I didn’t see Jayden again until the limo ride to Sebastian’s mansion. It pulled up a steep hill and entered a circular drive. The two-story house was up on a hill, the back half on stilts looking over the city below. Sebastian met us at the front door dressed in a form-fitting suit, his hair styled and expensive cologne emanating from him.

“Welcome! Please come inside!” he beckoned us in.

We followed him up the stairs and I stopped at the top to enjoy the view. The room was completely glass-walled. Mocha-colored suede couches lined each wall, and a bar held center court in the middle. Twelve high-backed chairs surrounded the bar and coffee tables were placed in front of each set of couches. I walked to one of the floor-to-ceiling windows and gaped at the view of the city below.

“This is gorgeous, Sebastian,” I fairly whispered in awe.

“I don’t like feeling crowded, this affords me the feeling of being free.”

“I can see that.”

“Please, make yourself at home. The rest of the guests will be arriving soon!”

Ransom came up next to me, and gave a low whistle.

“Check out the view!”

“This is sick,” I agreed.

 

More people began to arrive and I sought out Jayden in the crowded room. He was talking with Gareth, and Axel was standing behind them, arms crossed and looking dangerous. Not sure he was fitting in. Harley was with Rebel, talking with the heavy metal finalist named Jericho. Achilles and the rest of the guys were hovering nearby.

Ransom suddenly gasped and I followed his line of sight. A dark-haired man walked into the room wearing a suit that hugged him in all the right places. Arctic blue eyes scanned the room before they landed on us. A smile tugged his cupid bow lips and he leaned into Sebastian’s ear.

“Who is that?” I nudged Ransom.

“That’s Sal Falco. Oh. My. God. Sal Falco is here.”

I stared at the guy, trying to place him.

“Oh! That’s the actor, right? The guy whose movies you treat like gold?”

“Shut up! They’re walking this way!” Ransom hissed, suddenly looking panicked.

“Ah, Ransom Fox, I would like to introduce you to my dear friend, Sal Falco.” Sebastian pushed Sal closer to Ransom and I grinned as he stiffened.

“What a pleasure, Ransom,” Sal crooned. “I love your music.”

“Wait, what?” Ransom stammered.

Jesus, I thought Ransom was going to melt into a pile of goo. I grabbed his elbow to steady him and Sebastian introduced me to Sal. I got a nod, a handshake, and a smile before Sal zeroed back in on Ransom. Judging by the sparks that flew from Sal as he stared at Ransom, the place was about to come down in a fiery blaze. By the way the guy was eye-sexing Ransom, I was fairly certain that he was gay.

“Can I offer you a drink, Ransom?” Sal motioned to the bar.

“Oh, um, I don’t really drink.” Ransom bit his bottom lip.

“Water, maybe?” Sal asked smoothly and I think Ransom groaned. Well, now. I think I figured out why Ransom never wanted Paul in that way. He had a thing for the dark-haired, sex-on-a-stick actor standing in front of us. I cleared my throat and leaned into Ransom.

“I’ll just be over there.” I pointed to the corner.

“Uh huh.”

I excused myself to Sal and walked over to the other side of the room where a few women were hanging around. I recognized one of them, but couldn’t put a name to the face. Why was I thinking tritons and fish? Her eyes met mine and widened. Arielle! That was her name.

“Jinx.” She sidled up next to me. “I tried to talk to Harley, but he blew me off.”

“Well, we are at a party. We need to mingle.”

“How about you and I have some one on one?”

I looked around the room to see Scott the asshole contestant leering at me and jerking his chin toward Jayden. I looked back at Arielle and smiled. Jesus, you could use her tits as floatation devices.

“Let’s take a walk.”

We went downstairs to a large kitchen that took up one side of the lower level. On the other side was a long corridor, and at the very end, double doors. Arielle followed me as I headed that way. Four more doors lined both sides of the corridor as we finally made it to the double doors. I opened the door and Arielle gasped behind me. A canopied king-sized bed dominated the middle of the room. White silk flowed down around the bed and a large window filled one side of the room. The door shut behind me and I whirled around just in time to catch Arielle as she jumped into my arms. Her lips gnawed at mine and I carefully removed her.

“Whoa, slow down there!”

