Rock Star Romance Ultimate Volume 2

by Mankin, Michelle

  “Promise me.”

  “Damn, girl, I was fucking with you. Not like I really need to work at gaining panty access, Tales. Women throw that shit at me.”

  “Okay.”

  “Okay?” What the hell does okay mean?

  “Yes, but I’m not going to the beach with you guys.”

  “Like hell.” I laugh, but she’s not having it.

  Her shoulders square up a bit, and she stands taller. If I push any harder, she will be at a hotel, and that will land me on the shit list with Mads. I am being fucking ridiculous. There are hundreds—hell, thousands—of women I can have in my bed without issue.

  “Fine. Help yourself to anything in the fridge, and if you need anything, I’ll send the boat back to give you a lift to the beach.” I grab a pen and the pad of paper, then write down my number and hand it to her.

  “Thank you.”

  “Yeah.” I stare too long; I know I do because she gets squirmy, so I take off to my room to dress.

  When I come out, she is on the phone again.

  “You’re staying, right?”

  She pushes mute and whispers, “My mom.”

  There is sadness in her eyes, and I feel even more like a turd. I can’t imagine losing my old man, but if I hang out, she will think I’m trying to fuck her because, well, I would really like to be between her legs, but it’s Tally. Tally all grown up, and Tally hot as hell, and Tally—fuck! Note to self: chillz is evil with a capital E.

  “You need something?” she asks.

  “No, but we’ll be right—”

  She nods. “I know.”

  I give her a nod then pull my shades down, covering my eyes before forcing my sorry ass out the door. I must seem like that one guy with the gun and red shirt, the one who hates books and hunts and is all hot over that chick in the blue dress and white apron. I laugh because I’m fucked up, wondering why they didn’t make the douche sport wood in the cartoon while chasing after that beast—Beauty and the Beast. Yeah, that’s the movie.

  “You ready yet?”

  I snap back to reality when I look up at Finn.

  “Fuck, yes, I’m ready. When am I ever not ready? Hell, I’m always ready.”

  “You shouldn’t touch that shit, man. Makes you act like him.” He thumbs behind him at River.

  “Fuck you, Finn,” River snaps.

  River hands me a beer. “Chaser?”

  “Don’t remind him that he already almost drove that poor girl out of here,” Billy says, only half joking.

  “Back off, Billy. She’s a good girl.”

  “I’m a good boy, the best behaved one—”

  “I swear to God above, man, if you touch that—” I step to him, and River slaps my chest, stopping me.

  “You calling lead on her?” River smirks.

  “I’m calling, if you touch her—any one of you—I’ll kill you.” I look them all in the eyes. They are a little taken aback—okay, a lot taken aback. “She’s my sister’s best friend.”

  “That you went all caveman on and—”

  “I was fucked up,” I defend.

  “Not this morning you weren’t,” Finn points out as we walk down the beach.

  I ignore the comment. So I’m an ass, but I will not be concentrating on her ass. As fucking perfect as it may be, I will focus fully on the ones sprawled out, soaking up the Florida sun.

  The boat is by the dock, waiting for us. Talk about service; we get to ride in style.

  We take off and pass the other yachts and boats anchored in the bay.

  “Look around, men. There is a lot to take in right here and right now. Fuck this morning.” Don’t need the drama, anyway. It’s not like she’d want it any different than I give to the rest of them. I’m a fucking experience… My leather is not made of the boyfriend material, girls like Tallia want.

  Ten minutes later, we’re docked, and River dives in.

  When he pops up out of the water, he laughs. “Let’s go.”

  None of us follow his lead; we all take the short walk down the dock right to the white sand and hot as hell chicks. River is walking out of the water, and all eyes are glued to his crazy ass. Leave it to him to take the path much less taken.

  “Damn, check out that little peach,” River says when he meets up with us, running his hands back and forth through his hair, ridding it of some of the Atlantic. He points to a chick laid out on a beach towel, all oiled up, top already undone, and she is turning around to lie on her back.

