RAPT - The Price of Love: Everhide Rockstar Romance Book 3 (Everhide Rockstar Romance Series)

by Tania Joyce

  He slipped his finger underneath her panties and met her arousal, wet, warm and slick. He circled his thumb over her clit, stroked her up and down. “Hmm. I know what I’d like to do.” Smiling against her lips, he eased his finger inside her. Drove it in slow and deep. Teased her tenderly.

  Her insides clenched around him. Her eyes fluttered shut. “Does it involve you, me, naked?”

  “Oh yeah.” Hooking his fingers around the crotch of her panties, he tugged them lower. They caught on her ass. She wriggled. He pulled harder. Shit. His fingernails went through the lace.

  Gemma giggled and clutched onto his shoulders. “Did you just tear my panties?”

  He eased them down her legs, not caring about the flimsy bit of material. “I’ll buy you new ones. Just so I can do that again.”

  As he lowered her panties, they snagged on her knees, then caught on her ankles, and hooked on her toes before he got them free.

  “So graceful.” Her smile was the sexiest he’d ever seen.

  “Next time I’ll just tear them off.”

  “Promise?”

  “Yeah.” Snaking his hands around her, he lifted her off the counter and headed for the table. Her soft laugh was the sweetest sound. Her kisses sent shockwaves through his heart. She was so perfect.

  He placed her onto the surface, and they peeled off their pajamas. As Gemma’s eyes skimmed over his bare body, heat burned in her gaze like she wanted to devour him. He wasn’t going to stop her. She was naked. He was hard and aching. After their crazy day, he just wanted to love her. Stepping in close, he kissed her. He flicked his tongue into her mouth and plunged his cock between her legs. The hungry groan erupting deep in her throat rippled through his body. Set fire to his soul. With her hands threaded in his hair, he drove into her again and again. He couldn’t love her more than he did.

  The threatening letters flashed through his mind. He tried to block it out by deepening his kiss, absorbing Gemma’s floral scent into his every cell. He clutched onto her tighter. Drove into her harder. He had to keep her safe. No one would ever take her away from him. If the psycho ever showed up, he’d never hesitate. He loved Gemma so much, he’d put his life on the line. He’d die to protect her.

  He prayed it would never come to that.

  Chapter 5

  After four days, the detectives still had no solid leads into the death threats. Kyle’s paranoia didn’t subside. It stalked him into the foyer of the air-conditioned private after-party room beside SummerStage in Central Park. It gnawed into the base of his neck when he peered through the single doorway into the function area full of ticket-winning fans and VIP guests.

  The early spring benefit to raise money for City Parks Foundation looked innocent enough. The fundraising crowd occupied one side of the room with the bar and waiters scooting about with trays of food and cold drinks; on the other side, behind a roped off section, fans crammed into a fraction of the space, waiting to meet Everhide. Hunter and Gemma huddled beside him and scanned the group like he did, no doubt looking for anyone acting suspicious. The threats had them on edge—at rehearsals, during their concert, and now.

  Kate hugged her ever-present tablet to her chest. “You three ready? You’ve got fifteen minutes before we start the meet and greet. Grab a drink. Wait by the bar. I’ll come and get you.”

  “Okay. We’ll be ready.” Gemma sounded confident but her hand sweated in his. She fidgeted and fussed with the neckline of her sparkly halter top while her gaze jumped over the crowd.

  This was their first outing since they’d found out about the letters. Kyle gave her a reassuring squeeze and kissed the back of her hand. He wouldn’t let her out of his sight. She was right about one thing; no crazed fan would stop them from living their life. Security measures were in place. But it wouldn’t hurt to remain alert.

  With a nod, Kate ushered them into the VIP area. From across the room, the fans caught sight of them. With a flurry of flapping arms, they filled the place with shrieking screams and cheers. Kyle waved and flashed them his friendliest smile, but his guts wouldn’t unravel. He needed a stiff drink or two before signing merchandise and meeting the fans.

  “Gemma. Kyle.” A familiar voice hollered over the benefit-goers, sipping on their champagne.

  Kyle tugged on the belt loop of Gemma’s dress pants. “Hey, the girls are here.” He pointed to Vicki and Laura, their old high school friends waving and drinking at the bar.

  “Oh my gosh.” Gemma rushed over to them. “It’s so good to see you. Thanks for coming. Did you enjoy the concert?”

