💋 AUTHOR NOTE 💋
For your reading pleasure, please be sure to read the first book in this duology - Access All Areas .... many thanks, KB.

Removing the slender arm that's draped across my bare chest, I lie with my head against the pillow, wondering why I keep on doing this? Zealously rubbing my cheeks, trying to wake myself up a little more, I blow out an agitated breath. Empty sex, is beginning to feel so much more emptier these days. I know I'm a guy with sexual needs, but it's only my genitals needs that are currently being fulfilled. Turning my head to look at the beautiful brunette still sleeping beside me, I exhale loudly. Annoyed with myself for letting this happen yet again. This babe is hot, but boringly hot. The beautifully boring type, if you know what I mean. Forcing myself to sit up, I think about having a shower before I meet this journalist who is apparently coming for an 'Access All Areas' interview with me for the duration of my final weekend in the UK. Cam did remind me all about it yesterday, this morning and this afternoon, but I fell back asleep—half a bottle of Jack Daniels, too many tequilas and a lot of empty sex does that to me.

Slowly standing, I stumble a little around the darkened bedroom before looking back at the brunette who is now half awake and is sleepily smirking at me from her naked spot on the kingsize bed. "Come back to bed." She purrs, cuddling up to her pillow.

Pulling on my jogging pants, I shake my head with a cocky smile. "You need to get up, I have stuff to do." I don't like being so cold, but babes like this will just stick to me like glue if I'm not. We both have got what we wanted from our drunken liaison together...now, she just needs to leave.
I honestly can't be bothered to have a shower just yet. Once the brunette has gone, I'll shower then. But this brunette has other ideas, she's trying to entice me back into the bed by provocatively rubbing her legs against the bedsheets. Not interested, I turn and quickly leave the room. Closing the door behind me, I am yawning widely as I groggily put one foot in front of the other and running my fingers through my stuck up hair. "What's the time?" I'm looking at Will, my oldest and most loyal of friends since high school.

Will is quick to tell me. "Nearly 5:30."

I then flick my tired eyes across to Cameron, whose attention is most definitely elsewhere. My gaze follows his apologetic one as yet another yawn comes on. "Rhys, I'd like to introduce you to Clara Thorn. I told you about her, remember?" He looks almost smug as he says it because he knows I've only just remembered that this journalist was coming. But hey, at least I did remember!

With my yawn just coming to an end, I can now see exactly where most of my smug publicists attention has been. I blink away my tiredness because I am suddenly feeling a little more awake with the eye-opening sight I am so prettily met with—a someone who I have never met before but a someone who seems to have piqued my tired interest. "It's really nice to meet you." Clara Thorn politely holds out her small hand to me, waiting for me to shake it.

I quickly do, feeling so glad that she was the one to finally say something, because I am embarrassingly happy to just stare at her for a little while longer. Needing to stop my pathetic gawking, I step nearer to the very sweet Clara Thorn. "Listen, I'm sorry. I must have fell back asleep. It was a long one last night. Stupid really, when I have two more shows to go before we wrap things up here in the UK." I find myself needing to explain my really scruffy appearance and my total lack of being ready for her. "Okay, so how do you want to do this?" I rub my hands together, showing her that I am totally ready for her now.

"I'll just shadow you, if that's okay? Just watch you in action and take some pics along the way. I do have some 'on the record' questions and some 'off the record' if you don't mind?"

I smirk, wondering where exactly the 'off the record' questions might eventually lead us. My raised brow causes her to gorgeously panic and she adorably tries to explain a little more. "The 'off the record' questions won't be printed of course. I merely want to ask them to get to know you as a person." She then stops, looking like it still isn't enough. "Hopefully, the readers will love all that I discover about you."

Watching her panic subside, I am more than a little keen to spend time with the blushing but beautifully intriguing Clara Thorn. I am totally keen for her to discover more about me because I definitely want to discover more about her. Throwing her one of my honest smiles, I tell her. "Cool! I'm all about new discoveries." My reply is wickedly said, completely for her very lovely benefit. I want her to see that she's piqued my tired interest. It's then that I realise she is all alone. "Will your photographer be meeting you later?" I ask, unable to wipe my smile from off my face.

