20—Indianapolis （Club D Lux）
It takes exactly four seconds to realize this is a double date.
Sort of.
I’m not sure what it’s called when one pretend couple is on a date with a nonexistent throuple. Val is sandwiched between Coriander and Sage on the couch perpendicular to Jarvis and me in our private VIP section of Club D Lux. Interestingly, my fake fiancé has seemed more interested in the other “couple” than me since leaving the hotel. I’m fine with that, except for the piece of my heart that’s reaching for Val.
In addition to looking uncharacteristically dapper in a black button-up shirt he should definitelywear more often, he’s also been the perfect gentleman since we climbed into the limo. If I didn’t know better, I’d think he’s actually been enjoying the company of his surprise dates, including the present conversation about the difference between snails and slugs and why it’s a travesty that more people either are or are not talking about it.
“How do we know slugs don’t have shells, though?” Sage asks.
“Because look at them!” Coriander argues.
“Just because you can’t see it doesn’t mean it’s not there. You know, like rain. Maybe it’s teeny tiny. Or invisible. Hummingbirds have wings even though you can’t see them.”
Val’s brow furrows as he works out how to mediate a debate he can’t follow.
“Would you care for another mint?” Chad asks, bending low to offer us a handful of individually wrapped mints. Did I mention Chad is also in attendance as Jarvis’ “valet”? I honestly can’t tell whose idea it was or who’s benefiting the most from the odd arrangement, but he’s been hovering beside him all night, dutifully waiting to serve his… I’m not sure. Employer? Friend? Idol? I’m not entirely clear on their relationship at this point.
Jarvis waves him away, and Chad straightens again to wait for something.
“Gotta say. I never saw this coming,” Jarvis says to me.
“What?”
“That.” He motions toward the other couch where the argument has escalated into… charades? I can’t tell which of them is the slug and which is the snail, but that fact is probably proving someone’s point.
“They look good together, don’t you think?” Jarvis asks.
“Slugs and snails would rule the world if they overcame their differences and joined forces.”
He rolls his eyes. “You know that’s not what I mean. I’m talking about Valerie and your girls. Think he can handle two at once?”
I swallow the lump in my throat. “I’m not sure they’re together.”
“No? Pretty sure they are.” He snaps his fingers, and Chad leans down. “Tell her what you told me earlier today.”
Chad nods eagerly. “There’s a reptile in New Zealand that has three eyes. It starts with a T, but it’s not a tortoise. It’s… crap. A taurus? No. Tua-loo?—”
“Not that,” Jarvis grunts. “About them.” He flicks his fingers toward the others.
“Oh! Yes. We think they’re having sex.”
Jarvis’ rapt attention has me on edge. We know he suspects Val has feelings for me. Does he suspect mine as well? I need to be very careful how I navigate this obvious trap.
“So what if they are?” I say in a bored tone. “They’re adults. It’s not like it’s the first time in history people have hooked up on a tour.”
Jarvis runs his gaze over me, and I do my best to ignore his intense stare.
“True, but won’t that get messy when things go bad?”
I shrug. “Who says they will? And how is that my problem anyway?”
“You’d have to choose between your producer and your lifelong friends.”
“Not necessarily, and besides, what exactly do you want me to do? Forbid them from seeing each other?”
“Whoa. No need to get defensive, sugar doll,” he says, holding up his hands.
“Don’t call me that.”
His gaze narrows on me, and I glare right back. After a short standoff, he sighs and pushes to his feet. “Let’s not tussle. Let’s do the hustle instead.”
He holds out his hand to me, and I cross my arms. “Let’s not.”
“Larinda, come on.”
“I don’t want to dance. I’m tired.”
His gaze goes cold as he crosses another look to Val. Crap. I should dance with him just to keep our cover, but the thought of being close to him right now sends a shiver through me. I’m counting the seconds until this whole thing is over and I can swap this frog for that prince.
“Fine,” he pouts. “You. Let’s do a lap,” he barks at Coriander and Sage.
They rocket to their feet with excited grins.
“Can we film it?” Sage asks.
“Sure. Whatever,” Jarvis mumbles, already halfway to the exit.
“Wait!” Coriander says, pulling out her phone. She turns the screen toward her and gives the peace sign. “Cagelicious to the dance floor!”
“We promised you all the things, Crew-bugs!” Sage says, poking her head into the frame. “Here’s another thing!”
They’re still babbling to their “fans” as they follow Jarvis out of view. His security (and Chad) accompany him, while Travis and J-Dawg stay with me and wall off access to us. They also provide a nice privacy screen.
Val and I stare at each other from our adjacent couches for almost a full minute, neither of us sure what to do. We can’t do what we want. We won’t do what we don’t want. So we sit and enjoy a moment of getting lost in each other’s eyes for a silent conversation.
“I want to be touching you,” Val’s look says.
“I want that too,” mine replies.
“This is torture. I can’t wait until it’s over.”
“I know. We’ll figure it out.”
“I love you.”
“I love you too.”
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah, you?”
“Yeah.”
We exchange a smile, and I check the entrance again before stretching out my leg to brush his. He adjusts to settle even closer, and I can’t stop my foot from running up and down his leg. He closes his eyes, visibly frustrated as my strappy heel does what my hand and mouth want to be doing.
His gaze crosses to Travis and J-Dawg’s backs before he leans forward and runs his palm over my foot and up my ankle. A shiver runs through me as his fingers graze the smooth skin of my calf. Sometimes it’s not a good idea to touch someone you’ve been desperate to touch all night. This is probably one of those times.
I need so much more than this and glance at Travis and J-Dawg again.
Maybe if we…
They must sense our attention and throw a glance in our direction. I stiffen and pull away from Val, forcing a tight smile.