“What’s wrong, Jinx? Don’t you want me?” Arielle unbuttoned her shirt and her boobs popped out. “You never said no before.”

I should be turned on, I really should be, but the only person I could think of right then was Jayden. Arielle moved closer, grabbing my dick and rubbing herself against me. I tried to move back because, God help me, she was doing her damnedest and I wasn’t getting hard. At all. I didn’t want her and I really didn’t want to be a dick about it. Arielle attacked my mouth again and I fought her off as best I could without actually hurting her. The door opened so hard it slammed the wall behind me and Jayden stood in the doorway with Achilles.

Oh fuck.

“I thought…” Jayden blinked and shook his head.

“Are you all right, Jinx?” Achilles asked sharply.

“I’m fine.”

“Ma’am? Could you button your blouse, please?” Achilles addressed the woman with no expression on his face.

I walked around Arielle and approached Jayden. He backed up, still shaking his head.

“Jayden…” I reached out to him.

“No.” Jayden lifted his chin. “Don’t worry about it. I just wanted to make sure you were okay.”

He turned and ran down the corridor and I started to follow, but Achilles gripped my bicep and held me back. Arielle walked past us, straightening her shirt.

“Maybe next time?” she cooed, completely oblivious.

No and just … no. God, was I so wrapped up in Jayden that I couldn’t even function with women? Seemed that way.

Achilles dragged me into the corridor and shut the bedroom doors behind me. He turned to face me and I saw anger in those cool eyes.

“What?” I said in defiance. “This is who I am.”

“Bullshit,” he snapped. “It’s who you used to be. Jayden was worried you’d been drugged or something so he came and found me.”

My mouth dropped open in surprise. I’d never heard Achilles speak that forcefully. His brows were furrowed and his glare went right through me.

“Don’t play with people’s emotions, Jinx. That’s not you,” he continued.

“How the fuck do you know who I am?”

“I’ve been watching you. I know more than you think, Jinx. Jayden sees you, the real you, not the guy you show everyone else. Either let him go, or reel him in ─ but don’t fuck with his head.”

Achilles turned and strode down the corridor. Jesus, I’d never heard the man be so damn vocal ─ and he chose to try it out on me? What the fuck, man? I went back upstairs, but Jayden was nowhere to be found. Gareth shot me a look from across the room and I walked over to him.

“Where’s Jayden?” I asked casually.

“He went back to the hotel. He looked hurt, Jinx.”

“I can’t help that,” I shrugged.

Gareth punched me in the arm.

“Ow! What the fuck?” I pinned Gareth with a stunned look.

“Yes, you can help that. Stop being an asshole and own up. Grow up, too, while you’re at it.”

Seriously, was he really only twenty-three? “I’m going back to the hotel. I’ll see you in the morning.”

 

I went to Jayden’s room when I got back to the hotel, but he wasn’t there, or he wasn’t answering the door. I went back to my own room and took a shower. My dick hung flaccid between my legs, probably upset that I couldn’t find Jayden. I knew it wasn’t heartbroken that I didn’t fuck Arielle. I just … couldn’t. Something about Jayden felt right, as if I belonged with him. Now, if I could just stop being a dick around him and be a fucking man, maybe I could be happy.

 

~*~

 

Morning came way too fast. I hurried to get dressed and grabbed my wallet off the nightstand. I ran down to the hotel lobby and into the gift shop. I grabbed a box of lubricated condoms and a pack of gum. The woman just smiled at me as I took my purchases. I stumbled into the dining room, hunting coffee like a lion stalking an antelope. But with a less bloody result. I also needed something to calm my rumbling stomach. The breakfast table held an array of foods, but the one I wanted wasn’t there. I sighed and looked at the muffins on the oval plate.

“Who the fuck keeps eating the blueberry muffins?”

I ate some potatoes and scarfed down a bagel before jumping into the van for the studio. I was early, but I could hear music from the stage as I walked into the building. I crept around the corner and spotted Gareth playing For Whom the Bell Tolls by Metallica on his guitar and someone was hitting the skins like a fucking professional. I moved forward a bit and almost tripped as I spotted Jayden behind the drum set. Jesus, he looked absolutely beautiful. His blond hair hung in his eyes, sweat poured down his biceps, and his T-shirt was soaked.

