Octavia's Choice [The Klawinken 2] (Siren Publishing Classic) (4 page)

“Hey there.”

Octavia looked up from the table and her quest for water to see a young man now standing between her and Katie. “You two met Naked Dreamer yet?”

“No, not yet,” Katie yelled to be heard over the crowd of people that were surrounding them. “Have you?”

“Yeah, they’re not in this room. You have to go through that door over there.” He pointed to their right. “As long as you have ‘all access’ passes, you can get in no problem. I got the right passes.”

“I thought everybody here had those
kinds
of passes,” Katie leaned into the conversation, showing the young man her passes that said “all access.”

“No, most of these people just get the backstage passes. They cost a lot less and most of the time you get to meet the band anyway.”

“Thanks,” Octavia said, pulling Katie with her in the direction the guy had pointed. “This place is crazy. We better meet the band now, and then we’ll get out of here.”

Katie knocked on the door and showed their passes to the woman who stood looking at them with skepticism. Finally accepting that they were real, she motioned them inside and closed the door behind them. Octavia stopped short. It wasn’t like they had just left one room for another. It was like they had walked into another world. The room was decorated like a cozy living room, the lights were dim, and the people inside were chatting quietly. The woman who had let them in, ushered them over to where Tobias Morgan sat with a group of people, a bottle of water held to his lips. He had changed from his stage clothes and now wore a black T-shirt and a pair of what looked like more comfortable jeans and boots. Octavia watched his Adam’s apple as he drank from the water bottle.

He was exactly as she had dreamed him, down to the mole above his left eyebrow. She walked closer to where he was sitting, staring at him, not believing he was so close. She began to feel tingly, even a bit light-headed when she felt herself swaying forward slightly. Realizing she about to lose her balance, she tried to pull back, but not before she tumbled forward, gathering momentum that propelled her directly onto the lap of the man whose arms had held her in her dreams. Those same arms now encircled her, his water bottle bouncing off the sofa and onto the floor.

It seemed an eternity that her world was suspended. Then laughter erupted from around her. She looked up into dark eyes that were gazing down at her with amusement.

“I’m so sorry,” she said, struggling to bring herself upright even though she still felt somewhat faint. Feeling his arms around her was not helping her to regain her sense of time and place. Everything seemed surreal.

“Are you?”

“Darling.” The same woman she had seen him with on television materialized at his side. “An overzealous fan, no doubt. How do you stand it?”

Octavia looked into exotic eyes that looked back into hers with such hatred she felt as if she had been physically assaulted. The woman looked vaguely familiar. She trembled. Tobias arms tightened around her.

“Just relax. You’re going to be fine,” his velvety smooth voice crooned to her. “Kalinda always reacts this way when a beautiful woman falls into my lap.”

“She’s not your type.” Kalinda’s arm snaked around his shoulder. “She’s only a child, and we both know that you need a woman who understands your needs.”

Octavia felt Tobias’s body stiffen. “I told you not to come here tonight. You should have listened to me.”

“What, and not watch you perform, darling? You know how it turns me on, and I know I much you need what only I can give you, especially after a performance like tonight,” she said with a pout, her voice low so that only they could hear.

“Kalinda, I’m warning you, back off.”

Kalinda removed her arm. The look she gave Octavia was cold and filled with anger. She started to pull her long hair away from her neck when Tobias locked eyes with hers, “Don’t even think about it,” he said sharply.

She dropped her hand. “You can’t really believe she’s…”

“Mr. Morgan,” the guard who had opened the door for her and Katie interrupted, looking daggers at Octavia, “Are you all right? I can’t believe these girls. They have no regard for anyone. Honestly, dressed like that, I should have just given her a poster and sent her on her way.”

“I couldn’t agree more.” Kalinda smiled.

Octavia was more than just embarrassed. Trying once again to remove herself from Tobias’s lap, she looked over at the angry guard. “It was a total accident. I don’t know what happened.”

