They would stay there for the week before resuming the concert tour. It had never felt less like spring to her. She hoped Vida was having a better time than she was, but doubted it, how much fun could it be watching women strip?

She watched the band take photos and sign autographs as Alyce once again managed to stick by Kaden, making sure they were photographed together each time. The woman couldn’t have made it more obvious that she was attracted to Kaden, and he flirted back, causing the sexual tension to become increasingly evident with each concert. It was only a matter of time before they acted on it, if they hadn’t already done so. Sometimes, to alleviate the boredom, someone would ride on Alyce’s bus. Kaden had disappeared twice for a few hours before coming back.

Sawyer looked away when she saw Alyce stand on her toes to brush her mouth against his just as another picture was taken.

She noticed all the men in the room were agitated tonight. D-mon and Sin, both heavy drinkers, were really hitting the liquor tonight. Without a doubt, both men were going to have serious hangovers in the morning. The woman who had been picked from the audience was wedged between the two men on the couch, clearly overwhelmed by the attention she was receiving from them both.

D-mon stood to his feet, taking the woman’s hand before leading her into the bathroom off the VIP room. The surprising part was when Sin got to his feet to follow behind them, and Sawyer saw all three enter the bathroom.

She took a drink of water as she tore her gaze away from the closed door.

“You doing okay?” Ax asked, sitting down on the arm of her chair.

“Yes, you did great tonight, Ax.” She smiled at the band member who she felt the most relaxed with as he sprawled his long legs out in front of him.

“I thought most bands left after the concert?” Sawyer asked the question that had been on her mind since the first concert.

“Most do, but I suppose we stay because we started out playing in local bars and would hang out afterward, and due to the fact that we’re touring so heavily right now, it gives us a break from the bus.” His eyes smiled into hers, making her aware he had known what had caught her attention before he had sat down. “Besides, D-mon and Sin like to unwind after a show, so unless we stay at a hotel, they do their socializing before we get back on the bus.”

Sawyer actually understood. While the bus was opulently furnished, and the most had been made of the space, it was still confining, especially with so many people on board.

“It’s going to be nice to take a break and sleep in an actual bed for a week,” Ax confided.

“You’re not missing your family?”

“My parents are both in Australia, so I would spend more time traveling, which I’m sick of right now.”

The bathroom door opened and the woman came out, flushed, and with her hair a mess, while both Sin and D-mon returned with a more relaxed air about them.

“I guess that means we can go,” Ax said, starting to stand.

“Kaden and you don’t meet and greet the locals?” Sawyer felt herself turning red when he hesitated, staring down at her.

“No, we don’t do quickies,” he said with a wicked grin before leaving.

Just then, Alec motioned to her and she rose to her feet. I’m really beginning to feel like a lapdog, she thought resentfully.

The crowd outside the arena had thinned, so it wasn’t an ordeal to pass through the door to get back on the bus. Sawyer went directly back to her room, tired tonight. They had taken an extra encore tonight, plus hung out a couple of hours. She wanted to shower and climb into bed.

Unfortunately, Kaden was a few steps behind her, his hand preventing her from shutting the door.

“I need to take a shower,” Kaden said, coming into the room. Sawyer took a step back, letting him enter.

He went to the closet, gathered his clothes and went into the bathroom without a backward glance. Sawyer stuck her tongue out at the door then, feeling childish at her response, she flipped on the television.

She had watched more television the last few weeks than she had in years. If she didn’t find something to occupy her mind soon, she was going to scream. The bus jarred slightly then quit. The bathroom door opened and Kaden came out, making Sawyer get to her feet to use the restroom, using the opportunity to escape his presence while he finished dressing. At that moment, the bus gave a loud pop and swerved.

Sawyer lost her balance, putting her hands out to stop herself from falling at the same time that Kaden reached out, managing to grab her just as the bus swerved again, sending them both to the floor. Sawyer landed heavily on top of Kaden, fearing they were about to crash, and then was relieved when the bus came to a stop.

“What happened?” Sawyer gasped, staring down into Kaden’s eyes.

“I’d say we have a flat,” Kaden answered, staring up at her.

Sawyer started to get to her feet, aware of his large body lying underneath hers; however, a hand on the back of her neck stopped her.

“What’s your hurry?” Kaden gave her what she was sure was a smile that landed him in many women’s beds.

“I—is this you flirting with me?”

His hand on the back of her neck started caressing the sensitive skin.

“And if I am?” Again came the insincere smile meant to turn her bones to water.

“T—then I’d say don’t waste your time.” Sawyer clamored to her feet, making sure her elbow jabbed into his ribs.

Kaden winced as he got to his own feet. “Why?”

Sawyer’s mouth dropped open, and then she closed it with a snap. “I don’t know, maybe because you wouldn’t let me leave when I wanted to. It’s called kidnapping.”

“We’ve worked that all out.” She couldn’t believe the arrogant man thought that she would just forget that he hadn’t let her go.

“This conversation is over. It just shows how big an ass you are.” Sawyer turned to go into the bathroom, giving him a disgusted look.

The anger that came over his face had Sawyer realizing a man like Kaden could take no for an answer, but challenging him was a different matter.

He moved to block her path. “Exactly what should I have done, Sawyer? Let you call the police so those other women Redman has could disappear? Or open the door and let you leave and give Redman the opportunity to have you before you managed to take two steps out the hotel door?” His lean body came nearer to hers, forcing her to move backwards until she came up against the edge of the bed. Sawyer forced herself to stay still.

