Star Struck(23)

Mandy knew Ethan had a history with the beautiful Zuriel, who was a solo  pop rock act  –  who didn't? But there weren't a lot of details reported  about the relationship, only that they'd been together since Ethan was  eighteen and she was twenty-one. Their relationship had lasted two years  while both their careers soared at the same time. Suddenly, it ended  and now at twenty-seven, Zuriel still looked like the epitome of beauty  and cool. How could Ethan have left her? Mandy wondered in a daze.

Instantly intimidated, Mandy squirmed away slightly as Ethan and Zuriel  shared a warm embrace. Moments later, Ethan was tugging Mandy to his  side again. "Mandy, this is Zuriel. And Zuriel, meet … "

"No introductions necessary," drawled the darkly beautiful Zuriel, whose  gray eyes twinkled. "I was right in the crowd, Ethan. I saw you  virtually making love to that girl from the stage. That was a surprise,  seeing you play the romantic."

Ethan shrugged and Mandy could sense the tension in him even as Ethan's  lips slanted in a smile. Jaime spoke up with a raucous laugh. "Well, now  that the clan's all here, let's go fucking party before the night ends.  And if the tour bus can't hold us, we'll take things to the hotel  –   there's more booze there anyway. Come on, guys!"

Jaime led the way and his faithful groupies followed, with Henson not  far behind with his own set of groupies. The ever-present bodyguards  stayed within sight but out of the way. Mandy shifted uncomfortably when  Zuriel lingered. It felt weird standing so close to the star, knowing  she was worth just as much as Ethan's band due to her many endorsements,  signature perfumes, and the modeling she did outside of her music. She  had fans cutting across the male and female populace. So apart from  being tall, slim, and beautiful, she was also a flipping superstar with  talent and loads of cash who used to be a part of Ethan's life. Was it a  wonder Mandy felt a tad inadequate? She'd aimed for laid-back chic with  her outfit and chosen a clingy short leather dress and matching lace-up  thigh boots. She suddenly thought she looked dull and uninspired next  to the eye-catching Zuriel.

"I didn't know you'll be at the show tonight," Ethan said mildly to her.  Mandy took comfort in the arm that was still around her shoulders,  keeping her by his side. "From what I heard, you've been touring in  Australia."

Zuriel nodded with a playful grimace. "Eighteen venues. But an emergency  came up here that I really had to fix. I'll be flying back tomorrow. I  heard you had one more concert tonight and decided to show up. I hope  you don't mind."

"Nah. It's always great to see you. You know that," Ethan said easily.

"Do I?" Zuriel asked, looking straight at Ethan for a few moments in a  way that made Mandy feel like she was the intruder. She squirmed again,  feeling more uncomfortable by the second. But before Ethan could word a  reply, Zuriel went on, "I'm glad I came out tonight, though. The  audience was pumped and of course you guys killed it on stage. I'm  hoping you'd like to do a duet remix with me on that last song. I loved  it. What's the title?"

Mandy wanted to scream. No! Don't fucking touch it. That's my song!

But she managed to stay mute as Ethan chuckled. "Never did get the time  to name the song. I'll do that once the band gets to work on the  upcoming album. We will definitely let you know."

Zuriel nodded, smiling teasingly. "Don't keep me waiting too long,  buster. Patience was never my strong point, especially when it comes to  something I really, really want."

Mandy bristled as Ethan laughed, as if they shared an intimate joke. She  knew she was simply feeling jealous about whatever Ethan had shared  with the gorgeous rocker. Zuriel was exactly the type of woman Mandy  felt would suit Ethan; someone who would fit right along with his  fun-loving crowd.         

     



 

Zuriel leaned in to kiss Ethan's cheek. "I have to go now. Hope we see  each other again soon," she said quietly before turning to Mandy. "It  was nice to meet you, Mandy."

"Thanks. Same here," Mandy said, smiling somewhat stiltedly.

As Zuriel turned and walked away, Mandy caught a faint scent following  the rock star beauty; a scent that was strangely familiar. She realized  it was the same perfume that she normally wore: Heaven Scent. So this  was the woman the perfume had reminded Ethan of, Mandy realized, her  heart sinking further. She'd never forgotten the first time she'd met  Ethan and how he'd been drawn by her perfume. Now Mandy knew the smell  had reminded Ethan of Zuriel and not his adoptive mother, as he had  originally claimed. The tormented strain in his voice that day when he'd  identified the perfume made Mandy feel like he had more than memories  going for both him and Zuriel.

