Daxton rubbed her shoulders. “Hey. Don’t worry. Security is on the alert. They’re keeping it quiet, too. You’re staying with me. I won’t let anybody hurt you.”
“But what if it’s a conspiracy? Maybe the label doesn’t want law enforcement to acknowledge it wasn’t an accident. That information would cause a panic and the tour would be canceled. The label would lose so much money, and—”
“Listen, the label wouldn’t put two of their biggest money making bands in the line of fire. If the investigators can’t find anything, it’s because there’s nothing to find. It doesn’t mean there isn’t some sicko trying to get a rise out of you. It just means said sicko isn’t trying to kill you with a lighting fixture.” He smirked, nudging her. “Come on, smile.”
She slumped against him, letting out a deep sigh. It made sense in theory, but in reality, there was a girl with a shattered spine and assorted broken limbs lying in a hospital bed. Could it really have been a freak accident? Stranger things had happened. “I’m just glad you’re back.”
He tipped her head upward. “Trust me, I have lots of ideas about how we can get your mind off this crap.”
“I just wish they’d found something. That way, the cops would have a reason to keep their eyes and ears open.” She nibbled a loose cuticle.
“But they didn’t, and that’s a good thing. We don’t need a murderer on the loose. This tour is crazy enough. After the press conference, we’ll talk to the cops. I swear, nobody is going to hurt you.” He brushed his lips against hers, and good Lord, for those blissful moments, she couldn’t remember her own name, much less that she had an alleged stalker.
“Mmm. More please,” she murmured against his ear, sliding her hands under his shirt. “Are you sure we can’t hide out here in your green room just a little bit longer?”
Daxton grabbed his jacket from the couch. “Here, maybe this will hold you over until I can get you back onto the bus.” He tossed a paper bag at her.
The sweet scent of grape swirled around her nose. “Oh, yum! Thank you!”
“This is only a little taste. Something to occupy that mouth for a little while until I can take over.”
She wrapped her arms around his neck. “You’re incredible.”
“No, I’m not.” His expression sobered. “But I’m really happy, Sara. For the first time in so long, I feel good about my life and about what’s ahead. It’s because of you.”
It was impossible. There was no way she could stop the smile from spreading across her face. “Really?” God, she was in deep with this man; the cocky rock god with a smile that could melt the panties off a nun. Could this thing between them really happen or was it just a case of tourmance? Were these feelings truly real or was this tour an alternate reality that would disappear once the media circus was over?
“Yeah.” He cupped her face, his breath tickling her cheeks. “And I need you in my life because I’m in love with you.”
“You’re in…” She gulped, afraid to repeat the words, just in case he’d said them under some kind of spell, which might be broken if she uttered them again. “…you’re in love with me?”
“Yep.” He traced her cheekbone, fingers trailing a path down her neck. Her skin tingled at his soft touch. It was so good, too good. Oh God, if this was a dream, she never wanted to wake up. But if it wasn’t, and he really did say it, where could it possibly lead?
“Are you sure, Dax? I mean, isn’t this like the movies, where co-stars fall for one another because they’re constantly thrown together? And then when the filming is over, so is the ride?” Her heart pounded so hard, her body shuddered from the force. “I know I’m not like any of the girls you normally date. Maybe it’s just because I’m different. You think you feel this way but really, it’s just—”
“Are you trying to convince me that I’m not in love with you?” His hands skimmed her hips, gripping them tight. She gasped as he pressed into her. God, did she want to be on her back, or in any other position, for that matter. “Exactly how much proof do you need?”
“I don’t need proof, it’s just…I mean, I want you to be sure because…” She inhaled, drinking in his heady scent. Cloudy with lust. That was the best way to describe her mind at that moment. Her knees buckled and she melted into his muscular embrace. Say it, say it, say it already! “…because I love you, too.”
The corners of his lips curled upward into a wicked smirk, the gold flecks in his dark eyes glimmering with need. “So you finally admit it.”
“What?” She recoiled. “You think just because you’re a rock star, every breathing female is just going to automatically puddle around your mismatched socks?”
