by Clara Bayard
Not to mention, I was currently hanging out with the sweetest, sexiest man I'd ever met, and he hadn't taken his eyes off of me all night. An after party raged all around us, the crowd in the club big enough to hide in. Matthew and I had found a slightly private corner of the VIP section and were nursing beers while everyone else partied hard.
Matthew's hand was under the back of my shirt, fingers splayed across my bare skin as we watched Julia dancing on a table, laughing.
"Five bucks says she bites it," I offered, eyeing the stiletto boots on her feet and the rather drunk expression on her face.
"No chance," Matthew replied, his lips against my ear. "If she does fall down, she'll turn it into some kind of graceful gymnastics thing and everyone will cheer."
"Julia's a gymnast?"
"In the sack, according to Rick."
"Ew. Gross."
He laughed and kissed my cheek. "Yeah, sorry. But if I have to know entirely too much about their sex life, so do you. All part of your duty as my girlfriend."
I froze, shocked and delighted. He'd just tossed the word girlfriend out there like it was nothing. My first instinct was to panic, but after considering it, I realized there was nothing to be afraid of. Matthew wasn't like anyone I'd ever known before and if he said girlfriend he meant it, and seriously.
Smiling, I squeezed his thigh as Dex came over to talk to us.
"What are you lot hiding out over here for? Come do a shot with me."
Matthew shook his head. "No, thanks. Next time. We're just chilling right now."
"That's no fun." Dex shook his head and turned his back on us before dancing away on wobbly legs.
"Oh man," Matthew said. "There are going to be a lot of hangovers tomorrow."
"Well, at least no one's really paying attention to how little you're drinking." I cocked my head to the side and looked at him. "You feeling okay?"
"Pretty much. Those pain pills are working, at least taking the edge off my ribs. Getting drunk will just make me clumsy and sleepy."
"We can't have that, can we." I glanced around and kissed him quickly on the mouth.
"Don't start that or I'll drag you out of here right now, Ellie."
"Not a chance. You're showing the world how united and perfect your band is, remember?"
He arched an eyebrow. "Oh, right. I almost forgot." He stood up and pulled me to my feet. "Wanna dance?"
"Not really." I grinned. "But I will."
"Shit, I was hoping you'd say no. Oh well, what a shame. Come on."
We walked to the middle of the room, laughing together. Julia saw us and hopped down from the table. She slung an arm around Matthew's waist and bumped her hip against his. "Finally joining the fun, Matty?"
"Ugh, don't you start calling me that, too," he pleaded.
She looked over at me. "I thought you were supposed to be making him fun?"
I grinned. "I'm trying."
"Good." She took my hand and spun me around in a circle. "Someone has to. I'd offer my services, but I've got a jealous man up my ass all the time."
"Please, we don't need the dirty details," I quipped. "Even a gross gossip-monger like me has a limit."
Julia barked out a laugh and hugged me briefly, the scent of expensive tequila wafting around her. "Goddamn it, I'm really starting to like you. That sucks."
I shook my head. "I get that a lot."
The song playing changed to one of Julia's, and everyone cheered. She smacked Matthew on the butt and said, "It's an omen. Move your skinny ass."
He laughed and grabbed my hand. "Sorry, Jules. You had your shot. I've found a new girl. I only shake it for her, now."
"Is that so?" I asked playfully. "Well, then let's see it, big mouth."
Matthew put his hands on my waist and we began to dance together. He was a million times better than me, I was doing good to be able to find the beat, let alone move with it, but it didn't matter. We spun and shimmied through that and the next three songs until I was happily dizzy and hoarse from laughing.
I was about to suggest taking a break when I looked up into Matthew's eyes. They were wide and unfocused. Where I was red and sweaty, he was pale and clammy. I put a hand over his stomach. "What's wrong?"
"I think I hurt myself," he said through gritted teeth. "Need to sit down."
"Got it." My heart stopped beating as I led him off the dance floor, trying not to be conspicuous. We moved as fast as possible, me clearing the way and him following stiffly.
We made it to the exit, where one of the band's security guards was blocking the door.
"Hey, Clay," Matthew said, trying to sound normal. "Can you see about a car back to the hotel for me?"
The man shook his head. "Of course, but you're gonna want to wait a few. Pack of vultures outside." He glanced at me. "No offense."
"None taken," I muttered.
Clay pointed to another door. "If you just need some quiet, that room's empty. Go hang there and I'll come get you ASAP."
Matthew clenched his fists, but smiled. "Great, thanks."
We went through the door and it turned out to be some kind of staff breakroom. I got Matthew situated on a chair and handed him a bottle of water. "Do you want a pain pill?"
He shook his head. "I'll be fine, promise."
"Okay." I reached down and realized my bag wasn't on my shoulder. "Shit, I left my stuff back in the VIP. Will you be all right for a minute while I go get it?"
"Of course."
I pushed his hair out of his eyes and left, moving as fast as I could without running. It took a few minutes to shove my way through the crowd again, find my purse and get back. I had my hand on the doorknob when Rick's voice boomed from behind me.
"Where the fuck is Matthew?"
I whirled around, frowning. "He's in here, why?"
"Because he's my best friend, that's why. You just got here, don't get attitude with me."
"Whatever." I opened the door and gasped.
Matthew was slumped on the floor next to a trash can, moaning softly. I ran over as the sharp stench of vomit hit my nose. "What happened?"
