Rock the Heart (19 page)

I catch a ride to the after party with Trip and Tyke before Noel gets an opportunity to tell me about how awful of a guy Striker is or something. A bodyguard I’d never seen before rides along with us. Mike is usually the one that hangs out with Noel and I, so I’m getting kind of used to him.

Squeezing between the two twins, I wonder how long the ride to the club is.

“What made you want to party with us?” Trip asks.

“Not that we’re complaining or anything,” Tyke throws in. 

I shrug and smile at them both. “Just needed to get out.”

Trip grins. “Yeah, right. You sure it doesn’t have anything to do with Striker?”

My mouth hangs open. “How did you—”

Trip laughs. “What? Know the lead singer of Embrace the Darkness has a thing for you?”

“Yeah.”

“Noel won’t shut up about it. He’s been bitching the entire time.”

I square my shoulders. “Why should he care? He has Sophie.”

Tyke shrugs. “That’s what I told him, but he nearly ripped my head off when I mentioned that.”

I take a deep breath and face forward. It’s really crazy he doesn’t expect me to move on. I don’t get where he gets off thinking he should be able to have his cake and eat it too because news flash, this cake store is fucking closed.

We pull up to the club hosting the after party, and just like the last time I went to one of these, it’s packed. Fans rush the SUV, and I tense, and kick myself for wishing for a split second Noel was with me. The bodyguard that’s with us hops out and opens the door. 

Tyke jumps out, practically right into the arms of a screaming group of female admires. A little nudge from Trip and I’m out and making my way inside. This place isn’t quite as wild as the last. There are no half-naked women dancing in cages, but the dance floor over flows with bodies grinding to the beat. A couple men pass by me as I take in the surrounding and give me a suggestive look as they take in the sight of my short black skirt. I give them a polite smile, but turn away when they start their approach.

Trip and Tyke sit at a table signing autographs for what looks like a never-ending line of fans. I glance around and relax when I don’t see any sign of Noel in the room. Hopefully he isn’t coming. 

I step up to the bar and order a beer. The skinny, blonde bartender doesn’t bat an eyelash in my direction after multiple attempts at gaining her attention. 

“Excuse me, love, but you look like you could use a drink.” I turn to find Striker behind me with two beers in hand. 

He winks at me as he hands me one of the beers, and I smile at him. He’s looking good. Dark hair hangs loose around his face and the blue shirt he’s wearing makes his eyes an impossibly deep brown.

I lick my lips and take a long draw from the beer.

Striker leans into me and places his hand on the small of my back. “You here alone?”

I nod. “If you’re asking if I came with Noel, the answer’s no.”

He grins. “Brilliant! Care for a dance?”

I take another drink. This is what I came here to do—move on—and what better guy to do that with than this hunky specimen in front of me. 

I take Striker’s outstretched hand, and he curls his fingers around mine. He sets both of our bottles on the bar and tugs me towards the floor. 

The minute we hit the floor, Striker pulls me in tight against his body. His hands roam down my back and then back up as he moves slowly against me. It’s deliberate and sexy, like we are alone in a bedroom instead of a packed dance club. A tremor shoots through me as he slides a knee between mine. Deep brown eyes lock on mine as he threads his fingers into my hair. 

My lips part, and my heart hammers. This feels really fast, but I’m willing to try it, if it gets rid of this hurt inside my chest. I pant as I close my eyes. 

A sudden jerk startles me and my eyes snap open. Noel has Striker in a headlock, pulling him away from me. Striker shoots repeating elbows back into Noel’s ribs, but he refuses to let go.  

“You can’t fucking take my girl!” Noel seethes. His eyes are boiling with rage. 

My jaw drops. This is beyond ridiculous. 

Within seconds, Mike and a few other bouncer-type men ascend upon the two tattooed rockers and yank them apart. Noel lunges for Striker while he’s still locked in Mike’s hold.

“Calm the fuck down!” Mike shouts at Noel.

