“I will knee you in the balls if you say that word again, I swear to God.”
I don’t make a move to protect myself.
Crushed balls might help the raging hard-on that’s showing zero signs of quitting. “Tell me you don’t want me to fuck you nine hundred ways to next year, Ruby. Say it and mean it.”
She opens her mouth, terrifying the fuck out of me.
Luckily, Freddie strolls out with the rest of the band trailing behind him, leather and sweat and smirks.
Freddie’s gaze flicks to Ruby, then to me.
He jerks his chin, motioning me aside.
I eye the closest bodyguard it’s become necessary to have around on account of unhinged fans and I point to Ruby. “Watch her. She moves, tell me. You touch her, you’re fucking fired.”
“Jesus Christ,” she mutters under her breath.
We walk out of earshot but I keep my eyes firmly on her.
I can see my bandmates watching me like I’m mad.
Well…madderthan usual. Don’t give a shit.
“She’s got a following,” Freddie murmurs, nodding at the tablet in his hand. I have to frown a little to catch his meaning. She’s scrambled my fucking brain, and I don’t even know her middle name. “Little corner of the internet. Wattpad persona. Writes barista-meets-superhero fantasies, twists them into fairytales with bite. I read a couple. It’s raw. Bleeding heartmixed with razor wire. It’s exactly the kind of hook you’ve been missing in your lyrics.”
My pulse kicks. Of course she writes. Of course she bleeds onto the page.
I pluck the tablet from Freddie’s hand, scroll, and even before I’ve read the first ten lines I know. He’s right.
My girl is dirty, but she has an incredible, clever and versatile way with words. I peruse a particularly filthy excerpt and I swear there and then to make that scene happen with her.
“Noted.” I toss the tablet back to Freddie, slap him on the shoulder. “Appreciate you letting me know. You just earned yourself a hundred grand bonus.”
I stalk back to her. She’s braced, arms folded tighter, chin high like she’s daring me to mock her.
But she hasn’t moved.
Progress.
When I reach her, I search her face.
She opens her mouth. “Can I speak now? Or are you about to shut me down again just so you can hear yourself talk?”
“You can holler to the moon and back, baby. Right after I make you a new offer.”
“One million dollars.” I close the distance, lowering my voice. “To star in my music video. But the storyline? It’s yours to write.”
She blinks and she falters just for a second. Just long enough for me to see the hook slipping into place.
The band murmurs, distracting her. She swallows and flicks a glance at them.
“Everyone get the fuck out,” I growl without taking my eyes off her. “Now.”
Feet shuffle and the door slams a minute later.
Then it’s silence. Just her and me.
I step closer, pinning her with my stare.
