My newest Royal Romance stars Tamika, the third daughter and Finance Director of the Royal brand. Tamika has a secret dream of singing and finally meets someone who not only captures her heart and believes in the dream, but has the power to make it come true.

Jackson Porter was a rising star in music writing and production, until family drama snatched his career before he could build it. Now he’s in New York for his biggest chance to get back to where he used to be. He’s supposed to be working distraction free, but Tamika Royal and her voice make that impossible.

Enjoy an excerpt from Don’t Play That Song…

Nearly two hours later, Tamika was having the time of her life. Jackson was affectionate, attentive, and completely focused on her. They’d danced until she was tired, and then drank and nibbled on appetizers. Kaitlyn and Kev had been equally absorbed in each other, with Kev taking random moments to make sure everything stayed safe for them. They sat back in VIP, sipping wine and laughing at a private joke when a beautiful, light brown, woman walked up to them. She was both taller and slimmer than Tamika, and dressed in designer from head to toe. Her hair was bone straight and swaying, nearly touching her ass and her makeup was flawless. Tamika immediately felt dumpy and awkward.

“Hey Jack. I thought that was you. Can I speak to you for a minute?” the woman spoke. Jackson smiled, shaking his head.

“I’m with my baby, Yas. I’m not working tonight,” he answered her. The woman rolled her eyes.

“I just need a quick second to talk to you about my song. I think with one of your new arrangements and some lyric restructuring it could be a hit. Come on, Jack. We go back. You can give me a second,” Yas said, completely ignoring Tamika. Tamika sat up straight as she realized who the woman was. Yasmine “Yas Money,” Cunningham, an up and coming pop singer who also rapped. Her last single had been panned by all the critics and everyone on social media begged her to get a new sound, and better production. She definitely needed Jackson professionally. But Tamika still didn’t like the intrusion. Jackson had promised her he wouldn’t work tonight. He sighed, and turned to her, looking nervous.

“Five minutes, MC? I’ll be right back,” he said, asking her permission. He’d switched to her initials and she couldn’t help but be appreciative. He respected her wishes, refraining from calling her Songbird where other people could hear. Tamika didn’t want to risk anyone asking him why he used the name. The less people who knew she could sing, the better. And she didn’t want anyone thinking she was fucking Jackson for a hit song, or something. Tamika sighed. She wanted to whine and remind him what he promised, but she stopped herself. He was trying to get his career back on track, and that had to come first… she guessed. She nodded.

“It’s okay,” she said, hoping he didn’t hear her disappointment. This was the downside to Jackson’s world. They’d never be able to do anything normally. Jackson kissed her quickly and stood up.

“Come on, Yas. You got five minutes,” he said, taking the singer’s arm and leading her away. Tamika sighed, and sipped her drink.

Twenty minutes later, Jackson still hadn’t returned and Tamika went from disappointed to annoyed. She stood up, heading out of the section and back to the dance floor. Kev stood up from where he was whispering in Kaitlyn’s ear.

“Mika, where you going?” he questioned, looking around. Tamika waved him off.

“I’m just going to dance some more,” she said, “you’ll be able to see me from here. I’m fine, Kev.”

“I don’t think you should—”

“I’m okay,” she insisted and went down the three steps. She went to the dance floor, where the DJ was starting to mix in a sped up version of Flo Milli’s “Conceited.” Tamika started rolling her body, rapping along with the lyrics. She was so in the zone, she barely noticed the man who came up behind her, holding her hips lightly as he moved with her. Tamika continued dancing, staying in her mood. She could dance with someone else. She didn’t need Jackson to have a good time. A minute later, she felt a jerk as the man behind her was pulled away. Tamika turned and came face to face with a furious Jackson. The man who’d been dancing with her got up from the floor, his face a mask of anger.

“Yo, my nig—”

“You don’t want this, trust me,” Kev said, coming up to them and showing his gun. The man cussed under his breath and stomped away.

“Jackson, what the hell are you doing?” Tamika demanded.

“I should be asking you that, MC. Who the fuck was that?”

“Nobody! I mean, I don’t know. He just started dancing with me. I was having a good time, nothing was happening!” she explained, confused.

“Nothing except some strange nigga grinding on your ass and you acting like you like it. That’s nothing to you?” he said angrily. Tamika was taken aback. She’d never seen Jackson be jealous before. And as annoyed as she was about the reason, a small part of her was turned on. He really wasn’t playing about her.

