Save Me (Rock Romance #4)

by A. L. Wood

  I lean over the bar extending my hand so the bartender can see me. I place an order and as soon as it’s sat down in front of me I down it. Please, God don’t let this be a fruit loop disguised within a gorgeous body.

  Only one way to find out, if she has more than a hint of crazy she’ll show it on the dance floor. Now that she knows who I am, crazy wouldn’t want to hide me, crazy would want to show me off as an accessory.

  “Dance with me.”

  She downs her drink and places it back on the bar. “Okay.”

  I tug her out onto the floor and start spinning her myself, she laughs. The sound of her laughter is pure and innocent. Crazy; still undetected. I push one foot to the side then back again and slide the other, in an out of rhythm like two-step dance. She laughs even more at this. I spin her body into mine, her twist stops when our faces are in line with each other’s. She pauses, her thoughts of doubt and insecurity play out on her face. She’s overthinking all of this.

  She slowly pulls away, uncomfortable. I stop her from running away.

  “It’s just dancing.”

  “It’s not just dancing, and you know it.” She says while pulling away from me altogether. I can’t help but to chase her off the floor. It’s been a long time since I’ve encountered someone who would walk away so easily, who would say no. Not that if she did say no I would fight her, I’m not interested in making anyone do something that they don’t want to do. If she’s certain and truly is uncomfortable with me, or who I am I’ll walk away. Women appreciate honesty, and I think this is a woman who isn’t going to fall for the charm and a quick cheesy one-liner pick up. She’s going to want honesty and bluntness. No beating around the bush.

  She’s seated at the bar when I approach her.

  “Okay, so maybe it isn’t just dancing. You’re not the first person I’ve been attracted to and I’m confident you won’t be the last.” She flinches. “Not trying to sound harsh or anything but it is what it is, I don’t believe in leading anyone on. Propositioning women isn’t something I do every day so bear with me if it’s not pretty. You and I; one night of fun, no expectations, no idle promises with a friendly goodbye in the morning. What do you say?” I throw it all down on the table in the open.

  She doesn’t say anything for a while, again she’s overthinking the situation. She’s nervous, but I know she feels the sexual attraction as fiercely as I do.

  “Okay.”

  “What?” I ask, believing that I must have heard someone else agree.

  “Let’s get out of here.” She reassures me, that yes indeed it was her agreeing.

  “I have to let the guys know I’m leaving. Want to come with me?” I ask her, in a passive voice. There’s no reason to show her how surprised I am that she actually said yes, any other female would probably have been offended by the fact alone, that I had said they wouldn’t be the last. Not her though, this one’s different.

  “Sure.” She agrees to walk over to the hidden table so I can let the guys know I’m headed out.

  I can tell she’s nervous about meeting the guys so I decide that I have to say bye quickly. Jason starts speaking to her first offering a drink, she agrees to have one with him. I notice that two of her friends from the bar are sitting in between Jason and Zepp. The one that was making her upset earlier starts in with her the second Jason places the order for drinks. I overhear her asking about her going home me, to which she replies sarcastically. Then asks if I’m ready to leave.

  I begin to tell the guys bye, but Liam and Layla approach the table. I don’t realize that I forgot to ask her name until she takes it upon herself to greet Layla.

  Abagail. It fits her accordingly. She’s a golden-haired curvaceous beauty. With eyes the color of the ocean, a murky blue and dimples that are created when her plump pink lips curve into a smile.

  I feel myself start to harden while staring at her pouty mouth, thinking about how it could be between us. Not wanting anyone to see my erection I quickly interrupt.

  “Abby and I are going to head out, I just came over to let the guys know. You good?” I ask, begging him with my eyes to just say yes. Last time he fucked with me and my night ended with me in bed, alone.

  “Yeah, get out of here. Call me if you need a ride in the morning.” Liam replies.

  I turn my back to Liam and pull Abagail tightly to my side. “Ready babe?” I purposely whisper in her ear. Instantly I see goosebumps cover her skin.

