Rock God (Hearts of Metal Book 3) (17 page)

No,
Dante shouted in his mind,
look at me!
He wanted to see her face when she came.

But then he felt her clench on his cock. The universe exploded into unfathomable bliss as his own climax came pouring forth, and a white haze obscured his vision as their voices and bodies melded into pure liquid heat.

Shayna collapsed on top of him, gasping and trembling as her body continued to spasm against his. Dante held her tight, not wanting this sublime feeling of oneness to go away just yet. His fingers threaded through her silken hair, and a sigh of pure contentment escaped his lips.

It took every vestige of his will to finally leave her embrace and clean up. Not bothering to get new boxers, he got back into bed naked and gathered her in his arms. Claiming her lips in a hungry kiss, Dante savored her taste and the feel of her in his embrace, so fragile and yet so potent.

Incandescent wisps of their future flitted through his dreams. Could they ever be tangible?

As they drifted off to sleep, he knew he was nowhere near ready to let her go.

Chapter Fifteen

Shayna stretched languorously as Dante kissed her awake.

“It’s time to get ready for the wedding,” his velvety voice rumbled beneath her ear. “We have to show up a couple hours early for the sound check and rehearsal.”

Sound check
. The word woke her like a splash of ice water. The sound check for Collette and Dante’s love song. “What time are we leaving?”

“In about two hours,” he answered, rolling out of the bed.

“Oh, good. I have a hair appointment in a half hour.” Shayna wanted to look as good as possible for the wedding—and before coming face to face with Dante’s ex. Shame coiled in her belly at her jealousy and insecurity, but she couldn’t help it. She darted to the luxurious waterfall shower, wishing she could take a bubble bath in the giant jetted tub instead.

Dante echoed her sentiment. “I wish we had time for me to join you.”

At least she and the other women had soaked in the hot tub to their hearts’ content last night. Though, Shayna wished she could try out the hot tub with Dante. Or this magnificent waterfall shower—which she enjoyed so much she was almost late to her hair appointment.

The moment she plopped into the seat, the stylist groaned over her split ends and neglectful regimen, but the complaints and product sales pitches Shayna endured were worth it because the woman in the mirror at the end looked more like a famous actress than a dowdy writer. Even more gratifying was the look on Dante’s face after she put on her dress and makeup. He’d been to a barber or something, with his long curly hair trimmed and shining, and his face so smoothly shaved that she had the urge to rub her cheek on his.

All worth it.

They met up with Dom and rode in the resort limo, and for a moment Shayna again imagined that she was a rock star too.

The daydream shattered when they stopped at a gorgeous white Victorian mansion and she saw Collette stepping out of an even sleeker limo with a snobbier-looking driver than theirs. She was even more elegantly coifed and couture, with upswept golden hair and a shimmering ice blue gown. Despite her fancy garb and salon treatment, Shayna suddenly felt awkward and gauche. She took a deep breath and prayed her hands weren’t sweaty as Dante helped her out of the car and led her over to his ex-wife. She cast a glance at Dom, who’d unloaded his keyboard and was already carrying it into the house, wishing she could follow.

“I’m glad you made it on time,” Dante said, though thankfully he didn’t sound glad.

Collette nodded and locked sapphire blue eyes on Shayna, giving her a look that was either curiosity or something else that Shayna didn’t want to dwell on. “Aren’t you going to introduce me to your friend?”

Her southern accent trickled over Shayna like warm honey. Or maybe cold honey.

Dante put his arm around Shayna and nudged her forward. “This is Shayna Gray. She’s an author.”

“It is a pleasure to meet you,” Shayna stammered, suddenly hating her stilted and bland voice that lacked an interesting accent.

Something in the pop star’s eyes dimmed. Then her lips stretched into a fake smile. “You’re an author? Oh, how delightful.”
A nobody,
her tone said. Her gaze flicked dismissively past Shayna and back to Dante. “Shall we go inside and rehearse?”

Dante nodded. He released Shayna, leaving her bereft and aching, and Shayna frowned as Collette positioned herself so close to Dante’s side that Shayna had to walk behind them. At least Dante looked over his shoulder at Shayna and rolled his eyes apologetically.

