Jane's Surrender(8)

Heroes who loved their women and were ready to do anything for them.

Handsome, adventurous knights, pirates, and kings.

And those worlds were beautiful and made me dream that someday I would meet someone like those heroes. He would love me unconditionally, always be faithful, and for him, I would always come first. He would never, ever let go of me, and he would kiss me hard, making my knees shake.

That and music were my dreams from then on.



New York, New York



Jane, 18 years old

My fingers drummed impatiently on the dark wood of the oak table, while I tried to ignore the annoyance that was building up inside me. The girls weren’t here, and I was about to meet this new guy on my own. Jeremy apparently had a big plan to make us the biggest stars of our generation, and we were having a meeting here to decide if we wanted to have him on board. Not that we had much choice anyway, since no one in the industry could be bothered with us. My ass was numb from all the waiting. I stood up to grab some water from the tank that stood in the middle of the wide-spaced room, when a man walked inside. My breath hitched when my eyes landed on him.

He was magnificent.

My rapidly beating heart pounded beneath my breast. My palms were sweaty and my ears buzzed.

Just like the books described.

Tall, he towered over me, lending the air of a protective cocoon where I could hide. His half smile made him appear even more handsome, and his amber eyes sparkled with interest and kindness. His straight, honey-brown hair fell to his shoulders and appeared soft as silk; my hands itched to touch it. His milk-pale skin seemed almost glowing in the sun. His black suit hugged his wide shoulders and muscled arms, as well as his narrow hips and strong legs.

A hero.

My dashing knight in the finest armor.

Still smiling, he extended his hand to me, and all I could do was stare.

In that moment, I believed that dreams did come true.

“Hey there. Nice to meet you.” Since I was still silent, he frowned and was about to take back his hand, when I grabbed it with all my might, earning me another surprised look.

“Hey. Nice to meet you, too.” His soft hand was strong; he would have the power to slay all the demons and dragons.

“You’re the one behind every song, aren’t you? Jane Armstrong.” His smile was gentle, his voice gruff, which for some reason made me feel calm, just like the sound of waves crashing over rocks.

“Yes.” I was surprised I was able to answer his questions.

“You have some great songs here.” His comment caused me to blush. I rarely heard a compliment, and I had no idea how to react properly. I raised my eyes to his exquisite amber ones looking at me with admiration, and I was lost in them. Just as I was about to say something, I heard the door behind me open, and his eyes moved in the direction of the sound. The air left my lungs when I saw his expression change from admiration to deep heat and longing, as though he was a starved man seeing his next meal. The look was quickly replaced with one of indifference, but it was too late. He hadn’t hid it from me. With crystal clarity, I understood that the one man I dreamed about, whom I finally found, my one and only, would never be mine.

Because his heart belonged to my best friend. Once again, someone was more important than I was. Even for my dream man. And I would have to live with the pain and knowledge for the rest of my life.





Las Vegas, Nevada

March, 2013



Jane, 21 years old

“Come on, Jane. Live a little!” Ariel shouted in my ear and gave me yet another shot of tequila, and I just rolled my eyes.

The girl was crazy, but she probably didn't give a shit. That made me smile, especially when I thought about all the things she did in life. I shook my head and moved the shot to the side. I didn’t feeling like drinking, and maybe I just wasn’t in the mood.

We were in a crowded Las Vegas nightclub, where the music was so loud you had to shout to be heard, and the booze was flowing. This club was one of the most exclusive places in the city. We paid a lot of money to get into the VIP lounge, and even I had to admit the design was fabulous.

The lounge’s golds and reds were mesmerizing as they glittered vividly from the colorful club light. A big chandelier with crystals sparkled, emphasizing its beauty. On the huge dance floor with fog and lights, people danced and brushed against each other, drunk and out of control. The DJ above, wearing headphones, his eyes closed, moved his arms to the beat of the song. He appeared to be unaware he was in the crowded room. The bar was filled with eager, slightly tipsy people who wore designer clothes. Comfortable couches were scattered around the space.

The friendly staff consisted of long-legged sexy waitresses in short black uniforms, black stockings, and high heels. The bartenders were seriously hot guys with cocky smiles and flirty winks. They wore leather pants and tight shirts, which gave the women customers a good look at their amazing chests, and probably contributed to very good tips from the horny ladies.