"You should be. Don't you think you should have warned me what I was walking into last night, Dallas?" I demanded, turning to face her.

"No, because then you wouldn't have faced them. You would have just kicked his a.s.s out." She grimaced. "And you really needed to deal with your mom, Harp."

I glared at her for another long moment before sitting down beside her at the table. "I know. I stood up to her last night..."

Dallas's eyes widened and then she grinned. "Good. I'm glad. You should have done that years ago."

"You still should have told me," I grumbled under my breath before taking another swallow of my hot coffee.

"I swear it won't happen again." Dallas tossed her phone aside, giving me her full attention now. "So, how did it go? I know the rock star is here. I think the whole f.u.c.king building knows that he's here after this morning. Things couldn't have gone that badly."

For the next ten minutes I told her all about the evening before. Dallas listened intently while I filled her in on the disastrous dinner, the arrival of Emmie, and then getting home to find Shane had run the entire way. When I was done, because there really wasn't anything she needed to know about what came after, Dallas shook her head. "Sounds like he has it bad."

"He says he loves me," I confided.

"Yeah, I know. I see it in his eyes." Dallas gave me a small smile. "Apparently not all rockers are complete douchebags."

I raised a brow, wondering about her own rocker romance. "How are things with Axton? Have you spoken to him since the other night?"

Slim shoulders lifted in a shrug and she grimaced again, causing her Monroe piercing to lift with the motion. "He's called and left a few texts, but I'm not really worried about answering him back. He really isn't worth my time."

"So you don't know if he really hooked up with Gabriella at that party or not?"

Dallas stood and went to the fridge to take out a bottle of diet c.o.ke. "I know he did, so it doesn't matter. He loves her."

I didn't know what to think. I had seen Axton with Dallas only once, but I knew that he felt something stronger for her than just l.u.s.t. Still, she knew him better than I did, so I wasn't going to put my foot in it. If Dallas wanted to call it quits with Mr. Rock G.o.d, then that was her choice.

My phone buzzed with an email, and I glanced down at it to find it was from my new boss. I frowned as I read the doc.u.ment and then muttered a curse. "Well there goes my plans," I grumbled.

"What?"

"My boss wants me to handle a story that someone else refused to do." I stood, coffee in hand. "I don't care, but good grief. A little more than an hour's notice would've been nice."

Shane was just coming out of the bathroom when I entered my bedroom. He had a pair of basketball shorts on and nothing else as he used a towel to dry his hair. "You look grumpy."

I blew out a frustrated breath. "Yeah, I kind of am. I have to work. Guess we won't be going shopping after all."

Shane tossed the towel aside and reached for me. Dropping a tender kiss on my lips, he let his hands rub down my back and over my hips. Strong fingers gripped my a.s.s hard through my sleep shorts. "Don't be disappointed. I'll take care of everything, and we can do something tonight."

I smiled. "Yeah?"

"Yeah. We can't really go out to that kind of store, not without some tabloid picking up the story. I don't want you exposed to that s.h.i.t, so we will have to go a more discreet direction."

I was curious now. "How so?" I thought we would just find a local p.o.r.n shop and buy everything that looked like fun, but I was kind of clueless about what those things might be.

"Don't worry about it, beautiful. Just trust me to guide you." He kissed me, lingering for just a minute before stepping back. "Text me and let me know when you're finished and I'll pick you up. In the meantime I'll go check on Lana."

Curiosity ate at me all afternoon as I traveled uptown to the hotel where some band was staying today, and today only, before heading off for a three month long tour across the Midwest. The band proved to be difficult to question for the interview, but I somehow got through it and got some good pictures that I sent to my boss.

Shane texted me that he was on his way, and I started on the rough draft of my interview on my phone while I waited.

I had been sitting in the lobby awhile when a shadow appeared beside of me, and I raised my head to find the more difficult band member that I had just interviewed standing there watching me. It was a little unnerving, but I gave him a forced smile.

"Hi." I thought his name was Trey, but I couldn't be sure. He and the other band members of Drunken Monkeys had spent more time making s.e.xual comments than answering the questions my boss had requested I ask.

"I was hoping you hadn't gone far."

I shrugged. "Nope, I'm waiting on my boyfriend to pick me up." I put a little more emphasis on the word boyfriend, hoping the jerk would take the hint and go away. He really gave me the creeps, even if he was kind of hot. Something in his hazel eyes just didn't set right with me.

