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  Her eyes narrowed, snatching the glass from me and gulping the liquid. She slammed it down on the counter. “Oh, please. Tell me you can do better than that. Why don’t you just come out and say it.”

  Oh, we were going to play that game, were we? I was good at the asshole game. Her eyes flitted to my arms as I crossed them in front of my chest before she looked back at me. “Say what, princess.”

  “First of all,” she started, spitting her words out like bullets. Oh, so this was the Bex Cal warned me about. I liked it. I could do a lot with that spitfire mouth. “My name isn’t fucking sweetheart or princess. It’s Bex. Not anything else. And what you wanted to say was, you want to fuck me, but instead you gave me some lame pick-up line that you thought would work on this weak ass female because you’re used to others falling at your feet. I’m not going to get down and suck your dick, no matter how much you flex your muscles for me. Your tats and muscles might work for the idiots that come to this bar, but not for me. We straight?”

  She might’ve thought that would deter me, but she was wrong. So I laughed instead of responding. “Bex. That’ll sound good in my bed later.”

  She snorted, slapping her hand down on the counter. “Un-fucking-believable. What is it? You have some sort of brain damage? I’m. Not. Fucking. You.”

  This wasn’t going the way I anticipated. “Let’s start over,” I said, reaching out my hand. “Johnny.”

  She eyed me carefully, but didn’t hold out her hand. “Bex.”

  “Bex, welcome to The Outrigger. This is the home of the best orgasm you’ll ever receive.”

  She lifted her eyebrow, lifting the glass to her lips again. “You always this cocky?”

  I shrugged. “Don’t have any reason not to be.”

  “Well now you do,” she said, setting down the empty glass.

  “Why’s that? You have a boyfriend?”

  Bex narrowed her eyes on me. “It doesn’t matter if you were the last dick I had the option of having, I’d still pass.”

  She was lying. I could read it in her eyes. But I’d let her have that one. “If you say so, Bex.”

  “I’m here to play music, not to stroke your giant ego. Find some barfly that will be impressed by the size of your . . .” Bex paused, looking me up and down, “ . . . muscles and succumb to your every command. This girl isn’t one of them.”

  She turned on her heel and walked back to the band, avoiding my gaze as I continued to watch her. So she was feisty. I liked that.

  The bar broke out in catcalls and thunderous yelling and screaming as Jaded Regret took the stage. When I’d assumed it was going to be a huge crowd, I’d been correct. The entire place plus the beach outside was filled. I’d been sweating my ass off and wishing for a cold shower for hours, but now that I saw Bex on the stage, I definitely needed one.

  I was wrong about her only wearing shirts that showed her stomach. Bex was wearing a tight black dress and tights. Her hair was down and framing her face, and her eyes were black with makeup. She stepped up to the mic, her dark red lips fascinating me. A small smile played on her lips as she held up a hand to the appraising audience. This was the hottest sight I’d ever seen.

  “Thanks for coming,” she said, effectively silencing the crowd. “It’s so great to see such support in our hometown. Let me introduce you to my guys before we get rockin’ here tonight.” More screaming and catcalls ensued. “On the drums is my brother from another mother, Beau.”

  Beau nodded, picking up his drumsticks and banging out what I could only call an epic solo. The girls screamed, some of them shouting lewd comments at the guy. I remembered this well, and my band had never been anywhere near as popular as Jaded Regret.

  “Next up is Tanner on the bass. Take it away, Tan.” I’d heard some great bassists in my life, but this guy was fantastic.

  When he bowed to the screaming crowd, Bex stepped back to the microphone. “And last but certainly not least is Ryver, my partner on guitar when I’m too into belting out the lyrics to play. Go on with your bad ass, Ryver.”

  Ryver grinned at her. “Only if you join me.” She bumped him playfully and they counted down together, both of them playing in sync. I watched as her fingers moved deftly over the strings, her eyes looking at Ryver the whole time. I wanted to hear her sing. Right. Now.