It was the most gorgeous vision I’d ever had.

One of Jayden’s other bandmates, Dimos, was playing the bass. I stood rooted to the spot, totally in awe of Jayden’s ability.

Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Scott Stupid advancing toward the stage from the seats. He already had a smirk on his face that made me want to slap the taste out of his mouth. Jayden began singing and I almost pissed myself. Damn! The guy had a voice! He sounded almost like Ransom.

“Impressive.”

I jumped sky high and spun around to see Rebel head banging behind me with Harley and Ransom.

“Thank God he just stands there and sings ‘na-na-na-naaa,’ huh? Otherwise, he could give us a run for our money,” Ransom chuckled.

“Shut up! I didn’t know!” I whispered.

“Hey! Who’s over there?” Gareth called out.

“Just us!” Ransom answered, shoving me onto the main stage.

Jayden wiped his forehead with his forearm and stared at me. Scott was leaning against the first row of seats, just watching us and I knew my inner dick was about to emerge. I tried so hard to stop it from coming.

“Make sure you clean those when you’re done.” I pointed to the drum set.

“Of course. They’re mine,” Jayden shot back.

“W-what?” I stammered.

“Yeah, mine.” Jayden grinned wickedly.

“That was just a fluke, right, Jayden?” Scott taunted from the front row. “Bet that’s the only song you can play.”

Jayden twirled a stick in his fingers and grinned at Gareth. “Hey, Ahab, wanna back me up?”

“No way!” I shouted in disbelief.

“Way!” Jayden winked.

“Who the fuck is Ahab?” Scott asked, totally confused.

“Dude, that’s Led Zeppelin’s Moby Dick! Haven’t you ever heard the drum solo?”

“Who is Led Zeppelin?”

“Dude, leave before I kill you for even asking that question.” Rebel leaned in to Scott’s face.

The guys and I took a seat in the front row as Jayden and Gareth began to play. My hands moved with Jayden’s, almost as if we were both playing. It took a good ten minutes before Jayden stopped and he looked up. Rebel stood clapping, and Harley and Ransom joined him. I couldn’t help it. I stood up too. I clapped for the guy who turned me upside down and turned me on beyond belief.

“And now a special song for you.” Jayden stared right at me. He motioned for Gareth and leaned into his ear when he got close. Dimos leaned in as well and they both grinned.

Gareth came to stand at the front of the stage and leaned into the microphone.

“Some Nickelback for ya.”

The music started and Jayden sang. I frowned as Figured You Out blasted across the seats.

“Well now, that’s telling.” Rebel chuckled.

“Shut up.”

Jayden could sing and play drums. I meant, I could too ─ but I had no idea he was so amazing.

The guys finished up and once again got a standing ovation. Scott snickered at my right and I glanced over at him and sent him a death glare. Jayden came out from behind the drums and bowed with Gareth and his other bandmate.

“Thanks to Dimos for helping out.”

“My pleasure,” Dimos replied.

I jumped up on stage and took Jayden by the hand. He pulled back from me and I tried again to take his hand.

“Don’t touch me.”

“Will you let me explain Arielle, please?”

“Arielle? Seriously? Don’t bother. I know how you operate, Jinx. That’s how you keep getting fucked up with some STD. I’m surprised your dick hasn’t fallen off!”

“Nothing happened!”

“Really? I could swear her tongue was down your throat.” Jayden took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. “You don’t owe me any explanations.”

“You’re right, I don’t, but I want to explain nonetheless.”

“Whatever, Jinx.”

“Are you going to listen to me or not?”

“Not.” Jayden placed his sticks in my hand and walked off.

“Jayden Dempsey!” I barked. “You owe me!”

He spun around, his gaze nearly scorching me from the inside.

“I owe you? How many have you slept with, Jinx? It seems to me you've done the walk of shame nearly every tour and in between!”

I narrowed my eyes and fixed him with a look. “It's not the walk of shame, it's the 'just got laid parade’.”

Right about that time, I realized we had an audience. In my peripheral vision, I caught sight of Gareth and the guys, mouths hanging open in shock. Jayden made some kind of spluttering noise before he stomped backstage. I turned to my guys and waited.

“Na-na-na-naaa,” they sang in perfect harmony.

“Oh, fuck off.”