"Tried to grab a snack," he muttered without looking at me.
"What the fuck?" Rick asked, stomping over and shoving me out of the way. "Dude, you're a mess."
Matthew blinked a few times before speaking. "Too much booze, I guess."
Rick shot a look at me over his shoulder. "You're the worst fucking liar. Ellie, what's going on here?"
My eyes flitted back and forth between them, totally conflicted. Matthew's weak gaze was begging me to go along with his lie, but I could see the worry on Rick's face.
I opened my mouth still unsure what would come out. "He's in pain, Rick."
"Why?" He looked at Matthew, suspiciously. "What aren't you telling me?"
Matthew shook his head. "Nothing." He winced, every movement clearly agony.
I couldn't keep it inside anymore. I knew he'd be mad, but I was terrified. When he'd told me about the pain I had no idea how bad it was. "It isn't nothing." I looked at Rick and blurted out everything, careful to not let my gaze drift to Matthew's face.
"Motherfucker," Rick said once I was finished. He pointed a finger at Matthew. "Don't you move, shit for brains." He strode out of the room, slamming the door behind him.
Only once we were alone could I stand to look at Matthew. He wouldn't meet my gaze. "I'm sorry," I whispered. "But this is a lot more serious than you told me. You're not okay."
His hazel eyes finally shifted to me. "You don't know what you've done, Ellie."
"What I had to. I'm scared."
We sat there on the floor staring at each other for who knows how long. And then, like a tornado, Rick blew back in, this time with Becca, Julia, the security guy Clay, and Red in tow. They helped Matthew up and held a low conversation I couldn't hear. Rick and Red walked out the door with Matthew between them.
"Rick told us what happened," Becca told me when they were gone. "You did the right thing."
> I nodded. "Is he going to be okay?"
"We don't know. But I've called a doctor to come to the hotel, he's meeting us there. You go with Julia and Clay, I'll stay here and get things settled.
"Okay." I followed the others out to a waiting car, and saw another pulling out of the lot ahead of us, I assumed with Matthew in it. I felt terrible for breaking his confidence, but I was happy he was going to see a doctor in person.
When we got back to the hotel they wouldn't let me go upstairs. Julia, uncharacteristically sweet, took my hand to reassure me. "Just get some sleep. I'm sure you're exhausted. The doctor is going to take care of Matty, you can see him in the morning when we know more."
"All right. But you'll call me if anything happens or if there's news?"
"Absolutely."
I went to my room, got undressed and climbed into bed, but couldn't sleep. I just lay there looking out the window for hours, clutching my phone and willing it to ring. Finally, as the sun began to rise, there was a knock on my door. I ran over and opened it, frantic.
Matthew stood in the doorway, looking like hell, with a file folder under his arm. His eyes were hooded and his posture terrible.
"Are you okay?" I asked, itching to touch him, but afraid to.
When he spoke his voice was cold and flat. "Just got back to the hotel. Had to get an x-ray."
"Oh." I twisted my fingers in the hem of my nightshirt. "Do you want to come in?"
"No." He stared at me blankly. "I just came by to tell you what you've done."
"I…"
"No, don't speak. Thanks to you, my life is over. I'm off the tour, effective immediately. And they're bringing in some random asshole to fill in for me. Just like that. One phone call between the label, their lawyers and the doc, and I'm out. Replaced in five seconds flat."
"Oh, no. I'm so sorry."
He held up a hand, wincing. "Don't even try it. You promised me. I trusted you. Went to bat for you and this is how you thank me."
"I didn't think this would happen."
He nodded. "I know. But it did. And it's your fault. And I'll never forgive you."
My mouth dropped open, but no words came out.
Matthew glared at me for a few seconds and then made a disgusted sound. He turned around and began to walk away.
"Wait, please," I pleaded, to no avail.
I watched him leave and knew it was for the last time. I'd done the right thing, but lost everything. My heart was breaking and there was nothing more to say.
TO BE CONCLUDED IN ROCKED FOREVER
Note from the Author
Thank you so much for reading. If you want to be one of the first to read my next book, please go to my website, www.clarabayard.com, and enter your email address to join the announcement list.
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Also by Clara Bayard
Rocked: Joe & Liss
Rocked, Rocked On the Road, Rocked to the Core
Lost Weekend
Rocked: Dex & Becca
Hard Rocked, Deep Rocked, Well Rocked
Rocked: Rick & Julia
Rocked in the Dark, Rocked All Night, Rocked in the Light
Rocked in Paradise
Rocked: Matthew & Ellie
Rocked in Pieces, Rocked Down & Out, Rocked Forever
One Night of Danger
One Night Stand, One Night More, One Last Night
Seduced by Danger
Help Me, Trust Me, Take Me, Make Me, Save Me
Visit www.clarabayard.com for a full list of available titles.
About the Author
Clara Bayard is a wealthy business owner who, following the brutal death of her parents, used that wealth to create a secret identity and a lot of cool gadgets in order to protect the city she adores, and keep others from experiencing the same pain she did.
Wait, no. That’s Batman.
Clara is a just a regular gal living in the Mid-Atlantic region. She loves writing sexy stories about flawed people doing exciting things. When she’s not writing she enjoys talking to strangers in bars and marathon-watching TV shows everyone else has seen already.
