Altered Chords

by Kristen Echo

  “I feel like you’re provoking me. Daring me to kiss you.” He kept one hand on her shoulder and moved his other along the column of her neck. His eyes lowered and lingered on her breasts.

  “You don’t kiss strangers, but I saw you give your number to some girl no less than a few minutes ago. Did she mistake your intentions, too?” She wasn’t sure what to do with her hands and kept them by her sides. Her breaths came in harder, more labored.

  “Not everything is what it appears. You look like a good girl, but I’ll bet there’s a wild side in here.” His fingers traced the top of her tank top.

  She didn’t stop him. Even when he dipped it inside her cleavage line. He made a low groaning noise which had to be the sexiest sound on the planet.

  “I’ll ask once and only once. Do you want me to kiss you?” His eyes locked with hers, so dark and inviting.

  What the hell was she doing?

  This was insane. She’d met this man all of two seconds ago, but there was no denying she wanted to kiss him. He was the bad boy she craved. She wanted to feel and taste those full lips. Bria nodded. Her voice failed her.

  His smile turned mischievous and even sexier than before. His dark eyebrows scrunched together as if he was warring with himself. He licked his lips, and her knees buckled. She placed her free hand on the hard plains of his chest. Stiff like granite. She swallowed past her fears. Her throat was so dry.

  He twisted a lock of her hair around his finger. “Are you ready, firecracker?”

  Again, she nodded and licked her lips. She slid her hand up to cup his chin. He couldn’t have been more perfect. “I’m warning you. One kiss and you might be hooked,” she joked, trying to lower the intensity of the moment.

  “I’m not looking to be hooked on anything or anyone. We can walk away right now. No harm done. Would that make you happy?”

  No part of her wanted to leave. The longer she stood in his presence, the less she cared about anything but tasting his lips. She had her reasons for wanting this kiss, not that she intended to tell him. She wanted to feel whole again, to feel sexy and young.

  “One innocent kiss couldn’t possibly cause any harm.” Her voice sounded hoarse. He didn’t move, and she exhaled the breath she’d been holding.

  The tip of his finger glided along her cheek. He used his other to cup her head and her body trembled. He noticed. Only it wasn’t from fear, but from desire. “Don’t be scared. I promise I won’t hurt you,” he whispered into her ear. “Unless you’re into kinky shit like that.”

  The foreplay and build up was enough to make her dizzy. She’d nearly soaked her panties, and he hadn’t even kissed her. Shit. She was a train wreck. His lips caressed her cheek, following the same path as his fingers towards her mouth. She opened her mouth and licked his finger.

  He groaned and pressed their bodies together as he circled one hand around her waist. She felt his erection against her stomach. His nose circled hers, his breath tickling her skin and his mouth hovered over her lips. But he didn’t kiss her right away. Instead, he traced her lips with his fingers.

  “You have a very sensual mouth, firecracker.”

  The next time he opened his mouth it covered hers. His lips were softer than she expected. She melted into him, wrapping her hands around his huge ink-covered biceps. Her nipples hardened and raked against his chest. She hadn’t even tasted his tongue and already she tipped near the edge of no return.

  He licked across her seam and she opened for him. Inviting him inside her mouth. He took what she offered. He took everything. His tongue invaded, pillaged, and left his mark in every recess. She’d never been kissed so thoroughly. His hand moved south and gripped her ass. Hard. Forcing her to grind against his erection. He was big everywhere.

  The rest of the world fell away. They weren’t two strangers standing on a sidewalk in the busy town. They were primal beasts chasing an orgasm. Her nails raked across his flesh as he deepened the kiss and pressed her against the bricks.

  Her tongue entwined with his. Then he made that groaning sound from deep in the back of his throat and she was done. Her legs squeezed together as an unexpected wave of desire poured over her. She whimpered and sucked on his tongue until the last of it passed.

  He tore his lips away and pressed his forehead against her. His eyes closed tight, almost like he was in pain. She wanted to do that again. But his reaction wasn’t what she’d expected. Bria let go of his arms and he leaned against the bricks. They were both panting.

