The Complete Tempest World Box Set

by Mankin, Michelle

“When was the last time you saw him?” Dizzy asked me as he tightened the strings on his Gibson.

  “Not since we landed, and he made that big scene about the lukewarm beer in first class.”

  “King’s right.” Dizzy cringed. “The dude’s got it bad.”

  “What?” I rolled my shoulders.

  “LSD.”

  “Shit. You’re kiddin’ me.”

  Dizzy barked out a laugh. “LSD. Lead singer’s disease, man. War’s got a real bad case.”

  Speaking of the diseased monster, War had finally arrived, and he was obviously wasted. His head was slumped to his chest, his arms draped around two women, and his legs wobbled under him like limp noodles.

  I glanced over to see if Vandergriff had noticed. Sure enough, Buzz Buster was already heading straight toward War with a dark look on his face. He dismissed the two girls and grabbed War just as he fell forward.

  War lifted his head, his lips twitching, right before he blew chunks all over Buzz Buster’s shiny black dress shoes.

  “Bullet. Dizzy,” Buzz Buster called, then cursed. “Come help me with this asshole.”

  “We’re screwed,” Dizzy mumbled as we hurried over. “We’ve only got thirty minutes before we’re on.”

  “I’m fine,” War slurred, rocking back on his heels. He put his hand on his hip, but his attempt to appear belligerent was sabotaged by the fact that he almost fell over again. “Get me my shades!” he yelled at one of the roadies as he pulled his black bandana lower over his red-rimmed eyes.

  “I don’t believe you, man.” I shook my head.

  “Yeah, well.” War’s gaze cut to me, his stare surprisingly steady considering the intensity of the alcohol reek emanating from him. “I can’t believe you either, asshole.”

  We glared at each other. The undercurrent of restrained violence between us saddened me more than I was willing to admit. Numbly, I nodded when Buzz Buster ordered me to keep an eye on War while he and Dizzy went to round up some Red Bull.

  Frustrated, I raked a hand through my hair. The tour, the group, my friendships, my life . . . everything was going to hell. Maybe I should try to salvage some of it.

  “Listen,” I said to War, taking a step closer. “I’m sorry. Sorry about busting you in the jaw. Sorry about you and Lace. I know how you must feel.”

  “You don’t know anything,” War growled.

  “I know what a low tolerance you have for rejection. I was there when your father—”

  “Shut up!” War shouted, his eyes narrowed. “I don’t care about that bastard, and I don’t give a fuck about that bitch Lace either.”

  A cruel grin twisted his lips. “The only reason I was ever with her was because I enjoyed watching what it did to you. It used to be nice having you trail around after me like a puppy, always ready to do my bidding. But it got old after a while. In fact, all this shit’s gotten old.”

  Buzz Buster returned and thrust a Red Bull into War’s hand. “Drink up. And keep it down.”

  War took a long swig and wiped his mouth. “Listen, all,” he said, projecting loudly enough that everyone backstage turned in our direction. “I have a special announcement to make.”

  He pointed at me.

  “I’m not working with this motherfucker anymore. I’m quitting after tonight’s show.” War stumbled to the edge of the stage, brushing past Dizzy. “Now let’s get this shit over with.”

  I didn’t move. Shock had frozen my feet in place.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

  Lace

  I stood in the foyer, staring out the glass doors at the circular driveway.

  Waiting for Dizzy to arrive, I was filled with equal parts trepidation and excitement. I was ready as hell to get out of this place, to see my brother, to watch television, to surf the web, and to wear something besides a Second Chances track suit. On the other hand, I was really worried how I’d handle things out there in the real world . . . on my own.

  After paying the rehab bill, I still had ten thousand dollars left from the signing bonus that Mary Timmons had given me. But I knew I wasn’t going to keep it. I was planning to give that back and work out some kind of repayment plan for what I’d already spent.

  I’d taken that money under false pretenses, and being a cheat and a liar didn’t sit well with me anymore. Not with the person I’d set my mind on becoming.