Klement, Kat, Tony, and Dom were already on the raised dais that served as a stage, setting up their instruments. All four musicians gave Shayna and Dante broad smiles, ignoring Collette. Shayna couldn’t suppress a twinge of glee at that. Yet once Dante and Collette mounted the stage and positioned themselves behind microphone stands that were painfully close together, her wisp of solidarity with the others vanished; they all resembled gods, high above the reach of mere mortals like herself.

Tanya and Chrissy entered the room and stood beside Shayna as Kat strummed the first notes on her guitar along to Dom’s opening melody on his keyboard. Collette’s angelic voice trilled out. Dante joined her in the next verse, their voices blending like lost souls reuniting. Melding together like a sublime elixir.

As the two sang, they stared into each other’s eyes. Their bodies swayed in tandem as if fighting the inches that separated them, and Shayna’s gut knotted painfully. Her chest tightened until she couldn’t breathe. She couldn’t sing. She could never share something like this with Dante, and surely a union through music was deeper than anything she’d ever be capable of.

Chrissy’s voice broke through her pain. “Well, this has to be uncomfortable for you.”

Shayna bit her lip, trying to blink away the spots in her vision. The lump in her throat made it nearly impossible to speak. “A little.”

Tanya nodded and leaned over to whisper, “They’re not together anymore. Remember that. This is just a display. Take a look at the bass player and guitarist. That’s what real love looks like.”

When Shayna managed to tear her eyes from Collette and Dante, she saw Klement and Kat strumming the melody on their guitars and she was taken aback by the way they also moved together, the way their eyes constantly met with tangible flickers of heat. Tony, too, kept stealing glances at Tanya over his massive drum kit. It seemed all of these couples were smitten.

“Klement really loves her,” Shayna said softly, managing a smile as she looked back at Tanya. “Is he really expecting everyone to dodge out of the way and let Kat catch the bouquet?

Chrissy giggled. “Yeah. He’s going to pop the question any day. Don’t tell her, but Kinley, Tanya, and I have a betting pool going on.”

For the rest of the song, Shayna focused on Klement and Kat instead of Dante and Collette’s soulful display. It
was
only a display, right? Still, her taut muscles relaxed as Dante left the stage and returned to her side.

But then Kat played a sultry tune, and Collette’s exquisite voice soared up into another song. The small audience froze and stared at her, rapt, those liquid notes flowing over them like molten chocolate. Shayna’s stomach squirmed again, and her limbs turned to water. The beauty of Collette’s voice gave her goose bumps. How could Dante have let such an unearthly goddess go? Stranger yet, what was he now doing with a mousy nerd like Shayna?

As if sensing her turmoil, Dante grabbed her hand and held it tight. A measure of her anxiety ebbed away. His thumb grazed her knuckles, moving in a soothing circle as if he knew she needed comfort. Shayna basked in that solace, falling for him even more with every stroke despite the danger of losing her heart to someone like him.

The song ended, and Shayna applauded, genuinely impressed no matter how she felt about the singer. Collette bowed and left the stage. Dante gave Shayna’s hand another squeeze before returning to the spotlight. He walked from Kat to Klement to Tony, whispering something to each before he approached the microphone. Then he announced, “We wanted to do a new song, but we don’t have it quite right yet so we’re doing a different one. This one’s an oldie, but I hope you still enjoy it.”

Kat began to play a soft melody, and the rest of the band joined in. Dante’s gaze met Shayna’s, and he began to sing, his voice pure, sweet bliss. Shayna’s pulse throbbed in remembrance even as the intent look in his eyes compelled an inescapable memory. It was “Catch the Rainbow,” the song he’d sung to her that first night to chase away her nightmare, the beautiful song she couldn’t believe had been real.

Dante’s eyes imprisoned hers. He wanted her to remember, just as he wanted it to be clear that he was now singing only to her. The poignancy of the moment brought tears to her eyes, and Dante became a blurry archangel—but his voice remained clear, each note lifting her higher, carrying her away from her troubles.

He and the others played two more songs before leaving the stage, as guests had begun filing in. Collette went upstairs to hide from the bride, chatting softly with Tanya and Kat, who were leaving to change into their bridesmaid gowns.

Dante touched Shayna’s elbow. “I need to go up with the band. Would you like to come too, or do you want to stay here and watch?”

