Six Guns and Six Strings: 13 Book Excite Spice Cowboys and Rock Stars Mega Bundle (Excite Spice Boxed Sets)

by Selena Kitt

  Rick still waited by the coffee shop near the hall. Seeing him, his best friend breathed a sigh of relief. “Finally, man. I thought I had to go in without you.”

  Seeing they both wore the same shirts, they grinned at each other like idiots. Like Conner, Rick also worked at the Aid for Shifters shelter. They’d bonded over beer and Ascendance’s music after a long shift at work and had become inseparable ever since. Rick grabbed his hand and steered him towards the entrance. By now, the crowd had thinned. They didn’t need to wait long before they showed their tickets and were ushered in.

  “So what took you?” Rick yelled amidst the crowd.

  It was hard to think in the confined space. People were talking, stomping their feet, while some hummed under their voices. This was the reason why Conner loved going to concerts. The energy here was amazing. They found a spot near the stage. They won the tickets by luck. At least once every three months, they held a lucky draw at the shelter. For some reason, there were always tickets to Ascendance’s concert in there. One of the benefactors had to be a fan of the band.

  They always entered their names in the pool, never expecting to win. Conner didn’t exactly possess the best of luck. All the times he entered in some kind of contest or lottery, he won nothing. Except a week ago, when he drew two tickets to Ascendance’s sold out concert right here in Nashville.

  Rick called it fate. Conner rolled his eyes, but maybe his friend had a point.

  “I met someone,” Conner said.

  “What?” Rick pointed at his ear.

  “I’ll tell you later,” Conner said. “Concert’s about to start.”

  He was right. The lighting on the stage changed. The crowd fell into a hush. Then it came—his favorite part, the deep sound of the bass. Axel Banner’s bass. Aside from his weird encounter in the cemetery, tonight was going to be the best night in his damn life.

  * * *

  One song moved to the next. Time became irrelevant. Conner really wished it could go on forever. Sweat plastered his back and head, but he was singing—well screaming, along with the other fans. The floor beneath them practically vibrated. The music sang in his veins. Devil in Disguise ended.

  How many more songs until the concert ended? Conner wished he could rewind time and hear Ascendance live again. He doubted hedl ever get this opportunity again. Most of Ascendance’s concert tickets sold out the moment the announcement came. Any other tickets could only be bought via illegal means and Conner didn’t exactly make much. He’d give a limb to go to one of these again.

  “You’ve all been bad-ass fans tonight,” Jay Bones said, his voice reverberating through the concert hall’s surround-sound speakers.

  The lead singer strummed a couple of tunes on his electric guitar, making fans wild. Conner’s gaze moved from Jay’s form to Rocky, Boone, Grey, and finally lingered on the bassist. The spotlight didn’t shine on Axel Banner as often as it did the front man Jay, but Conner always looked for Axel.

  In the music videos Conner often played on repeat, all the members of Ascendance looked the same—at first glance anyway. Axel was built like a wall of muscle, covered in black ink and occasionally scars—faded rake marks the fans presumed he’d gotten from another life, before he became famous. Everyone knew Ascendance was entirely made up of three powerful shifters. Closer inspection told Conner that Axel was the quiet one of the band, steady as a rock, but no less dangerous.

  Well, what did Conner really know?

  He was only a speculating fan, but for a moment there, he thought he’d glimpsed dark golden eyes from a face clad in shadow. Their gazes crossed—Jesus H. Christ, Conner was seriously losing it. Axel couldn’t possibly zero on him among thousands of people.

  Why was his heart racing though, beat so painfully against his chest like it was about to burst forth like some mad beast struggling to get free?

  Jay continued, “Most of you don’t know this song, but Axel added it last minute to our play list. This song is for the selfless men and women who work to make our world a better place. This song is dedicated to you, Conner Riley, who works at the Aid for Shifters shelter.”

  Wait. What? His entire world narrowed down to a deafening roar. Every muscle in his body froze. Had Conner fallen off the cliff and didn’t know it? But Rick shoved at him, startling him back to reality. The deep sound of the bass came through the speakers, the start of his favorite song, Lion at My Window. No shit.

  Was he dreaming?

  “Conner, did you hear that? Axel Banner dedicated this fucking song to you,” Rick kept screaming at his ear. “How did you meet Axel?”

  Conner didn’t. Stunned, he stared at the stage, barely hearing the music at first. Eventually, the lyrics sank in, because he knew them by heart. During his worst moments, he sang them and they gave him the strength to move on, to get up and face the day.

  He was still in a daze when the song ended.

  “Thank you and good night,” Jay said.

  Conner was still standing there like an idiot when the crowd began to head towards the exit, laughing, talking about what a great concert that was. It wasn’t a great concert, but a damn fantastic one. Something about tonight felt different. Ascendance had a strange vibe to them, but he couldn’t figure out what.

  “Mr. Riley? Would you come with me?” Someone asked.

