Epic by Ginger Voight Page A

small-town Iowa to the scary streets of Los Angeles. The song ceased being about some sexy siren who was out to shamelessly seduce her man. It was about me… Jordi Hemphill or whoever the fuck I was now… shamelessly taking my spot in that studio and this industry. No one wanted me here, not PING, not Miles O’Rourke… maybe not even Griffin Slade. They saw me as inferior and less than, an easy target to hate.
    My only sin was that I still believed them, even after all this time. I was angry at all of us, which showed in my eyes as I locked Griffin in my gaze and never let him go while I sang. I growled the sexy parts. I tore the roof off in the booming chorus. And when my last note faded, I tore of the headphones and stalked from the booth.
    It could be great. It could be trash.
    But it was all they were going to get from me.
    I called Graham on my way back to the house and told him I was finally through recording the album. I had too much to worry about to focus on re-recording the same old songs again and again. At some point, we’d have to trust they were good enough. He assured me he’d review the tracks and get back to me, but he felt confident that we were ready to move forward.
    He wanted to know what I found out in Vegas, but I wasn’t ready for that conversation. I promised I’d come over for dinner in the following weeks or so, and we’d catch up then.
    I had the store opening midweek and I was off to New York the week after that. Any pity party would just have to wait.
    When I got back to the house, a trail of bright pink rose petals greeted me on the stark white tile of the entryway. I glanced into the house, which was illuminated with dozens of candles. The scent of roses filled the air as I walked further into the house. I could see arrangements in every color spread out over the tables and even onto the patio. When I turned toward the kitchen, I spotted Jace standing in the entryway, leaning up against the frame, wearing his best tuxedo.
    “What is this?” I asked.
    He straightened and walked toward me. “It’s a homecoming,” he said as he took my hand in his and pulled me close. All stress and aggravation melted away when his warm lips covered mine, parting them possessively as he deepened the kiss immediately.
    I swooned against his hard body. He effortlessly picked me up and carried me over to the sofa. He laid me out before positioning himself gently on top of me. His mouth captured kiss after hungry kiss until I could stand no more. I peeled away his jacket and shirt until my hands spread out across his solid chest. Likewise he pulled my shirt from my body, baring me for that warm, talented mouth I knew was staving for the taste of me.
    I pushed his head toward my chest and he captured the hardened peak of my breast between his gentle teeth. I couldn’t help but gasp as my legs parted, pulling him into an even closer embrace. I could feel how hard he was for me, so I ground against him until he moaned against my skin. I slipped my hands in between us to unfasten his pants and release his raging erection. When I curled my fingers around that solid shaft, his whole body shuddered against me. “Jordi…” was all he could manage.
    Furiously he peeled away my clothes until I was naked beneath him. We didn’t even speak as I opened myself up for him and he disappeared inside of me with one powerful, dominant stroke. I arched my back with an imperceptible purr as he staked his claim masterfully. He caught my bottom lip in between his teeth as he rode me harder than he had ever dared. But it was exactly what I needed. I needed him to need me. So I encouraged him further. I begged him to go deeper, using my fingernails dug into his ass to guide him.
    I got lost in his eyes as the intensity inside my body began to build. I couldn’t even speak as the feelings overtook me. My mouth opened in a silent scream as each deep thrust sparked the pleasure center hidden deep inside me… a place only he