He hauls him backwards toward the door. Noel’s eyes refuse to leave me. 

I roll my eyes. We need to seriously talk. He can’t keep interfering with my life.

Striker straightens his shirt beside me, and it’s the first time I notice all the curious stares by the other bar patrons. No doubt all of them are wondering what’s so special about me to cause this fight between two rock stars. 

He runs his fingers through his hair. “Blimey. That bloke has issues.” Striker wraps an arm around my shoulders. “Where were we?”

I duck away from his arm and look at the door and watch Mike shove Noel unwillingly through it. The urge to confront him surges through me. We need to end this here and now, for good.

“I’m sorry, Striker. My ride is leaving without me. Maybe some other time?”

He frowns. “Your loss, love.”

The little jab is enough to relieve any guilt I would’ve normally felt for leaving him stranded on the dance floor. 

I rush through the club and out the door, just in time to catch up with Mike shutting Noel inside the Escalade. “Wait up! I’m going back with you.”

Mike holds up his hands. “He’s drunk. I don’t think it’s a good time for you to—”

I shake my head. “Now is the only time.”

When I yank open the door, shock registers on Noel’s face. “Lane? I knew you’d—”

I slam it once I’m inside. “Shut it, Noel. I didn’t come here to make up. How could you do that to Striker? I’m trying to move on, damn it. This shit has to end.”

The moment Mike shuts his door, the SUV starts for the bus.

Noel shakes his head. “No it doesn’t. I love you.”

I close my eyes and hold up my hand. “Stop. Stop saying stuff like that. It does have to end. How many times do I have to tell you, I won’t be the other woman!”

He grabs my hand. “You’re not.”

I yank it away. “This ends, Noel. Tonight. Contract or not, I’m done.”

“Lane…”

I turn away and stare out the window. “Please stop talking.”

The rest of the ride back to Big Bertha, Noel doesn’t say a word. The tension is thick and everyone, including the two men up front, can probably feel it.  

The minute we park, I jump out of the vehicle and head for the bus. I’m over this. I’m over the tension and feeling trapped. If they sue me, what can they possibly get? I have nothing but a rented apartment. I don’t even have a car, for crying out loud. 

When I get back to the bedroom, I throw my suitcase on the bed. I yank a drawer open and throw my clothes in the bag. Tears threaten to spill from eyes. I know I’m throwing away everything, but I can’t take being here one more minute. It just hurts too much.

“What are you doing?” Noel says from behind me.

A tear spills out of my eye, and I wipe it away with the back of my hand. “What’s it look like I’m doing. I’m leaving.”

“What about the contract?”

I shrug. “What about it? You can sue me if you want, but you aren’t going to get much.”

Noel’s beside me, and he wraps his fingers around my wrist, successfully stopping me from packing. “I’m not going to sue you, Lane.”

I face him as tears stream down my face. “Then why did you make me stay? I can’t take this.”

He pulls his lips into a tight line. “Using the contract against you was the only way I knew to make you stay. I don’t want you to leave. I need you to stay with me.”

“I can’t, Noel. I can’t let you hurt Sophie by being with me. If you commit to someone you should stand by it.”

“But, I don’t love her,” he whispers. “I just want to be a good father.” 

I can see the need to prove that he’s a better man than his dad in his eyes. Even if I love him, I’m not okay with him having a family with another girl and keeping me too. 

“You’ll be a great father. I know it. Irene will be thrilled to have a grandchild. You should really make up with your parents and figure out how to forgive Frank. All fathers make mistakes. Your first one was being with me.”

Noel takes my hand. “I love you, Lane, so much. And you’re right. That wasn’t being the kind of father I want to be.”

I hang my head. My heart tears at his words. I know he loves me, I can feel it in his words, but our timing is off. “Noel…”

He cups my face and forces me to look at him. “I hate this. The thought of losing you again—it tears me up. Tonight, when I walked in on Striker touching you, things went through my mind, and I nearly lost my fucking head. You’re my heart, Lane. You’re my everything.”  

