Chapter 33
Sloane
One year later
Next up, Celebrity’s Alexis Logan spoke to pop star Sloane Rivera this weekend about life, love, and happiness.
“Sloane, you’ve had some big things happening in your life. With the recent incarceration of your former manager, Calvin Hobson, how are you handling that and the loss of your former—”
“Honestly? I prefer not to think about that. I’m focusing on my future with my partner, Kolton Johns, my new album, and my tour happening later this year.”
“Right. About your partner. He’s your former bodyguard. Anything you’d like to tell us about him?”
“Absolutely! He’s my favorite person in the world. Not only does he offer me love and support, but I just can’t get enough of him. I’m his biggest fan, and I’m so lucky I fell into his life. He’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”
“Any wedding bells in the future?”
“Wouldn’t you like to know?”
The sun shone in the windows of my home office while a warm breeze brought in the scent of fresh lavender planted in the garden below.
With the new coat of paint on the walls, the beautifully refinished hardwood floors, and the light, airy curtains that swayed in the breeze, I couldn’t help but love this room.
It was one of my favorites in my new house—behind only my soundproof music studio and the master bedroom.
After pausing the television at the side of the room—on a picture of Kolton’s handsome face— I grabbed two bottles of my favorite carbonated, flavored water from my mini fridge and turned to face my manager.
She was smiling—something that was happening more and more lately. I hadn’t quite figured out if it was because I was happier now or if she really was in a better place.
Monica accepted the water I handed to her and took a sip as I sat on the other side of the couch. But her smile grew as she set her bottle down and settled back into the plush cushions.
“I’m astounded by you, Sloane. To think of how far you’ve come in just over a year.”
I beamed, and it felt like my heart was swelling in my chest. “I couldn’t have done it without you.”
She tilted her head. “Even though I’d like to take the credit, the majority of your success is due to your own talent and drive. This collaboration album was your idea. Everything that’s followed—the new record deals, the world tour—that’s all because you refuse to be held back.”
“What can I say?” I shrugged, then spun the little heart-shaped ring that sat gleaming on my finger. “Nothing can stop me when I really want something.”
There have been plenty of things that had tried to hold me back—mainly Calvin, Beckett, and Brooklyn.
But it was more than just them. While the police were executing a search warrant on Calvin’s house, they found even more evidence that he’d been trying to sabotage my career for Beckett’s benefit and his own.
First was the pile of contracts he kept from every acting deal he’d ever gotten for me or forced me into.
But they also found written proof of collusion between Calvin and my old production company.
It was bad enough to shake the foundation of my record label, which gave me the leverage I needed to get out of the contract I had with them and give me back the rights to all my songs.
Now, I was truly free. From Calvin. From Beckett and Brooklyn and the hell they put me through. From the production company that was more than happy to work with a crooked man, to keep artists such as myself from rising to their full potential.
I’d never felt so good.
That freedom brought me things I never could have imagined—namely, the idea to start my own record label.
I dreamed of putting together an album with some of the best voices the world had to offer.
Some of those musicians had been affected by the shakedown at my old label and, after speaking to a handful of them about their own difficulties in the industry, Dare to Dream Records was born.
It was a daunting task, but with Kolton by my side and cheering me on, it was something I couldn’t say no to.
Monica picked up her water again. “I confirmed with Amie Penn, Elliott Van Ness and his partner will be flying in tomorrow afternoon. They have a driver scheduled to pick them up, and I spoke with Lynn about the dinner menu for tomorrow night. Everything is in order and ready for their arrival.”
“That’s fantastic!” I pressed my fists to my chest. “I’m so excited to get in the studio with him.”
Ever since Kolton took me and Olivia to that bar in Boystown last year and I sang with Elliott on stage, I knew I had to have him on this album with me.
After reconnecting with him and hearing some of his new songs, I knew I wanted him on tour with me and, after the shake down at our old label, I knew I wanted him on my own label.
His arrival tomorrow was another step toward what had begun to feel like destiny.
Monica and I talked for a while longer, nailing down the details of a contract with another up-and-coming singer I was bringing on. As she was putting her files back in her bag, the thud of footsteps pounded through the hall.
