“The pricy, well-made ones are more lifelike. Better, brat, so much better for you. Increases your bliss. My advice… turn it on, insert it, and lick you here.” To demonstrate the exact spot, he moved his thigh against her core and her breath hitched. “And wait for the show because it won’t take you long to go off. Allow me to pick one out of the glass case for you?” At her small nod, he grinned. Sam would get off on the toy he selected for her. What’d he done to deserve such a reward?
Fire! They played with fire, and he should back away now before things got out of control. He didn’t even make a half-ass stab at retreating.
“But I gotta ask….” He leaned forward, buried his face in her hair. She always smelled so good, and not for the first time he was curious how she’d smell and taste in other more intimate areas. Lips against her ear, he nipped her lobe before asking, “Do I get an invite to play with the toy I buy you?”
“Heath.” So definitely not the response he was looking for, but he recognized the sound of arousal when he heard it.
He met her eyes and ran his lips along her jaw. As he neared her mouth, her breathing stuttered… in anticipation, he was sure of it. A soft brush against her bottom lip with his, and her pulse vibrated like electricity beneath his fingertips. Using his thumb beneath her chin, he notched her head back and moved in to kiss her.
The click of photographs went off just as he would’ve connected with her.
Sam wrenched her head around and held up her arm to ward off the flashing bulbs. Heath cursed and thrust her behind him.
“That’s Samantha Collins!” Someone said, inciting a buzzing from the reporters.
“How long have you been banging Jase’s sister?” A journalist with slicked-back, dark hair asked.
“Watch how you talk about her!” Heath took a step forward. After tonight’s demonstration of violence, she feared things would go south, fast.
Sam caught his arm. “Ignore them, and let’s get out of here.”
Heath led her through half a dozen photographers that kept snapping photos. Her stomach churned at the idea of how they’d paint their truncated, but very public liaison in the tabloids. What would Jase and the other band mates think?
“Sorry for your trouble,” he tossed a wad of cash at the clerk, and they busted through the door.
Keeping her head down, she ran for the passenger door as fast she could in the stilettos. Before she could touch the handle, Heath pushed it open from the driver side.
Sam hopped in, and he backed out before she secured her seatbelt in place. Awkward silence descended in the vehicle.
That just happened.
Heath had almost kissed her. On the backside of what she’d romanticized, worry for the fallout slammed her. Their public display would be hot news tomorrow. If it wasn’t all over the Internet in the next hour, which was a more likely scenario, since she was pretty sure one of them had been videoing their escapades.
She glanced at his hands as he turned the steering wheel. He hadn’t touched her near enough to please her, but what little he had had stimulated her beyond anything she’d ever experienced. Another glide of his leg against her core and she’d have gone off like a firework during a holiday celebration.
He smacked the wheel with his palm. “I acted stupid. What a mistake.” Sam winced. She’d take getting busted by the press all over again rather than be referred to as a mistake. In the dark he thankfully didn’t notice the way his words stung. “I knew we were being tailed.”
“This is my fault.”
“How you figure?” He ran a yellow light.
“You tried to warn me. I forced you to go inside.”
“Forced?” He looked in the rearview mirror. “That’s dramatic since no one forced me to get out of the car and join you. No one forced me to almost kiss you.”
She opened her mouth to remind him she’d goaded him with picking out dildos, but his cell began to ring a moment before the dash’s Bluetooth lit up with Jase’s I.D.
“He can’t possibly already know.” The press worked on speed dial if he did.
“I bet he does.” Heath depressed the button on the wheel and answered the call on speaker. “Hey, Jase.”
“You’re making out with my sister in a sex store!” Jase exhibited his not-so-subtle side.
“It’s not what it looked like,” she tried to console him.
“It was exactly what it looked like.”
She shot a glare at Heath and mouthed, ‘not helping’.
“I blame that lewd dress.” Disgust filtered through the speaker, and she imagined Jase pulled at his hair as was his habit when agitated.
