Two weeks was the length of the tour, starting in New York, the st stop on Ameri soil. At his home, in the m, while waiting to unleash his voice, Billy took a gss of water as he headed to his workout routine. He punched and danced, and the women watched, pristine in their gaze at the handsome guy who exuded the fidence of someone who could hold the world in his arms. Even those who didn’t know much about Billy couldn’t look away.

  -Have you thought about peting? You have at least a semi-professional level of skill. Your striking teiques are fantastic. -ented Jad, a Boxing and Kickboxing instructor.

  -I don’t think so. I get enough from my ag roles. I think I practice my ag more than anything else. -Billy replied, now having a close retionship with Jad. He saw a very beautiful woman nearby. At a certain distance, he saw Leightoer, her cheeks flushed as she gnced between Billy and Jad. She hovered from many arying to be discreet. Jad, though, just turned a blind eye but whispered to Billy about his new admirer.

  Their enter was nothing but a ce!

  She resided in California, but her ings and goings were on. She often strolled around some afternoons, and her youthful body was irresistible to Billy, who kept track of the young woman who looked at him with hopeful eyes.

  -Stop giving those looks. Although I admit it’s a good pce, everyoalks. This pce is worse than a gossip mill. -Jad said.

  -Shall we do the usual? -Billy asked, feeling a strong urge to talk to Leighton at any cost.

  Jad felt like rolling his eyes.

  -I’ll tell my wife. -Jad said. His wife was an instructor at the same gym and talked with the girls in brief versations. It erhaps the most feasible method. They would approach Billy to say hello, and in their greeting, they would start talking by text. She waited in the parking lot below, and they would take a quick trip through Manhattan, arriving at Billy’s pce. The womeed, would chat with Billy or py around for a while, preparing something to eat... the routied until Billy expanded his circle of women.

  Why didn’t he ask himself? A simple reason, image matters. It’s normal for him to do so iain circumstances, except in public pces. It breaks the spark, as Jerry says.

  In the basement, Billy waited in front of the elevator door. Leightoer walked in, somewhat shy, and as soon as she saw him, she approached, her cheeks flushed.

  -Billy Carson, a pleasure, miss. -Billy greeted.

  -Leightoer, I already knew you. You’re very famous. -she said, avoiding his gaze.

  -Look me in the eyes. -Billy said, stepping closer to her, invading her personal space. -We go to my pce, have something to eat… I’m sorry I ’t invite you to a public pce, but I ’t live a normal life, especially since I have a cert tonight.

  The girl bit her lip. Going to his pce? The excuse seemed so logical that she just nodded slowly.

  Holding her hand, the girl flinched. Her hands were sweaty, but Billy grasped her fingers, not g. She walked beside him, nerves on edge. Numerous questions flooded her mind—should she accept the invitation or dee? On the way, she got into the car driven by Billy’s private driver. Seeing the young womaer, he just focused on taking Billy wherever he needed.

  -Are you an actress? -Billy asked.

  -Yes. -the girl replied, losing all her wits. Uanding only a few words, Billy didn’t mind. The silence was better for now. He had the invitation, and he would ha in private.

  With a smile, he looked out the window and waited. His current practice with women was cold in public, sensitive, and tender in private. However, seeing the slender line of Leightoer’s ned her trembling hands was enough to increase the intimate desire between them. Billy’s gentle squeeze, an affeate gesture, subtly radiated emotions of uanding. Their hands united, and he gave a small smile, calmiremors.

  ‘So close,’ the girl thought, initially desiring to escape at the first ce. But now, what should she do?

  The attack of a star hrases about what a star should have. Morally, this had a couple of hidden songs.

  They took the fast route, going up in the elevator while Billy gently held her hand. The apartment, a simple two-room pce, seemed so unassuming to Billy, yet the first time he had experie, it felt like a dream, much like what had happened with Gwen. He almost ected with her in a way that wasn't normal.

  -My dear Walda, -Billy embraced the short woman in an apron.

  -Food for two, -Walda said.

  -Of course, prepare something delicious, taking into at my guest’s preferences, -Billy replied.

  -Anything special, miss? -Walda asked. -Anything you 't eat?-

  -No.

  Walda disappeared into the kit.

  -She's my housekeeper; she'll cook something delicious for us. In the meantime, I'd like you to listen to a song, but you'll have to e close. I’ll have to sing it in a whisper; I have a cert tonight and ’t waste my voice, -Billy said, walking straight to the piano.

  -A song you haven't published? Isn’t that forbidden? -the girl asked.

  -e. You try out the piano firsthand. This baby sounds fantastic. As for the rest, it’ll be a secret between us, -Billy said, pying a few notes, setting the se with his graceful movements. The melody was soft, showing the girl what such a song should be like.

  -Do you like music? -he asked. -Don’t look at me like that; I’m talking about musie. Some people are just fans of me. I’m asking about the music.

  -I do... I've studied music a bit. I’m good with the guitar, not with the piano, -the girl said, calming her emotions. The star-struck feeling was fading.

