Dare Me (Rock Gods #2) (4 page)

5

              Jessica stared around the incredibly luxurious suite at the Milagro. It was insane. In fact, this whole night was insane. And it hadn't even started yet apparently.

             
The rest of In Tempo had accepted her presence as no big deal, joking around with her as they piled into the small plane, then the limo, then the elevator. Then spilling out into the spacious two story suite. It took up what appeared to be two entire floors of the top of the hotel.

             
Big time didn't even begin to cut it.

             
The whole time, Kendall had been by her side, whispering funny things in her ears. Sweet things. Joking around. Getting to know her. Or trying to.

             
As if she'd really let anyone get to know her. But he was making an effort and she had to give him credit for that. It might open the door a crack, but there was no way he was getting past the front room. She was starting to hope that he kept trying though.

             
Beyond that, she wasn't sure what she was going to do.

             
The guys had a plan for the night. They were going in the hot tub. And then clubbing. And then- who knows? The other guys and their manager were doing shots at the fully stocked bar in the suite. Even Davie did a shot, though he only did one. Kendall was watching her as she walked around the living room of the suite, staring out the windows.

             
There were plenty of bedrooms, something Kendall had been quick to point out to her. It was almost as if he were trying to convince himself that they shouldn't sleep together. She felt a blush spread over her body at the thought of him holding her, kissing her. That was not going to happen though.

             
Jessica was in no way that easy to get over on, celebrity or not.

             
She kind of hoped he'd try though. She'd enjoy all the preliminary stuff. It wasn't like they were dating. This was a one time deal obviously. She'd just have to be firm about the limits. That's if he even tried anything. She sensed that he liked her. A lot even. He'd said she was cute more than once. That was good right? Not as good as 'gorgeous' or 'beautiful' but she'd take it.

             
She shook herself mentally. What did it matter what he thought? This was an adventure, not the beginning of a relationship. She didn't believe in those anyway, remember?

             
Funny how many times she was reminding herself of reality tonight. Everything felt so foreign and strange. But if she was honest with herself, it was all different in a good way.

             
A very good way.

             
She turned to see the guys piling into the hot tub out on the deck. Tom was running around in his underpants, pretending to be a monkey. Kendall was shaking his head at their antics.

             
"You want a drink?"

             
She nodded and followed him over to the bar.

             
"Beer? Mixed drink?"

             
"Um… tequila and tonic."

             
He squinted at her and shook his head.

             
"Really."

             
"Yeah. Tequila is actually the only alcohol you can get in the United States thats not made out of corn or grain."

             
"What?"

             
"It's easier to digest. Plus I like it."

             
He grinned.

             
"Okay doc. Hey, are you really a doctor?"

             
She nodded, watching his muscles flex while he made them drinks.

             
"I'm a vet. Like I said."

             
"So you must be an animal lover."

             
She nodded again.

             
"Me too. I always wanted to have a ranch where I could bring animals that had escaped from the slaughter house."

             
He must have seen the look on her face because he stopped mixing.

             
"What?"

             
"Me too."

             
"Sorry?"

             
He grinned and shook their drinks with ice, making a funny rattling sound.

             
"That's what I've always wanted too."

             
She could tell he hadn't heard her soft reply. She hadn't wanted him too. The doorbell rang and she went to answer it. In front of her were at least six or seven uniformed hotel staff pushing rolling carts full of covered trays.

             
"Room service."

**********

              "Hold still!"

             
Kendall was inspecting Jessica's head, looking for bumps. He was enjoying having her in his grasp. He could touch her at will… and smell her.

             
She smelled really good. It wasn't creams or perfumes either. She was 100% natural, other than the tiniest bit of eye makeup. That delicious smell was all her
.

             
He hoisted her up against him. Now he could hold her close on his lap while he pushed her hair around, inspecting her scalp. Her hair was soft. He sniffed it.

             
"Hey! I'm not a toy you know!"

             
He smiled to himself, sneaking a peak down the front of her shirt.

             
"Are you sure? You are kind of doll sized…"

             
"Shut up!"

             
They'd had their drinks and eaten a boat load of food- party stuff mostly but it was extremely well made. He'd watched as she popped veggie after veggie down her throat. The girl could
eat
. She didn't eat meat, but she wasn't picky beyond that. He'd refrained from eating the tiny bite sized kobe burgers out of respect for her. He realized he would go vegetarian if he had a girl like her as his girlfriend. She was right when she said that anyone who said they were an animal lover couldn't in good conscience eat them.

             
She told him about how much she loved cows, and their placid personalities. She told him they were great mothers. She told him pigs were smarter than some children. Smarter than some adults even. That had made him roll his eyes a little bit.

             
He would have laughed but she'd been dead serious. She was very cute when she was fired up.