  Kyle and Hunter stepped in beside her. With Kara and Lexi at a pre-New York Fashion Week dinner, she’d invited these girlfriends to see the show. She didn’t get to see them very often. Since high school, their lives had taken different paths. The moment she contacted them to catch up and mentioned free party, Laura and Vicki came running.

  Laura knocked back her flute of champagne like it was a shot of whiskey. Her cheeks glowed red like she’d had way too many drinks during their concert. Her chignon looked more like a tattered bird’s nest than an updo and the thin straps of her short sequined party dress kept falling off her shoulders. She grabbed another drink from the waiter walking by. “Yeah, the concert was fab. You guys rocked. And you offered free tickets. Didn’t have to ask me twice.”

  “Glad you could make it.” Kyle greeted each girl with a quick kiss on the cheek.

  “Good to see you, Poindexter.” Vicki’s smug tone grated his nerves. Her lame attempt at humor and her pet name for him irked him. He hadn’t been the socially awkward guy he was back in high school for years. Endless hours of media training and being thrust in front of cameras, journalists and thousands of fans over the years had cured that.

  “Vick, please stop calling me that,” he groaned. “It’s so old.” She’d started calling him the stupid name after they broke up and never let it go.

  Gemma inhaled loudly and she tugged on her dangling earring. “Yea-p. Over it.”

  Yet another thing they had in common.

  Vicki shook her head, her short blond bob flicking against her cheeks. “No can do.” A playful no-chance-in-hell stubbornness flashed through her wide-set blue eyes. “Because some things never die.”

  “Girls.” Hunter jimmied his way between Vicki and Laura and hooked his arms around their shoulders. “Did you miss me while we were away?”

  “God, no.” Vicki peeled Hunter’s arm off her shoulder like it was a rotten banana skin and grabbed her drink off the bar. “The city’s so much nicer when you’re not in it.”

  Laura finished her mouthful of champagne-soaked strawberry and shrugged a shoulder. “Didn’t even know you’d been gone.”

  “Oh, don’t say that.” Hunter cupped his hands over his heart. “You hurt my feelings.”

  Kyle let out a short puff of air. Sarcasm never ruffled Hunter; he usually fed on it. Before it turned into a game of wit and banter, Kyle jerked his head toward the bar. “You’ll get over it, Hunt. Let’s have a drink before duty calls.” He stole a quick kiss from Gemma. “You stay with the girls; I’ll grab you a JD.”

  “No.” No one would’ve noticed her fingers trembling when she touched her forehead, but he did. “I mean . . . no thanks. I’m fine.”

  He painted on a smile, one that said I know you’re lying but I understand. His senses were in overdrive, taking in the surroundings—the guests drinking at nearby bar tables, the waiters walking past, the glances coming their way. Searching for anything unusual. “Okay. Let me know if you want anything.”

  “Hey.” Vicki caught his arm. “We’re going soon. Laura’s had too much to drink.”

  “Okay. See ya.” He half-heartedly waved. Reluctant to leave Gemma’s side, Kyle grabbed Hunter on the shoulder, steered him around the girls and ordered drinks at the bar. As he waited, prickles shot across his skin. He felt eyes boring into his back. He spun around to see Gemma laughing with her friends. Nope—nothing unusual. He scanned the crowd and the fan
s queuing to see them. Nothing. Where was the unease coming from?

  Rubbing his eyes, he wished this night would end so he could get Gemma out of there. Home to safety.

  The threatening letters flashed through his mind. Shit! What if it was Laura or Vicki threatening Gemma? The very thought made him sick. They had so few trusted people in their lives it would be a devastating blow.

  Hunter handed him a drink and chinked glasses. “Cheers, bud.” They knocked back the JD and ordered another round. Hunter jerked his chin in Gemma’s direction and his tone took on a serious note. “Gem’s worried, isn’t she? I hate seeing her like this.”

  “Me too. But you know Gem. She’s trying to be tough. Good thing we see through it.” The three of them were so in tune sometimes it was scary. Kyle slid his empty glass onto the counter and indicated to the barman for another. “But what can we do? After getting those damn letters, I suspect everyone. Do you think it could be Laura or Vicki?”