“I wasn’t acting like anything. It was just a dance. That’s why we came here. Jackson, he barely touched me. If he had gotten inappropriate, I would’ve—”

“He was already inappropriate. His hands were rubbing your fucking thighs! Yo, Mika I swear to God—”

“You’re the one that left me all alone! It’s been half an hour, Jackson. Someone so concerned with my safety would have checked in before now don’t you think?”

“Kev was here to make sure you were okay.”

“But he’s not the one who promised me, is he? I guess Yas and her career is more interesting. You just want to act like you own me while you walk off with singers and leave me by myself. Fuck this. I don’t have time for your jealousy. Kev, I want to go home,” Tamika said, walking away from Jackson. She hurried back to VIP and grabbed her clutch from the chair. Kaitlyn stood up.

“You wanna go? Let’s go,” she said, and Tamika could only be grateful to her friend for not asking questions. Things had gotten completely out of hand, and she hated being a spectacle. So much for leaning into it, she thought. Kev and Jackson came into the section. Jackson took Tamika’s hand and started back out.

“Stop, Jackson. I’m ready to go,” she insisted, trying to pull away from him. She could feel tears pricking the backs of her eyes and she cursed the passionate nature she had that always made her cry when she was pissed off. She turned to see Kaitlyn starting after her and Kev catching her in his arms, whispering to her to calm her.

“Come here, Songbird. Don’t fight the current, not now, not tonight,” he replied, his voice low. He pulled her with him down the stairs and to the right, ducking into the hallway leading to the bathrooms and then making a quick turn. The shorter hallway they turned onto had two doors and Jackson opened one, pulling her into an office. He shut the door behind them and backed her into it.

“Where are we? How did you—”

“Kev’s brother Eric is the owner; this is his office. We need to talk.”

“I don’t know what to say to you. Why did you act like that?” Tamika demanded. Seeing him so jealous was confusing for her. It made her hot, but also annoyed. As good as it felt that he was so enamored with her, he couldn’t act like that every time she had a normal interaction with another man. Jackson sighed, his face angry and sad.

“He was touching you, and I… nobody touches my Songbird.”

“Oh Jackson, it was just a dance. You can’t get this mad over a dance.”

“Yes I can. And I wasn’t the only one in my feelings. You only let him dance on you because you were mad. Right, Mika?”

“That’s not true. I—”

“I took too long to come back and you decided to have fun by yourself, isn’t that what happened? Isn’t that how he ended up touching you?” Jackson demanded. Tamika sighed, frustrated that he was calling out that she’d basically been jealous too.

“What did you want me to do? You promised tonight was all about me, and as soon as a perfectly made up, stiletto wearing, model type with a buss down part asks for your attention, you give it to her. Yes, I was mad!”

“Mika, you said it was okay!”

“Was I supposed to say it wasn’t? When I know how hard you’re working to get back? Am I supposed to stop your money? Fuck up your networking? Yes, I said it was okay! What kind of person do you think I am?” Tamika yelled at him, her anger making her push against his hold. Jackson smiled at her, his auburn eyes softening. He leaned down, kissed her mouth, stunning her with his gentleness.

“I’m sorry, baby,” he whispered, “I am so sorry that I went back on my word and worked when I said I wouldn’t. And that I took longer than I said. Thank you for supporting me the way you did. But you don’t need to be jealous of Yas or anyone else. I only want you, Songbird. I promise.”

“But she’s—”

“Not you, Tamika. She’s not you. And that means she’s definitely not for me,” he interrupted, his hands moving over her, pulling her closer, letting her feel his desire for her.

“Jackson Porter, what am I gonna do with you?” Tamika whispered back, her arms going around his neck. His sincerity had taken all the fight out of her. Jackson kissed her, sliding his tongue into her mouth, making her moan aloud.

“Join me. Stop fighting. Let the current take you, Songbird,” he answered her question and kissed her again.

Jackson

Jackson growled, trying not to go out of his mind as he pressed Tamika against the door of Eric’s office and tasted her mouth. Her soft body cushioned his, welcomed his, and his dick got as hard as a brick. Tamika’s supple hips, the curves of her large breasts, the spongy folds of her stomach—it was all perfection to him. The scent of honeysuckle and jasmine drifted around them and he made a mental note to find out what perfume it was and gift it to her on a monthly basis. Tamika moaned softly, opening her mouth for him, hooking her arms around his neck tighter. He wrapped his tongue around hers, falling deeper into her love. Her sweet, bourbon-flavored mouth was temptation personified and all he wanted to do was kiss her for the rest of the night. But there was one more thing he needed to get clear. Reluctantly, he lifted his head.

