ROCKNG
PERFECTION
A Reckless Release novel by
Cassandra Lawson
Copyright ©2018 Cassandra Lawson
All Rights Reserved
Cover designed by Desiree DeOrto
Proofreading by Kendra’s Editing and Book Services
This book is a work of fiction. All characters and events are creations of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual people or events is purely coincidental.
The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of a copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement is investigated by federal law enforcement agencies and is punishable by up to five years in prison and a fine of $250,000.
Table of Contents
Title Page
Also by Cassandra Lawson
Acknowledgments
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Chapter 46
Chapter 47
Chapter 48
Chapter 49
Chapter 50
Chapter 51
Chapter 52
Chapter 53
Chapter 54
Chapter 55
Chapter 56
Chapter 57
Chapter 58
Chapter 59
Chapter 60
Chapter 61
Chapter 62
Chapter 63
Chapter 64
Chapter 65
Chapter 66
Chapter 67
Chapter 68
Chapter 69
Epilogue
Cami’s Belgian Waffle Recipe
Author’s Note
About the Author
Also by Cassandra Lawson
Love Without Batteries Series
Dirty at 30
Naughty at 30
Sultry at 30
Moon Virus Series
Raven’s Blood
Embrace the Heat
Seducing Death
Shattered Restraint
Impulsive Destiny
Untamed Winter
Psy-Vamp Series
Vampires and Vixens
Safe Hex With a Vampire
Vampires Prefer Blondes
The Vampire Will See You Now
Wanton with a Vampire
Vampire in Geek’s Clothing
Wicked Crazy Vampire Love
Reckless Release Series
Rocking Standby
Rock & Regrets
Spells That Bind Series
Sinfully Spellbound
Shamelessly Spellbound
Seductively Spellbound
Undeniably Hellbound
Inescapably Hellbound
Acknowledgments
Thank you, April, Kari, Levenia, and Yvonne for beta reading this book and helping me work out the kinks without losing any of the kinkiness. I also want to thank Ria, who has beta read for me with many of my other books. Due to unforeseen circumstances, she wasn’t able to read this time, but I still heard her voice in the back of my head several times. There has been some negativity in the book world recently, so I want to give a special thanks to my readers who always lift me up when I start to let the negativity bring me down.
Chapter 1
Cami
“I’m done with men!”
My announcement was met with doubtful expressions from my friends, Bentley, Mercy, and Harley.
Bentley shook her head while Harley studied me as if trying to decide what to say.
Only Mercy spoke. “Why?” Mercy was Bentley’s sister. Both had green eyes and curvy frames, but Mercy looked more like a pinup girl with a mass of blonde hair while Bentley had curly brown hair and a girl-next-door look.
I frowned. “How can you possibly ask me that? You’ve given up on men. You, of all people, understand the reasons to avoid men.”
“I haven’t given up on men,” she argued.
“You haven’t dated in over a year,” Bentley pointed out. I was confident Mercy hadn’t dated in closer to five years, but I didn’t say anything.
“That’s because dating sucks,” Mercy stated. “It’s not the men so much as the dating part I hate.”
“Mercy has it right,” I told Bentley. “Dating sucks.”
Harley, the bassist for Reckless Release, pushed her long, pink hair back from her face and asked, “What happened this time?” Her green eyes narrowed, and I knew she was already trying to decide if she needed to kick someone’s ass.
“I thought you were happily reunited with Mitch,” Bentley added.
“You didn’t think that would last,” I reminded her. Even I hadn’t thought it would work out. Usually, I told my friends about my break-ups right after they happened, but this time, I felt like an idiot for going against my better judgment.
Bentley moved to sit beside me on the loveseat and draped an arm around my shoulders. “Sorry, Cami. I feel like a total bitch for not being more supportive when you told me about getting back together with Mitch.”
Bentley hadn’t exactly told me it wouldn’t work with Mitch, but she hadn’t looked excited when I’d told her we were dating again.
“You don’t have to support my mistakes,” I assured her. “Giving Mitch another chance was a mistake.”
I’d broken up with Mitch the first time because he wanted me to become a corporate wife. His ideal wife didn’t work long hours; she stayed at home and occasionally did volunteer work. I have no interest in filling that role. I’m a child psychologist, and I love my job. In all honesty, I rarely work long hours, but Mitch hated that I couldn’t just cancel appointments to attend a work event with him. His career was supposed to come first. We broke up the first time because he refused to accept that I wasn’t going to give up my career. Nothing had changed. Mitch still felt his career was more important than mine.
“Was he lying about being okay with your job?” Harley asked. “You said he seemed sincere.”
“He wasn’t lying,” I replied with a humorless bark of laughter. “Apparently, one of my patients is the daughter of Mitch’s rival at work. He wanted me to give him information about her.”
