wait until we got upstairs and the door was closed. But once it was, all bets were off.

All of our clothes, too.

Within ten seconds, I was naked. Austin’s shirt was gone and his pants were unzipped, but I wasn’t quite as skilled as he was at undressing members of the opposite sex. I didn’t care. Especially when he picked me up and put me on one of the stools in his kitchen. He kissed me hard, his hands bracketing my hips, his tongue deep in my mouth. Then he dropped to his knees in front of me.

I was certain I’d never get sick of the sight of Austin James kneeling in front of me. Especially when he was half-clothed and kissing his way up the inside of my leg. He pushed my knees open as he kissed and sucked his way up my thighs. When he finally put his mouth on me, I was already trembling for his touch.

He slid his tongue across my wetness, making me gasp. I gripped the side of the chair as he stroked me, pleasure already building inside of me like a volcano ready to blow. Then he added his fingers, teasing me with his touch—first one finger and then another until I was panting with need.

I arched my hips, needing more—needing him. He dragged his thumb across my clit, and I came, shuddering above him in a riot of pleasure.

Still, it wasn’t enough.

I pulled him to his feet, bringing his mouth to mine. I tasted myself on his lips and it was hotter than I could have ever imagined. “Let’s go to the bedroom,” he murmured against my lips, but I shook my head.

“Here,” I ordered. “Now.”

Being with Austin made me bold. He made me feel sexy and powerful and irresistible. Turning, I placed my hands on the counter, tilting my hips back towards him and inviting him to take me from behind.

“Fuck,” he groaned, and I reveled in the sound of him fumbling with his jeans.

There was the sound of a condom being opened and then his hands were on my hips and he was slowly easing inside of me.

“Fu-u-uck,” Austin managed, his voice choked.

I moaned, the sensation from this angle almost too much. Almost.

He slid deep inside of me, deeper than he had gone before, his fingers digging into my hips. It felt good. All of it felt good. Then he began to move.

He eased out of me slowly, thrusting forward, his hips hitting mine. I arched my back and somehow he went even deeper.

“Mia,” Austin groaned, and the sound of my name on his lips was almost enough to send me over the edge again.

Because I was already close again. That’s what he did to me. What his touch, his voice, his body did to me. He began to move faster now, the sounds of our pleasure filling the kitchen. My hands were flat on the counter, and as he thrust into me, Austin leaned forward, putting one hand over mine, linking our fingers. It was so hot.

His thrusts became more erratic, wilder. With his other hand, he reached across my stomach and dragged his fingers downward, finding my clit, stroking me just above the place where our bodies met.

I was moaning uncontrollably now, completely lost in the sensations and pleasure rushing through my body. Then he circled my clit with his finger as he thrust deep inside of me and I came, crying out, pushing my hips back against his.

He gave one more thrust and then he found his release, bracing his hands on the counter as he came, his body shaking against mine.