18. Luke
EIGHTEEN
LUKE
I’ve made a mistake.
I thought I could get Calla off once and be able to move on with my life, but it looks like that’s not going to happen. Not only that, she’s made it her mission to get me to fuck her with my cock instead of my fingers.
Normally, that would be any man’s dream, right? But my job is on the line here. I have to think of that and Cody’s reputation, no matter how blue my balls get.
And Calla is not making it any easier. Sleeping next to her is difficult enough, but when she lets her legs fall open when I walk in or when she wears tiny underwear to bed and makes it nearly impossible not to touch her, I can hardly contain myself.
We’ve been on the road for a week straight and only stopped for shows. I think we’re all a little antsy to get off the bus for a night.
Calla has been back in her “room” on the bus working on a song, so I took it upon myself to give her some space before we get to the venue tonight. I’m watching a college football game on the TV when she saunters out, a small smile across her full lips that I’ve become accustomed to kissing.
She grabs a water bottle and looks from the TV to me. “What’re you watching?”
“La Vista University football game.”
“I didn’t realize you were into football.”
“I’m not like a super fan or anything, but their new coach came in and turned their program around. They’ve been to the National Championship a few years in a row now. I guess I like seeing the underdog come up.”
“Hmm.” She looks at the screen right as they pan to Coach Tyler Danvers. “Is that their coach?”
“Yeah.”
“Damn, I think I just became a football fan.”
I glare at her. “Cute.”
She laughs and walks over to me. Instead of sitting next to me, she sits on my lap, straddling me.
“How’s the songwriting going?” I ask as I grab onto her ass. She’s still wearing the tiny boy shorts that she slept in last night.
“It’s good, but I need a break,” she says, gently rocking her hips against me.
“Uh-huh. Am I the break?”
“Maybe.” She leans down and kisses me. Her hips move along my cock, which is once again incredibly hard. I swear she’s trying to kill me.
“You’re so hard today, Mr. Pierson. You sure you don’t want me to take care of that?” she whispers into my ear, nipping at the lobe with her teeth. Her mouth trails down my neck until she’s sucking gently.
“Calla,” I growl.
“Hmm?”
I can feel her wet pussy through my pants as she rubs against me. All I want to do is flip her on her back and fuck her fast and hard until she’s screaming my name, but if the military taught me anything, it’s restraint and self-control. Dammit.
I lean back and let her take what she wants from me. Honestly, I’d let her do this every damn day as long as I knew it would make her feel happy. She deserves to feel that. After a lifetime of the people who supposedly love her making her feel like absolute shit, I’m happy to be the one to make her feel worthy.
Her pace picks up over my cock. She’s going to ride herself to an orgasm while I try not to come in my pants. My fingers dig harder into her ass, and she lets out a little moan.
“Calla?” Ashley’s voice suddenly calls through the bus.
Calla freezes and rolls off me quickly until she’s on the other side of the couch. I’m left with a raging boner and a wet spot from her on my pants. “Goddammit,” I mumble as I pull a blanket over my crotch right before Ashley walks out.
“Oh, there you are.”
“Yep,” Calla says a little breathlessly. “Just taking a break to watch some football.”
Ashley’s brows furrow. “Ok. That’s unlike you, but whatever. I got that appointment scheduled before the show. We’ll have to be quick, though, so we have time to get to the venue for sound check.”
“Ok, thanks, Ash. I really appreciate it.”
Ashley nods and turns around, going back to her bunk.
“What appointment?” I ask.
“Nothing,” she says. Her cheeks turn a darker shade of pink.
“Calla, you know I’m going to have to go to the appointment with you, so you might as well tell me what it’s for.”
“Ugh, you’re so annoying sometimes.”
“Thanks. I’ll put that on my resume. You gonna tell me?”
She sighs. “Since Thompson was sleeping around, I just wanted to make sure he didn’t give me anything, you know? We always used condoms, but you never know.”
I seriously hate that fucking guy for putting her through so much bullshit, and I hate that she sounds embarrassed for wanting to get tested. “Hey, there’s nothing wrong with getting tested. It’s a good thing. It’ll give you peace of mind.”
“I know. I just hate that I even have to worry about it. Everything about this is just embarrassing, I guess.”
“Don’t be embarrassed. Hell, I’ll do it with you.”
She shoots me a glare. “Are you having a lot of sex these days?” Even when she’s embarrassed, she can still give me attitude.
I chuckle. “Clearly not. But it’s always good to get checked. I haven’t been checked since I left the military and started working for Cody.”
She raises her brow. “You’d really do that with me?”
I shrug. “Yeah, why not?”
“Thanks, Luke. You’re not as bad as they say.”
I roll my eyes and shove her shoulder gently. “Shut up, you little shit.”
She laughs and stands from the small couch. “I’ll let you get back to your game. I need to finish this damn song before my next studio day.”
