Seth had just about convinced the others to start a drinking game. I knew I’d have to duck out if I wanted to escape unscathed.

“Want to go dance?” I asked Julian.

He let out small choking cough, eyes wide with panic. I laughed.

“We’re not really going to dance,” I whispered in his ear. “We can sway to the music. I just don’t feel like being roped into one of Seth’s games tonight.”

Julia nodded and stood, taking my hand to help me up.

“Going to get another drink,” I lied to the others. “You can start without us.”

Seth didn’t look suspicious. Good.

With Julian’s hand in mine, I lead him down the stairs to a dark corner of the dance floor. He was right that most people wouldn’t recognize him, but just in case, I wanted to stay away from the crowded middle. Not to mention, I wasn’t a fan of all those wandering hands that came with being in a mass of club dancers.

Turning to face Julian, I wrapped my arms around his neck and pressed against him. He put his hands on my waist, stroking up and down my sides to the hollow of my hips. The music had a hard driving beat, but we simply rocked back and forth, plastered as close together as we could get without being indecent.

I’d save the indecency for later.

“Your band members seem really close,” I said.

“We are,” Julian said. “It’s a weird combination of personalities, but we manage it.”

“I think the fact that you’re all obsessed with your work helps,” I said. “No time for petty fights and squabbles.”

“Oh, we fight,” Julian chuckled. “Sometimes Cerise threatens to kick us in the nuts with her combat boots, or Nathan tells Gael to shut his mouth before he shuts it for him.”

“But it all works out in the end, I’m sure.”

“It does,” Julian agrees. “Somehow, we all seemed to have clicked.”

The words made me oddly sad. Julian, Seth and I had all clicked. And look what had happened to us.

I shook my head mentally. I wasn’t going to dwell on the past. I was going to look toward the future. My future with Julian, and on my own.

I wasn’t going to let my experience with Keith keep me from living the life of my dreams. Not anymore.

I just had to figure out what that dream was now.

“Remember that time Seth got pissed at us for suggesting we cut his drum solo short?” Julian said.

“I remember. He replaced my hair conditioner with mayonnaise, that dick.”

I could find the humor in his prank now, although I’d been livid at the time. I’d spent a lot of money on my conditioner. It was specifically designed for pink-dyed hair. Which reminded me, I’d have to stock up on some more now that I’d gone back to my old color.

“Remember that time I got pissed at both of you for sneaking a look at my notebook?” I asked.

“You thought it would jinx you if anyone saw the lyrics before they were ready.” Julian ducked his head and nuzzled my hair. “But you had been obsessing over getting them just right for our first indie album. If we hadn’t looked and told you they were perfect, you’d probably still be working on them.”

“Is that a hint that we’ve been taking too long to finish your song?” I asked.

“No,” Julian said. “Not at all. We have time to perfect it. Because it will be perfect. It’s us writing it.”

“No lack of ego, hm?”

“I just know how amazing you are. How amazing we are together.”

Julian squeezed me tight, tugging me even closer until our hips fit neatly together, legs almost tangled. The heat of his body warmed mine, his chest muscles firm against my breasts. The material of the dress wasn’t exactly thick. The friction was enough to make my nipples peak.

Julian noticed. He dragged his hands up my sides until his thumbs were just underneath my breasts.

“No bra?” he murmured.

I leaned up and bit down lightly on his ear before whispering. “No panties, either.”

He groaned out loud, fingers tightening around my rib cage.

“Fuck, Ev, are you serious right now?” he asked, his voice strained.

I took his hands and brought them down until they cupped my ass, noticeably lacking panty lines.

“Why don’t you find out yourself?” I asked.

He squeezed and kneaded. Heat pooled between my legs. I bit my lip to stifle a moan.

“You’re doing this to drive me crazy, aren’t you?” His eyes darted back and forth, scanning the busy dance floor. “We’re in the middle of a club.”

“Don’t you have access to private rooms? So you can avoid the public?” I put on my most innocent expression, but my voice betrayed wicked intentions. “After all, as a celebrity, you’re going to want some privacy.” I rolled my hips and ground down against him. He was already hardening in his jeans. “Don’t want to be bothered by fans and media. Isn’t that right?”

“Fuck,” he cursed, eyes flashing wildly, before he grabbed my hand. “Come with me.”

Julian dragged me through the club, up the stairs, and down a hallway. A bouncer took one look at him and let us through a set of double doors. Julian found the first open door, practically flung me into it and kicked the door closed.

I didn’t have time to say a word before he took both my wrists in his hands and pushed me up against the wall, pinning me down with his hips. His hands tightened on my wrists. The hunger in his eyes made my insides flutter and pulse. He leaned down, putting his mouth right against mine.

“You’re going to be the death of me,” he murmured roughly.

“So you keep saying,” I said. “And yet here you are, still alive. Maybe I should try harder?”

He rocked his hips, grinding his cock into me. My stomach clenched.

“I’m hard enough for the both of us,” he chuckled darkly. “Now don’t move.”

