Page 36 of Forbidden Billionaire Rockstar

The hallway is quiet, other than Brent’s voice echoing through his door as I walk past, and I let my shoulders slump forward in relief. I don’t know what I would’ve done if Brent walked out and decided to join me for the night — I’d have to come up with some sort of excuse as to why Mallory would be there as well.

Benji, the hotel manager, is standing tall and proud at the reception desk with a smile on his face as I stalk past thecounter. He gives me a nod, letting me know the coast is clear outside, and I toss him a few bills as a tip for allowing me access to the pool when it should be closed to all the guests.

“Mr. Brooks,” Benji says, stopping me in my tracks. When I look over, he sighs and looks at the large opening where the pool is located. “I’m only able to give you an hour, then I have to ask you to evacuate the space so it can get cleaned before morning.”

“Sure thing, Benj.”

His smile brightens at the use of the nickname, and then he goes back to whatever work he was doing behind the counter. Judging by the dead quiet throughout the space, I’m willing to bet there’s not much for him to do at all.

My phone pings just as I step out onto the patio. I glance at it and find a message from Mallory waiting for me. She’s just letting me know that she has a few things to iron out for Sweet Surrender, and then she’ll be down to join me. Even knowing she’ll be here is enough to have my body vibrating with excitement.

Mallory is like a drug I never want to stop ingesting — and it’s dangerous.

I shake my head, then drop my towel onto a chair before heading toward the pool that’s glistening under the bright fluorescent lights lining the large space. There are a few hints that kids were here earlier until the last minute — a few balls are scattered along the pavement as if someone tossed them haphazardly inthe direction of the bin where they got pulled from or pool noodles floating lazily through the water.

The water envelopes me in its comforting warmth, easing the ache of my tired muscles from the strain of our two-hour performance. I sigh as I submerge myself into the water, letting it fall just below my chin, and I drift back so I can keep an eye on the opening that leads into the main lobby.

A few moments later, Mallory is making her way along the marble flooring with a towel wrapped around her slight frame. With her eyes locked on mine, she takes her time, pulling the towel away from her and drops it onto the chair with mine. I wait anxiously as she takes a couple of steps closer to the pool’s edge.

She leans back on her hands, breasts on full display as they spill from her bikini top, and it takes everything inside of me not to swim over to her. I want to spend a few more moments taking her in — the way her hair falls in waves down her back or how the bright pink of the bikini brings out the creamy tone of her skin.

It’s not just her body that captivates me anymore. It’s the way her eyes light up when she talks about her work, the determined set of her jaw when she’s tackling a problem. When did I start noticing these things? When did Mallory become more than just a beautiful distraction?

Her legs are long, glistening with oil that I’m sure she must’ve put on right before she came down here, and my length hardens against my swim trunks. Mallory throws her head back, mouth tipping into a giant grin that takes my breath away, and I’m lostin the depth of her eyes as she brings her head back down to stare into my gaze.

I clear my throat and kick my legs, keeping myself in place as far away from her as I can get right now. “So, did everything turn out okay tonight?” I ask, trying to focus on something other than the way water droplets cling to her skin.

“It was more than okay,” Mallory says, her eyes lighting up. “The guys are already planning the next one. They’re thinking brunch, something more intimate.”

“Intimate, huh?” I can’t help the hint of jealousy that creeps into my voice. “Sounds nice.”

She catches my tone, her brow furrowing slightly. “Jace, you know it’s not like that. This is about the band, about their career.”

“I know, I know,” I blurt. “I’m glad it’s going well. You deserve the success.”

The words ‘you deserve better than our arrangement’ hang unspoken between us.

We stand there, staring at each other for a few moments, and I cock my head to the side. “You just gonna sit there,” I drawl, my voice low and husky, “or are you gonna dive in? The water’s fine, but I bet you’re finer.”

Her eyes darken, a smirk playing on her lips. “Who says I’m not already wet?”

The words hit me like a physical force. God, this woman will be the death of me.

“I’d have to see for myself. Can’t just go taking your word for it without proof.”

Immediately, Mallory spreads her thighs open more for me, and I hum in approval. Tearing the bikini bottoms from her frame isn’t necessary — even with the scent of chlorine filling the air, I can still breathe in her arousal, and my dick jumps at attention. I bring a hand up, toying with the strings she’s got tied at her waist, and a wicked grin takes over my features.

Mallory's eyes flash with a mixture of excitement and challenge. "You think you've got me all figured out, don't you, Brooks?" She leans in, her voice low and teasing. "But I've got a few surprises up my sleeve.

" Before I can react, she's sliding into the water with graceful ease, treading with a triumphant grin. "Sometimes, Jace, a girl likes to take control." The confidence in her voice, the playful defiance in her eyes – it's a side of Mallory I'm seeing more and more, and it's intoxicating.

“Always thinking the worst of me,” I say with a frown, although there’s still a hint of a smile on my face. “In this case, you would be right.”

Before she can object anymore, I wrap an arm around her and pull her under the water. Benji, who was too busy looking at his phone the whole time, darts his gaze up at me and flashes a brief smile before going back to the device. I kick my feet, attempting to get away from Mallory, but her fingers wrap around my ankle, and she tugs me under the water with her.

We both come up for air, and she swats at my chest with a frown at my chest. “Asshole,” she grumbles. “I just washed my hair.”

“Looks like you have a reason to wash it again with me in attendance this time.”

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