  “They’re your exes. You tell me?” Hunter rested his elbow on the bar and leaned close so only Kyle could hear. “But to be honest, no. Between the two of them, they don’t have enough brain power to come up with such a scheme. Half the time, I don’t know why Gemma remains friends with them. I know it’s hard to make new ones and trust anyone, but I’m sure they only stick around because we’re famous.”

  Laura and Vicki had been just average nice girls at high school. Didn’t bully them or ridicule their music. They’d hung out on occasion. They’d been friendly, but basically ignored them until Everhide grew popular in senior year.

  Kyle rested his butt on the bar stool. “Yeah. They do only come to our parties.” He chuckled. The three of them didn’t have many close friends, but they treasured the few they had. “They’re just not close BFFs like Kara and Lexi.”

  “Nope. Far from it.” Hunter grabbed the fresh drinks from the bartender and handed Kyle a glass. He knitted his brows together. “Has something happened to make you suspect one of them?”

  Kyle studied Gemma jabbering away with the girls. She fidgeted with her necklace as she said something. The girl’s mouths gaped, wider and wider. They clutched Gemma’s arms and jumped up and down. He smiled and shook his head. She would’ve just asked them to her all-expenses-paid bachelorette party in Las Vegas. “No. I’m just questioning everyone I’ve ever been with. Dredging up my list of ex-girlfriends for the detective wasn’t fun. I like to forget I was ever with Laura and Vicki.”

  “Bud, that was back in high school.” Hunter threw a filthy look in Vicki’s direction, his voice dripping with spite. “Vicki cheated on you. In the locker room with some jock.”

  Yeah. Skank.

  Old wounds flared in Kyle’s chest. Vicki was his first heartbreak. She’d apologized, said it was a mistake, cried a ton of tears. But Gemma didn’t let him fall for her excuses. Thank God.

  Hunter hovered his glass near his lips. “And Laura. She only ever blew you, didn’t she?”

  “Aha.” Kyle half grinned, while nightmares filled his mind. Laura had tutored him in math. She’d spent more time on her knees than teaching him algebra. “My dad scared her for life.” The day his father had walked in on them and backhanded him across the face was the last time he’d been with Laura. If she had some reason to hate Gemma and still pined for him, she really was sick.

  Kyle knocked back his JD, the whiskey like fire in his throat. He didn’t need this nonsense before his wedding. This was supposed to be one of the most exciting times of his life, not tainted by watching over his shoulder, worrying every time he couldn’t lay eyes on Gemma, and suspecting everyone he knew. God, he’d turned into Gemma. Turned paranoid over everything.

  Kate broke through the crowd and waved at them. “Guys, you ready?”

  They both nodded, grabbed Gemma, said goodbye to the girls, and followed Kate to the other side of the room.

  Straightening the collar on his leather jacket, Kyle skimmed the queue. For the first time, he didn’t look forward to meeting fans. Was the person behind the letters here? What if they were? Would they make a move? This was a private function. Their bodyguards stood behind them, but would that stop anyone determined to hurt them?

  His knees wobbled as he took a seat at one end of the table; Gemma took the middle and Hunter was at the opposite end. With Sharpie in hand, he was set to sign autographs and merchandise. His pulse quickened and whooshed in his ears. No matter how many times he chanted in his mind everything would be fine, his leg wouldn’t stop jiggling. He rubbed Gemma on the back and gave her a kiss. “Love you. You sure you want to do this?”

  “Yes.” She spoke through thin lips. “We don’t really have a choice. So stop pestering.”

  He wasn’t pestering; he was fucking worried.

  “Gem, he’s not,” Hunter butted in. “Now, play nice. It’s fan time.” Hunter pulled his shoulder-length hair back into a ponytail and put on his it’s-showtime smile. But Kyle saw worry in his eyes.

  For the next hour, the three of them smiled, posed for selfies, and signed hundreds of items. As the line thinned, Kyle glanced over the remainder of the crowd. His heart jerked against his ribs. Taylah, dressed in skinny black jeans and an Everhide concert shirt, joined the end of the queue. He leaned over and whispered in Gemma’s ear, “Look who’s at the end of the line.”

  She scanned the row and her eyes widened. “Oh shit.”

  Their number one suspect that the police hadn’t talked face-to-face with yet shuffled closer.

  Crap.

  Before Gemma turned, Kyle waved Sam over and spoke into his ear. “Taylah’s here. Why didn’t anyone tell us? Watch her like a hawk.”

