The Complete Tempest World Box Set

by Mankin, Michelle

  I moved beside her and said softly, “Listen. They’re not all that.”

  “Who?” she asked, though I think we both knew who I was talking about.

  “Tempest.” I hooked a thumb over my shoulder. “Those jerks who just blew you off.”

  She nodded somberly.

  “Listen, I grew up with those guys. They’re no better than you are. They put their pants on one leg at a time.”

  Watching the desperate way she’d thrown herself at the guys made me sad for her. Third night on the tour, and I was already sick of this groupie bullshit. It turned my stomach.

  I touched her arm. “I don’t know when they started being such pompous asses, but I wanted to apologize. For my brother, Dizzy, in particular.”

  Her eyes widened.

  “What’s your name?” I asked.

  “Lily.”

  “Well, Lily, let me tell you a few eye-opening things about Dizzy.”

  I pulled a paper towel out of the dispenser, wet it, and dabbed at the mascara on her cheeks. Without the makeup, she was much younger than I’d assumed, probably not more than seventeen. A hard age, a vulnerable age, the age I was when I lost everything.

  “The guy’s personal hygiene sucks. He literally stinks. I’m sure you noticed. He’s been re-wearing the same clothes for the past two days. Then there’s his eating habits. He thinks just because Milk Duds have the word milk in them that they’re nutritious and therefore make an acceptable breakfast.”

  Her lips twitched.

  “Oh yeah.” I nodded. “He’s a junk-food junkie. Eats Cheez Whiz straight from the jar. And even though he’s twenty-one, he still acts like he’s twelve. He watches SpongeBob. All. The. Time. He’s got every single episode memorized. This from a guy who half the time can’t be bothered to remember the words to the songs from his own band.”

  Lily smiled. “Why are you telling me all this?”

  “Because I want you to get that he and the rest of the Tempest guys are just like the guys you probably go to school with. I saw the way they treated you out there, and I didn’t like it. So they’re in a band, and they look really sexy when they’re up onstage under the lights? Big deal.”

  Her face clean now, I threw away the towel.

  “Don’t idolize them. Don’t let them get to you.” I took her hand and led her out of the restroom. “You deserve better than the disrespect that’s being dished out there.”

  Back in the main party room, I stopped to study Lily again. Her eyes glittered way too much to have just been the result of my pep talk. Wondering what she was doing besides those shots, I scrambled for something to say that might help keep her from making the same mistakes I had.

  Just as I was getting ready to speak, another girl walked up and joined us. She was blond, and her four-inch heels made her taller than me.

  She gave me a hard look before turning to Lily. “This chick bothering you?” she asked, squeezing her shoulder.

  “No.” Lily shook her head. “She’s cool. She’s Dizzy’s sister.”

  “You’re really lucky to have someone looking out for you,” I told Lily while I glanced around for the friend I’d once been able to count on.

  Earlier in the evening, Bryan had been hard to miss in a charcoal-gray button-down that did amazing things for his eyes. He’d been standing over by the window before I’d followed Lily into the bathroom. But I couldn’t find him now, and I wondered where he’d gone.

  Turning back to the girls, I finished my thought. “Hold on tight to that. To each other. Just having one person who believes in you can make all the difference in the world.” I pulled in a deep breath through my nose, suddenly feeling really old and worn out. “You two should get out of here. I love these guys, but you know as well as I do that they’re not looking for a relationship. They’re just looking to get laid.”

  “She’s right.” Lily’s friend tugged on her hand and pulled her toward the door. “See? That’s what I told you.”

  “What about you?” Lily asked, giving me a concerned look.

  “I’m good,” I lied. But I wasn’t. In that moment, I realized why the stuff with Lily bothered me.

  I wasn’t really much more than a groupie myself. No remedy for it. I was a lost cause. Had blown my chance for anything better.

  But those two hadn’t.

  After they left, I went back to War. He talked me into doing another line of coke in the coat closet. After that, he got really amorous, his tongue trailing up my neck, and his lips stopping below my ear.

