Chapter 1

One

Tyler

" D on't take this the wrong way Tyler but when was the last time you got fucked?" West asked, easing my new Porsche on the Los Angeles freeway. Being my personal assistant had a few perks. "Keep in mind, I'm not asking as one of your star-struck groupies but as your friend."

"I can't imagine the right way to take a question like that." I mused, staring at the late freeway gridlock before us. I hoped it wouldn't be like this all the way to the airport. A pleasant breeze from the open windows stirred the air in my Coupe.

I hadn't even driven this car except down my driveway. These days I didn't drive much. I missed that freedom, but honestly, I had so little free time it wasn't worth keeping my license up. And my manager worried that if I got into an accident, suing the lead singer of The Kings was a lawyer's wet dream.

"All I'm trying to say is, if you can't remember the last time you got laid, that's not a good sign." West crammed another stick of gum into his mouth. He was trying to stop smoking, and it wasn't going well, hence all the gum chewing.

"There's more to life than getting laid," I said, wishing I'd gone for the car's convertible model. Feeling the fresh air rushing by me might help lift my mood. Not that there was much fresh air in LA or that we were moving enough to generate a breeze.

"Sure, there's death, taxes, and the ever-present LA Freeway traffic but none of that is worth living for," West argued.

I didn't want to admit it, but he was right.

"Besides, doesn't being a rock god exempt you from this kind of real-life crap?" West persisted. "Babysitting your friend's little sister." He shuddered theatrically then flipped off the driver behind us for tailgating us.

"Drop it, West." My tone shut down his babble. Even though he was one of my personal assistants, he was also a friend. And I didn't have many of those these days. Success made any kind of real relationship pretty damn difficult if not impossible.

Calling me a rock god was laying it on a bit thick, but it didn't change the fact that I was heading to the airport to pick up Piper. And if I was a rock god, I wasn't a happy one.

As lead vocalist for The Kings , our recent release hit every billboard chart, our upcoming tour was sold out, and we had advertisers begging us for endorsements. Our managers were thrilled. Judging by my house, cars, bank account, and career opportunities, my music career was successful. I'd worked my ass off to turn this dream into my reality. But I was beginning to wonder if it really was worth it.

I glanced in the passenger visor mirror. My reflection showed my shaggy brown curls which needed a haircut, and my beard could use a trim. A stylist could come out and take care of that for me later this week at the house.

I was glad for my dark sunglasses; they hid my blue eyes which now sported dark circles under them. I looked hung over when in fact I was stone cold sober. I avoided drugs and too much alcohol because I'd seen my fellow performers fall like dominoes because of them.

The result, however, was that at twenty-seven-years old I lived like a monk.

"I should see a doctor, maybe I'm sick." I flipped the visor mirror closed.

West snapped his gum then glanced over at me. "Nah man, what you need is to get laid. That cures everything."

No lie there, but that wasn't going to be happening anytime soon with Piper around. Plus, I'd been jerking off with my hand so much, I should slap a ring on myself. Being on the road months on end meant a relationship was trying at best. Casual sex wasn't my thing because I didn't like wondering what was going to wind up in the tabloids because of my name. It turned out money could buy pretty much everything, except trust.

"So what's she like?" He asked.

"Piper?"

"No, your mom." West flashed me his cheesy trademark grin which was getting him a few acting auditions but no real roles besides playing the dead body in crime dramas. "Of course, Piper."

"She just graduated college in Vermont, and she wants to work out here."

"Actress or model?" West perked up. "What's she look like? I could show her around."

"I haven't seen her since Harrison's wedding five years ago. She looked like a teenage girl. Besides, she's staying with me to avoid the likes of you."

West tapped his chest with one hand like he was hurt. "Hey man, I'm just trying to help."

"Keep your hands on the wheel." I sipped my coffee trying to get some strength from it. I missed this, just regular talk with someone who didn't want something from me.

I dreaded each sign speeding me closer to Los Angeles International Airport. I didn't want a house guest even to help out Harrison. But he'd been my best friend growing up. Before I hit puberty Harrison was the only thing that prevented me getting beat up daily in middle school. Now back in New York, his wife needed to be in the hospital until their first baby arrived. That wasn't too much to ask to get his kid sister settled out here.

