Manipulated: a Rockstar Romantic Comedy (Hammered Book 3) Read online

  I tossed her on the bed. Her unencumbered tits bounced and her nipples hardened. She scooted back. “Really? Do I look like the kind of girl who gets dumped on a bed like that?”

  “Oh, you wanted more seduction, did you?” I grabbed her ankle and dragged her back toward me. “No rabbiting now. Besides, I don’t think these are telling the same tale.” I skimmed the back of my knuckles along the stiff peaks shadowed under the dove gray material of her tank. I knelt between her legs, then settled my hot mouth over one tip. I wanted to drag her shirt up—or down—I wasn’t picky. My only focus was getting my lips, tongue, and teeth on her flesh.

  She propped herself up on her elbows, her head tipped back as I flicked my tongue over the nubby cotton. I’d expected it to be smoother, but her reaction kept me on the outside. For now. Bunny seemed to have a thing for textures.

  My tongue rasped over her nipple again, leaving a wet spot. I lifted my mouth to blow on the tip. When she shuddered, I moved to the other. What was it about her that made me so patient to draw out every response?

  I loved foreplay, but I was like any other man. Once I got the go signal for the next phase, I was quick to jump on it. Here? No, I wanted to take my time. I wanted to make her come with just my mouth on her sensitive breasts. No matter how much my cock was currently digging into my zipper, I was determined to hear that quaking shudder that turned into a sweet, sweet moan.

  I remembered it.

  I still dreamed about it on the rough nights.

  I slid my hand up to her throat. My thumb teased at her pulse. I gauged her reactions from the quick flutter, or if her heart rate slowed. With each swallow under my palm, I itched to break away and watch her reactions. Everything seemed so new to her. As if she didn’t even know her own body.

  “Ahh, bunny. What am I going to do with you?”

  “Hopefully finish me off.” Her voice was a tremble. I snuck a look to make sure I wasn’t scaring her. We were so new to each other. A few hours at a party didn’t make for a satisfying introduction to becoming lovers. That night, I would have done anything to find a room and lock her away for three days. I figured that would be just enough time to allow her up for air or food. One needed their strength.

  Her head was still flung back, and her breath was coming at irregular intervals.

  Christ, she was gorgeous. In a way that was so completely pure. Not pure in innocence. I felt the seething passion stirring in her blood. No, she was completely unaware of her allure, which only made it that much more powerful.

  As painful as my hard-on was, I ignored it in favor of finding another piece of Calliope. Of my little bunny so ready to dart away.

  I teased my other hand under the hem of her shirt and drew little circles along her belly. Her breathing shifted again. A little hiccup of a moan pulled her out of the easy climb she was currently on. “Cal,” I moaned against the increasing wet spot I’d created.

  I inched my hand under hers. She’d fisted the bedclothes into a grip that made me groan. Strong hands. Fuck. I laced our fingers instead and inched the little tank up to find the sweet curve of her breast. The dusky rose of her nipple made my mouth water.

  She collapsed onto the bed and I grabbed onto her other hand. I nosed up the material, climbing over her until the cotton was bunched around her neck. I nudged her legs apart and pressed down on her, letting her know just how she affected me.

  I rolled my hips against the apex of her thighs. She bowed up under my mouth. Already restless and aching, I matched my reactions to hers. I tugged her nipple until a groan rumbled under my lips. I released her, dragging my lips over the fullest part of her. “There’s a girl.” Her legs came up around my hips, following my every shallow thrust.

  She fit me like no other.

  Fuck, I needed to be inside her. I let go of one hand to dip my hand into the soft jersey material. It didn’t compare to the butter soft skin of her lower belly or the curve of her mound. “So wet.”

  I leaned to the side a little so I could get my hands on her. Fuck that, my fingers inside her searing wetness.

  The sudden bang on the door made Callie jump. She immediately scuttled back out of my reach.

  “Dammit,” I muttered. “What now?”

  “Callie! It’s Keys. We’re having game night out here in the common area.”