  “I want your panties.” He held out his hand, waiting for her to follow through on his command.

  “Wh… what? No way.” She shook her head from side to side. Giving her soaked underwear to this stranger was out of the question.

  “I felt you shudder and release. Either give them to me, or I’ll slip my hand up your skirt and feel your wetness for myself.”

  “A gentleman would never say something like that.” Her eyes darted around them, and sure enough people were gawking. In the distance she saw her friends approaching.

  He laughed. “I’m about as far from a gentleman as they come. Hand them over. Or I’ll gladly take them off you.” He gripped her thigh just below the hem of her short skirt and she halted his progress.

  “That won’t be necessary. I’ll let you see them.” She quickly removed her soiled panties and balled them in her fist. “See.”

  He opened her hand and removed the black lace thong. “Nice.” He smelled them then stuffed them in his shorts pocket.

  “Give those back!” Her voice carried, and she wondered if her friends had seen what happened. She hoped not. She’d find out soon enough as the quick paced clicking of their heels drew closer.

  He chuckled at her attempt to steal them back. “They’re mine now. If you’re interested, come check out—”

  “Step away from her!” Tatianna yelled.

  “We.... We have dinner reservations.” Kelly gripped her arm and pulled her away from her mystery man.

  “I guess keep them,” Bria said, trailing behind her friends.

  Her mystery man had his hands shoved in his pockets and a sly smile covered his face. He didn’t follow her. She’d wished he would have at least asked for her name or given her his number. Something. The most erotic kiss of her entire life and she had nothing to follow it. Disappointment marred her features as they turned the corner and she lost sight of him.

  “Are you okay? What were you doing with that guy? Did he mug you?” Tatianna asked.

  “We saw him rip something out of your hand. You look flushed. Are you all right?”

  Bria smiled, and for the first time in months, she felt good. Too bad it wouldn’t last. “I’m great. Never better. He didn’t hurt me to take anything… well—”

  “Thank goodness we arrived when we did. We saw these flyers posted with the most delicious man on them. His name is Nathan Prime, and he’s the lead singer in a band we’ve never heard of. We checked them out online and wow. All the band members are smoking hot,” Kelly said, fanning her face. “If I wasn’t madly in love with Grayer, I would consider a one-nighter with any of them.”

  “So, we’ve decided one of the band members will be your rebound man. Pick one. A traveling musician is the perfect choice.”

  Bria’s heart rate accelerated faster. She didn’t want a random Rockstar; she wanted her mystery bad boy. The heat from his kiss still lingered on her mouth. “I don’t think it’s a good idea.” She no longer cared about finding a random stranger to hook up with because she’d found the perfect guy already. The trouble would be finding him again. “I already—”

  “Look, I know you’ve been going through something. Please trust me on this. You’ll be so happy you listened. Pretty-please with sugar on top.” Kelly batted her dark false lashes and steepled her hands in a mock prayer position.

  “Let me see these guys.” She held out her hand and Kelly showed her a picture of the band from their website. They were all extremely good-looking, but her heart san
k when she recognized none of them. Bria looked at her friends and shrugged her shoulders. She couldn’t say no. What would be the point? Finding that guy again would be like striking the lottery twice. Never going to happen. “Okay. After dinner, let’s go check out this band.”

  Both ladies squealed with excitement. Bria wished she was as enthusiastic as them. That kiss would be impossible to forget. She wanted to shout her happiness to the world but kept quiet. It was another secret she added to the pile.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  Tyson ♫

  G rant shoved Pete against the bar and both men laughed about something Tyson hadn’t heard. He’d been in a funk since he watched the first woman to get a rise out of him in months walk out of his life.

  If he hadn’t been so fucking dazed and confused by the way she kissed he’d have at least followed her and invited her to the show. Her friends arrived and whisked her away too damn fast. They probably thought they’d saved her. They weren’t wrong to steal her from his clutches, but it pissed him off. He would never hurt a woman.

