Rock Heart Read online

  “Showtime, baby.”

  She takes a deep breath and struts out onto the stage. I grin as I watch her act like she owns the fucking place. That girl is quite the actress. I’m eager to peel away those layers she keeps hidden from me.

  When I saunter onto the stage, the crowd goes nuts. They always seem to go crazy over the lead singer for some reason.

  “Are you ready to fucking rock?” I scream into the microphone.

  Donnie starts pounding the drums and we go straight into our number-one hit. The crowd is a blur of bouncing bodies. Bobby and Ryan nail every note as I tear through the lyrics. Song after song, we blow the roof off the place. After the infamous panty song, we slow it down a bit. Bobby acoustically plays a few songs we came up with when his dad died. I always love seeing the crowd all holding their lighters, swaying to the melancholy music.

  Now it’s time to do the new song. I wink at Ryan as she shakily makes her way to the mic in front of her.

  I grin at the crowd and run my fingers through my sweaty hair. “You guys are in for a special treat tonight,” I tell them. They scream loudly until I shush them back down. “Now, now. I know you all want to know what it is.” I hold my hand out to Ryan.

  She pulls off her bass and hands it to the stagehand before walking over to me and taking my hand. Tonight, she looks absolutely stunning. She’s wearing dark, skinny jeans and a pair of black flats. Her tank top is white and silky. Every time she moves, it seems to dance around her. A long, silver necklace hangs from her neck and matches an armful of bracelets.

  When she takes my hand, I pull her in for a hug. The crowd screams, clearly enjoying this new part of our show. This hug, though, isn’t for show—it’s real. Just like whatever it is that’s blossoming between us.

  We break apart and she takes the other microphone from the stand. Bobby begins strumming the chords to Without You. And just like that first night, I sing the first part. When she starts singing her part, the crowd goes insane. She flashes me a triumphant smile. I’m so fucking proud of her. Together, we make a beautiful twist of gravelly and deep with soft and sweet. It’s different, but it’s fucking awesome. And our fans agree one hundred percent.

  The stage lights shine down on her and she glows. When she smiles beautifully at me as she sings her last part, something becomes crystal clear. She’s not just a rock-and-roll fairy—she’s also a sweet, little angel.

  As the song ends, I stride over to her and cup her cheek with my palm.

  “You stole the show, angel,” I praise with a grin.

  Her eyes light up with my compliment and my heart fucking aches. I spent way too much time being a douchebag and treating her badly. Not anymore. She’s mine and I’m never letting her go.

  “Angel?” she asks with a laugh.

  I dip my head down and peck her lips, ignoring the roar from the crowd, which seems to be eating up our intimate moment.

  “It sounds better than li’l rock-and-roll fairy,” I tease.

  She stands on her toes and briefly presses her lips harder to mine before moving back away.

  When the crowd starts screaming, “Encore!” she hurries over to the sound guy and grabs her bass back. Music blasts out once again over the arena as we play two more crowd favorites. After the second song ends, we thank the crowd and exit the stage. The moment Ryan and I are out of view, I hook my arm around her waist and kiss the top of her head.

  “You were amazing.”

  Donnie walks up behind us, grabbing a handful of each of our asses. “Your asses were begging to be grabbed. Tonight, we’re celebrating.”

  I groan because I want Ryan all to myself, but she’s already giggling with excitement. “Fine,” I concede, “but we’re partying at the hotel bar. I’m so fucking done with the bus already.”

  “I don’t get it, man,” Donnie says after he drains his beer. “Chicks always fucking go to the bathroom together. What the fuck do they do in there? I mean, they come back all giggly and shit. In Donnie’s Daily Daydreams, I imagine that, right now, June has her tongue buried in Ryan’s pu—”

  He doesn’t get out what he wants to say before Bobby elbows him in the gut. “Dude, stop talking sexual shit about my wife.”

  When the girls walk up giggling, the three of us burst out laughing. We’re sick bastards, all thinking the same thing.

  “What’s so funny?” June asks as Bobby hands her a fruity cocktail.

