Wicked: Tempt Me Not [Wicked Series Book 1] (9 page)

"Ten,” she said, grinning up at him. “Why?"

"Oh baby, I'm gonna make you scream."

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Holly stared out across the mountain, watching the first rays of sunlight illuminate the world around her. For the first time in two weeks, seeing the sunrise didn't bring her a sense of joy.

Today, it brought only sadness.

She'd packed her bags the night before and Devin had carried them to the front door. The shuttle would be there by nine to get her and she didn't want to leave.

The past week had been pure bliss. As irritating as Devin was at times, he'd done exactly what she feared he would. He made her care.

She sighed; looking down at his arm draped over her waist, and entwined her fingers in his. His thumb made a slow path over the back of her hand and she knew he was awake. He was spooned against her back, his warm flesh heating her skin to the point she never wanted to move.

"What time is it,” he asked.

Holly glanced over at the bedside table and looked at the clock. “Just after seven."

He grunted in reply and snuggled in closer to her.

They'd spent their last day together locked in each other's arms. Her body was sore, her lips still felt swollen from his kisses, and she'd give anything for it to last one more day.

She closed her eyes, replaying the last two weeks in her minds eye, and smiled at the memories.

What started out as a ruined vacation with her best friend not showing up ended with something she never expected. She'd spent two weeks with a rock star. Two weeks of having him serenade her with his words and songs. Two weeks of pure bliss at the end of his talented hands and body. Two weeks and he took something from her she'd never be able to get back.

Her heart.

Holly sighed and pulled herself out of his arms, grabbing her robe, and making her way to the stairs. She knew he was watching her and she wanted nothing more in that moment to run back to the bed and lose herself in him.

She hurried to the bathroom, showered, and tried not to think about it. She had to leave. She had to leave him and for the first time in her life, she wished she could follow her heart and stay.

Her hand was on the bathroom door and she leaned her head against it. Her heart felt heavy, her soul weeping for something it couldn't have, and she closed her eyes as the first tear slipped down her cheek.

Devin turned to look at her when she walked back into the living room. She'd spent close to an hour in the bathroom, doing what he didn't know. She was dressed, her hair falling in long waves over her shoulders. He'd had her in every way imaginable, every position known to man, and he still wanted her.

He smiled when she looked over at him. It was nearly nine already. Their time almost up.

"Do you have everything?"

She nodded her head, looking away from him before walking to her bags by the door. She placed the last of her things inside one of them and straightened, looking over at him.

"I think that's all of it,” she said.

She stared at him and he saw her eyes grow glassy before she looked away. He was across the room and folding her in his arms a second later.

She clung to him, burying her face in his chest and he inhaled the scent of her. “You don't have to go."

"What?” she said, lifting her head.

Tears pooled in her eyes and it broke his heart. “I'm here for another two weeks. Stay with me, Holly."

She smiled, raising her arms and wrapping them around his neck. She kissed him, devoured him to the point he couldn't think before she broke the kiss.

"I can't,” she said. “I have a job ... a life I have to get back to."

Devin nodded his head, watching her face, and cringed when he heard a horn blow. The shuttle was there.

They didn't speak again until her things were packed into the van.

"So, this is it,” he said.

"Yeah, I guess so."

She smiled at him, raising up on her tiptoes and planted a soft kiss on his lips. He held her to him, breathed in her scent, and wondered if she'd think less of him if he begged her to stay.

The driver cleared his throat and she pulled away, smiling up at him before turning and climbing into the van. He stood by the door, watching her hook her seatbelt with a flurry of questions running through his head.

"Would you think me foolish if I asked for your number?"

She grinned. “No, but its highly apparent your phone is a piece of shit. There's no way you'd be able to call across country on that thing."

He laughed and leaned forward. “True, but I get better reception in New York."

She raised her hand and cupped his cheek. “If I give you my number and you never call, I'll live out the rest of my life wondering why."

