True Loves (A Collection of Firsts) (7 page)

Noel’s eyes narrow at Riff. “You gave her one of your fucking Golden Tickets? I’m going to fucking kill you.” Noel lunges at Riff, but he reacts just quickly enough to stay out of Noel’s grasp.

I throw my hands against Noel’s chest. “It’s okay. Let it go. He made a mistake.” I point my glare at Riff. “Right?”

Riff stares Noel down. “Yeah, we wouldn’t want to accidently steal each other’s woman, would we?” Riff’s tone makes me flinch.

The muscles in Noel’s jaw clench. “You stay away from her. Or so help me God, Riff, I will end you.”

I swallow hard. I’ve never seen pure malice until now. Noel’s expression and body language clearly says he wants to rip off Riff’s head and spit down his throat. The tension between them can’t honestly be about me, can it? It feels more personal than just a case of mistaken identity. Riff and Noel stare each other down. There’s obviously some bad history between these two, and I’ve just added fuel to the fire. Something has to give. I can’t let the band struggle because of me. The situation needs to be diffused.

I pull on Noel’s arm. He tilts his head and gazes at me. I grab his hand and tug him toward the bedroom. “Come on. I want to show you something.”

Noel stares at Riff, as if he’s debating on if he should just pummel him and get it over with. Finally, he nods and follows me down the hallway, leaving Riff alone in the front of the bus.

In the bedroom, Noel sits on the edge of the bed while I close the door. He drops his head and combs his hand through his thick, dark hair. The bed gives a little when I sit beside him. His back is smooth and clean, and I run my fingers along it in attempts to comfort him. The smell of soap lingers on his skin. He doesn’t respond to my touch—his gaze points toward the floor.

I stare at the star tattoo on his right shoulder. “It’s going to be okay. He didn’t realize who I am, and I doubt he’ll do it again.”

Noel rubs his palms together. “You don’t know him like I do. Riff doesn’t stop until he gets what he wants, including women. I won’t let him use you like that.”

I want to laugh. Doesn’t he know me at all? “He’s not going to get me. I’m not like the random sluts he’s used to seeing you with.”

Blue eyes meet mine. “No, you’re not.” He searches my face, and his brow pulls in. He opens his mouth then closes it and turns away. “You better get ready. One hell of a party is about to go down.”

I
wiggle
a bit between Noel and Riff in the back of the SUV on the way to a humongous after-party for all the bands who performed at Rock on the Range. The A&R Music Bar in Columbus hosts the bash for millionaire bad-boy rock stars, roadies, and of course, their groupies. It takes forever to get close to the building. Hoards of people surround the bar, hoping to catch a glimpse of their favorite rock stars, and are blocking traffic halfway down the street.

When the vehicle finally stops near the back entrance, Mike, Noel’s bodyguard from the restaurant, hops out and opens the door for us. Trip and Tyke grin at each other before emerging into the mass of fans. They love the attention. They hug several screaming females and even stop to sign a couple of bare boobs thrust in their direction. Riff looks at me and winks before he jumps out.

I roll my eyes. Of course he would love this. I slide over to follow Riff, and Noel lays his hand on top of mine.

He says, “Stay by me in here. Shit like this gets crazy. Don’t accept drinks from anyone other than me or Mike. There are real assholes in there who would love to get in your pants.”

I raise my eyebrow. “They can’t be any worse than you.”

His mouth pulls into a tight line. “You have no idea.”

Inside, the club is like something out of a music video. Bodies writhe to the beat of the rock song echoing throughout the room. Strobe lights flash in every direction, and women wearing bikinis dance in cages. One woman next to me reaches through the bars and strokes my arm. Her touch catches me off guard, and I instinctively jerk away. Noel chuckles beside me.

I narrow my eyes at him. “So not funny.”

His smile widens. “Get used to it, babe. When you’re with me, everyone’s going to want a piece of you.”

“Gross.”

He throws his arms around me and leans into my ear. “What’s it like to know you’re with the one guy in this room every woman wants to fuck?”

I shove him away from my ear. “Not every woman.” I storm away from him. Even over the blaring music, I hear his laugh, and I clench my fists tight. I don’t remember him being so stuck on himself. I step up to the bar and order a beer.

“Trouble in paradise?” I glance over to find Riff leaning against the bar.

Great. I’m so not in the mood for another jackass. I roll my eyes and take my beer from the smiling brunette behind the counter. “No trouble…and definitely no paradise. This is just a job.”

“Ah, the charity, right?” Riff’s brown eyes twinkle. “How’s that going?”

