Falling Star (5 page)

Jade was different. She wasn't afraid to look him in the eye. She didn't gush or simper, or talk endlessly about herself, or her powerful friends and industry contacts. Yes, she was most definitely a cool drink of water. Adam couldn't stop himself from bringing her hands to his lips, where they rested against the soft skin of her knuckles as he inhaled.

The noise from the restaurant faded into the background. Even the Dodger fans seemed to go quiet. Adam couldn't look away from her, and she seemed to be equally hypnotized by their clasped hands against his mouth. She added her free hand to cover his. When she maintained eye contact, Adam felt like an electric current looped through them, and sparked the distance between their eyes.

The tip of her pink tongue swiped along her lower lip, in a gesture that was so innocent, it was erotic as hell. His cock surged behind his fly, intensely enough to send a jerk through his body. He imagined those lips at various places along his body, and now kissing her wasn't the only thing he wanted to do with that succulent mouth.

"So…" she cleared her throat. "Are you going to tell me your professional name?"

"No."

She blinked a few times, her jaw going slack. When he felt her attempt to pull her hands away, he gripped them tighter and continued. "Not yet. You should be flattered, I usually don't give people my real name." That seemed to work, especially when he smiled. "Just call me Adam."

She seemed to be avoiding his gaze, but stared at his thumb as it moved across her hands. Adam considered that a win.

"You aren't really in the porn industry are you?"

"No." He winked.

"But you won't tell me what you do for a living?"

Okay. That did make him sound like a creep. "I told you I'm in the entertainment industry. I can't tell you all my secrets at once; what would make you want to go out with me again?"

"Oh, the mysterious approach, I get it."

"Is it working?"

She cocked her head to one side and gave him a long look. That was dangerous. He wasn't ready to be found out. Not yet. He wanted more time as Adam "Joe Schmoe" Herlihey. He knew she'd start acting differently around him once his true identity was revealed. Hell, with the type of woman he thought she was, he wouldn't be surprised if she had nothing to do with him. Not after learning about his playboy lifestyle.

Would he blame her?

They watched the Dodgers win their game. Well, she did. Adam just stared at her for twenty minutes, and asked her questions about her career as a florist. Before she could turn the conversation back to him, he finished his second beer, and tossed his napkin on the table.

"Ready to go?" He slid out of the booth, pulled some cash from his wallet, and tossed it on the table, before again offering her his hand. Her eyes bounced from the currency back to him. Either she was going to tell him it was too much, or offer to pay her own way. He didn't wait for whatever she had to say, he just reached for her hand and pulled her from the booth. On the way out, he slid his hand down her back, guiding her to the exit.

Tyrell was on his feet, wiping his hands on a wet-nap, watching their departure. Damn the man was good. Adam put on his dark glasses and made it back to the car without incident.

He waited until she'd buckled in before and he tapped a quick text message to Tyrell. Adam didn't know where Tyrell had parked, but he'd insist on following them.

She gave him directions to her house, and even apologized about making him drive her all the way home.

As if it bothered him to take her home, he smiled.

Well, it worked. Other than the little episode with the hostess, Adam's little production went off without a hitch. He would have to make another visit to Buster's in the near future just to be seen. That might boost their business a bit as a thank you. Of course he couldn't have done it without Carley and Tyrell. Carley had told him how she had to promise Buster's management he'd have no more than two alcoholic drinks before they gave in to his request. That was a big-ass bitter pill to swallow.

"Thank you for dinner."

He'd walked her up the stairs of her house just as the sun dipped behind the trees. The dying rays only highlighted the red in her hair, making it all but crackle with life. God, he wanted to touch it. See if it was as soft as it looked.

Adam wasn't used to restraining himself; he was accustomed to taking whatever he wanted. Of course he rarely had to fight for it either. Especially for the favors of a woman. He'd already put one hand against her neck, and buried his fingers in that luscious hair before he remembered that he wanted to go slow with this one.

She held her breath at his touch. Had he blown it? He didn't want to scare her, but for the life of him, he couldn't step away. In fact, as he warred with himself, he actually moved a step closer. Near enough to fill his lungs with her floral scent. Close enough that she had to tilt her head back to continue looking at him with those gorgeous green eyes. The movement spotlighted her long slender neck, and his mouth watered at the prospect of tasting her flesh.

"You're very beautiful," he whispered, holding her head steady with one hand, while the other snaked around her waist. As much as he wanted to bury himself in her softness, he merely brought their bodies close enough for their clothes to brush. He felt her breasts against his chest. Through the layers of clothing he felt the pebbly evidence of her desire.

"Thank you." She tilted her head, which he took as an invitation to kiss her neck. "You're pretty easy on the eyes as well." She draped her arms over his shoulders.

He growled, and pressed his lips against the tender skin beneath her ear. God, she smelled good, and tasted even better. He swiped his tongue along the tendon in her neck, and was rewarded with a shiver.

"I want to kiss you, but I don't want to scare you away." His heart pounded so hard, he was sure she could feel it against hers. "Tell me I won't." He looked at her, hoping she'd say what he wanted to hear.

She shook her head. "I'm not afraid of you Adam."

Beautiful. His name on her mouth looked…well, beautiful. He traced her lips with the tip of his middle finger. From the bow on the top, to one corner, and across the fullness of the lower one. Just as he finished the course, her tongue traced his path. His breath caught when the wet tip met his fingertip and held. Her lips closed around his digit, and all went black. All but the pulsing warm light he could feel inside him. She sucked, drawing him deeper inside her warm mouth, and a strangled gurgle came from nowhere, loud enough to pull him back into awareness. He blinked, now realizing he'd pinched his eyes closed, and the sound had come from his own throat.

