Page 32 of Forbidden Billionaire Rockstar

“Not by a long shot, sweetheart,” I say, and throw her a wink. “I’ll see you later, preferably with nothing on and waiting for me at the edge of this bed like you are now.”

As the high fades and reality begins to seep back in, the weight of what we've done - what we're planning to do - settles on my shoulders. This is more than just a bad decision. it's a potential catastrophe. I'm risking my friendship with Brent, the band's dynamic, Mallory's career - and for what? A few moments of pleasure? Yet even as these thoughts race through my mind,

I can't quell the excitement thrumming through my veins at the prospect of more. I'm caught in a war between my conscience and my desire, and I'm terrified of which side will win.

I need this just as much as she does. Neither of us can deny that.

Which is why the proposal was a must. We’ll get each other out of our systems like we were supposed to do months ago, and confidently go our separate ways after the tour ends.

It’s a simple deal.

So why do I feel like this is going to be anything but simple? Mallory is going to implode in my life, and I can’t decide whether that will be a good thing… or very,verybad.

No matter which it is, I’ve already made my bed and I can’t back out of it.

I throw one last grin at Mallory, then disappear from her sight and into the hallway. As I make my way back to my room, there’s a brief moment where I wonder if keeping something like this from Brent is the right thing to do.

There’s no other choice. He would never allow it.

Which is why I’ve got to keep this as low-key as I possibly can.

11

Mallory

The cold sheets besideme tell a familiar story. Once again, Jace has vanished like a midnight dream, leaving nothing but the lingering scent of his cologne and the ache of his absence. It’s a bittersweet reminder of our arrangement - passionate nights followed by solitary mornings.

That’s what our secret affair is about — he sneaks into my room every night, pleasuring me in ways I never imagined, crashes next to me, and it all feels like a wonderful dream when I wake up alone.

Just once, I’d love to wake up and find him watching the slow rise and fall of my chest with a small smile playing on his lips, but I can never get that lucky. I push myself up from the bed, even though I’d love nothing more than to crawl under theblanket and hide from the world, then make my way into the bathroom.

The notion sends a pang through my chest, a yearning for something I shouldn’t crave. This isn’t part of our deal. But then again, neither is the way my heart races every time he walks into a room.

If Julia hadn’t left the tour already because of her pregnancy, I’d be calling her to share my feelings while I did my morning routine. Instead, I’ve got myself and the thoughts running in my head.

I’m about to rub face cream along my cheeks when there’s a soft knock on the door, and I walk over to open it.

Jace pushes past me, a smile on his face, and holds a paper bag in the air with a bright smile. “I brought you a gift.”

The scent of sweetness fills the air, and I groan loudly while reaching a hand out for the baked goods. “Gimme, gimme.”

He jerks the bag away from me, brow arched in the air, and trails his gaze along my body in a way that never fails to make me shiver. “What do I get, sweetheart?”

I lean forward, giving him my best smile, and say, “If you don’t hand over that bag in three seconds, you won’t like what you get in return.”

“Feisty,” he purrs, his eyes dancing with amusement. Then he throws a wink in my direction. “I like it.”

There’s paper scattered on the desk, but not as terrible as a few weeks ago when I was going out of my mind trying to handle everything. Ever since Jace and I started this pact, my work has been going as smoothly as ever. I had a lot to make up for with my mistake on Sweet Surrender’s socials, but I’ve managed to do that and more.

Sweet Surrender is one of the hottest bands in the country right now. Most of their songs are hitting the top one hundred billboard charts, and I’ve scheduled plenty of interviews for the guys—both individually and together.

Ledger got the endorsement deal that I’d been waiting for, which was a huge relief and resulted in a celebration by his bandmates — one to which I was also invited. My body clenches at the reminder of what Jace did to me in that club bathroom, and I nearly choke on the food I’m chewing.

“You okay over there?” Jace asks.

“Great,” I mutter, then eye him curiously. “You came back this morning. Why?”

His face pales for a moment, but the color comes back almost immediately as if it never happened in the first place, and he shrugs. “Just wanted to kick off your day with some good food. Is that not allowed in our agreement?”

---