I pick at the label on the bottle. “Pretty much non-existent at the moment. Noel keeps putting off hammering out the details about the literacy program. That’s the whole reason I’m here—to get the marketing off the ground.”

Riff nods. “He’s thinking ahead, I’ll give him that.”

“What do you mean?”

“He’s stringing you along for as long as he can until he gets what he wants from you. The more information he gives you about the charity, the sooner you can leave and go back to New York. You two have some history, so you’re a challenge to him. That’s a game he hasn’t had to play for quite some time. He tends to always get what he wants.”

I shake my head. “Yeah, well, what he wants from me, he isn’t going to get.”

Riff smiles. “That’s good to know.” He nods toward the dance floor. “Want to dance?”

I turn toward the sea of people, and my eyes fixate on a couple practically molesting each other right in plain view of everyone. They grind their pelvises together, leaving little to the imagination of what a night in their bedroom would be like. How can people do that in public? I shake my head. “Um, no, thanks.”

He runs his fingers along my arm, and I tense. “Come on, Lanie. I won’t bite.”

I shake my head, but before I can answer, I’m dragged away by the other arm. Noel’s eyes are hard when he looks at Riff. The pure hate doesn’t seem to faze Riff, though. He lifts his beer and gives Noel a small nod. Why do I feel as if I’m in the middle of a childish game of tug-of-war?

I yank free of Noel’s grip. “What the hell?”

Noel’s expression darkens. “I told you to stay away from him.”

My arms fold over my chest. I’m ready for a fight. “I’m a big girl. I can talk to whomever I want.”

He turns away and runs his hand through his hair. He opens his mouth as though he wants to say something then immediately closes it. I stare at him, waiting for his smart-ass reply. After a couple seconds, he turns back to me and holds out his hand. “Dance with me.”

I flinch. “What? Are you psycho? There’s medication for that, you know.”

Before I can think, he grabs me against his chest. “Psycho? No. A little crazy? Maybe.” He leans into my ear and says with a slight growl, “Dance with me.”

The words cause my stomach to clench. I know he’s trying to break me down. The minute I give in and let him touch my body, it will want him. And I hate that he knows that. I shove his chest, putting personal space between us again, and take a long drink from my beer. Dancing with him definitely crosses the line. “No.”

His brow furrows. “No?”

Noel obviously doesn’t hear that word very often. “I’m here on business, not to”—I gesture toward the crowd—“let you grind all up on me.”

Before he can say another word, I walk away and take an empty seat at the end of the bar. Noel watches me for a second, as though he’s debating whether to follow me or not, but I refuse to acknowledge his existence. Eventually, he gives up and heads toward the table the twins occupy. As soon as his ass hits the seat, a perky blonde plops down in his lap. He wraps his arm around her waist and takes a long pull from his beer bottle. She whispers in his ear. He nods and gives her that sexy-cocky grin I’m starting to hate.

I tear my eyes away as the girl leans in and kisses his lips. I grip my bottle a little too tightly and narrow my eyes. Then it hits me why I feel so angry, and I can’t believe it. I’m actually a little jealous. I chug the rest of my beer and try to drown out the thought. What Noel and I had is in the past, and I have no right to feel jealous when he’s with someone else.

A man who resembles a younger version of Steven Tyler with his crazy appearance sits next to me and orders a beer before turning his attention to me. A blush creeps up my neck when I turn to find him watching me intently. His lips turn up into a smile, and I return my eyes to the bottle in front of me.

The man shoves a strand of his long black hair behind his ear. “You need another?” His accent is delicious. Something about a British accent is incredibly sexy.

I nod. “Sure.”

Mr. Accent gestures for another beer, and I study his features. His black hair hangs nearly to his broad shoulders, and his tattooed hands poke out from the long-sleeved shirt he’s wearing. Both of his ears are pierced, along with one eyebrow, and his eyes are deep chocolate. He’s obviously in a band, most of the guys in here are, but I can’t put my finger on which one.

He turns toward me and holds out his hand. “I’m Striker.”

Ah. That’s where I’ve seen him. He’s the front man of Embrace the Darkness.

I slide my hand in his. “Lanie Vance.”

The bartender returns with my drink and winks at the rocker as she sets it down in front of him.

“Here you go, love,” he says and slides the bottle in my direction. “So, what’s a beautiful lady like you doing in here with this lot?”

I blush again and run my fingers through my hair. “I’m working.”

He raises his eyebrows. “Blimey! You’re a—”

My eyes widen as I realize he thinks I’m a “working girl.” “No! No. I’m not a…you know. I’m a rep for Center Stage Marketing.”

“Right, I’ve heard of them—out of New York. My record label suggested we look into using them.” He nods and smiles. “Here to pick up new clients then?”