  He stuffed his hands in his pockets. The lace of her panties caressed his fingers. Rubbing the softness between his fingers, he smiled. She surprised the shit out of him by handing them over. He had no idea what possessed him to take them or ask for them in the first place. Maybe it was the way her hazel eyes challenged him. The way she dared him to take more than she should give.

  Thinking about the black lace in his hand made him hard. He shifted on his feet and shook his head. There wasn’t a damn thing he could do about it now.

  “Hey! Earth to Ty… come in Tyson?” Brody’s drumsticks thumped against the back of his head.

  “What the fuck,” he said, spinning away from his reach. The panties stayed in his pocket as he rubbed his head.

  Brody and the rest of the guys laughed. “You’ve been out of it for the last couple of hours.”

  “I was joking about letting you sleep in the street.” Nathan tossed his arm around his shoulder. “That Vienna chick said the more the merrier in her bed. If you don’t want to fuck, you can crash on her couch.”

  “Threesomes are not my thing.” His fists clenched by his sides. The last one he’d seen had soured his taste for sex completely. Until today.

  “You are missing out,” Pete added as he leaned against the bar. “With the right partners, they can be amazing.” His eyes lingered on Grant as he spoke, making Tyson wonder if something was going on between the two. They had been spending a lot of time together. More than the rest of them. He wouldn’t doubt if Pete had seduced him into swinging the other way. But he doubted it since Grant had a great girl back home. She was straitlaced and wholesome. Nothing like the backstabbing bitch he’d handed his heart to.

  The mention of threesomes brought all the bitterness back. His growing erection evaporated into thin air. “One guy and one girl. That’s enough for me. Apparently, I’m the only person who thinks that way.” He pounded his fist on the bar, spilling most of his tequila shot on the counter.

  Every time Tyson thought about his ex, he got mad all over again. He could still see her face buried between another woman’s legs as his brother fucked her. His own blood had betrayed him. But he’d done that shit before with girls growing up. Karen was supposed to be different. He’d thought the ring on her finger meant something. He’d been wrong. She’d done a number on his heart and his bank account.

  Grant moved next to him. “You’re not the only one who thinks monogamy is great. Dana’s not into kinky fuckery either. It’s cool I’m her one and only, but…” His voice trailed off as he picked up the glass and tossed back the contents. “Experimenting isn’t wrong.”

  The last statement was said so low, Ty barely heard him. He must have misheard.

  Grant was the only guy in the band with a significant other. He’d put a promise ring on Dana’s finger before he left for the summer, and they spoke every night. It was sweet. Their love gave Tyson hope he’d find something pure like that again. He’d actually had nothing sweet like that in his life.

  “Doesn’t matter what you all do, where you sleep or who it’s with. I’ll always find a place. Don’t worry about me.”

  Brody thumped the back of his skull again. “I never worry about anyone.” He winked and sniffled as he tucked his sticks in his back pocket. His pupils expanded larger than usual, a clear sign he was high. He smiled and sauntered off to sit with a table of thirty-something women.

  Tyson watched as they batted their lashes and ate up the attention he lavished their way. The guy talked a big game, and he had a heart of gold under all the bullshit he doled out. They’d been roommates for a few years. Until he moved out to live with the biggest mistake of his life.

  Brody’s parents had died in a tragic car accident and he’d inherited the house, along with more debt than an eighteen-year-old could manage. All the guys had moved in to help where they could. Most of them still lived there. Except Grant, who still lived with his parents while he finished school. Tyson would most likely move back in when they returned home. He had so much shit to figure out.

  “The set’s about to start. Are we ready?” Daryl asked as he rubbed his nose.

  It was obvious he’d snorted something, but no one said a damn thing. They were grown men and could do whatever the hell they wanted. Tyson’s responsibility ended with the equipment. They’d all been friends for too many years to become their babysitters. Though, he could tell Daryl and Brody were headed down the wrong path. They’d have to live with their choices and deal with the consequences. Growing up in their neighborhood, they’d seen it all. Lost enough friends to drugs that Tyson refused to touch the shit.