  Callie’s rapid breaths sped up even more. She yanked her shirt down.

  I crawled toward her. “Ignore her and she’ll go away.”

  Had to be Keys. Just had to be.

  “I can’t,” she whispered.

  “You can,” I mouthed. I grabbed her around the waist just before she dumped herself off the damn bed.

  “You can’t be sleeping,” Keys yelled through the door.

  Callie’s brows snapped down. “See?”

  I lowered my mouth to her neck. “I promise she’ll leave. She’ll catch a clue. Maybe she’ll think you’re out.”

  “Is someone in there with you?” Keys’ voice lowered as she talked to someone in the hall. “Are you sure she’s in there?”

  “I’m pretty sure.”

  Wyatt. “Rat bastard.”

  “He’s very nice,” Callie said quickly, her whisper long gone.

  “I knew it.” Another door-rattling knock. This time, the whole floor had probably heard it, for fuck’s sake. “I hear you in there. Come on, picture girl.” Wyatt’s voice boomed.

  “Just a sec,” Callie called back.

  “Really?” I asked.

  “They know I’m in here. And I’d rather not advertise that we’re…doing this.”

  I rolled onto my side and propped my head up. “Ashamed, then?”

  “No. Just—it’s just not professional.”

  I rolled on my back and flung my arm over my face. “Well, answer it. I need to lie here for a moment. No need to advertise, right?”

  She huffed and popped off the bed. “Can you, I don’t know.” She paced in a circle then waved me toward the bathroom. “Go in there.”

  “I’m not going in the bathroom.”

  Her eyes widened. “Just go.”

  I sighed and rolled off the bed, then headed into the bathroom.

  That woman. What wouldn’t I do for her when she asked me for something with that little plea in her voice?

  Probably nothing, and that was scary as hell.

  I listened as Callie ran to the door and opened it. “Hi.”

  “There you are. Oh, you’re not ready for bed yet, right?”

  “I’m a little tired.”

  “It’s only eight o’clock. And even if it’s jet lag, it’s the wrong way. West coast time—it’s totally early for you.”

  “Yeah, but I was up really early. I had a meeting with Lo—Mr. Lewis.”

  I pressed my ear to the bathroom door, but Keys was rambling on about playing Pictionary. Couldn’t she pick a fun game? She was usually much better at that sort of thing.

  Leaning against the sink, I shifted the lead pipe in my damn pants. I’d been hard on and off all damn day. Right before I was about to get some relief—at least I hoped I was going to get some relief—I was cock-blocked by the woman who had started all my misery in the first place.

  Of all the epically bad timing.

  Thanks, Keys.

  “Well, I have to get dressed.” Callie’s voice took on that tone. The one that said she didn’t want to do something, but was going to do it anyway to keep the peace. I really hated that voice.

  I snapped back the curtain to the shower and twisted the dials until the water came on full blast.

  That would teach her to cave in.

  As I was pulling the screen back across, I caught something purple out of the corner of my eye. I whipped the shower curtain back open and grinned. “Well, then.” I lifted the little wand off the corner shelf. And look at that, it had a flared head that would be sure to reach in all those dark little places. Did my little bunny know how to find her G-spot? Or was it a fruitless search and she just went for
the quick pop of release like a man?

  Had she just used it on herself tonight?

  Was she still wet from a tease of her own when I’d knocked on her door?

  I wasn’t sure if I was more turned on about her getting off in the shower, or that I’d interrupted her.

  Callie closed the front door. “Really?” she shouted. “Do you go out of your way to be an asshole or is that something special you do only when you’re around me?”

  I flipped off the dials, then opened the bathroom door to lean against the jamb. “I don’t like being your dirty little secret.”

  “You’re not, it’s just—” Her eyes widened. “Oh, my God.” She rushed forward and snatched her vibrator out of my hand. “Do you have no boundaries?”

  “I was just going to offer to use it on you.” I grinned. “You can even tell me what you like. I’m an apt pupil.”