Harrison believed in me when no one else did. Sure I was exhausted, but I could do this for him.

Besides how much trouble could it be to get Piper settled in her own place?

I yawned. My body wasn't sure what time zone it was in after coming back from Singapore a few days before. That was the glamorous truth of my life on the road.

"A teenage girl is really going to put a cramp in your style. Is she a fan?" West snapped his gum.

"She's not a teenager, she's a college graduate. I have no idea what kind of music she likes." I didn't know much about Piper. At Harrison's wedding, I'd only talked to her briefly trying to cheer her up through her tears. Some boy had dumped her and she was sure he was the love of her life. I remember the only way I could get her to stop crying was to ask about her horse. She showed me a sketch pad full of drawings which she carried around everywhere. I remember her being a talented artist.

Hey, maybe she could spend the week horseback riding? That would keep her out of my hair. I pulled out my phone and texted another assistant asking for a list of the best places to ride in the area.

The more I thought about it, this could be the answer to my problem. Hell, I'd buy her a horse if it kept her busy until Harrison arrived, then he could do the apartment hunting with her.

I sent a follow up to my assistant inquiring about buying a horse for her as well.

If all went as planned, Piper could be packed off to an exclusive dude ranch tomorrow. For the first time since talking to Harrison last night, the knot of anxiety in my chest eased. By the time West dropped me off at baggage claim, I had tried to reassure myself. I was able to entertain stadium-size crowds, surely one recent college graduate would be no problem.

But still, something nagged at me.

Harrison specifically asked me to take care of her myself. I was trying to follow his wishes, but I didn't relish running the gauntlet of paparazzi floating around LAX. I pulled a baseball cap low over my eyes. I wore a tee shirt, faded jeans, and boots, pretty much standard regular LA guy attire. I hoped the casual clothing would help avoid attention. I kept my eyes down trying not to meet any curious gazes.

As it always was, LAX was packed. Travelers flowed around me, but nobody gave me more than a second glance. At six feet four inches most people who recognized me thought I was an NFL player. I was muscled from lifting weights, it was the one thing I was very good about keeping up with despite my god-awful travel schedule.

I kept my eyes alert behind my sunglasses for a gangly girl with braces at the baggage claim. That should be easy enough to spot here. A family dressed in matching tee shirts that read "Swanson Family California Theme Park Reunion" caught my attention. Everyone from grandparents to babes in arms wore the tee shirts as they surged to collect their luggage.

Regret washed over me for the extended family I never had. I envied them having each other, squabbles and all. Maybe I would have a family of my own someday but the way things were going it seemed unlikely. Relationships and music careers didn't gel. And I wouldn't want my family to suffer because of my career choices.

I turned away from people watching to the security gate exit. Just then, a brunette beauty strode out the exit, laughing with her tall blond male companion. My breath caught in my chest, this woman was stunning.

She wore slim black cigarette pants, a white sleeveless button-down blouse that tied at her waist showing a glimpse of her taut belly. She had firm high tits. Judging from the way they jiggled while she walked, they were one hundred percent real.

That in LA alone was a miracle.

She wore red heels giving her a sexy Snow White vibe. Her brunette curls tumbled down her back. Her creamy skin and red lips made her look like a fucking angel. Heads turned as she walked past.

I wanted to rip the eyes out of every male in the area. But that wouldn't help because there were a fair number of females eyeing her too.

She waved goodbye to the blond man, peeling off to her right.

She walked straight toward me, pulling her wheeled bag behind her. Beauty approached me with her small leather backpack swung over one shoulder. She wore dark sunglasses like a fucking movie star.

Who was she?

If we'd been introduced at a premiere or gala event, I would've certainly remembered.

My heart banged against my ribcage so hard I thought I might crack a rib.

Thank the fucking lord.

I was never so glad to be recognized. Out of all the phone numbers slipped my way, I would gladly take hers.

