by Alyson Hale
“Just ask him the question,” Jace barks, crossing his arms in front of his chest. Kyri touches him gently, and he relaxes, cracking a smile for her.
“Alex has been in the bathroom for a while. I’ll be right back,” Kyri says and leaves the VIP section.
I let go of my anxiety over Alexandrea for just a moment to talk to Cyril. “Well, Uncle, since your band is now officially a ‘disband,’ I was wondering if you would like to be our manager.”
Cyril’s eyes widen. “Really? Me, a manager?”
I nod. “We’ve all talked it over. You’re the perfect candidate—knowledgeable, devoted, and excellent at band promotion. The decision was unanimous to elect you to the manager position.”
Agreeing on something for once has helped Jace and I get back to rehearsing like we should be. We’re still not on great terms, but we can get along now, which is a much-needed improvement.
“What do you say, Cyril? Are you in?”
“Fuck yeah, I’m in!” He brings his glass to the center, and we all toast each other, chuckling as we take a drink. The tension in the air dissipates, but then I hear a shout that brings it right back in full force.
“Damien!” Kyri pants as she runs toward us, eyes crazed with worry. “Alex isn’t in the bathroom.”
I immediately spring to my feet. With a snap of my fingers, I call my bodyguards to action and we run back toward the rear of the club. My blood pulses at full speed when I enter the hallway and notice the door leading out of the back of the club is ajar.
“No!” I yell and dash through the back door with no regard for my own safety. The sight I’m met with sends me into a full, unhinged frenzy.
Chapter 21
Alex
It happened when I least expected it. My worst nightmare came to life in the one place I thought I’d be safe for just a few minutes. They pried open the stall door while I was sitting on the toilet and shoved a gag in my mouth before I could scream. Luckily my skirt is the type that fell over me when they pulled me to my feet, but that won’t stop them from what they’re about to do. What he’s about to take from me, again.
I recognized his face even though it’s been ten years since we last met. His leathery skin and chalk-like eyes are unmistakable. The man is my ex-stepfather, and when he was put in state prison I thought I was free of him forever. It’s obvious now I’ll never escape. He’ll always find me, no matter where I am or who I’m with. No matter how many measures are taken to protect me.
I stand in front of him, back against the wall, weeping as I wait for him to stake his claim on me again. His accomplice holds my hands above my head against the hard, cold brick. A flashback hits me: this very scene, except it was in my bedroom and my awesome beast of a mother came to my rescue. As soon as she saw what they had done, she sliced into her evil husband with a kitchen knife and knocked them both out with a frying pan, then called 911.
It’s the same now, except no one is here to save me. I’m on my own, and as much as I’m fighting against them, I can’t move from this wall. I shake violently, feeling the dinner I made for Damien and me rising up in my throat.
“Nowhere for you to run now, little girl. No Momma to save you. Just you and me.” His sadistic laughter and ominous advance is cut short by what sounds like a warrior shout coming from inside the club.
The door bursts open, and Damien comes barreling toward my attacker, his eyes wild with fury. The bodyguards are with him and they draw their guns instantly.
While they stand ready to fire, Damien mauls my attacker and tackles him to the ground. He hurls punch after punch into his face as the accomplice lets my hands go and darts down the alley. Shots are fired after him, but he still manages to escape. Damien keeps up the assault, screaming with anger until I hear a siren and see flashing lights at the front of the club.
“Damien, stop.” I make a move to pull Damien off the mangled, unrecognizable blob that had me helpless just a few minutes before. He takes him by the jaw before jumping off his body.
“I hope you burn for eternity in hell.” He spits directly in his open mouth and then stands to join me. The piece of shit lies motionless until the police arrive. Some EMTs are with them and bring a stretcher for him.
Damien steps forward, his hands red with another man’s blood. “Just let him die,” he barks at the EMTs. “He’s worthless.”
“Sir, that’s enough.” A policewoman moves forward to restrain Damien. “We’re going to need to ask you a few questions.”
