Wicked: Leather and Lace [Wicked Series Book 2] (7 page)

The guys looked like pros. They knew how to move, how to reach the camera with a look, and watching them made Roxy realize she was witnessing something hundreds of people would pay to be a part of. To get a glimpse into the lives of their idols. To be a part of something no one ever got to see.

"She's great, isn't she?"

Roxy turned her head, looking over at the boy who spoke. He was short, waif thin, and was staring at the photographer. He couldn't have been a day over ten. “Uh, she seems very professional,” she answered, looking around him for Holly. Her friend had moved closer to the action. She glanced back at the boy and tried to think of something to say. “Has she been doing this long?"

He nodded his head. “A few years and she's the best there is. My opinion doesn't count though."

"Oh? Why's that?"

"She's my sister,” he said, smiling. “She says it doesn't matter what we think, only what the customer thinks. I'm John."

"It's nice to meet you, John."

"You too,” he said. “Jessi said these guys were rock stars and probably a pain in the butt. She said she needed me today."

Roxy laughed. “They most certainly can be. So, do you work for your sister or just hang out when rock stars are around?"

"I hang out when mom lets me or if Jessi needs help. She shoots more than just rock stars, you know. She does a lot of commercial work too.” He grinned suddenly, the smile lighting up his eyes. “She has a shoot scheduled right after she's finished here. With Chickens."

Roxy raised an eyebrow. “Chickens? Live chickens?"

"Yeah. A new ad for some fast food restaurant. There's a whole mess of them in the back. Jessi left me in charge of them while she worked with these guys."

John had no sooner gotten the last word out when Roxy heard them. The cluck and squawk of chickens. She turned her head, looking behind her and grinned. “John, one of your friends is out."

A chicken in the back of the room ran past the crates lined along the back wall. Its wings were outstretched and it strutted across the room like it owned the place.

Before Roxy could comprehend what she was seeing, one chicken turned into two, then three, before the entire back area was covered with the small creatures. She laughed at the scene. How often did you see chickens in a public place?

"Oh no!” John said. “I thought I got the cage latched."

He ran to the back of the room, his little legs carrying him right into the middle of the small flock. The moment he reached them, the unexpected happened. The startled chickens scattered and raced across the studio.

Roxy could only watch with wide eyes as the chickens ran straight for the front of the room. One minute, the guys were posing and looking sexy as hell, the next, they were jumping and laughing as the birds rushed onto the photo shoot set.

Every assistant who worked for the photographer ran, scattering in every direction, trying to catch them. It was a scene straight from a movie.

Mick and Devin stood still, shooing the birds away when they got too close while Christian tried to help. He grabbed one and dropped it the next second when the bird pecked at his hand. Holly and Curt got into the act while Luke made a beeline for her.

"Exactly the distraction I was hoping for,” he said when he reached her. He grabbed her hand and dragged her toward the back of the room and into the maze of props and wooden crates.

When they reached a darkened corner, Roxy was backed against the wall and barely had time to look up when Luke kissed her. The noise in the room vanished, her earlier thoughts of him looking for someone else gone in a blink of the eye. There was nothing left but the feel of him pressed against her, the taste of his kiss, and the sudden warmth traveling her limbs.

He broke the kiss, his breath warm against her lips. “Meet me tonight."

It wasn't a question. His persistent lips let her know as much. “If it's going to be a repeat of last night, then I'll pass,” she said.

"I thought you enjoyed yourself last night."

"Some of it I did, but I'm not going to be pushed to the back of the crowd while your fans molest you."

"You won't be. I promise,” he grinned. “Come on, Roxy. I've waited four days to have you. I'm beginning to think you don't want me."

Roxy stared up at him. There was a hint of mischief in his eyes and she smiled when he pulled her closer to him.

"It will just be me and you tonight,” he promised.

Just the two of them? Alone? Visions of them alone danced in her minds eye and a pleasant ripple of anticipation trickled down her spine. She relented without much thought. “And how should I dress?"