“We still gotta talk about that lame who was touching you.”

“Jack, do we have to? He was nobody. I never even saw his face!” Tamika protested, her full lips going into a pout. Jackson sighed. He wanted to suck that bottom lip right into his mouth. He tried to back up instead, but Tamika held tight, keeping him right up against her.

“He touched you, and I didn’t like it,” Jackson said.

“So what? You think I asked for that? You think it’s my fault?”

“No baby,” he assured her, kissing her nose and forehead, quieting her angst, “it’s mine for even leaving you alone. That was my bad, all the way. And Kev’s, because he was supposed to be watching you.”

“I told him I was fine. Don’t blame him.”

“Kev don’t take orders from you, Mika, he take them from me. I just need you to understand you’re not going to be able to stop me from being jealous. As much convincing as I had to do to get you to even consider giving us a chance? Ain’t nobody coming between us.”

“Baby, there’s nobody’s between us. I’m all about you. There’s absolutely no reason to let something like a dance bother you this much. Plus, you work in an industry where you literally have women in your face all the time—case in point, tonight,” Tamika reasoned. Jackson smirked. She was so adorable when she was being logical. She was about to learn exactly how unreasonable he was about her though.

“In my face, Mika, not in my arms. My hands stay on the equipment and theirs stay to themselves. I don’t want none of them and it’s been part of my rep from the beginning that I don’t roll like that with anyone who works with me. As for tonight, that doesn’t usually happen. Someone must have tipped Yas that I was here. And like I said, I am so sorry, babe. I won’t leave you alone again. I wanted to hurt that man when I saw you on that dance floor. You were perfect, and he ain’t have no business putting his hands on my perfection.”

“I don’t know how you managed to exasperate me and make me feel like the sexiest woman alive at the same time, but you did,” Tamika said, smiling at him, “But you’ve got to settle down, Jack. I’m right here, with you.”

“You better be,” Jackson said and kissed her. His hand moved from her waist to the hem of her dress and he went underneath, and in between her plentiful thighs. Tamika widened her stance, helping him get there faster as she whimpered with need. Jackson’s finger skimmed the lacy edge of her panties, feeling the smooth skin at the crease of her thighs. His mouth pressed against hers as his fingers reached in, pushing toward her warm center. He parted her lower lips and stroked her clit with the pad of his thumb. Tamika moaned into his mouth, moving her hips, searching for more. Jackson touched her, wet his fingers, drove himself crazy with how soft and silky she was. He pulled back and used his other hand to pull his cell phone from his pocket.

“Nobody touches my perfection,” his voice rumbled as he stroked her, “look at me, Songbird. Pay attention.” Tamika’s eyes opened and her beautiful carob orbs, darkened to walnut with the desire swimming in her eyes, stared back at him.

“Jackson?” she breathed. He moved his hand faster, rubbing her swollen clit, making her gasp for breath and arch into him. He held up his other hand, showing her his cell phone.

“I could press one button on this phone and end his life before you cum. That’s how serious I am. How serious you are to me. Don’t ask me to be reasonable… I can’t,” he whispered, his head spinning. She felt so good, and he wasn’t even inside her. It was madness. But he loved it. Tamika shook her head.

“Baby, don’t. I-I’m yours, all yours. Forget him. Be right here… with me,” she whispered, wanting to appease him. Jackson put his phone away and refocused, sliding two fingers inside her. His other hand went to her ass, squeezing as he pumped in and out of her, pressing on her sensitive nub of desire. Moments later, he was catching her scream in his mouth as she came hard, wetting his hand. Her knees went weak with the force of it and he held her up, soothing her with kisses while she rode out the pleasure. When Tamika was calmer, she stared at him in awe.

“You okay, baby?” he asked her. She nodded.

“I want to go home now,” she whispered, licking her lips, letting him know she was ready for more. Jackson chuckled. He wanted more now too. He hoped she hadn’t planned on sleeping tonight, because that was definitely not happening. Jackson pulled his cell phone from his pocket again. He used his face to open it and hit three buttons. It was picked up on the other end seconds later.

“Yeah, J?” Kev’s voice boomed through the speakers.

“Make sure Kaitlyn is cool and get the car. Baby’s ready to go home.”