I lean closer so my voice doesn’t compete with the blaring music. “I’m actually working for Black Falcon on their children’s literacy campaign.”

“They make you travel to this shithole town in Ohio for that? Seems like rubbish to me.”

I shrug. “Noel and I are old friends. He kind of got me this job.”

He touches my hand when he speaks. “Well, old friend of Noel’s, can I get your name and maybe give you a ring sometime?”

I take a sip of my drink. There’s nothing wrong with giving him my number, right? I’m not dating anyone or anything. Besides, this guy is cute and genuinely interested in getting to know me. “I’d like that.”

The rocker picks up his beer and clinks it with mine after he stuffs my cell number in his front pocket. “To new friends.”

“There something you need, Striker?” Noel says behind me.

I turn on the stool. Noel stands with his arms across his broad chest as he stares at the back of Striker’s head. My eyes flick to Striker, and he lets out a slow breath as he turns around and stands. He chugs the last of his beer and sets the bottle on the counter as if he’s in no hurry.

“No, mate. I’ve got all I need right here.” He pats the pocket he slid my number into and turns his attention to me. “Lanie, love, it’s been charming. I’ll be in touch.” Striker shoulders past Noel without another look and blends into the crowd.

“What the hell are you drinking?” Noel grabs the beer out of my hands and chucks it in a nearby trash can. “I told you not to take drinks from anyone but me.”

“You’re infuriating. You know that?” I jump off the stool and head toward the exit, but he grabs my arm. “Let me go.”

He shakes his head. “You want to leave? Then we’ll go together.”

I yank away. “Fine. Let’s go then.”

Mike holds the crowd off so we can hop into the SUV. Noel slams the door shut, and the vehicle quivers a little. His mouth pulls into a tight line, and he runs his fingers through his hair. He seems frustrated.

I know the feeling.

Neither of us speaks the entire ride back to Big Bertha. The minute we step onto the bus, Noel flops down in the sitting area near the door and picks up his guitar. He strums out random chords and does his best not to make eye contact with me.

After about twenty seconds, I finally get that he’s not going to talk about what happened and why he feels as though he has the right to dictate who I talk to. A harsh breath escapes me, and I storm into the bedroom. I take off my top then grab an oversized T-shirt and yank it over my head. Where does he get off being such an asshole? If he doesn’t want me here, he shouldn’t have made it mandatory for me to come.

I go into the bathroom without a glance in Noel’s direction to scrub the makeup from my face and get ready for bed. I tug a brush through my unruly, dark waves and pull it up into a high bun. When I return to the bedroom, I freeze in the doorway. Noel lies on the bed with his arms tucked behind his head. From the waist down, he’s under the covers, but the rest of him is on full display. The tattoos on his naked chest and arms are beautiful. They make him look so anti-authority and bad-boyish. I wish it wasn’t so ridiculously sexy.

I throw up my hands. “Hello? What are you doing back here?”

He furrows his eyebrows as if I’m not speaking English. “What do you mean, why am I back here? It’s my room.”

I fold my arms over my chest. “Yes, but when you told me earlier that I’d be sleeping in your bed, I didn’t think you meant with you in it.”

Noel shrugs. “I told you there wasn’t any room in the foxholes. I thought I made the sleeping arrangements very clear.”

“I’m not sleeping back here with you!”

He raises an eyebrow. “If you want to sleep on one of the seats out front, be my guest. But I warn you, the guys never come home alone, and most of the action takes place right up front.”

I turn and peer down the hall at the two swivel seats and tiny love seat. No way do I want to witness the guys’ sexual escapades. I sigh and drop my arms. “Fine. But so help me, if you touch me, I’ll punch you square in the balls.”

He laughs and pats the spot beside him. “I’ll be a gentleman. I promise.”

I walk over and slide under the covers next to Noel. The full-size bed doesn’t leave much space between us, so I scoot as close to the edge as I can get and roll on my side away from him. The light flicks off, and the bed shakes as Noel settles down on his pillow. It’s quiet. Too quiet actually. With nothing to distract me, all I can think about is how close his body is to mine. If I wanted, I could roll over and have amazing sex with him.

I tuck the cover around me and close my eyes. Right before I drift into sleep, Noel says, “I’m sorry about tonight. I shouldn’t allow myself to get so jealous. You’re a hard one to let go.”

My heart pounds and I’m fully awake. I could say a million things to him. But if I’m not careful, one sentence will either piss him off or turn him on. Neither of those would be a good thing. We lay there in silence because I can’t bring myself to say anything. Noel eventually takes the hint and lets out a heavy sigh. He turns over and doesn’t speak a single word.