  “Lacey.” He groaned, his hands framing my face. “Let’s go back to the bus. I want you now.”

  “All right,” I said.

  Taking my hand, he guided me through the crowded room. As we entered the lobby, I slid on a pair of sunglasses. The lights were too bright for my dilated eyes.

  The bus was deserted when we boarded.

  War’s mouth immediately descended, his tongue delving deep while his hands groped my ass in a way that was just short of being painful. War was an aggressive lover, a trait I knew from experience was magnified whenever he was high.

  Tossing his sunglasses aside, he walked me all the way to the back of the bus without breaking the kiss. I removed my own shades, and they slid through my fingers as he pushed the button to open the door to the sleeping section.

  He hefted me up. “Wrap those beautiful legs around me, babe.”

  I did as he asked, folding my legs around his waist as he stalked us to the back bedroom. He set me down on the window ledge and leaned back to look at me. My pink dress was hiked up around my hips, giving him an eyeful.

  “Damn,” he whispered, his voice thick and his eyes dark. “I need more of that mouth of yours.”

  War plunged his hands into my hair. The back of my head banged against the cold glass as his warm lips covered mine. My heart hammering against my ribs, I took in short shallow breaths through my nose as his tongue speared repeatedly, possessively, into my mouth. I threaded my fingers into his silky hair and scraped my nails against his scalp the way I remembered he’d always liked.

  He groaned into my mouth, breaking the embrace just long enough to reach back between his shoulder blades to tug off his shirt.

  My gaze trailed over his smooth, lean torso. He was just as sexy as he’d ever been, the irreverent black heart inked over the spot where his real heart lay. But my mind conjured up a vision of another.

  “Gotta see you,” War growled.

  Pulling my head forward, he yanked down the zipper of my dress and unclasped my bra. Cold air hit my skin as my dress parted, then my bra. War peeled the material down my shoulders and off my arms. As he stared at my bared breasts, my nipples tightened.

  “Feed me, baby.” His voice was low and demanding.

  I cupped my breasts in my hands while he spread my legs wide enough to step between them. His fingers dug deep into my upper thighs. He rocked his arousal against me before lowering his head to trace my breasts with his tongue, in and around my splayed fingers.

  I moaned, and my head started to fall back when I heard a sound and looked up. Only a couple of feet away, Bryan stood beside his bunk, his eyes dark and hooded as he returned my gaze. At first, my cheeks flushed with embarrassment, but then I narrowed my eyes at him in defiance.

  Go ahead and look, my expression told him. You might not want me, but War sure as hell does.

  Bryan averted his gaze. “Shut the door next time, asshole,” he said irritably before leaning forward to slap his hand against the door switch.

  “Sorry, babe.” War’s lust-glazed eyes went from the closed door and then to me.

  I dipped my head in acknowledgment but wasn’t interested after that.

  War didn’t seem to notice. He removed my panties, lowered his jeans, and fucked me. Within moments, he finished. Tossing the condom aside, he moved away. Abandoned on the ledge and feeling used and shaky inside, I climbed down and readjusted my dress.

  They’re just looking to get laid
.

  “I’m going to get cleaned up,” I said softly, tiny tremors shaking my hands as I grabbed my toiletry bag from the closet.

  Oblivious to my distress, War grunted a response and flopped back on the bed with a magazine.

  I padded out the door on tiptoes. King and Sager were laughing at something in the front lounge, their faces glowing from the reflection of the television. Hopefully, Bryan had already closed his curtain and gone to bed. I risked a peek at his bunk.

  He was awake. His hands were clasped behind his head, his earbuds were in, and his piercing gray-green eyes met mine.

  I couldn’t move. Couldn’t breathe. I’d only thought he looked dangerous onstage the other night, but that was an act. This was real danger. He was.

  Dark energy radiated off Bryan in waves. Anger, disappointment, and something else that I couldn’t pinpoint flickered across his face before his lids lowered and he shut me out.

  Released, I shuffled into the closet-sized bathroom and locked myself inside. Free from his unsettling perusal, I leaned back against the door, and my breath came out in a rush. I put my hand over my mouth, trying not to be sick.

