Star Struck(21)

"Gee, thanks," murmured Mandy, unable to hold back a smile. "So all I  had to do to gain some points around here was date a rock star."

"Not just a rock star. You're dating the Ethan Tyler," Melanie said with  deep awe. "The Strum is more than a band whose audience consists of  students who like listening to loud music while they get wasted. They're  really good and Ethan is mega talented. Definitely more than a pretty  face and totally cool as a person. Still can't believe he's seated at  our dining table."

"Well, I'd better go save him from dad's shop talk or they'll be at it  all night," Mandy said ruefully, leaving the kitchen to find Ethan in  the living room nursing an after-dinner drink and talking easily with  her parents.

"Mandy hasn't been to London before, though we've taken her and the  girls on holiday to France and Spain," Georgia said. "I'm glad you'll be  there to watch out for her."

Mandy rolled her eyes inwardly, hearing Ethan's ready reply that Mandy  would love it in London and that he'd definitely not let her out of his  sight. He sneaked a glance her way at that point and Mandy's stomach  flipped. All evening she'd been secretly on edge; watching him and  fantasizing about how hot and thrilling he would look like once all  those clothes were off, with his sexy tattoos in full view. She could  just imagine what it would entail to have his full attention on her  during their London trip. On the surface, she'd have a lot of work to do  when it came to handling his wardrobe and changes for the live shows,  but when all that was over and they were alone, she was thrilled deep  inside just thinking about what was in store for them.

It was very late before she was able to see him off. His sleek car was  parked outside their front door. Once again he'd come alone and she  questioned the safety of that. He assured her he was very careful about  keeping a low profile when he wasn't with his handlers and bodyguards.  "Besides, sometimes I need to feel like I'm living a normal life, just  like everybody else. Having two or three bodyguards in tow each time I  go out isn't going to give me that. I really want your family to like  me," he said seriously, cupping her face.

Mandy's eyes were downcast. "Why? Does it really matter? I mean we  haven't exactly defined to ourselves what it is we have now. Are we an  item? A real couple? Or are we just two people having a good time?"

Ethan's eyes narrowed. "You're my woman. The only one I want to keep  around. I haven't been in a relationship of any kind in a long time,  Mandy. All I had were one-night stands or booty calls. What I feel for  you is real. That's all that matters to me right now."

Mandy nodded. She didn't need promises and was glad he wasn't making any  undying declarations. She wasn't a kid. She just wanted to make sure  she wasn't being played; that she wouldn't have to worry about competing  with his crowd of female admirers.

"Thank you for the flowers. They were lovely  –  all of the bouquets," Mandy said with a wry smile.

"Glad you liked them," said Ethan, grinning. "I had no clue which ones  you liked so I bought one of everything they had in the shop." He bent  to pluck at her readily parted lips. "I wish I could whisk you away with  me somewhere  –  but the band will be rehearsing for our last concert  before we leave for London. You'll be at the show, of course. It's  tomorrow night and I want you to be there."         

     



 

Mandy hesitated. She'd never been to a rock concert before. It would be a  good idea to go as it would prepare her for the upcoming gig. She still  needed to make some last-minute preparations to the outfits Ethan was  going to use for the three-hour a night performances.

"You need to know what it's like," Ethan said quietly, staring deep into  her eyes. "The partying, the groupies  –  the paparazzi. The wild crowd.  You'll get to see what it means to be in my world. The best part of it  all is that I actually want you to be there."

"Yes. Okay," she said softly, her gaze shy as she lifted her eyes to his face again.

"Damn, you're so lovely," he breathed, lips skimming over hers.  "Everything about you drives me crazy. It might seem hard to believe  right now, but I do know what I'm doing when it comes to us. I just need  you to trust me, babe. I've got you."

Once again Mandy could only nod and succumb to the drugging taste of his  mouth molding to hers. She heard his breathing grow harsh as her tongue  flicked out to massage his. He held her securely against his strong,  hard body for a few moments. Then he drew back with a ragged sigh.

"What's the latest with Marcus?" he asked gruffly, as if to distract  them both from the raging need swirling like a mist around them.

