Drake Sisters 06 - Turbulent Sea

manager and he deals with the crew. You aren't responsible for anything these people do. If Dean took advantage of a minor, Jerry will fire him. And if he knows where she is, they'll get it out of him. You can't be involved in things like that. You're the star, Joley, the band is secondary. If you got involved in a confrontation with a crew member, someone's going to videotape it and it will end up on television, the Internet and especially the tabloids. Let Jerry do his job.'
    'I don't want it to come to blows. Brian almost never loses his temper. I can't imagine what would make him get so angry.'
    'You can't?' Tish shook her head. 'The band looks at you as a younger sister. They're very protective and very loyal.
    My guess is Dean said something very ugly about you and got Brian's back up. None of them are going to let anyone say anything bad about you.'
    Joley felt a tug at her heartstrings. She felt as if the band were family - brothers she loved - but their camaraderie with one another was very different than with her and she always felt the odd man out. 'Since you've been gone, I haven't felt as much a part of things as I used to,' she admitted, frowning as she watched the argument get a little more heated.
    The disturbance had attracted the attention of not only the crew, but also the Russians. They paused in their work and observed the altercation. Joley's palm began to itch. She rubbed it against her thigh, and her heart began to pound.
    Ilya was nearby -very close. She spotted him making his way to the two Russians and her stomach did a little somersault. He moved with fluid grace, like a large jungle cat, all rippling muscle and power, yet conserving energy with every step.
    'Whoa! Mama mia, who is that?' Tish asked.
    'He's hotter than Hades.'
    Joley considered feigning indifference, but this was Tish. 'Ilya Prakenskii, Nikitin's bodyguard.'
    'He can guard my body anytime,' Tish said appreciatively. 'Have you…'
    'No. But ask me if I want to.'
    'You'd have to be dead not to want to. I think I'm having an orgasm looking at him.'
    Joley pressed her palm tighter against her thigh. The center throbbed and burned, and deep inside, in her most feminine core, the same throbbing and burning began. It was going to start all over again, that terrible need, the emptiness that nothing - no one - could fill but Ilya. If she was going to suffer, it was only fair that he should. She wished she could make him feel the same relentless, merciless craving.
    Lifting her palm, she studied the center. Already the discoloration was appearing. Faint marks, two circles intertwined. Joley lifted her gaze to Ilya, watching his every move as he approached the two Russian guards. She took a deep breath and ran her finger over the center of her palm, imagining touching him intimately, holding his body close to hers and claiming it for her own.
    Ilya's body jerked. He looked up, his gaze locking with hers across the distance. Time seemed to stand still, and for one moment there were only the two of them locked together in the natural wonder of the amphitheater.
    I'm sorry. She hadn't believed she could really give him such a jolt of physical awareness.
    Be very careful playing with fire you don't understand.
    She moistened her lips and turned away from him.
    It was his magic - not hers - and she didn't understand it. But she knew how dangerous it could be.
    'Is something going on between you two?' Tish asked.
    'Not yet,' Joley answered honestly. 'I'm still considering the price tag.'
    'For a man like that? It's going to be hefty.'
    Joley laughed. 'I missed you, Tish. You're so right, about a lot of things, but especially about this.'
    'But I bet he'd be worth it.'
    Joley had the feeling she was going to find out. If she didn't find something huge to put on the con side of the list fast, she would allow him to seduce her, and then she'd be in way over her head. Tish wasn't like Joley's sisters. She looked at the man and saw 'hot' all over him. She didn't see the neon warning lights flashing, danger, danger. If Joley hung out with Tish, she could easily talk herself into an affair with Ilya, because she desperately wanted him.
    'Have you seen Logan yet?' Joley asked, needing to switch the subject. She couldn't think too much about Ilya, especially with him close by. She couldn't afford for him to be reading her thoughts.
    The teasing smile faded from Tish's face. 'We spoke on the phone, and I said I'd meet him here, but I haven't seen