enough,
but if Fawn convinced Fox to fire her over Rick she couldn’t bear it. She’d
survived it once, but life doesn’t give third chances.
Rick
managed to look disappointed without appearing hurt. “You don’t have to
apologize. I’m the one who keeps pushing against the rules. It’s just…Ember, I
feel like we almost have something very precious and beautiful here, and I’m so
afraid of letting it slip through our fingers. So please, promise me, the night
after the season is done, let me take you out somewhere. Give us the chance to
see if we’re as right for each other as we think we are right now.”
Ember
didn’t answer him directly. “If you win this contest, you’re not going to have
any free nights for a long time to come.”
Rick
shook his head. “I’m not going to win Rock Idol . I’ve already come
further than anyone ever thought I could. Top seven! Who would have believed
it? No, Hillary Tempest or Kim Ryan’s going to win—”
Ember
was on her feet and poking her finger into Rick’s chest before he could finish
talking. “Don’t you ever say that! You can win this contest! You’re the
complete package, Rick! Yes, Hillary’s voice is stronger and Kim’s got a
sweeter tone. But this is rock music! And you are the complete
package!”
Rick
seemed taken aback by the vehemence of her tone. “I didn’t—”
“You
promise me!” Ember snapped at him. “You don’t make any excuses! You don’t
compromise! You sure as hell don’t give up! You go out there and sing for me
and show Mitch and Fawn and all of America
just what it takes to be a rock star!”
“But…”
Rick
really didn’t believe her, Ember realized. How could she have failed to see it?
All of these weeks he’d been working so hard to survive, but he’d never really
seen himself in the winner’s circle. She needed to do something to show him he
was wrong! She needed to support him the way he kept supporting her through her
troubles with Fawn.
She
grabbed him by both ears and pulled her face down close to hers. “If that
doesn’t make any sense to you, then you listen to this! I want you, Rick
Rogers! You’re a talented, sexy, incredible man! And one thing I’ve learned
over the years is not to waste my time on losers. You understand what I’m
telling you? If I didn’t think you could win this I wouldn’t waste my time with
you!”
“Ember?”
She
kissed him hard. It actually took a moment before Rick kissed her back, but
when he did it was with force, passion and rapidly growing confidence. His hand
found her breast and squeezed it deliciously for the very first time, fondling
the soft globe through her dress and bra before tracing the contours of her
hard nipple with the ball of his thumb.
She
wasn’t quite certain when she lost control. She hadn’t intended to kiss Rick
again, much less run her hand across his chest and feel the muscles beneath his
t-shirt. His lips remained locked on hers but his hands were roaming just as
hers were. They touched her breasts, her sides, her rear end and pulled at her
skirt. Just as she kept touching his chest, his hips, his tight exciting ass.
She
fell back into her chair and Rick followed her, still standing, still kissing,
one hand on her cheek while the other resumed exploring her breast.
She
got her fingers under his t-shirt, feeling muscles that were even better than
she’d expected, encouraging her to discover more. His lips finally broke free
of hers but only so he could kiss his way south, nibbling wetly at her throat
while his hands began to fiddle with the buttons of her blouse. A small sane
part of her mind knew that she should stop him, but then her blouse was
suddenly open and Rick buried his face in her cleavage while his hands cupped
her breasts together.
He
was using both thumbs now and her nipples strained back against the pressure.
His tongue explored the delicate line formed by the edge of her lacey bra,
patiently tickling her when she wanted
but if Fawn convinced Fox to fire her over Rick she couldn’t bear it. She’d
survived it once, but life doesn’t give third chances.
Rick
managed to look disappointed without appearing hurt. “You don’t have to
apologize. I’m the one who keeps pushing against the rules. It’s just…Ember, I
feel like we almost have something very precious and beautiful here, and I’m so
afraid of letting it slip through our fingers. So please, promise me, the night
after the season is done, let me take you out somewhere. Give us the chance to
see if we’re as right for each other as we think we are right now.”
Ember
didn’t answer him directly. “If you win this contest, you’re not going to have
any free nights for a long time to come.”
Rick
shook his head. “I’m not going to win Rock Idol . I’ve already come
further than anyone ever thought I could. Top seven! Who would have believed
it? No, Hillary Tempest or Kim Ryan’s going to win—”
Ember
was on her feet and poking her finger into Rick’s chest before he could finish
talking. “Don’t you ever say that! You can win this contest! You’re the
complete package, Rick! Yes, Hillary’s voice is stronger and Kim’s got a
sweeter tone. But this is rock music! And you are the complete
package!”
Rick
seemed taken aback by the vehemence of her tone. “I didn’t—”
“You
promise me!” Ember snapped at him. “You don’t make any excuses! You don’t
compromise! You sure as hell don’t give up! You go out there and sing for me
and show Mitch and Fawn and all of America
just what it takes to be a rock star!”
“But…”
Rick
really didn’t believe her, Ember realized. How could she have failed to see it?
All of these weeks he’d been working so hard to survive, but he’d never really
seen himself in the winner’s circle. She needed to do something to show him he
was wrong! She needed to support him the way he kept supporting her through her
troubles with Fawn.
She
grabbed him by both ears and pulled her face down close to hers. “If that
doesn’t make any sense to you, then you listen to this! I want you, Rick
Rogers! You’re a talented, sexy, incredible man! And one thing I’ve learned
over the years is not to waste my time on losers. You understand what I’m
telling you? If I didn’t think you could win this I wouldn’t waste my time with
you!”
“Ember?”
She
kissed him hard. It actually took a moment before Rick kissed her back, but
when he did it was with force, passion and rapidly growing confidence. His hand
found her breast and squeezed it deliciously for the very first time, fondling
the soft globe through her dress and bra before tracing the contours of her
hard nipple with the ball of his thumb.
She
wasn’t quite certain when she lost control. She hadn’t intended to kiss Rick
again, much less run her hand across his chest and feel the muscles beneath his
t-shirt. His lips remained locked on hers but his hands were roaming just as
hers were. They touched her breasts, her sides, her rear end and pulled at her
skirt. Just as she kept touching his chest, his hips, his tight exciting ass.
She
fell back into her chair and Rick followed her, still standing, still kissing,
one hand on her cheek while the other resumed exploring her breast.
She
got her fingers under his t-shirt, feeling muscles that were even better than
she’d expected, encouraging her to discover more. His lips finally broke free
of hers but only so he could kiss his way south, nibbling wetly at her throat
while his hands began to fiddle with the buttons of her blouse. A small sane
part of her mind knew that she should stop him, but then her blouse was
suddenly open and Rick buried his face in her cleavage while his hands cupped
her breasts together.
He
was using both thumbs now and her nipples strained back against the pressure.
His tongue explored the delicate line formed by the edge of her lacey bra,
patiently tickling her when she wanted
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