Page 13 of The Rocker

I wasn’t sure where we stood now. I mean, I just watched her masturbate. There was this strange connection between us now.

Moving around to the other side of the bed, I started to say something to Pen when I noticed she was curled up around my pillow, sound asleep. Little puffs of air escaped her pretty pink lips.

Looking to my bedroom door, I wasn’t sure if I should leave and go sleep on the couch or if Pen would mind if I slept next to her. It was only sleep, right?

Lying down next to her, I pulled the blanket up to our shoulders. Leaning forward, I kissed her forehead and let my lips linger there for a long moment, not knowing when or if I’d ever get my lips on her again.

Our night was simple, refreshing, exhilarating, unlike anything I’d ever experienced, and surprisingly so damn addicting. Now I just had to convince Pen for more.

CHAPTERSEVEN

pen

1 Week Later

A knockon the frame to my office startled me, making me hit send on an email I hadn’t meant to send yet. I looked up to find a very annoyed Cristiano standing at my door. “Did you know those boys wouldn’t sign their contract unless you were their manager?”

“I had no idea they would demand it.” It secretly made me happy that they wanted me around. Being their manager was what I wanted, but I wasn’t sure what would happen once they signed or if they’d follow through with their demand to have me as their manager.

“Well, they did. They’re coming in tomorrow to finally sign the damn thing.” He narrowed his cold, dead eyes at me. “You better make sure they don’t fuck up, or it’s your career at stake.”

“I won’t. I promise.”

“I want them in the studio by the end of next week and on tour by the end of the year,” he demanded before walking out.

By the end of the year, was he crazy? I had a feeling Cristiano was setting me up to fail, but I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction. Crimson Heat would be ready if it was the last thing I did.

Picking up my phone, I dialed Walker’s number and waited for him to answer. I couldn’t help but think back to the last time I saw him. He was sprawled out in his bed, where I left him without waking him up. He looked so damn young as he slept. He had the face of a child but the body of a Greek god. One I wanted to worship. One I needed to stay away from, which was going to be extremely difficult now that I was their manager.

Was it childish of me to sneak out? Yes, but I wasn’t prepared to deal with what happened the night before. I couldn’t believe I masturbated in front of him. I wish I could have blamed it on all the beer I’d had, but I couldn’t. There was no way I could deny my attraction to Walker, no matter how wrong it was.

“Hey,” Walker answered, like I called him all the time. “I’ve been waiting to hear from you.”

“I know, but there was a holdup with the contract. Do you know anything about that?”

“Maybe,” he said playfully. I knew he had a sexy ass smirk on his face.

“You didn’t have to do that, you know?”

“Yeah, we know, but you were the one who believed in us and did everything you could to get us that contract. We want you to be a part of the band until the end.”

I laughed, shaking my head. “You shouldn’t be thinking of the end right now. You’ve got a long, lucrative career ahead of you. One that you might not have had by insisting on me being your manager.”

“It’s worth it. You’re worth it, Penelope.” The way he purred my name had my toes curling in my boots.

“Listen, Walker, if you did this because you think it’s a sure-fire way to get me into bed with you, you couldn’t be more wrong. I can’t sleep with you. Not now. Not ever. If I do, I’ll lose my job. A job that I love.”

“We… I didn’t do it to get you into bed.” His voice went lower as he got serious. “I already told you why. Your belief in us means everything. Now,” his tone changed again back to playful. “I won’t deny that I want you because I do, but I won’t push you either. I can’t imagine what it would feel like to be in your position.”

“Thank you. Cristiano informed me that you are coming to sign tomorrow. I’ll take you all out to dinner to celebrate and to thank you for making me a part of the band.”

“Ah, you don’t have to do that.”

“I want to. I promised you I’d take you out to celebrate, and I keep my promises.”

“Okay,” he agreed quickly.

“Okay,” I laughed. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

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