The Complete Groupie Trilogy (41 page)

I empathized with him greatly.

But it was hard to stay truly unhappy when I felt Vanni stir under me, opening his eyes to see me curled up against him like a contented cat. He touched my face tenderly. “That’s some shiner you have, babe.”

I wanted to hide my face but there was no point. I just wra
pped myself around him tighter.

“I’m sorry,” he said again as he pulled me close against him. “I should have listened to you a year ago.”

“It’s over now,” I murmured as I reached for a kiss. It was the only true salve for my spirit.

He responded eagerly to me, and we came together once again with the explosive brilliance of a supernova. By the time we fell back against the bed we were out of breath and shaking from the exertion. We opted for room service, which he ordered while I showered.

My eye was purple from where one of Talia’s punches landed, and my lip was swollen with an ugly cut from where it had split. I sighed. There was no makeup to hide this damage. Thankfully I had packed some dark sunglasses and hats so I could camouflage some of my injuries.

I could tell by the way Vanni’s eyes moved over my face he felt like a complete shit about what had happened, but even though it hurt I was glad things happened the way that they did. Maybe now that the authorities would be involved she could get the help she needed, especially now that her behavior had escalated to violence.

We disembarked to handle that distasteful business early. She would be deported back to the states and was not allowed back on the ship. Graham was notified and briefed, but it was the look on his face when he finally saw me that brought it home how violent the situation had become.

His jaw clenched as he surveyed the damage, but he kept his anger under control. He instead touched my shoulder and
asked if he could do anything.

“I’ve got it under control, boss,” Vanni assured as he put his arm around me. It was a territorial gesture, and I couldn’t look Graham in the eye because I knew he would be able to tell that our relationship was no longer platonic.

My insistence I didn’t want to get involved with anyone now rang like a hollow excuse in my own ears, I could only imagine what he was thinking.

Regardless of what he may have surmised of the situation he remained cordial and professional when we talked later that afternoon as we prepared for the final f
an event for DIB on the cruise.

For some reason Vanni had decided that this cruise was the time for him to be cozy with me even when we were in public. Aside from any overt public displays of affection, he was definitely at my side at every opportunity, especially if I were anywhere near Graham.

This made things particularly awkward at dinner, when we all sat at the same table. I may have been imagining it but it seemed that the more sour Graham became the more triumphant Vanni appeared. He was quick with the innuendo and the sexy smirk in my direction every time any comment could venture down double entendre territory.

Every glance I stole at Graham indicated he was growing more and more furious with each passing moment. His jaw had clenched tight and he barely spoke, and
he ceased looking at me at all.

I didn’t know whether to be relieved or annoyed when Vanni finally rose from the table and held out a hand to me. He led me to the dance floor and held me closer than he normally would. We were able to dance uninterrupted for about two minutes before some fans decided to cut in. I nodded my consent and blended back in with the crowd right on the edge of the action. Though he danced with the two girls, he didn’t behave inappropriately. He laughed and spun them around, but whenever they tried to get close he would deftly add some
personal space in between them.

I guess if there could be any good that had come from Tawnie and Talia it was that Vanni now understood he couldn’t play with fire. I wore the physical evidence of that on my face.

“Care to dance?”

I turned to see Graham standing behind me. His eyes were darker than normal, and though his countenance was still stiff from annoyance I knew he was directing it primarily at Vanni rather than me.

I nodded and took his hand onto the dance floor. With more force than he normally displayed he grabbed me to him with one arm until I was molded against the hard lines of his body. The sheer power he demonstrated took my breath away and my wide eyes met his. He didn’t say anything. His eyes locked on my mouth as he spun me around the floor.

I was too afraid to look for Vanni and see his reaction. Instead I stayed focused on Graham’s face, which was rigid with intention. His fingers dug purposefully in my back and down toward my hip. I gasped as his palm dipped lower to cup my ass firmly before he spun me away. I stumbled right into Vanni’s embrace, whose scowl indicated he was not amused by what he had seen.

Vanni pulled me back into his arms, guided my arms around his neck and ground purposely against me.

My head was spinning. Never before had I had two men fight for me, much less so publicly. I whispered in Vanni’s ear, “Let’s get out of here.”

His voice was low. “My thoughts exactly,” he muttered as he grabbed my hand and practically drug me from the dance floor and out onto the deck.

I gulped the fresh night air and we
nt immediately toward the rail.

“What the hell was that?” Vanni wanted to know.

“You tell me,” I countered.

He put an arm on either side of me, grasping the rail behind me. “Tell me again nothing happened with Graham.”

“I’ll tell you myself,” we heard from behind. Vanni spun around to see his boss standing right behind him. “Andy and I have never made love,” he affirmed. “I wanted to but she couldn’t. I would assume that has everything to do with you.” He paused as he crossed his arms in front of his chest. “It’s just a damn shame you don’t feel likewise about her. Where is Kat again?”

“Listen, Graham,” Vanni started, much too annoyed to be intimidated. “What happens between me and the women in my life is none of your concern. This is my personal life, it’s not business.”

“But it affects my business,” Graham said. “More than that it affects someone I care an awful lot about.” His eyes briefly lit upon me. “But Andy’s an adult. She can make her own decisions. Obviously she’s chosen you.” Graham took a step forward. “But when you look into her face and see those bruises, I want you to think about how they got there. And what role you had to play in it.” Then, quietly but firmly, “You make sure that you do everything in your power to keep her from getting hurt in the future. Because if you can’t, there are others who love her enough to protect her and treasure her the way she deserves to be.”