  -Well, the piano is a tender instrument, a bit tricky to uand. It takes a lot of thought to py it, but it’s so satisfying to pose with. If you get the ce, don’t miss the opportunity to learn it. You o be gentle, sweet... pay attention to timing and the moment, -Billy said, running a single finger up Leighton’s leg, up her arm, adjusting her hair, and fog on her dark eyes. The slight tremble of her lip and the way she lifted her to his touch was all Billy needed for now.

  -I think I’ll practice a bit, -Leighton responded.

  Fog on the piano, she pyed a soft melody, while Chasing Cars went through her mind, though the mencholie didn't quite fit. She decided to let loose with Everflow’s songs. For the few minutes, she became more expressive, and the moment drew closer. They were inches apart, each applying a hint of desire, a hint of need, subtle but enting. With just a request, Billy pced his forehead against hers and sighed.

  -We o eat, while you give me some feedback, different from what ive me, -Billy said.

  -Ah, yes, that’s not a bad idea. Although I didn’t hear the secret song, -the girl replied. Still leaning her head, she whispered the song Chasing Cars, this time with a tangible desire for love.

  ...

  “We'll do it allEverythingOn our own

  We don't need

  AnythingOr anyone

  If I y hereIf I just y hereWould you lie with me and just fet the world?”

  ...

  She felt him sigh; she wao respond, but Billy pressed his lips against hers with sweetness and delicacy. The teenagers craved this—love, uanding, and fantasy that they would not find elsewhere.

  Their lips were cold, and they spent half an hour kissing as Billy gently caressed Leighton's cheeks, sileng her. The passion he exuded was enough to make her melt.

  Both of them quied the pace of their kisses. Amid ughter and pyful teasing, they asded to the sed floor, to a small room filled with various instruments. Billy closed the door and led her to the rge bed, perfectly made. As soon as the door clicked shut, they slipped beh the covers, pyfully nudging each other. Billy bit her earlobe, and a soft moan escaped her lips as she found herself lost in a glorious fantasy, her mind clouded. Even her phone vibrated beside the grand piano they had both used earlier.

  Quid clever, Billy removed her fitted workout pants and the shirt that cealed her slender figure, gazing at her as if she were a Christmas gift. He took off his shirt without breaking eye tad joined her, pnting kisses with the same iy.

  His smile stretched from ear to ear; it was enormous. Their bodies embraced, expl the intimacy they shared. To Billy, her body was tender aiful.

  He bit her neck with a bit of force, and she said nothing. - I wish I could bite every part of you… you smell delicious. -

  ***

  It was six-thirty in the evening, and Jerry paid no attention to the clock. He o che Billy, who had much to discuss. After greeting the security guards, he spoke with the security team. Billy had two bodyguards stationed downstairs in a small trol room that monitored any security breaches in the building.

  -Boss, as we informed you, he came in at 10:00 AM with a girl his age. He’s been locked in the apartment sihen… repared their meals, but we don’t have cameras on the sed floor; it’s Billy’s private floor, and we ’t firm anything relevant, - reported John Bellegren, Billy’s security guard in the building. Although it was one of the most luxurious buildings in Manhattan, Warner supported the ht of a minor living alone, emancipated at 15, with Jerry Wexler ag as his official guardian.

  The governess, Mrs. Greenwood, speime, with Walda's help, keeping Billy away from aructive behavior, but her absence during the vacatioed a gap; he o have a break.

  -Thanks for everything, guys… I’ll take Billy, - Jerry said, asding a floor. Without paying further attention, he crossed the entrao the orderly foyer.

  As he climbed the stairs to the sed floor, he noticed the television was on, perhaps showing a movie. The lunch dishes were at the entraepping over the tray, he opehe door, hearing a faint scream from the girl.

  He spotted Billy in the er, almost naked, pying the guitar with tration.

  -You have a cert in an hour and a half, - Jerry remarked.

  -I know, man, I was just about to shower, - Billy replied, downpying the importance of it while tinuing to py some new riffs that sounded unfamiliar to Jerry.

  -Well, what are you waiting for? - Jerry asked.

  -e on, man, I’m rexing… Leighton is ing in with me; it would be o have some space for her and a dress that fits her proportions, - Billy said.

  At Jerry’s questioning look, he attempted to nod in appreciation.

  -She be in the dressing room; I’ll be downstairs talking to Walda. I hope you hurry, - Jerry said, heading ba his way. Billy smiled as the door closed, chug at Leighton’s panicked expression. She was a seventeen-year-old girl, her body smooth, and her childhood made her almost unreizable as a future actress.

  -I don’t think I have time to go, - Leighton said.

  Billy set his guitar on the chair and approached her, resting his head oomach. - e with me, listen to me sing. Jerry will invite your parents or talk to them. e on, sweetheart, they’ll uand that love should be free. -

  Billy leaned in to kiss Leighton.

  The girl tried to nod, but inpletely, she gave Billy the response he hoped for by returning his kiss. The web of love and madness began to weave itself arouon.

  ...