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“Did you have help? Your dad? Carers?”
I shook my head, lowering my gaze to the floor.
Her fingertips tilted my chin, turning my head so my eyes met hers. “Use your words, Archer. Talk to me.”
Her tone was soft but insistent and I shuddered, loving being told what to do. It left no questions about whether she really wanted to hear my story and apparently I liked that reassurance. “No. She didn’t want anyone to know. My dad left when I was seven, so it was just her, me, and the girls. I took care of them all.”
She rolled her bottom lip between her teeth and tipped her head as if she was thinking of what to say next.
“I bet your mum is so proud of you stepping up like that. The girls are lucky to have someone who loved them so much.”
Emotion lodged itself in my throat and I had to force down the tears that threatened to fall. “Enough of my sad story,” I managed to say, eventually. “Tell me about your family.”
“Dull, I’m afraid. Single dad. Only child. Dad tried to be a good parent, but building an empire was more important, so he sent me to private school and then threw money at me anytime I needed him. I love him, but we don’t really see each other very often anymore. I’m not sure he’s that proud of his daughter, maker of erotic art. He got married again a few months ago and didn’t even tell me he was seeing someone, never mind that they got engaged. I didn’t get an invite, and I only found out when she tagged him on social media.”
“Shit. Wow. I bet that stung.”
She shrugged. “It is what it is. I do okay without him.”
I squeezed her hand, taking another sip of my drink, loving how perfect her palm felt wrapped in mine.
“Hey, Archer. I know this might be totally the wrong idea and feel free to say no, but do you want to go somewhere dark and get sweaty with me?”
I couldn’t hide the look of shock that appeared on my face and Ionee obviously saw it, too.
“Dancing,” she laughed. “Do you want to go to this club I know and dance until we forget about everything else?”
“Won’t people recognize me? I can’t cope with any fans wanting me to smile for selfies tonight. We only came here because they never let anyone get close to me.”
She leaned in close. “Don’t worry, it’s so dark in there no one will care who you are.”
I signaled to Pete that we were leaving. “Okay, let’s go get sweaty, but I warn you, I can throw some smooth moves.”
Ionee
Archerpaidthebillas a man dressed head to toe in black appeared next to us. “Ionee, this is Pete. He’ll be joining us tonight.”
My eyes widened.
“Record label rules. We’re not allowed anywhere without security. The Cosmic Gods, who created the label, they had… well, they went through a lot and so now we all have to have security 24/7. The good news is, Pete here can disappear like a ghost. Can’t you?”
The large, blond haired man, who looked like he would stick out wherever he went, nodded and offered me a small smile.
“Before we go, if you leave here with me, there’s a chance it will end up in a newspaper tomorrow. Are you okay with that? If not, then you can leave first and I’ll follow.”
“I think the question should be whether you want to be seen with me. I’m not exactly rock star arm candy. I mean, even my date ran from me tonight.”
Archer rolled his eyes, grabbing my hand. “I’d be the luckiest man alive to get photographed leaving here with you. Your date was a tool for leaving you here alone. Now, didn’t you promise me somewhere dark to get sweaty?”
We chatted like old friends as we drove across London and once we’d arrived, and his bodyguard had spoken to the bouncers, I led him by the hand down the dimly lit stairs to the basement of The Empire. The music was so loud that conversation was impossible and the place so busy that bodies gyrated against each other to the beat of the music wherever you looked.
Pulling Archer’s jacket off his shoulders, I handed it to Mr. bodyguard along with mine, suddenly seeing the benefits of having your own security. I pointed to the dancefloor and Archer’s eyes lit up, following me to the center of the crowd.
I loved this place and tried to come once a month, usually on my own. I loved how easy it was to surround yourself with people and let the beat of the music carry you away. It always made me hot as hell… and not just in a sweaty way!
House music shook the room, heavy beats rocking the floor and the walls. The crowd was tight and no matter where we moved, bodies pushed up against us, forcing us together. Archer glanced around with a panicked look on his face. I couldn't imagine how it must feel to be as famous as he was, but no one in this place would care; they were all caught up in their own moment. I tapped his shoulder and pointed to Pete, who was close by, pressed against a wall. He nodded, pointing out the other two bodyguards nearby that I’d not even noticed, reassuring Archer he was safe. And with that Archer smiled and the rest of the people in the club seemed to melt away. He closed his eyes, held his hands in the air, and started moving to the music.
He was beautiful, his hard body pulsing along with the beat, making me lick my lips with something that felt very much like need. I longed to touch him; to push the hair from his face, stroke my fingers down his hard chest, grab hold of his hips, and pull him closer, but Archer wasn’t like the other men I’d met. He was so proper and standoffish. Warm but reserved. As if he was starved of affection and attention which, given his status as a rock god, seemed pretty unlikely.
