Relentless Rhythm (Tempest #4) (19 page)

“You really a rock star?” John asked.

“I’m the rhythm guitarist for Tempest.” Dizzy shrugged, and I nearly fell out watching the rippling of his muscles that gesture caused.

“Why you got your shirt off?” Michael asked, ever direct.

Dizzy’s lips slowly lifted. “The chicks seem to dig it.” His gaze flicked to me. He’d not misgauged my level of interest. “Let me take you guys around so you can meet the rest of my crew.”

“Sweet!” John’s grin was only slightly smaller than Michael’s.

Dizzy casually placed one warm hand on the center of my lower back, the other on Mel’s, steering us toward the bassist and drummer. My reaction to his firm touch was far from casual. His hand felt like it branded me resting on the exposed skin above my low rise jeans. But I was ok with that. I wanted to be his in every single way imaginable.

Sager and King fussed over the boys like they were the celebrities, asking them where they were sitting and telling them they’d look for them when they were on stage.

Next they got to meet Bryan and Lace. He seemed distracted, but Lace nodded to each of us, from her perch in Bryan’s lap. I caught a speculative gleam in her golden eyes as she looked us over. I felt like she knew something. I wondered if she could see the desire that darkened my eyes and spiked in my pulse every time Dizzy rubbed a titillating lazy circle on my bare skin.

“Hey, it’s my favorite Mine bartender and Bluebelle.” Justin announced as he walked up to us. “Sis,” he called over his shoulder. “Come meet April. She’s your biggest fan.”

My face must have turned beet red. It certainly felt as hot as a sunburn.

“Hi,” she greeted me easily, her voice melodious and sexy. She had her red hair tied back and wore a flattering silk blouse and leather pants. She shook her head at her twin as I stood there star struck. “You’ve got no finesse, Jus.” She smiled warmly at me. “So you like Brutal Strength?”

“Since I was in high school.” I found my voice though it was hard because of my nerves and because of what Dizzy was doing to me.

“What’s your favorite song?” she asked congenially.

“Um, ‘B Jezebel’. It’s so in your face loud and I love your guitar solo on that one.”

“Thanks.” Her smile sparkled in her emerald eyes. “I’ll be sure to have Marcus dedicate that one to you tonight.”

“No way!” John exclaimed as my jaw dropped.

“Cool,” Michael drew out in an awed whisper.

Avery knelt down, engaging my enraptured brothers.

“You need a ride to the terminal in the morning?” I heard Dizzy ask Justin.

“No.” The light purple fabric of the unbuttoned shirt Tempest’s new lead singer wore fluttered as he shrugged. “I’ll just take the Triumph, but thanks for the offer.”

“You got it, bro,” Dizzy replied. “Anytime.” Then he startled me and everyone else when he let out a shrill whistle through his teeth. “Yo, Sager.”

“Yeah, man.” Sager crossed to us, eyes lingering on the spot where Dizzy’s arm was drapped around Mel’s shoulders.

“Come with us a sec. I wanna take Bluebelle and her entourage on a quick tour.”

“Can we meet the Dirt Dogs?” John asked. Those reprobate rockers were his favorite for some reason.

“Sure thing,” Dizzy promised. “If they’re not passed out already, I’ll make it happen.”

We filed out into the corridor. Sager moved closer to Mel as he led the way, John and Michael skipping giddily after them.

“Hold up, Kitten,” Dizzy called in his velvety rumble, grabbing my hand and pulling me behind an overstuffed rack of colorful clothing. “I need to talk to you.”

I stood in front of April caging her in with my body so she couldn’t get away from me, but also blocking her from view just in case the clothing rack didn’t do the trick. Now that I had her to myself after watching her eye fuck me back in the dressing room, I planned to take full advantage.

I got closer, putting my hands on her soft warm skin and tracing my fingertips up the bare arms her body hugging skull and rhinestone tank left exposed. I felt the shiver that rolled through her in response to my simple caress as a wave of desire crashed over me. “Babe,” My voice was husky, and I lifted her chin so she had to look up at me. “Where is he?”

Her eyes were bright. Her smoky eye shadow looked fantastic. “He had to leave,” she whispered.

“Why?” I asked directly the way her little brother did. Though I didn’t really want to talk. I wanted to explore. Every single curvaceous inch of her. To take away every bit of clothing that kept me from touching her skin. From the tank to the ripped jeans to her velvet studded spiked boots. “Why do you stay with him?” I laid it all out there. “You don’t love him, and you’re obviously afraid of him. How does that even work?”

“Don’t.” She tried to turn away, but I framed her delicate face so she couldn’t. Her cheeks turned pink and her eyes got even brighter. “I don’t want to talk about him. Please. I don’t even want to think about him.” Her impassioned tone and her expression revealed her desperation. “Just for one night. I want to pretend he doesn’t even exist. To pretend I’m a woman a guy like you might be interested in.” She squeezed her eyes tightly shut as if wishing with all her might.

