Star Crossed (Starlight #3) (16 page)

Teresa and George exchange smiles as if there’s nothing the slightest bit strange about this.

‘My mother has already made a list of eligible men,’ George assures Teresa.

I can see Tammy is about to make a vomit noise.

‘George, what do you think of the bridesmaid dresses?’ I ask quickly.

George turns to us both distractedly, as though seeing us for the first time.

‘Sure,’ she says dismissively, ‘they’re great.’

I give Tammy a knowing look.

I guess George is less bothered about choosing bridesmaid outfits now she has her perfect dress…

‘
Ok then girls,’ beams Teresa. ‘Let’s get on with this shoot.’

Chapter 19

Once the shoot starts, George’s Bridezilla persona calms down. And we end up having a really fun time.

With her blonde hair, and Paris Hilton figure, George looks absolutely stunning in her dress. The hairdresser arranges a few simple jewels in her hair, and with a sweep of barely-there make up, George could easily be a wedding model.

Tammy and I fit into the background, posing as the photographer snaps away, and thoroughly enjoying ourselves. At the end of the experience, we’re all shown a few of the shots, which leaves George beaming with delight.

‘
I look like a real bride, don’t I?’ she grins. ‘And I think you both make great bridesmaids,’ she adds generously.

‘
Thanks,’ I say, smiling at her enthusiasm. I have no doubt George will be married within the year.

‘
Oh wait,’ adds George, fingering the white rose bouquet she held for the shoot. ‘I need to throw my bouquet, don’t I?’

Without waiting for an answer, she strides to the other side of the room.

‘Ready?’ she calls back over her shoulder.

George aims the bouquet, and launches it towards us. It sails in a high arc, zeroing in on where Tammy and I are standing with impressive accuracy.

Tammy makes a little squeal, and launches herself bodily out of the way. Leaving me as the only person in the path of the flying flowers.

Unthinkingly I reach up and grab the bouquet before it falls.

‘Summer you got them!’ says George proudly, sashaying back towards us in her tight fitting wedding dress. ‘So you’ll be married after me.’

‘
Is that so?’ asks a deep male voice. ‘Well then, I guess I chose the right outfit.’

I turn in alarm to see that Adam has entered the photo
shoot.

He’s wearing a formal tuxedo – the most smartly dressed I’ve ever seen him. And the fitted suit seems to make the sex appeal pour off him.

He looks so hot.

Adam’s
dark hair and stubble are emphasised by the crisp cut of his clothing. Slight evidence of his tattoos can be seen emerging from the wrists of his jacket. He looks good enough to eat. Like the ultimate bad-boy, with his heavy shoulders and biceps straining against the formal suit.

I can’t keep a huge smile off my face to see him.
Though I suddenly realise I’m not sure how to greet him.

In theory our relationship is a secret. But he’s striding towards
me as though there’s no mistaking I’m his girlfriend.

On the photo
shoot you can hear a pin drop. I realise that every person is staring at Adam. All of the girls wear a bedazzled expression of lust.

‘
Summer,’ says Adam, closing in on me. ‘You look good with a bouquet.’

He reaches out and fingers the petals delicately. As though he’s considering something important.

‘I… You look good in a suit,’ I blurt. I’m aware that everyone is staring at us now.

Adam laughs
, but doesn’t elaborate on his choice of clothing. He turns to George.

‘You look lovely
,’ he says. ‘May I kiss the blushing bride?’

George blushes beet red as Adam takes her hand and kisses it.

‘You look a picture,’ he tells her. ‘Your husband-to-be is a lucky man.’

Whilst George is melting under this flattery, Adam directs his attention to Tammy.

‘I hear you’re doing well in Dev.as.station,’ he says. ‘Your first gig is tomorrow night.’

‘
How did you know that?’ asks Tammy, impressed.

Adam smiles.
‘I’m in the music business,’ he says. ‘It’s my job to know these things.’

