Bob opened his mouth to say it. But no words came out. He wouldn't have cared what happened to other Gs, but this one was different. He knew it – everyone knew it. Only the boss didn't seem to know it – or didn't want to know it. "Boss---"
Staffan lost patience. His voice was chilling and low as he spoke. "Bob. You owe your fucking loyalty to me. Your concern for the girl is touching – but misplaced. Since I didn't fucking kill Chloe when she betrayed me, I won't fucking lose my head over whatever this is."
Bob gave in. "They say she's at the back, inside a locked room with Carson---"
A white-faced Staffan walked past him.
Dammit to hell, Saffi March. What the fuck happened to make you so crazy tonight?
~~~
Alan and the other man broke apart almost violently, panic written all over their faces. "What the hell are you doing here, Sapphire?"
She stammered, "I'm sorry, I didn't know---I was looking, and then I saw … " She stopped speaking, realizing she wasn't making any sense at all.
The other man Alan was with didn't look like a dancer, with dorky glasses and a rather scrawny build. He looked more like a cute grad school student, someone who absolutely had no business traveling with a European rockstar on tour.
Seeing her staring, he offered her his hand. "Hi. I'm Donovan," he said with a slightly strained smile.
They shook hands. "I'm..."
"Sapphire March," Alan muttered. "The girl with the worst kind of luck---"
"Alan!" Donovan snapped when he saw the look of hurt flash over Sapphire's face.
Alan had the grace to look shamefaced. Running an agitated hand through his hair, he muttered, "Sorry, Sapphire."
"It is true anyway."
Alan looked even guiltier. "Dammit, Sapphire, I'm really sorry. I didn't mean it." He gestured to Donovan. "I'm just … what we have, who we are, it's a secret."
She nodded, having already deduced the same thing for herself the moment she saw the two kissing in the dark. "I promise I won't tell." She paused. "But please---don't tell Staffan the truth about me either?"
Alan's eyebrows shot up. "You mean he doesn't know who you are?"
She had to smile. "Don't sound so surprised, Alan. Being a Senator's daughter doesn't make me famous."
"But you're also Steel and Silver March's kid sister."
"Their very boring sister, who used to be the black sheep of the entire March clan."
Alan flushed. At that moment, he remembered with uncomfortably vivid clarity how life had been like for Saffi back when they were kids. No one had wanted to talk to her because they hadn't wanted to look stupid next to Saffi, who had completed high school when she was 12 and college at 16.
Back then, the most popular girl in their circle, Vania Coolidge, had loved humiliating Saffi. And all of them had stood by because it had been easier to do that. Saffi had made it harder for them to help her, with her eccentricities.
His lips twitched when he remembered the first words she said. "Murderous mackerel, Sapphire?"
She smiled sheepishly. "Yes, I still think of fish when I'm overly emotional or whatever."
Alan tried not to look too guilty at her words. He had indirectly been one of the reasons why Saffi had been so "emotional" in those days. Even at a young age, Saffi had been already lovely, too, inside and out. Everything about her was the opposite of what rich kids were supposed to be. She had never held a grudge against any of them, not even after what happened during their graduation ball, with Saffi as the guest of honor---Alan shuddered. It still qualified as the most horrible night of his life.
A loud pounding on the door made them jump in surprise.
"What the---" Donovan exclaimed.
"Are you fucking in there, H?"
Saffi squeaked in shock.
Knowing he only had seconds to spare, Alan hissed, "Remember your promise!"
"I promise. And you promise, too."
Alan nodded. "I keep my word, Sapphire."
Her eyes widened at the name he used. "Alan! Don't call me---" She ended up shrieking instead when the door smashed open. Rather, Staffan had kicked it open. He came in, looking beautiful and furious in a three-piece suit. How was it possible for a human being to be so swooningly exquisite? He really was Mr. Rockstar Chic.
Staffan's eyes found hers, the emotions swirling in it making her swallow.
Well, make that Mr. Angry Rockstar Chic.
"I can explain," she said in a small voice.
"Really?" he drawled out. It was all Staffan could manage since every part of him was itching to smash Carson's face. And what the fuck was Donovan Bradley doing here? What the fuck had he walked into – a goddamn ménage a trois?
"We were just talking. Alan---"
He seethed at hearing Saffi mention another man's name.
"---and I are friends from way back."
"Is that so?" he asked silkily. "What kind of friends?"
Her eyes widened. "No, no, not like that! Oh my God, no!"
Staffan raised a brow. "And I should believe you because?"
Alan said nervously, "We did not do anything---"
"Get the fuck out, you two." He didn't spare the boys a glance. Fucking boys. He should have an all-girl dance backup instead next time.
Alan and Donovan couldn't get out fast enough. Sorry, Alan mouthed to her.
It's okay, she mouthed back.
When she looked back at Staffan, his eyes had become even chillier.
The green-eyed monster inside him had never been fiercer, and all Staffan wanted was to pull Saffi to him and mark her body in every way he could. He wanted to fuck her until she lost consciousness, wanted to see the dreamy smile back on her face – the smile that should only be for him.
"We didn't really do anything," she said urgently.
"Why the fuck should I believe you when you didn't tell me where you're going, you locked yourself inside this fucking room with two men---"
"Because I can prove it," she blurted out.
He stilled.
This should be interesting.
He lifted a brow.
She gulped. When they said that starting anything with a lie could only continue with more lies --- it was true, and it was happening now.
"I'm a very, very, in demand groupie."
Staffan did his best not to roll his eyes.
"I do all sorts of stuff. Like, umm, mouth jobs – I mean blow jobs." She lifted her chin just so he wouldn't know how she was completely winging everything. "And hand jobs, foot jobs, even umm, anal jobs."
Two parts of Staffan's body twitched: his lips … and his cock.
"But one thing I didn't do with, umm, any of the Celsius guys---"
Staffan's eyes narrowed.
She inhaled. "I've never done it with them. Like done … it … that." Her soft dark eyes sought his, her voice seductive without meaning to as she said, "I'm still a virgin because I wanted you to be my first."
The words melted his rage in an instant, turning it into liquid heat, his body on fire.
In one long stride, Staffan had her in his arms, and she was gasping against his lips as he took hers for a kiss that claimed not just her body, not just her heart but her very soul.
With Staffan so near, Saffi was immediately on fire … and in love. Her eyes closed. The truth Saffi had tried to blind herself to was now out in the open, and it was the scariest thing that ever happened in her life.
She had already been halfway to being in love with Staffan Aehrenthal with a phone call, and now that she had spent almost an entire night with him, had been pleasured by him twice---
She didn't care what other people would say.
Her brain was smarter than the rest, and so was her heart.
And both told her she had found her soul mate, the one man she could only fall in love with.
She wrapped her arms around him more tightly, welcoming the darkness and passion in his kiss, her body instinctively molding to his, pressing her sex against his as hard as she could. They groaned as his cock swelled, trying to push into her even though their clothes were a barrier between their bodies.
His hand sank into her hair, pulling her head back so his lips could move down her body. He sucked at her neck, hard, this time laying a blood red claim on her beautiful skin. That should teach any fucking asshole who wanted to try taking what was his.
"Later," he whispered against her skin.
She tried to think. "Later … what?"
"Prove to me that you did all those stuff and you're not just an innocent fangirl who's bitten more than she could chew."
She froze.
Hiding a smile, he slowly pulled away. "You aren't, are you?"
Saffi tried not to look as guilty as she felt. "NO."
"Good."
That one word caused her confidence to take a nosedive. She let Staffan turn her around, pulling her against his side as he led her out of the room and past a relieved Bob and the entire crew. Who were all smirking. Again.