Chapter 4
Lainey
The man had been true to his word.
Sasha had refused to take no for an answer.
The difference was he had no intentions of taking something from me.
He was giving me protection, a place to feel safe until I figured out how best to get Damien permanently out of my life.
I’d need to formally break the news to Scott and my record producer, which would definitely create tension and possibly void my contract.
Or at minimum when the term ended in a few months, they’d have what they considered a qualified reason not to bother negotiating a new one. Had I been impetuous? Possibly, but at this point, I was eager to move on with my life.
Another thank you went to Sasha for helping build my courage.
He’d even given Bernie and Danny a suite at one of the hotels along with telling the person who answered the phone at Ecstasy that anything they wanted from the restaurant or room service was comped.
Then he’d whisked me away in his gorgeous red Corvette as if I was a fairy princess. I’d always dreamt of finding my personal Prince Charming. What little girl hadn’t?
“Your home is beautiful.” I wasn’t lying to him. Maybe I was still in some shock from what Damien had said. Or maybe because I hadn’t been looking for a knight in shining armor, but one had stepped up for me.
Sasha was entirely different than what I’d envisioned him as being. He was still dark and brooding, all business when necessary, but I could sense he was a romantic at heart.
He also had a protective nature, something I hadn’t experienced since I was a kid. My dad had always been that way.
As we approached the house, the huge stone wall caught me off guard, the long driveway making me curious. Finally seeing the outside of the house, the Mediterranean design complete with stunning arches on the doors and windows was breathtaking.
Every attention to detail had been handled to perfection, including the stunning architecture of the multiple-story building as well. Plus, there were gorgeous colorful shrubs and flowers everywhere, including on a trellis in the courtyard leading up to massive ornate wooden door.
Inside was equally beautiful, the living room somewhat formal yet inviting with rich warm wood and leather sofas and chairs. The arches matched those on the exterior and I’d already counted two fireplaces.
I don’t know if I’d expected to see a home filled with toys or completely neat and tidy as if the man had a cleaning crew on standby, but there was a mixture of both that worked very well.
There were children’s books in the bookcases right alongside various business books and fiction by James Patterson and Tom Clancy.
Sasha had a huge DVD collection, maybe five hundred movies and after just taking a quick glance, I noticed movies going back a dozen or more years like Die Hard sitting next to every Disney movie ever made. They almost outnumbered his action and adventure collection.
Then there were a few stuffed animals here and there.
When I walked into the kitchen, I was immediately drawn to the pictures plastered on the refrigerator with cute little magnets. They’d obviously been done by a child, but a very talented one.
While he was preparing drinks, he noticed what I was looking at. “Nina draws constantly.”
“She’s very talented.”
“You think so? I was thinking because she’s my daughter I was biased.”
“No. I’m serious. She’s what, seven?”
“Soon to be seven and she won’t let you forget it.”
“You have a budding artist on your hands. Maybe I know what to get her for her birthday.”
“You don’t need to perform or come to the party, Lainey. You’ve got your hands full.”
I headed to the island, giving him a look I only reserved for friends.
“You don’t know me very well. While tonight caught me off guard, I’m not fragile.
I am very much looking forward to playing for Nina’s party.
It will be great fun for a change. Don’t get me wrong, I love being on stage and my fans, but there’s something very special about the personal feeling of being in a small group. You know?”
He was watching me intently, the look in his eyes such a powerful draw. I’d felt closer to him in the few hours we’d spent together enjoying mostly frivolous conversation and a few drinks than I had with anyone in a very long time.
“I’ll be eager to hear you unplugged.” I had the sudden urge to run my fingers through his thick strands of hair.
The handsome Russian also had a way of making me laugh. When he glanced at my neck, his eyes immediately darkened. “Don’t, Sasha. Just let it go, even for tonight.”
“I’ll give you a hint. I rarely let go easily of anything that bothers me. But for you, I’ll try and make an exception.”
“I’m very glad to hear that.”
He took a deep breath, turning his head so he could look me directly in the eyes. Everything about the man was magnetic, the draw to him unlike anything I’d ever felt before. He had a way about him with his movements and the deep look in his eyes that cut through everything.