  They paid good money for a celebrity babysitting service so they could have a night alone. Bobby told me that he’d reserved them a fancy suite. Not the penthouse of course—already fucking taken. The way Bobby eyes her hungrily, I know at least someone is getting fucked tonight.

  When they begin whispering, I turn to Ryan. “You fucking nailed it tonight. With you being able to sing, I see our band really accomplishing some badass shit. Honestly, you’re a great addition.”

  Donnie hangs an arm over her shoulder. “Ry-Bear, what Chaz is trying to say is that he’s sorry he’s been nothing but an ass to you and he wants to have a threesome. But unlucky for you two, I see two sex kittens waving at me from that table over there. So tonight, you’re on your own.”

  We laugh as he saunters off to the table of giggling girls. Bobby and June have disappeared, so I’m finally going to get Ryan alone.

  “Come on. I’m about to rock your world.” I wink at her.

  Her cheeks turn pink, but she tosses me a sexy grin and takes my hand. I guide her through the bar and into the hallway where the elevators are. We’re quiet as I slide my card to open the elevators. I have to swipe it once more to access the penthouse once we’re inside.

  As we ride to the top, she clears her throat and fidgets nervously. “Chaz?”

  “Yeah, angel?”

  “I’m not someone who just jumps into bed with anyone. I’ve only ever been with one person. So if you’re planning on turning me into your little plaything, it’s not going to happen.”

  I squeeze her hand. “Ryan, I like you. I want you so fucking badly. That desire to have you won’t disappear after I’ve been with you. In fact, I have a feeling it will only make me want you more.”

  The elevator doors open to the penthouse and we walk in.

  “Wow. This place is beautiful,” she gasps, releasing my hand so she can walk over to the picturesque windows.

  I make my way over to her and stand directly behind her. “It pales in comparison to you.”

  She giggles but quiets down when I take my fingers and softly drag them down her bare arms from the shoulders to her elbows. I slide a hand up to her hair and sweep it around so I have access to her neck. Bringing my lips down, I kiss her there softly.

  “I’m not used to this, you know. Fancy penthouse suites. Thousands of people screaming and singing along to my music. It’s weird and completely overwhelming. Yet, at the same time, it is exciting and exhilarating. I really don’t belong here though. If it weren’t for my mother pushing me to take this opportunity, I would still be in Flagstaff working at the daycare.”

  My heart thumps loudly in my chest. Ryan never opens up very much to me. I feel like she’s told me more in one breath than she has the entire time I’ve known her. Grabbing her hips, I turn her to face me. She looks up at me and gives me a sweet smile, but I can still see the uncertainty.

  “I want you to listen to me, angel. You deserve this. All of it. If you weren’t a badass bass player, you wouldn’t be here. We auditioned a shitload of people and not one of them came close to touching your level of ability. You earned every right to be with us. And you might as well enjoy all the ‘rock star’ perks. They come with the job, babe.”

  All hesitation disappears from her face, and she grabs the hem of her shirt, pulling it up over her head. I step back so I can fully appreciate her. Her tits look quite bitable pushed up in her white, lacy bra. She reaches behind her and unclasps her bra, freeing her perky breasts. After she tosses her bra to the floor, I move back over to her and cover each tit with my hands. />
  “I’ve wanted to get you alone like this for so long,” I admit.

  She unbuttons her jeans and unzips them. Slowly, she shimmies them off her hips. “We’re alone now. Get naked,” she orders with one eyebrow cocked up.

  I chuckle at her bossiness and quickly yank my shirt off. Her eyes greedily devour my naked flesh. She easily slides out of her jeans and panties the rest of the way. Her body is sexy as fuck.

  I unbuckle my pants and push them, along with my boxers, down to my ankles before stepping out of them and my shoes. My cock bounces, ready to play. She laughs when I hop on each foot pulling off my socks.

  “So sexy,” she laughs.

  “Are you making fun of me?” I growl.

  She squeals when I close in on her and toss her over my shoulder. “Let me go, asshole!”

  “Nope, and now you’re going to pay for making fun of me.”

  She struggles to free herself, knowing what’s about to happen. As soon as I drop her on the bed, I pounce on her, grabbing both wrists and pinning them to the bed.

