Rockin' the Heart (Hot Wired)
Page 11
Murder bled from her eyes as she strolled toward them in her four-inch knee-high boots. Heath was almost certain she said “dead meat” as she sidled past Keys.
The lead guitarist winked at her and teased, “I had no idea you were so kinky.”
She marched onto the stage straight to Heath, hips swaying provocatively. The fans screamed when she presented herself. She slammed her hand in the center of his chest hard enough an oomph fled his lungs. She fisted his shirt and yanked him a little closer. Getting in his face, only the microphone between them. Into the instrument she said, “You’re dead when you come off this stage, Fang.”
“Aw, baby, I love the way you sweet talk me.” Humor rippled through the onlookers.
A glimmer hit her eyes. That mischief was all the warning he received before she waylaid him with a kiss. Jase’s stick crashed into the cymbal, and the crowd went wild. Heath’s pulse skyrocketed.
She’d been reading his mind. He’d wanted his mouth on hers since her excitement over the ballgame. Singing always jazzed him up, and his lust for her had escalated.
She grasped the short hairs on his nape and twisted hard enough to sting. As a means to scold him for dragging her on stage or as a means to taunt his lust, he wasn’t certain. She darted her tongue into his mouth and scuffed it around his. He groaned, the sound picked up by the microphone and emitted to the crowd. Whistles and other lewd catcalls carried from the fans, and she broke from the embrace, patting his cheek as she would Jase.
A smile toyed at the corners of her lips, and she yanked on his hair again. That was a scold. She swiped the mic out of the stand and ran her finger down his damp chest. “How many of you ladies think my man is sexay?”
Shrieking ensued along with a host of jumping up and down. “Yeah, I thought so.” While gazing at him, she tsked the crowd. “Coveting another woman’s man. Sinners!” She faced the crowd as she screamed the last word at them. A frenzy of excitement ensued. “How many whores we got in the audience tonight?”
Jesus Christ, even the men went wild over that question.
“I bet y’all want to know if Fang’s good in bed, too, huh?” A united ‘yes’ shook the stage. “A lady never kisses and tells.” Boos followed. “Good thing I’m not a lady, huh?”
Heath didn’t know the mob could get louder until that moment. Sam giggled and pointed to Jase who’d risen from his seat, beating his drumsticks against his thigh with a rapid rat-tat-tat as if he contemplated using them on someone’s head. His other hand was curled into a tight fist at his side, his knuckles white. She motioned for him to take a seat, but her brother ignored her silent instruction and continued to glare.
Heath mouthed to Jase, “She’s joking.”
His best friend didn’t sit or appear to believe him.
Stowing the mic behind her back she whispered to Jase, “Get your panties out of a wad, big brother. Sit and chill. You don’t hear me complaining about those you screw.”
Sam whipped back around to the throng while Jase glared at him. Heath leaned forward and whispered, “Come on man, you know she’s joking.”
“I know your history with the ladies.”
Surrendering, he threw his arms up in the air. Maybe Jase would eventually believe them, and if not, then he’d deal with him afterward. Too bad his buddy didn’t appear to be in a reasonable frame of mind.
She slapped him on the ass. Startled Heath jerked upward and swung around to gape at her. The spectators were so worked up they were like a rolling sea of human bodies and a disembodied voice.
“Has Hot Wired been rocking your asses off tonight?” The fans shrieked their pleasure. “I knew they would,” she said mildly as she walked to the edge of the stage in her unique hip-rolling strut. Sam was sexy as fuck. The next words she yelled into the mic were enunciated with hip pumps referencing sex. “Because Fang’s fucking rocks my world!”
Shit!
The fans detonated like a bomb, proving how much rowdier they could become. Keys laughed when she spun around with a cocky grin on her face. The lead guitarist threw out some choppy chords and bowed to her.
Sam tossed Heath the microphone and went onto her tippy-toes to press her lips against his ear. “I warmed them up with foreplay. Now fuck ‘em hard, Fang.”