With the way he was looking at me, I sensed he had the same thoughts I’d had for weeks.
Pure lust.
I’d never been the kind of girl to have a one-night stand.
That simply wasn’t in my makeup. I’d never allowed myself to completely let go with a man.
Passion was something I’d read about in books and wrote in my song lyrics, but was nothing I’d ever experienced.
I was suddenly nervous around him, hiding behind my glass of wine while he sipped a chilled glass of vodka.
But I found myself inching toward him. Maybe for one night I wanted to forget who I was.
He’d treated me like a regular girl, not bothered by my stardom in the least. Maybe because he was such a public figure and had endured both accolades and scrutiny.
Maybe because I’d been open about my difficulties, showing him a side of me few were allowed to see.
My vulnerability.
Whatever the reason, I felt comfortable enough around him to be me, the girl from Montana with average dreams and a desire for happiness.
He was strong and powerful.
Handsome and sexy.
Dominating in an entirely different way. I had no fear of him or of what he could do, even if I’d seen a side that told me clearly that he could cause harm without blinking an eye.
The draw I had to him was electric, the sensations carving their way through every muscle and tendon making me feel more alive than my music ever had.
I took a sip of wine, shifting even closer until we were standing only inches away from each other.
“Where is Nina tonight, safely sleeping in her princess bed?”
The out of the blue question caught him by surprise, his dark eyes melting into something more approachable. “She’s with her best friend for a sleepover. An extended birthday event. Demanded by my daughter.”
“Ah, she’s wrapped you around her little finger.”
“Twice over,” he said in a husky voice, now becoming the aggressor by closing the distance. His body was humming with electricity, his features appearing more chiseled and almost instantly, the darker look in his expression returned.
“That will keep you in line.”
“Mmm… That’s not possible, Lainey. I’m not easily controlled. In fact, I do the controlling.”
“Do you now?” My words were barely a whisper, breathless in a way I reserved for my more intimate songs. I was lightheaded, my heart thudding as my pulse increased.
“I hope that doesn’t scare you.” He placed his glass on the island, reaching over and gently taking my wine away.
“No, it doesn’t.”
“Then what does it do?” He was suddenly so close I was completely intoxicated by his scent.
How could any man smell so good? Sandalwood and citrus, spices and something so earthy my mouth watered. In my flat shoes, I felt so tiny in comparison to his huge frame. His broad shoulders that filled a doorway. A long torso with sculpted forearms.
When he’d removed his jacket at the bar, rolling up his sleeves, I’d been mesmerized by the tattoos on his arms, longing to run my fingers over the designs. He’d caught me staring at them, his wry smile evidence he knew what I was thinking.
Sasha had an uncanny way of reading my mind. Maybe I should be very cautious with what I was thinking since much of it was filthy by design.
“Makes me wet and hot.” For a girl who’d never been but so forward with a man, the words came out easily.
He took a deep breath, holding it for a few seconds while he allowed his very heated gaze to fall down my face. “You do realize getting involved with a very bad man might not be good for your career.”
“Well, since at this moment I don’t care since I’m taking back my life, I guess it doesn’t matter.” I placed my hand on his chest. “And by the way. I don’t think you’re a very bad man.”
“Then you know nothing about me, Lainey. Nothing at all.” He lowered his head and the way his chest was rising and falling created vibrations in my fingers.
“What if I want to?” I tilted my head and now, our lips were almost touching. There was a blind chemistry between us that couldn’t be denied, a soaring electricity that made it difficult to breathe.
“I can’t be the tender man you need. It’s been too long and the desire I feel for you is too strong.”
“What if I don’t want tenderness? What if I like it rough when I know the man won’t hurt me? At least not in the way I’ve been hurt.”
He cupped the back of my head, holding me in place, his fingers digging into my scalp. “Then I’d say you were far too trusting.”
“Why is it that I feel like I can trust you? Besides, I know what I want.”
“Be careful, lady. With me, there’s no going back.” He crushed his mouth over mine, immediately pulling me against the heat of his body.
The feeling of being in his arms was even better than I’d imagined. He fisted my hair, bending my head back as I clung to him. He was muscular in all the right places, his hard body hot and comforting at the same time.