“No, no, no!” was all I heard before a golden blur came flying through the door. Kolton came sliding in behind it, his stockinged feet slipping on the hardwoods. “Winnie, no!”
Despite his admonition, our not-so-little Golden Retriever puppy came barreling in and jumped right into Monica’s lap. My manager squealed before she let out a peel of laughter, then gave up her attempt to save the last of her papers in favor of giving Winnie some love.
“There’s a good girl!” she said, scratching behind Winnie’s ears as she used her hold there as leverage to keep the dog’s tongue out of her mouth. “Oh, my goodness, who is this beauty?”
“This is Winnie,” Kolton told her as he leaned over to rescue Monica from our overly enthusiastic pup. “We’re still working on training. Specifically, boundaries.”
“She’s just precious.” Monica grabbed the last of her papers and rose from her seat, and I was glad to see her reach out for more pets rather than racing away from the rambunctious furball.
She turned her eyes on me, hand still scratching at Winnie’s neck. The smile on her face matched my own.
“I can’t tell you how happy it makes me to see you so happy.” She glanced up at Kolton and caught his eye. “Both of you. I wasn’t sure the two of you were a good fit when we first met, but I’m so glad we gave it a chance.”
“Me too,” Kolton said, looking at me with that crooked smile on his face that I loved so much. “Best thing that ever happened to me.”
“Aww, I love you, baby.”
“Love you too, Diva.”
“Well,” Monica said, bending to grab her bag from the floor, “I’ll get out of your hair. But I’ll be back tomorrow night for dinner.”
“Thanks, Monica. We’ll see you soon.”
Once she was gone from the room, Kolton set Winnie on the floor, only to have her run away as fast as she’d come in, her tongue flapping and her tail wagging. With laughter shaking my chest, I stepped close to him.
“You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me too.”
“So I heard.” He grinned and jutted his chin toward his picture on the television before dipping down to capture my lips with his. I ran my hands up his chest, hooked my arms around his neck. He lifted me as if I weighed nothing at all, settling me so my legs were wrapped around his slim hips.
“Wait, Kolton!” I gasped, edging back. “Where’s Weston?”
“Left,” he said before nipping my lips. “Tori had a thing. He had to get Zalea.”
His mouth skimmed along my jaw, then down my neck, his teeth and tongue fighting to do me in. But his fingers weren’t to be left out.
As I threw my head back to give him better access, he skimmed his hand up under my skirt. I groaned as he cupped my ass, then squirmed as his fingertips edged along my thong.
“Been dying to touch you, Diva. Can’t tell you how hard it is to be away from you.”
The giggle that shook free was cut short as he slipped a finger under the lacy fabric. I gasped, pulling back. “You were only gone for a couple hours.”
“It was too long,” he murmured, head dipping lower until he’d nudged my dress aside with his chin and flattened his tongue to drag it over my nipple. “Besides, why would I want to stay away from you when I get to listen to you make those sounds when I do things like this?”
Before my mind could make sense of his words, Kolton had latched onto my breast, giving a strong suck that would have knocked me off my feet if I weren’t already in his arms. The keening noise that stole through me made my cheeks warm.
“Kolton, baby,” I said, panting, “can we take this somewhere more priva—aaa!”
He sank a finger into me, causing me to jolt. “Fuck, I love it when you do that,” he whispered against my skin before licking his way up my throat. “Do you have any idea how beautiful you sound when I’m inside you, Diva?”
He added another finger, plunging in and stretching me at the same time, his mouth working over me and making me lose my mind.
Somehow, I ended up with my back pressed against the wall, though last I knew we’d been standing in the middle of the room. Kolton didn’t give me time to think, only fucked me harder with his fingers, until the only thing I could do was hold on and try not to scream.
In some other room—hopefully far, far away from my office and its open door—were my housekeeper, Josephine, and my personal chef, Lynn.
More than once in the past few months, I’d caught them with lowered gazes and pink cheeks after Kolton had surprised me like this.
Ever since he started therapy again, and especially after we moved in here, he’d been more open with me—more open about what he liked and what he wanted to do.
Oftentimes, he would corner me like this and tease me until I was begging him for more. Other times, he’d lift me up and finger me until I came—loudly—all over him.