Page 21 of Forbidden Billionaire Rockstar

There’s this gleam in his eyes that tells me exactly what his next move is going to be, yet I don’t step away from him to keep it from happening. Instead, I look into his eyes, silently give him permission, and within a second, he slams his lips against mine.

It’s a bruising kiss, a perfect storm of longing and desperation — it’s like he won’t be able to live without draining the air from my lungs. I open my mouth for him, our tongues swiping together in a dance of their own, and I close my eyes to drink in the moment.

His hands squeeze my hips, tugging me against him, and it’s when I feel his hard length pressing into my stomach that everything comes back into focus. I place my hands on his chest, push him away, and duck away from him before exiting the room. There’s no one else in the hallway, but I still do my best to cover my face in case anyone else comes out of their rooms.

The last thing I need is for my brother to come waltzing out, wondering what the hell I’m doing on their floor when the people I work for are one more down. As soon as I step into the elevator, I lean against the cool metal of the wall and take a few deep breaths while gripping the railing attached behind my back.

What was I thinking?

Kissing him is the last thing I should be doing.

But it felt like the only thing that made sense in a world that’s spinning out of control. I’m losing myself in this push and pullbetween professionalism and passion, and I’m not sure which version of me will emerge victorious.

The elevator opens onto my floor, and I disappear into my room, pressing my back against the door once it’s shut and closing my eyes while I think. My lips are still tingling from the kiss, forcing me to bring my hands up and brush my fingers over them. I’m sure if someone got one look at me they’d notice how swollen they are, which is why it’s a relief I won’t have to see anyone for a few more hours.

Instead of focusing on Jace, I walk over to the small table where my paperwork is lined up with lists of different marketing plans, and I look over the words. I’ve got to get in touch with a radio host to give an exclusive interview with Sweet Surrender after their show, but I can’t focus on anything other than the feel of Jace’s lips against mine.

Focus, Mallory.

I grab the pen I’ve been using from the table and tap it frantically against the thick wood, my leg bouncing in tandem with it. No matter how much I try to read what’s on the papers in front of me, I can’t seem to comprehend what they say.

A soft knock on my door pulls me away from my work and I make my way over to the door, nervous that Jace decided to follow me back to my room. When I open the door, Trevor stands outside, his tall frame slightly hunched. His hands are shoved into the pockets of his worn-out jeans, fingers visibly fidgeting beneath the denim.

His usually confident demeanor is replaced by nervous energy, evident in the way he shifts his weight from one foot to the other. His tousled brown hair looks like he's been running his hands through it repeatedly, and there's a crease between his eyebrows that I've never noticed before.

“Hey, Mallory,” Trevor says, “I, uh, just wanted to check-in. You seemed distracted earlier. Everything okay?”

I force a smile. Only the typical pre-show nerves. Nothing I can’t handle.”

He nods, clearly unconvinced. “Right. Well, if you need anything... I mean, we’re all in this together, you know?”

The sincerity in his voice only amplifies my guilt. If he knew where I’d been, what I’d been doing...

“Have you met me?” I ask, arching a brow with a smirk. “I live for working.”

He chuckles and looks down the hall, before turning his gaze back at me with his mouth open as if he has something else he wants to say. Instead of speaking, he clamps his mouth shut when one of the other doors open and Ledger comes waltzing out of the room.

“Hey,” Trevor says, nodding toward his bandmate. “What’s up?”

Ledger freezes, then slowly turns around and shrugs. “Just going to get some fresh air. Can never rest before a big show, you know?”

Trevor nods, then looks back at me with a frown. “I’ll, uh, come with you.”

Ledger’s eyes widen, and he shakes his head. “I’m not going to be the best company right now. Just want some alone time.”

I catch a flicker of something in Ledger's eyes - guilt? Anxiety? Whatever it is, it's not my place to pry. I push down my curiosity, reminding myself to focus on my own problems. I clear my throat, smile at the two guys, and nod. “Enjoy the rest of the day. I’ll see you guys later on tonight.”

Trevor doesn’t get a chance to say anything else before I close the door and shut it softly behind me. I fix my eyes on the papers on the table for a few minutes, wondering if I should take another stab at getting my work done, followed by a quick glance at the bed that seems to be inviting me.

A nap might be exactly what I need.

I’ll set an alarm to wake up in an hour to get the interview set up.

Everything will be okay.

***

I jolt awake, fragments of dreams about Jace's touch still clinging to my consciousness. Something feels off. I squint against the too-bright light flooding my room, the silence pressing against my ears. Disoriented, I fumble for my phone, a knot of dread forming in my stomach.

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