Wheels of Fire

“You and me would be fire together,” he continues. His gaze drops to my chest. “I’ve been motherfucking obsessed with you since the first time I saw your picture in L.A. Weekly.” He licks his top lip and meets my eyes. “But I’m not interested in being your friend.”

“Oh.” Mortification heats my skin from chest to toes. I’m such an idiot.

“Trust and believe me when I say, I have never put so much effort into fucking a woman, Mallory.”

“What are you talking about?”

“It feels like every move I’ve made for months now—”

“Wait a second.” The double-sting of humiliation and betrayal ignite my anger. “All this…time…collaborating with Chaser, defending Audrey, taking Kickstart on tour…asking me to model for your —”

His face screws up as if he can’t believe he did all those nice things. But he shakes off the confusion quickly. “No. Chaser’s a talented musician. I like hanging out with him. Love working with him. Kickstart was a business decision. They’re a solid band that complements my band. Our audiences overlap. They work hard and they puts asses in the seats.”

“Then, it’s all business?”

“Not at all. I would’ve loved it if I could’ve gotten Chaser to bang some groupies. And if it worked out that you caught him and fell onto my dick to ease your pain, that would’ve been a fantastic bonus.”

My head hurts from trying to make sense of his explanations. “So…when you brought those girls on Chaser’s bus? You weren’t kidding around?”

“Fuck no.” He clenches his teeth, emphasizing his angular jawline. “Jesus Christ, I found blondes, brunettes, redheads, fat chicks, skinny chicks, Big tits, small tits. Nothing made him bite.”

The pain in my chest expands. I honestly thought Andrew’s antics were silly and harmless. Just him goofing off. Playing pranks. Chaser was right to be so angry. “You would’ve hurt me like that?”

He rubs the back of his neck and stares at the ceiling for a few seconds. Obviously, my feelings were never a concern. “You should thank me. He was a fucking monk on the road.” He snort-laughs and looks away. “I gotta be honest, it just made me even more obsessed with you.”

“Okay. Wow.” I blink and sit back. That’s a whole lot of honesty.

I’m a mix of emotions as I take in everything he laid out. Disgusted, hurt, offended, guilty, and furious. I’ve met so many shitty, disgusting men in Hollywood. Despite his obnoxious antics, I thought Andrew was different. I thought he was my friend—something I don’t have many of out here. I’m such an idiot.

“Is there anything about me that you actually like, Andrew?” I ask quietly. “As a person, I mean.”

He rakes his fingers over his jaw as he considers the question. “You’re not as annoying to talk to as most chicks.”

“But I’m nothing more than another disposable girl you’d like to add your list of conquests?”

He grabs my hand again, yanking me forward. “What do you want me to say, Mallory? That I’d put a ring on your finger and swear I’d never look at another woman again?” He runs his gaze over me. “I don’t think I could make that promise to any woman if it makes you feel better.”

I pull my hand back. “So, your interest in me…it’s nothing more than some sort of compulsion?”

“Why all the questions?” He brushes his knuckles against my cheek. “If you’re so committed to Chaser, why do you care?”

My body trembles as I shrug. “I don’t know.”

A giddy, wide-eyed expression transforms his face. “Are you attracted to me, Mallory?”

My throat tightens and I drop my gaze, shaking my head.

His fingers graze my chin and he forces my head up. “You are. A little bit, aren’t you?”

“No.”

“Mallory.” My name passes his lips like a scolding. “Don’t lie when I’ve been totally honest with you.”

I shake my head, scared to admit how repulsed I am by his confession. How disappointed I am that he’s no different than every other sleaze I’ve met in Hollywood. I have no words to express the hurt and betrayal digging into my ribs that he’d disrespect the man I love with all my heart by saying these things to me.

He inches closer and slides his hand to the back of my head, holding me still. My eyes widen as he swoops in. Too shocked to move, my body remains rigid—a rabbit caught in psychedelic headlights. His lips slide against mine for the briefest second.

Wrong. Andrew’s so wrong about us. The fire inside me isn’t passion, it’s fury.