He let go out of my wrists, trailing his hands down my arms, down my breasts, to the tops of my thighs. He nudged my legs apart with his knee, lifting my dress, and caressed my inner thighs, going higher and higher, until—

“Fuck, Ev,” he grunted as his fingers found my wet core. My head thumped back against the wall as his dipped his fingers between my lower lips. “You’re fucking dripping. So goddamn hot for it, aren’t you?”

“Yes,” I groaned. “I want it. I want you. Please.”

He plunged two fingers into me. I cried out and balled my hands into fists, but didn’t move them. I couldn’t help the squirm of my hips.

“More,” I demanded.

“You want more?” He took one of my hands and cupped my palm over his stiff bulge. I thumbed the button open and fumbled for the zipper. “You want this?”

I managed to grab the tab between thumb and forefinger and unzipped, letting his cock spring out. He jammed his hand into his pocket and pulled out protection, quickly ripping open the package and rolling it on.

He fisted my dress in his hand and roughly pulled the zipper down from neck to hem, until it was completely open and hanging from my arms, exposing my naked body.

His eyes flashed, looking ravenous as he took in the sight. He put his hands on my ass and lifted me up. I wrapped my legs around his waist, letting his weight press me against the wall.

With a single thrust he pierced into me, making me cry out in pleasure. I clawed my nails into his back, hanging on for dear life as he pummeled into me, slamming me back against the wall with a ferocity I’d rarely experienced from Julian. He was a generous lover, attentive and thorough, but he rarely let himself go like this. I rarely saw him let loose and let himself be consumed by pleasure, by pure feeling.

And I loved it.

“Harder,” I moaned. “Give it to me.”

“You drive me fucking insane,” he growled, then bit down into my neck.

I cried out even louder, squeezing around him. I brought one hand down between us and began playing with myself, so close to the edge and knowing he couldn’t take his hands from my ass or I’d fall.

“I need you to come, Ev,” he grunted, and I knew he was close, too.

I rubbed harder. He hefted me up even higher, penetrating me at a different angle, making me gasp out loud as he reached even further depths. The head of his cock scrapped back and forth along the most perfect spot inside me.

I exploded, bucking my hips and writhing as I let out a shriek.

Julian cursed and thrust once, twice more, before he let out a long, low groan, cock twitching inside me as he came for long, intense moments.

I shuddered, clinging to him, until his arms began to tremble with the strain. I lowered my legs, hissing as he slipped out of me, and found my bearings. We leaned against each other, using the wall to keep upright, breathing heavily.

Julian let out a weak laugh.

“There goes my no-sex-in-public rule,” he said ruefully.

“Was it really a rule?” I asked. “Or were you always just horrified at the thought of getting caught?”

“Aren’t you?” he asked.

“We’re not in public,” I reminded him. “We’re in a private VIP room. See? The word private is even in the name.”

He chuckled and tugged me to him. He was still fully dressed, having only unzipped enough to fuck me. I was fully naked aside from my boots.

“I hope you didn’t rip the zipper on my dress,” I said. “Otherwise you’re giving me your t-shirt and you’re the one walking out of here half-naked.”

Julian pulled back to stare at me, a fond look in his eyes as he pushed a strand of pink hair behind my ear.

“You’re wonderful,” he said. “You know that?”

I smiled softly and cupped his cheek. “You’ve mentioned it a time or two.”

“Ev, I—”

He took in a deep breath, holding it.

My heart stopped in my chest. Was this…?

His lips parted, as if trying to speak, but not able to push out the words. A frustrated frown crossed his face, before he surged forward and buried his nose in my hair.

“I just really missed you,” he whispered.

I tried not to let my heart sink, but it was hard not to.

After watching the other members of Cherry Lips be so openly affectionate with each other, it was almost disheartening that Julian couldn’t even say the words in private.

But I’d promised myself I wouldn’t let it get me down. I’d give him the time and space he needed.

That didn’t make waiting any easier.

“Help me zip up the dress?” I asked him. “If we’re gone any longer the others are going to get suspicious.”

“By now, they’re probably all too tanked to notice we’re even gone.”

“Seth’s drinks are still that potent, hm?”

“He outdoes himself each time, I swear.”

By the time Julian was zipped back up and my dress was in place, our breathing had evened out and our cheeks were no longer so flushed. Only the ache between my legs and his overworked arm muscles gave away what we’d just been up to.

The bouncer averted his gaze as we left. I wondered if the rooms were sound-proofed. Well, whatever. I was sure he’d heard, and seen, worse than us.

Julian kept his arm tight around my waist as we maneuvered our way back to the bar to get some drinks. We could at least pretend we’d gone to the dance floor.

“You want to go back to the others?” Julian asked. “Or do you want to head home?”

I knew exactly what heading home meant, and I was tempted.

“As much as I’d like to continue ravishing you, we should probably make an attempt to be social,” I said. “I want to get to know your friends. They’re important to you, which means they’re important to me.”

“You really are amazing,” Julian said. “I can’t believe I—”

I put a finger to his lips.

“No dwelling on the past,” I said. “That’s what I’ve promised myself. Let’s look forward only. All right?”

He nodded silently. I removed my finger and placed a quick kiss where it had laid.

As hard as it was, I was going to do just as I promised. Leave my past behind me. Focus on the future.

Our future.

My future with Julian.