  A dark blue sedan with tinted windows and a rental car sticker pulled up in front of the building. Dizzy jumped out of the driver’s side and jogged around to the front of it. I pushed through the front doors and rushed outside, dropping my bag just as my brother lifted me up and twirled me around in a circle.

  “Lace,” he said, hugging me so enthusiastically that I could barely breathe.

  “Diz,” I wheezed. “Too tight.”

  “Sorry.” He loosened his grip, and when he leaned back to look at me, a look of relief passed through those eyes so like mine. “You look fantastic. But how are you feeling?”

  “It’s not like I had a terminal disease,” I grumbled, though I guessed I probably had. Anyway, I knew what he meant.

  Looking in the mirror this morning, I’d seen that my skin and hair had regained their previous luster, my cheeks were attractively fuller, my eyes sparkled with awareness, and the jeans and T-shirt that had been loose when I checked in were actually a little snug now.

  Getting your life in order and eating three meals a day instead of shooting up will do a lot of good for you.

  “Where’d you get the car?” I asked.

  “At the airport. We’re staying there tonight. I have us an early flight out in the morning. I can’t believe they wouldn’t discharge you until five.”

  “Yeah, well, Sawbones is a stickler for doing things by the book.” In response to Dizzy’s questioning look, I explained. “Dr. George, he’s the psychiatrist who runs the facility. I arrived in the evening twenty-eight days ago, so that’s when I get released.”

  I bent down to get my bag when movement near the car caught my eye. As I straightened, I saw him. “Bryan.”

  My heart stopped and then restarted, beating twice as hard as before, just from looking at him leaning back against the hood of the sedan. His black shirtsleeves were rolled up, his arms folded over his chest, and his long legs encased in formfitting jeans.

  Bryan was the last person I expected to see, but he was a welcome sight, nonetheless. When he hadn’t gotten in touch with me before I’d been admitted, I’d assumed he’d finally written me off as a lost cause, just like everybody else.

  His lips formed a seductive grin. “Lace,” he said, drawling in that special way of his, and the world tilted a little beneath my feet.

  “I wasn’t expecting you,” I managed to say, even though my voice was noticeably breathy.

  For several moments, he held my gaze. Something in my eyes must have given me away, because he sauntered toward me, all swagger and verve.

  I held on to the pretense of being unaffected by him until he leaned in and the warmth from his breath tickled my ear.

  “You look gorgeous.”

  My stomach fluttered. “You didn’t return any of my phone calls,” I said, trying to recover my equilibrium, which was always a struggle around him. “I thought you’d given up on me.”

  “And I thought you’d given up on me.” He leaned back to look at me, his tone filled with regret. “I’m sorry I didn’t call. I only overheard part of your conversation with War at the hospital, and bailed when you said you loved him. I understand from Dizzy that I should have stuck around for the rest.”

  “Hey, are you guys gonna stand out here all day and stare at each other?” Dizzy raised an amused brow. “Or are you ready to go?”

  I pursed my lips, and Bryan just laughed.

  Mesmerized by the crinkles around his eyes, I blinked up at him. It had been a long time since I’d seen him look so happy, or since my own heart had felt so light. But then again, Bryan could always make me feel that way.

  Reluctantl
y, I released my fingers from his arm and climbed into the passenger seat. There was so much more I wanted to ask him, so much I wanted to believe his presence here meant. The chain connected to his wallet jingled as he slid into the back.

  Our eyes met in the mirror, and a heavy, expectant vibe zapped across the space between us.

  Is this finally going to be the beginning of an us?

  During the thirty-minute drive to the airport, I felt Bryan’s heated gaze on me. My body prickled with awareness. To keep my mind off the hungry male lounging in the back seat, I tried to make small talk with Dizzy. My jaw dropped when he told me about War quitting the band.

  “You’re kidding?” I shook my head, but I refused to feel guilty. That was a burden the old Lace would have taken on. What War did was his own damn business. “What are you guys going to do?”

  “I’m glad you asked,” Bryan said without a pause as if he and my brother had this rehearsed. “Diz and I were hoping you would consider—”

  “No.” I thought it best to put the kibosh on that idea right away. “I decided inside rehab to leave that part of my life behind.”