             
Now he was debating about what to do next. They could go out. She'd probably want to. But he was having a great time right here. And if they stayed in, the bed was much easier to get to…

             
She wiggled out of his grasp and gave him her best stink eye. He laughed, giving in to the inevitable. There was no use for it. The girl was not going to just hop into bed with him, as much as he'd like that.

             
Out of all the girls in the world, he'd met the only one that wouldn't just do whatever he told her to. Women literally came running when he snapped his fingers, even famous ones. Jessica wasn't like that at all.

             
It was refreshing.

             
Frustrating, but refreshing.

             
Extremely frustrating.

             
He ran his hand through his hair, trying not to get annoyed with her. He stared out into the Las Vegas night. Out on the deck the guys were finally getting out of the hot tub.

             
Suddenly it seemed like a really good idea to get her into that hot tub. He was only human after all.

             
"Do you want to go in?"

             
"Uh, no thanks. I kind of forgot my suit. Or anything."

             
"We can get you one."

             
She looked at him doubtfully.

             
"Trust me, in Vegas you can have anything sent to your room."

             
She blushed.

             
"Oh."

             
"I didn't mean- never mind. But we can go shopping if you want. They gave us these cards with free points."

             
"Points?"

             
"Yeah, for high rollers and celebrities. It's like cash, but it only works in the hotel."

             
"Wow. That's crazy. So they give money to people who don't need it?"

             
He laughed. God, the girl had a funny way of looking at things. Even stranger, he was realizing that he kind of agreed with everything she was saying.

             
"Yeah. Do you want a dress or something to go out in? I mean, I'm the one who dragged you all the way here."

             
She looked doubtful. He really wanted to take her shopping for some reason. Watch her try on clothes. Maybe even pick things out to have her wear for him, like a little doll. He never wanted to do that with girls.

             
What was getting into him?

             
"No thanks. I mean, unless I'm going to be embarrassing to be seen with?"

             
"You look great. But it could be fun. I'm not going to spend it."

             
"Are you sure?"

             
"Yeah, lets go. We can meet them at the club."

6

              "Don't look at the price tag."

             
Jessica squeaked and jumped. She hadn't realized he was so close behind her. He was practically breathing down her neck.

             
It was too late though. She'd seen the tag.

             
$2,000.

             
For a top.

             
It was essentially a tank top, even if it did have crystals scattered all over it.

             
They were in a fancy boutique in the lobby of the Milagro. It was almost 1 AM but they were still open. Apparently, it was early for Vegas. The night was just getting started.

             
"I, um, jeez this stuff is expensive."

             
He quirked his eyebrow at her and then pointed to a chair by the dressing rooms.

             
"Sit."

             
Dutifully she sat and watched as he conferred with the sales woman, Sandra. Sandra was drooling all over him. The sales girl was stunning but he seemed to only had eyes for Jess. In fact, he had tilted his head to the side and was inspecting her. She crossed her arms over her chest.

             
"What size are you?"

             
"What? Oh. Extra small."

             
He rolled his eyes.

             
"Dress size."

             
"Oh. Zero? Or two. It depends."

             
"Shoes?"

             
"Five."

             
He nodded and started picking things out. Dresses. Lots of them. He piled them onto the sales girls arms and turned to wink at Jess. She couldn't help but laugh as he pushed her into the dressing room and shut the door.

**********

             
Sweet Jesus.

             
What had he gotten himself into?

             
Kendall was sitting in the boutique, watching Jessica try on clothes. It had been his idea. Now he was paying the price.

             
His pants felt tight all the sudden.

             
Very tight.

             
Jessica was standing awkwardly in another dress he'd picked out for her. This one was, um, very revealing. She didn't look trashy though.

             
She looked fucking beautiful. And very, very self conscious.

             
She was trying in vain to pull the bottom of the mini skirt down to cover her thighs. Her sweet, firm, silky looking thighs. God, she had great legs. Strong and shapely but utterly feminine. The dress fluttered around her hips and hugged her tiny waist, all the way up to the plunging neckline. She was trying to pull that up too. She looked ridiculous, trying to make the fabric do things it didn't want to do.

             
His mouth dried up when he looked at that neckline. It was - oh god - her glorious breasts were finally on display. They were perfectly round and looked delightfully bouncy. She kept saying she wasn't a toy, but she looked like endless hours of fun to him.

             
He groaned, crossing his legs. He was getting a hard on in the lobby of the hotel! He was going to have to stop playing around and get this girl into bed, no matter what it took. The sooner the better.

             
Otherwise he was going to go insane.

             
She wobbled a bit in the heels he'd picked out for her.

             
She stared at him, pulling a face. He couldn't help but laugh. He'd never laughed so much in his life as he had in the past few hours with her.

             
It was a strange sensation, laughing while his dick tried to poke a hole in his pants.

             
"Another no?"

             
She shook her head miserably.

             
"Go and pick something out then. Just-"

             
"I know, I know. Don't look at the price tag."