There was an empty chair beside of me and Trey took it. He sat on the edge, leaning closer toward me as he spoke. "How about coming upstairs with me for a few hours? I really want to see what is under that cute little skirt."

"And I'm really trying hard not to puke." I glared at him. "Let's see who succeeds first, a.s.shole."

A big, slightly beefy hand reached over and rubbed over my knee before I could move. "Don't play hard to get, pretty girl. You know I'm a sure thing."

I felt bile rise in the back of my throat as his hand touched my skin. Without thinking about it, I picked my keys and lifted the little can of Mace. One, two, three...

Trey, the Drunken Monkey screamed as the Mace entered his eyes. Jumping up, rubbing at his face, he started calling me all kinds of vile names. I tried not to laugh at him, really, I did. He was used to getting any girl to fall into bed with him and it had gone to his head. My first rejection must have sounded like a hard to get line, but my second more forceful rejection was hard to take in.

"What the h.e.l.l is going on here?" A deep voice that never failed to send shivers through me had me raising my head.

The can of Mace was still in my hand. When Shane saw it and put that together with the reaction of the hurting rocker, his entire expression changed to something I had never seen before. And I hoped I never saw it again. His face contorted with a spasm of rage, and the next thing I knew Trey was lying on the floor of a five star hotel. He was no longer screaming in pain because Shane had knocked his a.s.s out.

"You f.u.c.king a.s.shole!" Shane yelled in the unconscious man's face. "Touch my girl again and I will break your f.u.c.king neck!"

He was shaking with rage, his face so red it was almost purple. I jumped up and grabbed his arm, afraid he would start kicking the other man.

"Hey, hey." I forced him to turn and face me. When my arms went around him, I could actually feel the rage fading a little. "It's okay. Nothing happened."

"Something obviously happened or you wouldn't have had to protect yourself!" Shane growled. "f.u.c.k this, you are not going to any more interviews unless I'm with you."

I wanted to argue, but knew now-while he was still vibrating with anger-was not the right time. So I let it go for the moment.

On the floor, Trey groaned as he slowly came around. I turned so I was standing between him and Shane.

"What happened?" he mumbled as he glanced around. When his gaze focused on Shane, he blinked, his eyes obviously still stinging from the Mace. "Stevenson?"

"Yup." Shane's arms wrapped around my waist, staking his claim. "Stay the f.u.c.k away from my girl."

Trey muttered a curse. "I didn't know she was your girl, f.u.c.ker. And really? You have a steady girl?" His gaze traveled to me and over my body almost leeringly. "Not that I can question your taste." But then he wiped his hands over his eyes. They were watering from the reaction to the chemical. "f.u.c.k, this hurts!"

Because the lobby was off to the side of the hotel entrance, no one had noticed our confrontation. But with Trey continuing to curse it drew the attention of the manager and a few others. The manager, an older man with almost completely gray hair, stepped forward. "Is there a problem here?"

Shane turned to face the man. "The guy has something in his eyes," he informed the manager with a face that was like stone it was so hard. "He may need medical attention."

I glanced down at the other rocker. His face was red, the burn from the Mace affecting the skin around his eyes as well. I bit my lip, feeling sorry for the guy now.

"This doesn't look good at all," the manager commented when he crouched down to take a better look at the guy's eyes. "What happened, sir?"

I waited for the Drunken Monkey to tell the older man that I had a.s.saulted him. I had a sudden fear that the cops were going to be called and I'd be arrested for spraying Trey with my Mace. Instead, he grumbled something about being stupid and left it at that.

Shane tightened his hold on my waist and urged me to move away from the group that was now forming around us. When we where outside in front of the hotel, he pulled me against him and kissed me hard. "I don't think I like your job anymore."

I gave me a small smile. "It's not so bad," I a.s.sured him. "And I carry my Mace for things like this."

"I'm buying you a Taser. You can fry the next guy's a.s.s. Not that I see this happening again. No one will touch you when I'm with you."

I bit my tongue to keep from arguing with him but couldn't help but smile at how protecting and possessive he was.

Shane I was still shaking a little by the time the taxi pulled to a stop in front of Sensual House. I couldn't get the thought of some guy trying to manhandle Harper out of my mind, and the more I thought about it, the more p.i.s.sed I got. But my girl sure had shown some b.a.l.l.s today.