  Both Conner and Rick jumped at the voice. It was a buffed guy dressed all in black with the words ‘security’ on his vest. They didn’t even hear the guy sneak up on them—meaning the guy must be some kind of shifter. Conner read somewhere that Ascendance employed a security team purely helmed by paranormals—from shifters to vampires and the fae.

  “Wait. Did my friend do something wrong?” Rick demanded, planting himself in front of Conner.

  Conner recalled the shifter in a hoodie he met at the cemetery, remembered the black car driving away. The mysterious stranger telling Conner they might bump into each other at the concert. It couldn’t be a coincidence Lion at my Window had been dedicated to him. Yet it defied logic. Why would Axel Banner go alone to a cemetery without guards?

  Conner recalled Axel’s words. “When he died, it felt like my world ended.”

  Nathan was clearly special to Axel, but to what extent?

  The security guard remained silent. Conner patted Rick’s shoulder. “It’s fine. I’ll give you a call later, okay? Go on home without me.”

  Rick frowned, looking from him to the scary-looking guard. “Are you sure?”

  “I’m not in trouble.” Conner sounded reassuring enough, but he wasn’t sure. He’d said a number of things he wish he hadn’t.

  “Fine, but call me if something happens,” Rick said.

  “Follow me,” the security guard said gruffly.

  The crowds had thinned down to a couple of stragglers by now and no one really gave the two of them a second glance. The guard led him to a door at the side of the stage and they were suddenly in a midst of chaos. It seemed once the concert was over, people who worked back stage seemed to have plenty of things to do. Occasionally, there were curious glances aimed their way. A few twists and turns later, Conner found himself in a relatively empty corridor.

  The door at the end read ‘exit’.

  “Wait, where are you taking me?” Conner asked.

  “You’ll see.”

  Great, that helped a lot. A guy with more sense would walk away. There were too many unknown variables in this weird situation. But Conner wanted to solve the mystery of that shifter’s identity. Was that really Axel he spoke to in the cemetery? Who was Nathan to Axel? Conner had so many questions, more than he started with, and he was dying for some answers. No, he couldn’t back away now. Only a fool would run away from an opportunity like this.

  He noticed they passed by a sign that read dressing room. “No groupies in sight.”

  He hadn’t realized he muttered the words out loud until the bodyguard spoke. “Not since the other band members found their mates. Shifters mate for life.”

/>   “That rule applies to rock stars too?” Conner asked. Finally, this guy seemed to talk. He intended to milk more answers.

  “Of course.”

  That was a surprise. Conner assumed Ascendance was like any rock band. The rich and the famous didn’t stick with one lover. On second thought, he did recall the paparazzi going mad when the other band members announced they’d picked their mates. The press debated when the rock stars would get sick of their latest toys. There were speculations of secret lovers, but nothing concrete. It felt like the paparazzi had run out of fuel and started making things up.

  “Axel isn’t mated.” Conner pointed out. This all still felt surreal to him. Part of him still couldn’t believe this guy was taking him to Axel. This time, there were no secret identities and pretending.

  “Axel was never fond of groupies.”

  “Why?” The security guy shrugged.

  It was always Jay or Grey in the papers.

  “Ask him yourself.” The guard opened the door, which led to a narrow alley. A single black car—similar to the one at the cemetery, waited. Was the car waiting for him? The guard opened the door to the back seat. “Go on in. We don’t have all night.”

  Taking a deep breath, Conner slid inside.

  3

  Once inside the car, Conner had plenty to say. Axel might be some kind of rock god and a shifter capable of ripping him to shreds, but Axel owed him an apology. Wait, was that right? Conner was the one who’d chanced upon Axel in the cemetery. Did Axel want to be left alone?

  Every argument and question fled his mind the moment he saw the man sitting next to him watching him the way a predator eyed its prey. Conner swallowed. Most of the time, he watched Axel from behind a computer screen. Tonight was his first live concert. There was nothing quite like live music, but this, sitting with Axel in his car felt unreal.

  The Alpha still had on parts of the costume he wore on stage—the same leather pants that hugged every muscle in his legs, the belt buckle with the lion head, and scruffy Grey-edged boots. Axel hadn’t bothered putting on a shirt—which made it hard for Conner to not stare at Axel’s torso. Every inch of the rock star seemed covered in hard muscle, ink, and occasional scars. He swallowed, trying his best not to look lower.

  The face was safer, Conner decided.

  “We meet again, Conner. Tongue-tied?”

  Conner remembered himself and glared at the Alpha. “Was it fun for you, leading me all along?”

  Axel’s growl made Conner jump. The flash of those canines was a reminder Conner wasn’t dealing with a man, but a shifter capable of ending his life if he wanted to. Seemingly recovering, Axel pulled away, looking troubled. “I came to mourn. I do it every year.”

  Guilt rammed into Conner as he remembered Axel’s words. Suddenly, the missing piece of the puzzle clicked into place. “Nathan’s your mate. You’re the shelter’s anonymous benefactor.”

  “Nathan was my mate.”

  The old hurt in Axel’s voice tempted Conner into hugging the Alpha. Closing in, he wrapped his arms around Axel before the Alpha could realize what he intended. Axel felt incredibly warm against him. Conner read somewhere shifters had a warmer body temperature than most humans. The moment lasted seconds.