His eyes sparkled. “In your birthday suit?"

She laughed. “I'll think about it."

"I hope you do."

"Where and when?"

His smile widened. “I'll have Bobby pick you up. Curt has us all over town today doing interviews, so I'll meet you there."

"Meet you where?"

"You'll see when you get there."

With a parting kiss that left her weak in the knees, Luke was back into the middle of the chicken chase. Roxy watched him skirt around a few of them and head straight to Curt who was doing his best to look like he was helping.

Of all the guys, Christian was the only one actually doing anything to try and catch them. Of course, the glances he kept giving the photographer, Jessi, may have been the reason. The shy bass player was in the middle of the fray, easing his way toward her, his cheeks flushed. Was it from exertion or embarrassment? With Christian, it was hard to tell.

Turning to find Luke, Roxy watched him lean back against the wall, one foot raised and propped on the wall behind him. He said he wanted her naked. There was no way in hell she would travel around New York in her birthday suit, but she could make sure what she hid
under
her clothes would entice him. It looked like she was in need of another shopping trip.

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"Go all the way to the top floor,” Bobby said. “I have to pick the guys up in half an hour, and Luke had a stop he wanted to make first, so I'll have him here in a bit."

"Thanks, Bobby.” Roxy closed her fist around the key he had given her and existed the limo. She stared up at the building as he drove away. It looked like an apartment building but all the glass made it hard to tell.

Walking in the door, she stopped when a security guard stood and looked over at her. “Um, I'm supposed to meet Luke Harris."

His eyes widened. “You're meeting Luke here?"

"Yes,” she said, holding up the key.

The guard smiled. “Top floor. Elevator is just down the hall."

She watched him sit back down before she walked to the elevator and entered, hitting the button to the top floor. Her mind wandered to what sort of place Luke had asked her to meet him at.

The elevator doors opened and she stepped out into the hall, glancing both ways. A lone door stood at the end.

With key in hand, she made her way to door and stopped, inserting the key into the lock and turned it, listening to the gentle click as the tumblers released.

The apartment was large, with a full wall of windows that looked out at the city. Roxy shut the door behind her and stepped further inside.

The living room was sunken. Three steps led to the sitting area that boasted a set of black leather sofas and chairs. A large entertainment center with a wide screen TV and a massive stereo system took up one entire wall. There was a fireplace just left of the front door and an open kitchen to the right. The shine of stainless steal from the appliances gleamed under the lights.

A winding staircase led to an upper floor and the entire wall behind it held what looked like large framed albums, each with a picture of the guys from Wicked. Another glance around the living room and Roxy knew where she was.

This was Luke's apartment. His personal space.

Her pulse quickened an instant later before she smiled and took everything in. He'd asked her to his place? “Oh, we're definitely getting laid tonight,” she said to no one.

Taking the steps down into the living room, she tossed the key on one of the tables by the sofa and laid her bag down.

She looked around the room again and glanced up to the upper floor. A huge grin covered her face and she ran for the stairs, hurrying up the steps, and stopping at the top.

"Now, which one of you leads to his bedroom?"

The door directly in front of the steps was a music room with guitars lining the walls. Amplifiers, a table covered in books and loose pieces of paper, another stereo, and a whole wall of electronics she had no clue what their purpose was.

The room to the right of the stairs was next. It was a spare bedroom, from the looks of it. No personal effects were found. Just a bed, a dresser, and an empty closet.

Turning, Roxy walked to the other end of the hallway. The last door was open and she grinned when she looked in. This is what she'd been looking for. Luke's room.

Walking in, she stopped in the center of the massive space. It was nearly as large as the downstairs living room.

The bed was draped in black and burgundy and took up most of the room. It looked big enough to sleep four people comfortably. She frowned while looking at it. How many girls had he screwed silly in that thing?

