Rock Me Faster (Licks Of Leather Book 4)

by Jenna Jacob

  “No.” I chuckled. “It’s just, I…” Don’t know how to drive, let alone own a car, and haven’t even been to Lexington. I’ve only been to Louisville once, with my dad, when I was ten.

  “I hope everyone is good with seafood for lunch,” Quinn interrupted.

  “I could go for some hot, juicy fish tacos,” Syd replied with a mischievous grin.

  “I’m sure you could, but you’re not having them at our table,” Quinn drawled.

  “Grow the fuck up, Syd,” Ross groused.

  The undertone of a joke was threaded in their conversation, but I wasn’t going to ask about it. I’d embarrassed myself enough for one day.

  “Never going to happen,” the bass player announced with a laugh.

  “Harmony, is seafood okay with you?” Quinn asked.

  “Sure.”

  “Let me guess,” Ross began, drawing my focus back to him. “You’ve never eaten seafood before, either, have you?” Since I wasn’t sure if tuna in a can qualified, I shook my head. “I take it back. You haven’t been living in a convent, you’ve been living under a rock.”

  “Why are you being so mean to her?” Mia bit out.

  “I wasn’t being mean. I was…teasing.”

  “Quick, somebody call Ripley’s…Ross is trying to be funny,” Ozzy barked in feigned shock.

  “Fuck off, all of you,” Ross snarled before turning to me with a tender expression that made my heart thud. “I wasn’t trying to—”

  “It’s okay,” I assured before trying to wedge my foot through the tiny opening Ross had made in his wall. “But can I ask a favor?”

  As soon as the question left my lips, I felt him slam the narrow gap shut.

  “What?”

  “Would you mind explaining the items on the menu if I have questions?”

  “That’s what waiters are for,” he snapped harshly.

  His biting waves of annoyance scraped my flesh. Ross hadn’t simply shut me out, he’d slapped a heavy padlock in place as well.

  “I take it back,” Mia snapped. “You’re not being mean…you’re being an asshole.”

  “Let it go, baby,” Ozzy whispered.

  Disgust lined Ross’s face as he exhaled a curse. “If you have questions, Harmony, go ahead and ask. All right?”

  I knew capitulating had cost him dearly. Still, I couldn’t help but hope I was watching him take his first baby steps toward healing.

  “I appreciate it.” I smiled softly.

  “Look at you, playing all nice and shit with others,” Syd teased. “You feeling okay?”

  “Okay enough to rip off your head and shit down your throat, smart-ass.”

  Unfazed by Ross’s violent threat, Syd threw his head back and laughed.

  A minute later, the bus pulled to the curb and stopped. Standing, I started toward the door, when Quinn called my name.

  “Yes?”

  “Aren’t you forgetting someone?” he asked, pointedly looking at Ross.

  “Oh, I thought we were only supposed to play our parts when—”

  “When you two are anywhere in public.”

  “Got it.”

  Even without the heavy sigh exploding from Ross’s lungs, his frustration consumed me.

  “Grab your boy-toy, Harmony. He’s in serious need of fish tacos,” Syd snickered, peering over Quinn’s shoulder.

  “Shut the fuck up, you sick prick,” Ross growled as he grabbed my hand.

  His anger nearly singed my flesh as he led me down the stairs and off the bus. I barely had time to slap on a smile as we hit the sidewalk. Several feet away, a crowd of people was already gathered around Burk, Sofia, Ozzy, Mia, and Darren. I darted a glance up at Ross, watching his scowl grow deeper and more menacing. Planting my heels into the pavement, I tugged him to a stop.

  “What?” he bit out.

  “You won’t earn an Academy Award if you don’t get into character,” I murmured as I reached up and cupped his cheek.

  Every muscle in his body turned to stone.

  His nostrils flared.

  Something dark and ominous flickered in his eyes.

  Then a blast of panic exploded from deep inside him, sending a flutter of fear surging through me. I jerked my hand away and swallowed tightly when I saw the raw anger flaring in his dark eyes.

  “Don’t ever touch me again,” he snarled through clenched teeth.