  “I’m on it.” Sam spoke into his headset and remained on guard behind Kyle and Gemma. Chester and Mick drew to attention and covered both ends of the table.

  Having security around did nothing to put him at ease.

  Taylah’s turn. She bounced past security and up to the table, a nervous titter in her tone. “Hey Hunter. So good to see you again.”

  “Heyyyy!” Hunter snapped a quick sideways glance at Gemma, Kyle and security before he turned back to Taylah.

  “I’m Taylah.” She placed two Everhide shirts on the table. “From the Ringers fan club.”

  “I know who you are.” Caution slithered in his tone. “How are you?”

  “Excellent, thank you.” Taylah bobbed her head, her short black hair falling across one eye.

  Kyle wiped his palms on his thighs, watched her every move, impatient for her to be gone.

  Taylah thumbed toward security. “What’s with them being so close?”

  “Umm . . . just procedure.” Hunter scribbled his signature on the shirts as fast as he could. “Hope you enjoyed the show. Thanks for coming.” With a quick flick of his hand, he pushed the shirts along the table.

  Kyle had never seen Hunter get rid of a fan so fast. No photos. No boob signing. Nothing.

  It didn’t deter Taylah. With a dip in her step, she slid in front of Gemma. Kyle slipped a protective arm around Gemma’s shoulders. A beaming smile charged across Taylah’s face. “Hi Gemma. You rocked this afternoon.”

  Gemma sucked in a deep breath and sat rigid in her chair. “Hi . . . um . . . thanks. The crowd was awesome today. Thanks for being part of it.”

  Taylah scooped her bangs off her face. Her charcoal eyeliner, smoky shadow and thick mascara made her eyes look as black as onyx. “I’d do anything to see you guys play. Today was the thirty-seventh time I’ve seen you perform.”

  Kyle gaped; his breath got stuck in his lungs. Thirty-seven! Was this girl obsessed or what?

  “Really?” Gemma pulled off the cap of her Sharpie and signed the shirts. “That’s . . . fantastic.”

  She slid the merchandise to him. The quicker they got rid of her the better.

  Taylah’s face lit up like an auditorium full of cell phone lights when she stood in front of him. “Hey Kyle. You. Were. Amazing. I looove your voice so much. In fact, I love everything about yo
u.” She patted her hand over her heart. “You’re incredible. When you sing the chorus in ‘Broken Hearts’ and hit those high notes, I just melt.”

  Kyle grinned and nodded, a mix of humbled appreciation and shaky apprehension pummeled his chest. Had she turned from a fan into a sick freak? Was there any way to tell? He didn’t want to find out. He’d just play it cool and get her to move on, quick. “Ah—thank you. I’m glad you enjoy our music.”

  “Enjoy it? I love it. I’m going to Vegas in two weeks to see you perform at the iHeartRadio Music Festival.” She spoke faster and faster. “I’ve never been to Vegas. I’m so excited. I like to claim I was your very first fan, therefore the oldest and longest. Do you think that’s true?”

  “Wow. Yeah . . . maybe,” he said. But who was keeping stats? He signed and held out the shirts, but she didn’t budge. She wasn’t finished.

  “So . . . when’s the wedding?” She swung her finger between him and Gemma. “Rumors online say it’s soon.”

  Kyle’s blood pressure spiked. He gripped his pen tight, surprised it didn’t snap. Placing his free hand on Gemma’s thigh, he gave her a gentle squeeze. “Ah . . . we’re not releasing that information.” What was it going to take for her to leave? Should he give the signal to security to haul her ass out of here? “I’m sure you can appreciate all aspects of our wedding are private.”

  “Oh, I’m sorry.” She clutched the shirts to her chest. “I understand. I’m just so excited for you guys.”

  Kate, standing at the edge of the roped area with Bec, stepped toward them, indicating that Taylah’s time was up.

  “Oh.” Taylah caught sight of Kate. “Before I go, Kyle, I have to show you this.” She pulled up one sleeve of her long T-shirt. Before he could focus, security rushed forward. Kyle’s breath hitched and his arm shot across Gemma’s chest. Half standing, he leaned across.

  Taylah grimaced and glanced from Mick to Chester to Sam and back again. “Hey. Chill guys.” Security stood their ground. “I just wanted to show Kyle my tatts.”