Falling Down(33)

"I know, Lucy. If I thought it was anything else, you wouldn't be mine."
I lean in and whisper to him, "I'm not yours, Jesse."
"You will be before the night is over."
Desire rushes through me and I'm instantly wet at the thought of Jesse's hands and mouth on me, his cock deep inside me. It's been a long time since I've had sex. I do a mental calculation--holy shit, over a year--fourteen-plus months. That's just sad. I tilt my head and consider for a second. I'm not sure if I should give in or hold out. I think waiting until we're done working on this project together is the smart choice, so I ignore his last statement.
I stand up. "I've got to say, boys, I'm pretty surprised you knew that last song."
"What?" Kennedy asks. "If there's a musician out there that doesn't know that song, they are a disgrace."
"Agreed. I just figured you guys were too hardcore to know Elton John."
"Fuck no. It's a classic. Layla. Lola. Shit, they're the best," Ethan says.
"Truer words were never spoken," Jace replies.
"Well all right. We need to get Jace settled in at the penthouse--"
"Penthouse?" Jesse asks.
I nod and blow out a breath. "Suites really."
"Why are you staying in a hotel?" his brows pull down and he frowns.
"Well, Mr. Sexy Rockstar, I can't go home. It's surrounded by reporters and when I say surrounded, I mean surrounded. It's gated, but that means stopping and risking someone getting in when the gates open and I'm can't be bothered to hire additional security. I've never had to before, and I'm not starting now."
Jesse nods, lips pressed tightly together again. I'm coming to realize he does that a lot when he's upset or annoyed or pissed off.
"So where are you staying?"
"I've got an entire floor booked at the Beverly Wilshire. Once filming is done, we'll stay in the house in Santa Monica."
"I'm sorry, Lucy. I didn't realize the reporters were on you that bad."
I shrug. "It's par for the course."
"They weren't nearly that bad at my place."
"Gated community?" He nods. "Yeah, mine's not. I haven't had a need for it."
"Until now," Sera says.
"You're a movie star," Xander says. "How could you not need a gated community?"
"I've always stayed under the radar when I've gone out--avoided temptation, so to speak. It's not that we haven't been looking already, we just never made it a priority."
"Guess we will now, huh?" Sera says and I nod.
"We're taking Jace out for drinks," Kennedy says and I groan.
"Really? His first night here?"
"Is there a better time?"
I sigh. "He's got his own suite I'll give you the key, Jace. I rented out the floor so we have privacy. You all can party there if you want just keep the skanks to a minimum please and over on your side of the building. I don't want to hear that shit."
I look around and there's no Sera. "Where'd Sera go?"
"She took off with Cage," Jace replies.
I nod. Not surprising.
"Do you have a car here?" Jesse asks.
"Max."
He nods. "I'll take you home."
"Okay. That's probably better. Then Jace and the boys can have Max or Gio drive."
He nods. I hand Jace his suite key and tell him they've got the car for the night if they want it but they decide they're going to party anywhere within walking distance and Jace's suite.
"We'll drop their cars off and Max can take us to the hotel."
"Sounds good. Stay out of trouble," I tell Jace as I give him a hug. I mimic a Robert De Niro as I point and squint my eyes at the other guys who just grin.