I knew Trey from way back when Demon's Wings had first gotten started. He and the other Drunken Monkeys were hard-core, worse than Demon's Wings or even OtherWorld when it came to causing trouble and partying. There had even been a rumor a few years before that their drummer had raped an underage girl after one of their concerts. And I wasn't all that sure it was just a rumor.

So it was little wonder why I was so torn up over Harper's ordeal. But with her holding on to me the entire taxi ride, I was beginning to feel calmer. Simply having her hand on my arm was enough to ground me.

I paid the driver and then pulled her out with me. She frowned up at the huge brownstone building. It looked like any other place in the city and in beautiful condition on the outside with a nondescript look that was completely misleading to the business that was housed inside. Sensual House was one of several s.e.x clubs that were located in New York. It catered to every possible s.e.x fetish known to man, and some that weren't even invented yet.

I hadn't ever been to Sensual House before and knew that it was a more couple oriented place than what I usually went for. While most clubs catered to casual s.e.x, Sensual House was exclusively for couples, couples that were experimenting or just needed to spice up their s.e.x life. A place where both partners could feel safe and secure with the added anonymity.

When Harper had asked for toys to experiment with, I had known this was the place for us.

"Where are we?" she asked as she continued to stare up at the brownstone.

I didn't answer but pulled her up the steps and rang the doorbell. A woman answered the door with an air of professionalism to her. "Yes?"

"Shane Stevenson." I had called ahead to make arrangements for everything I wanted and needed for Harper's first time. My name and the pa.s.sword that each client was given was my key inside. "Red room."

The woman tilted her head and stepped back to let us enter. The foyer was typical of any business, clean and stylish in decor. Harper remained quiet beside me as the woman closed the door behind us. "Welcome to Sensual House, Mr. Stevenson. Your room is already prepared. My name is Yvonne. Should you and your lovely guest need anything, please use your in-room phone and we will be happy to a.s.sist you in any way."

I took the key that she offered and lead Harper upstairs. When we reached our room, I pulled her inside and finally explained where we were. Her eyes widened. A part of me had been worried that this would freak her out; that this wasn't something that she would go for. But as the surprise started to fade, I could see the hunger filling those violet eyes I loved so much.

Harper I'll be honest, the whole s.e.x club thing had really thrown me. But when I realized what Sensual House was about, I relaxed a little. I knew that Shane only wanted to make me feel safe and didn't want to break my trust. Oddly enough, he had set me at ease because as excited as I'd been, I'd also been scared.

The room we were in was just like something out of an erotic novel. Red walls with crimson decor. The four post king sized bed had actual silk sheets, and of course they were red as well. Pillows in red and black were stacked against the head board while rose petals-red rose petals-were scattered across the sheets.

And on a long table covered in a satin cloth, toys of every shape and form were ready to be played with. My nerves returned as I crossed over to them and touched one after another. I was completely naive and knew absolutely nothing about any of these objects and could only take a guess what each did.

Strong arms wrapped around my waist from behind. Shane's hard chest was warm against my back. A breath shuddered from him, and I realized he was just as nervous as I was. That calmed all of my nervousness and I turned in his arms.

"Say something."

I smiled. "Thank you. This is perfect."

His eyes were searching mine, seeking rea.s.surance that I was really okay with all of this. "Are you sure? We can leave right now and we can do this however you want, whenever you want."

"No. I think this is going to be fun. Besides, I trust you."

Relief flashed across his handsome face, and he kissed me long and hard. No matter how many times Shane kissed me, I would never be ready for how intoxicating his taste was. How just the skim of his tongue over my bottom lip sent a shiver down my spine and made my s.e.x flood with desire. He took my breath away and left me aching with just a simple kiss.

Almost reluctantly he stepped back. "There is lingerie in the closet. I ordered a few that you can choose from. Pick what you want and model it for me."

There were three different sets of lingerie to choose from: a red and black lace chemise set that came with fishnet thigh highs and a garter belt; a crimson skirtini set that came with silk stockings; and a black satin peek-a-boo bra and thong set.

Pulling the skirtini set out, I went into the bathroom to change. The bathroom was gigantic. A walk-in shower was right next to a clawfoot tub that was easily big enough for two. A floor length mirror was on the wall in front of the shower, and I could easily imagine Shane making love to me in the shower while I watched in that mirror.

