Page 45 of Ravaged For You

I turn around and zip up my travel bag. It’s a bit hard seeing as I’ve tried to shove in too much inside. It takes me having to basically sit on it before I can manage to bring the zips all the way around.

Packing done, I sit down on my bed and sigh wearily. The next step is to call a cab to take me back to my old condo, get my car, and then drive to Axel’s hotel. That’s where I’m going to be living before I go on the tour.

My whole life is about to change. I don’t know whether to feel excited or anxious. I’m certainly feeling a strange mixture of both right now. There are butterflies in my stomach, and I feel sick. I don’t know what awaits me once I step out of the cab and into my new fake relationship.

I’m still summoning up the courage to leave the motel room when there’s a sharp knock on the door. The sound makes me jump.

I frown. I’m not expecting anyone. I’ve already paid the motel and no one else knows where I am.

“Who is it?”

“Me.”

Oh. Someone else actually does know where I am, and he’s here now.

Axel Stoll.

I open the door to the rockstar. He immediately barges past me and sits down on my bed. His lovely black hair is a mess, and he looks pale. There are dark bags under his piercing green eyes. It looks like he needs some tender loving care.

“Are you okay?” I ask him as he lies down on top of the bed.

“I’m fine.”

“How did you get here? Taxi? Did the paparazzi follow you?”

“Not to worry, I came on my own. I like driving my motorbike. I’ve had plenty of experience speeding away from the paparazzi. They can never keep up with me. I’m practically a professional racing bike rider.”

“Oh. Are you sure you’re okay?” I ask him. “I can get you a glass of water if you’ll like. I wouldn’t trust the taps in this motel, but I’m sure you’ll live.”

He’s not even looking at me. He’s got his eyes closed. His breathing is shallow. I watch his chest slowly rise and fall.

“There’s a reason why I’m here.” Axel fishes into his pocket and pulls out a keycard, which he throws towards me lazily. He takes out his phone and places it next to his body on the bed. “That’s my spare hotel room key for you to use. Man, I’m so tired. I didn’t sleep at all last night, what with the whole tabloid thing and the release of the album. A lot is playing on my mind.”

“You must be stressed.”

It’s impossible for me to judge how to approach talking to the man. He’s just swanned in here like a loud tornado of energy. There’s so much… life to the members of Ravaged. That’s why they don’t seem real. They glide through this world like they’re above it all and that everything should bend to their will.

“Do you mind if I lie here for a second?” he asks, voice trailing off. “On this bed?”

“Well, actually, I was just getting ready to head to your hotel…”

But Axel doesn’t move.

He actually falls asleep. I can tell by the way he starts to snore.

Great.

Now what do I do? I’ve never had an internationally renowned musician fall asleep on top of my motel bed before. Do I wake him up? I’m technically his girlfriend, so I think I could be allowed to.

But why is he suddenly my responsibility?

What the hell has happened in my life the last few days? This is the craziest whiplash I’ve ever experienced. I’ve now been gifted a rockstar like he’s some adopted puppy and now he’s fallen asleep and I don’t know what to do.

Is it my job to feed him as well?

Suddenly, Axel’s phone rings. It’s lying next to him on the bed, just where he left it. The phone vibrates loudly. It’s an unknown number.

“Axel?” I call out his name, but he doesn’t stir. He’s definitely not slept in days.