It was Griffin. He’d been the celebrity the girls were screaming at. Not that I could blame them. He was Rock God hot. Tonight was no exception. His faded jeans hung low on his sculpted hips. The white button up hung open, exposing his hundred pack and part of one tattoo. His shoulder length hair hung perfectly, covering one of his brilliant thunderstorm blue-gray eyes.
My heart leapt and raced at the sight of him.
“Katie. Let’s get inside.” He waved me over.
I smiled. Large. Showing all my teeth. And I didn’t care that nearly every girl in line threw daggered looks my way. They could suck it.
When I reached him he threw his arm around my shoulders. “You look beautiful,” he said.
I forced myself not to snort. “Thanks.”
We went inside. The club was packed. Griffin led me over to the bar. “Can we get Katie a vodka tonic?”
Guy, the bartender, smiled. “Sure, man. You want anything?”
“I’ll take a rain check.”
“You got it.”
I settled on the only open bar stool between an overweight bald guy and a weightlifter whose arms were bigger than my head.
“Please welcome to the stage Crushed Velvet!” an announcer interrupted over the music. It went completely dark for two seconds. Everyone screamed.
“Gotta run,” Griffin whispered.
A single stage light came on, featuring the drummer. It was Brian, the guy Birdy believed had killed Reid. While he and the rest of the guys were gone I decided to do some digging on him.
Guy set my drink on the bar. “Enjoy.” He winked.
“Thanks.” I took a sip, keeping my focus on Brian. Then two more lights came up, featuring the guitarists, Eddie and Steve. Hammond ran on stage. A spotlight shone on him. He did a back flip and then threw his hands in the air. The crowd cheered. He waved, ran over to his keyboard, and began to play.
The flip was ballsy for a guy who made his living with his hands.
“And finally, please give it up for the lead singer of Crushed Velvet, Grrrriffen Maxwell!”
The crowd went wild. Griffin came out on stage. No shoes. No shirt. Rippling muscles. Pants low on his hips. Rock God was the perfect name for him.
“How y’all doin’ tonight?” Griffin shouted.
More screaming.
“You ready to grind?” He slowly moved his hips.
I had personal experience with that move. My thighs quivered.
The crowd screamed in frenzy. Several sets of panties were tossed on stage. I leaned forward without realizing it, holding my breath, waiting to see what he’d do. Would he smell them like he had last night? I told myself it was just part of the act, part of who he was, but I still didn’t want him to.
The weightlifter said something, distracting me. “I bet that guy gets a lot of pussy.”
A female barked an obnoxious laugh. “He had mine earlier tonight.”
That had to be a lie. My mouth went dry. I glanced over, anxious to find out who’d spoken.
There was a pretty blonde on the other side of the weightlifter. She hadn’t been there a moment ago. I would’ve noticed her.
“I don’t doubt it. You’re fine, girl,” the weightlifter said.
She smiled, but focused her attention my way. “You know Griffin?” she asked, the smile on her face turned threatening.
I shrugged. “Kind of.”
“A groupie?”
Griffin’s deep sexy voice drifted through the crowd. My heart melted. The word swoon came to mind. The man had the sultriest voice.
“No,” I answered.
She stood, blocking Griffin from my view. Her eyes roamed over my figure and I felt uncomfortable in my denim dress and cowgirl boots. I crossed my legs.
“You’re not his usual type. He prefers blondes. Big breasts. Girls who like to get freaky.” She glanced at the bodybuilder. “You like to get freaky?”
“You know it,” he said, pawing at her.
She laughed, but pushed herself off him. Shot me a dirty look. “If you’ve fucked him, you know how good Griffin is, but don’t let yourself fall for him. He’ll break your heart. Take it from someone who knows.”
“You know Griffin?” I asked, unable to help myself.
She snorted. “We’ve known each other our whole lives. Hell, our parents want us to be married. We had dinner tonight and fucked in the bathroom at Dorvey’s.”
My face must’ve reflected the shock and pain in my soul.