             
He smirked as she kicked off her heels and disappeared into the racks. In a few minutes she was back, holding up a simple dress and a pair of high heeled ankle boots. She slipped into the dressing room and he closed his eyes, focusing on calming down his raging hard on.

             
Nuns.

             
Kittens.

             
Puppies.

             
Nuns holding kittens and puppies.

             
A fireman rescuing the Nun while she clutched the kittens and puppies.

             
The fireman was kissing the Nun and lifting up her skirt. The Nun looked like Jessica.

             
"Getting sleepy?"

             
He snapped his eyes open.

             
"No- not at all, I'm just- oh wow."

             
She spun for him, wearing a more modest, but equally stunning, above the knee length dress. It was black silk with a sweetheart neckline. It swirled out gracefully when she spun. The booties were about 4 inches high with a little platform built in. She looked incredible.

             
He'd thought her cute before. It was a gross understatement. She was fucking gorgeous.

             
"Too much?"

             
"Uh- no. It's perfect. You look- yeah. Perfect."

             
She cocked her head to the side.

             
"Thanks. I think."

             
He rolled his eyes and stood.

             
"Do you want something else? Another outfit for tomorrow? Get whatever you want. Seriously."

             
"No, this is kind of a one time deal. Thanks though."

             
He frowned, wondering what she meant. He handed the sales woman the card and she swiped it.

             
"There's still ten thousand on your balance."

             
"Okay. I'm getting you a bag Jess!"

             
"Okay."

             
"That one."

             
There was a crystal studded evening bag that caught his eye. Then he noticed the jewelry.

             
"And…"

             
He pointed to a necklace in the case. It was a ruby heart pendant set in platinum. Simple but very dramatic.

             
"We'll take that."

             
She nodded and pulled it out, swiping the card again.

             
He waited until Jessica was done pulling the price tags off her clothes and shoving her things into the tiny purse.

             
"What do I do with this stuff?"

             
"Can you send her clothes and bag to the suite?"

             
The sales girl nodded. He held up the necklace.

             
"Do you like it?"

             
Jessica stared at him, dumbfounded. He lifted the necklace over her head and fastened it.

             
"There. Now you're ready."

             
She blinked up at him, clearly not sure what to make of this latest extravagance.

             
"Don't say it's too much! We're in Vegas remember?"

             
He grinned and grabbed her hand.

             
"Come on, let's go."

**********

             
Jessica was still reeling from the experience in the boutique. People were staring at them as they strode out through the lobby into the warm vegas night.

             
Her hand kept snaking up to her throat, touching the pendant there. It was at least a five thousand dollar necklace. Why had he done that?

             
It was a heart.

             
He'd given her a ruby heart.

             
She'd known him for less than a day and he'd given her the most extravagant gift that anyone had given her.

             
Her parents hadn't exactly been big on Christmas. Or birthday parties. Or groceries that weren't beer.

             
Stop over thinking it! Just have fun!

             
God knows, she hadn't had this much fun in a long time. No. Ever.

             
She knew better than to read anything into it. It wasn't even his money after all. But still… he'd bought her a heart.

             
Now she had to make extra sure she held onto hers.

             
Kendall had her hand firmly clasped in his warm, dry palm. His hand was so much bigger than hers, it practically swallowed it up. She stared at it as they waited for a car to pick them up. The hotel provided complimentary SUV's.

             
He pulled her into the car and helped her buckle herself in.

             
"I can do that myself you know."

             
He grinned at her.

             
"I know. I like doing it."

             
There was something in his face that made her stomach do a little flip flop. He leaned in closer.

             
"I need to feel like a man anyway. After the tracksuit."

             
She burst out laughing. He was so funny! It was refreshing to know he didn't take himself too seriously.

             
"Where to?"

             
"Hey man. The Grindhouse, please. Backdoor."

             
"You got it."

             
She sat there trying not to be shocked when Kendall's thigh pressed against hers. He seemed to be touching her a lot. It was definitely deliberate.

             
She felt tingles where his leg touched hers. Hell, she felt tingles everywhere.

             
"Do you go clubbing a lot?"

             
She shook her head, feeling shy suddenly.

             
"Never."

             
He smiled and put his arm around her, sliding even closer.

             
"Me either.  I mean I go, but I always end up wondering why."

             
"You don't like it?"

             
He shrugged.

             
"It's kind of stupid. I mean, I like dancing. And the music. But it's such a meat market. Girls can get really aggressive. It's a turn off."

             
She peeked at him. He wasn't being funny. He seriously didn't like women throwing themselves at him.

             
"You are probably the only man on earth who would complain about that you know."

             
He grinned at her.

             
"I know."

             
Then he kissed her cheek, letting his lips wander over to her ear.

             
Oh my GOD.

             
"We're here."

**********

              Kendall handed the driver a hundred dollar bill and he handed back his card.

             
"Call anytime."

             
"We will, thanks."