“Why are you wasting your time?” Damien practically foams at the mouth. “The other prisoner just escaped that way. Shouldn’t you be going after him?”
A few of the police nod to each other and head down the alley. The woman remains behind. She questions Damien and me about what happened, and thankfully Damien can answer because I’m trembling in the aftershock and can only think to nod my head. In the end, she determines Damien was innocent.
“The state will not be pressing charges.” She tips her hat to us.
“Thank you.” My hand trembles as I guide Damien toward the door. “Come on, babe, let’s get you washed up.” Damien grunts and follows me.
“Wait, sir.” One of the EMTs comes up to Damien. “Let me see your hands.”
Damien holds up his hands, and a couple of his fingers are crooked and look unnatural. I finally lose it looking at the blood and broken fingers and vomit all over the ground. Damien is taken away and Kyri comes up behind me.
“Oh, sweetie.” Her voice is choked up. “I’m so glad you’re safe.” We cling to each other, sobbing, as Damien climbs into the back of a different EMT vehicle and they take him away.
Kyri finally pulls me away from the scene by my arm. “Come on. Let’s get you cleaned up and follow them.” I nod and let her lead me away.
Instead of taking me to the women’s bathroom where I got attacked, Kyri takes me into the men’s bathroom just long enough to wash me off. Jace and Eddie follow us in there to make sure I’m all right.
“You have some vomit on your side.” Kyri points to the side of my dress after wiping it vigorously with a wet paper towel. “I can’t get it off.”
Jace immediately removes his crisp, expensive-looking leather jacket and puts it over my arms. I try to protest, but he tightens it around my shoulders. “I have a dozen leather jackets,” he explains. “You can have this one.”
“Thank you,” I sob. Looking in the mirror, I can see how pale and frazzled I look. Like the broken little girl I was years ago. I thought I had finally left her behind, but here she is again, and she looks more afraid than ever.
“Here.” Eddie passes me a water bottle from his pocket. “I got this for afterwards, but you need it more.”
My hands shake as I try to unscrew the cap. Eddie takes it from me and opens it.
“Thanks,” I whisper through a parched throat.
As soon as I’m ready to go, Jace and Kyri take me to the hospital in his truck. I have to stop twice on the way to vomit again. Everything in me is swirling, raging like a hurricane. My world stopped when Damien was on top of the man who destroyed me so many years ago, doling out justice that I never felt was served. He finally hurts the way I was hurt. Damien disrespected him the way he disrespected me. Karma has finally come full circle, and yet all I can think about is worrying that it might happen again. Worrying that I might fall down in the pit of self-loathing and despair again.
Once we reach the hospital, Kyri and I sit hand-in-hand in the scratchy, uncomfortable waiting room chairs. Jace paces the floor and Eddie, Connor, and Cyril sit quietly at the other end of the room. The waterworks start up again when I look around at Damien’s band mates and realize what I’ve done to him…to all of them. Kyri wipes my cheeks dry with a tissue and hands it to me. I blow my nose.
“It’s all my fault…”
“Alex, sweetie, it’s not your fault.”
“I know, but I still feel bad. His hands are broken. He can’t play guitar, and it’s all b
ecause of me.”
“He’d do it over again in a heartbeat,” Jace pipes up. I look up into his intense eyes. “If I know Damien like I think I do, he doesn’t regret a thing.”
My lower lip trembles, and I nod. When I first met these guys, I thought they were your typical bigheaded, arrogant rock stars who have no room in their lives for anyone else. I had no clue of the depth of caring they could have for other people, how they would sacrifice themselves without even a second thought. They’re a band of brothers, and now Kyri and I have been accepted into their tribe. They’ll kill before they’ll let one of us be harmed. I’ve never had anything like this, and even though I still feel bad about what happened, it’s nice to be taken care of and protected. I know I’ll never be placed in an unworthy pair of hands again. Damien is true to his word. He’ll protect me even if it costs him everything.
A nurse opens the door, looking down at a clipboard. “Damien Turner’s family?”
We all stand up.
“He’ll see you now.”