  Struggling to keep my smile in place as the crowd grew larger and louder; calling out for autographs and selfies, I drew in a deep breath. “Okay, but you need to get your anger—”

  “I know what the fuck I need to do, princess.”

  As the words left his lips, Ross donned a mask of tenderness that belied his harsh, intimidating demeanor. Without another word, he wrapped a thick arm around my waist, gently pulled me to his side, and started toward the others.

  “What’s the deal with the fish tacos?” I asked.

  Ross came to an abrupt halt, jolting me against his hip. Lifting a dubious brow, he narrowed his eyes. “Are you fucking with me?”

  “No. I just don’t know what—”

  “Christ, you really are innocent, aren’t you?”

  His tone was a mixture of awe and disbelief. I wasn’t sure if that was a good or a bad thing, but the swarm of fans was growing even bigger. It was time for me to play my role and not ask any more questions. As we met up with Burk, Sofia, Ozzy, Mia, and Darren, I glanced behind me to see Syd and Quinn already greeting fans.

  Suddenly, a large-breasted brunette with glossy red lips, and heavy makeup screamed Ross’s name as she ran toward him.

  I tensed. I wasn’t sure what I was supposed to do. Did I stay put? Move out of the way? Go inside the restaurant?

  But as more fans closed in all around us and the brunette got all up in Ross’s personal space, I wanted to scurry back to the safety of the bus.

  Unfortunately, I wasn’t being paid to run and hide.

  “Well, hello, there,” Ross all but purred, gazing at the woman’s ample cleavage and slowly inching away from me.

  His dismissal stung. I lowered my lashes and subconsciously compared my average-sized breasts to the ones wiggling and jiggling in Ross’s face. For the first time in my life, I felt woefully inadequate.

  The woman giggled, gushed, and pawed at Ross, confessing that she’d been in love with him for years. He thanked her and praised her with platitudes as she shoved a marker at him and yanked open the V of her shirt—practically exposing all her goods, to the entire world.

  A ball of jealousy I had no business feeling, lodged in my throat.

  I reminded myself that I was nothing but an actress, but it didn’t lessen the longing to shove her away from him.

  Seemingly content with the woman’s brazen behavior, Ross pressed his palm to the plump flesh spilling from her lacy pink bra and scrawled his name over her pale skin.

  Anger, pain, and envy battered me from every direction. The desire to scratch out her eyes and yank the long, dark hair from her scalp pelted me.

  Goodness! Where did such vile and violent thoughts come from?

  Reeling from the shock and horror of my fierce reaction, I watched a gorgeous redhead slide in beside Ross. She didn’t say a word, simply sent him a smoldering smile, then grabbed the hem of her conservative black business skirt with her long red fingernails and yanked the garment up to her waist.

  Though no one around us even batted an eye, I gasped in dismay.

  One long, slender leg—wrapped in black lace-topped stockings and attached to a bright red garter belt—was fully exposed, along with her entire right butt cheek. I couldn’t believe it…her bare backside was just hanging out there for everyone to see. But what she did next defied all logic—at least to me.

  The woman flashed Ross a seductive wink, then slapped herself on the butt…hard. Closing her eyes briefly, she let out a long moan, then peered up at him and licked her lips. “Sign your name right here, big boy. Give it to me…nice and hard.”

&nbs
p; “Anything you say, kitten,” Ross drawled.

  Clutching the marker, he lowered to one knee. As he skimmed a wide hand up her stocking-covered leg, the woman closed her eyes again, and moaned like my mom did each time Dad had shooed me from our Airstream.

  Anger, jealousy, and rejection swirled like a cyclone. I couldn’t stand there and watch the brazen women peel away their clothes and entice Ross to touch them.

  Tears stinging my eyes, I turned to walk away and came face-to-face with Sofia. As if sensing my turmoil, she took my hand and sent me a supportive smile.

  “Let’s go inside and find our table while the rock stars feed and water their fans.”

  While the onslaught of ugly emotions churned through me, I nodded and let Sofia lead me into the building.

  “You okay?”

  “Peachy,” I tersely replied.

