Managed: A VIP Novel Part 24

Looking at my past dead in the eye, I understand the full extent of what Gabriel has done by welcoming me into the band-into his life. He let me in, despite my mistakes, and never once has he tried to use me for anything other than comfort and companionship.

He cares about me. He trusts me.

The weight of that settles around my shoulders like a plush blanket. I'd teased him before about being his champion, wanting to lighten the moment and make him smile. But the truth is Gabriel Scott has become my top priority in life. Whatever we are, whatever we'll be, that will not change.

Chapter Fourteen.

Gabriel

"Which one is better?" Sophie asks, her voice soft in the stillness of the room. "Star Wars or Star Trek?"

We're lying face to face on the bed in our suite. Just outside the open terrace doors is Barcelona and the harbor. Sounds of laughter from late-night revelers and the occasional cry of gulls drift in with the briny scent of the sea.

In here, however, it is quiet, peaceful. The ambient light from the street below paints Sophie's curves in a palette of soft blues and grays. There is a gleam of relaxed happiness in her eyes that only I am privy to. Because this is our time, no one else's.

"Which one is better?" I scoff, even though I secretly love her line of questioning. "First off, Star Wars is a s.p.a.ce opera. Star Trek is a s.p.a.ce odyssey. They're completely different storytelling approaches."

It's going on three in the morning, and I've been up since five. The irony isn't lost on me that Sophie's here because I need her to sleep. But the best part of each day is when I am in bed with her, and I refuse to waste it by sleeping more than I have to. Especially now that she's in a chatty mood.

The last day and a half, Sophie has been subdued and a bit downcast. Since I've been avoiding direct eye contact after tossing off in her panties, guilt sits heavy in my gut. But perhaps her mood isn't about me at all. She seems happy now, content even. So I fight sleep and drink in the sight of my chatty girl basking in the plush comfort of our bed.

"You are such a dork," she says grinning. "They're both about s.p.a.ce and laser guns."

"You're taking a p.i.s.s," I tell her with a laugh. "I refuse to believe you can't tell the difference between the two."

"I'm not..." She puts a hand up and finger quotes, "'taking a p.i.s.s.' I'm just don't see what the big deal is. Pick a favorite, already."

"No. It's like that old dilemma of trying to choose between The Beatles and The Stones. It can't be done."

Her blunt nose wrinkles, and I have the overwhelming urge to kiss it. "Of course it can be done," she says, oblivious to my thoughts. "The Beatles for joy or nostalgia. The Stones for drinking or s.e.x."

At the word s.e.x my c.o.c.k jumps as if to remind me that I've been ignoring him and he is not amused. I tilt my hips toward the bed and press my irritable c.o.c.k to the mattress. The randy b.a.s.t.a.r.d jerks in protest. I empathize with my needy w.i.l.l.y. Truly. But some things are worth more.

Keep telling yourself that, mate.

"Why not The Beatles for s.e.x?" I can't help asking. Mistake. Turning any conversation towards s.e.x is playing with fire. But apparently I like the sweet pain of being slowly burned.

Sophie shrugs, sending the white sheet farther down the curve of her shoulder. "Name one Beatles song that's s.e.xier than a Stones' song."

I stare at her shoulder. Her f.u.c.king shoulder has me enthralled. And it isn't even bare. Every night, she wears an over-sized t-shirt and little boy-short panties to bed. I'm fully aware she believes this to be as s.e.xless an outfit as she can manage to sleep in-I've tried the same, usually wearing loose lounge pants and a t-shirt-but she is wrong.

Her b.r.e.a.s.t.s, unfettered by a bra, are soft and round. Trying not to notice them sway and bounce beneath thin cotton that lovingly clings to her shape is impossible. Every f.u.c.king night, I imagine rolling her onto her back and sliding the shirt up over her fantastic t.i.ts.

I've pictured it so many times, holding her hands over her head so her back arches and lifts those plump mounds high. I'd drink in my fill, just looking, making her squirm as she waits for first contact. I'd take it slow, pepper kisses over every inch, leaving the buds of her nipples for last when she's whimpering for me to suck them.