 A tear slips down my cheek. To know how much we hurt each other kills me. A sob escapes my lips. “I’m sorry, Noel. I never meant to hurt you.”

His thumbs wipe the tears from my face. “I know, baby. It’s not your fault. It’s me who has to learn to let go. Don’t blame yourself.”

“I don’t mean to hurt you.”

He sighs and takes a stand of my hair between his fingers. “You can’t worry about that. Losing you will hurt no matter what. Just promise me one thing.”

I gaze into his eyes. “Anything.”

“Promise that you don’t hate me. I can’t live with myself if you do.”

I nod. “Yes. I promise.”

Noel’s lips crush down on me. I close my eyes and don’t bother to fight what I know is our last kiss because he’s not mine. Even though it’s wrong, the sheer need to be with him, to please him in every way, vibrates through every cell in my body. 

His hand knots into my hair, and I wrap my arms around his neck. My fingertips rub the skin on the back of Noel’s neck. It’s so warm and inviting under my touch. My heart pounds and suddenly I’m hot all over. 

“I love you, Lane,” Noel says against my lips. “Forever.”

My breath leaves my chest and I feel a little dizzy. 

He breaks our kiss and heat sears along my jaw as his lips work their way down my neck. I fist his shirt tight in my hands as I whimper. His large hand grips my thigh and hitches it around his hip as he slides his hand under my skirt. My legs open wider as his fingers trace the elastic edge of my panties. Once the fabric’s aside, he teases my swollen folds with the tip of his finger.  

I grab his hair and yank his mouth back to mine. Every inch of me aroused by his touch and I tear at his clothes. I want his skin on mine. I need to feel him.

Noel slides both hands up my side and peels my dress off. It lands in a heap by our feet as he directs his attention at exposing my breasts. One of his hands massages my breast while he bends down and wraps his lips around the other. I throw my head back and moan. It’s amazing how he knows just what I like. 

He yanks my panties down and then removes his own shirt and pants like he doesn’t want to give me time to change my mind about this. 

Our mouths meet, and he kisses me fiercely. With one swift move he has me down on the bed. 

The mattress creaks with our weight, and Noel’s eyes roam down my body. “You’re so fucking beautiful.”

I crush my lips to his, and the tip of him circles my moist flesh, each time hitting my clit and nearly making me lose my mind. I grind against him and he grins at my excitement. A trail of fire remains in the wake of his lips as they work their way down my shoulder. He works his hips in a slow steady motion, allowing the head of his cock to slide against my folds. Heat builds up in my core and after we connect once more, I explode. 

Every inch of me clenches at the pure release of ecstasy. 

Noel kisses me, and I moan into his mouth. His finds mine and circles it as he plunges himself inside me with one quick thrust. Fingernails on both of my hands rake down his back as he fills and stretches me in the most delightful ways.  

“I love being inside you. It’s my most favorite place on earth,” he breaths against my lips. 

I close my eyes and try to block out the thought that this will never happen again. That this is the last time I will feel this connection with Noel. I bite my lip as I pull my hips up to meet each thrust, allowing him to get deeper inside me. 

Pretty soon, I feel the fire tugging at the pit of my belly again, and I know it won’t be long until I come for the second time. 

“God, Lane, I need you to let go with me. I don’t want to be alone.”

His words shove me over the edge, and I lose all control, at the same moment he grunts as he comes hard and fast inside me.  

After he pulls himself out of me, he rolls over on his side and stares into my eyes. “I love you.”

A tear streams down my face. “I love you, too. Forever.”

We lay there in each other’s arms, neither of us wanting to be the one to end the moment, but I know it can’t last. I pull away from him, and he sits up.

He kisses the top of my head and then grabs a towel before heading to the shower. Once I hear the water turn on, I jump out of bed and quickly throw my clothes back on.