Shaking the thought away, she turned, taking it all in. Her eyes widened when she looked to the corner behind the door. A large platform took up the corner and what could only be called a “stripper pole” stood in the center. Mirrors lined the walls around the platform and Roxy knew without looking there was a lighting system. A glance up at the ceiling and she laughed at the lights pointed to the small “stage."

The master bathroom was black and white tile. The tub was huge and the separate shower, like the bed, was roomy enough for several people.

Roxy opened several bottles of cologne sitting on the sink and drank in the scent. She could see Luke in her mind's eye at the first whiff and wondered how long he'd be. Putting the bottles back where she'd found them, she walked into the bedroom, staring at the room. A set of doors on the opposite wall caught her attention and she crossed the floor to them and swung them wide.

The closet was a thing of beauty. The back wall was mirrored and rows of clothing hung on either side of the doors. Racks of shoes and boots lined the floor and Roxy felt envious of the space. What she wouldn't give to have a closet like this.

Walking in, she looked through his clothes, surprised to find denim. She'd only ever seen Luke in leather and planned on getting him into more casual clothes before she had to leave.

Hearing a door close somewhere in the apartment, she turned and ran for the stairs. She saw Luke immediately. When he looked up at her, she blushed.

"Find anything interesting up there?"

She laughed to hide her embarrassment. Being caught snooping wasn't how she wanted to greet him. “I did actually,” she said, walking to the steps and starting down. “You have a stripper pole in your bedroom."

"Care to give it a try?” he said, shrugging off his coat and tossing it to the sofa.

"I'm sure there are others more qualified at dancing around poles than I am."

Luke raised one eyebrow at her, that devilish smirk making an appearance. “I'd much rather have you dance around my pole."

The look on his face told her he wasn't talking about the stripper pole and she paused halfway down the steps. He crossed the room, taking the stairs one at a time until he reached the step below where she stood. They were eye level and the look in his eyes made her pulse quicken.

"You're not naked like I suggested."

He was still wearing the leather pants, but a loose fitting, blue button-up shirt covered his chest. His hair was tousled, the strands hanging wildly, and he smelled so good she wanted nothing more than to bury her face against his skin and blissfully stay there.

"Neither are you."

He grinned and said, “We can fix that problem,” before he raised his hand, his fingers brushing her knee and dancing up the length of her leg. His hand stopped moving once he reached the top of her thigh-high hose.

"Are these what I think they are?” he asked, tugging at the elastic band.

"Depends on what you think they are?"

His eyes flashed hotly, his gaze sweeping over her body. “What are you hiding under these clothes?"

"If you're a good boy, you'll find out later."

She stepped around him, making her way down the stairs to the windows looking out on the city. A glance out of the corner of her eye showed him still on the steps, his head turned to her. “How did you get out of house arrest?"

He snorted a laugh. “Bobby can be persuaded, unlike Curt."

Leaning back against the windows, she said, “You bribed him?"

"Of course.” He turned and walked down the steps, crossing the room and stopping in front of her. “And he won't be back for us until Friday."

A flutter of butterflies erupted in her stomach and Roxy bit her tongue to keep from smiling. Two whole days alone with him? In his apartment?

She couldn't have wished for a better scenario. It was like ... playing house! She did smile then. It was a schoolgirl notion but one that filled her with excitement. Being with Luke at all was a dream come true. Being able to live with him—even if it was only two days—would be the closest to heaven she'd ever get on earth. When the time came to return home, she'd have a memory to last a lifetime.

"So, what exactly are we to do here for two days?"

Luke reached out, wrapping his arms around her. “Oh, I have tons of activities planned for you."

"Like?"

"Like getting you naked since you refused to do so yourself."

Roxy shook her head. “Is that all you think about?"

"When I look at you it is,” he said.

"And why is that?” Roxy noticed the playful, teasing gleam in his eyes vanish, replaced with some indefinable emotion.

"I don't know,” he answered. “You're beautiful, for one."

Her heart fluttered at his words. “Like you haven't had a host of beautiful women draped all over this apartment."