  “You’re disgusting.”

  “You’re the one who left it on the ledge in the bathroom.” I waggled my brows. “What if the maid had found it? Oh, the horrors.”

  “I bought some new boots today. I can find one to beat you with.” She looked around. “My tripod is pretty sturdy.”

  “I do love when you threaten me with bodily harm.”

  She stalked over to her suitcase and tucked in her little magic purple wand of orgasms.

  “Tell me, have you ever used one of those things with a man in the same room?”

  “That’s none of your business.”

  “Well, I did just have my fingers inside your…feminine bits. I think it’s fair question.”

  “No.”

  “No, you haven’t, or…”

  “Can we not talk about this?”

  I moved toward her. “You’re not embarrassed.”

  She crossed her arms. “Of course I’m embarrassed.”

  I pulled them apart, trying desperately not to notice how sheer her top was. It wasn’t helping matters. Not when I now knew that she’d been already so on edge when I’d walked in the door.

  She backed up. “Keys will be right back.”

  I blew out a breath. “You know how to ruin a fine time, you know that?”

  “Tell that to Keys.” She flipped her hair over her shoulder.

  “I would have if you didn’t close me off into the bathroom like your da just walked in on you with your boyfriend.”

  “You’re not my boyfriend,” she tossed back at me.

  “No.” I swallowed against how wrong that sounded.

  She was right, there were no strings here. No personal things to get us all tied up. Just fun. Even if the mere idea of something less temporary didn’t scare me off as much as it should.

  Focus on the vibrator and a rocking good orgasm, boyo.

  “I didn’t mean—”

  I held up my hand. “It’s fine. I understand. Besides, Keys has a way of getting people to do just what she wants anyway.”

  She pushed at her hair. “I’m still trying to get to know you guys. I can’t really say no to an evening with a bunch of you.”

  “It’s fine. Tell you what. I’ll meet you down at the common area, but do me a favor?”

  “What?”

  I moved into her space and swiped my fingertip down between her furrowed brows. “Don’t look so suspicious.”

  “I’m suspicious by nature.”

  “I don’t think that’s true, but I won’t fight you on it at the moment. Bring your camera with you. One that you can use for some night photography.”

  “I don’t think we’d do well to recreate our first night.”

  I grinned. “That’s true. No grotto where I’m taking you though.” I toyed with the ends of her damp hair. “Bring something warm though. Maybe dry this. As much as I liked the cool silk against my skin, it might be a little too cold for you.”

  She tipped her head. “I should probably just go to bed.”

  “You should really come out with me.”

  “We have an early day tomorrow.”

  She was trying desperately to backpedal her way out of spending more time with me. It only made me want her more.

  I made my way to the door, but didn’t take my eyes off of her. “It’ll be worth it, I promise.”

  She let out a shaky breath. Every now and then, she gave off little signals that her attitude was more bravado than anything else. “All right. I’ll meet you in the common area.”

  “Perfect.”

  11

  Owen

  “You’re just a sore loser.” Keys clapped then snatched the time piece off the low table.

  “No, you’re a cheat.” I was sprawled in a chair across from Callie. I laced my fingers over my belly as I locked my gaze onto her. She kept shifting in her chair.

  From my presence, and the fact that my fingers were inside of her a mere hour ago? Or because she wasn’t prepared for the level of unsportsmanlike behavior in the little quad we’d commandeered?

  When it came to Pictionary and Scattergories-type games, there was a level of cheating that was just understood. We knew each other too well after ten years together.

  It wasn’t so easy to be an outsider in our little group.

  Bats was missing—shocker. He was gone more often than he participated in any group activity. By the time we found him most days, it was about ten minutes away from soundcheck or a show. This was our second leg of the tour, so the soundchecks were more of a formality.

  Figure out what the arena sounded like, the quirks, and see if anything was going to blow up before showtime. The thing was, we couldn’t fault his playing. Reed’s playing was flawless. Actually, it was even better than that. It was the kind of playing that brought out critical reviews like—There was a demon on stage, and his name was Reed Mason.