Tears sting my eyes as I pull away, breaking the brief, tentative kiss. I swipe my hand over my mouth, wishing I could erase the feel of Andrew’s lips. “I love Chaser.”

He releases me. “Love has nothing to do with this.”

“He’s your friend. How can you do this to him?”

A tiny bit of remorse pinches his brows together. “I feel shitty for wanting to fuck you so bad. He saved my life. I have mad respect for him.”

“Just not enough respect not to hit on me.”

“I’m way past hitting on you, Mallory. If I didn’t respect him, I would’ve told you this a long time ago.”

“Your restraint is admirable.” I lean over and reach for my purse.

Ignoring my sarcasm, he blocks my hand. “One time.” His pleading eyes beg me to reconsider. “It’s just sex.”

“Maybe to you it is.”

He snort-laughs and slaps his thighs. “Fuck, you know Kyle boned Pamela the first time we broke up?”

“She mentioned it.”

His eyebrows shoot up. “See? It wasn’t a big deal.”

Maybe that’s how it works in his dysfunctional brain but this visit to crazy land has been more than enough for me.

“Shit.” He draws out the word in disbelief. “Pammy told me once Chaser’s the only man you’ve ever slept with. I didn’t believe her until now.”

That bitch. I never should’ve opened up to her. I bet they had a good laugh about poor prudish Mallory.

“Is it like a religious reason?” he asks.

“What? No.”

“Do you need to be in love or something?”

My heart races. I’m a confused mouse being batted around by Andrew’s paws of crazy.

“You like me a little, at least. Right?” he persists.

“I used to.” In a stronger voice, I add, “But not in the way you seem to think.”

He rests one of his big hands on my thigh. “How can you marry him when you’ve never been with another man? Aren’t you curious what it’s like with someone else?”

Acid burns the back of my throat at the thought. “Not even a little.”

“Fuuuuuck,” he groans and covers his face with his hands, scrubbing hard. “I just want you out of my fucking head.”

“Words every woman longs to hear.” I force a laugh.

He gives me a crooked smile in return. “Do you need me to say I love you? I can say it if that will change your mind.”

“You wouldn’t mean it. And I’ll never change my mind. So what’s the point?”

His fierce expression sends shivers down my spine. “I think about you all the time, Mallory. First thought that pops in my head every morning: ‘I wonder what Mallory’s doing? Does she sleep naked? Does she like to wake up with a long, slow, morning fuck?’”

“Stop it! What’s wrong with you?”

“You know Chaser wouldn’t even give up simple details like that?” he continues like a petulant child who’s been denied a trip to the most magical kingdom. “I’m an open book. Tell you anything you want to know. Not Chaser. Locked down tight when it comes to you.”

Thank God for that.

“Last time I was inside Pamela all I thought about was you.” He closes his eyes and thrusts his hips. “Is Mallory’s pussy—”

“Stop!” I jump up but he grabs my hand tugging and almost knocking me off balance. “Let me go, Andrew.”

“Even your voice.” He gr

oans. “I can’t get it out of my head. It drives me crazy when you say my name. Jacob told me you make all these wild sex noises when Chaser fucks you. I had to lock myself in the bathroom and jerk off for like an hour.”

The heat of embarrassment crawls up to my forehead. Why am I surprised, though? Jacob asked me to orgasm on their album for God’s sake.

Am I really that loud?

It doesn’t matter. I’m not the one who should be embarrassed. “Let me go.”

“I’m sorry, okay?” he pleads. “I didn’t mean to be an asshole. You asked and I’ve been dealing with this for a while.”

And I’ll need a lifetime of therapy to deal with this conversation. “Don’t apologize. It’s good to know how you really feel.” I jerk away from him and scoop up my purse.

“Don’t leave mad,” he pleads.

“I’m not mad.” Completely disoriented, I spin in a circle before marching toward the door. “I’m informed. It’s all good,” I say over my shoulder.

“Mallory.” He catches up to me and slaps his hand against the door, holding it closed.

“Please let me leave.”