Page 72 of Lust For

He just smiles at me, his brown eyes shining back at me.

“The hell with what the band says or even Serena?”

His body stiffens at the mention of Serena. “You know she’s not real. I’m not actually seeing her.”

“I know you’re not. But I just feel like she’s going to have some feelings about you seeing me. She had some feelings about me being there the other night.”

“What did she say to you?”

“It doesn’t matter,” I tell him, hoping he drops it.

“I feel like it should. But you’re not going to tell me, are you?”

“It’s no big deal. Nothing I can’t handle.”

“But you’re worried about what she’ll say when she finds out that we’re dating?”

“Because you’re dating her to help with her image. Isn’t this going to hurt it?”

“No,” he says slowly. “But I can see where this might hurt mine.” I go to say something, but he puts a finger over my lips. “Although, you could help it too. Childhood best friends find love. Sure, some people will hate me for hurting Serena, but all press can’t be bad for me, right?”

I laugh uneasily. I get a feeling in the pit on my stomach that his manager and other handlers are not going to see it that way. But I decide not to bring it up right now. He looks so happy and peaceful lying in my bed.

“Relax.” Derek strokes my hair away from my face. “You’re worrying about things that aren’t even there yet. I have people who can handle this type of thing. It’s what we pay them the big bucks for. Don’t worry, we’re not going to have to handle this on our own. Once we get the band on board, we’ll get the rest of my team to follow, and life will be good. It might be bumpy for a bit, but we’ll get there.”

I’m not sure that he’s right, but I let it go. My thoughts are interrupted, and the conversation is halted when the doorbell rings.

Derek gets up to get the door. “Who the fuck is spoiling my perfect morning with you?”

I scurry out of bed and follow him. Derek pulls open the door to find two men wearing jeans and black polo shirts. I immediately wrap my arms around my body. I’m in small shorts and a tank top sans bra.

“Go put some clothes on,” Derek says over his shoulder.

I head back down the hall and change. After a minute or two, Derek comes back into the room. He pauses when he enters, his eyes trailing slowly up my legs and finally reaching my face.

“Are they still here?” I ask him.

“Who?”

I laugh. “The men at the door.”

“Oh, them,” he says, shaking his head like he’s clearing it from a fog. I have him so distracted, and I’m only standing here in my tiny sleep tank and jean shorts. The shorts are open, and you can see my thong beneath them. “Yeah, they’re here. It seems your mom asked them to come take some of the stuff you’re donating.”

“I thought they weren’t coming until tomorrow?”

“Wires got crossed, I guess.”

“Great,” I say sarcastically. I do a mental inventory of what’s finished and what needs to be done to determine if I’m even ready for that.

Sighing, I make my way out of the bedroom. “Hey, I have some things ready for you, but I don’t have it all done. I thought I had today to take care of this.”

“We can come back tomorrow, too, if that works for you.”

“Like two separate pickups?” I ask him. He’s not looking at me anymore. His eyes are fixated behind me. I know instantly that Derek must have come out of the bedroom and is standing there too.

“Are you…?” the guy starts.

Derek makes his way over. He’s got a swagger about him, slow and sure. “I am.” His voice is several octaves deeper than I’ve heard him talk to me.

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