The notion of sucking on Sophie's t.i.ts has my tongue pressing to the roof of my mouth. s.h.i.t. I clear my throat, try to focus on her question. What was the question again?

"I can't think of an answer," I tell her truthfully.

She makes a sound of triumph. "See? I'm always right."

"Keep telling yourself that, chatty girl. Won't make it true."

Our hands are so close that our fingers nearly brush. I keep still. And it is an act of will, an exercise I endure every night. There are rules: I can hold her, but I cannot explore. No stroking of her skin, no drifting of my hands. I can tuck her up against my side or press her back to my stomach, but no letting my hard c.o.c.k grind into her plump a.r.s.e.

And when we lie together like this, talking deep into the night, I never, ever focus on her mouth. That mouth, plush and rosy, always moving-talking, pursing, smiling. I want to lick up her smile, suck in her words, her laugh.

And yet it is her smile and her laugh that holds me back from taking what I want. Because this isn't solely about s.e.x; if it was, I'd have f.u.c.ked her already. This is uncomfortably more.

I have never experienced intimacy. I did not know how good it felt to simply be with someone and let everything else melt away. The world can f.u.c.k off when I'm with Sophie Darling. There is only us. I don't have to be anyone else but Gabriel.

If I give into my base wants it will complicate things. I do not know how to be a boyfriend. h.e.l.l, I hate that sodding word. It sounds juvenile and inadequate. If I claimed Sophie, she'd be mine. I'd be hers. And I'd c.o.c.k it up.

My life is Kill John. Where would that leave Sophie? With a cold, emotionally stunted b.a.s.t.a.r.d who's barely there?

"I love Spain," she whispers now, breaking me out of my brooding.

I watch her in the dark. "Why do you love Spain?"

"I don't know. It's something in the air. I want to go dancing, eat tapas, get drunk on Sangria."

"Small list," I murmur. "Dancing, eh?"

She glances my way, her eyes flashing in the dim light. "I know it sounds stereotypical as h.e.l.l, but I think of Spain, and I imagine flamenco dancing while wearing some frothy skirt with a flower in my hair."

A low chuckle escapes me. "Do you know how to dance flamenco?"

"In my mind I do. And I'm fabulous."

"You always did have an elaborate imagination, chatty girl."

She gives me a happy, agreeing hum, and then spins her pillow to the other side; something she does when she's ready to sleep. It's a cool gel pillow she bought after falling victim to Libby and Killian's sales pitch about this "magical" pillow and how it would give her the best sleep of her life.

She bought me one too, because she wanted me to have the same comforts. Little did she realize that her small act of caring tore my heart from my chest and laid it on a platter for her to claim.

"You'd have to dance with me," she murmurs.

"In your dreams, love."

I get a pleased chuckle in response.

Oblivious to the fact that I'm slowly unraveling, she snuggles close, her head finding the crook of my shoulder. That's her place now, tucked up beside me, her hand lightly resting over my heart. When her finger idly traces little patterns on my chest, my eyes close tight.

I'm in pain now, actual physical pain-in my b.a.l.l.s, my abs, my chest. Everything aches with a throbbing persistence, wrought from self-denial. I want this woman more than anything I've ever wanted in my life. But I want to keep her. I have no idea how to keep anyone close to me. Because I have no idea how to expose my heart.

Sophie keeps drawing on me, and my closed-off heart beats faster, harder. I need her to stop. I need her to go lower. I bite down hard on my lip and focus on the breath moving in and out of my lungs.

"What are your plans after the tour ends," I find myself asking, if only to distract myself.

Her voice is slightly husky with sleepiness. "Not sure. I'll still help out the band with social media. But I won't be around to take pictures, obviously." Her slim shoulder shrugs. "Brenna's been talking to Harley Andrews's publicist. Apparently he's looking for a social media expert."