The nurse leads us to a private room where Damien is sitting upright on an examining table. His hands are bandaged up and he has casts on three of his fingers. He lifts his head, and as soon as he sees me, his eyes turn icy.
“Did they catch the other bastard?”
“We don’t know yet,” I tell him, cautiously approaching the table. He’s obviously still in wolf mode, and I’m afraid seeing me might set him over the edge again. I lay a hand on his arm. “Damien, I’m so sorry—”
“Don’t even think about apologizing to me for this. It wasn’t your fault.”
“But…you’re not going to be able to play…” My throat squeezes painfully as I fight tears.
“We can postpone the tour,” Jace interjects, coming up beside us. He grasps Damien’s shoulder. “Mate, I know we don’t get along very well, but I want you to know I have massive respect for you. As far as I’m concerned, you and I are equals. This band wouldn’t be where we are today without you. I know you could make it on your own, but I hope you’ll accept my apology and stay with us for a long time.”
Damien’s lips curl up in a smirk. “My, but isn’t it fun seeing you bowing down to me.”
Jace’s eyes narrow. “Don’t push it, fool.”
They try to keep up an intense stare, but both end up dissolving into laughter. Jace lets go of him with a final squeeze on the shoulder, and I wrap my arms around Damien, letting a few tears fall. Everyone else can take this lightly, but I can’t. It’s brought all my anxiety and fears back. I’ve been sleeping so well with Damien by my side for the past few weeks. What if my nightmares start up again?
Damien moves an arm around me and pulls me into his side. He catches my gaze and stares into my eyes with purpose. “You have nothing to worry about, love. I fucked him up. He’s going to be out of commission for a long time, and we’re going to be gone before he has a chance to find you again. You’re going to be with me forever, so you’d better get used to me punching the shit out of anyone who tries to harm my girl. My fingers will heal, but I’d never recover if something happened to you. You’re my entire world now. I don’t ever plan on being without you again.”
I lean into him and he captures my lips. I press into his with renewed fervency. I always tried to portray myself as a woman who didn’t need rescuing, but the truth is I was lost and broken before Damien found me. He’s my knight with a shiny guitar. We’re not quite a fairytale, but I have a feeling I’m going to love being his girl.
“I believe you,” I whisper softly.
“Do you trust me?”
I look into his eyes and see nothing there but honesty and adoration. This man, the wild card, the one no one ever thought would settle down, has given himself completely to me. There’s nothing holding me back now from giving my complete trust to him.
“I do.”
Chapter 22
Damien
Two months later
My guitar solo was supposed to be over two minutes ago. Being on tour again has got me so pumped, I just can’t seem to stop playing. The crowd is losing it for me. I’m being worshipped the way I always dreamed of as a boy. Yet there’s only one person whose opinion truly matters to me, and there she stands, waiting in the wings for the concert to be over and the real performance to start.
As soon as our audience has been thanked and we’re free to run off stage, I charge into my queen’s waiting arms. Our lips collide and her tongue slips through to meet mine. The kiss is charged with a passion that can only come from a wild night on the stage. I love performing, I always have, but this is icing on the cake, and now I’m eager to get this woman home and cover her with my own cream.
“You were amazing out there, baby,” she gushes against my lips. “Now I know why thousands of women want to be your groupie.”
“But only one woman can,” I assure her, drawing a line down her sharp jaw.
She furrows her eyebrows at me. “I thought you said I wasn’t a groupie.”
“No, you’re quite right. You’re not a groupie.” I lean down, letting my gaze make direct contact with hers and growl from deep in my throat, “Tonight, you’re going to be my sub.”
Alexandrea trembles with anticipation. I’ve been letting her call the shots in the bedroom ever since the unthinkable happened to her. That’s not to say I haven’t taken control on occasion, but I haven’t been my usual dominant self for months. Now I’m finally taking back the reins, and she is going to witness what I’m truly capable of. She told me she trusted me completely after the incident with her stepfather, so I’m going to take that trust and test it to its limits tonight.