“Ouch. I didn’t know my socks were such a problem for you.” His grip tightened, his grin deepening. Good Lord, he was maddening sometimes. “Say it again, please.”
“Which part? The one about you being a cocky rock star?” A fluttering sensation erupted in her belly, his soft lips on her neck setting her skin ablaze.
“No, the other part.”
His tongue was so delicious and deviant, and just knowing they couldn’t escape back to the bus until later was torture of the most delectable kind. Tiny shivers danced across the back of her neck as his mouth feasted on the sensitive area behind her ear. Never did she think that such an innocent place could make her drip with desire, but Daxton, the cocky rock god - her cocky rock god - knew just what buttons to press. “I love you,” she breathed. “And your mismatched socks.”
Chapter Twenty-Eight
IT WAS HARD NOT TO laugh out loud. So much for advanced degrees. Those engineers couldn’t pick out a faulty cable if there was a Post-It stuck to it saying, Here I am!
The lead investigator gave his statement at the press conference in painstaking detail, explaining every check completed over the course of the day. The final assessment? Just a freak accident. Venue management must have been shitting cement blocks waiting to hear those words.
How about that? You really could find anything on YouTube. And even an amateur job was still a half-way decent one…save for one tiny detail; that fixture hadn’t taken out Sara, along with that whore, Gia. One tiny change to the itinerary would have had Sara on stage, and both sluts would have been sufficiently flattened. But those damned PAs shared a brain between them. How hard was it to print new copies for everyone? Idiots. They’d be next on the growing list.
Sara fidgeted a few feet away in her heels. Daxton’s eyes never left her, even when the press began firing questions. They were in their own little bubble, no doubt counting the seconds before they could escape back to the bus. It was so tempting to bludgeon her with a microphone stand. Stupid bitch in her slutty getups. She could never keep Daxton satisfied. He needed…no, deserved…so much more. Weren’t girls from Minnesota supposed to be a bunch of prudes, anyway? What the hell was it about her that had Daxton so fucking pussy-whipped?
Or maybe the more apt question was how quickly could something be done to change that?
Chapter Twenty-Nine
“HE-HELLO?” DAXTON SQUEEZED LANEY’s hand as she squeaked out the word. The press conference had just ended, and the security team shuttled the reporters out of the room so Laney could take a call from the hospital. Her shoulders slumped against him, mouth expelling a deep sigh. “Oh thank God! I’ll be right over.”
She swiped at the tears brimming in her blue eyes and smiled, probably the first real one he’d seen in a long time. “Gia’s awake. She’s still got a long recovery ahead of her, and lots more tests to undergo, but she’s conscious.”
He pulled her into his arms. “Good thing. Who else would keep you in line?”
Laney punched his shoulder. “Jerkoff.”
“Bitch.”
She smoothed the front of her shirt and sniffed. “Okay, I’m heading back to the hospital.”
“Text me later. I’ll stop by tomorrow. She’ll need her rest.”
Laney cocked an eyebrow. “Unlike you, right?” Her eyes flicked t
oward Sara, who was peering at a clipboard in Kat’s hands. “So, you and the PR girl?”
“Yeah. Me and the PR girl.”
“I was screwing her boyfriend.”
“I heard.”
“I didn’t know it, though. I’m not a homewrecker.”
“You’ve got standards, I’ll give you that.”
Laney tucked a strand of blonde hair behind her ear, her expression a little wistful. Ironic, considering the girl could have any guy she wanted with a snap of her perfectly manicured fingers. “You seem happy. I’m glad you’ve found someone, Dax. You deserve it.”
“Wow, you’ve really turned into a sap. I’m not sure how to respond to human Laney.”
“Witnessing a near-death will do that. But keep my secret. I have a reputation as a raving diva bitch to uphold, okay?”
“I’ll take it to the grave.”
“No pun intended. Ugh. Bad joke, I know.” With a snicker, she walked toward the exit and waved at her head of security. “Okay, I’m ready to go.”