‘
Will you be coming to the gig with Summer?’ asks Tammy.

Damn. Adam’s not going to like this.

He flashes me a glance.

‘
I didn’t know Summer was going to the gig,’ he says. His tone is mild, but I detect something steely beneath it. His eyes never leave my face.

He’s not happy.

‘Of course I’m going,’ I say, trying to adopt a breezy tone. ‘It’s Tammy’s first gig. I have to be there to support her.’

‘
I see.’ Adam’s words are clipped. He glances between me and Tammy. I guess he’s trying to work out how much she knows about my earlier incident in the park.

‘
Well,’ Adam says after a moment. ‘Summer has a very busy schedule this week. We’ll have to see if we can fit that in.’

I glare at him, furious. But the look on his face drives down any protest I might have.

‘Now if you’ll excuse us,’ continues Adam smoothly. ‘I’ve booked an engagement for Summer, and we really should be going.’

I am dumbstruck. Half of me
is angry that Adam seems to be arranging my life without my input. The other half is worried about how mad he seems.

‘
I need to change first,’ I say, gesturing to my lavender bridesmaid dress.

‘
No you don’t,’ says Adam. ‘What you’re wearing will be perfect.’

‘
But… I can’t just wear this dress,’ I protest. ‘It’s part of the photo shoot.’

‘
I’ll speak to the magazine,’ says Adam. ‘They can ask the designer’s permission to borrow the dress. It won’t be a problem.’

‘
But…’

‘
It’s not a problem,’ says Adam. He sounds so certain there is no room for protest. I guess in Adam’s world, loaning designer dresses is as easy as snapping your fingers.

T
hat’s what you get for dating a rock star.

Adam
takes my hand firmly.

‘
Let’s go Summer,’ he says. ‘We don’t want to be late.’

‘
I…’ sensing that refusing him is futile, I make do with waving goodbye to Tammy and George.

‘
See you both soon,’ I promise as Adam walks me purposefully away.

As soon as we’re out of earshot, I pull my hand away from his.

‘What the hell was that all about?’ I demand. ‘You can’t just decide my life for me. If I want to go to Tammy’s gig I’ll go.’

We’ve reached the elevator now, and memories of my previous spanking are flooding back. I feel my face heating up.

But as the doors slide open and then shut behind us, Adam gives me no indication he’s intending on continuing with his earlier elevator seduction.

‘
I’m your mentor Summer,’ he says sternly. ‘That means I
do
decide your schedule.’

I set my jaw stubbornly, realising he might have a point.

‘And in case you’d forgotten,’ he continues, ‘you were followed earlier. I can hardly let you out alone.’

‘
It’s a public place,’ I insist, ‘I won’t be in any danger.’

‘
That’s for me to decide,’ he says.

‘
No it isn’t!’ I reply, anger rising in my voice. ‘You’re not in charge of…’

Before I can finish the sentence, Adam grabs my hips and whee
ls me around. He forces me forwards so I’m pressed face first against the elevator wall.

I can feel the power of his taught body behind me, fixing me in position.

‘I’m not in charge of you?’ he growls, ‘is that what you were going to say?’

I am speechless. His sudden ferocity has taken me by surprise.

But it’s got me burning with lust too.

This is so hot.

I feel his hand sliding up under my skirt, and my knees weaken.

He slips a finger inside my panties, and I close my eyes. There’s no denying how wet I am for him.

‘I’m not in charge of you?’ he repeats. ‘That’s not what it feels like.’

His fingers slide over me, and then they retreat back towards my behind.

I feel his hand part my buttocks, and then his moistened finger slips inside my ass.

I give a yelp of surprise.

‘Later tonight,’ he murmurs in my ear, ‘I’m going to carry on what I started.’

His finger slips mercilessly in and out of my ass, filling me with electric
pulses.

‘
For now,’ he continues, ‘we have an appointment. So I’m satisfying myself with showing you who’s in charge.’