“Are you ready for this?”
“Yes,” she breathes, falling into me. I wrap my arm around her and walk us toward the door. It makes me want to beat my chest to know this highly desirable, talented, gorgeous woman only melts for me. Back when my life was a string of meaningless one night stands, I thought the number of women I could get into bed was my true power. I wouldn’t trade a million women for the one I’m taking home tonight. Having her by my side makes me feel like I’ve won. I don’t need to compete with another man ever again.
We take a limo to a hotel I reserved a room in for the night. When Alexandrea first agreed to come with me, I worried she might not like the traveling lifestyle, but it seems that both of us have the same love for the road. She doesn’t mind living in a trailer and staying the occasional night in a hotel. It’s our perfect paradise, and I love her more and more every day for putting up with a man like me. Neither of us has said the words yet, but I know she loves me, too.
Fifteen minutes later, we’re checked into a lavish suite and I’m carrying her to the bed, wasting no time. I’ve been on stage for hours picturing her pussy spread for me and her juices soaking my face. I may be a dom, but that doesn’t mean I prioritize my own pleasure. Everything I’m about to do is to make both of us feel good.
“Pull up that sinfully short dress, love.” Alexandrea obeys my command. My cock turns to iron at the sight of her bare pussy. Without even taking the time to undress myself, I pull up her hips level with my face and kiss her wet lower lips. She holds on to the mattress with both hands and her breasts jiggle and quiver as I take control of what belongs to me.
Squeezing her hips, I thrust my tongue deep inside her and find her sweet spot. She trembles in my hands. Using my tongue like a finger, I trace circles around the spot and lower her to the bed so her blood will come rushing back down below and fuel her orgasm. I bring my right thumb up and vibrate it against her clit, and it isn’t long after that before she comes.
“Oh, God, Damien!” Her hips grind against my face, and I consume every drop of her pleasure. She hisses when I press my thumb into her clit, and I chuckle with satisfaction. Now I’ve got her nice and tender and raw for the rougher things I plan on doing to her.
As soon as her last moan subsides, I flip her over onto her stomach and unzip her sleeveless red dress, pulling it down easil
y. My shirt and trousers practically fly off by themselves. I’m so eager to get inside this woman once she’s blushing and ripe for the taking.
Reaching inside Alexandrea’s clutch, I find her handcuffs and a blindfold. I make quick work of cuffing her to the bed, but then I pause before putting the blindfold over her eyes and make her look me in the eye.
“You all right?”
She smiles. “It’s us, baby. I’m fine.”
I cup the back of her neck, threading my fingers through her long, brown hair, and press a fervent kiss to her lips. As she returns the kiss, the words rise up in my throat, and I can contain them no longer.
“I love you.”
A beautiful smile spreads across her face. “I love you, too. Now fuck me, damn it.”
I tie the blindfold around her head and move behind her. Spreading her legs, I settle in between them and run my hands down the smooth skin of her back. She’s such a breathtaking view from behind. A part of me just wants to say “fuck it” and ram my cock into that sweet pussy, but I need to take my time. I’ve waited to take control of her for so long, and now she’s handing it to me. I want to make this moment last forever.
I take my right index finger and trail it over the curve of her hips, making my way over the perfect semi-circle of her arse cheek. I trace between the cheeks over her pussy and clit and then travel over the other cheek. She moans at the light sensation. It’s only the beginning.
Leaning forward, I bite into her right arse cheek and I hear her breath hitch in surprise. My teeth left a little mark, but didn’t break the skin. I lick over the sore spot to soothe it. Then I pinch the spot and move to the other side, repeating the actions. Bite. Lick. Pinch. Her pussy erupts with a rush of fluid. I grunt in approval. She’s going to need all of that natural lubricant tonight.
I take a small bottle of massage oil out of the clutch and drizzle it over her arse. Then I saturate every inch of her arse cheeks with it, using the lightest of touches. I can’t help the groan that escapes my throat when her oiled-up arse is sitting in front of me, just waiting to be taken.