She bit his ear as he had hers the other night and took off with an ass-swaying stride.
How the fuck do I follow that performance?
“This one’s for my girl.” Heath jabbed the mic into its stand and strode to the side-stage to grab his acoustic guitar and sling the strap over his shoulder. “It’ll give the band a moment to rest. I’ve been working on this one. Tonight is the first time anyone’s heard it even the rest of Hot Wired.” He scanned the spectators. “Y’all up for a never before heard song?” They cheered him on. “It’s called Rockin’ the Heart and it’s dedicated to Sam Collins, the woman who is rockin’ the fuck outta my heart.”
Heath threw out the first frets on his acoustic guitar and the audience quieted to a low hum. Belly churning, his nerves threatened to spew the beer he’d consumed. He turned in the direction where Sam had been. Almost off the stage, stationary in a half-turned state she gaped at him, alarm fraying the corners of her eyes.
My love, you got me on my knees
Take me for who I am
Begging....Pleading....
In your arms, I am meant to be
Let me give you what you’re
Wanting.....Needing.....
Cause you are
Accompanying music joined in. First a beat merged from the drums, followed by Keys on lead guitar. Sam hugged herself, blinking quickly as he hit the chorus and picked up the tempo of the song.
Rockin’ the Heart
Can you feel the drum beat
Keeping tempo in my veins
Rockin’ the Heart
A rhythm to your love
Pounding in my chest
Rockin’ the Heart
Sam glanced around at those milling about her. Behind her Tab grinned like a fool, her foot tapping in time with the thumping.
Derringer added his bass rhythm to the harmony. From the corner of his eyes he realized the crowd locked arms and swayed.
My love, I’m lost without you now
There’s an emptiness in me
Aching....Bleeding....
In your arms, I’m meant to be
Let me give you what you’re
Wanting.....Needing....
Cause you are
Rockin’ the Heart
Can you feel the drum beat
Keeping tempo in my veins
Rockin’ the Heart
A rhythm to your love
Pounding in my chest
Rockin’ the Heart
Jase added a splash of cymbals and Keys threw out some rapid-fire frets.
When I think about life without you
I find myself drowning, my breath slowly slipping
Cause when you are with me,
the world is right
And you are
Rockin’ the Heart
Can you feel the drum beat
Keeping tempo in my veins
Rockin’ the Heart
A rhythm to your love
Pounding in my chest
Rockin’ the Heart
My love, my life,
Rockin’ the Heart
The first time they performed the song together, and while far from perfect, Heath thought they managed to make it work. Felt like they’d slayed the bitch. That’s why he loved these guys so goddamn much. They knew one another and practically read one another’s mind.
Heart pounding in his throat and ears, he held Sam’s gaze for several heartbeats. He’d taken a chance with the audience’s reaction to the song. Sam’s reaction. And the band’s too. He had no idea how any would respond.
The crowd’s excitement was deafening as they screamed and stomped their feet. Heath’s focus remained on Sam until she spun on her heels and ran from his
sight.
Unable to determine what her retreat implied, he hesitated to meet Jase’s eyes. His best friend’s feelings were obvious. The tight line of his buddy’s jaw told him everything. Livid. Later would not go well.
Keys shoulder bumped him. “Great song. I can’t wait to see what you write after she kicks your ass.”
Derringer tipped him a curt nod as Jase delivered the beats for the next song. It was another hour of belting out lyrics before Heath was able to exit the stage for good.
Time to face the firing squad. The only opinion that mattered was Sam’s.
Sam’s belly rolled for the thousandth time since Heath sang his song about her, if Rockin’ the Heart was really about her. At first she’d been delighted he penned lyrics just for her, then the realization he did it only for the marketing seeped in. That was to be expected. So why was she so angry?
Several minutes ago she’d heard the final song begin. She waited to confront Heath. She’d be professional and sensible, but he needed to understand she wouldn’t be suckered into playing the part of gullible fool again.