  “Why?” my brother asked, his brows knitting in confusion. “You’re so good at it, Lace.”

  “And you have a contract with Black Cat,” Bryan added.

  “I did a lot of thinking about it. The touring, rock-star lifestyle is too much of a temptation for an addictive personality like mine. Besides, I realized that being part of a group was what I really loved most about music, and I can get that in other ways. The singing, going solo, that was War’s idea for me. It’s not really what I want, so I’ve decided to go back to school and study fashion design. I’ve started sketching again.” Shrugging, I said, “It makes me happy.”

  Both guys were silent as they processed that blitz of information. As Dizzy steered the sedan through the tollbooth, Bryan broke the silence. “Whatever you want to do, Lace, I know you’ll be good at it.”

  A surge of emotion clogged my throat. He had always been so supportive of my dreams, and his approval meant so much to me.

  I gave him a long look that said I want to climb into the back seat with you and lick your neck. I think he got the message because he returned my look and one-upped me with a sexy smile.

  We dropped off the rental and took the shuttle back to the airport. After we checked into the Hyatt Regency inside the terminal, Dizzy suggested we grab a bite to eat together at the steakhouse. I eagerly nodded my agreement. The cafeteria in rehab had been okay, but I was ready for some real food. Dizzy went ahead to get us a table.

  The instant we were alone, Bryan grabbed my arm. His warm, calloused fingertips traced a path to my palm that made me shiver.

  “Eat fast,” he said softly, his piercing gray-green eyes glittering with a hungry intensity that I knew didn’t have anything to do with food. “You’re coming to my room after. There are things to be said that can’t wait.”

  I nodded mutely, a sudden case of nerves unsettling my empty stomach. I wanted him, of course I wanted him, but it had been a long time since prom night.

  I ordered a steak, but was iffy about it later. Bryan and I sat opposite each other at the table. I listened disinterestedly while he and Dizzy went through a list of possible replacements for War.

  As long as I avoided direct eye contact with Bryan, I was able to continue interacting on a reasonable level. The one time I slipped up, the sensual look he gave me had made my entire body tremble with anticipation.

  Lucky for me, by the time the food arrived, my nerves were somewhat under control, and my appetite had returned. I did an admirable job on the steak but resisted dessert. Right now, only one thing, one man, was tempting me.

  “Hey, man, I’m going to head on up to my room with Lace,” Bryan said to Dizzy when the check finally came. “She and I need to talk.”

  Dizzy glanced at me. I saw the trepidation in his eyes, and I understood it. I had reservations myself. Not about whether to go with Bryan—that was as inevitable as the coming sunrise. No, it was the uncertainty about what might happen afterward that worried me.

  “I’ve got my own keycard,” I told my brother, hoping that would reassure him. “I’ll come to our room later.”

  “Diz.” Bryan leaned an elbow on the table. “It’s okay. I’ll take good care of her. That has always been my intention.”

  His voice was low and deep, and I totally got that there was more than just a promise to Dizzy in those words. Imagining just what type of immediate things taking care of me might involve made my mouth go dry and my heart rate accelerate.

  My brother insisted on paying the bill and gave me a hug before I left the table with Bryan. I looked back at Dizzy, and for a moment, I wavered. Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea after all.

  “Lace.” Bryan took my hand, and my uncertainty dissolved.

  I wanted him, and he wanted me. The rest was just details to work out.

  Holding hands, we made our way to the elevator. As soon as the doors closed, Bryan’s warm hands settled low on my back, right above the curve of my ass. He pulled me close, positioning me in just the right place.

  Instant hot desire hummed through my veins, and I knew I was lost. He and I were a foregone conclusion that had been on the back burner for years. It was time to turn the heat up to high.

  I placed my hands on his chest, feeling the warmth of his skin and the staccato rhythm of his heartbeat through the thin material of his button-down shirt. Wrapping my arms around his neck, I tilted my face up to his.