“Y—you could have given me the c—choice.”

“You weren’t making good decisions. You’re still not.”

“How am I not making good decisions, Kaden?” Sawyer got right back in his face. “Because I don’t let you fuck me like those airheads begging for dick back at the arena? If you needed to get laid, you should have taken a turn with D-mon and Sin or taken Alyce up on what she’s been throwing at you.”

“Why should I stand in line or have what I’ve already had, when I have you staring at me all the time. If you want to find out what you’ve been imagining, then all you have to do is ask.”

Sawyer’s hand flew out, striking him across his face. Her anger and embarrassment making her react without thinking.

“You know what really makes me angry?” Kaden’s face turned stone cold. “When women want to hit men and not expect the same.” Sawyer’s face paled as he jerked her to him; her breasts pressed flat against his chest. “And I really don’t like it when they do it because they don’t like that I’m telling them the truth and don’t want to fucking admit it.”

“I—I don’t want you,” Sawyer denied.

“Prove it.”

Sawyer wanted to smack him again, but decided not to press her luck. “Fuck off.” She moved to go around him, and this time, he didn’t move to block her path.

“Chicken.” It wasn’t a question; it was a statement.

Sawyer swung angrily back around to face him. “I’m not afraid of you, Kaden.”

“I don’t doubt you, by the way you just smacked me. What I was referring to was to you wanting to fuck me.” His attitude was bringing out the ginger in her.

“Read my lips, you arrogant ass, I do not want you.”

“Prove it.” Sawyer put her hands in her jeans pockets, not sure she could restrain herself from strangling the man. “It’s okay, Sawyer. A lot of women have a problem resisting me.”

Before she could stop herself, she took a step forward, pressing herself against him, her arms going around his neck. Dragging his head down to hers, she plastered her lips to his. The kiss was brief and passionless as his lips remained unresponsive and closed.

Sawyer didn’t have a lot of experience with different men, but she had considered herself fairly good at kissing. Now she began to doubt herself as her tongue teased the seam of his lips and he still didn’t let her deepen the kiss. Kaden lifted his mouth from her exploring lips, moving away.

“You’ve proven your point. I’ll let you get your shower now. See you in the morning.”

Confused, Sawyer stared at him,biting her lip. “I—I don’t understand.” She wanted to take back her words as soon as she spoke, but Kaden paused before walking back to her.

“Did you want me to respond or did you just want to prove that you could make me want you while you held yourself back?” Both, Sawyer admitted frankly to herself. “If you want me to respond, you have to kiss me the way I like to kiss. You didn’t. It was an okay kiss, nothing special.”

“W—what did I do wrong?” She frowned at him.

She had kissed him like she had the few other men she had kissed. She didn’t think she was as bad at it as he seemed to think she was.

Kaden moved closer to her, keeping his arms by his side.

“You want my mouth, you ask for it.” Sawyer licked her lips, wanting to disappear into the bathroom, but it had become a matter of pride with her. Despite all the warnings buzzing through her mind, she had never backed down from anyone yet.

Feeling ridiculous, she forged ahead. “Can I kiss you?” Sawyer asked, feeling stupid.

“May I kiss you,” Kaden repeated the phrase the way he wanted her to express it.

Sure now that she was gradually swimming out of her depth, she repeated his words. “May I kiss you?”

“Yes.”

This time Sawyer raised herself up to reach his mouth with hers. It was different from the moment their lips met. His mouth was warm and responsive, giving her what she had expected the first time she had kissed him. Her tongue timidly traced his lips, entering the warm recesses of his mouth when he opened his, allowing her entrance. He tasted like peppermint. The warmth making her want to draw closer to him.

She leaned into him, giving him more of her weight. Her nipples under her thin sweater and bra hardened as she felt his chest against hers. Her hands swept across his chest, feeling the firm flesh covered with tats.

He took his mouth away, drawing a reluctant whimper from her.

“Did I give you permission to touch me?” She saw from his clear gaze that he hadn’t been as affected as she was by their kiss.

“N—no,” she whispered.

“I expect you to ask, Sawyer.”

She was definitely certain she was out of her depth, but she pressed on, not wanting to stop kissing him.

“Can—” At his frown, she stopped. “May I touch you?”

“Yes.” Sawyer leaned back into him at the same time she reached up to take his mouth again. This time he met her halfway, taking control of the kiss, opening her mouth to his exploration. Her body melted against his, her arms hesitantly sliding around his neck as his hand curled around her hips, pulling her even closer.

The chemistry between them could easily get out of control if she wasn’t careful, and she was about to call a halt, when again he pulled away from her.

“They should be done getting the tire fixed by now. I need to check and make sure everything is okay.”

Sawyer stood still, her breathing uneven, as she lowered her arms to her sides.

“Goodnight, Sawyer.” He then left without waiting for her reply.

Sawyer stood, staring at the closed door, until she felt the bus start moving again. She then went into the bathroom and took off her clothes before stepping into the shower.

Ignoring the warning in her head had been the biggest mistake of her life; however, her fighting instincts had her refusing to back down from his challenge. She had to be smart and bide her time until he gave her the money he’d promised. Then Vida and she could disappear to live the life they had always dreamed. All she had to do was keep her distance from Kaden for the next three months. Then, she would be free.