Travis frowns as his gaze passes between the two of us.
Oh no. Crap crap crap!
There’s no way he didn’t see that.
I shift even further from Val’s couch, but I don’t miss the look my bodyguards exchange. They know! They must. It’s literally their job to know everything. Heck, they’re supposed to know morethan I do.
Val’s worried gaze lands on me. He must be concerned about the same thing.
What is wrong with you?! I yell at myself. How could you be so careless?
They wouldn’t say anything, would they? I mean, they’re on my team, right? My allies.
Travis leans toward J-Dawg and whispers something. J-Dawg nods, then straightens back to attention as Travis approaches.
“You don’t look well, Ms. Scott,” Travis says. “Maybe we should get you to a quieter, more secure location?”
I swallow the panic and force a smile. “No. I’m fine.”
He widens his eyes in a silent message and tilts his head toward the rear of the VIP area. “No, really. We’re worried about you.”
What’s going on?
I’m even more confused when Val jumps up. “Thanks, man. You’re right. She could definitely use some air.”
I give him a sharp look, and he returns a silent request to play along.
Hold on…
J-Dawg peeks back at me with an almost imperceptible smile. Travis has one too when I look closely. I narrow my eyes at them. Wait a second…
“Oh. Uh, yeah. That would be great,” I say as Travis takes my arm. Val flanks my other side, and J-Dawg leads us through the VIP area toward the private rooms. He whispers something to the host, whose eyes go wide as she nods with concern.
Soon we’re following her past several closed doors to an empty room at the end of the hall.
“Here we go. It’s yours for as long as you need it, Ms. Scott. May I get you anything? Some water? An almond plate?”
“Water would be great,” J-Dawg says. “Thanks, Ashley. We owe you.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. It’s my pleasure. We’re so glad you’re here,” she says to me. “I’m sorry you’re not feeling well.”
“I’m sure it’s nothing,” I say. “Just tired.”
“I can’t even imagine the stress of touring. Well, I’ll have water sent right away and let us know if there’s anything else we can get you.”
“Hey, Ash,” J-Dawg says. “Can you do us a favor and not let anyone know she’s here?”
“Of course! Why would you even think you need to ask?”
He leans close. “No, I mean, anyone. Ms. Scott needs some breathing room. If anyone is looking for her, just tell him you’re not sure where she is and he should message us.”
Her expression floods with understanding. “Oh. Yes, absolutely. Not a word… to anyone.”
“Thanks, Ash. You’re the best.”
She beams back at him, and I have so many questions. I’ve heard of rockstars having flings in various cities, but bodyguards? It makes sense, I guess.
“You mind looking after her?” Travis asks Val once we’re alone.
“Not at all. I’m happy to.”
Travis nods and exchanges a long look with Val before turning back to me. “We’ll be right outside, Ms. Scott. You tell us if you need anything.”
“I will. Thanks, Travis.”
“Always,” he says with a wink, then closes the door behind him.
After a few seconds, Val and I burst into laughter.
“Did that just happen?” I say, still chuckling.
“What? Getting kidnapped by your own bodyguards for a clandestine booty call?”
I snort a laugh and fall into his arms. Honestly, I’m just relieved to be free of the others and back where I belong. Travis and J-Dawg are getting a huge raise for being the best security detail in the world. How long have they known about Val and me? Probably longer than we did.
“As much as I appreciate this, it probably wasn’t a great idea,” Val mumbles against my hair.
My arms tighten around him as I breathe in the woodsy spices I love.
“I know,” I say with a sigh.
“Jarvis is going to be pissed when he comes back and finds us gone.”
“Probably.”
“What if he suspects?—”
I pull his head down and kiss away the rest of his fears. They’re all legitimate and all ones I share, but we’re here now, so let’s be here.
I frame his face and draw him in deeper as he backs us toward the couch. We drop to the cushions, and I’m already squirming for more when he stretches over me.
“You look incredible tonight,” he says through our kiss. “It’s been so hard not to touch you.”
His palm slides up my inner thigh, past the hem of my sapphire minidress. Tingles run over my skin, spreading higher and deeper with each inch he touches. My hips instinctively squirm for more contact.
“So do you,” I breathe out, gasping when his palm molds over my center.
This is what I’ve been craving all night. He tastes incredible as my lips devour and my hands explore. My hips shove against his hand in slow, hard demands that he obeys with increasing pressure.
I moan as each pass sends another surge of electricity through me. Over and over, harder and harder, and just when I’m about to beg, he slips his fingers beneath the lace.
I burn at the rush and widen my legs for him. My tight dress rides up, giving him full access as his fingers rub and play.
“Val,” I gasp out.
“Yeah?”
“Never stop touching me.”
His soft laugh is everything. “You got it,” he murmurs against my lips.
He’s a liar, though, because suddenly he’s gone. So is his touch, and I’m about to protest when the wet heat of his tongue takes over.
Oh!
I arch back as the streaks of fire burning through me become scorching waves. Soon I’m drowning in sensation, the room fading around me as I climb higher and higher. It feels so good. Everything, right there. Just… a… little…
Explosive stars shatter me into oblivion. I can’t breathe as surge after surge of intense pleasure make it impossible to move. Aftershocks quiver through me for several seconds, my body buzzing even as my stiff limbs relax into trembling mush.
“Holy bananas,” I mumble.
Val laughs and crawls up to hover over me again. “That okay?”
I tug his head down for a soft, tender kiss.
“Can I tell you a secret?” I say, pulling back.
“What’s that?”
I run my thumb over his cheek, searching his pretty eyes.
“In a cage match I’d put my money on the slug, not the snail.”
His eyes widen for a second before he chokes out a laugh and drops his forehead to my shoulder.