“Oh, don’t feel bad. I’m sure he enjoyed his time with you, honey.” She stumbled away, pulling the bodybuilder with her.
I felt sick. Griffin was basically engaged. He’d fucked another woman after we’d been together, and my best friend was actually my sister. I picked up my drink and slammed the whole thing down.
Guy came over. “Another?”
“Yes, please. And keep them coming.” I watched Griffin sing. With each lyric, hatred spread in my belly until I wanted to scratch his eyes out.
“Hey Katie,” Cage said.
He looked handsome in his tan slacks and dark red button up shirt.
“No tie tonight?” I asked, grabbing him by his collar, leaning into him. He smelled so good. I wanted to taste him.
Cage chuckled. “Nope. I need to chill.” He took his time appraising my outfit. “You look adorable.”
“Here’s your drink, Katie,” the bartender said.
“Thanks.”
Cage said, “Can I get a beer?”
“What kind?”
“Surprise me.”
“On it.”
Guy went and did his thing while I downed the vodka.
Guy brought back Cage’s beer. I shook my ice at Guy.
“Another already?” he asked.
“Yep.”
“You say so.”
Cage tilted his had back, drinking his beer. When he stopped, his eyes met mine.
“You look good,” I said, putting my hands on his chest. He wasn’t as tall as Griffin and he was more built, every muscle tight like a spring.
“Thanks,” Cage said.
“You know earlier today, when we talked about nothing happening?”
Cage had been about to take another drink when he paused. “Yeah?”
“I think we should change that.”
“You do?”
“Right now.” I hopped off the barstool. “Can we go to your place? Talk about Birdy?” I wrapped my arms around his neck. “Or not?”
Cage threw a ten-dollar bill on the counter and then took my hand.
“Let’s go, Dandelion.”
And for once I didn’t mind him using my awful name.
End of Traitorous Heart 4…
TRAITOROUS HEART
Volume 5
CHAPTER 1
Katie
I was back in Cage’s apartment, staring at my reflection in his bathroom mirror. A sultry female voice sounded from a stereo. I listened to her sad song and thought about being back like I’d never left. Except in the last forty-eight hours, my life had been turned upside down. Again. I’d always been an only child, secretly wishing for a sister. All this time I’d had one, only I hadn’t known it.
Now I did, and she was sitting in jail awaiting trial for murder. And they weren’t accusing her of killing a random stranger. They were accusing her of killing my ex fiancé, Reid. It was a hell of a situation.
Then there was Griffin. I’d met him at The Attic. At the time I’d believed I wanted a one-night stand. That had quickly turned into more. Sex. Clue. More sex. And more sex. My body responded to his touch in ways I never imagined possible. When we first met I’d told him not to fall in love with me. It’d been a joke, but it turned out I didn’t need to worry. He was practically engaged to some rich girl. According to her they’d fucked earlier today.
I glanced at my phone. Two in the morning. Okay, they fucked yesterday, but still. God, the rich were freaks.
My phone pinged and I jumped, letting out a yelp.
“You doing okay in there?”
Cage was waiting patiently for me in his room, probably looking totally hot and naked. I’d alluded to the fact that Cage and I might get together. Now that I was at his apartment, I wasn’t so sure that was a good idea.
The text was from Griffin. Thought we might spend some time together tonight. I need to see you.
I debated whether to respond. The asshole’s text suggested that he wanted to get with me… after that girl at The Attic told me he’d been with her. I wanted to pound Griffin in the face. I texted: Not going to happen. I know about your fiancée. Heard you spent some quality time with her before playing at The Attic. I hit send. Then decided to add more. I thought you were different. Obviously not. Don’t text. Don’t call. I don’t want to see or speak with you again.
I hit send, my heart racing.
“Dandelion.” Cage knocked on the door.
I realized I’d been in the bathroom almost an hour. “Um, yeah. Almost done.” I turned on the water, patted a little on my face. My eyes were haunted, large, and anxious.
