I nod, feeling dangerously emotional—but isn’t that what Mackenna and Magnolia do? Bring out the gooey stuffing in me that nobody else can see? With infinite tenderness, I kiss her temple. “Yes, I did. I fell in love with him. And before he was even a real rockstar, he was my rockstar.”

“You’re my rockstar,” she says, grinning.

“And you’re my Magnificent.”

TWENTY-ONE

ROCKSTAR IN WAITING

Mackenna

I’m in makeup. Sitting in a stupid chair, playing with a lighter while Clarissa, my makeup and hair artist, draws kohl under my eyes.

“Let’s go with a streaked white-and-silver wig today, to match your eyes,” she says. “It’ll make the black leather jacket and pants pop more.”

“Not wearing a wig today.”

“Oh?”

“Yeah, don’t feel like role-playing today.” I ease the wig off my head and curl a hand around my skull. With my eyes kohl-darkened, the silver of my irises is brilliant in the mirror. My diamond earring glints. I feel like kicking ass, but I also feel like there’s a girl out there in this world kicking my ass.

And I still don’t know if she’s coming.

She looked away when she said she would. A sure sign she’s lying.

But fuck, I can’t think about that now.

On the outside, she’s a bluffer—she always has been. But I know the girl within. I fucking know what she hides. A heart big as an ocean.

A heart that says, Mackenna. Fucking. Jones.

“So, Leo said you asked him to get in touch with her?” Lex asks from his seat, getting his makeup done as well.

“She’s not answering her phone.” I flick the lighter and watch the flame, then let it die before flicking it on again.

“Think she’ll be here? Kind of boring without her now.”

“She’ll be here,” I lie. At least I have to pretend she will be, because when I go out there tonight to sing my new song, it’s her I want to be listening. Please just come to my damn concert, Pink, and then we’ll figure out what to do with you and me . . .

I swear, this girl has done a number on me my whole life. When I was sure she loved me, she ditched me. When I was sure she wanted nothing to do with me, she comes to my concert and sends a bunch of tomatoes flying at me.

I sure as fuck don’t know what to expect of her, but I know I’m not a seventeen-year-old without a future anymore. I’m Mackenna fucking Jones, and I’m going to damn well have her if I want her.

And I want her, all right.

I’m restless, tired, wired, but most of all, I’m craving the taste of her. The feel of her. I need to get her in my bed, where she protests less, and keep her dazed. Dazed from her orgasms. I need to strip her of her clothes and her bravado until she’s trembling in my arms. Until she forgets to curse and tease me because she’s so busy moaning for me to fuck her harder.

I can’t deny she’s the best sex I’ve ever had.

But it’s not just because she’s a fucking goddess, because she is. A dark Medusa, I’m under her spell, and all I want is to be in her. And I love being in her because I love her.

The way she smells.

The way she smiles like she doesn’t want to but can’t help it.

The way she kisses with all that angry passion inside her.

The way she goes to pudding in my arms, but as soon as we’re done puts up her bitch act just to bring out my asshole, and force him to give her bitch another tumble . . .

She’s been giving herself physically, but that’s not enough for me anymore. I can grind against her, force her to take every inch of my dick. I can grasp her arms by the wrists, keep her pinned, and make her cunt devour me.

And still it won’t be enough.

I think about it happening. How the scene will play out. What I’ll do to her. What she’ll do to me . . .

“Kenna,” she’ll moan. And she won’t be any hotter than she is, because she can’t be. Because she’s perfect.

And still, I’ll want to hear the words.

I won’t be gentle with her, but I don’t think she’ll want me to be. I’ll suck, lick, feel her twist with desire, the ripples of her body around mine.

She’ll tremble as I suck her tit, trembling still as I spread her thighs apart. She’ll thrash under me, rocking up to my body the way she does—greedy, hungry, like she’ll fall apart if she doesn’t get me in her. Like my dick is all that holds her together. Her nipples will grow red and puckered from my kisses, and I’ll give them a rest and go to her mouth, until she’s flushed and gasping too. Saying it.

Saying what I have been dying, for years, to hear.

I will watch her lips form the words.

Three. Only three.

Because I’ll still want them.

Her lovely face, pure white in the dark. Those rounded shoulders, plump breasts, her perfect ass, and hot, wet, delicious pussy lips. All of that, mine for the taking as she says,

“I love you . . .”

And when that happens, I’ll hold her in place. She’ll toss her head as I hold her immobile, and there’s no way she won’t know who’s taking who. Her nails will rake into my back as I dive into her heat, telling her again and again that I feel the same way. That she’s the only one for me. Showing her with my hands, my lips, my body, she’s the one for me.

“What are you doing if she comes?” Lex presses, snapping me back to the dressing room. I toss the lighter aside and rise to my feet as I slide my bare arms into my leather jacket.