  “Yeah.” She replies raggedly.

  She yells to her friends that she’ll see them in the morning before making our way out of the bar. A cab is sitting outside near the curb so I direct her to it while asking her if a hotel is okay.

  She says that it is, so while getting in the cab myself I give the driver directions to a nice hotel that I know of that isn’t too far away. Minutes later the driver pulls up alongside the entrance I toss him a fifty and exit the cab pulling her out behind me.

  “I’ll wait out here while you get a key.” She says while looking anywhere but at me.

  She’s nervous. “You’re not going to run are you?” I ask, making sure that if I were to leave her she wouldn’t just disappear, if she decides to go home instead of in the hotel with me I’d rather know she made it home safely than to worry about where she disappeared off to.

  “I promise, I’ll be waiting right here.”

  Good enough. I open the glass door to the hotel in front of me, it’s the same one we stayed at last year while we were in Boston. The same hotel we stayed at when we did our show for Natalie and Layla’s college. Memories, they’ll always be there. I approach the desk clerk and ask for the nicest non-suite room they have. She suggests a room with a jacuzzi tub, I can’t help it. This piques my interest and the things I wouldn’t do just to see Abagail nude in it, to fuck her in it. I hand her my credit card, sign a paper and walk away with the key.

  Like she promised, there she is waiting on the sidewalk of the hotel. She still seems nervous so I decide to offer her an out, again. “Are you sure you want to do this? If you don’t, I can get a cab to take you home.”

  “I do want to do this, I’m just nervous because I don’t normally meet men and agree to a one night stand.”

  I hide the smile she lit within me because of that simple statement. Oddly, it makes me happy that she’s not my typical one night stand kind of woman. That I’m her first in this. I reassure her that we’ll take it slow while placing my hand at her back leading her into the hotel. It takes all of my control not to jump on her in the elevator, to slide my leg between hers to feel how wet she is. To kiss at her neck and suck on her tongue. I glance over at her, she’s biting her lip and all I want to do is take that lip onto my mouth to offer it comfort from the owners’ maltreatment with something so sensitive.

  The elevator dings and the doors open, I exit first while she follows behind me. When I find the room I unlock it and hold it open for her. She pauses upon entrance, her eyes staring at the tub. I can tell that she wants to try it out by the way her gaze looks at the enormous bed then back to the tub, light shines in her eyes when staring at that tub. Wonder how bright her eyes would shine once she’s in it.

  I take it upon myself to start filling the tub for her, “a bath will help calm your nerves,” I offer in explanation while grabbing some bubble bath that they left on the side of the bathtub and dumping it in. I suggest she undress and slide on in while I search out the mini-bar for another drink. One long counter lines a wall, below is a small refrigerator, I open it and take out the first bottle I see. An upscale brand of champagne, I open it and fill two flutes.

  I look back to her seated beneath the bubble in the jacuzzi bathtub. Her eyes are closed and her face is serene, in peace and relaxed. I sneak up on her and ask her if she’d like her drink in a mere whisper.

  She turns to me, my mouth only inches away from hers, “I’ll take it now.” She says on a breathless voice. Our fingers meet when she takes the glass from my hand. Her touch soothes me in a w
ay that I’ve never known, and I’m not comfortable with it. This appeal makes no sense at all, an attraction that I don’t have time for. I attempt to mask my emotions, it’s better if she has no idea how attracted I am to her. I begin to walk away when she interrupts me.

  “Why don’t you join me?”

  My cock hardens at the suggestion. I gulp my drink down and place the flute back on the counter. I toss my hat somewhere, followed by my shirt. I hear her gasp.

  “Like what you see?” I ask her. She moans out loud, this results in my kicking my shoes off and yanking my jeans off in a striptease fashion. I slowly reveal my hard cock while freeing it from the confines of my boxer briefs. It’s rigid and sticking straight out like an enormous staff.

  “Sit up.” I demand.

