The BIllionaire and the Rock Star

Cameras clicked away as Alaric’s heart sunk in his chest. She thought he was doing this all for the cameras. For the deal. She couldn’t be more wrong.

“Kiss her!” yelled someone from the crowd. A few more joined in and soon, at least a couple dozen fans were screaming it repeatedly at the top of their lungs.

Alaric stared at Georgia’s face with despair, wishing he could rewind to ten minutes ago and take it all back. Wait for a better moment. Make her see how he really felt.

“Kiss her!” the crowd screamed louder.

Georgia arched her eyebrows, a silent look of expectation on her face. Her gaze darted to the crowd and then back to him. “Alaric. This is it. The moment we talked about. No backing out now.”

She leaned forward slightly, as if willing him to make the first move. Time stood still around them and camera lights flashed. Alaric felt the blood rush to his face in a wave of embarrassment and desperation.

Suddenly, he reached for her face and pulled her soft lips to his. Electricity shot through his every nerve as he cradled her head and worked his fingers into her coiffed hair. She gasped, her body stiffening for the smallest of moments, before she closed the last few inches between them and wrapped her arms tightly around his waist. He deepened the kiss, tasting a hint of cherry on her lips.

Heat exploded in his gut, threatening to consume him. He stroked a thumb over her cheek, adoring the softness of her skin underneath his. He wished he could hold her like this forever. Take her away from the crowds and just be the two of them. No business deals. No arrangements. Just be Alaric and Georgia.

He could do that for her. He could save her from the misery of her greedy publicist and record label. With him, she’d never have to sell herself again. She could have her career and be out from under their thumb. If only she felt the same.

The way she was kissing him back, with complete abandon, made him believe there was hope.

She finally pulled back with a sigh, breaking the spell of the kiss. He cradled her cheek with his hand and wished they didn’t have to stop. His chest rose and fell in heavy breaths, his eyes boring into hers as she stared up at him. Emotion flickered in her eyes. Uncertainty and something that looked like regret. Alaric wanted to kiss her again, to wash away any chances of regret, but the noise of the crowd was back and louder than ever. They chanted Gigi’s name.

And suddenly, the veil fell behind Georgia’s eyes and the uncertainty was gone. In its place, she plastered on an expression he’d come to see as her mask she wore in public. She turned to smile at her fans, Alaric’s hands falling away from her face. She waved and blew kisses, her cheeks bright pink.

“Georgia…” he grabbed her hand, willing the words he wanted to say to magically materialize on his tongue. He wasn’t done. He had to tell her those feelings were real.

“That was brilliant.” She glanced at him out of the corner of her eyes and softly pressed her fingers to her lips. Her cheeks reddened even more. “I’d say they got the money shot. If you ever consider a change in career, you’d better think about becoming an actor. They ate it up.”

He gritted his teeth. She had to know that wasn’t acting. He’d never put more feeling into anything before now.

“That wasn’t fake,” he said in a low voice, but Georgia didn’t hear him. She was staring down the red carpet, her eyes growing wide with horror. Alaric followed her gaze and felt a disgusted shudder roll through him when he caught sight of what had grabbed her attention.

Vance stood in front of a camera, flashing his brilliantly white teeth and sporting a sleek black tux. On his left arm hung a vixen of a beauty, her sheer flesh-colored dress not leaving much to the imagination. He was watching Georgia, although the reporter held the microphone to his lips. In his eyes, amusement sparked. He winked salaciously at her and then turned back toward the camera.

Alaric couldn’t help the wave of disappointment that roiled over him. Just when he was trying to confess his feelings, Vance had to come along. He was a Bubonic plague, sowing his nastiness everywhere he went.

And Georgia was still in love with him.

Chapter Eleven

Georgia’s face was about ready to crack from the constant smiling she’d done the past six hours. The awards show had gone well. No chance to corner Beyoncé or Lady Gaga, but the night was still young.

Somehow, she’d walked away with the coveted new artist award and her stomach wouldn’t stop doing flips in her abdomen. If there was a sign that this career was meant-to-be, this was it. The shiny silver trophy she cradled in her arm was proof of that.

The only thing dampening the excitement of the night was Alaric. Ever since the red carpet, he’d been standoffish and surly. Even now, as they mingled at Universal Music’s after-party in a renovated NYC warehouse, he stood half-hidden in the shadows with his arms crossed tightly across his chest and wearing an expression of deep displeasure.

He’d hardly congratulated Georgia on her win. A slight peck on the cheek, and that was it. It was nothing compared to the steamy kiss they’d shared on the red carpet.

Georgia still blushed when she thought about it. She’d expected him to kiss her quickly, just enough for the cameras to get their shot, but Alaric had surprised her with a kiss that curled her toes. She’d never been so passionately embraced. Not even by Vance. Vance couldn’t hold a candle to that kiss.

She warmed as she thought about Alaric. Her body pressed against his, hands stroking her hair, electricity sparking between them. The guy was good. It was no wonder he’d become so successful. He didn’t hold back. And for a second, she’d almost forgotten it was all fake.

Almost.

“Are you okay?” she asked, edging toward him and bumping him with her elbow.

He grunted a reply and then shifted away, so that their arms didn’t touch.

“The night’s almost done,” she said, looking down at the cellphone in her clutch purse. “Just another hour and then you can go. Thanks for doing this today. I’m sure your board will be singing your praises tomorrow.”