"What makes you think I won't?"

"What makes me think you will?"

She sighed, leaning forward and kissed him softly. “If you really want to talk to me, you'll find a way. You're a famous rock star. You have people, right?"

He laughed. “Yeah, I have people."

"Well, have your people call my people."

She laughed, tugged on the door, and was gone a minute later. Devin watched the van pull down the pebbled drive until it was out of sight.

He turned and walked back to the cabin. Her absence was felt immediately. The room seemed bare. Without her, it seemed less vibrant. The colors adoring the furnishing, dull.

She'd told him she was forgettable. That he'd forget her before he had to go back to New York. She was wrong. He'd never forget her. She gave him something he'd never had. Peace.

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"Drama, drama, drama.” Roxy turned her head, one eyebrow raised. “Where's the comedy? The horror? Did you not get anything but sappy romance flicks?"

Holly grinned, picking up the popcorn bowl and carrying it to the living room. “You told me you didn't care what we watched as long as it wasn't a teen movie."

"Yeah, but I was thinking a little blood and guts, maybe some fake laugh tracks. All you got was shit that will make me cry like a bitch and show my vulnerable side."

"And that would be so horrible,” Holly laughed. She settled on the couch, grabbing the remote as Roxy sorted through the movies she'd rented.

"Yeah well, you really need to get over this funk you've been in. You're starting to depress
me
."

She knew her choice of movies may raise suspicions with Roxy, but so far her friend hadn't said anything about her mood as of late ... and neither had she.

It had been two months since her vacation and she couldn't seem to shake her melancholy mood. Roxy had tried endlessly to find out what was wrong but every time Holly tried to tell her, she chickened out.

She'd yet to tell a soul about Devin. Why, she didn't know, beyond the fact no one would believe her.

Stranded for two weeks with a gorgeous rock star? What were the odds?

Flipping on the television, Holly watched the screen with disinterest as Roxy shuffled through the movies, trying to decide which to watch first.

Music Today
blasted its theme music as the show reviewed the episode's content. She barely listened but the minute the words, “The boys of
Wicked
will be joining us live in the studio,” reached her ears, her heart started racing.

Roxy's scream nearly deafened her. “Do not turn that!"

Holly forced a smile on her face and laid the remote down, trying to get her heart to stop racing. She was going to see Devin. After two months, she was going to see the man she couldn't stop thinking about. The man she couldn't stop dreaming about. Her palms started sweating instantly.

Roxy joined her on the sofa, forgetting the videos, and settled back into the cushions with a huge grin on her face. She glanced over at her, wondering what her friend would say if she just told her what had happened in the mountains. Would
she
believe her? Her best friend? Probably not.

Twenty minutes of music video clips, followed by random bits of news from the music industry, finally led to the segment they'd both been waiting for. The band was introduced and Holly forgot to breathe.

One minute she only had her memories to tell her what he looked like, the next, there he was, just as beautiful as she remembered.

His hair was still short, the ends standing up in various directions. A white t-shirt covered the muscles she'd licked countless times and her stomach ached at the memories. He smiled, looking into the camera, and for a split second she imagined that smile was just for her.

The members of the band sat down, each lounging back in their chairs as the interviewer started to talk.

"Welcome to
Music Today
,” the host said. “With us in the studio today is Luke, Mick, Christian and Devin, the four members of the band,
Wicked
. It's great to have you guys with us. Tell us a little about your upcoming tour."

Holly heard them talking but her attention never strayed from Devin. He sat there, staring at his shoes, and seemed completely disinterested in what was going on around him. He'd look up periodically, run his hand through his hair, and sigh as if he were completely bored. He'd yet to say a word and she worried her lip, waiting for him to say something.

When the interviewer asked the guys if there was someone special in their lives, Holly's heart nearly stopped. Of all the things to learn, that wasn't what she wanted to know.

Well, that was a lie. She did want to know. She just didn't think she could handle the truth.