“Right, some accident,” she grunted. “But luckily Mr. Morgan appears to be unharmed.” She gave Octavia another glare before Tobias motioned for her to leave. She nodded and turned back toward her post. Octavia tried once again without success to extract herself from the strong arms that were making it impossible for her to get up. Maybe he and the woman named Kalinda had had a fight and he was using what he probably thought was an infatuated fan to punish her. Whatever his reasons, she didn’t like being held against her will. Suddenly she remembered a dream where she had been bound. There had been a woman in the dream. She felt her breath catch in her throat. A woman who could have Kalinda’s double. “Octavia, are you okay? What happened?” Katie leaned across Tobias to give her a hand. Octavia was about to take it when Tobias stood up with her still in his arms. Katie stepped back, giggling nervously.

“What do you think you’re doing?” Octavia looked up into Tobias’s face that was no longer smiling. “Don’t you think you’ve punished your girlfriend enough?”

“Is that what you think?” Tobias leaned down, his lips brushing her ear. “That Kalinda’s my girlfriend? She’s not. She’s well aware of the fact that she’s a well-paid employee and nothing more.”

“I don’t like being held against my will. Now let me go.”

“I’d be happy to if I thought you would be able to stand on your own two feet. You’re still as white as a sheet and obviously you need some air.”

“I do need some air. If you’ll be so kind to put me down, I’ll find my way out. Thank you.”

“Joe,” Tobias yelled over his shoulder. A big, heavy-set black man dressed in a suit materialized out of nowhere to stand at Tobias’s side. “Call Jake and have him bring the car around. Thanks.”

Before Octavia could speak, Katie stood beside Tobias with her mouth open. “Where are you taking her?”

“Yes, Tobias.” Kalinda stood up. “Where do you think you’re going?”

Octavia answered, “Nowhere. We have a car that’s supposed to pick us up. Thank you. Now, if you’ll just let me go, we’ll be on our way.”

“Well, you shouldn’t keep the driver waiting, should you, dear,” Kalinda said, coming to stand in front of Tobias.

“You can leave us now,” Tobias ordered, his eyes glaring into Kalinda’s.

“You bastard, how dare you dismiss me like some call girl. Who do you think you’re talking to?”

“I know exactly who I’m talking to you, and if you’re as smart as you’ve led me to believe, you’ll leave now without causing a scene.”

Octavia watched in mortification as Kalinda’s beautiful face contorted in rage. However, she grabbed her purse and walked quickly away from them toward the open bar.

Tobias looked down at Katie, who was watching the scene in awe. With a smile that would have charmed any woman in the room, he said softly, “How would you two like to come to an after-party with me and the band?”

Katie’s mouth hung open even wider. “Are you serious?”

“Very.” Tobias smiled. “It’s not every day, believe it or not, that a beautiful young woman falls for me quite so dramatically. I think I’d like to at least get to know you and your friend,” he said, giving Octavia a brilliant smile that all but took her breath away, but also left her feeling angered by his arrogance that seemed to know no bounds. “That is”—he turned back to Katie—“if you don’t mind spending some with me and the band.”

“Mind?” Katie all but yelled. “No, she doesn’t mind, and neither do I.”

“Good, it’s settled then.” Tobias winked at Octavia, who had not been able to get a word in before Katie had accepted Tobias’s invitation for them both.

Octavia was still in shock. First, falling into his lap, then the ugly scene with his girlfriend, and now being carried like a helpless child through the room full of people who were staring at her like she had two heads. She wanted to scream, but what would that solve other than embarrass her further and totally ruin Katie’s evening?

Tobias swept her through an open door into a corridor that led to the parking lot where a limo was waiting. The other band members followed close behind and were piling into the car along with Katie, who had positioned herself between John Ross, the lead guitarist, and Andy Bartram, the drummer. Tobias had never released Octavia from the strength of his arms, so even now, seated in the car, she was trapped on his lap, her head leaning into his chest. She looked down, following his eyes to her right nipple which was exposed. Swinging her hair around quickly, she covered herself, giving him a glare. She could feel her heart beating faster.