She leaned her head against the seat and stared out the window. “Jase, I was flirting with Heath. You know, when a girl wants to see if she can attract all the men in the vicinity?” Tears burned her sinuses. In a normal situation she sucked at lying, but they couldn’t see her face, and she suspected they’d leap at any excuse she gave them. Sam didn’t mind being the scapegoat when warranted. “My actions weren’t fair to Heath. I knew better, but couldn’t stop myself.”
A long moment of silence, only the whine of the wheels against the pavement broke up the quiet.
“Like you couldn’t stop yourself from stealing the car?” Jase sounded so cold, nothing like the brother who cared for and protected her.
Praying God didn’t strike her dead for her dishonesty, she said, “Pretty much.”
“I don’t know what’s gotten into you, but I’ve almost reached my limit with your bullshit, Samantha. We’re going to have a long talk when you get home and set some ground rules.” Jase disconnected the call with a curse.
She made an inconspicuous attempt to wipe tears from her eyes. She’d wanted to push him to this point because he undermined every plan she had for herself. She felt she couldn’t leave without his permission. Jase even scoffed at attending college, because what would she major in when she didn’t know what she ‘wanted to be when she grew up’? But now that she had enraged him the way she wanted, the satisfaction she’d thought she’d experience fell flat. Instead she felt hollow and more lost than before.
“That’s bullshit, Sam.” Heath sounded almost as angry as Jase.
“Sorry.” Tears hit her cheeks, and she swiped at them with the pads of her fingers. Her makeup would be ruined by the time they got home. “It wasn’t my intention to hurt you, just you know, a silly immature attempt at getting attention. A… prank of sorts, I guess.”
Attempting to salvage her brother’s friendship with his best friend, she hadn’t considered how she’d injure Heath’s pride with her deceit. Their friendship was more important than her needs so she’d endure knowing she made the right decision.
“More bullshit.”
A sob choked her. She’d rather slice her wrists with a butter knife than wound Heath in any way.
Sam’s lies infuriated Heath. But her crying ripped him apart inside. He’d never tolerated her tears well. As long as he could remember, he’d thought of her as his to protect. That first day he’d met her, her cheeks had been soiled with dirt, knees scraped from the scuffle she’d gotten into with her cousin, Rex. Said relative had sported a black eye, and Heath had adored her feisty attitude ever since. Maybe her tears affected him so much because he knew when she cried her heart was broken.
He considered pulling over so he could hold her, maybe console her a little, but ditched the idea and opted for driving straight home as fast as possible.
“Jase loves you.”
“Yeah.” She sniffled.
He reached over and buried his fingers in her hair. “Don’t cry.”
“I’m sorry, Heath. I’d never hurt you on purpose.”
“I’m not hurt.” I’m pissed off you feel the need to lie. Was this her way of protecting him? If so, he couldn’t process the reasoning behind it.
He massaged her nape, and her tears subsided as they neared home. Neither of them spoke. Many things were on his mind, but he had no clue h
ow to broach any of the subjects.
Derringer and Keys’ vehicles were in the driveway when he pulled in. Great. Either Jase had called them or the reporters had alerted them to the scandal as well.
“Time to face the firing squad.” The insecurity in her voice angered him. “How bad do I look?” She faced him as he stopped the vehicle in the garage and killed the engine.
He clasped her face between his palms. Gorgeous as always, even if her cosmetics were creating black veins on her face. Using the pads of his thumbs he smudged away the streaks of makeup as best as he could. “That’s better. The lipstick was smeared by Aaron.”
The lucky bastard.
“I mislead you. I didn’t encourage Aaron and wasn’t interested in sleeping with him. He got me to his room promising to show me an original Salvatore Dali painting.” She clutched his wrist. She was an art enthusiast, and Aaron had a lot of it to show off. “I never saw the painting. He wasn’t taking no for an answer. I was relieved to see you.”
Anger tore through him. He hoped he managed to keep the ire off his face. No sense in upsetting her further, but the burn in his knuckles felt so much better having this information. “I wish I’d punched the bastard more.”