“What the fuck was that?” she screeched the moment Heath breached the doorway.
So much for sensible and professional.
They had little time before they would meet and greet fans with backstage passes. Tone Deaf was already getting ready to schmooze them while Hot Wired took a moment to shower off the stink. Too bad Tone Deaf’s members hadn’t already departed because silence erupted like an explosion. They had zero time for her petty bullshit, but Sam was so furious she couldn’t see straight. She had to get her frustration out in the open before she imploded.
“That was brilliant, Fang.”
Sam glared at Tab. The interfering bitch grated on her last nerve. “I will punch you in your throat!”
Keys chuckled, and in typical fashion made a joke of the situation. “Wait! Wait! Let me get my cell’s recorder working first so I can post the catfight on ViewTube.”
“I’ll quit if that happens.”
Sam wished Tab would.
“You wanted the publicity, sweetheart, just giving it to you.” Grinning like a maniac, Keys imitated a shutterbug.
“I’m with Sam.” Jase popped off as he dragged his wet T-shirt over his head and flung it aside. His shoulder-length, sweat-slick hair clung to his neck.
“Best I can tell, this is Sam and Fang’s business, no one else’s,” Derringer said in a mild tone as he twisted open a bottle of water and brought it to his mouth, guzzling half the contents in one swallow.
“Fuck you, she’s my sister,” Jase shot back as if that gave him every right to intrude in her business. “This shit’s getting ridiculous, and I don’t li—”
“Shut up, Jase!” She grabbed Heath’s arm and hauled him across the room to the showers. “I can handle my business without your help.”
Heath strolled into the bathroom with composure, which rankled her worse. She slammed the door with all her might and spun around with every intention of tearing his head off. Instead he trapped her against the door with his weight. His sweat seeped into her clothing and his odor should’ve turned her off, but didn’t. This was what he’d smell like if he ever got sweaty in bed with her.
Gawd…so not the time to be thinking of Olympic sex.
She was furious with him. Focus on that!
“This is what that song was about.” He kissed her hard enough he mashed her lips against her teeth. An abbreviated attempt to turn away from him caused him to dig his fingers into her hair and immobilize her against the door. Pressing his thumb against her chin, he tugged downward.
Zero resistance came from her as their tongues tangled together. The frenzied temper of the kiss left her breathless and clutching his shirt. The digits wound in her hair departed her locks and his arm curled around her shoulders, drawing her closer. His other hand cupped the side of her head, and she lost all sense of time.
He tasted of beer, sex, and sin. All vices that lured mankind to their damnation and she suspected her doom lingered on the immediate horizon.
His pelvis connected with her belly. Her abdomen cushioned the stiff outline of his erection.
I do that to him.
It didn’t matter that others had aroused him too. What mattered was that in the here and now, she affected him physically. His focus was wholly on her.
Fist-type pounding rattled the door Heath anchored her against. “You’re not fucking my sister with me out here, you perverted bastard.”
With a sigh, Heath broke away from her mouth. His thumb ran along her cheekbone and he kissed her forehead.
“Don’t play with me, Heath.”
He flinched as if she struck him.
“I’m not,” he said against her forehead. His silver gaze fastened on hers. “I meant every word of that song.”
“The band’s harmony needs work.”
He chuckled. “I didn’t think it was bad for a first run.” Neither did Sam, but she wouldn’t admit to it. “Can’t you just say if you liked it or not?”
“I’ve not decided.” The truth in so many ways. Giving him a chance also meant she opened herself up to heartache. That had nothing to do with the split she could cause between Jase and Heath if things went south, which ultimately affected the band, not to mention years of friendship.
More irate banging on the door. Jase wouldn’t give up until they let him in.
Heath put some space between them, reached over his shoulders to fist his shirt. The incandescent lights revealed his tattoos inch by inch as he pulled the cotton over his head. The garment hit the floor at his feet. He went to remove his skull belt buckle and she cast her gaze aside.