That image alone had me panting a little as I stripped of my simple black skirt and white top. The skirtini was cute, and I loved the feel of the silk stockings on my skin as I slid them over my legs. When I had dressed in the lingerie, I turned to get a glance of myself.

For the first time in my life, I thought I could actually see what Shane claimed he saw every time he looked at me. I might not be beautiful, but right in this moment I looked s.e.xy as h.e.l.l.

Smiling, I left the bathroom to find Shane sitting on the edge of the big crimson bed. He was actually wearing boxers, and that made me pause for a moment. My man looked really good in the masculine underwear.

He held his hand out for me, and I eagerly crossed over to him and placed my hand in his. Blue-gray eyes were eating me alive as they traveled from the top of my head to the tip of my silk stocking covered feet. A gentle tug and I was pulled across his chest as he fell back onto the bed.

"I love you so much, Harper."

"I love you too." It felt good to tell him. My heart felt lighter for having told him those magically powerful words. "Better not break my heart, mister," I gently teased, even as I was praying that he never would.

"I won't. Your heart is safe with me," he promised.

With a smile I brushed a kiss over his lips.

It was so crazy how one little kiss could light a spark that led to such a huge explosion. Shane stood and pulled his boxers down his powerful thighs. I licked my lips as his d.i.c.k sprang free and lifted toward his stomach. I had come to learn the three stages of Shane's need for me: hard, harder, hardest. At the moment he was definitely reaching the hardest, and I grew wet when I saw the tip of his d.i.c.k weeping for me.

"Did you see anything you wanted to try first?" His voice was all throaty, a sure sign that he was just as needy for me as I was for him.

I blushed and nodded. Shane smiled down at me tenderly. "Which one?"

I pointed toward the first toy, the one that had caught my attention the most. It was odd looking, as they all were, but this one looked the safest. Shane tilted his head and turned toward the large, unopened bottle of lubricant. I was in awe as he put a few squirts into his hands and rubbed them over his straining d.i.c.k. He stilled for a moment as his rough fingers stroked over his sensitive flesh, and I realized that he still had that hang up despite our healing lovemaking that morning.

When his d.i.c.k was shiny with the lubricant, he reached for the toy and slipped the ring part down over his shaft. He had to stretch it wide to fit, but when it was in place he looked nearly twice as big as he hand moments ago. My mouth went dry and my s.e.x grew wetter. I had to squeeze my thighs together to ease some of the ache that was starting to consume me.

Shane squirted a small amount of the lubricant into his hand and came back to the bed. As he reached me, I caught the scent of the lubricant. "Lemon?" I said with a grin.

"Our favorite." He winked as he climbed onto the huge bed on his knees. The lubricant was room temperature, but my body was on fire so it felt a little chilly as he rubbed the thick liquid over my c.l.i.t through the crotchless skirtini. "Don't want you to get friction burn, beautiful."

I moaned as his fingers lingered, warming the lubricant as he ma.s.saged it into my aching flesh. As good as this felt, I was ready to tell him to forget the toys. All I wanted was him. But before I could open my mouth, he leaned over me and kissed me. My thighs spread wider for him, and I whimpered as the tip of his slick d.i.c.k slipped into me.

Nipping at my lip, keeping me distracted while he reached between us and pressed a b.u.t.ton at the same time, he slipped completely into me. My finger nails dug into his back at the first feel of the vibrations on my c.l.i.t. The sensation felt so good, so amazing, that it scared me for a moment. Shane didn't move as he let me become accustomed to the feel of the little vibrator that had pleasure nubs rubbing over my aching c.l.i.t.

"Do you like this?" he asked in that desire roughened voice that never failed to send shivers down my spine.

"Y-yes. Oh, yes!" I gasped when he moved, causing the vibrator to glide across my c.l.i.t while he gently thrust deep. "Oh, oh, I like this."

"f.u.c.k, baby!" He buried his face in my neck. "Watching you like this is killing me! Come for me, so I can empty into you. I swear I will do it all over again. As many times as you want. Just please come with me now."

His words shattered me. My nails sc.r.a.ped across his back as my inner muscles clenched around his thick arousal. I felt the first hot, thick jet of his release and convulsed around him.

"AHHHHH!" I cried, coming apart for him harder than I could ever remember doing before.