“Oh, Kitten, I’m interested all right.” I swept the pad of my thumb over the pink gloss of her plump bottom lip. Her eyes fluttered open, and I saw the raw desire in them. “I’ve got no problem with forgetting about him.” I wanted to help her wipe every trace of sadness from her life. Her mouth parted and warm breath spilled onto my hand when she whispered her thanks.

I inhaled sharply, my pulse roaring, blood rushing southward. My cock swelled to attention, ready for action.

“What’s wrong?” she asked.

“Baby, you don’t wanna know. It’s insane what you do to me.”

“Oh, yeah?” Her lips formed a slow sexy smile I’d never seen. “This your usual routine, then?”

“Nothing’s usual about the way you make me feel, Kitten. Nothing.”

She stared at me with those almond shaped eyes as the weight of my words slowly sank in. I savored the view. “You’re beautiful, April.”

“So are you, Dizzy Lowell.”

“Yeah?” My voice dropped lower while my lips pulled up at the corners.

Her gaze dropped to my mouth. And that was all the invitation I needed. I didn’t care who she belonged to. I was going to taste her. I lowered my head.

“No, Dizzy.”

I stopped, my eyes popping back up to hers.

“I want you.” Her eyes flared with intensity that matched my desire for her. “You don’t even know how much. But we can’t. It’s not safe. I …”

“I don’t care,” I growled in frustration, pressing my thumb over both her lips to shush her, applying a bit of pressure on the bottom one to part the two. Then I gently placed my mouth on hers enjoying the feel of her soft satin lips, smooth and wet. She put her hands on my chest. I didn’t even flinch. They felt good there.

She moaned when I slipped between her lips, and I felt it in my dick when her tongue moved against mine.

After that I didn’t think. I didn’t analyze. I didn’t strategize. I just
felt
.

My fingers plunged into her silky hair, the tortoise shell clip that’d held the long strands from her face came loose and fell away to the tile floor with a clatter. I barely noticed. I had to have more. I pressed my hard body into hers, groaning when I felt the hardened tips of her beautiful tits flattened against my bare chest and the beckoning heat between her thighs.

I was euphoric to finally have her in my arms. Our tongues dueling, the sweet sounds of her pleasure, our bodies writhing as we sought the perfect friction, moving together in a perfect rhythm to a sensual dance as old as time. I was just about at the point of no return. Red hot fire was pulsing through my blood, and a single message detonated within my mind.
Make her yours now.

And then it was all over, a sudden and complete stop when her hand slid down between our bodies and wrapped around my dick. Reflexively, I grabbed her wrist and yanked her hand back then set her deliberately away from me. She looked up at me, lips kiss swollen, eyes full of hurt and surprise as the clothing rack tottered behind her.

I struggled against the familiar dark trapped feeling threatening to pull me under. I focused on her face and the growing concern in her eyes trying to stay afloat. Her gaze drifted back and forth between my clenched fists and my panicked expression.

“Dizzy what’s going on? What did I do wrong?” She started to reach for my arm, but hesitated, her hand hovering an inch away.

I shook my head. It was all I could manage.

“Ok, well we should probably go find John and Michael,” she said softly. “Before we’re missed.” I’d hurt her, slamming on the brakes like that without any explanation. Her expression betrayed her confusion. She made to move around me, but I caught her, turning her to face me.

“It’s not what you’re think.”

“What do I think? Please tell me since you know me so well.” Her chin came up, and there was that fire in her eyes, but still that vulnerability, underneath. Strength and sensitivity. She was like a soothing balm to me.

“It’s not that I don’t want you.” I pulled in a couple of calming breaths. “Do you really think it could be all lights out like that between us if I hadn’t been into what we were doing?” I hauled her back, firmly. “I’ve never felt anything as explosive as that kiss.” My eyes shone with sincerity. “Not even close.”

Lips parting, she blinked. “Then why...?”

“Why didn’t I push you up against the wall and take you? Believe me I wanted to. Still do.” I ran my knuckles softly over her creamy cheek. “But you deserve better. Because when we finally come together I want to take my time. And there’s something else. Something important. Things I need to tell you in private. I don’t want to do it here.”

She shook her head. “But we can’t, Diz. There won’t be a next time. There won’t be any other chances. There’s shouldn’t even have been this one.” She closed her eyes face scrunching up like she was in pain. “You don’t understand. I’ve tried to tell you. James…”

“Don’t say his name,” I snarled. “I can’t stand it. We agreed we wouldn’t think about him. Tonight’s not over. We still have time, right?”

“Yes,” she agreed after a brief tension inducing pause, determined resolve replacing the uncertainty on her face. “But I want you to know…”

“No buts. Watch the show. I’ll be looking for you in the audience. Thinking about you. Every note I play, it’ll be for you. Then come to the party after, and we’ll talk there. I promise.”