A sad smile tugged at the corners of her lips. “You’re the best.”
Releasing her, he sat back in his seat and held her shiny gaze. “Before we go inside, tell me what you want out of life, and I’ll try my damndest to make it happen.”
“I don’t know.” She leaned against the door.
“You really wanna be Bama bound?” The move would have to be executed judiciously, but if she relocated to a bigger city maybe, just maybe she could evade the press for a while.
“I thought I did. Now…. ” She shrugged and glanced at the door to the house. Translation, now that it appeared Jase would cave to her wishes, she wasn’t so sure it’s what she wanted. At least that’s how Heath interpreted her wretched expression.
“What about art school? Or cooking classes?” Two things he knew she loved.
She faced him. “Those are hobbies, nothing with purpose.”
“We could give you more duties within the band. You’re good with the fans who win backstage passes.”
“Probably not a good idea.” She picked at her nails. “I’m the scandal child, remember? Moms don’t want me near their kids, and I don’t blame them.”
“Why’d you take the car anyway?”
“Stupidity. The girl at the club tossed me her keys and told me if I scratched it while parking it her daddy would have my job. It pissed me off that she assumed I was a valet.” Proof not everyone recognized her. Or… out of jealousy the girl maligned Sam. “Do I look like a valet?”
“Not even on your worst day.” Still wasn’t a good enough reason, but he suspected she already knew that. They were lucky the girl’s father happened to be Judge Moody and his daughter was Hot Wired’s ‘biggest fan’. He’d bribed the magistrate with autographs and backstage passes. Upon reflection the Judge had jumped at the offer much too quickly as if he suspected his daughter’s less than stellar involvement. “Think about the job offer with the band.”
At least that’d give her some purpose in her life.
“Doubtful Jase would agree, anyway.”
Speak of the devil her brother yanked open the door to the garage.
“He doesn’t speak for the entire band, Sam.” Time to defend her against her emotional sibling. “We’re not doing this out here,” Heath said to Jase as they exited the vehicle.
“Stay out of this.” A muscle ticked in Jase’s jaw. Had to be the maddest Heath had ever seen his friend. His band mate pointed at Sam. “Do you realize how childish your actions are? Messing with his feelings like that, it’s unfair and hurtful. You owe him an apology.”
“I already told him I was sorry.”
“I didn’t need one.”
Jase’s face was blotchy with his anger. “She should be apologizing to the entire band, Fang! She stole a car just the other day. Now this. Both caught by the news. I’m disappointed in you and embarrassed to call you my sister.”
Fresh tears erupted and spilled down Sam’s cheeks, wrecking the rushed cleanup job they’d done on her makeup in the car.
“I ought to punch you in your teeth.” Heath managed to keep his fists at his sides and locked his knees to stop himself from striding to his buddy and delivering the blow his callous words merited.
“That’s enough, Jase.” Derringer’s hands bracketed either side of the doorway, and his focus rested solely on Sam. As Hot Wired’s bass guitarist and oldest member in the group at twenty-nine he’d taken on the fatherly role more than once, and all of them listened when he spoke. “You okay?”
Sam nodded quickly and attempted to swipe away the tears, but more replaced them. She was obviously not okay. “Jase’s right. I’ve been a publicist’s nightmare lately, and the band doesn’t need my issues.”
“Come here.” Derringer lowered his arms and waited for her to join him. As soon as she did, he enfolded her into a hug, which made her cry harder. “I love you, hellion.”
“I love you more, Boo,” the fourth member of their band, Keys, said from behind Derringer and Sam. He got his name because he tickled the ivory keys on a piano like a god. He’d spent his formative years at Julliard, the staff and his family convinced he’d be a hit… just not of the rock star variety. He’d given her the silly nickname Boo when she’d joined them after her parents’ death. They had bonded fast, and their favorite game was trying to scare one another. She’d screamed ‘Boo!’ so much within the first month, Keys dubbed her that.