Sara was still deep in conversation with Kat, probably reviewing details about the new opening band. More bad boy rockers. More headaches for the label. More questionable headlines. But at least the tour was still on. She bit her lower lip and twirled a lock of hair around her index finger. God, he wanted to scoop her up and carry her to the bus, where he’d work tirelessly to make sure every inch of her body and mind was calm and at ease. His cock twitched, as impatient as he was to get her naked.
“Hey, I heard about Gia.” Cooper slapped him on the back. “That’s really good news.”
“Yeah. Laney took off for the hospital a minute ago.”
Cooper stared at the now empty doorway before slumping against the wall. “I saw.”
A smile played at Daxton’s lips. “You’ve got a thing for her, don’t you?”
“What? You’re crazy! She’s the biggest bitch I’ve ever met in my life. I still don’t understand why the label hasn’t dumped her on her ass yet.” Cooper snuck a look back at the exit. Not slick enough to hide the look of longing clouding his face.
“Because she’s the heart and soul of that band and has more talent in her pinkie nail than most of the pop tart yahoos have in their entire silicone-enhanced bodies.”
With a snort, Cooper averted his eyes. “Whatever.”
“Dude, it’s okay to admit it. She’s not banging that tool Eli anymore. Maybe you’ll have a shot.”
“Not interested.”
“I’m fucking starving, guys! Can we please get some eats before we hit the road?” Finn barreled over with Liam and Merrick in tow.
“Eats?” Daxton snickered. “Are you looking for finger sandwiches or some shit like that?”
Finn let out a loud groan. “I haven’t eaten in at least two hours. I need sustenance.”
“Ramping up for the evening’s festivities?” Liam nudged him. “I’m not bunking with Coop, so you’d better have a Plan B.”
Finn threw up his hands. “That’s it. I’m claiming the big bedroom tonight, Dax. I’m tired of messing around on a bunk bed. There’s no escape from the chicks when I want to go to sleep. They always want more. It’s kind of a curse.”
Sara looked up at that moment, her eyes focused on Daxton’s. The corners of her pink glossed lips curled upward, as if she could see the salacious images on replay in his mind. With an exaggerated wink, it was clear she not only knew, but also was on board to re-enact them, one at a time, all night long. Kat smirked at him and exited the room, leaving Sara alone. Finally. She sauntered toward him, his groin throbbing with each swing of her slim hips. He had to channel every ounce of restraint to not pin her against the wall with the half-hard on rocking in his jeans.
“Hey, guys.”
“Hey, Sara! So, what’s your final assessment? Are we salvageable? Has this guy finally cleaned up his act?” Liam chuckled and took a swig of water from his bottle.
“As if that’ll ever happen.” Merrick cocked a pierced eyebrow.
“Give me a little credit. I’m reformed now. Now, how about you pull the pole out of your ass?” Daxton punched him in the shoulder. “And find some backup dancer to bang. That always puts you in a good mood.”
A pink blush crept up the sides of Sara’s face. “Well, he’s still a work in progress, but much improved. Lucky for you guys, the new opening band has a lot more notoriety. Their PR team doesn’t sleep at all.”
Daxton snickered and slung an arm around her waist. “Yeah, and about that last request, Finn? You’d damned better have a Plan B because the back bedroom is off-limits.”
Finn laughed. “I guess that means you’re eating someone…er, I mean, with someone else tonight.”
“You guessed right.” He tightened his grip around Sara. “Maybe I’ll catch you guys for breakfast.”
“Not if I have anything to say about it,” Sara murmured against his ear.
The throbbing intensified. Fuck food. He only needed one form of nourishment, stripped down and on her back. Immediately, if not sooner.
“Come on, guys.” Finn smirked. “I don’t want to be responsible for cock-blocking our bro.”
Daxton grasped Sara’s hand. “Much obliged, Finn.” He nodded at Merrick, who’d stalked over to a corner, speaking into his phone in a hushed tone. “What’s his deal? Did someone forget to give him his happy pill?”
