Page 78 of Rush

“Looks like you might have already found it.” Ava watches me, her smirk softening. “Come on, superstar, let’s give Boston one more surprise before we call it a night.”

“Wait—what?”

But she’s already walking back toward the stage. “You’re not getting out of here without one more duet.”

The energy still dances under my skin as I make my way back to the hotel, body sore butalive. There’s nothing like a post-concert shower washing off the plaster of the on-stage mask and the sweat of a job well done.

The cheers, the way the crowdscreamedwhen Ava pulled me out for that final song—everything I’ve worked for is finallyhappening.

I swipe the keycard to my suite, toeing off my sneakers, still smiling to myself as I step inside walking past the lounge area and into my room—and stop short.

Because sitting on the edge of my bed, leaning back on his hands like he owns the place, is Broderick.

“Hey, sweetheart,” he drawls low, a wicked smirk curling on his lips. There’s absolutely nothing sweet about this impromptu visit—I know that immediately.

“What are you…how?” I stammer, my brain scrambling to catch up to the fact that he’s here. In Boston. In my room.

“I figured you’d want a proper way to celebrate your performance,” he cuts in smoothly, standing, rolling hisshoulders as he strolls toward me, hands sliding into the pockets of his jeans.

“Which one?” I try to sound playful, teasing—but it comes out too breathy.

My eyes rake over him—white T-shirt, worn jeans. I’ve never seen him dressed like this before. It makes him look younger. More relaxed.

But there’s nothing relaxed about the way he’s watching me. His gaze is intense and hungry. It makes my skin flush.

The door clicks shut behind me as I lean back against it, my heart pounding—for an entirely different reason now.

“I haven’t stopped thinking about you,” he murmurs, stepping into the space between us.

“You…should probably get help for that.”

Broderick chuckles darkly. Placing an arm above my head caging me in. His scent envelopes me, mountains, rain, woodsy, earthy and entirely him.

“You said this is about whatyouwant,” he says, brushing a loose tendril of hair behind my ear, his fingers dancing gently across my skin. “But I think…I’d like to renegotiate the terms of our…arrangement.”

I swallow, throat dry as he fills the space between us.

“Hmm.” Is all I manage—becauseGod, the heat radiating off him, is melting me from the inside out.

“Is that so?”

“Isay so.” His voice drops lower, commanding and that deep growl that goes straight to my core.

His hand trails down, fingertips grazing the curve of my waist, hips, and then lower, until he’s cupping my thigh, fingers spreading me just slightly as he presses against me through my pants—a featherlight touch that makes me bite back a whimper.

“It has to bemutuallybeneficial,” he murmurs, lips brushing the shell of my ear, making me shiver. “Wouldn’t you agree?”

I let out a shaky breath, desperate to close the distance, to make good on our agreement—but before I can lean in to kiss him, he pulls back, tsking softly.

He’s playing with me.

“No, no.” He wags a finger, that mischievous grin—dimples and all—spreading as his other hand trails the inside of my thigh. This time, I’m not quick enough to stifle the weak, broken whimper that escapes.

“I could be persuaded to break the rules…if you ask me really nicely.” His thumb drags across my lip before he chuckles.

Ask him nicely for a kiss? Not in his wildest dreams.

I narrow my eyes, pulse racing. “You’re such a cocky ass,” I mutter, shouldering past him with a sharp glance, forcing myself not to give in—even as every inch of my body begs me to.