  When they finished, they fist bumped and Ryver moved back next to Tanner. “So, you guys might’ve heard our fabulous news.” A few screams and catcalls followed her statement. “But those of you that haven’t, I’m going to tell you. Next month we’re going on tour with my idols, my inspiration. The one—the only—Halestorm.”

  Thunderous applause drowned out anything else she said. She nodded, soaking it up. Watching her up there was something else. “So to celebrate that, our first song of the night is going to be one of my favorite Halestorm songs. I hope you enjoy. I’ll be throwing in a few of their songs tonight as a tribute to them.”

  She nodded to the guys and the music began. I sure hoped no one wanted a drink because I was going to watch every second of this performance. I recognized the song immediately as “Here’s to Us.” I loved the lead singer of Halestorm, but the second Bex started singing I was lost. Her gravely voice started out low and then lifted, singing the notes like they were made just for her. She tapped her foot on the ground as she swayed with the microphone, her guitar hanging from her, unplayed.

  When she sang ‘tell them to fuck themselves’, she looked directly at me. I couldn’t help but wonder if that was on purpose. I got it. Bex was tough. But I was tougher. I never wanted her to stop singing. Her voice was like a drug. The guys stopped playing and Bex’s voice was the only sound heard throughout the bar as she finished the last line of the song. The room was silent for a moment as if spellbound by the pureness of her talent.

  Seconds later they came alive, hooting and hollering at their performance. I now understood why they were opening for Halestorm and predicted they’d have a big record label coming after them very soon.

  “Thank you, Outrigger.” Her voice curled down into my gut and twisted it around. “This next one is very special to me. It was our first song we did as a band. It will actually be our first single released. It’s called, ‘I Won’t Let You.’” A few screams got her attention, and she smiled. “Some of you know it. That’s awesome. Take it away, boys.”

  I watched as Bex’s fingers started moving over the strings, her head down and bobbing as they played the intro together.

  “They’re awesome, aren’t they?” I jumped, not expecting Cal to start talking next to me.

  I nodded, not wanting to miss a second of Bex performing by talking. She started belting out lyrics about ‘not letting you hurt me,’ ‘I won’t stay,’ ‘you can’t do this to me.’ It hit me right in my core. It was like she was singing directly to me. Thankfully no one was moving from watching them, so I was off the hook with refilling drinks.

  Two hours later, Jaded Regret bowed and ran off the stage. I breathed out, my chest tight. That was the most epic show I’d ever seen. And I got to see them for two more nights.

  Natalie walked up. “This is a great crowd. I have the feeling this weekend will be record setting.”

  “Yes,” I agreed. “They deserve it. They’re great.”

  I felt her eyeing me again. I wanted her to take me back to the band, but not for the reason she might think.

  “Do they want anything? Food?”

  Natalie nodded. “Yeah. I put their orders in already.”

  “I’ll get it and bring it to them if you want.”

  “Sure, that sounds good. The setup okay there you think?”

  “Yes, it’ll be okay there until tomorrow.”

  Natalie leaned over and put her hand on my forearm, pressing her breasts against me. “Bring the food up to room 301, okay?”

  I looked over at Cal, hoping to God he was okay with me bailing on him for a while. I had to see Bex. “Sure thing. I’ll check on it in a minute. They want any drinks
?”

  “There’s stuff in the suite,” Natalie answered. I watched her as she walked away. She was hot with curves in all the right places. Too bad someone else had ruined my appetite for anyone else tonight.

  I may or may not have stalked the kitchen for the band’s food, ignoring Cal’s warning to leave Bex alone before I headed up to their room. When I got there I knocked, trying to balance the to-go containers without dropping anything. I wondered which one was Bex’s.

  Natalie opened the door, welcoming me in. The band sat around a dining room table littered with drinks. The guys all looked at me, questions in their eyes. Bex was playing on her phone, oblivious to me.

  “This is Johnny. He works for The Outrigger and makes sure the bands have what they need.”

  A round of ‘Hey Johnny’ came from the guys, but still nothing from Bex. Well then. That was how this was going to go. I set down the containers, watching as the guys grabbed their respective meals and started digging in. Bex acted like she just realized someone was in the room. Lifting her eyes, she looked at me with nothing less than contempt.