  “I know how shocking this is for you. I’ve worked in this industry for years and nearly lost my mind when I joined the guys on tour.” Sofia kept her voice low as we followed the young hostess to a private dining room.

  On a long, rectangular table draped in white linen, place settings of fine bone china and shimmering stemware were assembled in front of several glossy oak chairs. Glass sconces lined the walls, illuminating the room in a soft glow.

  “Sitting behind a desk orchestrating tours and publicity junkets is way different than being out there with them and having all those…eager women shoved in your face,” Sofia continued. “It’s not easy to turn the other cheek and look away when you want to bitch-slap them into next week.”

  So my violent impulse was normal?

  Maybe if I was Ross’s real girlfriend.

  But I wasn’t. There was no rational reason for these dark, nasty feelings to be clawing through me.

  “I’m sure it’s torture watching them throw themselves at Burk,” I sympathized as the hostess finished setting a menu on each plate, then left the room. “But I’m just here to play a part.”

  Sofia sent me a knowing smile. “Then you’re an even better actress than you portrayed at the interview.”

  “What makes you say that?”

  “Because you looked like you were ready to spit nails when those women were rubbing all over Ross.”

  Praying to all the goddesses that he hadn’t been as perceptive as Sofia, I forced a tight smile. “I need to use the ladies’ room. I’ll be right back.”

  “Take your time. They’ll be signing autographs for a while.”

  Good.

  It was going to take more than a few minutes for me to purge these toxic emotions and replace them with patience, peace of mind, and the tranquility necessary to restore my soul.

  Then what? It’s not going to last.

  That wasn’t negativity talking…it was the truth.

  I knew the second Ross turned his fathomless dark eyes on me again, my system would short-circuit, and I’d be right where I was now, trying to process all these foreign emotions. Because it happened every dang time.

  Maybe I needed a wall around me to shield my system from the sparks he induced. But I couldn’t. I had to somehow entice him out from behind his own bastion. But until I got an accurate read on Ross’s emotions and uncovered his secrets, I didn’t know if I needed to use a battering ram or kindness. Until then, I had to don a mask, as fake as that trampy redhead’s lips, boobs, and fingernails, and play my part in deceiving the public.

  I knew the people back home were happy that I was here trying to save our little slice of heaven. But would they still be as supportive if they knew I was deceiving everyone on the planet? Or that the man I’d been assigned to save lit my soul up like a firefly every time he looked, touched, or spoke to me?

  After circling the restaurant three times, I finally asked a waitress for directions. Once inside the restroom, I splashed cold water on my face and dried off with a cottony-soft towelette as memories of home filled my brain.

  I closed my eyes and envisioned the lush green mountain. I could almost smell the pine in the fresh, sweet air. See those tall trees stretching toward the heavens. Hear Jeb strumming a happy tune on his banjo by the fire.

  A pang of longing for the simple, safe, uplifting life I’d left behind stung.

  Sucking in a deep breath, I tucked the bittersweet memories away and studied my reflection in the mirror.

  “This job wasn’t supposed to be like this,” I whispered softly.

  Every hardship reaps its own reward. My father’s voice and sage wisdom echoed in my ears.

  “But I think I’m in over my head, Bodhi,” I murmured to him.

  And though he was over seven hundred miles away, I could hear his wisdom whispering through me once more.

  You’ll never find peace with life until you achieve peace within yourself.

  Yes. Regardless of the tangled mess I was in, I had to maintain my peace of mind. The only way I could achieve that goal was to feed and water the seeds of compassion and tranquility.

  Though Ross was hands down the most emotionally unavailable and socially detached man I’d ever met, I was determined to help him discover his happiness and set it free.

  After aligning my mind, body, and soul once more, I stepped from the bathroom and plowed into a wide, solid chest. As I froze in place with my breasts mashed against a wall of unyielding muscle, Ross’s unique, masculine scent charged through me, making my nipples shrink into hard, throbbing pebbles.

  I wanted to blame being startled for my thundering heartbeat, now pounding in my ears, but I couldn’t lie to myself. Ross’s salacious stare slicing my soul wide open was the reason for the pulsing throb assaulting my system.