  What was Bryan’s problem? What right did he have to look at me like that? I shouldn’t let him get to me, but he did. It seemed I was always a hot tangled mess of emotions wherever he was concerned.

  Damn him, I thought, turning on the shower.

  I should never have slept with Bryan. I gambled and lost everything that night, including my closest friend. And having sex tonight with War while Bryan watched just brought the stark contrasts between the two men into sharp focus.

  The deep emotional connection, the heart-melting tenderness, the intense pleasure I’d experienced in just the one night of lovemaking with Bryan, was something I’d never come close to duplicating with War. And no matter how many times I reminded myself how badly hurt I’d been afterward, or tried to convince myself that the passage of time had exaggerated the experience, it didn’t stop me from wanting to be with Bryan again.

  After a quick shower, I wrapped my kimono around myself and exited, relieved to see the curtain to Bryan’s bunk was closed. I reentered the bedroom and found War beside the nightstand with a tourniquet, a spoon, some cotton, a glass of water, and a couple of syringes lying on top of it like an illicit banquet.

  My gaze met his.

  “I know you said you were trying to cut back, babe. But it’s been a couple of days, and I figured you might need a little something. It’s just a small dose, but it’ll probably help you relax. I know my heart’s still racing from the lines we did earlier.”

  War was right. I’d never sleep tonight without it.

  “Okay,” I said. Though shame burned my cheeks, I knew this was who I was now, and what I needed.

  Sinking onto the edge of the mattress, I held out my arm and let him do me up.

  CHAPTER NINE

  Lace

  The bus was parked when I rejoined the land of the living. War snored softly, sprawled on his stomach in the bed beside me. Sunlight seeped in through the heavily tinted windows.

  Groggy, I sat up slowly, more than a little nauseated. I put my head in my hands, and tears I swore never to shed burned behind my eyes.

  I’m such a failure.

  I tried, but I couldn’t make it more than a few days without needing another hit.

  With a heavy sigh, I picked up War’s cell from the nightstand. It was eleven already. I’d been out for ten hours. Outside, roadies were moving in and around the tour buses parked beside us.

  Ah, so we’re already in Philly.

  Quietly, I pulled on a distressed pair of jeans and drew a purple Henley with long lace sleeves over my head. As soon as I opened the door, the smell of coffee and doughnuts hit me, and my stomach lurched.

  “Morning,” my brother mumbled, wearing yesterday’s clothes, of course. His gaze slid over me. “You look like shit.”

  “You don’t look much better.” I gave him the finger. “Who’s in the bathroom?”

  “King,” he said.

  My chin dropped. I’d been on the bus enough days to know what that meant.

  “Yeah, it’ll be a while.” Dizzy banged on the door. “King, how many times I gotta tell you, brother? Shit, shower, and shave. That shouldn’t take more than fifteen minutes. Get your sorry ass out already!”

  Even through my nausea, I had to smile at my brother. “The three s’s, huh?”

  Dizzy chuckled. “King’s a total diva with his morning routine. He even has moisturizer.”

  King’s muffled voice drifted out. “I hear you, pendejo.” Dumbass.

  I shook my head and shuffled down the aisle to the front of the bus, swiping my sunglasses off the floor as Dizzy shut the door to the fridge.

  He handed me a bottled water. “You should try and stay hydrated.”

  “Sure,” I mumbled, taking a seat at the banquette.

  Dizzy sat on the bench opposite me. “Lace,” he said, rubbing his hands on his jeans. “You sure you’re doing the right thing getting back with War so soon after Martin?”

  “Are you seriously giving me grief about my love life?” I arched a brow in disbelief. “That’s just wrong on so many levels.”

  My brother had the decency to look ashamed, but his gaze remained steady. “I should’ve been more outspoken how I felt about Martin. I hate what he did to you, Lace. All those times I called, you never let on how bad things were. And now I see the shit you’re doing with War. I—”

  “Don’t,” I said quickly. “No lecturing, okay? You’ve got no right. It’s not like you’re some kind of Boy Scout yourself.”

