Page 33 of Forbidden Billionaire Rockstar

“You’re the one who made it, just double-checking the terms.”

We sit in comfortable silence, with me staring out the large window behind his back and him watching me chew each bite of my chocolate-filled croissant. Once again, images from a few nights ago invade my mind, and I close my eyes, hoping I can send them away.

I remember the way Jace’s hands felt on me, how easily we moved in sync together — just like we did the night he rocked my world months ago — and the intensity of his eyes as he tracked my every moment from afar. I’m happy to say that aside from our intimate rendezvous, I managed to keep new Mallory out of the club restroom and old Mallory locked deep in her cage.

The old Mallory had nothing to do with the reason I allowed Jace to pull me into the restroom. It had everything to do with the way my body responds to him at any given moment. I could be standing. He simply stalks past me, and I feel like I’m going to burst with the need for him. It’s pathetic, really, but it gets sated at the end of the night when no one else is paying attention.

Speaking of paying attention.

One paper sitting in front of us catches my eye, shoving the memories of a few nights ago away, and I snag it up to glance over at the words.

"Tonight is a big night for Sweet Surrender because the contest closed out, and we invited the winner to come to tonight’s show so they can meet the band for themselves."

"This is one of the best ways to help expand their fan base. If people see that they are interacting with fans in this way, I believe it could boost their following to tremendous heights."

“You’ve got everything set up?”Jace asks.

I nod and give Jace a small smile. “It’s going to be awesome and a night this girl is never going to forget. I’m excited!”

He smiles. “I like this side of you.”

“Which side?”

“Your face brightens when you talk about your passions, especially when doing something kind. Sweet Surrender didn’t have to agree to do this, but it shows their character that they did and were willing to go through with your suggestion for the meet and greet.”Jace says, his eyes holding mine intently.

“She’s going to freak out, and hopefully, it will help the band with traction.”

“You’ve already done amazing for them,” Jace says softly, then rises from his chair and walks around the table to stand behind me.

He places his hands on my shoulders and leans down, pressing a quick kiss to my temple like we’re an old married couple.

The domesticity of the gesture catches me off guard. For a moment, I let myself imagine a world where this is our reality - lazy mornings, shared breakfasts, casual intimacy. The fantasy is so vivid, so achingly desirable, that it takes my breath away.

The warmth of his touch is suddenly overshadowed by the cold reminder of our arrangement’s temporary nature. I steel myself against the longing, reminding myself that this is just physical, just stress relief.

But if that’s true, why does my heart feel like it’s breaking?

“I’ll see you tonight, sweetheart,” he murmurs, his breath warm against my ear. “Wear the purple one for me. You know what it does to me.” His words send a shiver down my spine, a promise of things to come. As he pulls away, I catch a flicker of something in his eyes - longing? Regret? Before I can decipher it, it’s gone, replaced by his usual cocky grin.

I hate the way my heart soars at the idea of being near him again later when I know that’s the last thing I should be getting happy about. Brent would not be happy to know that one of his bandmates is sneaking into his little sister’s room to defile her — no matter how much his sister wants the defiling done to her.

Keeping things a secret sucks, but I know it’s for the best when this thing we’ve got going on isn’t lasting much longer.

But as the days pass, I’m finding it harder to remember why it’s supposed to be temporary. The line between our arrangementand something more is blurring, and I’m terrified of what I’ll see when it comes into focus.

We're in the last leg of the tour, and there's only a few more weeks before we head back to our respective homes. A few more weeks of feeling Jace’s hands over my skin and burning with the touch.

Why do I feel a pang in my chest thinking about the end of our deal?

The thought leaves me feeling hollow, a stark contrast to the fullness I feel when I’m with Jace. I’ll miss not just the physical intimacy but also the quiet moments, the shared laughter, and the feeling of being truly seen.

I’m caught between the safety of our no-strings-attached agreement and the allure of something more.

The old Mallory would have embraced this feeling, diving in headfirst. But the new Mallory, the one I’ve worked so hard to become, knows the danger of mixing business with pleasure. I’m walking a tightrope between my heart and my career, and I’m wondering when I will lose my balance.

I shake my head, forcing myself to focus. Now's not the time to dwell on what-ifs and maybes.

I've got a job to do, a reputation to rebuild, and a band counting on me. With a deep breath, I push my emotions aside and dive into my work.

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