  “Please don’t tickle me,” she begs.

  I hold both wrists with one hand and slowly drag my fingers down the length of her arm. She whimpers when I go even slower along her ribs. Then I splay my palm across her belly.

  “I’m going to do it.”

  She shakes her head. “Dammit, Chaz. If you do, you’re not getting laid tonight,” she threatens. Her face is so fucking cute while she attempts to look pissed off.

  I chuckle at her and begin tickling her all over her belly. She screams, laughs, and squirms, but I don’t stop until tears are streaming down the sides of her face. When I finally let her go, she slaps at my chest.

  “I hate you,” she pouts, her chest still heaving from the exertion.

  “But I don’t hate you,” I tell her as I dip down to momentarily press my lips to hers. “In fact, I really, really like you.” I kiss her along her cheek and jaw until I find the lobe of her ear. “And I want to finally have my dick so deep inside you. I bet you’re tight as fuck and just dripping for me.”

  She whimpers and shakes her head. “Nope. Not when you tickle me. I’m as dry as a desert.”

  I kiss my way down her body until I’m at her pubic bone. “Is that so, angel?”

  She looks down at me and bites her lip, nodding. I grab hold of her thighs and spread her apart. Softly, I kiss the lips of her pussy, causing her to thrust against my mouth. Slowly, I slide a finger deep inside her. Fuck yeah, she’s tight. And totally fucking drenched.

  I pull away to look at her with a smirk on my face. “You lie. In reality, you want me touching you, tasting you all over, and you get so damn wet for me.”

  I continue to slide my finger in and out of her, enjoying the sexy little sounds coming from her. When I drag my tongue back along her sweet spot while I finger-fuck her, she once again bucks off the bed. This time, I don’t stop. I circle her clit with my tongue and devour her. She tastes so sweet.

  “Chaz!” she cries out, clutching onto my hair. I feel her clenching around my fingers as her orgasm takes control of her body.

  God, I’ve wanted her for so fucking long. When she finishes convulsing, I quickly pull away to locate a condom from my wallet. After I’ve found one and put it on, I turn to see her eyeing me lustfully. She looks like a real fucking angel spread upon the bed, blond hair splayed around her like an aura. I climb back onto the bed and situate myself between her legs.

  “You ready?” I ask.

  She nods and I lower myself back down on top of her. Her legs wrap around my hips, but I don’t enter her yet. I’ve never seen her so relaxed and unguarded. My dick throbs to be inside her, but in this moment, I just want to kiss her. To look into her eyes and peel away the layers that make her who she is.

  “What are you thinking about?” I ask as I begin slowly kissing her bottom lip.

  “At the moment, you.”

  For some reason, her answer strikes me as odd. “At the moment, huh? What happens when you aren’t in my arms? Do you think about someone else?”

  Her brows furrow as she frowns at me. “I have a lot on my mind. Always on my mind. Right now, you’re on it. But if you keep up the jealous act, you can sleep by yourself tonight.”

  Well, fuck.

  “I’m sorry. I just want you all to myself.”

  She sighs and gives me a half smile. “And right now, you have me. Now stop talking and fuck me already.”

  I grab hold of my cock and push it against her wet opening. As I thrust all the way inside her, I try not to come right away. Her body squeezes against my cock in a fucking awesome way.

  “God, you feel so damn good,” I mumble against her lips. I’m as deep as I can go, but need to catch my bearings before I move any more. It would be pretty fucking embarrassing to come just from being inside her.

  When I feel like I have control over my body, I gradually start moving in and out of her slick heat as I kiss her sweetly. Her fingers slide into my hair and she kisses me deeper as I pick up speed.

  “Damn, angel. This feels better than I imagined.”

  She moans and rolls her eyes back as I continue pounding into her. Her short little legs are surprisingly strong as she keeps my hips locked in a death grip. I slide my palm up to her tit and grab a handful.

  “Oh,” she whimpers.

  “Does that feel good?” I growl out.

  “So…fucking…good,” she agrees through ragged panting.

  I feel the walls of her pussy begin to tense up, clenching around my cock.

  “Chaz!”