  Half a tripping heartbeat later, I wanted to climb his rugged body like a spider monkey and wrap my arms around his deliciously broad shoulders.

  Peeling away from his penetrating gaze, I was captured and held prisoner by the sight of his full, erotic lips. Oh, how I longed to lift to my toes and press my mouth against his to see if he tasted as good as I imagined.

  Get a grip, a little voice in my head demanded.

  “Umm, the men’s room is right there.” I pointed at the doorway to my right.

  “I’m not here to hit the head.” Ross’s deep, raspy voice vibrated through my chest. A knot of heat unraveled low in my belly, sending tingles skittering up my spine.

  “Then why are you here?”

  “Waiting for you.”

  “Why me?”

  “I wanted to apologize in case I hurt your feelings outside.”

  “Don’t be silly. They’re your fans. Of course you have to sign…body parts.”

  A frown creased his brow. “I meant my comment about you being innocent.”

  “Oh.”

  “I wasn’t making fun of you, honest. There’s nothing wrong with… Tons of people haven’t experienced a lot of life—”

  “Just because I’ve never autographed boobs or butt cheeks doesn’t mean I’m innocent. I have lots of experience with life.”

  Skepticism crawled across his face. “If you say so. I just—”

  “For your information, I’ve helped goats, pigs, dogs, and cats give birth. I’ve planted gardens, picked the harvest, and helped can them, too. I’ve churned butter, made cheese, and—”

  “Okay, okay,” he interrupted, raising his hands in surrender. “I stand corrected. So you live on a farm back in Kentucky?”

  “Sort of.”

  “I’m anxious to hear more about it, but right now everyone’s waiting for us at the table.” He swept his thick tattooed arm, gesturing for me to lead the way.

  “Oh, right.” I nodded.

  As we began walking, Ross pressed his wide hand at the small of my back. Shards of lightning splintered through me, leaving shivers of want their wake.

  Sucking in a shallow breath, I glanced up at him. “Were you serious or just being polite?”

  “About what?”

  “Wanting to know more about me.”

  “You should have figured out
by now that I’m rarely ever polite. And yes, I was being serious.”

  “Oh. All right, but you have to tell me about you, too.”

  “Drums are my life. There’s nothing else to tell.”

  His tone was blasé, but I didn’t miss the guarded flicker in his eyes or the tense tick of his jaw. When I felt him slapping another layer of protection around his fortress, I dropped the topic. One day I’d coax out all his secrets and destroy his darn walls.

  When we reached the table, he held out my chair and helped me get settled before claiming the seat beside me.

  “Yo, Ross. We’re in a private dining room.” Syd smirked. “You don’t have to play doting boyfriend for us.”

  “I was being polite, asshole,” Ross bit out. “You should give it a try sometime.”

  “Hey, I’m polite,” the bass player countered. “I ask every woman if she’s ready for me to rock her world before I stick my—”

  “How about we start with some appetizers?” Quinn interrupted with a censuring frown.

  When I skimmed the menu, I felt as if I was reading Sanskrit. While I assumed white truffle caviar, sushi, and scallops were some sort of seafood, I wasn’t sure. The only food I recognized was chicken, but it was glazed with some kind of tomato, olive, balsamic, feta -sauce that sounded just awful.

  “The shrimp scampi and seared scallops sound scrumptious,” Sofia moaned.

  While I’d heard of shrimp before, the only kind of scallops I knew about graced the neckline of my shirts. I darted a sidelong glance at Ross, who was engrossed in his menu, and hoped he was still willing to help.

  Only one way to find out.

  I leaned in close and whispered, “What’s a scallop?”

  He cocked his head, studying me for several long seconds. “You don’t grow scallops in your garden?”

  “They’re a vegetable?”

  “No. They live in a shell in the ocean.” A crooked smile slowly tugged his oh-so-perfect mouth, and a hint of humor danced in his dark eyes. “I’m just messing with you.”

  If I wasn’t reeling so hard from Ross dropping his guard enough to actually crack half a smile and tease me, I would have jumped from my chair and danced around the room.

  Afraid to disturb this delicate but incredibly important moment, I sent him a sassy grin. “And you call Syd a smart-ass.”