  “Oh, fuck no.” I almost laugh as we get past her, heading for the volleyball net.

  “Sascrotch,” Finn mumbles under his breath.

  We all bust up laughing.

  “She’s hot and all, but who the fuck doesn’t look in the mirror and see they need a fucking trim before—”

  “That’s more than a trim, man; that would require a bush hog.” I laugh.

  “She’s a moped,” River chimes in. “I’d ride the hell out of her for fun, but I sure as fuck wouldn’t want any one of you to see me on her.”

  “Hair grows there for a reason,” Billy says.

  “So does facial hair, man, but you trim that shit so you don’t look like a mountain man or a—”

  “Bah, bah.” River laughs. “Billy goat.”

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  * * *

  NEXT STEPS

  Tallia

  As soon as he leaves the house, I uncover the phone, hoping Mom didn’t hear him.

  “Tally, was that Memphis Black I heard?”

  Well, I guess that cat was out of the bag.

  “Yep, he is here, Mom.”

  “How is he? Has he changed? Has the—?”

  “He’s the same, just older,” I lie, hoping she doesn’t notice.

  “Can you ask him why on Earth a nice boy like him would agree to a band name like,” she whispers, “STD?”

  “I’ll ask,” I say to appease her, but there is no way I will ask him that question. “Okay, Mom, I’m going to the beach now. I love you and will call in a couple days.”

  “Love you, too, Tally,” she says before hanging up.

  I grab an apple off the counter and a bottle of water, yawning. Exhausted, that’s what I am. Totally exhausted. I decide to go back in the guest room and message Madison to see when she’ll be in, and then I need to search online to see what tomorrow holds for me.

  I eat the apple as I sit down on the bed and grab my phone, and it’s … dead. Of course it’s dead. I shove the charger plug into the wall, throw the now eaten apple in the wastebasket, and give it ten minutes. My phone is shot. The battery life is horrible, but I don’t have the money to spend to get a new one, not now.

  I lie down so I can use it while it’s plugged in then send Madison a message.

  When will you be here?

  She replies immediately.

  - Tomorrow at ten a.m. Make sure you and my brother pick me up at ten on the nose. I am so fucking excited to see you!

  It’s followed up by a bunch of emojis.

  Can’t wait to see you, either!

  I follow that up with the smiley face and tears emoji.

  I click on the Internet browser on my phone and search jobs for dancers in New York City. I enjoyed living in New York. It was busy; there was always something to do; and you were never alone, even if you were alone.

  There are plenty of auditions available and a lot of instructor jobs. I screenshot the ones I think look the most promising. Heck, they all look promising when you need a job.

  I then spend an hour or more reading, taking more screenshots, and then I Google the nearest public library because I don’t have access to a computer, and I want this task completed. I want to know that, when I tell Madison the secret I have been keeping from her, she doesn’t go all Mads on me and try to help.

  I am an adult now, and I need to take care of myself.

  ***

  When I return from the library, I am hot and ready for a shower, then maybe a nap. I am exhausted from
the walk, the heat, the emotions, and the lack of sleep I got last night while I lay next to Memphis.

  As I walk down the brick drive, my breath is taken away by the place. It’s like a dream. Heck, it’s nothing I ever even dreamed of. The three buildings connected by lanais are beyond luxurious.

  I round the corner, hoping the back door is unlocked because my phone has died again, of course, and I forgot the code. I walk past the marble infinity pool that seemingly spills into the bay to the door, and of course, it is locked.

  I knock, hoping someone will answer, but when no one does, I look toward the dock to see if the boat Memphis said would be back is there. My fingers cross, hoping the man driving the boat knows the code.

  He isn’t here. The boat isn’t even back. I kick off my shorts and pull my tank top over my head, deciding to dive into the pool and hoping I won’t feel as disgusting as I do right now when I come out.

  Once in, I carefully watch for the boat. I don’t want to be in the pool when they come back. I don’t want to be in this stupid, teeny bikini that Madison sent me, either, but it’s the only one I have.