Sam choked, the teasing livened her crying instead of abating it.
Keys kissed the side of her head. “You need to stop that crying so I can see how toxic you are in this dress.” In his lingo ‘toxic’ equated to ‘smokin hawt’.
Arms still wrapped around her, Derringer guided her into the house, and Keys followed. As they disappeared out of sight, only the muffled sound of their voices could be heard.
Staring after them, Heath said, “You will back me on whatever I recommend.” Their gazes locked. Jase attempted to argue, but Heath talked over him. “We agreed I’d handle her for a while. You don’t have to like or approve anything I do or say, but you will back me. Got it?”
“She’s not an errant puppy, she’s gotta take responsibility for her actions.”
“I get that.” He even thought she got that. “Tonight wasn’t all her fault. I have to carry part of the blame.”
When they entered the living room, Keys was rotating his index finger, and Sam was turning for his inspection while she attempted to clean up her face once more. Their lead guitarist performed a sharp appreciative whistle. “Dayum, girl.”
“The shoes are a nice touch, adding the right splash of color.” Derringer eyed the red stilettos.
“Man, seriously? Do you know how gay that sounds?” Keys lowered his arm and shook his head.
Derringer winked at Sam. “Gays aren’t the only ones who know fashion.”
In a sulky attitude, Jase dropped into a chair as Heath went straight to Sam. He cupped her chin, demanding all her attention. Arousal stirred. Even with her makeup a disaster, he wanted her more than any other. Was it because she was the forbidden? The one woman he couldn’t—no… shouldn’t want?
Waiting for him to talk, she licked her lips, and that’s when he noticed how quiet the room had grown. From the periphery of his vision he could just make out Derringer gauging them from where he stood.
Heath swallowed, a great deal satisfied when his voice emerged steady. “Go shower or soak in the tub. I need to chat with the guys before we get Tab on the phone.”
Tab was a PR goddess and their agent. She’d know how to spin this gossip with just the right angle.
“One of us will knock on your door when Tab’s available.” He swished his thumb in a circular pattern along the thrumming beat in her neck. Pretty sure Derringer noticed the e
rrant move, the guitarist confirmed his suspicion with a cough.
Sam glanced at his mouth, then back at his eyes. She nodded and headed toward the door. Once there, she glanced over her shoulder and swept the room with a woebegone expression. “Sorry for creating so much drama for… all y’all.” Her voice broke on the last word, and she fled.
Heath jammed his fingers through his shaggy hair. Derringer sidled up to him, peered about the room casually, but under his breath he said, “Hurt her, and I’ll castrate you, Fang.”
He glanced at his fellow band mate and grinned. “Fair enough.”
“You three coddle her too much.”
Heath stiffened at Jase’s declaration. He wanted to rip into his friend, but as he turned to face him he decided that maybe they did pamper Sam too much. There’d be no apology forthcoming for it either.
Keys straddled the arm of a chair. “She’s been like our kid since you brought her back with you from Bama.”
“Seven years ago,” Derringer added as if they needed a timeline to justify indulging someone.
“Not you or any other uptight fuck is going to tell me not to cosset her.” Keys gave their drummer a challenging stare.
“Spoiled or not, she’s ours, Jase. Actions right or wrong, I don’t care. I’d protect y’all, so don’t expect anything different from me when it comes to Sam.” Both Derringer and Keys nodded their agreement to Heath’s statement. “Almost kissing me in public isn’t the worst thing she’s done.”
“I’m guessing the fans will eat up this potential love affair. Could be worse publicity.” Derr ran his index finger and thumb across the slim line of his barely-there mustache.
Jase frowned and crossed his arms over his chest. “After she stole the car and now this, how could anything get worse?”
“Fang could be banging her,” Keys offered.
“Or,” Derringer added, “she could be attracted to someone that doesn’t care for her. At least you know Fang loves and respects her.”
Rockin' the Heart (Hot Wired) Page 4