  “What are you doing?” Axel’s hoarse voice made him pull way. Conner tried to at least, but Axel held him in place, his grip like a vise.

  “I thought you needed a hug,” Conner explained lamely. “Why haven’t you let me go?”

  “Because I’ve wanted to do this ever since we met.”

  “Do what?” Conner whispered.

  Axel angled his face for a kiss. Wait. That couldn’t be right, but Axel took his lips, all heat and roughness. Exactly the kind Conner liked. His insides melted. Conner responded with equal passion. Their tongues and teeth tangled, but Conner eventually yielded, letting Axel shove his tongue down his throat. He couldn’t seem to stop touching Axel, exploring the Alpha’s expanse of taut golden skin.

  The Alpha couldn’t stop touching him either. Once Axel reached for the hem of his shirt and the sound of fabric ripping filled the tiny space, Conner knew this was it. Once he started on this path, he wouldn’t be able to stop. Axel ripping away his shirt though—that was so hot. While he knew an Alpha werelion was a force to be reckoned with, Conner knew that Axel would never hurt him, not in a million years.

  Conner placed a hand against Axel’s chest. He could feel it, Axel’s strong heart beat.

  Axel pulled away, eyebrows raised. Conner was panting. He wanted—no needed more.

  “The driver,” Conner managed to point out, although he had trouble formulating entire sentences with Axel so close.

  “We’re almost there, Sir,” the driver said.

  Conner noticed the man’s eyes were fixed on the road. Was this kind of thing a common occurrence? Unwarranted envy rammed into him, yet he remembered the shifter bodyguard’s words. Axel wasn’t like the other band members. He knew the reason why. Nathan was Axel’s mate, and shifters mated for life.

  Where did that leave Conner?

  A look outside the car windows told Conner they were in the residential area of the city that catered to the wealthy. Ahead of them, thongs of paparazzi gathered at the entrance of a building with their cameras ready. Sighting the car, a couple of flashes went off.

  Did Conner bite off more than he could chew? When he agreed to go with the security guard, he didn’t know what was in store for him. Then again, Conner didn’t back away from challenges. Whatever this was, he intended to see this thing through. Besides, that kiss had been mind-blowing.

  “Drive right to the parking lot,” Axel instructed, glancing at him curiously.

  Conner was a bundle of nerves as the car went up the ramp leading to the building’s parking lot. He knew where they were. Garnet Towers. Conner read somewhere that Axel owned the penthouse suite and stayed here whenever the band was in Nashville.

  “Don’t worry, there are no paparazzi here,” Axel commented.

  “Okay. Good.”

  “Something changed. What is it?” Axel asked, more observant that Conner realized.

  “I have questions.”

  “I’m sure you do.”

  “Axel, why did you invite me here? I mean, you don’t do this kind of thing often from what I’ve heard.”

  “Never.” Axel opened the car door. “Follow me if you want to find out why.”

  Conner got out of the car. There were more bodyguards waiting for them. They headed into a private lift. One of the guards tapped a card on the panel and pushed the button to the penthouse. He noticed Axel didn’t look like his calm self either—was that a good or bad thing?

  Finally, the elevator reached the top. The doors opened to the penthouse suite.

  They stepped out. Shoving his apprehension aside, Conner looked around the space. Nerves wouldn’t get him anywhere. Besides, he might never have this opportunity again. Who was he kidding? If a rock star wanted to dine him and maybe take this little impromptu date to the bedroom, who was Conner to refuse?

  “Let me show you around.” Axel offered.

  The tour didn’t take long. Eventually, they ended back to the living room. Floor-to-glass windows showed the impressive outline of the city. Conner let out a whistle, peering out the glass.

  “Are you hungry?”

  Conner spun. His stomach growled, making Axel smile.

  “I’ll have my private chef prepare us something. Are you allergic to anything or have any particular preferences?”

  “Um, surprise me?” Conner asked.

  Axel fished out his cell phone and ordered some food. Afterward, the Alpha joined him, offering Conner a beer.

  “Thanks.” Conner accepted the bottle and took a long pull.

  “I haven’t played the dating game for a long while.” Axel admitted.

  “Me either,” Conner replied. “Wait, you mentioned dating, is that what this is? I thought Alphas never dated.”

  “True. We see
what, or who, we want and take it.”

  Axel said the words with such surety that Conner began to sweat. Yet, the possessiveness in those words called to his dark desires. When he fantasized about Axel in his bed, he imagined Axel taking him rough and hard. Conner could feel his cheeks heating up.

  “Why don’t you?”

  “I don’t want to scare you off.”

  It was Conner’s turn to laugh. “I don’t scare easily.”

  In response, Axel grabbed him by the shoulder and spun him until Conner’s back hit the wall. The Alpha caged Conner’s body with his, all in a matter of a second or perhaps less than that. Conner’s breathing turned shallow. Axel’s pupils looked golden under the light, feral, and Conner knew Axel’s animal side fought with his human half.