  The water feels like silk, and it’s warm, almost to the point that it’s not refreshing, but it’s not quite as warm as I’m sure it will be by evening.

  Once I swim a bit and feel better, I walk out and wring out my hair, grab a towel, dry off as best I can, and then pull my shorts and tank back on.

  I lie down under one of the lanais and decide to let the sun dry me off. The chaise lounge is so incredibly comfortable I drift off, knowing the loud motor from the boat, or the even louder band members from STD, will wake me as soon as they return.

  “You’re right; she has a really nice ass,” I hear River and quickly roll to my side, keeping my eyes closed.

  “Careful. Don’t let Memphis hear you talk like that.” It’s Finn. I can tell by the deep baritone in his voice.

  “Memphis is busy.” River chuckles.

  “Uh-huh,” Finn says. Then I hear them walk away.

  I hear girls giggling, and then I hear him laugh.

  “Nuh-uh. I invited you here for a party, not to get grabby there, girls.”

  Girls, as in plural. So the stories I have read online are true. Memphis is a man-whore.

  “Why?” one whines. “Come on, we really want an STD.”

  I can’t sit here and listen anymore, so I open my eyes, taking in my surroundings, and then find the quickest escape to the house.

  There are tons of people around. It’s sick that my ears are tuned in on his conversation when there are dozens of others surrounding me.

  I stand quickly after my route is planned and start walking toward the glass doors.

  “Where do you think you’re going, gorgeous?” I hear a stranger’s voice before someone grabs my elbow.

  I don’t look back. I look straight ahead and see Billy walking quickly toward me.

  “Dude, I’d let go of that one if I were you,” he says, reaching out to me.

  “It’s Wolf, and I don’t think that’s any of your concern.”

  “No, man, he’s serious,” River says, grabbing my hand. “Come on, little one.”

  I look up at the man, Wolf. He is tall with copper hair and blue eyes, and he is smiling at me. It’s a smile that would send you running for the woods if his name wasn’t Wolf, and you hadn’t been raised having the bejeepers scared out of you by those fairytales. Nope, no woods for me. I’ll take my chances with River.

  “What’s going on here?” Memphis asks, standing in front of me, his arms crossed over his shirtless chest.

  I feel immediately at ease.

  “The little one and I are going inside,” River says in a tone meant to egg him on.

  Memphis grabs my free hand and holds it up. “Fingers straight up.” His whisper in my ear makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up as I do what he asks. He looks at River as he turns my wrist from side to side. “If you like it, you better put a ring on it. She’s a good kid and deserves better than anyone of us, so back off.”

  “Oh, my God, man.” River laughs. “You’re serious.”

  “Serious as a bona fide STD. If you touch her, you better plan on wife-ing it, and you better be fucking sober when you do it.”

  I cover my mouth when he says fucking and try not to giggle.

  He shakes his head and rolls his eyes that are sparkling. “On second thought, if you touch her, I’ll kill you.”

  “You staking claim to that?” Finn asks as he walks out of the house, trying not to smirk.

  “She’s off limits, you feel me?” He finally lets go of my hand, turns his head, and looks into my eyes. “Anyone of these bastar—” I cover my mouth, and his angry glare threatens to turn into a smile. “Tales, you have no business being here.”

  It stings a little. I don’t want it to, but it does.

  “I tried to leave earlier.”

  His eyes narrow a bit. Then he takes in a deep breath and runs his hand through his hair. “I don’t need Mads pissed off.”

  “But with me”—I swallow—“pissed off is fine?”

  He looks around, and I do, too. Everyone is staring at us.

  Apparently, when he speaks, they listen, too.

  “You pissed off at me for trying to save your virtue?” He looks at me like I’m crazy.

  Maybe I am because I say, “I already told you there is nothing there to save.”

  “Ooooooh,” echoes around us.

