Seeing Stars (The Celebrity 1)

His hand landed on my thigh again. I tensed immediately but he didn’t move it. “Are you sure?”

I sighed. “Let’s just go before I change my mind.”

Ten minutes later, I pulled my car into my designated parking space, then quickly shut off the engine and clicked off the lights. We both jumped out in a rush and headed toward the locked building entrance. Cars screeched to a stop behind mine, paparazzi jumping from their cars and snapping pictures in a frenzy as the tinted glass doors closed and locked behind us.

Feeling unable to breathe until I was safely away from prying eyes, I punched the elevator button repeatedly and waited, shifting from one foot to the other. I peeked over at Walker, worried he’d be annoyed it was taking so long. “The stairs are all the way on the opposite side of the building and we’re on the fourth floor. This is usually quicker. Sorry.”

“Don’t worry about me. I’m fine. Are you okay?” He shielded my body with his, making sure only his back was visible. It felt strangely intimate to be protected by him. And I liked it. But I didn’t want to.

The elevator made a sound that was a mixture of a ding and a broken doorbell before the door shuddered open. He hesitated and I smiled. “It’s just old. Come on.”

He stepped inside and the doors closed behind us, leaving us truly alone for the first time since we’d met. His body inched closer to mine, closing the space between us, and I struggled to catch my breath at his nearness.

“What are you—”

My question was cut off by the feel of his lips pressed against mine. Before I could get lost in his lips, I shoved at his body, breaking our contact. “What the hell?”

He rested his palms on the wall behind me, trapping me as his body pressed against mine. “I need to kiss you. Not want. Need. And I’m going to do it again, right now. So don’t stop me.”

His lips were back on mine and I lost the will to fight. All reason escaped me as I instinctively wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled him tightly against me. An overwhelming feeling of familiarity swept through my body and soul. The taste of beer still on his breath only served to fuel my arousal as his tongue teased my lips, begging for entry. I parted my mouth, allowing him in, and moaned as his tongue met mine for the first time.

Walker bent his body, his hands reaching down to cup my ass in my skirt, and I fought against the urge to hop into his arms and wrap my legs around his waist. I suddenly wished I were wearing jeans. His hands moved from my ass to my hair, but his mouth never left mine. His actions were deliberate, every flick of his tongue against mine a calculated act. And I loved every second of it.

No, no, no. I can’t do this with him.

I pushed him away as visions of his past conquests came trotting through my mind. “Stop,” I managed to say as the elevator also came to an abrupt halt.

“Madison.” He reached for my hand and gripped it tight. “Don’t be mad.”

“God, Walker. We don’t even know each other. You can’t just do whatever you want with me.” I attempted to formulate a reasonable argument without admitting just how much I liked the way he did whatever he wanted with me.

I didn’t want to be that girl, though. You know, the kind who fell for a celebrity simply because he was too hot to resist in real life. I was slowly becoming the type of girl I not only didn’t respect, but didn’t like. Walker Rhodes was ruining my life.

Turning left after I exited the elevator, I walked past three dark blue doors before reaching mine. I tried the handle before reaching for my house key. It was unlocked and I led him into the entryway.

Keri shouted from somewhere in the condo, “That better be you, Mads! I want to hear every fucking detail about your night with the hot—” She rounded the corner in her pajamas and her eyes went wide as she took in Walker’s tall frame standing in our living room.

“Shit.” Keri normally had a good poker face in uncomfortable social situations, but this one must have been too much for her because her face turned bright red. I couldn’t wait to tease her about it later. “Um, hi.” She extended her hand, practically drooling at the sight of him. “I’m Keri, Madison’s roommate.”

Walker shook her hand politely before releasing it. “I’m Walker. It’s nice to meet you.”

She gave me the stink-eye before leaning over and hissing in my ear, “Thanks for the warning. I could have changed, you know.”

“Sorry,” I whispered back.

She then stepped back and crossed her arms over her chest. “What the hell are you two doing here?”

Walker shrugged and answered for both of us. “It’s a long story.”

“Well, I have all kinds of time,” Keri offered and I shot her a death glare. “Um, just kidding. You two kids probably want to have some time alone, so I’ll be in my room.” She turned to walk away, then looked back. “But Walker, will you hate me if I go all fan girl on you right now and ask you to take a picture with me?”

I groaned. “Keri!”

Walker visibly relaxed and laughed. “It’s fine.”

Keri practically shoved her phone at me and insisted I only take it from the “tits up” since she wasn’t properly dressed. After approving the picture, she tensed and made an odd face. “Can I ask you one more thing?” she said, directing her question at Walker.

“Uh-huh,” he responded, before giving me a quick glance.