Had I done something wrong?

My body reacted, the desire still pulsating through me. On the edge. Needed satisfaction. Was willing to do almost anything. So close. Just one more millimeter to the precipice…

But I had been yanked off his cock. Yanked off the instrument giving me so much pleasure.

“I can’t do this right now,” Jett said, his eyes closed.

My mouth dropped open. Wasn’t he the one who had begged me to get on top of him just minutes ago?

I was a big girl. I had known what I was getting into, and I had chosen to go forward anyway.

Still… In the back of my mind, a fantasy motion picture had been playing. A fantasy that I could be the one to make Jett give up his groupies and fall in love. That I would be the one who captured his heart. In fact, I was much more disappointed than I thought I would be. Somehow, that fantasy had edged its way into my reality.

I wanted it. Longed for it.

Not that I would let him know any of that.

“Sure. I understand. No biggie.” I rolled off the bed, scanning the room for my clothes.

“Hey,” he said. “Come back here for a minute.”

Was he kidding? “It’s okay. I get it. You’re done with me.”

“No, you don’t get it. Last night… It meant something to me.”

It had meant something to me too. Something amazing. But I wasn’t about to admit that at the moment. “Hey, it was a fuck. It is what it is. On to the next one, right?”

He sighed and closed his eyes but then opened them again almost immediately. “Yeah. Whatever, babe.”

I scurried around, grabbing clothes as quickly as I could, and then charged into the bathroom.

I couldn’t stop the tears. I turned on the shower so he wouldn’t hear me and then sat with a plunk down on the plush toilet seat.

How had I thought I could be okay?

It is what it is.

Objectively, I had expected nothing different. That was how I needed to continue to look at this—no fantasies, no feelings. Clearly that was how Jett saw it. Plus, thanks to him, a television producer was looking at my work. So television wasn’t my first love. So what? Rock and roll wasn’t Jett’s first love either, but he was great at it, and he was still singing. Still practicing his vocation.

But I really didn’t want to think about him right now. I sniffled, swallowing back the remainder of my tears. The shower was on. Why not take advantage of it? Clearly he wanted me to leave, but I had at least earned the right to a shower.

The hot water would redden my skin and help hide the fact that I’d been sobbing like an idiot. I stepped into the marble-encased shower. Pure decadence. I hadn’t bothered turning on steam, but the water fell from not one but three massive showerheads. I looked around and found some shampoo and a bar of soap, but then just stood for a few moments, letting the anguish envelop me.

And then a body—a warm, wet body against mine.

“Hey,” he said against my ear.

I turned into him. “For real?” I sniffled, hoping the water was hiding the tears. “You kick me out of your bed, and now you get in the shower with me?”

He pulled me into him and kissed the top of my head in an almost father-like manner. His dick, hard as ever, pressed into my belly. Not so father-like after all.

“Heather, I’m sorry.”

I cleared my throat. “You have no reason to be sorry. You’re done with me. I get that. I knew who you were going into this. Maybe I’m more of a groupie than I thought. Maybe I just wanted to fuck a rock star.”

He shook his head. “I don’t believe that. You’re different.”

“I’m not. I got what I came for, Jett. I hope I didn’t disappoint you.” Then I wanted to smack myself for saying those words. Of course I had disappointed him. I didn’t have near the experience his groupies had. I opened my mouth to take back the words but then realized that would only draw more attention to them.

He pulled me close to him again. “Please, Heather. Please just let me hold you for a few more minutes.”

Was he kidding?

I pulled back, nearly slipping, but he grabbed my forearm, steadying me.

“I suppose it was a little presumptuous of me to think I could use your shower.”

“Damn it, it wasn’t presumptuous at all. Please, come into my arms for a few minutes.”

Dear God, I had no strength. As much as I wanted to stay away from him, to begin the healing of my heart, my body moved of its own accord, and I melted into his arms, my slick skin sliding against his. He felt so good against me. If only he hadn’t shared with me some of the intimate details of his life—his love of opera, his true artistry. Maybe if he was just a guy who looked good gyrating on stage, this wouldn’t hurt so damned much.

He kissed the top of my head again and rubbed my back, which was strangely soothing even as my heart was breaking. I hoped these few moments would last forever. Of course I knew better. But still they would be etched in my brain for all time. And more importantly, etched in my heart.

I waited for him to pull back, to stop the embrace. Moment by moment, however, he held me, the water still pelting us. In my apartment, the hot water would’ve run out by now, but he clearly had a gigantic hot water heater in this mansion.

His erection pulsed against my belly, and I ached to fall to my knees and take him into my mouth. I wanted to please him, wanted to do whatever I could to stretch out this time with him.

Still he didn’t move.

So I would. I had to find the strength within me to leave this man I’d inadvertently fallen in love with.

How had I let this happen? I’d been serious. I’d been willing to have one night with him and then move on.

At least…I thought I had.

Turned out I wasn’t that strong. But at that moment I called on that strength from the depths of my bones.

And I pulled away.

“I need to leave.”

“No. Let me wash you. Let me wash your hair for you.”

What a thought! Those thick fingers massaging my scalp. Then, when I turned toward the water to rinse, he could slide that magnificent cock into me from behind…

“No,” I said. “I need to leave. Now.” I pushed past him and stepped out of the shower, looking for something to dry off with.

He stepped out behind me and handed me a plush black bath towel. He said nothing.

I dried off quickly and began to put on my clothes.

He stood there, making no move to grant me privacy. I would have liked some, but it was his bathroom, his house. I was the stranger here, not him.

I turned around to avoid his stare and put on my panties.

His inhale was swift. “You’re so beautiful, Heather.”

I closed my eyes for a few seconds, breathed in, and then opened them and continued getting dressed. Then I turned, walked past him—he was still naked and erect—left the bathroom, and found my sandals. I put them on hastily and walked out of the bedroom.

“Wait!” He clambered behind me, now clad in a green silk robe. Which of course brought out the green in his eyes.

How had this happened to me?

“Let me drive you.”

“No. I’ll get an Uber. I’m good, but thanks.” I headed down his spiral staircase.

He followed. “Please. At least let Lars drive you.”

“No, thank you.”

“Heather…”

I turned abruptly, nearly crashing into him. “Jett, stop it. Please. This is over. Let me go.”

I turned around, headed down the rest of the staircase, through the ornate foyer, and then out the door.

Susie pounced on me when I finally made it home. I so wasn’t in the mood.

“Oh my God! Lindy called me and told me Jett grabbed you after the bomb threat. Are you okay? What happened? How was it? You have to tell me everything.”

Normally I would have, but I couldn’t bring myself to describe my amazing—and then devastating—time in detail. Not even for one of my best friends.

“I’m fine,” I said, “and nothing happened.”

“You’re lying. Your cheeks are red. You went off with Jett Draconis last night and you expect me to believe nothing happened? I know you too well. Or rather, I know Jett too well.” She giggled.

Though I had believed Susie when she said she had never slept with Jett, I had no doubt she knew what he was about. She had probably witnessed him in many compromising situations.

No way would she believe nothing had happened between Jett and me. So how could I get away with this without talking?

And then my phone rang. Perfect! A diversion.

“I bet that’s you know who!” Susie arched her eyebrows.

We hadn’t exchanged phone numbers, though my heart sped at the possibility. He could easily get my number, with all his resources. In fact, he had done so already, to give it to Laney. I glanced down at my phone. My heart surged again. It wasn’t a number I recognized.

“I have to take this,” I said, forcing a smile.