“Don’t look away, Sam.”
Biting her bottom lip hard, she forced her view back on him and sealed her contemplation on his face. From her periphery she surmised he released his buckle, popped the button on his jeans, and lowered the zipper. A happy trail of dark hair traversing from his bellybutton downward caught her attention, and she lowered her focus.
As if he read her mind, one of his fingertips traveled the path. Breath catching in her lungs, she gasped loud enough he grinned.
Heath bent over, unlaced his flame biker boots, stood, and toed them off, managing the disrobing without stumbling. His grace at the simple act of undressing surprised her. Hinted he’d be even savvier in the bedroom. Not that the two acts had anything to do with one another, but in her head at this moment they were very much related.
His hands lowered to the waist of his jeans, and her breathing skyrocketed. The pants were lowered an inch, another and—pounding on the other side of the door vibrated her.
Sam spun around and squinched her eyes shut.
Oh. My. God! I almost watched Heath undress.
The sound of denim struck the floor. “You’re loss, brat. You should’ve kept watching so you could see firsthand what you do to me.”
She gasped as footsteps pattered away. With gusto she yanked open the door and glared at her brother. “Your interference is not wanted, needed, or appreciated.”
“Has he been upfront about the threesomes we’ve participated in together?”
“TMI, Jase, TMI!”
“Not anyone’s goddamn business, Jase,” Heath yelled from the stalls.
Jealousy slammed into her as the spray sounded from the shower. She wasn’t naïve and knew depraved shit transpired while on tour, but none of it was anything she wanted to know about.
“I should give you an earful of what to expect with him.” Her brother pinned his hair behind both ears. “You’d blush so hard your hair would turn red.”
Keys threw his shirt and nailed Jase in the head with the balled-up item. “Come on, man. Fang’s your friend.”
Jase flung the cotton to the floor. Puffing up his chest, he faced Keys as if he readied for a brawl. “And she’s my sister.”
“Nothing is going on with us.” If only she could believe that everything would be hunky-dory.
Derr
inger snorted.
“Bullshit!” Her brother’s attention snapped back to her. “That drama on stage was not nothing. It took me a moment to get you were pandering to the fans, but his song was real. Again, not nothing. The scruff-scratch on your chin is not nothing.”
Sam skimmed her fingers over her skin.
Keys smirked. “He got you on that one, Boo.”
She gave him a blank look, but Derr explained. “No abrasion, hellion.”
“Which means you gave yourself away by touching your chin.” Keys removed his chains from his neck as she processed what they said.
Jase delivered the final clarification. “Tells me I guessed right, and the bastard kissed you in here.”
The name-calling wasn’t necessary. “If he’s a bastard, you’re the ultimate bastard. I’ve caught you banging chicks left and right, but not Heath.”
“We banged them together most of the time, Fang was just late to the party. FYI that means he showed up after you got your eyeful of me. He’s as perverted as me, just less obvious about it. You should know the minor details of the man who’s making a play for you, sis. And by play I do mean play.”
Fury snapped along her spine. “I won’t listen to you degrade Heath like this any more than I’d stand by and let someone degrade you, Keys, or Derr.”
“And I won’t stand around while he turns you inside out and then dumps you.”
Heath couldn’t dump a non-existent girlfriend. Before she could say that, Heath spoke. “He’s right, brat.” His words alerted her that he’d vacated the shower and returned to the conversation. A towel hung low on his hips, and he dried his hair with another. “I am a pervert. You know that. The goddamn world knows that.” He shrugged. “I won’t apologize for my desires. No more than you will, Jase. But you’re wrong, I’m not making a play for her, and then planning on dumping her once I fuck her.”
“You say that like it’s a foregone conclusion that you’ll fu—sleep with her.”
Yeah, she agreed with Jase, Heath did state that as if it was just a matter of time. The potency of Heath’s stare held her feet planted on the floor, a hostage to gravity, while she got the impression he tried to pass along something she wasn’t getting.