  She does so without hesitation, and I slide in behind adjusting her onto my lap. She feels me beneath her and moans, quickly covering her mouth on the end of said moan. I tell her not to hide it from me that I want to hear every noise she makes. Then I remove her hand from her mouth.

  She lays next to me, still unmoving after what we just did. Sex, not once, not twice, but three times. I look over to her, her eyelids are opening far less because she’s on the threshold of sleep from exhaustion. I ponder the idea of tucking her into my side and holding her throughout the night, it would be peaceful but also intimate. Something I couldn’t allow myself to let her believe. I didn’t want to make it more than what it was, sex.

  When she catches me staring at her, she smiles, those dimples are damn sexy.

  “Thank you.” She says, her face blushing. She turns on her side facing me, wraps her arm around my hip and snuggles her face into my chest then dozes off to sleep. I remain frozen for a few minutes, what if she wants to stay come morning? What if she thinks there is something more between us?

  God damn it, is she really going to get all that from a little cuddling? I decide, maybe, just maybe she doesn’t have that crazy inside her once and for all.

  I roll over to a cold and empty bed, the sound of clothing being tossed around. I wipe my eyes and open them only to find the stunning Abagail with my jeans in one hand and my wallet in another.

  “What in the fuck do you think you’re doing?” I roar while jumping out of the bed, not caring if I am nude. She drops the evidence while I reach for it.

  “It’s not what you think it is.” She stammers.

  “Like hell it is. You were doing one of three things, fuck maybe all three. Obtaining my address, stealing my cash, or maybe my credit cards? On a scale of one to ten how right am I?” I ask snarky.

  “Again, it’s not what you think it was. I’m not a thief nor am I a stalker, I was just looking for your phone.”

  “If you knew how many times I’ve heard this shit before, you wouldn’t be using that line. How about you do me a favor, get the fuck out of here.” I say while yanking my wallet and jeans out of her hands.

  “I’m telling you the truth, I’m not a fucking groupie, and I wouldn’t go to those lengths to get close to you.”

  “Sure you wouldn’t babe. I know how this shit works, you play hard to get, knowing I’ll enjoy the chase, and then you cave. You play along with your innocent ‘I’ve never had a one night stand,' you act like you’re enjoying it, we have decent sex and then you think you’ve somehow snared me in your clasp. Newsflash, I’ve been playing this game for years, it’s nothing new. I see right through you. If you want money for last night, all you had to do was ask. But rifling through my shit won’t get you far, for that reason alone money is off the table. Now please leave before I call hotel security.” I scream into her face.

  Her fake tears float down her face, and for the life of me I have no idea why I want to cradle her in my arms and apologize. To tell her how sorry I am for basically calling her a whore, if only for her to stop crying.

  Tears are a weakness, man or woman, I can’t stand that shit.

  She doesn’t argue back, she turns away from me and begins throwing her clothes on. As soon as her shoes are on she books it to the door, when she opens the door to leave she takes one last glance back.

  Mascara runs down her face, she looks beaten, broken, “Fuck you.” And then she’s gone.

  Chapter 3

  “No, I guess that won’t be a problem.” I say and then hang up the phone. Hard Wired Records was just sold to be a subdivision of Furious Rock Records. The same company that holds a contract with Steele’s Army. The same company that needs me to be acting manager for Steele’s Army's’ next tour. A tour that is already planned out and is set to leave in three days. Gage’s going to think I sat it all up, some kind of ruse to shove myself in his life. I didn't tell him about my job about what I do, I didn't tell him that his band is the one I idolized. It would have scared him off, had he known I’m sure he would have shoved me out of the room much sooner than he did.

  Well, that can wait until we leave. I’ll let him have his say, let him believe whatever it is that he wants. I’m sure he’s going to lose it when he sees me.

  “You look worried. Who was it?” Selena asks.

  “It was my job. The company was sold.” I state.

  “Oh, I’m sorry. I know you've worked hard to finally get your foot in the door. I’m sure something will come up- something better.”