  She opened her container and turned to the guys, dismissing me.

  “Thanks so much for bringing that up,” Natalie said, hanging on my arm again. Damn, she was just a little too clingy for me.

  “You got it,” I flirted. I looked her up and down, knowing the effect it was going to have. She grinned, looking back at the band for just a split second.

  “I’d like to thank you in private,” she whispered.

  Bam. There was the proposition. If only it was from the other beautiful woman in the room.

  “Thank me for what, sweetheart.” I flexed my arm against her hand, and her eyes widened. She didn’t mind being called sweetheart. Maybe I should focus on her for the night. She was sure to be a good time.

  “For being so . . . helpful with everything.”

  I lifted my eyebrow. “Is that so?”

  She nodded, biting her full lip. She was sexy, that was for sure. I wasn’t dead. Bending over, I put my lips near her ear. “I like being thanked. What did you have in mind?”

  A crash came from across the room, making both of us jump. Natalie’s head swung to the noise. Bex was standing, her hands clenched next to her and the chair upturned behind her.

  “Natalie,” she spat. “A word.”

  Natalie looked confused but went immediately to Bex, who led her out of the living space and to the bedroom. The guys looked at me, shrugging their shoulders at what had just happened. I guessed that was my cue to go. Cal would kill me if I went with Natalie to her room. I had a lot of work to do before I could go home for the night.

  “Nice meeting you guys. See you tomorrow,” I announced. They all waved, their mouths full of food. Natalie and Bex were still in the room, so I let myself out. She knew where to find me if she wanted to thank me.

  I had just reached the elevator when I heard a door open down the hall. I looked to see who it was. It was Bex, making a beeline directly for me. Did she see me? I stepped back so she would have to go around me to get wherever she was going.

  Right before she ran into me, she saw me. Fire shot through her hazel eyes. She was pissed. I forced my face to be passive. “Going somewhere?”

  “Get out of my way,” she demanded, her jaw set. “I don’t have time for your bullshit.”

  “Whoa.” I held out my arm and stopped her.

  “Johnny.” Her voice was stirring thoughts and images in my head. “Let me pass. I’m going to my room.”

  “Let me come with you.”

  She laughed. “You’re something else. Weren’t you just propositioning my manager? And now you think I’m going to invite you into my room?”

  “To be fair, she propositioned me.”

  She waved her hand. “Whatever. I’m going to my room, and you’re going . . . wherever. Leave me alone.”

  I stepped forward so she had no choice but to step back against the wall. “That was the fucking hottest performance I’ve ever seen. You’re a natural and deserve all the success you’ve had so far. I know you’re going to skyrocket from here.”

  She eyed me but didn’t say a word. The air changed between us, and I suddenly felt light headed. She smelled like something exotic, and her eyes surrounded by the dark makeup were too hot for me not to be affected. Her eyes flitted to my lips and then back, and I knew she was full of shit. She wanted me.

  “Bex,” I said, loving the way her name rolled off my tongue. I could imagine grunting it as I filled her tight pussy. Caging my arms against the wall, I leaned down. She looked up at me, the anger from her eyes gone.

  Before I could think any further, I crashed my lips to hers. Groaning into her mouth, I feasted on her tongue, entwining it with mine in the hottest kiss I’d ever had. She responded, nibbling at my tongue and lips. I pressed my body against hers, instantly hard. Sorry Cal, I thought. I’m totally going to fuck this rock star.

  Just when I was about to touch the skin I’d wanted to feel since I first saw her online, she stepped back and broke our kiss. Her face contorted and she smacked me across the face so hard I saw stars.

  “Stay. The. Fuck. Away. From. Me.” With that, she turned on her heel and disappeared into one of the rooms down the hall.

  Bex

  I slammed the door behind me and leaned against it, my chest heaving. What in the hell had just happened? I hated that fucker and the fact that he thought the instant he saw me I was going to drop my panties for him.