They each answered in turn, Roxy giving another small “whoop” when Luke said he was currently unattached but looking. Her friend's crush on the guitarist was obvious and Roxy wasted no time saying when the band came to town, they'd both have front row tickets.

When the camera zoomed in on Devin, he didn't say anything for long minutes. She wasn't sure if his silence eased her mind because he hadn't moved on or scared her more for the possibility that he had.

"And what about you, Devin. I'm sure all of your female fans want to know if they still have a chance."

When he looked up at the camera, Holly held her breath.

He smiled, that beautiful glow covering his face before Holly saw him sigh. Her world came crashing down around her in the next instant.

"There is someone, actually,” he said.

She closed her eyes, the words stinging unlike anything she'd felt in ages. The words rang through her head, the image of him with someone else causing a slow ache to replace the rapidly beating pulse of her heart.

Roxy shifted on the couch and Holly glanced over at her. She was leaning forward, her attention obviously on Luke.

Her friend looked completely content, staring at her crush with nothing but happy thoughts running through her head. It wasn't fair. She almost hated her for it.

"Of all the guys you're the only one with a girlfriend,” the host said. “How does that work out with the tour schedule?"

Devin grinned. “I wouldn't call her a girlfriend, exactly."

Holly forced herself to look back at the television. Tears clouded her eyes and she blinked repeatedly to try and clear them. It would be hard to explain them to Roxy if she saw.

She inhaled deeply, filling her lungs and tried to calm her raging emotions.

"What would you call her then?"

"I'm not sure. I haven't spoken to her in months,” Devin said. “I'm not even sure where she is."

That got Holly's attention. She leaned forward, her pulse quickening until she felt dizzy. She waited for him to explain, trying to not get worked up over the possibility that he was referring to her.

When the host asked him who this mysterious girl was, every thing around her faded away. There was nothing left but Devin. She waited, the silence in the room deafening until he finally spoke.

"Her name is, Holly."

The words screamed through her head, her pulse beating inside her skin and she couldn't breathe. Her hands shook, the tears in her eyes blurring her vision, and she smiled when Roxy laughed and said, “Hey Holl ... he wants you."

"So, Holly is the lucky lady,” the host grinned. “Why is it you haven't been able to see her?"

Devin retold their first meeting amongst the laughs and hoots of his band mates. She smiled as he told how much she loathed him, trying to kick him out of her cabin, and she was laughing out loud when he said she finally couldn't resist him and had her wicked way with him.

She glanced at Roxy; her friend stared at her quizzically, opened her mouth to speak, but shut it before looking at the television.

"She wouldn't give me her number,” Devin laughed. “Told me to have my people find her but
my people
aren't interested in my love life."

"So, you haven't seen or talked to her since?"

"No,” he said.

"Well, this show is seen by millions. The possibility of her watching is there. Is there anything you'd like to say to her in case she is?"

He looked back at his shoes and Holly clamped her shaking hands between her knees. She saw Roxy glance at her out of the corner of her eye but her friend didn't say anything, just turned back to the television.

"Yeah. I would,” Devin said. He looked up at the camera before a tiny smile lifted the corners of his mouth. “Holly, if you're watching, I'd like you to know you were wrong. I can't stop thinking about you. Everything I see or do reminds me of you. I wrote an entire album, just thinking of you. You weren't as forgettable as you would have me believe ... I miss you."

Holly wasn't sure how she even managed to dial the number between Roxy's rapid-fire questions and watching Devin on the screen. Telephone information gave her the number for the studio and within minutes, she'd told the person who answered who she was and was put on hold.

The host looked off screen and smiled at someone before turning back to the guys. “Apparently someone claiming to be Holly is on the phone,” he said. “Holly you're live with
Music Today
. What would you like to say?"

Holly stared at Devin on the screen, a hopeful look filling his eyes as he sat up in his seat. She opened her mouth ... and nothing came out.