  “I’m not worried about losing my job, they still want me. It’s where I’m going that has me concerned.” I tell her.

  “They called you to tell you that you’re leaving?”

  “Yeah. There’s a tour that’s already been set in motion that they want me to join. That’s not the problem though. It’s the band.”

  “Well, come on, spit it out who are you going on tour with?” Selena asks excitedly.

  “Steele’s Army.”

  She starts hopping around her small living room in excitement. “Yes! Finally! I am so happy for you Abby.” She starts fist pumping in the air chanting ‘yes, yes.'

  “I’m not happy. Don’t you remember what happened a month ago? Does the name Gage ring any bell?” I remind her.

  “Yeah, but that was months ago, knowing him he probably forgot all about that night. If he didn't well he can get over it, it’s a job. One that you want and you need, he can’t expect you to say no and then become unemployed all for him.”

  “It’s not just because of that night. He accused me of being a gold digger in not so many words, and on top of that a whore. I still remember it like it was yesterday, he had the balls to suggest that he would have paid me. That I would have taken money just for sleeping with him. He thought I was trying to trap him into something. That I was playing with him. I don't care how long ago it was. He’s going to flip and accuse me all over again I know it. But if I want to get anywhere I have to take this job. I don't have a choice. I signed a contract with Hard Wired Records, I am at their beck and call for the next three years.” I explain.

  “Well, worry about it later, for now we have to celebrate your success in landing a tour with a major record label and band. I’ll call the girls and make plans. Three days isn't a lot of time for you to get ready.”

  “I have to go shopping now for some newer clothes, with Fighting Death they were more of an opening band for slightly more successful bands. I didn't bother updating my wardrobe with them. But with Steele’s Army I'm sure they expect me to be completely professional at all times and looking the part. While you’re making plans, I’ll head to the mall and get everything that I’ll need. Maybe tonight we can do something because tomorrow I will be busy getting all of the documents from Furious Rock about this tour and the next day I will be leaving.”

  “Alright, I’ll see what the girls are doing tonight.”

  With that, I grab Selena’s car keys and head to the local mall. When I signed up for this job, I sold everything I owned. My life was to be on the road at any given time. It wasn't worth me trying to pay rent and electricity when I wasn't even going to be home to enjoy it. Nor paying for a car or car insurance. Before I left
Selena and I already planned it that I would crash at her house on her couch and use her car if needed. She always kept a spare closet empty for any of my belongings that I wanted to keep. She was a Godsend.

  I make my visit to the mall as quick as I can. I grab four new-fitted pencil skirts, a few new blouses that I can interchange and a new black and grey pinstriped jacket. I stop into Victoria's Secret to grab some new undergarments. I have fairly new luggage so that’s an expense I don't have to incur. When I head back to Selena's apartment, I ransack my designated closet and start packing. Knowing the girls, I will be busy every minute right up until I leave.

  I grab my luggage out, pack the new clothes I bought and add in some of the old. After triple checking that I didn't forget anything I put it back just in time for Selena to announce our plans for the next sixty-odd hours.

  “Okay, I’ve called the girls. Tonight its drinks and a movie while tomorrow will be a send-off dinner. Raven was a bit pissed, but come on when is she not?” Selena says laughing.

  “True. So what movie are we getting?” I ask.

  “I thought we could run out before they all get here, and see what the new release are. Maybe a comedy, it would probably be better with drinking and all. We don’t want to watch a romance, it would end with us all blubbering messes crying our eyes out. I want this to be celebratory, you’ve landed a dream job- even if the douche is in the band.”

  “Well then, what are we waiting for?” I say while slipping my sandals on.

  We ended up choosing Ride Along, a hilarious comedy about a guy wanting to prove his worth to his girlfriend’s brother. All the while we drink strawberry daiquiris, Raven’s mood seems to have improved since the last time I saw her. I tolerate her moods because she’s one of the few I have that I can count on in my life. Yeah, she may always be moody, but if anyone were to have an excuse, it would be her, not that it she doesn’t piss me off often.