  I lifted my fingers and put them on my lips, still tingling from that orgasmic kiss in the hallway. He was hot. Beyond my wildest imagination. But I despised him. Yeah, I didn’t know him, but I knew his kind. He wasn’t a groupie. He was much worse. Johnny was the type of guy that had women falling at his feet: tall, built, tatted up, and cocky as hell. My worst nightmare. He’d thought I was going to be a notch on his bedpost the second he laid eyes on me.

  Shoving myself away from the door, I threw my room key across the room, not satisfied when all it did was bounce off the air conditioner and fall onto the floor. I wanted to punch something, but a pillow wasn’t good enough. My lady bits were crying out in protest from our little encounter, and I loathed them for being a traitorous bitch. I pulled my heels off and flung them, each one hitting a different piece of furniture in the room before resting on the ground.

  Yeah, that felt better. I stripped my leggings off and then my dress. I stood, staring at myself in the mirror in just my black thong and bra. I put my fingers on my tattoo and closed my eyes. This is why you don’t get involved, I chanted in my head. I could no longer feel the scar, but I knew it was there. That’s what ten years did for you. Time passed, and the scar faded, but the damage was done.

  Tonight had been epic. It had been the best local show we’d ever played. Yes, it was partially because we were gaining popularity, but something about being at this venue had made us all feel more alive. When we first started out, it had always been our goal to play at The Outrigger. It was like the place to come when you had made it as an indie.

  I removed the last articles of clothing I was wearing. I knew I was good looking. In my profession, being a lead singer of a rock band, looks definitely helped. But being a woman had always been a curse to me. I hated the curves I had and the muscle definition that caused men to do a double take when they saw me. Add in a few tattoos and piercings and I was like a wet dream. I didn’t do any of that for attention. I worked out because it helped the voices in my head shut up and give me a break, and the tattoos were reminders of who I’d been and never would be again. The piercings, well, they were just a sign to me to never allow someone else to decide who I was.

  Lifting my breasts, I groaned as Johnny’s image popped into my head again. I’d felt his hard dick against me in the hallway. He hadn’t been shy about showing me as he ground me into the wall. I’d been nothing but a bitch to him, yet he still wanted to fuck me. What did that say about him? Or me? Was I just a fantasy of his, to
bed a singer of a rock band? I wasn’t going to find out.

  I reached a hand down and sighed when I made contact with my sensitive skin. It had been so long. I wasn’t a prude. I liked sex just as much as the next person. The problem was, I had three protective brother types, and I only wanted one-night stands. They usually refused to let me do anything that could harm my reputation, and I appreciated that. Well, most of me appreciated that.

  I watched in the mirror as I continued pleasing myself, hating every second that I imagined it was Johnny’s fingers inside me. I didn’t want him for anything other than just to get off, but damn, the man was hot. But he’d pissed me off, and I knew I wasn’t going to do anything with him. I knew his kind. He’d brag to everyone that he fucked me, and I’d be branded a whore.

  My band, my boys, were the only family in my life with the exception of Natalie. She was the only female friend I’d ever had, and she was Beau’s sister. We’d met long ago in my own personal hell, and we’d escaped together. Beau had just as many issues as me, if not more. That’s why we understood each other. Tanner was our resident playboy, gathering up the groupies in droves. I was afraid to know how many of them he got friendly with at one time, but we all loved him anyway. We’d met him a few years after we started Jaded Regret. We all called him Suburbia because he grew up in the fucking picture perfect life. You know, the two parents and 2.3 kids with a white picket fence bullshit.

  Then there was Ryver. Born to a prick of a dad and a Mexican immigrant mom, he hadn’t seen his mother since he was three years old. She’d been deported back to Mexico, and his dad had hired people to take care of him. It was his life goal to bring his mom back to the U.S. He and I on the guitar were electric. We had had a fling at one time, but we were both too fucked up to make it anything. He was hot and great in bed, but we decided our band was more important.

  I threw my head back as I chased my release, hating myself for still picturing Johnny as I crashed over the edge. I puffed short breaths out of my mouth, needing more. Wanting more. I forced myself to go into the shower and wash off the sweat and makeup from the show and stop thinking about the hot dark haired guy that was just a few floors down at the bar.