"There's no need, I take my own pictures." She confidently tells me, her teal eyes now shining so very bright with eagerness.

"Really?" I ask, growing more and more enthralled with this woman with each passing second. "Cool." I enthusiastically tell her, because I really do think that she is. I don't know what it is about Clara Thorn, but everything about her is alluring. She isn't trying too hard around me, and I like that. I know I'm gawking at her again, so peel my stare away from her. "What time have I got the backstage Meet and Greet?" My focus is now fully on Jules, my hardworking assistant.

"Eight." He pipes up.

Thinking that it's about time that I got myself looking all clean and handsome for the journalistic beauty that I've only just had the pleasure of meeting, I quickly announce to everyone. "Right, I just need to grab a shower." But I can't help but look in Clara Thorn's way just one last time before I do. "Then we can maybe have a look at some of those questions before dinner?"

"Dinner?" She quietly asks, looking sweetly surprised by what I've just said.

Toying with her, just because I love to see her blush a little, I ask. "You eat, don't you?" With a small and embarrassed nod, she gives me her quick answer. "Good." I wickedly throw her one last smile before striding back to my room. It's only then do I realise that I have my one night stand still inside of there. If there was another exit, now would be the time for her to be using it. Only, there isn't.

Of all the days to meet someone that I genuinely do find interesting, it has to be on the day when I still have my last sexual conquest inside of my hotel bedroom. When I open the door, the brunette is thankfully dressed and is just running a paddle brush through her lustrously long dark hair. I just want rid of her. I know Clara Thorn is going to see her leave, but there's nothing I can do about that now. I'll just have to thickly lay on the charm when she interviews me, convince her that I'm not a guy who will bed just about anything with a vagina. Wrapped up in my own thoughts of the journalist I have only just met, the brunette sidles up beside me. "Will I see you later?"

"No." I abruptly tell her straight. There's no point in telling her otherwise. We screwed, that's it. I don't want to see her again and she won't ever get second helpings with me. It's the cruel and cold truth, I'm afraid.

Stroking my bare chest with just the tip of one of her long acrylic fingernails, she seductively frowns. "That's a shame." But she also now knows there will never be another time for her and I, so with a sexy sway of her curvaceous hips, she flicks her hair from off her shoulders and blows me a parting kiss. "Thanks, handsome." Then she is gone.

I hate to think of what Clara's reaction will be, unimpressed more than likely, but I'll try to pull back from last nights screw after my quick and hot shower. As I turn it on and wait for it to heat up, I find myself actually smiling. I don't know what it is about Clara Thorn, but she has certainly brightened my day. Not many things brighten up my days, but she has.

Yes, I'm famous.

Yes, I'm wealthy.

Yes, I'm adored.

But fame and my family life simply exhaust me.

Behind the façade of my fame, lies a secret that only my close inner circle know about. A secret I keep close to my chest because I am trying to protect that secret. That exhausting secret is my sister, a drug addict.

For years now, Maci has battled with her addiction. Mom battles to save her daughter, and I, battle to not hate my sister.

She has torn our already fragile family apart. There isn't much more of it for her to actually tear apart anymore. Don, our stepfather had enough many months ago. Mom continually worries, even when Maci is safely in a rehab, and I keep my sanity with my music.

My music is my one and only saving grace. It is what keeps me grounded and keeps me going. It also pays for Maci's expensive rehabilitation, which keeps my mom happy.

That's my gut-wrenching secret.

The one I have to carry around daily. My worldwide tour has thankfully kept me preoccupied. Maci was put into yet another rehab just as my tour began, and for now, she seems to be doing well there. I am soon to be returning home, but you know what? It kind of fills me with dread. Being on tour keeps me away from Maci's problems and keeps me away from Mom's worries. I like that. I like not being too close to any of those things. I also now like the way that Clara Thorn makes me feel. I try to grab hold of anything that makes me feel good these days. Stepping into the hot shower, I smile once again. There is something about this girl, a something that I can't quite put my finger on just yet. But I will find out. I intend on finding out all I can about the alluring Clara Thorn.

***I HAVE LITERALLY JUST FINISHED THIS TEASING FIRST LITTLE CHAPTER....MORE TO COME AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE!!