"Twenty-eight, twenty-nine, thirty, thirty-one. Don't stop! Thirty-two. Come on Nick!"

Sandy was leaning on his back, pressing down on him with her body weight, while he did resistance push ups. It was his fifth bloody set of the day and he was tired.

He hadn't slept well last night.

He'd been thinking about her.

"I'm done, love. Tapped. Sorry."

He bent his arms and rolled onto his back. Sandy smiled down at him suggestively. He felt not a lick of attraction for her.

Not the tiniest spark.

"Does that mean you aren't going to fuck me today either?"

He shook his head.

"Sorry, love. It's just not in the cards. Not that you don't look delectable as always."

She rolled her eyes at him and handed him a towel.

"I saw you on TV last night."

He said nothing, just blotted some of the sweat off his face.

"You looked good."

"It's all thanks to you, doll."

She laughed and tossed him a water bottle.

"Stretch. Go slow, don’t hold it.”

He pulled hard on the water and tossed the towel around his neck. He reached for his toes, as Sandy came up behind him and pressed gently down on his back. It felt sublime.

"So was that true? About you having a girlfriend?"

He snorted, straightening his back and reaching overhead to stretch his sides.

"No, love. Nothing of the sort. It was an exaggeration.”

"But-"

Sandy was acting a bit clingy. He wondered briefly if he’d led her on in some way over the months of occasional bonking. He’d never been anything but cordial to her, but he’d never wanted more.

He was trying to think of a way to change the subject when Sabrina burst into the room. Marley was right behind her, waving his hands.

Good. He'd been expecting her. Hell, he'd been looking forward to this.

He drank her in like a cool drink of water in the Sahara.

There it was. His mojo wasn’t broken after all. His cock sprang to immediate attention.

"Sorry Nick- she ran past me."

He smiled at her. Jesus, the air went right out of his lungs at the sight of her. She wasn't dressed for work for once. She was wearing jeans and a white cotton button down. She looked good.

No, better than good.

She looked bloody gorgeous as usual.

And angrier than a hornet.

"What the hell, Nick? Did you seriously go above my head to get even with me? I'm trying to help your career in case you weren't aware. I'm not doing this for my own amusement!"

He smiled at her. She looked spectacular with her eyes blazing and her cheeks bright pink. Some women really were prettier when they were angry.

He was thrilled that he’d finally cracked her hard exterior shell. Now maybe he’d have a chance at the gooey bits.

"I am."

That brought her up short. Her jaw dropped open. It was a good look for her, believe it or not.

"What?"

He stood and took a long swig from his bottle.

"I am doing this for my own amusement."

Her mouth remained open as she stared at him, completely at a loss for words.

“Careful, love. You’re going to catch flies if you don’t shut your mouth.”

Her jaw snapped shut and she glowered at him. Hmmm… he liked it. She looked bloody spectacular.

"You don't even know what you are doing to me, do you?”

“What’s that, love?”

“You’re destroying my entire career!”

He shook his head slowly.

“I doubt that.”

“Can't you just call Jerry back and ask him to change his mind?"

He smiled patronizingly. He didn't have a clue what she was going on about. There was no way he was changing his mind about bringing her on tour. She could go on and be angry for as long as she wanted, just as long as she ended up in his bed.

It wasn’t that he wanted to upset her, even if it was a turn on to see her all fired up. He knew he was being a cad. But he didn't care.

He was going to win.

"I'm going to need extra special attention during the tour. How else can the label be sure I'm actually showing up for my appearances? You're the one who set them up darling, so you're the best bet to handle my needs."

"Handle- your what?"

"You heard me sweetheart. Pack your bags, we leave in less than-"

He checked his watch, enjoying himself tremendously.

"Fifteen hours."

"But-"

"No buts, darling. Accept your fate."

He grabbed her hand and froze, startled by the electricity that crackled where he touched her. Her skin was so soft… He lifted her hand to his lips, pressing a kiss there.

Christ, she smelled good!

"Sorry, sweetheart. But this is checkmate."

He smiled roguishly at the outraged look on her face. She yanked her hand from his and stormed out of the room. Marley threw his hands in the air and followed her out.

He turned around to see Sandy watching him with a calculating expression. She was smiling faintly, as if she knew something he didn’t. He scowled at her, feeling like he’d been caught with his britches down.

"So that's why you don't want to fuck."

"What are you on about now?"

She shook her head.

"You've got it bad, Nick. I've never seen you this way."

"I just like messing with her. She's got a rail up her ass. And what a nice ass it is."

"Uh huh. Sure. You know what they say about opposites."

"What's that?"

"They attract."

He said nothing. Sandy was right of course. He did have it bad. His reaction to seeing her today was scaring the shit out of him if he was honest. He'd just have to nail the girl six ways from Sunday for a couple months. Then he'd be back to normal.

Whatever that meant.

"Oh come on, Nick, don't tell me you don't want to fuck her."

Nick grinned at Sandy, raising his eyebrow.

"Well I didn't say that."