“Can I come in?”
I took a deep breath and leaned against the counter. “Sure.”
The door opened. He stepped inside and closed the door behind him, leaning against it. “What’s going on?”
I swallowed and crossed my arms over my chest. “Nothing. Just not feeling the greatest.” That was the truth. My stomach felt tied in so many knots I doubted they’d ever come out.
“You want to talk about it?” Cage tucked his hands in the pockets of his slacks.
I snorted, picking at a thread on my denim dress. “Right. Because that’s what you want to do. Talk.”
He pushed off the door, coming close. “I like you, Dandelion. I want to get to know you. If something more happens it’ll be because we both want it to.” He pulled me into his arms. “So, yes. I do want to talk.”
I allowed him to wrap his arms around me, then let my head relax against his chest. I breathed in his manly smell of aftershave and soap. His hug was amazing.
“Are you going to talk to me?” His low voice caressed my hair and rumbled in his chest.
“I don’t know where to begin.” I sniffled, unable to accept he was really interested. I pulled back, glancing up into his handsome face. “I should just go.”
I grabbed my phone and purse off the counter.
Cage took hold of my elbow. “Dandelion, don’t.”
I gently pulled from his grasp, opened the door and went into his bedroom.
“It isn’t that hard. Just tell me one thing. The first thing that pops into your mind.”
I paused. The image that first came was of that girl from the bar. “Griffin is engaged,” I said softly.
“Shit.”
Cage’s response made me smile. “Yeah, that’s what I thought.” I turned to face him. He was leaning against the wall in the doorway. His arms were casually crossed over his chest. Light from the bathroom hit his short blond hair, keeping his face in shadow. He really was beyond good looking.
I sat on the edge of his bed. “I don’t really have a right to be mad. We never agreed to anything exclusive. Besides, he’s going to L.A. at the end of the week, will probably sign a contract with a record label, become a rock god, marry his fiancée, and live happily ever after.” Saying the words aloud made me sick. “There’s no place for me in his life.” Without a doubt I knew that was true, but I wasn’t ready for him to be out of my life. He’d been there for me when no one else had, and when we fucked? My body shivered at the memories.
“No one schedules a place in their lives for a relationship. At least no one I’ve ever met. They just happen, and you make room.”
I raised an eyebrow.
“If the other person is important, you make room.”
“Well, I’ve had my life planned out since I was eleven.”
Cage sat beside me, reached over, and took one of my hands. “How’s that going for ya?” He laced my fingers with his.
I didn’t want to answer. His words struck at the heart of my problem. Up until a few months ago, my plans had been going exactly as I planned. Now they were all fucked up. I blinked back the tears lining my lashes. “Worse than expected,” I admitted.
“I don’t know Griffin. I’m sure he’s a great guy, especially if he caught your attention.” He shook his head. “But if he isn’t willing to put you first, then he isn’t worth your time.”
“Logically, I know that. But, in here—” I pressed my free hand to my chest. “It hurts.” I couldn’t believe I was telling him exactly how I felt about Griffin. Doing so broke the code when it came to girls talking to guys: They didn’t want to hear about previous relationships.
Cage lifted my hand and kissed it. “I’m so sorry, Dandelion. If it makes you feel any better I can understand how you’re feeling.” He seemed hesitant to say more.
“You recently broke up with someone?”
He glanced away, his eyes focusing on a point behind my head.
“It’s okay if you don’t want to talk about it.”
Cage smiled, a sad, faraway smile. “We met our senior year in high school. It was that love at first sight kind of thing. Once we were together I believed she was the only person for me. It’s embarrassing to admit, but I would get sick when we weren’t together. I needed her. She was the air I wanted to breathe, the only food that could sustain me.”
I swallowed. All I could do was listen. I’d never felt so strongly for a person before. “What happened?”
His jaw clenched. “She didn’t feel the same way about me,” he said quietly.
“Ouch.” Pain at the memories rolled off him.