My eyes snap open. "Harley Andrews, the movie star?" The sodding "s.e.xiest man alive" according to People magazine? I'm going to kill Brenna. Throw her Louboutins in the harbor.

"That's the one. Can you believe it?" Sophie sounds so b.l.o.o.d.y happy, while I'm fighting being ill. "He's got a movie coming out in a few months. Set in the outback of Australia. So the idea is that he'd go on a press junket there first. I've always wanted go to Australia."

My back teeth meet at hearing her dreamy sigh. Considering the average flight to Australia is over twenty hours, my chances of visiting there are nil. And Sophie wants to travel the country with Harley Sodding Andrews and his supposed irresistible charm.

I pull her a little closer under the guise of getting comfortable, and then clear my throat. "Sounds like a good opportunity. However, just so you have your options open, I know that Maliah is also looking for someone."

Ponce. You dirty, opportunistic ponce.

Sophie's head pops up. "Really? I love her music!"

"Oh?" I've only heard her listening to the woman a thousand times by now. "Well, I could put in a word."

"Ah, sunshine, you're the best."

Not hardly. Just a jealous prat.

She leans in to give me a quick, friendly kiss on the cheek. My body reacts before my mind can stop it. In a blink I have her, my hands tunneling through her hair, holding the sides of her head to prevent her from retreating. And she stills, shock widening her eyes, her lips hovering inches from mine.

I can't move: I just hold her imprisoned, staring at her in similar shock.

Let her go, you git.

I try to make my fingers release, but my body has locked up, protesting. The soft warmth of her panting breaths caress my skin. She's so close, I can almost feel her lips-those lush, pouty lips I want on me. Anywhere, I'm not particular. No, first I want to kiss them, lick and suck their plump curves. I want to feel the slickness of her tongue against mine.

My abdomen clenches, and I swallow down a groan, my chest heaving. A tremor starts deep in my gut, and my c.o.c.k pulses. It wants in, deep and snug.

Let her go. Kiss her. Let her go. Kiss her.

Rage fills me that I am so c.o.c.ked up, I can't act like a normal man.

I don't know what she reads in my eyes, but her lips part, a little gasp escaping that I can practically taste. Christ Almighty, give me strength to let her go, or let me do her right.

The choice is literally ripped from my hands when she moves back, slipping out of my frozen hold.

"I have to pee," she says baldly. The panic in her voice sc.r.a.pes against my skin, and I flinch. But she's already up, fleeing to the bathroom.

When the door shuts, I flop onto my back and let out a pained breath. What the sodding h.e.l.l have I done?

Outside the open windows, a woman's laughter echoes. I wince and rest a forearm over my eyes. I'd wanted to know how Sophie would react if I made a move. Running to the toilet appears to be the answer.

Nausea roils in my gut.

From the bathroom comes the sound of water, and I know she'll return soon. A part of me doesn't want her to. But I need to apologize.

She's quiet when she gets into bed, crawling tentatively under the covers.

Words clog in my throat.

For the first time since we've started sleeping together, she doesn't draw near. I feel the absence like a cold hand along my skin. I turn to say something, but she beats me to it.

"Good night, Gabriel."

The finality in her voice, and the clear warning that she doesn't want to talk, settles like a stone in my heart.

I swallow hard. "Good night, Sophie."

On the opposite sides, I stay silent, listening as the soft sounds of her breathing slowly change into the steady cadence of sleep, and dread fills me.

I can't do this any more. I cannot keep denying myself, and I clearly cannot keep my hands off her. Yet the idea of never sleeping next to her again fills me with inexplicable fear.

In her sleep, Sophie turns with a deep sigh, and her hand reaches out to me. I don't move a muscle, but the whole of my being concentrates on the brush of her fingertips against my forearm. Such a small thing, her touch, barely even true contact, and yet I cannot pull away for the life of me.

Be her friend. I can do that. It will torture me, but not having this will outright end me. So I will tuck my needs away, put them somewhere deep and dark, and turn my efforts toward making Sophie feel happy and safe.

Chapter Fifteen.

Sophie