Page 65 of Animal Beats

Nina doesn’t let me get a word in edgewise. “Because of his antics, and your inability to keep him under control, Platinum Records is threatening to replace him on the tour.”

Her words ricochet throughout my brain. “It’s not true. Río had two drinks last night. Two. A woman spilled his drink all over him, which is why he smelled of alcohol. But I watched him all night, and I swear he wasn’t close to being drunk.”

“Honestly. This doesn’t change anything. You know how marketing goes. It’s not the truth that matters, it’s people’s perception of the truth. These articles make it seem like Río was being the typical Río, drinking and partying. The label is fed up. I managed to mollify them, this time. There won’t be another. Am I clear?”

I sigh. “Yeah. Very. But, honestly, he wasn’t drinking last night.” He couldn’t have given me those orgasms if he were.

“I’m happy to hear that. Through the remainder of the European leg of the tour, you have to keep him squeaky clean. More than that. He has to be a model citizen. If you have to, use your PR skills to make Coop the fall guy, since that one never colors outside the lines.”

“Right.”

“I won’t be able to keep the band’s label quiet another time. Make it happen.”

With those wonderful words, she clicks off. I stare at the screen of my phone.

“What did Nina have to say?” Río lumbers in, wearing only a pair of workout shorts and his UC pendant, with a towel thrown over his shoulder.

I gather my strength. “Turns out, the press is covering UC at the club last night as out of control.”

“We weren’t,” he scoffs. “No one got drunk, we all danced and played nice with the other clubgoers. Stupid media.”

“Yeah, well I would agree with you except Nina had a disturbing phone call with your label. She talked them off the ledge, but the band has to toe the line, at least through this leg of the tour.” I keep my mouth shut about their threat to replace him—that’s Luke’s job, thankfully.

“Whatever. We know the truth.”

“Yes, we do. But you know how it goes. If it’s printed in the media or on socials, it must be true.”

“God, I hate this side of the business.”

“Let me handle it. All you need to do is make amazing music. Just promise me you’ll stay in control more now than ever before? We want this brouhaha to calm down.”

He sits next to me and snuggles me on his lap. “I promise you, Hayden Vaughn, the only bad things I’ll get up to will involve you.”

I stifle a laugh. “This is serious, Río.”

“So am I.” He latches onto my ear and nibbles.

Before I let him have his wicked way with me, I push back. Holding up my phone, I say, “Deal. To show you how much I trust you, how about I disconnect our phones?”

“Think that’s wise? You never know what I could get up to.” He grins.

“I think I’m safe.” He leans in, but I turn my head away. “At the first sign of trouble, I’ll reconnect them. Got it?”

“Oh, I love it when you’re all ‘stern mistress’ with me!” He kisses me and my thoughts scatter like my clothes.

19

RÍO

Ilie over Hayden’s back and thrust into her tight body. The way her pussy contracts is beyond anything I’ve ever known—and I never want it to stop! She clenches around me, screaming into the pillow. I don’t let her catch her breath, merely keep pounding, then toss my head to the sky. My roar of approval echoes throughout the bedroom.

Collapsing onto her smooth back, I fall off the side and turn her body so we’re nose to nose. I swipe her hair away from her sweaty cheek, and tuck it behind her ear. “You’re amazing, do you know that?”

I’m rewarded with unfocused eyes. “I can’t get over what you do to me. I came four times. This never happens.”

I smile at the gorgeous woman in my arms. “Are you challenging me to give you five orgasms next time?”

Blue eyes widen. Then the tops straighten. Her shoulders wiggle. “I guess I wouldn’t say no.”