“Doesn’t he work for his father?” Bentley asked.
“Yeah, but his dad’s not big on nepotism,” I explained. “Mitch has to work for promotions, just like everyone else.”
“He’s a real bastard,” Mercy muttered. “I hope you kicked him in the balls.”
I laughed and shook my head. “No, I didn’t injure him. I just told him to go fuck himself.”
“Not all men are like that,” Bentley insisted. “There are good men out there.�
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“She’s right,” Harley agreed. “You’re cute, smart, and successful. If I were a guy, I’d be all over that.”
“And if you were a guy, I’d totally date you,” I assured her. “Seriously though, I need some time away from men. As a psychologist, I recognize that my desire to be the perfect girlfriend with each guy I date isn’t healthy.”
“I don’t get why you do that,” Harley remarked. “I wasn’t joking before. You’re great.”
“I completely agree,” Mercy chimed in.
“Enough!” I told them. “I don’t need all of you to tell me how awesome I am. That’s part of the reason I’ve decided to start dating myself.”
Bentley bit back a laugh. “That’s one way to make sure you always get to pick the places you go.”
“The sex will probably be better,” Mercy added. When we all looked at her, she continued. “What? I can’t remember the last time I had good sex with a guy.”
Bentley snorted. “You can’t remember the last time you had sex with a guy period.”
“I can,” Mercy assured her. “It was unforgettably bad. He complained when I didn’t fake an orgasm to stroke his ego. He suggested we watch porn together so I could learn how to fake an orgasm. Not once did the dickhead even offer to give me an orgasm.”
“Mercy officially wins for worst ex,” I announced. While I’d been with a couple of guys who were selfish in bed, none had suggested I fake an orgasm to make them feel better.
“Agreed,” Harley replied with a laugh. “Poor Mercy. As for this dating break, it’s probably a good idea.”
“It could be good for you,” Bentley agreed.
“This time, I’m going to stick with it,” I said mostly to myself. “Besides, it’s not really a dating break. I’m just dating myself. I can’t wait to see what I get myself for my birthday.”
The buzzing of my phone interrupted us. “Give me a minute to make sure it’s not about one of my patients.” I grabbed the phone from my purse and checked the number.
“Is it about work?” Harley asked when I sighed.
“It’s Xander,” I replied.
“It’s waffle day,” Bentley added. “That’s why Piper isn’t here. Austin talked her into going with him.”
Waffle day was a dreaded tradition among the members of Reckless Release. Their lead singer, Xander, loved waffles. It was insane! I’m perfectly qualified to make that diagnosis. Since the band had moved to the San Francisco Bay Area, he had yet to find a new place to get waffles he deemed worthy. The band members and their significant others took turns going with Xander when he tried new places. Even I’d been talked into going a few times. Now that he had my number, Xander called me every waffle day.
“You’d better answer it before he calls me,” Harley advised, so I did.
“I’m not making you waffles.”
“Come on, babe,” he crooned. Xander has an incredible voice. It’s deep with a hint of a rasp—the kind of voice meant for dirty talking, not that I was interested in having Xander talk dirty to me. I definitely wasn’t going there with Xander.
“Why do you do this every time?” I asked. “Why call me, begging for waffles?”
“Because you keep telling me no,” was his simple reply.
“What you’re doing is a form of harassment,” I pointed out.
“Am I really bothering you?” He sounded genuinely worried.
I was taken aback by his concern. “No,” I assured him. “I’m just messing with you. You’d leave me alone if I said you were bothering me?”
He chuckled. “I wouldn’t go that far, but I promise I won’t start stalking you.”
Chapter 2
Xander
Calling Cami on waffle days had become a tradition. My bandmates seemed to like this new tradition because it meant I spent less time critiquing waffles with them. They referred to it as bitching about waffles.
“I take it the waffles weren’t to your liking,” she remarked.
“They never are. When are you going to give in and teach me how to make waffles?” I asked her that all the time. Either that or I begged her to make them for me.
“When are you going to stop flirting with me?” she asked.
“When you really want me to stop,” I replied softly. I’d stepped away from the table so Austin and Piper wouldn’t overhear me. Mostly, I didn’t want them to give me the evil eye when I started flirting with Cami.
“Xan.” That one word was a warning.
I grinned because sparring with Cami was fun and the thing I looked most forward to on waffle days. “I’ll behave.”
As expected, she laughed. “I seriously doubt that. If you could behave, I’d have already taught you how to make waffles.”
“How’s Glitch?” I asked.
“Who?” Cami asked, pretending she didn’t know who I was talking about. I hadn’t liked her boyfriend the first time they’d dated. I liked him even less the second time around. What she saw in him, I had no clue. He was a self-absorbed prick who didn’t appreciate how lucky he was to have someone like Cami in his life.