  He throws his hands up in the air. “Fine. Have at it. But, when one of these fucks puts their hands on you and I bust it, don’t say I didn’t warn you.” He looks around. “All of you.” Then he looks back at me and points. “And, when I fuck them up, Tales, it’s on your conscious.”

  With that, I storm into the house, but before I can shut the door behind me, Billy walks in.

  “You okay?”

  “I’m fine!” I yell at him, then realize it’s not him I am angry at. “Sorry.”

  “Need a drink?” River asks.

  “Yes, please,” I say, surprising myself.

  “You eat today?” Billy asks.

  “Yes.” It’s not a lie. I had an apple.

  “I can’t drink unless I eat. You wanna with me so I don’t look like even more of a pussy before we drink?”

  “Ruins the buzz, man.” River, who came into the house behind us, shakes his head disapprovingly.

  I look up at Billy. He is smiling sincerely, so I smile back. “Sure.”

  “Chicken breast and salad. Crackers between drinks and water. Don’t forget to drink water,” he warns with his finger pointed at me.

  I nod. He knows I am full of it, though.

  I don’t drink. I have had two glasses of wine, and I wound up in Franco’s bed the first and only time I have ever had sex. I was gonna do it, wine or not. I was sick of believing that the one person I had ever allowed myself to fantasize about was a big man-whore.

  After eating, River hands me a drink, then hands one to Billy. “Bottoms up, bitches.”

  “Cheers,” Billy says with a look of caution in his eyes.

  I take a drink and nearly choke. It tastes awful, followed by a burn in my belly, and then...Well, then the taste of cinnamon fills my mouth.

  I like it, a lot.

  Evidently, River notices and fills it up again.

  “River, she’s had enough,” Billy says.

  “No, I like it. A lot.” I grab the glass and slam it down.

  Burn in the throat.

  Burn in the belly.

  Burst of cinnamon in my mouth.

  Yum.

  “Another.” I push the glass back to him.

  “Damn, girl.” River smirks as he fills it up again.

  I take it and drink it down.

  Burn in the throat.

  Burn in the belly.

  Burst of cinnamon in my mouth.

  Yum.

  “What the hell is going on in here?” I look up to see Memphis with two girls, one on each a
rm.

  “Tally loves the Fireball.”

  CHAPTER NINE

  * * *

  FIREBALL

  Memphis

  “Fireball, please.” Tally pushes the fucking glass back to River. When I say glass, I mean, glass. Not a fucking shot glass, either.

  “River, Billy, what the fuck are you doing?” I yell at them.

  River smirks at me. “She likes it.”

  I look at Billy, who shrugs and shakes his head. “She asked for it.”

  I glance at her as she downs the damn whiskey. “How many is that?”

  “Four, man, chill.”

  She is looking at the glass and slowly blows out a breath. Her face is turning a little green, and she is holding onto the table with one hand and her stomach with the other.

  “Fucking idiots,” I tell them as I pick her up.

  I look over at what would have been tonight’s auditions and shake my head, “Goodnight, ladies.”

  I hear them whine a bit. Can’t fucking blame them.

  “I don’t feel very well,” she slurs before wrapping her arms around my neck.

  “I leave you alone for twenty fucking minutes—”

  “Spreading your ST-whatevers,” she says, and her stomach heaves.

  “You puke on me, and I swear to fuck, Tally,” I warn, as I try my best to stay upright myself while hauling ass to my room.

  “I owe you one.” She giggles then hiccups. “Uh-oh.”

  I kick open my door right as she chucks all over my chest.

  “Aw, fuck, Tales.”

  She giggles, then hurls again.

  “Sorry?” she says as I set her in the Jacuzzi tub fully dressed.

  “You think?” I ask as I start the water. “You made me stink. I don’t do stink.”

  “You can’t serious—” she pauses. “Serious—”

  “Seriously, Tales,” I tell her, as I climb in the tub.

  “What are you—?”

  “You stink.” I sit down and the water is rising over my board shorts.

  “You stink,” she says, narrowing her eyes.