Page 60 of Tangled Up In You

“We’ve never gone that hard before. I hope I didn’t hurt you.”

“No, it’s just what I wanted. What I asked for.”

“You’re the best sex I’ve ever had. I can’t wait to have a lifetime more of you, darlin’.”

Looking up, she smiled and then kissed him. “I’m your first and last groupie.”

“You’re my everything,” he said, pulling her even closer to him.

32

SOPHIE

Though Sophie’s dress was red carpet worthy, she was happy to make her way to her seat at Radio City Music Hall on her own and leave the media stops to Gavin and the boys. She didn’t need the attention. Making Gavin’s jaw drop when he saw her all done up was enough.

Her dress was form fitting and a nude shade that blended so well with her skin tone it would have been scandalous if not for the shimmering bead embellishments on it. Falling to upper-thigh, with just one shoulder strap and a draped back that fell away to reveal smooth bare skin, it had the perfect amount of sex appeal without going too far. The nude Jimmy Choo stilettos she wore were the perfect match. Her drop-down earrings were multi-colored gems that turned her hazel eyes deep green. She had set her hair so that it fell past her shoulders in soft, loose curls, and done her make-up in delicate shades but with a deep red lip. The overall look was incredibly sexy and ultra-feminine—and she fit the part for this event.

Still, it was a surreal being there.

The whole experience of being at Rogue’s first MTV Awards was surreal, in fact. The response to the band’s appearance was huge. Though they had built up popular and critical respect, there was no denying that their well-chronicled romance had been publicity gold.

She found her seat just as the lights went off and the audience screamed. A minute later, the guys all rushed in to join her and Conor ended up sitting next to Sophie.

The opening act began with Britney Spears doing a cover of Madonna’s “Like a Virgin,” complete with the white veil and a short wedding dress. Christina Aguilera soon joined her in the duet. When Madonna herself appeared as the “groom” all in black, she brought the house down. The only thing that topped her initial appearance was when she and Britney had an open-mouth kiss. Her kiss with Christina was chaste in comparison.

When Gavin turned to Shay to get his opinion on whether any tongue had been used, Conor leaned into Sophie.

“You look amazing tonight, honey.”

“Thanks,” she said.

“What, are you angry you didn’t get to show off on the red carpet?” Conor asked, clearly mistaking her short reply for something it wasn’t.

“No, of course not.”

“Look, you didn’t miss anything out there. You’ve got to understand that this band, it’s a job. We were working, and if you were there, it would have become the Sophie and Gavin show and nothing about Rogue. Understand that, please.”

“I do. It’s okay.”

Though she had been sincere, he seemed to hear the opposite and was instantly annoyed. “It’s a phenomenal skill you women have, to say the exact opposite of what you really mean.”

Before she could respond, Gavin interrupted by telling Conor to switch seats with him and she was glad to have a reprieve from Conor’s hostility.

The show flewby and Sophie thought herself incredibly unbiased when she found Rogue to be the best performers of the night. And when Gavin and the boys took the stage to accept their award for Breakthrough Video, they made the most of it. Gavin quickly thanked the producers of the video, James, and MTV and then shifted gears.

“This show opened with an amazing performance by three lovely ladies,” Gavin said and the audience cheered wildly. “I must say, I felt a little left out. But then again …” He looked to Conor and before his friend could understand his intentions, he grabbed him by the back of his neck and kissed him hard on the lips as the crowd laughed, screamed, and whistled.

“He’s been looking for the perfect excuse to do that,” Martin told Shay with a laugh and the microphone picked it up.

Conor finally pushed Gavin off of him and wiped at his mouth.

“Well, he is a pretty bastard,” Gavin said with a grin. “No, seriously, one more thing. Thanks also to my sweet girl, my love, my Sophie.”

In the limoon their way to Blender magazine’s after party at Tao, Conor helped himself to the mini bar, pouring a tumbler full of Jack Daniel’s and downing half of it in one swallow. “Aye, Gav, did you see that little actress who was chatting me up backstage after we performed?”

“No, I didn’t catch that,” Gavin said, glancing at Sophie.

“You sure? The reason I ask is ’cause she said she would find me at the party and that she had a friend who was interested as well.”

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