Read Online Lust's Rhythm (Heart of Fame Book 10) by Lexxie Couper - Free Book Online Page A

contented, romantic, blissful life with the Untouchable? How was every fantasy of normalcy he’d ever had now coming true with her?
    He’d never felt more relaxed, more happy, and more real than he did now.
    The sound of Chloe’s laughter, the feel of her body next to his, their mutual enjoyment of a movie no one else he knew would waste time on…everything was exactly what he wanted.
    And he was living it now. With the only woman he wanted to live it with.
    How had that happened?
    And what did he have to do to make sure it didn’t end?
    On the screen, the woeful CGI alien overpowered the terrified astronaut.
    “Boo,” Chloe protested on a laugh. “Boo.”
    He tucked her closer to his body and kissed her cheek. “Told you so.”
    She twisted in his arms to grin up at him. “Yeah, yeah, I know you reckoned the alien was going to win.”
    He grinned back. “I’m a closet B-grade sci-fi cinephile. I should have warned you about that before you agreed to be my wife.”
    Fisting her hand in the hair at the back of his head, she tugged his face to hers and smacked a loud kiss on his lips. “I love that you’re a closet B-grade sci-fi cinephile,” she declared. “So is Dad. But don’t tell anyone. It’ll ruin his cool reputation.”
    An image of the Nick Blackthorne watching cheesy low-budget sci-fi movies in the dark filled Jed’s head. He grunted, the sound wry even to his ears. “At least that’s one thing he might approve of about me.”
    He didn’t realize he’d muttered it aloud until the smile on Chloe’s face faded.
    Fuck.
    Shifting suddenly, she snatched up the remote, turned off the television, and then dropped to the floor, kneeling to face him where he lay on the sofa, her bent elbows resting on its edge near his chest. “Why does Dad think I need to stay away from you? He’s never said, just that you’re off-limits .”
    Jed’s stomach clenched. “I don’t know. I’m thinking it has everything to do with my reputation.”
    She frowned. “But he, of all people, should know a reputation is just that—an opinion, not the truth. I’ve read about Dad’s reputation when he was younger and he wasn’t an angel. I’m surprised Mum ever let him back into her life at times. So what’s so horrible about yours?”
    Letting out a slow breath, Jed sat up. Chloe ducked as he swung his leg over her head, smoothing her palms up his thighs when he’d settled into a slightly slumped sitting position, his legs framing her shoulders and sides.
    She searched his eyes in the direct, unabashed way she had before, an intimate connection he was already completely enamored with.
    “So?” She shrugged, looking up at him, the warmth of her palms a gentle caress on his thighs. “Do you have any ideas?”
    “I suspect,” he began, before stopping. He scratched at his check, the bristles there rough under his fingertips. “I suspect it has something to do with what happened when I was first getting attention in the rock world.”
    Chloe frowned. “You mean that paparazzo in Melbourne?”
    Jed huffed out a shaky sigh. Of course she would know of the paparazzo incident. Everyone in the world did. One moment in his early career, the only moment really, he wished he could go back in time to change. No, that was wrong. He wished to hell he could go back and prevent his agent from milking that moment just as much. It may have helped his career, his sales, but…
    “The pap,” he said, resting his hands on the backs of hers, his chest tight, “had done his research on me. I can’t remember his name. He was an older guy. Had a reputation for being a wanker. Holston something… No, Carl Holston. That was it. Holston had dug up not only stuff about my Christian rock band days, but stuff about my family. About the life my mum and dad led before Dad deserted us.”
    He stopped once again. An invisible band wrapped his throat. Crushing at the hot lump trying to choke him as he spoke.
    “He said something to you