  I was sick and tired of getting riled up about Bats and his personal issues with Victoria. I understood the distraction of a woman. Keys had been the one to make me crazy for the last year. I just wish it wasn’t Victoria who had him so distracted. She was poison, and a viper to boot.

  But she wasn’t my problem right now.

  No, my problem was a blond with a messy braid and legs long enough to make me contemplate stealing a sharpie to mark my territory. My signature would go nicely along her inner thigh.

  Owen Blackwell was here.

  Property of Owen Blackwell.

  Well, not yet—but soon. So very fucking soon.

  Could she hear my damn thoughts? Because her foot started bouncing as soon as I’d come up with the idea. I shifted on the club chair, opening my legs a little more to make room for the thickening annoyance in my jeans. I wasn’t some fourteen-year-old who popped a damn woody at the thought of a woman.

  Evidently, only if that woman’s name was Calliope Templeton.

  Fuck, even her name was hot.

  “You gonna play, son? Or just ogle the new girl?”

  I glanced over at Wyatt. His smug smile set my teeth on edge. I simply arched my brow. “Am I ogling you, bu—Callie?”

  “Not sure what constitutes ogling.” Her foot stopped bouncing. “Nothing that makes me want to slug you, or whip out my mace.”

  “See?” I played with the ring on my right hand.

  “Because she likes it.” Wyatt stood. “And I’m done with drawing stick figures for the night.”

  “Aww, come on.” Keys’ face dropped.

  “Sorry, little one. I’ve got a date.”

  “With who?”

  “Angela? I think that’s her name.” Wyatt shrugged. “Pretty hostess at the restaurant across the street.”

  “You chose a booty call over…never mind.” Keys dropped onto Quinn’s lap. “Lame.”

  Quinn curled a possessive hand around her hip. “We can play checkers.”

  She looked down at him, a slow smile forming. “Well, there’s some incentive.”

  My gut clenched. Not as much as it used to. I was happy for her and there had never been anything between us. But I’d cultivated that want for a long
time. I straightened up. No need to go down that winding and dead end street. “I’m going to take our new tour photographer out to see some of my favorite spots of Austin.”

  Zach perked up from his near comatose state. “Can I come?”

  No. No, you cannot bloody come.

  I hadn’t come yet, so he couldn’t use the word, even if his meaning was the edited for TV version. But the stark need on his face made me keep my own counsel.

  Cock-blocked at every turn.

  “Er…sorry. Was this a thing?” Zach dipped his hands into the pockets of his too big jeans. Zach was forever rumpled with ill-fitting clothes simply because he couldn’t be bothered to buy anything that wasn’t from his high school years. And he wasn’t a slightly soft through the middle teenager anymore. Running around on stage with Bats had cured him of that.

  “No, of course not.” Callie popped up. “I don’t know where we’re going, but it requires my camera.” She hiked her bag over her shoulder and listed to the right.

  Zach’s face transformed. “Awesome. Wait until you see Owen’s car. He’s forever finding cool old car shops in whatever area we’re in.”

  Callie’s gaze locked on mine. “Is that so?”

  “Hope you don’t mind the top down.” I quickly looked down at my belt for a second. Behave, sir. “Looks like it’s a party.”

  Zach jogged to the front door of the hotel and held it open for Callie.

  She walked through it and stopped just outside the threshold, throwing her head back as she took a deep breath. “I smell water.”

  Sweet blue Christ. The tendrils that wouldn’t be bound in her braid fluttered in the night, and her curvy form was packed tight into dark-washed tight jeans and a filmy black shirt with sugar skulls all over it. She was wearing Chucks with a matching design. She had a quirky style that made me itch to touch her and curl her close to me.

  Not smart, but the truth.

  Maybe it would subside once I got her under me.

  And maybe you’ll win a Grammy for lead vocals.

  So not happening. I fished a pick out of my pocket, threading it through my fingers so I wouldn’t do something stupid.