  “Rock-and-roll, boys!” Tyson looked back towards the stage and nodded. He’d triple-checked all the equipment and everything was perfect. Grant’s amp had given him a little hiccup, but he’d squared it away with the sound guy. He looked around and the bar had filled up nicely. They were the opening band which meant they were scheduled to go on any minute.

  Nathan patted him hard on the back and Tyson coughed. “You know, I was messing with you. But it’s time for you to move past that bullshit and get your dick wet again. It will help you loosen up. You’ve been tense all summer, and that’s not healthy.”

  All the talk about his past made him feel twitchy. He needed a smoke. “I need air. I’ll be back in two,” Tyson said, backing away from the bar.

  “We’ll be on stage.” Nathan rubbed his hands together. The guy lived for the limelight.

  Once outside, he took a long pull on his vape. He walked around the building to watch the crowd forming by the entrance. Through the cloud of smoke, he saw her. The bright hair was impossible to miss, reminding him of fireworks. One glance was enough to make his dick stand to attention. He’d never been so hard that fast before.

  The firecracker was in line to catch the show. He had another chance to see her, talk to her, and kiss her. If he had his way, they would do more than kissing too. He watched her friends laugh while she chewed her lower lip. A lip he knew tasted like strawberries and cream. The perfect summer dessert.

  They’d dressed a little classy for the club they were about to walk into, but he liked her casual choices. Judging by the size of the diamonds sparkling in their ears and around their wrists they could own the joint. They looked nothing like the women he usually associated with, but that didn’t stop him from wanting her. Rich or not, she was the sexiest woman there. Her big eyes darted around nervously, like she expected someone. He hoped it wasn’t a boyfriend.

  He blew out another puff and returned to the back of the building. The old van was parked along the alley and Tyson pulled off his shirt. The muscle shirt stunk like sweat. He rummaged through his bag, searching for something clean. It had been a long while since they’d hit up a laundromat. He rinsed his mouth with mouthwash and settled on a wrinkled, black short-sleeved button-down.

  When he entered the bar, the band had kicked off their second song. The dance floor was
packed with women shaking their hips and twirling around. Tyson smiled as he searched for one lady in particular. He caught sight of her by the bar.

  She was gorgeous. White blonde hair with patches of red, piled high in a messy bun, leaving her neck exposed. The lights from the bar flickered against her tanned skin like a beacon, calling him over. His feet carried him through the crowd. He’d felt her curves, but he hadn’t been able to appreciate her hourglass figure.

  Damn.

  The ladies had several admirers already flanking them. On the bar in front of them was a round of drinks, along with a set of empty shot glasses. These women were on a mission to have a good time. He liked the thought of that, but he didn’t need the drama. The closer he got, the more it looked like he’d be unable to avoid it.

  “What do you drive?” He overheard her friend with the dark hair ask the man next to her. She slipped her hand over his shoulder, looking deep into his eyes.

  “A Lincoln,” he said, leaning in closer while staring at her breasts.

  “Oh. Too bad.” She turned her back towards him, tossing her hair in his face and Tyson cringed.

  If all she wanted was a man with a hefty bank account, then he didn’t stand a chance. He didn’t give a shit what she had in her wallet, but if she cared then it would be over before they started. He definitely wanted to get something started with her. His only interest was what she had on under those short shorts. His eyes moved over her big ass and his mouth watered as he stared at her thick, juicy thighs. He loved a woman with something to hold on to.

  “We should dance,” the firecracker said, taking a step towards him and the dance floor. She hadn’t seen him and tripped. Landing on her hands and knees while the crowd did nothing.

  None of the assholes near her helped or offered her a hand up. He bolted towards her. Once there, he got a view down her scoop neck in the process. Black lace contained two large, luscious globes. He closed his eyes and exhaled. She was totally out of his league, but he wanted a taste in the worst way. He reached out and took her hand as she wiped at her knees with the other.