  “That’s different. You’re my sister.” He sighed, his eyes searching mine. “I’m worried about you.”

  “Don’t be. I’m all right, Diz. I’m all grown up now. You’re not responsible for me anymore.” Covering his hand with mine, I said, “I just need to level off some. Then I’ll be fine.” But I didn’t get the sense that he was buying any of it.

  “What’s the deal for today?” I asked, trying to inject some enthusiasm into my voice before I took a small sip of water.

  “Same as Boston. Room keys are at the front desk, if you wanna unwind inside the hotel. The whole tenth floor’s exclusive for the tour. Catered breakfast and lunch. Sound check at noon. Band has to be at the venue by seven.”

  “Okay.” I nodded. “I’m going to go get one of those hotel keys since King’s commandeered the commode.”

  I stood and patted him on the back before heading out for the hotel.

  • • •

  After I got my key, I had a wonderfully long hot shower in a decent-sized bathroom. When I was done, I felt a lot better. Following my nose, I wandered down the hall to an open area where an elaborate breakfast buffet was laid out. It was so late, I really expected to dine alone.

  Wrong.

  My stomach flipped when I saw her.

  Avery Jones was even more beautiful in person. Her red hair was shiny, her green eyes were striking, and her leather vest and merino-wool cowl sweater were obviously designer grade. I felt shabby and self-conscious by comparison in my no-name faded shirt and worn jeans.

  “Morning,” she said.

  Well, Miss High and Mighty actually graced me with a greeting. What’s the protocol? Should I bow?

  Deciding to ignore her, I selected a banana, a yogurt, and a muffin, and poured myself a cup of coffee. Balancing my bounty, I turned. Brutal Strength’s celebrity guitarist was appraising me with a speculative expression.

  My spine straightened. Bring it. She was just a person, same as me.

  “This seat taken?” I asked haughtily, indicating the chair across from her.

  “No. Have a seat.” Her full lips lifted into a friendly smile. “I’m Avery.”

  “Lace Lowell.”

  I wasn’t buying the nice act. I made up my mind right then that I wasn’t going to like her. For one thing, she’d probably slept with Bryan. Just the thought of his hand
s or lips on her was reason enough by itself. I worried that all she would have to do to get him running back to her was to crook her expensively manicured finger. Besides, she seemed like she had her shit together, when my life was a complete and utter mess, and that just pissed me off.

  “I saw you the other night at the meet and greet in Boston,” Avery said as I peered at her over the steam from my coffee. “You come down to Philly on the Tempest bus?”

  “Uh-huh.”

  “Lowell.” Avery’s brow creased slightly. “You related to Dizzy?”

  I nodded. “He’s my brother.”

  “So, you’re War’s . . . girlfriend?”

  “Yeah,” I said, my spine snapping straight. “Who’d you think I was? Some random groupie?”

  “No.” Avery’s auburn brows lifted at my sharp tone. “Only I’ve never seen Tempest bring a woman from one stop to the next. So I just didn’t know—”

  “I’m no whore, if that’s what you’re trying to imply.”

  “I didn’t mean any offense.” Avery’s lips pressed into a frown. “I’m sorry. We seem to have started off on the wrong foot somehow.”

  Damn straight. I’d like to stomp on those Vince Camuto suede wedges of yours.

  “What’s going on, Ace?” a deep voice rumbled behind us.

  I turned to see who that gorgeous voice belonged to. Holy fucking shit.

  It was the lead singer of Brutal Strength, Marcus Anthony. The guy was definitely nice to look at with his dark, wet hair dripping into the collar of his T-shirt, ripped bod, and killer blue eyes. But at the moment, he looked kind of pissed.

  “Nothing’s going on.” Avery glanced at me. “Just a little misunderstanding with Dizzy’s sister.”

  “I gotta go.” My chair clattered with the force I used pushing it back. “Later,” I mumbled.

  Hurrying out into the hall, I ran right into Bryan. He must have just gotten out of the shower too. His hair was wet, spiky, and he smelled really, really good.