Star Struck(BBW Rocker Romance)(12)

“Maybe I will,” Ethan murmured. “When you actually sound like you mean it.”

“I do mean it,” Mandy breathed, eyes rolling to the ceiling as Ethan lightly nipped the pink flesh of her upper breast that was now exposed by the open top buttons of her blouse.

“I’m not going to be treated like a groupie. I…I know exactly what you’re about, Ethan. You want what you want with no regard for…anyone. You don’t really care about who I am, what I need in return. You just want a submissive woman who will give you pleasure, and once you’ve taken all that you can from her she’ll be nothing more than a distant memory.” Her words were heated and far more desperate than she had meant for them to be.

Her words were like a stab to the chest.

“It’s not going to be that way with you,” Ethan growled, his beautiful eyes flashing. This time he linked their fingers and placed her hands high on both sides of the wall. Trapped, Mandy felt the air forced out of her lungs as Ethan welded his chest to hers.

His words made Mandy’s heart lurch. “How do you know? How can you know that when we’ve only just met?” she accused.

“I just know,” Ethan replied. He lifted his head and speared her with eyes now dark blue with intensity. “I’m not even sure what it is about you that drives me wild, but you do…and I want you more than any woman before you.”

Mandy stared up into his burning gaze. “And after you have me? What then? Ethan, I’m in a relationship. I can’t throw it all away just to be your whore. Even if I…I let you take me to bed right now, we are never going to be what each other needs.”

She’d said it to make him let her go. She couldn’t think with him this close. The sensation of his steel-cut body against hers was driving her crazy, pushing her close to the point of no return, erasing all logical, sensible thought and leaving her a wanton woman who so desperately needed to feel this man’s desire.

Ethan stiffened at her brutal words and his lips tilted in a mocking smile. “I am exactly what you need, Mandy…and you know it.”

He lowered his head to catch her mouth with his, his fingers entangled in her hair. Mandy should have turned away and refused him, but she didn’t. He growled at the taste of honey on her lips, sinking into a deep kiss as a line of fire ran through his veins.

Reluctantly pulling away, he moved his lips to her earlobe, licking the soft, curved edge, his mouth brushing against hers in a deep whisper.

“What if I gave you the chance to know the real me? The man that no other woman has ever known?” Ethan asked her, his breath warm as it fanned her neck. “Maybe we were meant to meet, sweet Mandy. Perhaps this really is something special.”

“Why would I want to know the real you – except on a professional level? I told you, Ethan, I…”

“Yes, I know…you have a boyfriend,” Ethan replied, his voice a dangerous rumble. Suddenly, he dropped her wrists and took a step back from her. Mandy wrapped her arms around herself protectively as she felt the warmth of his body move away, leaving her desperately shivering with desire.

“But you know what I think? You aren’t in love with him. In fact, you’ve probably never been in love with anyone before, have you? That man of yours…he has never made you feel the way that I just did. I can see it in your eyes, Mandy.”

Mandy bristled at his words, wishing she could disappear from his sight before he saw just how right he was. When she didn’t reply, his smile stretched thinly.

“Okay then. I’ve got practice with the band in a couple of hours so whatever you need us to get done today, we better get moving…”

“We need to shop…it won’t take long.” Mandy squeaked, barely able to talk. The closet suddenly felt like an inferno, the heated tension between them floating in the air.

Ethan ran his eyes over her beautifully curvy frame one more time before turning away.

“Sounds good. I’ll let the others know that I’ll be gone for a while. You good?” he asked, combing his fingers through his hair.

“Yeah, I’m good,” she replied. “I’ll finish up in here and be right down.”

Quickly, Mandy escaped the confines of the walk-in closet, heading straight across to the bathroom down the hall. Once she locked herself in, she gazed at her reflection in the large mirror. Her lips were puffy, her eyes glazed. Even her hair was a complete mess. To her annoyance, her nipples were hard, the nubs pressing against the thin material of her blouse.

She tried hard to process what had just happened between them. How could she have been so naïve? Ethan had the worst reputation when it came to women. From the first moment they’d met, he’d made it known that he was attracted to her. She really should have stood up to him and refused his advances instead of simply melting in his arms.