With that Graham spun on his heel and stalked off. Vanni turned to face me. “Looks like you have a white knight coming in trying to save you from me.” He looked at my cut lip and blackened eye. “Maybe you should go with him.”

“Then why do I want to stay with you?” I asked.

Vanni pulled me to him for a powerful embrace. “Same reason I can’t let yo
u go,” he whispered in my hair.

With that he led me back to my cabin, where he had already had all his things delive
red.

That night our union was more loving. It almost felt as though he was trying to prove he was worthy of me with his gentle worship of all my curves. My body came alive under his tender, sweet manipul
ations that lingered for hours.

If he was trying to drive Graham out of my head he only served putting put him there. Reverting to a gentleman reminded me of how Graham had touched me, and how awkward it had been when I had to run away.

Was I really trying to be faithful to another man who had never promised or asked for exclusivity? Or did I just think I wasn’t worth it?

I thought about to our dance that night, and how forceful he had been. If only he had been t
hat commanding when I was free.

If I had ever been free.

If I would ever be free again.

I tried not to think of what would happen in two days when we docked back in Fort Lauderdale. Vanni would return to L.A., to Kat, and I would return to Nashville where only S
imon would care if I came home.

With Vanni it was a bubble existence. We’d soar around in the air in a brilliant array of color but all too soon the bubble would pop and leave me even emptier than before. I’d dream of the next time, and then the next time; I’d live only for stolen moments like the one we were sharing now.

But it was what I wanted. To be with him, in his arms, feeling his body blended with mine. Knowing even if it could only be for that small window in time his heart belonged to me. I stuffed down all my concerns, locked away all my tears and saved all that for the inevitable lonely nights that were to come.

He responded to every plea, both verbal and non-verbal. By the time morning broke he had branded me in ways both tender and raw. We fought off reality with our lovemaking, as if we both knew it was too good to last.

Real life waited.

Graham didn’t say much when we saw him again; I think he could tell that I had made my decision. I knew it broke his heart to realize I’d rather choose a half-life with Vanni than a full life with him, but he accepted it with the same dignified grace I’d come to expect from him.

It only made me feel even worse.

That night, at our “prom,” Vanni was already disengaging from me to congregate with his other fans. He behaved, of course, but I could tell that he was relieved to be able to return somewhat to his original M.O. when it came to interacting
with the people who loved him.

He simply needed more. More than Kat. More than me.

Intellectually I knew that wasn’t my failure, but I felt lonely as I watched him dance with certain fans. He was giving them the night of a lifetime, some brief taste of the fantasy, with no promises for anything more.

It wasn’t that much different from what I got, when you think about it.

Graham finally approached me as the prom wound down. I had spent a good deal of time on the sidelines, and he finally took pity on me and asked me to dance. I thought briefly about turning him down but I couldn’t stand to see the wounded look in his eyes from yet another rejection.

It wasn’t his fault I was an idiot.

This time he was far gentler when he pulled me to him, reminding me of how he had always been, and how Vanni had tried to be the night before. The confusion must have marched across my face because he was quick to pounce on it. “Are you happy, Andy?”

“Of course,” I said automa
tically.

“And will you be happy in three days, when you’re alone? Because you know he won’t be.”

I sighed. “Graham…”

“I love you, Andy,” he said softly, earnestly. “I think I have since Vegas. You hit me like a thunderbolt and I’m ready to offer you everything. I can give you all of me. Can he do that?”

“No,” I answered honestly. “But I love him.”

He shook his head. “You need him. He’s like a drug to you. But deep down even you know he isn’t the one. You long for something he simply can’t give you, and you know eventually one day you’ll need more. When that day comes, I’ll be waiting.”

With that he reached down and kissed me. I was much too surprised to stop him.

When he lifted his head I saw Vanni staring at us from across the room. He looked as stunned as I felt, but there was something more. Something wounded. Something angry.

He turned and stalked from the dance floor, and I wrenched away from Graham to chase after him.

I kicked off my heels to run in bare feet all the way back to my cabin, where Vanni was throwing his bel
ongings back into his suitcase.

“Vanni,” I started and he twirled around to face me.

“You lied to me,” he said. “You both lied to me.”

I shook my head. “I never lied to you, I swear.”

“Then what was that?” he wanted to know. “You kissed him right there in front of me.”

“H
e kissed me,” I offered weakly.

“You didn’t stop him,” he hissed as
he turned back to his suitcase.

It dawned on me that his indignation was rather ironic, given that he actually had a girlfriend waiting for him at home. I stomped over to where he stood and grabbed his arm. “What difference does it make?” I demanded, suddenly as angry as he was. “Whose bed will you be sleeping in tomorrow?”

“Is that what this is about? Were you jealous I was dancing with those other girls?”

“If it’s not them it’ll just be someone else. I’ll never be enough for you.”

His face hardened. “Ditto.”

“Vanni…” I started but he interrupted me by grabbing my wrist and spinning me into his arms. His mouth crashed down on mine and he forced my lips apart with his tongue. He lifted me up like a rag doll and threw me on the bed, shoving his suitcase and all its contents off onto the floor as he climbe
d onto the bed to lean over me.

“You want to know what I need?” he growled as he pulled my wrists above my head with one large hand. I couldn’t say anything as I watch
ed his mouth descend onto mine.