  Anticipation flooded my body as his mouth lowered to mine.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

  Bryan

  I watched Lace’s eyes close, golden lashes fanning over her blushed cheeks. Her surrender made me feel powerful yet humble at the same time. I’d waited so long and wanted her so desperately.

  “Bry.” She breathed my name like a plea, one to take and possess her, which was what I had every intention of doing.

  “Lace,” I said, like she was my answer and I was hers, which I most certainly was. This was the start of our beginning, and we were starting it right.

  I slanted my mouth across hers, and her fingers tangled in the hair at the back of my neck. That turned me on more than I could stand. Finally, at long last, she was mine.

  I plunged my tongue between her sweet parted lips. A fire burned inside me as soon as I got my first taste. Her mouth was salty from the steak, minty from the mints that had been handed out after dinner, and hot as fucking hell.

  Her moan made me immediately realize my tactical error. Taking her mouth wasn’t going to be enough, not nearly, and I couldn’t do all the things I wanted to do to her inside this elevator.

  “Babe.” I lifted my head, and her dazed eyes fluttered open. Her lips were wet and swollen, and her breaths were shallow. A primal surge of satisfaction swept through me.

  Oh yeah. I liked that it was me making her look like this. Me and no one else, the way it was always meant to be.

  I put my hands on either side of her head and pinned her sexy body between my arms. “Just so we’re clear . . . you and me now. No one else ever again.”

  “Yes, Bry,” she said, her eyes hooded as she peered steadily back at me. The passion that simmered in her beautiful eyes made me want to rip her clothes off right then, elevator cameras be damned.

  Good thing the door decided to slide open at that moment. Even so, I went completely cave man, threw her over my shoulder, and stalked to the room.

  She giggled, and I fucking loved the sound of it. It had been too long since I’d heard her laugh, since we’d been together like this.

  Grinning, I stopped in front of the door.

  “Put me down,” she said, sounding out of breath.

  “Hell fucking no.” I slid the keycard out of my front pocket. “I’m the one giving the orders tonight, babe.”

  Once the door opened, I carried her to the large bed and tossed her into the middle of it, right on top of the fluff
y comforter. She pulled herself upright, yanking the comforter out of the way and leaning on her elbows. Her expression anticipatory, she parted her sexy lips as she watched me take off my shirt. No woman, no woman at any time, came close to making me feel the way she did when she looked at me.

  While I removed my boots and socks, Lace sat up and lifted her shirt over her head.

  “Next time, I get to do that,” I told her, giving her a serious look.

  “Okay.” She tossed her hair over her shoulder, her mouth widening into a playful smile.

  My eyes devoured her. The creamy slopes of her perfect breasts spilled out of her purple bra, the dusky rose nipples barely concealed by the lacy edge. She was by far the sexiest woman I’d ever seen, and I went hard as fucking steel when she lowered her head and gave me a flirty come take me look through her lashes.

  Hell yeah, I’ll take her.

  I’d never been more ready in my life. I unbuckled my belt and started to unbutton my jeans, but she reached out and covered my hand with hers.

  “Let me.” Her voice was husky as she stared up at me. She’d been so young our first time, a little hesitant, but not now. Now she was all woman, and she was all mine.

  My gaze burned as the magnitude hit me of where we were, and what we’d gone through to get here. Unable to speak, I nodded.

  Her hair slid forward as she lowered her head and spread apart the button fly on my jeans. I moved things along by pulling my boxers and jeans off together. My breath caught when her delicate fingers closed around me. My cock jumped in her hand, hers to command, like I was.

  Fucking hell.

  I pulled her up, only to push her back on the bed. Not willing to wait a second longer, I climbed in and slammed my mouth down on hers with a growl. I wanted to be inside her . . . now. That voice inside my head that had been telling me to take it slow? I told it to shut the fuck up. I was done with preliminaries.

  I thrust my tongue deep into her mouth, giving it to her a little rough. Apparently, she liked that just fine, because she started to writhe beneath me.

  Warm skin, soft curves, she felt fucking fantastic, but her jeans needed to come off. My chest heaving, I was barely able to draw in enough oxygen to fuel my raging desire. I drew back and unfastened her jeans, then yanked them down.