I nod and watch her walk away from me, wishing I could pull her back on my lap and finish what she started when she came out here.
I stay true to my word and get tested when Calla does at a local clinic near the venue she’s performing at tonight. Everyone in the office has to sign an NDA before Calla is even allowed to walk into the building. It barely takes any time, and they tell us we should have the results in a few days.
When we’re alone in her dressing room later, I wrap my arms around her and say, “I’m proud of you for doing that earlier.”
“Thanks, Luke. I’m glad it’s over with.”
I’m about to kiss her when the door opens. I swear to god, we can’t catch a break. It has to be the Universe’s way of telling me that I’m not supposed to have her.
And of course, it’s fucking Ashley who walks in. I’m really starting to not like this woman. I quickly let go of Calla and turn to stare at some random picture on the wall that I couldn’t care less about.
“Calla, I just had a meeting with Brayden. We confirmed the details for you to attend Thompson’s movie premiere in New York when we’re there. I’m updating your schedule on our shared calendar, but I wanted to make sure you were aware.”
Wait. Why the fuck would she be attending his movie premiere if they broke up? Did she not tell anyone that she ended things with him?
I’m expecting Calla to push back, but to my surprise, she nods. “Alright.”
Ashley types something on her iPad and then leaves us alone again in the room.
“Why are you going to his movie premiere?” I ask, sounding more annoyed than I have any right to be.
Calla winces a little. “I… have to pretend to still be his girlfriend.”
I’m suddenly filled with so much rage. This guy broke her heart, forced himself on her, and made her have to worry about potential STDs, and she still has to pretend to date him? That’s not fucking right. “Why the fuck do you have to do that?”
She sighs and sits down in the chair in front of the big mirror. I stand several feet behind her clenching my fist because the thought of her anywhere near that asshole makes me feral.
“Sometimes, well, a lot of the time, I have to do things I don’t want to do.”
“Why would you have to pretend to date him? That doesn’t make any sense, Calla.”
“Luke, I just have to, ok. Please, just drop it?”
But I can’t just drop it. It’s going to eat away at me until I know the reason. It is not ok if she’s being forced to be around a man who doesn’t give a shit about her, and I’m not just going to sit back and let it happen.
“No. I’m not going to drop it. What is going on? What am I missing here?” I close the gap between us until I’m standing right next to her. She can’t avoid me here.
“Oh my god, you are so annoying sometimes. Fine, I’ll tell you. But don’t be mad at me.”
“No promises, princess.” Because right now, I’m pretty fucking mad.
She rolls her eyes. “This was what I had to agree to in order for you not to get fired.”
I feel like the wind is knocked right out of me. “What?”
“Brayden was going to fire you unless I agreed to pretend that Thompson and I are still together. Apparently, we’re both in important parts of our careers where we’re better together as a brand. I promised you I wouldn’t let you get fired, so I agreed to it. I did what I had to do. It’s not forever. And I don’t really even have to talk to Thompson. I just have to attend a few functions with him, and then, when the timing is better, we can officially break up.”
“You didn’t have to do that, Calla.”
“I did. I made a promise to you, and I don’t take that lightly. Plus, I’ve already gotten used to you. I don’t have time to break in another grumpy bodyguard.”
She wants me to laugh, I know it. But right now, I’m not sure how the fuck I feel. I’m grateful to her that I’m still here. Brayden must not have called Cody or he would’ve already called and bitched me out. But Calla never catches a break. She does everything that everybody else wants and never gets to make decisions for herself. I hate that for her, and I hate that I’m now on the list of people that made her do that.
She must be able to read the frustration on my face because she says, “Luke, it’s fine. I’ve had to do way worse things, alright? Thompson and I both know we aren’t together anymore. I’ll be fine pretending for a little while longer.”
I slowly shake my head. “I don’t know whether to shake you or kiss you.”
That makes her smile. “I know which option I would pick.”
I wrap my hand around her nape and pull her toward me, kissing her hard. For a guy who didn’t want to cross a line with his client, I’m having a hard time staying away from her lips.
She moans as I slide my tongue into her mouth. I know then that I’m a goner for this woman. As hard as I tried to stay away, I can’t anymore. I want her to be mine. I want to show her what it feels like when someone truly cares about her. I’ve never wanted that… ever.
I’m the guy who runs from relationships. I’m the guy who finds a random hookup when he needs some sort of connection.
I’m certainly not the guy to be seen on the arm of America’s Sweetheart. I’m a nobody.
And yet, here I am, kissing her until both of us are out of breath.
This time when the door opens, I don’t pull away. I ignore the gasps of whoever is in the doorway and take my time ending the kiss. I take my time perusing over Calla’s swollen lips and pink cheeks.
This woman will be mine, and I’m not sure if it’s the best or worst decision I’ve ever made.