We get back to his hotel, the penthouse suite no less. He really is a big deal now. I’m not surprised. His talent was always there; he just needed to drop the talent show label and be himself. I meet his manager, Martin, this one’s a good one. Not the scheming shitbag Grant was.
“It’s good to meet you, Drake. Rafe speaks highly of you. I know you have a past together, but I believe Rafe when he says you’re the best. Maybe we should’ve asked you from the start,” Martin says as he shakes my hand.
“It’s good to meet you too. I hope I don’t succumb to jet lag before you’ve filled me in. I left my very comfortable bed to be here, so what’s the deal?” I don’t miss the glances between Rafe and Martin, but it’s something that can be discussed later. I look at Rafe, who’s leaning against the floor to ceiling window, his arms crossed over his chest. “So, what is it you want from me, Rafe? Am I here as your bodyguard, or is there something you’re not telling me?”
It’s Martin who answers. “Bodyguard. All we want is to have Rafe protected. There’s been some very enthusiastic fans. That’s the best way to describe them.”
“We found one girl in my bed,” Rafe says. He’s holding back a laugh, but I don’t find that in any way funny.
“Are any of them dangerous? Have you had any threats made? Where the hell was your bodyguard when this happened?” It sounds like he needs a surveillance team too. Onethat can monitor his rooms when he’s not in them. “Jesus, Rafe. You could’ve been killed. You need a team, not just me.” I look up from my phone to look at Martin. “Where were you when all this went on?”
Rafe and Martin have a whispered argument, if the tension in Rafe’s jaw and his hands on his hips are anything to go by. “Are you two finished? There’s something else going on, so spill.”
Rafe turns to me, running his hands through his platinum blond hair, and sighs. “Can we do this later? I’ve got to get ready for my interview at a tv station, some evening chat show at midday. It’s not live, so it can often take a while to get it right.”
“Fine,” Martin snaps. “I’m going back to my room. Call me when you need me.”
I watch as he gives Rafe a final pointed look before leaving.
Not for the first time, I wonder what’s really going on.
Once we’re alone, he lets out another sigh. He really is very worried. I walk over to him and take his hands in mine. “Rafe, there’s something going on that you haven’t told me about. I know we’re not in the same circumstances we were, but I still think that being honest is important. Tell me what’s going on.”
He looks away from me to the incredible view of Central Park, worrying the corner of his lip with his top teeth. I pull his lip free, making him smile properly for the first time since he met me at the airport. He shakes his head, his eyes brimming with tears, and pulls his hands free from mine. “You’re going to be angry with me and probably book the next flight home. I won’t even hate you if you did.”
“I’m never going to hate you, Rafe. I’ll be pissed off if you’re keeping something important from me. Tell me.”
“I said no to a bodyguard when Martin suggested it. I never thought I’d need one, until the kid in my bed. I don’t trust anyone, not like I trust you. That’s why.”
“That’s why? What’s that even supposed to mean? I…I… Shit, Rafe. No bodyguard? You’re a bloody idiot. I would’ve come. I would’ve been your guard again.”
“You would hate being a part of this circus. It’s why we’re not together. You couldn’t do what’s expected of me, always moving, planes, tour buses. No privacy. People shoving cameras in your face. Having to smile even when you feel like shit. Are those enough reasons for you?” His voice is getting louder. “It’s not fun; it’s exhausting.”
“Then why are you doing it? You’ve made enough money,” I ask him softly, reaching out to touch him again. “Especially with this crap going on.”
“I don’t know anymore. Commitments, contracts probably.” He leans against me and lets out a long breath. “I don’t even Dom anymore.”
I think of Finn and all the ways I want him to play with my body, and guilt floods through me. I’ll ask Pops to tell him I had to go on a job. He’ll have to understand; if he doesn’t, then he’s not the man for me.
“Have you been back to the club since Rees?” He looks up at me, his cheek still on my chest.
“No,” I hesitate, but then decide Finn deserves to be mentioned. “I have met someone, a friend of one of my brothers. He’s a Dom, and I like him. I think we could be at the start of something.”
“And I’ve dragged you here. God, Drake, I’m so sorry. Look, I can get protection from any company.”
“We’re going to work it out. Not just this danger, but you too. I’m not leaving you behind, sweetheart. We can sort out all your contracts. There’s more to life than this.”
“You don’t like penthouse suites in the best hotel in New York? Boy, you’re hard to please.”
I chuckle, but I’m not happy with his cavalier attitude. “I would’ve come if you’d asked. So, no more brushing off how serious it is. That girl could’ve caused you so much trouble. Shouts of sexual assaults and that brings arrests and police stations, kind of trouble. We’re going to have that talk about why you’re doing this when you hate it, but not yet. First, I need to get you to wherever your interview is. Go get ready. I’ve got some calls to make.”
Rafe nods, but his lip is being brutalised again. Once he’s wandered off to his room, I dial Pops. It’s just after six o’clock, but he’ll be up. He’s an early riser.
“Drake, are you okay? We didn’t get to finish our conversation yesterday.”
God, that was yesterday. It feels like a week ago at least. “Yeah, well, I got a call for a job this morning.” I don’t tell him what time this morning or how quickly I jumped on it. “I’ll be away for a while, a couple of months, maybe three.”
“What about Finn?” His voice is tense, his words clipped. “Have you told him? And who’s so important that you rush off at stupid o’clock? Please don’t tell me it’s Rafe.” Pops is one of the few that know about us; he knows how wrecked I was when I was forced away from him.