Even if she were a crazy stalker fan, I'd make an exception to my usual hands-off policy for her.

Instead of stopping to introduce herself or make small talk, Beauty surprised me by hugging me suddenly and rather clumsily. The contact of her tits pressed against my chest emptied all the air out of my body and stirred my cock.

Immediately my arms went closed around her to steady her. It was then I realized I'd missed the cast covering her right arm from her palm to her elbow. She pressed those red lips to my cheek and fire spread through my body along with her scent of gardenia flowers.

I felt lost, unable to do anything but respond while my brain screamed mine .

Beauty leaned back enough in my arms to pull down her sunglasses with her free hand. She had deep green eyes with velvety lashes. Something about them was familiar but when her red lips parted all I could think about was what her mouth would look like wrapped around my cock. My balls grew heavy in my jeans at the sight of her pink tongue.

Oh yeah, my celibacy dry spell was over. I was a man dying of thirst who had fallen into a waterfall.

"Glad to see me," her husky voice paused. "Tyler?"

Fate hated me.

There was no way this gorgeous creature could be Piper.

Then I remembered why the green eyes were familiar. Only this time they were not full of tears like last time I saw them. This time they downright twinkled.

Before my brain had time to register all the problems this new situation created in my life, rage surged through me. I felt hot all over like I was going to combust in baggage claim.

Piper's right arm was in a cast. What the hell happened? It didn't matter that she had just graduated from college.

She was still fragile and in need of protecting. Harrison clearly hadn't given me the full story.

My self-righteous anger dimmed with one chilling realization.

Piper wouldn't be riding any horses this week. She's be riding me.

Fuck.

There went my plan for her to get out of my hair.

But she could still ride me.

A dark voice inside me bloomed. Images of Piper astride me, riding me clouded my brain.

Panic welled up inside me.

Here I was imagining sticking my tongue down Piper's throat as well as various other places.

What kind of filthy fuck was I…

Fate really hated me.

I didn't need to see West's eyes light up when Piper climbed in the car curbside to know they did. I could tell by how chatty he was. I always sat up front with West when he drove me. I sure as hell wasn't letting Piper sit up front with him while I sat in the back. So into the backseat, Piper went.

Which was a yet another mistake, because the backseat of a Porsche is basically sized for a large cat. Now she hung over the front seat, her scent filling my nostrils.

"Piper, what brings you to the City of Angels, besides your handsome brother of course?" West asked, offering her a stick of gum.

She waved the offer aside. "I'm looking for work and a place to live."

"You're a model, right? Or an actress?"

Piper's laugh sent a shiver down my spine. Her voice was throaty and deeper than I remembered though to be honest mostly what I remembered five years ago.

"My degree is in design. I'm looking for work in fashion or costuming."

"Like in movies and TV?"

"Exactly."

West whistled. "That's cool. I don't know anyone who does that out here, but I can ask my agent. How about you Tyler?"

"Not that I can think of." I rubbed my right hand over my knee. I had an old hockey injury, and when I was overtired, I noticed the soreness there more. It wouldn't hurt to soak in my hot tub later.

"I'd be so grateful for any help." Piper's words went straight to my cock. I closed my eyes briefly, glad I had sunglasses on.

I had to think of something—anything else.

But all I could think of was that kiss…

Listening to her visit with West, she sounded like a smart girl—make that woman—but she was pretty na?ve if she thought getting a job out here would be based entirely on merit.

The shit I'd seen out here in the entertainment business—I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy. What had Harrison been thinking of sending her out here like a lamb among the wolves? I knew he was distracted with his wife Stephanie and their new baby coming soon.

Still, I couldn't fathom Piper alone in this city. Sure maybe she'd have roommates, but that didn't give me any solace. That could even be more unsafe than her living alone, with roommates bringing strangers in at all hours.

My musings took up most of the drive back to Hollywood Hills where I lived. West pulled us into my gated driveway. My keycode unlocked the gate, and the tall metal panels slowly swung inward.

"We're home," I said, cutting short West's attempts to impress Piper with his audition war stories.

Never had my words filled me with more dark pleasure.