“Your boyfriend,” I replied.
“I broke up with Mitch.”
“I never thought he was good enough for you,” I told her. “That dickhead was just playing you because he wanted something.”
“Is this where you say I’m too gullible?” she asked.
“I’d never call you gullible. You’re just too nice,” was my honest response. “It’s why you give guys like Glitch a second chance. In some ways, it’s a good thing. If you weren’t this nice, you’d have changed your number to avoid me months ago.”
“Nah, you’re harmless,” she insisted.
“I wouldn’t go that far,” I said with a laugh. “In fact, I’m going to have to insist that you refrain from using such language in the future. I’ve got a reputation to protect.”
“It’s not okay to call you a nice guy?” she asked.
“No! I’m the lead singer of a rock band. I’m a total badass and a party animal. These are not the traits of a nice guy. I’m a rebel.”
“Of course, you are.” Her patronizing tone made me laugh.
“Damn straight!” I replied.
“I’m with friends,” she began. “It’s my girls’ night with Harley, Bentley, and Mercy.”
I’d already known that. I was a jerk for interrupting. With a sigh, I said, “I should let you go before Harley starts messaging me to tell me to leave you alone.”
“Goodnight, Xan,” she told me.
“Night, babe,” I replied before ending the call.
I tucked my phone into my pocket and turned to find Austin right behind me.
He was biting back a grin. “Who were you talking to?”
“Don’t be a dick,” I told him.
“How am I a dick?” he asked as he followed me back to the table.
“Where’s your girl?” I asked when we returned to the empty table.
“Bathroom,” he replied.
“That woman pees a lot,” I muttered.
Austin smirked. “That’s because she’s pregnant.” He was proud of having knocked up and married Piper. “When are you going to ask Cami out?”
“Why would I ask Cami out?” I could play dumb when I needed to.
“Because you’re into her.” He said it like I was a dumbass for even asking. “Everyone knows that. I heard she broke up with Mitch.”
“I know,” I replied.
“And you aren’t going to discuss her with me tonight,” he deduced.
“Nope,” was all I said.
Piper returned to the table looking ready to drop, which gave me a great excuse to change the subject.
“You need to get your wife home,” I told Austin. “She looks exhausted.”
“I am officially off waffle duty until after the baby comes,” Piper announced as she pushed her red hair back from her face.
“You’re going to send me on waffle days alone?” Austin asked. “X
an bitches less when he’s distracted with Riley kicking your belly.”
“It’s the craziest thing,” Piper added. “No one else can see it. The kicks don’t even feel that hard, but Xan always notices them.”
“I think he’s got some crazy baby senses,” Austin added. “If he ever gives up on music, maybe he’ll become a midwife.”
“Hey!” I interrupted. “I’m standing right here.” My indignation faded when Piper’s belly moved. I immediately stood and did my best to avoid touching her belly since it made her uncomfortable. I was trying to respect her personal space. She wasn’t showing much yet, but at only a couple inches over five feet tall, her small baby bump definitely stood out. “Look at that! That is so fucking cool.”
Piper stood and hugged me. “You are going be a good uncle to Riley.”
“Damn right I am!” I kissed Piper’s cheek. “Go home and get some rest. I’m fine with you being off waffle duty for now, but I expect Riley to join me on my quest for waffles after she makes her appearance.”
Piper groaned. “With any luck, you’ll have found your perfect waffles by then.”
Austin caught Piper’s hand and brought it to his lips. “Let’s go home. We’ll see you later, Xan.”
“Later,” I replied.
As I watched one of my best friends walk away with his pregnant wife, I realized one thing; I wanted that.
Chapter 3
Cami
I’ve always loved music. It’s the biggest reason I go to clubs. Hearing a band play live is exhilarating. My friends have often accused me of being addicted to celebrity gossip, but that’s not the case. Movie stars? Unless they’re also musicians, I don’t care what’s going on in their lives. I often followed bands from early in their careers. I first saw Reckless Release play at a dive bar in San Diego, years before they signed with a label. They hadn’t been nearly as polished back then, but there had been something about them. Xander had always known how to work a crowd into a frenzy. It was more than his appearance, although he was certainly nice-looking. He also had a way of connecting with the audience—a trait he shared with a lot of great musicians.
As Reckless Release finished their third encore at the sold-out club show, fans were already heading to the back of the club to try to get into the band room. Traditionally, the band allowed some groupies backstage, but they weren’t planning to spend much time back there after the show. Instead, they’d be out in the club area with everyone else. It’s why only fifty tickets to the show had been made available to the public. The fans would get a more intimate experience with Reckless Release.
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