In my shock of lust, I’m only vaguely aware of the elevator buttons scaling down.

Adam slides his hand away, and once again I have the aching feeling of being severed. I rest my head on the elevator wall, panting.

Then Adam turns me back around, so we’re both standing together. I catch sight of us in the
elevator door. I’m flushed, my lips moistened.

I’m relieved when the doors open and there’s no one on the other side. They couldn’t fail to notice that something just happened between us.

‘Come on,’ says Adam, taking my hand and pulling me forwards.

I force my legs to work.

What’s wrong with me? I always thought of myself as strong and independent. But this man is like a drug. I’m powerless to resist him.

‘
Where are we going?’ I ask, as he guides me out of the magazine offices. I’m suddenly remembering that his formal suit must relate to our scheduled activity.

Adam shoots me a look of pure sex.

‘Somewhere to finish your education,’ he says.

Chapter 20

I’m in a daze as Adam’s motorbike zooms through the busy London streets. I still have no idea where we’re going. But my body seems to have gone into some kind of lust paralysis. His taunting seductions have locked me in a permanent heat. My body is flushed. My skin itches for his touch. And the bike throbbing beneath my legs is not helping things.

I sense Adam is well aware of this, as he revs the engine at every red light.

‘Comfortable back there?’ he asks, as the light turns to green.

Arrgh
! He’s maddening.

I’m about to spit back a retort, but he speeds away without waiting for an answer. And my only option is to hold on to him tighter.

After a few streets of this torture we enter Covent Garden, and pull to a halt outside a huge building.

My eyes slide up, taking in the enormous scale
of it. It’s like a Greek temple, with huge neo-classical pillars framing a large entrance.

Adam cuts the engine, and I step off the bike, relieved to be free of the distracting throbbing.

We both take off our helmets, and I see the crowds of people milling to get inside, and a billboard which reads ‘Marriage of Figaro’.

Oh!

‘We’re going to the opera?’ I guess, turning to Adam in delight. ‘This is the Royal Opera House?’

I’m so thrilled that my frustrated annoyance with Adam ebbs a little.

‘Yup,’ grins Adam. ‘Thought it might help with your musical education.’

A few people have started to stare at Adam now. I guess he must be the first man in a tuxedo to turn up to the opera on a motorbike.

He leans in close.

‘
I’ve got a private box,’ he adds, ‘so there might be more than one kind of education waiting for you.’

Desire shoots through me.

What does he have in mind?

‘
Opera is education enough,’ I say primly. Although secretly I’m still burning for him.

Adam takes my hand.

‘I’ll be the judge of that,’ he replies. ‘Come on. There’s a back way in.’

Adam takes me through a back entrance reserved for celebrities, and we’re ushered into the huge amphitheatre of the opera house.

Curved rows of seating span out wide and impossibly high.
I can hardly make out the faces at the top.

I’m suddenly pleased
with my strapless bridesmaid dress. Adam was right. This is perfect for the opera. Everyone is dressed in ball gowns and tuxedos.

We enter a plush fitted box, and I stare in wonder.
There’s a bottle of Moet on ice, two champagne flutes and two opera glasses fixed in red ribbon.

‘
This is like being in a film!’ I say. ‘I never thought I’d be inside the Royal Opera House, let alone a private box.’

‘
I could hardly put you in the public seats,’ grins Adam. ‘Not with what I’ve got planned for you.’

The flush of lust rises up again. I try to push it away.

Damn this man! How does he do this?

‘
So how will an opera help my musical education?’ I ask, changing the topic.

Adam examines me keenly.

‘You’re looking for an ambitious note combination,’ he says. ‘I find that seeing other people master something can be very helpful. You’ll notice in opera that a lot of the note changes are very severe.’

I nod. This makes sense. I can imagine learning a lot from observing the opera. If I actually get to listen to it that is. I get the impression Adam might be something of a distraction.