Liam rolled his eyes and drained the last of his water. “He’s a bigger diva than you, man. Probably on the rag. Don’t worry, I’m babysitting tonight. You kids have fun. Try not to scream too loud. If I’m not hammered enough to pass out, I don’t want to have to listen to you fornicating all night long.”
Sara clapped a hand over her mouth. God, she was so fucking adorable. He couldn’t wait to make the walls of that bus shake. The two-minute walk to the parking lot was even too long.
“I’d get some earplugs if I were you.” Daxton winked at him and pulled Sara toward the exit. “Come on, gorgeous. Don’t look so horrified. I’d never make them believe we were playing video games with the way you sing.”
“Oh my gosh! You are so horrible!”
His steps quickened. The arena exit was finally in sight. Security lined the perimeter. Nobody was getting through that human wall. “Really? That’s not what you were screaming last night. If memory serves, you were calling me God Almighty. A lot.”
Chapter Thirty
OH GOD, THOSE LIPS. IT was almost as if they were sizzling coils heating every square inch of her overly sensitized body. She gripped the bed sheets tightly, each shallow breath catching in her throat. “Dax,” she whispered. “Please. Don’t make me wait.”
“But waiting is so much fun,” he murmured, the vibrations of his husky voice tickling her navel. His teeth closed around her pink lace thong and, with a yank, the delicate fabric tore from her body.
“You’re gonna pay for those,” she panted.
“I have an idea. Stop wearing them.” He let out a low moan. “Oh fuck, knowing what I’d have clear access to, all the time…”
“Mmm. Sounds tempting.” Her fingers traced over the ink covering his muscled biceps. She sank into the plush mattress with a loud gasp, her heart thrumming as his devious tongue dipped into her wetness, lapping up every drop of latent desire. It brushed over her swollen clit, once, twice, three times before delving into her heat. It was a torturous move, just enough to make her drip with longing and plead for release. Every nip and lick catapulted her closer to the brink. Powerful hands gripped her backside, squeezing the flesh, forcing her body upward for leverage. Tears sprung to her eyes as the orgasm tore through her. Singing was probably an understatement, since she was only a few high notes shy of shattering glass at that point.
Aftershocks rippled through her like all-consuming waves, calmed only by his lips; the ones searing a path back to her mouth. They pressed against hers, soft and gentle, yet so very greedy…insatiable. His ruthless tongue tantalized, tangling with her own, flooding her insides with lust. Thi
s man, who’d thought he was so broken, had been the only one able to piece her shattered heart back together, and he’d given her everything that eluded her for so long - faith, hope, and love.
His cock swelled between her legs, her body screaming to be filled with everything he had to give. She wouldn’t be…couldn’t be…complete without him, without feeling their connection, without immersing herself into all that was Daxton Cole.
“I love you,” he breathed. His arms snaked around her torso, gripping her tightly. The head of his cock toyed with her slit, rubbing, taunting, teasing…his signature devious play. Sharp, shallow breaths were all she could muster as she gripped his hips in sheer agony, pressing them against her fevered skin. She shuddered, anticipation flooding her extremities until he finally slid inside, stretching her, filling her with every inch of his desire. Their flushed, frenzied bodies, slick with sweat, rocked together, moment after blissful moment. As much as her body craved release, the intoxicating sensations crashing over her were too addictive. Never let it stop.
Each thrust was deeper than the last, his perfect cock burrowing farther into her depths, pulsating faster and harder until she writhed under him. Tremors rumbled within, gathering speed and intensity like a boulder careening down a mountain. Her mind was a blank canvas, all coherent thoughts immersed in the explosion that commanded her, firing every last nerve ending. His hungry mouth silenced her screams, muting the piercing sounds. With one final thrust, he shuddered against her, gripping her tight.
She buried her head in his neck, still panting, still consumed by his heady scent. Minutes turned into hours, their bodies entwined. It wasn’t long enough. Forever would never be enough.
* * *
Dirty, Dark, & Dangerous: A Contemporary Romance Boxset Page 14