Never Say Never (The Price of Fame Series) by Aimée Duffy

eating dinner and having a few drinks.
    She chewed the inside of her mouth. She wanted him, she couldn’t deny that, but the little voice of reason in the back of her mind kept screaming out warnings.
    He held up two fingers to the taxi driver, indicating they would be there soon, then turned to her. Stepping back onto the pavement, he pulled her into his arms without another word. Chloe’s breath gushed out in a rush, and she grabbed his bulging biceps for support. His mouth crashed down on hers before she could recover, and he lifted her off her platform pumps.
    The sound of cars drained away as her brain melted to mush. His lips weren’t soft and coaxing like before. Sander kissed her with a force that set the fire inside ablaze, melting her from the inside out. She slid her hands up his neck and into the cropped golden waves that reminded her of the silky gowns she used to wear.
    She knew then there was no resistance against him. Her need for him overpowered common sense, overwhelmed her senses.
    When he broke the kiss, he didn’t release her, only stared at her like she was a three course meal and he was starved. Their breaths came in short pants and their hearts seemed to thud in sync where their bodies pressed together.
    “Get in the taxi, Chloe.”
    His commanding tone sparked an urge deep inside her to obey, to please. Chloe knew then without a doubt she was ready to throw herself on the seat and let him take her wherever he wanted to go, bugger the consequences.
     

Chapter 7
     
    Sander’s body ached with a hunger he had never experienced before. The short ride to his apartment seemed to take forever. All the while, he’d kept Chloe’s hand firmly gripped in his, making sure she couldn’t escape. Reassuring himself she was really there.
    He didn’t know what the fuck was wrong with him.
    Seeing his parents again must have triggered the need to feel. Either that or seeing Chloe in that dress so self-conscious but mind-blowingly sexy must have fucked with his brain. All he knew was when his parents called her a nobody it pissed him off more than anything they’d ever said to him.
    It was no secret he’d disappointed them by joining a band instead of going to acting school like his mother had insisted, and once he’d made his decision they’d cut him off.
    And his mother’s comment that she was only looking out for him made him want to laugh. He couldn’t remember a time she’d ever been there for him.
    His block came into view and he turned to Chloe. Her expression was hidden in the shadows of the taxi, but he could see her jaw working. Guilt cracked through everything else and he tried to push away the anger and lust.
    “You’re going to hurt yourself.” He reached out and stroked his finger down the indent of her cheek.
    She released the inside of her mouth and turned to him with huge eyes. “Sander…”
    “Shhh.” He slid closer on the seat. Picking up their linked hands, he brushed his lips against the silky skin on the back of her hand. He wondered if her skin would be that soft all over and his good intentions wavered. “Look, let’s get something to eat, have a few drinks, and you can tell me what you want out of this.”
    The car came to a halt outside the main entrance. She turned to gaze up at the block and he saw her throat bob. Turning back to him, she said, “Let’s go.”
    She slid her hand into her bag and pulled out a purse, but he tossed a note to the driver before she could attempt to pay. Pursing her lips, she opened the door. Sander grinned and was surprised that he still wanted to. He’d never had any one of his dates meet his parents, and the night had went worse than he could have ever imagined. But Chloe was coming around to embracing what they had. He took that as a positive result. If she was up for it, they could celebrate her new job in a different kind of way.
    He followed her out and led the way into the building, typed the code into the front door, and then