“I’ll stay here.” Not only did she not want to stand there like an outsider while the musicians did their thing, she was genuinely curious to see
everything.
What would a heavy metal wedding be like? What would Kinley wear? She didn’t strike Shayna as a traditional bride.

“Okay,” Dante said. “I’ll see you soon.” He gave her a gentle kiss and left with Klement and Tony.

Shayna sat and watched a female minister arrive. After the seats filled, Quinn entered the room, followed by Klement and Tony. Both Quinn and Klement had their guitars slung over their shoulders, and Tony was twirling drumsticks in the air as they all approached the dais. Reaching their positions and grinning at the minister, they began a rhythmic, steady riff as Kat and the bridesmaids came in. Kat also carried her guitar, looking strangely ethereal with her cream-colored strapless dress. She picked up the melody that Quinn and Klement played and then everyone lapsed into the wedding march.

An answering melody trilled from across the room. Everyone turned to see the bride. She wore a full-skirted crimson wedding gown, playing her guitar as she approached her groom. A little girl in a matching red dress led her, scattering red rose petals. Only one man frowned as Kinley passed, and Shayna guessed that it was her father. Kinley had said she would be giving herself away, not wanting to bow down to patriarchal standards.

Shayna shook her head. She couldn’t help but admire Kinley for insisting on choosing how her wedding went. Shayna’s uncle had given her away, a man she’d met only twice before, and Shawn’s family had organized the whole thing. If Shayna were ever to remarry, she wanted to decide exactly what kind of wedding she wanted.

In awe she watched as Kinley and Quinn met, their fingers moving in blurs along the necks of their guitars in an impossibly furious melody. Finally, when their mixed guitar solo faded away, the minister smiled and began a short, sweet ceremony. At the end she pronounced them husband and wife.

Quinn and Kinley turned and shared a kiss so passionate and tender that Shayna almost felt guilty watching. Her wedding had been
nothing
like this.

Dante and Collette made their way onstage, and Kinley gasped in shock. Then, unbelievably, she turned and found Shayna with her eyes, clearly concerned. Shayna hurried to smile and give her a knowing nod, assuring the bride it was all okay. And, actually, watching Dante and Collette perform their song was more tolerable the second time, the wedding atmosphere reinforcing that the passionate mood and longing lyrics weren’t about them.

After Collette left the stage, Dante did his “Catch the Rainbow” cover, staring at Shayna the entire time. Only for a fleeting moment did she wonder why Collette hadn’t done the other song she rehearsed, but then her eyes and ears were Dante’s alone. And when he took his bow and crossed the room to sit by her side, Shayna’s heart swelled with warmth.

Everyone soon filed out of their chairs to join the receiving line, and Shayna felt a tap on her shoulder. She turned and almost gasped when she saw it was Collette. The pop star’s pale blue eyes studied her intently without giving anything away.

“Shayna, right?”

“Yes?” Shayna nodded cautiously.

“Can I talk to you for a moment in private?”

The pop star’s voice sounded shaky, and too startled to do anything else Shayna gave her another tentative nod. “Um, okay.”

Collette led her up the stairs and into one of the White House’s old bedrooms. From the mirrors and hangers and Kinley’s discarded clothes it seemed to have been used as a dressing room. The pop star sat in one of two antique chintz chairs and gestured for Shayna to take the other.

A hundred speculations about what Collette would say roared through Shayna’s mind:
“Go away. Dante and I are getting back together.” “Stay away from my man.” “Oh, you think you can date a rock star? How cute.”
What the singer actually said nearly made Shayna fall out of her seat.

“I overheard the other women talking about what happened to you.” Her sonorous voice held an undercurrent of some familiar sorrow.

Shayna blinked. “Excuse me?”

“That your baby died.” Collette’s eyes glimmered with genuine compassion. “I am so sorry. I had a miscarriage, myself, and I completely fell apart.”

Shayna’s chest tightened in sympathetic agony. “Oh…that’s terrible. Is that why…?” She trailed off, not wanting to be rude. And it would be even more rude to ask if the child had been Dante’s.

“Why I quit singing?” Collette said pointedly. “Yes. When I finally convinced Michael to start a family, I intended on taking a hiatus. But I lost the baby only three months after I got pregnant, and I also lost the will for…well, everything.”