Taming the Storm

“The contract for The Turnstiles is up for renewal, and Rally isn’t going to renew it.”

I give him a confused look. “Why isn’t Rally renewing their contract? The Turnstiles are doing really well.”

Tom shakes his head. “Not as well as Rally wants them to be doing. You know what an asshole he is and how savage he can be with his decisions. Anything is dispensable if it’s not working for him.”

Even his daughter.

I know he’s thinking the same thing. I see it in his eyes.

“When I knew Robbi was making a move on you, I made it my business to find out his. Turns out their tour is a desperate act. They fronted the cash for the tour themselves. Luckily, I happened to walk past Robbi’s dressing room earlier, and I heard him talking to someone on the phone.” He takes a deep breath. “Lyla, when I tell you this, I’m saying it from a good place, and you have to know that Robbi is a fame-hungry asshole who will do anything to get where he wants to be.”

I start to feel a bit sick. I stiffen my spine and harden up. “Just spit it out. Whatever it is, I’m sure I can take it.”

He runs a hand through his hair and looks at me with careful eyes. “Robbi knows you’re Rally’s daughter. He was looking for an in with you to help his career. I heard him telling whoever he was on the phone with that he was gonna smooth his way into your life and get you to fall hard for him, so that you’d talk Daddy into keeping the band on his label.”

I swallow down rocks. Humiliation floods through me. I get to my feet and shake my head. Needing to protect myself, I say, “You must have heard wrong. Outside of my circle, hardly anyone knows that Rally’s my father. I’ve made sure of that. Robbi couldn’t have known.”

Tom gives me a sad look. “He knew, Ly. I’m sorry.”

My humiliation quickly turns to anger. I lift my chin and square my shoulders. “I don’t need your goddamn pity. Obviously, Robbi didn’t do his homework properly because Rally couldn’t give a shit about me. It’s not like he’d ever listen to me.” I let out a dry laugh. “I wouldn’t be able to influence jack shit over what happens to Robbi’s crappy band.”

Tom says nothing. He just stares steadily at me.

I’m starting to feel like I’m going to break apart. The whole night is crashing down on me.

I hate how men have the ability to hurt me so damn easily.

I hate how weak I am.

Most of all, I hate how I keep inviting them in to do so.

I was so stupid to let Robbi in. God, I let him kiss me, and the whole time, I was just a means to an end for him.

But Tom saved me.

My heart reaches for him. Then, I quickly remember his tongue fest with Ashlee.

Hurt needles me. I need to get the hell out of here. This is all too much.

“Well, if that’s all, I’ll be leaving.”

“I’m not done.” Tom’s rough voice keeps me where I am.

Moving quickly, he closes the gap between us.

Suddenly, everything narrows to this moment. To him and me.

Desire exploding between us like a dirty bomb.

There’s nothing but blazing heat and sexual tension. The likes of nothing I’ve ever felt before.

It’s total sensory overload.

He’s perfect and gorgeous. Desire coils in my belly. My hands itch to touch him.

“I said, there were two reasons I dragged Robbi off of you. The second, if I’m being truthful, is the main reason.” He takes a ragged breath. “I couldn’t bear to see you with him.”

“You kissed Ashlee.”

He shakes his head slowly. “No, she kissed me. And I didn’t so much as let her kiss me. I just didn’t want to hurt her feelings. I gently pushed her away. Told her I was into someone else. But you didn’t wait to see that part.”

“Oh, I’m sorry I didn’t wait around to watch you suck face with Ashlee!”

His brows draw together. His jade eyes darken with anger. “Enough, Lyla.” His voice is so hard, and the words are said with so much force that it brings my whole body to attention.

Just those two words, and I’m done for. I love the way his commanding voice makes me feel.

Hot. Really fucking hot.

Heat is licking up and down my body. And I’m so wet that it’s embarrassing.

“The only woman I want right now is you,” he says, his voice hoarse. “I can’t stop thinking about you. What it will feel like to be inside you. God, Ly, I can’t stop imagining how sweet your pussy will taste on my tongue.”

Holy shit.

Tom does the dirty talk well. Really well.

I’m currently a puddle on the floor.

His hand comes up and grabs my chin, forcing my eyes to his. My God, his eyes are on fire.

Dark eyes roam my face, stopping on my mouth. A flicker of anger moves through them. “You let him kiss you.” The pad of his thumb presses against the center of my lips.

I swallow down.

Tom moves his thumb roughly over my lips as he removes the remaining lipstick, erasing any trace of Robbi’s kiss.

My body starts to tremble. The intensity of the moment owns me.

He owns me.

His eyes flash up to mine. The look in them has my nipples tightening and my panties dissolving.

My body is hitting levels of desire I didn’t even know existed until this moment. Until him.

“You’re mine,” he growls, making a sound filled with the sweetest agony. Then, he’s kissing me, hot and hard. “No one gets to touch you but me,” he breathes hotly into my mouth. “You got that?”