Should I be worried? Mandy wondered,

Ethan's fingers cupped her chin and pulled her gaze from the departing  Zuriel, who was followed by two heavy-looking handlers in dark suits,  complete with the FBI-type earpieces. Mandy turned to Ethan and was  suddenly bathed in the sweltering heat of his gaze.

"We need to be alone," he said simply. Mandy's eyes darted around, aware  that though they were in the now deserted backstage, people still  waited by the exits for their beloved star to appear.

Mandy felt that instant pull just by looking into his captivating eyes.  For one moment in time she was adrift on the clouds, her body tingling  from the almost tangible feel of their mutual attraction. It hadn't  waned in the slightest. In fact, it seemed even stronger. Their two days  apart had taken its toll and she shivered against him, fighting back  the pulsing in between her thighs for him.

"My sisters  –  I somehow lost them in the crowd." Mandy said, suddenly  remembering. But Ethan smoothed away her frown of worry when he assured  her that his chauffeur was already seeing them home in his personal  limo, as he'd promised her parents he'd get them home well before their  curfew.

Mandy heaved a sigh of relief. "Thanks, Ethan, for giving them a chance to come tonight. I know they had great fun."

"I'm happy they enjoyed the performance. And what about you? Was the  show a hit with you, too?" he asked, his eyes darkening as Mandy stared  up into his face. Was it her imagination, or was there really a shadow  of vulnerability crossing his handsome features?

"I loved it," Mandy said simply. "It's so different from watching you on  screen. The live crowd, feeling the music, feeling you … "

Ethan pulled her even closer, his hands settling possessively on her  rump as he rocked slightly into her so she had an inkling of what her  nearness was doing to him. "And I can make you feel me even more," Ethan  said huskily.

Mandy's stomach did that familiar back flip she got when Ethan went all  sexy on her. She blushed and tried to hide her face in his shoulder, but  he gripped the sides of her face and stared deep into her eyes.  "Usually after a show I'm so amped up and all I can think of is getting  high, drunk, and laid  –  in no particular order. But right now all I can  think of is the excitement of spending time with you. How does that make  you feel?"

Mandy had to smile. "Pretty darn special," she murmured, eyes twinkling.  Any lingering feeling of doubt was cleared from her mind. She knew that  right now Ethan could be partying with his friends and their groupies  or even catching up on old times with the sexy Zuriel. Oh, Mandy had  definitely caught some vibes coming off the rocker chick. Zuriel would  fall into Ethan's bed in a heartbeat if he offered, Mandy figured.

But right then, she pushed all those thoughts aside. Ethan chose her;  wanted to be with only her. She wasn't going to be nitpicky about that  and would just feel glad because she couldn't lie: she wanted to be with  him, too. Like crazy. Seeing him on stage, watching him perform in  front of all those crazed fans had done freaky things to her hormonal  balance. Now she couldn't wait to get him alone either.

"Uh, Ethan? We've got to move. A fight's broken out in front of one of  the entrances," said the deep, reassuringly capable voice of Vernon,  Ethan's driver slash handler. "We'll take one of the service exits to  avoid the crowds still waiting. Luckily, there's a huge delivery truck  blocking most of the view, so no one will see you leave till we're way  out of range."

"Great thinking, Vernon. Let's do this," Ethan said before grinning at Mandy. "Ready?"

Mandy nodded, letting her hand slip into the warmth of his. His smile  did things to her heart rate. Oh crap. I'm in deep, she thought as they  began to make their way through the makeshift corridors leading to the  wide metal doors of a side exit. Mandy had never really been in love or  in lust for that matter. And she was beginning to realize she felt all  that and more for Ethan. With his hand wrapped securely around hers,  just one smile from him sent an arrow straight through her. She could  barely breathe. The sensible, even strait-laced Mandy was forgotten when  she was next to Ethan. He made her see the world in a different light  and as they dashed into the waiting limo, she was laughing right along  with him. Vernon sped them down the deserted back street and once they  turned into the main road, they looked back to see several fans who'd  noticed them start to point and scream. But it was too late. Vernon  expertly maneuvered the white limo into the adjoining street and they  were well on their way before even the paparazzi could make a dash for  their cars and follow them.