‘Will I be able to understand it?’ I ask. ‘Isn’t the Marriage of Figaro in Italian?’

Adam nods.
‘It is, but you’ll understand,’ he says. ‘The music tells the story more than the words. You of all people will be able to follow it.’

I smile, pleased at the compliment.

‘You sure know how to show a girl a good time,’ I beam.

Adam steps close, so his mouth is inches from mine.

‘I’m going to show you more than a good time,’ he promises.

He kisses me, and my world melts into him. My heightened state of lust has my whole body tingling for him.

There’s a sudden burst of sound beneath us.

The orchestra has started up.

Reluctantly I pull away. Adam’s blue eyes are compelling.

‘
Come sit,’ he says eventually. ‘I don’t want you to miss the beginning.’

He guides me to my seat and slips down next to me.

Something wicked is playing in his blue eyes.

I swallow and focus my attention on the stage. The sweep of music is like a beautiful ocean of sound passing over us.

Adam was right. This is definitely a music education.

Singers enter the stage and their incredible voices sail over the crowd. It’s mesmerising. I turn to Adam, my eyes sparkling.

‘Thank you,’ I say sincerely. ‘This is so incredible.’

‘
Amazing isn’t it?’ says Adam, leaning back to appreciate the music. ‘Opera is one of my favourite things to attend.’

‘
I… I didn’t think it would be your thing,’ I admit. ‘You know, what with your rock music.’

Adam laughs easily.

‘You didn’t think a man like me could enjoy sophisticated music?’ he guesses, with an eyebrow raised. ‘To me, a good musician is educated. I work hard to make sure I’m familiar with all kinds of genres. That’s where a lot of my inspiration comes from.’

He’s staring deeply at me now. I look back into his eyes, enchanted. There’s something so magical about this. Me. Him.
The music enveloping us.

Without warning, Adam is
kissing me deeply.

I close my eyes and sink deep into him. It feels like every single one of my senses is alive.

Adam’s hands caress my neck, drawing me into the kiss.

‘
Summer,’ he whispers, pulling back a little. ‘I want to make love to you. Here.’

My eyelids flutter slightly.
I am transported by the smell of him, his lips, the soft movements of his hands on my neck.

Everything in my body language is communicating my need for him.

‘I want to make love too,’ I whisper.

Adam’s lips propel me into another paroxysm of ecstasy, and then he’s sliding me gently off my chair, onto the deep carpet of the box floor.

We’re completely screened in this position. But the music still cascades over us in a glorious symphony.

‘
Naked,’ murmurs Adam. ‘I want you completely naked.’

His hand rises up my back, and unzips the dress. I feel it fall away, exposing my breasts.

My sudden nakedness feels dangerous. But it’s also a heady thrill.

‘
You too,’ I say, hazy with him. ‘Take your clothes off.’

Adam strips away his jacket and slowly unbuttons his shirt.

I watch as his muscular tattooed chest is revealed inch by inch.

Mmmm
.

Then he’s kissing me again, long lazy kisses that cover the length of my neck, and press deep into my lips.

Without taking his mouth from my body, he removes his trousers and reaches into the pocket for a condom.

Then he’s inching down the bottom half of my dress, and slipping off my panties.

Above us, the music is building to a crescendo, with violins weaving in and out. It seems to mirror my mindset as Adam gently opens my legs and plants his mouth between them.

Oooooh
!

His tongue darts in and out, sending me spinning. With the music above us, and the sensation on my body, I can hardly keep up.

‘Adam!’ I hear myself say his name. It’s a moan of desire and plea for more all at once.

He shifts his position so his expert tongue is working me deeper. I gasp aloud.

‘Not yet,’ says Adam softly. His breath cools me, creating another sensation.

I feel my ass lift towards him, begging for more.

But now he’s moving back up my body, planting gentle kisses.

He reaches my mouth and pauses, a wicked gleam in his eye.