What the hell was that?
He searched her face for answers, but she looked up at him with an innocent desire, her pupils dilated, his finger still resting against her soft mouth. He only moved his hand when his mouth descended, and covered hers.

He couldn't get enough of how she tasted. Wine. Cool wine and crisp summer sunshine. Never before had he actually tasted a kiss. Song lyrics that described sweet lips, and sugar kisses never meant anything to him. He'd always figured all kisses tasted the same. He was wrong.

He sent his tongue deeper into her mouth, searching for every hidden secret. When her tongue rubbed against his, he experienced the same warmth as before. All thoughts of scaring her were abandoned, and he enveloped her in his arms. She stepped impossibly closer to him, flattening her breasts against his chest. The insane heat from that connection flooded him. He could still feel her nipples through their layers of clothing, teasing his skin. When she adjusted her body, he had to consciously restrain his hands from seeking out the pleasure those breasts promised. She had to feel his erection against her hip; there was no way he could hide it, so he pressed tighter against her. After a small sound escaped her, she moved against his rigid flesh, pulling another moan from his gut.

He angled his head, deepening the kiss, his mind working on the logistics of getting inside this woman. Now. Through the haze of desire, he saw a wide wooden porch swing, hanging from the ceiling on thick chains. Potted plants. He'd have to navigate around them. Her jeans, they'd have to at least get one leg free, his could just drop below his hips.

"Jade?" The deep voice came through the heavy oak door. Adam reluctantly pulled away from her just as she lifted her lids, revealing brilliant green irises. "Is that you?"

"Give me a minute Dean." The huskiness in her voice sent another spasm to Adam's cock. She wanted him. Maybe as much as he wanted her.

But not now. Not on her porch.
Jesus, Adam. Get a hold of yourself. You're a grown man, not some horny fifteen-year-old.
He opened his mouth to apologize, but stopped. She didn't know where his mind took him.

"I need your phone number," he said instead.

She fumbled through her purse for a pen, but rather than writing on a piece of paper, or an old gum wrapper as he'd expected, she took his hand in hers, inked the numbers on his palm, and sealed it with a long kiss.

"That was sexy."

"I don't want you to use the excuse that you lost it." She replaced the pen, then opened the screen door. "And now you'll have to call me before you wash it off." She sent him a mischievous wink before she disappeared into the house.

And he let her go.

God damn, what was wrong with him? Thirty seconds ago, Adam Nash had a woman in his arms, and now he was going home alone? Adam curled his hands into fists. His entire being ached with the need to follow her inside and into her bedroom. Hell, into any available room with a horizontal surface.

Even that was negotiable.

He staggered back to Henry's wife's car, and sat in the driver's seat. His cock tented his jeans. He reached to press it down, and caught sight of her phone number. Ignoring his arousal, he pulled his cell phone out and dialed.

"Hello?"

"Now you have my number too."

She chuckled, and his dick jerked. "I promise I won't take advantage."

"Call me anytime." He grinned into the phone. "Lunch tomorrow?"

"I'm afraid I can't." He heard the sounds of fabric rustling near the phone.
Was she undressing?
Damn, he covered his erection with his free hand, trying to press it into submission. "It's Dean's day off, and I can't leave Ella alone."

He leaned his head back against the head rest, and closed his eyes to concentrate. "Friday?"

"Friday's are pretty busy. We usually don't even get to sit down."

"Dinner tomorrow then." More rustling in his ear, and his stiff cock refused to behave.

"You don't have to feed me, you know."

He bit off the words forming on his tongue. He'd like to feed her all right. He saved that mental image for later. "I don't want you to forget to eat lunch again."

"You bought dinner tonight. It's my turn to treat. A movie maybe?"

He tried not to laugh out loud. She really had no idea. He almost burst with the need to tell her. Tell her everything. Maybe she'd rush out to his car and screw him in the driver's seat.
Damn it, Adam. You're a fucking animal. For once in your life, act like a normal man.
He took a deep breath. "A movie theater won't work. I want to be able to sit and stare at you."

She barked a short laugh. "Oh, well—"

"Jade?"

"Yes?"

"I enjoyed your company tonight."

"And I yours. Even if you are stingy with your personal information."

"I don't want to scare you away before I've had a chance to thoroughly impress you with my wit and wisdom."

"I'm already impressed," she whispered.

He gripped his cock through his jeans, and had to remind himself who he was, and what sort of trouble he could get into if he got caught masturbating in a borrowed car parked in a residential neighborhood. He could just see the headlines.

"I'll pick you up at six tomorrow then. Sleep well, Jade."

"Good night Adam."

What was it about the way she said his name that sent a jolt through his system? He entered her number into his contacts. Now this woman had his real name and his personal cell phone number, but she had yet to know what he did for a living.

Damn it, taking things slow would kill him. Here he had dinner with a woman, drank only two beers, then walked her to her door, and settled for a kiss. One kiss.

One hell of a kiss.

No wonder his body was confused. He never stopped at one kiss. Women he regularly kissed never stopped there. Not that it bothered him. Hell, what man wouldn't enjoy overzealous women throwing themselves at his feet? Meaningless sex can get a man through many a cold night on tour. There was a cliché about things were better if you waited…something like that. Maybe there was some truth to it. Maybe now he was ready for something different.

Adam took the long way back to Henry's house to retrieve his own car. He listened to the public radio station. Some shit about making soap, but he had to get his hormones under control before facing his manager, his manager's wife, and their three teenage daughters.