She glanced over at Katie, who was smiling in between the two band members. She seemed perfectly content with the situation. This had not supposed to happen. However, from the moment Katie had invited her, everything had led her to this moment, in this car, with Tobias. It had happened so quickly. Even now, she couldn’t believe she was actually sitting on his lap with his arms wrapped around her, holding her far too close. She and Katie should be back in their hotel room. Mathieu should have called her by now. He knew she was with Katie, so if she missed his call, he wouldn’t think much of it other than she was busy. However, what could she possibly say to him to explain this? The evening was supposed to end her infatuation with Tobias Morgan, not encourage it.

She felt his eyes on her. She didn’t want to look at him, but she couldn’t help herself. When she did, she wanted to look away, but she couldn’t tear her eyes away from the handsome face that made her pulse race. He was exactly like her dream, except he wasn’t a dream and she was in his arms. Somehow reality had become the dream. She was so confused, and those eyes of his weren’t helping. They were so dark, they were almost black, and when he looked at her the way he was now, it was as if they were the only two people in the world.

“Who are you really, Tobias?” She hadn’t realized she had spoken the words out loud until she saw the smile leave his face to be replaced by a thoughtful look. His hand gently brushed her hair back and adjusted her top so that her nipple was covered. “If I said I was the man of your dreams, would you believe me?” he whispered into her hair.

“We’re here, Mr. Morgan.” The chauffer’s voice came to them through an intercom system as the limo slowed down to a stop. Tobias was still looking at her. She finally had the strength to look away.

Octavia watched Katie talking animatedly between the two men on either side of her. Their eyes connected. Katie leaned forward to where Octavia was still being held securely in Tobias Morgan’s arms. “How are you feeling? Any better?”

Octavia tried to smile. “I’m okay, Katie. You seem to be enjoying yourself.”

“Yes, John and Andy are fantastic.” She leaned back and put her arms around the band members, who were watching her with a look of shared tolerance. Octavia could tell that neither one them much cared whether she and Katie were in the car or not.

“Well, boys, the club awaits. I think Katie looks like she is ready for some dancing.” Tobias smiled. “What do you say, Katie, you want to go dancing with the band?”

“This can’t really be happening.” Katie grinned. “I mean, if you’re serious...of course I want to go dancing.”

“We’ll make sure you get back to your hotel safely. Believe me, Tobias will kill us if we don’t.” John yawned, pushing his long blond hair back from his forehead. “You owe us one, buddy,” he said under his breath. However, Octavia heard him.

Octavia did not want to go dancing. If only they could go back to the hotel without ruining Katie’s evening. Normally she enjoyed dancing, but tonight, she just wasn’t herself, and being so near Tobias had done weird things to her libido, making her feel like every bit of her strength had left her body. Besides that, she was beginning to feel this might be a setup.

“So, you’re not going with us?” Octavia asked, looking up at Tobias from the comfort of his arms that felt so right around her it was scary.

“Actually, you’re not going dancing. You’re going with me.”

“Pardon?” Octavia paused. “I’m not going anywhere alone with you.”

“I’m taking you back to your hotel room. Your heart is still racing and going to a crowded club with poor air circulation might just throw you into another attack. However, I didn’t think it would be fair to your friend to keep her from having some fun just because you’re not up to it.”

“How kind of you.” Octavia’s voice dripped of sarcasm. “I think I’ll take my chances on the dance floor.”

“Well,” Katie said, looking between Tobias and Octavia, “I would feel better if we were together. But honestly, Octavia, I have to say, you look pretty pale.”

“Well, I know I’m not 100 percent, but I think I’m just tired at this point. Nothing a good night’s sleep won’t cure. However, Tobias is right,” she conceded, giving him a glare. “It’s not fair for you to have to go back to the room with me when you could be dancing with your new friends. I’ll be fine watching you dance.”