‘Are you ready to taste how delicious you are?’ he asks. 

I nod uncertainly, and he plunges towards me in a deep kiss. His mouth is salty, with a distinct
taste which I guess must be me.

Adam pulls back and stares deeply into my eyes.

‘You taste so good,’ he murmurs, kissing me again.

I feel overwhelmed. I’ve never
felt so accepted and so sexy at the same time.

Adam’s hand glides down my body. I hear him roll on a condom. Then I feel his hardness tight between my legs.

I want him so badly I feel like I might explode. And when the moment comes that he moves gently into me, I cry out.

‘
I love you.’ Adam is gazing at me again. It’s as though we are one body. The opera crashes over us, reaching fever pitch, and he starts to move softly, stroking my hair.

This is the most intense
love-making I’ve ever experienced. It’s almost too much for my body to take in.

Adam and the music combine into a heady strong force.

I throw my head back, and drive my fingers into his back urging him on. I want every single part of him close against my body. I can smell and taste his sweat.

Adam moves steadily, drawing out the pleasure and taking my body in a sensual caress. My skin is tingling as he moves. And I feel a warm light begin to build between my legs.

Adam’s eyes are on mine and he instantly recognises the signs. He shifts his body up slightly, increasing the pressure on my clitoris as he thrusts.

It’s enough. I can feel myself tipping over the edge.

‘Wait,’ breathes Adam stroking my hair. ‘Not yet.’

But it’s too much. I can’t contain the explosion building inside of me.

‘Adam…’ I plead.

He kisses me again, and this time his instructions are clear.

‘Now,’ he murmurs into my mouth. His body quickens its steady pace and I wrap my legs tight over my back, as my whole body bucks and writhes under him.

With the music above me, I feel as though there’s a
symphony taking over my entire being. My orgasm begins so powerfully that the shudders rock me against Adam’s taught body.

He groans, moving against me, and I feel him surrender to me.

‘Summer!’ he gasps.

I cling to him, letting the sensations wrack my body, taking him with me.

We come together as the music continues to crash around the opera box. Adam’s hands are buried into my hair, securing my head, gazing into my eyes.

My mouth touches his, and we lose ourselves in one last blissful kiss.

When we finally break away, we’re both panting.

‘
Summer. That was…’ Adam breathes heavily, searching for the words.

‘
Amazing,’ I fill in for him. ‘Incredible. Moving.’

He rolls gently to the side and takes me in his arms.

‘All of those things,’ he promises me. ‘That was the best sex I’ve ever had.’

‘
Me too,’ I say shyly, suddenly feeling the incongruousness of being naked on an opera box floor.

I reach for my dress and quickly slip it back on.

‘Summer Evans,’ grins Adam, making no move to put on his own clothes. ‘You are something else.’

‘
So are you,’ I smile, retrieving my panties, and sliding them on under my dress. ‘Can you zip me up?’ I add, turning to show him my back.

Adam’s fingers pull the zip up slowly.

‘Shame,’ he says, ‘To cover you again.’

I turn over my shoulder smiling.

‘Aren’t you going to get dressed?’ I ask.

‘
I guess,’ he says. Adam eyes the floor of the box, and pulls his trousers towards him. ‘Though I’d stay here naked with you all night.’

‘
I think the Opera House might have something to say about that,’ I reply.

‘
I’d pay them off,’ says Adam, grinning. ‘They’d be fine with it.’

I turn to him teasingly.

‘Ah the rock and roll lifestyle,’ I tease. ‘Is there anything your money can’t buy?’

Adam leans towards me and kisses my mouth.

‘I can think of a few things,’ he says.

‘
Get dressed,’ I instruct, tossing his shirt to him.

He raises his eyebrows, and pulls his arms
through his shirt.

‘
I didn’t realise you could be so bossy,’ he says. ‘Maybe that’s something we should explore.’

‘
Maybe,’ I say. A thought suddenly occurs to me.