“Yeah, after I graduated high school I needed to get away. I’d pissed away high school and didn’t have the grades or the money for college, so I did the only thing I could at the time. I joined the Army.”
“You ran away.”
His laugh was harsh. “What the fuck was I thinking?”
“You hated it? The Army?”
“At first. It was hard, and I’d been a lazy teenager. But by the end of basic training, that all changed.”
“Why’s that?” It was cool listening to him talk about his past. Reid and I rarely did that, and Griffin? I knew next to nothing about him.
“My sergeant kicked my ass physically on a regular basis. Called me out on all my shit… sometimes to the extreme, but I needed it.”
“Sounds scary,” I admitted.
“At first it was. But one day, after fifty push-ups, the Sarge got in my face. He said, ‘You gonna be an asshole your whole life or are you gonna make a goddamned difference?’”
My heart sped up. “What’d you say?”
Cage looked at our hands linked together. “I didn’t know what to say. The Sarge got even closer. ‘Well, what’s it gonna be, asshole?’
His words struck a chord. I didn’t like that he’d chosen for me. He’d decided my fate by calling me asshole. And I realized I didn’t want that. So I said, ‘I’m going to make a goddamned difference, sir.’” Cage smiled. It was one of those smiles reserved for a great memory. “I’ll never forget the look on his face. ‘Bout fucking time, Private.’ Then he moved on to harass the next guy.
“So that’s why you became a lawyer? To make a difference?”
Cage stood. “That’s another story for another day. It’s late and I’ve already talked too much.” He glanced at his watch. “Actually, it’s really fucking early. We should get you home.”
CHAPTER 2
Katie
I stood, but I wasn’t ready to leave. I didn’t want to stop talking to him. Cage tried to tug me toward the door, but I resisted.
“What?”
It surprised me how intuitive he was. Should I tell him Birdy was my sister? Would it make a difference in the way he worked to help her? And what about Jonathan? He was Cage’s boss. How would he react if he found out he wasn’t her father? If he knew the truth, would he help
her? Something told me the answer would be a resounding no. I couldn’t chance it, so I shook my head. “About those stubs I found, what kind of club is Revelry?”
Cage cleared his throat. “You sure you want to go there now?”
I shrugged. “Why not.”
He glanced away. “Before I tell you, I just want to make it clear that I’ve never been. Some of the guys from the firm have gone. I’ve heard stories.”
I moved closer to him. “Okay.” It made me nervous. I couldn’t even imagine what would make a big, strong man like Cage embarrassed.
“Revelry is a sex club,” he said, meeting my eyes.
“What, like everyone who goes is sure to get laid?”
He shook his head, squeezing my hand. “No, like you go with a premeditated plan to fuck random strangers in whatever ways your twisted mind can come up with.”
“What?” I was confused. Most people went to clubs to get laid. That was what they were there for, hook ups. “Maybe you should explain this to me?”
“Sex?” he chuckled.
“No.” I laughed, releasing a big gust of tension. “How does the club work? Exactly?”
“I only know what I’ve heard. But the club promises to make all your fantasies come true.”
“Whatever they are?”
“That’s what I’ve heard. One of the guys I overheard was talking on the phone. He wanted to hook up with another man. He’s married with three children.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah, I didn’t hear what the person on the other line said, but he said he would supply a clean bill of health when he came to the club for his appointment.”
“Whoa.” I was shocked—not because such a place existed. But surprised that Birdy had gone to that type of place on more than one occasion. “I called the number on the ticket stub and they wouldn’t tell me anything about it.”
“From the information I’ve gathered, you have to be brought in by someone who vouches for you.”
“Damn. The only person I know who’s been there is in jail.”
“I’m sure the guy from the firm would vouch for me.”
I ran my gaze over Cage’s face, admiring his strong jaw, the slight crook of his nose, and his beautiful eyes. They were clear. He was sober. “Are you into that sort of thing?”
Boxed Set: Traitorous Heart Volumes 1-6 (The Traitorous Heart Series) Page 15