  Her body arches beneath me as shudders tear through her. The way her tight cunt grips my dick causes me to explosively lose my load inside her. “Fuuuuuck!”

  We breathe heavily against each other’s lips as I pump a few more times into her. Once we’re done and my cock begins to soften, I look into her icy-blue eyes. I want to know everything there is to know about her.

  “You’re so damn perfect, angel.”

  She looks away, seemingly embarrassed. “No, I’m not.”

  Once again, she puzzles me with her cryptic phrases. “Hey. I’m not sure what’s going on in that pretty little head of yours, but I don’t like it. You’re afraid to be the real you around me—that’s clear as day. Why won’t you let me know who you truly are?”

  For a split second, her eyes flash with what seems like happiness and I feel as if she might fully reveal herself, but just like usual, she blinks it back. She pouts her lips out and frowns. God, those lips will be my undoing.

  “Here, I’m Ryan—The Aces’ bassist. Out there, I’m someone else. Those two people don’t coexist as one. I’m sorry, but this is all I can offer right now.”

  My heart clenches painfully in my chest. I’m fucking hurt that she won’t open up to me. We’ve just made love, yet she still can’t tell me a damn thing.

  I’m about to press her for more details when her phone starts ringing from the pocket of her jeans. Panic flickers in her eyes.

  “Get off! I need to answer that,” she orders quickly. When I refuse to move, she becomes furious. “Chaz! Get the fuck off me now, asshole!”

  This time when she pushes against my chest, I roll off of her and onto my back. Lifting up on my elbows, I watch her naked ass scamper over to her jeans to retrieve her phone.

  “Hello,” she answers breathlessly as she races for the bathroom door.

  My temper flares as I realize that she’s heading in there to avoid me overhearing. Fuck her and fuck that. I launch myself off the bed and nearly reach the bathroom door before it’s slammed into my face. When I grab the handle, I curse once I discover that it’s already locked.

  Faintly, I hear, “I love you too, baby,” before the shower turns on and drowns out the rest of her conversation.

  I fucking knew it. Women are all the same.

  “I love you too,” I choke into the phone one last time and immediately burst into tears after I hang up. Being away from him is a lot
harder than I expected. I’m not sure how much longer I can try and live this double life. It’s too taxing on me and completely unfair to Chaz.

  Chaz. God, he’ll hate me. He already assumes the worst. I saw the look in his eyes. Why did I have to go falling head over heels for my coworker? Such a stupid mistake. Last time, I made a similar mistake, and it cost me dearly. I don’t regret it—not one single part—but it definitely had its consequence.

  Defeated, I toss my phone on the counter and step into the hot shower. A real woman would unlock the door, face the tattooed badass, and tell him the truth. But I’m not a real woman. I’m a fucking coward.

  I turn the faucet to the hottest temperature my skin can take and bury my face into my palms. Big tears pour from my eyes. Get a hold of yourself, Ryan.

  The sound of splintering wood causes me to jump, and I see a hulking, naked frame through the steamy glass stalk over to the shower door and wrench it open. Chaz glares angrily at me, but his gaze softens when he sees my face.

  “I’m sorry,” I sob.

  He scowls but steps into the shower and envelops me in an embrace. “Shh, I’ve got you,” his voice rumbles through his chest and against my cheek that’s pressed against it.

  When I break down even more and I’m barely able to stand on my wobbly knees, he holds me tight so I won’t fall. Neve really messed up letting this one go. But am I any better?

  After several minutes of sniffling and hiccupping through my tears, I finally find myself calming down. He gently strokes my back with one hand and holds me tight to him with the other. Once I’ve stopped crying, he pulls away and steps out of the shower. My heart doesn’t even have time to ache before he climbs back in with a wash cloth. He drenches the rag and rings it out.

  “Come here,” he instructs softly. “Your face is a mess.”

  I still can’t bring my eyes to meet his. Instead, I close them and allow him to gently scrub away the makeup. Once he finishes with my face, I hear him squirt some body wash into the rag and he begins washing my body, starting at my neck. His movements are slow and deliberate—it’s as if he’s trying to wash away my pain.