Page 80 of The First Chord

“It’s just all so much. I thought that Amelie was my friend.” Burying her head against my chest, Amber’s shoulders heaved. “I’m so disappointed that she doesn’t see I’ve done the right thing.” Her eyes lifted to mine. “Is that wrong? Am I expecting too much?”

Sighing I considered my response carefully. Who was I to fill her with disillusionment about the world and the people in it. Her damn husband had done enough of that.

“I think you should have expected more from her, but I can also understand her loyalty to Hugo and Blind Devil. She’s being a good girlfriend and being supportive.”

I actually thought she should have persuaded Hugo to kick Jimmy out of the band, but that wasn’t what Amber needed to hear.

“I feel like I’ve lost a friend.”

“It happens when loyalties are split, sweetheart.” I ran a hand down her hair and looked deep into her sad eyes. They’d been starting to show a little fire, a little joy, but now there was simple sadness.

“I don’t know what I would have done without you. Simone as well. She called me earlier to check on me. She and Beau asked me to go to out with them, but I didn’t like to impose.”

“She wouldn’t have asked if she didn’t want you to go.” I brushed away a tear from her cheek. “Selfishly, though, I’m glad you didn’t.”

That earned me a small smile and I was relieved. All I ever wanted to do was make this girl smile.

Amber took a breath and then patted my chest. “Let’s forget about it. He’s an idiot and I’m well rid of him. Well, apart from the fact that we’ve got to a damn interview tomorrow.”

My heart thudded to a momentary stop. “What the fuck? You were only supposed to do pictures. No one said anything about fucking interviews.”

“It’s not just us,” she said quickly, grabbing hold of my shirt as I turned for the door. “It’s all of Blind Devil and Amelie.”

I shook my head. “After this morning? You’ve got to stand alongside them and act all nicey nicey? Have you spoken to Ali about it?”

Amber nodded and exhaled. “She tried to get me out of it, but some magazine want to interview me and Amelie about life on tour for a partner. Concepta have insisted.”

Scrubbing a hand down my face in disbelief, I groaned. “It’s not right. It shouldn’t be happening.”

“Ali is going to go with me. She’s going to be there the whole time.”

Defeated, I nodded. “Okay, but I want to come, too.”

“You can’t, it will create too much gossip.” She grabbed my hand and pulled me closer. “I’ll be okay, I swear.”

Looking down at the eyes which were pleading with me, I gave a single nod. Instantly Amber relaxed into my arms and snuggled against my chest. As her fingertips gripped the back of my shirt, my need for her ramped up. She must have read the look in my eyes, because she instantly landed her mouth on mine and, taking the initiative, pushed her tongue inside.

A demanding moan rose up from my chest and I threaded my hands into her hair, pushing her head closer. My hips moved forward, desperate for some relief as my dick continued to harden inside my jeans. I wrapped her hair around one hand, while sliding the other one up the skirt of her dress. My fingers found the edge of her knickers and when I cupped the globe of her arse, Amber let out a moan. It was throaty and needy. It was full of sex.

“Fuck, Amber. I…” My words trailed off, unable to express how much I was feeling. How much I wanted.

Pushing up onto her tiptoes she grabbed my shoulders, her fingers digging in hard as our kiss became more frantic. We were on the path to doing something that she might regret, and I wouldn’t allow that to happen. Everything felt so damn good, though. My heart was racing, my stomach swirling with excitement, my skin felt like it was on fire and my dick like it might burst the zip on my jeans.

“Touch me.”

I thought I might have misheard, but when Amber thrust her hips, I knew I hadn’t.

“Are you sure?” I said in between kisses. “I don’t want you to regret it.”

“I won’t.” She gasped. “I swear.”

Moving my hand from the back of her knickers to the front, I didn’t hesitate in running a finger through her wetness. Amber shuddered, her mouth opening on a gasp as her head dropped back. She was soaked. Slick and wet.

“What do you want me to do?” I whispered as my teeth scraped against her earlobe.

She shivered as I brushed her clit. “Everything. All of it.”

“Are you sure?”