Mandy exhaled deeply. "I haven't contacted him yet. I'll have to see him  sometime. Maybe tomorrow. I'll meet him for lunch and I'll tell him.  I'm just dreading the confrontation. This will hit him out of nowhere."

"I just want to have you all to myself," Ethan said firmly, fingers  holding her chin. "He needs to know he has no claim over you anymore.  And I won't rest until he does."

"I'll tell him tomorrow," Mandy said with more assurance. She got  another warm, tingling kiss. He drove away minutes later and she was  still dazed by it all. His possessive power, his deliciously hungry  passion, his strength of purpose. Whatever it was they had, he really  wanted it to work. And that made her happy for now. Everything was about  getting through the next minute, the next hour. She wouldn't let  herself ever think beyond that.





Chapter Nine



The fans were clamoring to get backstage now that the show was over.  There had to be around twenty-five women bunched together around the  rope and screaming like their lungs would burst. The numerous male fans  seemed far outnumbered by the screeching females hoping to get passes  backstage. But the hefty bodyguards, five in total, looked unbendable as  they ignored pleas and offers while guarding the doors, looking ready  to take on any eventuality of getting rushed by the desperate gaggle of  females.

Mandy rubbed her hands down her short dress, managing to avoid being  nudged in the side by the elbow of an over-enthusiastic, horny female  fan. It had been like that all night. Pumped-up women screaming at  anything The Strum said or did during the show. Once the opening act was  done and Ethan came on stage with Jaime and Henson, the fans had come  alive. Mandy had been center stage, taking it all in with awe. Seeing  Ethan perform live with his band mates had been incredible. The  atmosphere had pulsed with electricity that had nothing to do with all  the lights, the rising flames, and all the other crazy props used in the  backdrop of the massive stage. Ethan had looked freaking hot in his  leather pants and ripped T-shirt, a bandana tied around his forehead and  his long hair flowing over his shoulders bared by the sleeveless tee.  From her vantage point, she'd been able to view each sinew of his sexy  muscles, the ink glowing in the spotlight he stood in as he shredded  tunes on his guitar. The crowd was going nuts all around her and Mandy  almost didn't even hear the noise. Just a few feet away was Ethan,  staying mostly to the side while Jaime took the lead for one of their  more popular songs. There was loads of screaming vocals and haunting  instrumentals. It felt like being inside a trash can being banged around  by a hundred baseball bats. The crowd was never still, never silent.  They went crazy for any of the band members who took the spotlight,  whether it was Jaime singing and playing, or Henson banging on the  drums, or Ethan tearing through riff after riff. Tonight he was using  one of his well-known custom guitars. It was onyx black with silver  studs on the surface. She'd seen it in many of his photos on different  fan sites. All around them, people were wearing apparel with The Strum's  logo emblazoned in front. There was no mistaking who had the crowd's  love that night.

He was looking at her.

She felt his gaze like a laser beam pointed straight through her heart.  Mandy felt a thrill of excitement when she lifted her gaze and met  Ethan's. The last song had ended and she watched Ethan reach for his  microphone. Her breath caught along with the rest of the crowd.         

     



 

Some women were already screaming his name before he said anything, and one woman yelled, "Love you, Ethan!"

He beamed and nodded. "Love you too. All of you. And there's someone  special who needs to know how I feel about her. I hope the next song  gives her a clue." He nodded to Jaime and Henson, who nodded back with  matching grins. "Let's do this, guys. For my girl …  for Mandy."

Oh. Shit. Mandy was staring at them, frozen as a statue as she swallowed  drily. Her heart was beating impossibly fast. She thought she might  faint.

The song was beautiful. Mandy couldn't remember the words if anyone  asked the next day. But it was something about dreams coming true and  finding a light in the darkness. Peace in a lifetime of struggle. Facing  your demons with your angel by your side. Ethan was looking at her the  whole time while Jaime belted out the song and Henson thrashed the  drums. When it came to Ethan's solo, the fans freaked out. He strode  forward to one of the platforms that projected into the crowd. Now he  was so close Mandy could reach out and touch one of his boots. The fans  closest to that part of the stage stretched forward, eager for a piece  of him. Like her, they were spellbound.