“I wasn’t expecting the Rose Bowl.” Michelle said, with a smile of embarrassment on her face. “I’m so sorry to drag you out here so late. I was just too nervous about it, you know?”
“Ah, it’s ok.” Donaldson waved an understanding hand in front of his face. At that very moment, the ground began to vibrate beneath their feet. In a matter of seconds, the deafening sound of thunder-headers ripped through the air, shattering the silence around them.
“Michelle?” Helen’s voice was filled with curiosity. “Doesn’t that sound a little familiar?”
“Don’t be ridiculous.” Michelle scoffed, looking at her over her left shoulder. “Besides, all Harleys sound the same.”
Disregarding her friend’s reaction, Helen listened intently, expecting the motorcycle to speed past the arena. She didn’t appreciate Michelle’s tone, but, deep down, she knew that she had a point. Still, the Harley did no such thing. The noise of the exhaust pipes became even louder, as it gradually slowed down. Eventually, it stopped outside the gate. The powerful engine revved, as the biker turned on the throttle.
“It’s him!” Helen whispered to herself, her eyes wide open. Without much thought, she turned her body right. Her heart was pounding in her chest as she rushed down the stairs. Stopping at the bottom landing, she leaned forward and snuck a peek outside. It was Marcus. His motorcycle shone under the light of the tall lamppost hanging over it, as he pulled his helmet up and over his head.
“Marcus?” She cried, locking her eyes on his face as she exited the building.
“Helen Weir.” Marcus’s sexy smile reappeared, as he shifted his gaze to her. “Small world.”
“How…”
“Hop on.” He urged, waving her to the seat of his Harley. “Let’s go for a ride.”
“Could you wait here?” Helen requested, struggling to believe that their meeting was a mere coincidence. “I need to talk to my friend first.”
“We’ll be back in no time.” Marcus maintained. “Come on.”
Simply nodding to him, Helen started towards the motorcycle. She placed her right foot on the foot peg and swung her leg over the saddle and put her hands on the holds under the seat. The deep rumble of the thunder-headers shook through her bones, as Marcus turned on the throttle. Before she knew it, her hair was whipping against her face, as the Harley tore through the asphalt. They were not going fast, but still, this unprecedented experience gave her a unique sense of freedom. Helen closed her eyes, feeling the air blowing right into her face, as the powerful motorcycle climbed the hill.
Quickly, she realized that Marcus had been honest with her. Indeed, their destination was less than a mile away from the venue. He slowed down first and then turned left, onto a wide ledge. Her jaw dropped, as she noticed the thousands of city lights. The entire coastline of Santa Barbara lay before her. As much as she liked the breathtaking view however, the growing number of questions in her mind did not allow her to savor it.
“Now would be a good time to start talking,” Helen said, a hint of sarcasm in her voice, as Marcus dismounted his motorcycle.
“Okay, you got me.” He admitted, slipping his hands into his pockets as he turned around to face her. “I spoke to James on the phone earlier. He told me you were coming.”
“You live here?” She asked.
“I live in L.A.” Marcus responded. “Hop off. The view’s great from up here.”
“I’m good, thanks.” Helen muttered, dropping her gaze from him. “You still haven’t given me your last name.”
“Hurst.” He was quick to answer. “I was in a hurry that night. James said you’d be here for a while.”
“It’s true.” She confirmed, looking down at the saddle. Marcus’s short steps led him closer to her. Bending down, he tipped her chin up. His sky-blue eyes sent shivers down her spine, as their gazes met.
“It took a lot of guts to do what you did, back in Barbados.” He spoke in his deep, masculine voice. “I have a thing for gutsy women.”
“Gutsy?” Helen gasped in surprise. “I was just wondering why you were leaving so soon.”
“What are you doing tomorrow night, mountain girl?” Marcus made his voice sound sweeter, running his fingers along the line of her jaw.
“I’m sorry, I’m not available.” She whispered. “The concert’s on tomorrow night.”
“The show starts at nine. How’s eleven o’clock?” He lowered his tone.
“I think it will be over by then.” Helen smiled.
“Eleven it is, then.” Marcus winked at her. “The main gate will be too crowded. I’ll be waiting for you at the side exit.”
“Okay.” Her smile widened, as he tilted his head down. Marcus’s lips pressed gently onto hers, as he cupped her cheek. The contrast of his beard grazed her soft chin, as their mouths joined in a long, tender kiss. Helen reached up and circled her arms around his neck, letting his manly scent flow through her, as a strong gust of wind blew through her hair. His hot breath against her face sent her pulse rising, as he caressed her skin. Marcus laid a short kiss on her upper lip and slowly leaned back, as Helen opened her eyes.
“Tomorrow night, mountain girl,” he said, his voice but a whisper. “Now, let’s take you back to that venue.”
Helen gave him a broad smile, her vision still blurry from his intense kiss. Marcus turned around and mounted his motorcycle. This time, the thunder-headers did not bother her. If anything, she enjoyed that deep rumble, her heart beating fast as they rode off.
Okay, this is just unbelievable. I mean, what are the chances of that biker actually living here? God, that kiss was so good. Nice and firm, not too demanding. And those eyes gave me goose bumps. They’re like tiny blue seas. I think I’m going to like it here.
The sight of Michelle, standing next to their red Toyota, with her hands on her waist, snapped Helen out of her thoughts. She saw anger in her eyes, as the motorcycle slowly rolled to a halt. Swinging her left leg over the saddle, she stepped off the Harley, as Michelle shook her head in disapproval.
“Goodnight.” Helen smiled down at him.
“See you tomorrow.” Marcus nodded to her.
“Why the hell did you ditch me like that?” Michelle yelled, leaning towards her, the noise of the thunder-headers still hovering in her ears.
“Did you see who that guy was?” Helen spoke, a hint of annoyance in her voice.
“No!” Michelle shouted. “Does it matter?”
“Look, I’m sorry; I shouldn’t have left, okay?” Helen changed to a more non-emotional tone. “Let’s just get out of here.”
“Do you know why I gave you this job?” Frustration was lingering in Michelle’s voice.
“Why?”
“Because I need a friend,” Michelle explained, trying to control her short breath. “Because I knew how nervous I’d be. This is my first gig outside of New York, Helen. It has to be good.”
“It’s going to be great!” Helen put a little more force in her voice. “You have nothing to worry about.”
“Do I?” Michelle sighed, shutting her eyes.
“Are we still talking about…” Helen paused, reaching her hand towards her friend’s hand. “…the same Michelle Adams who rocked Williamsburg, back in February?”
“Huh,” Michelle snorted. “That was a beautiful night.”
“Exactly,” Helen used an emphatic tone, wrapping her fingers around her friend’s hand. “I believe in you, Michelle. It’s okay to be nervous, but, trust me, you’re going to be amazing tomorrow night. You’re a fantastic singer.”
“Thanks.” Michelle uttered, turning her gaze back down to Helen’s face. “I’m sorry I snapped at you like that.”
“Don’t be.” Helen urged. “I dumped you; I deserved that.”
“So, who was that guy?” Michelle asked, as her gaze shot up to meet Helen’s.
“I was right.” Helen declared, as a smug smile spread across her face. “It was Marcus.”
“You’re kidding!” Michelle exclai
med. “How did he end up here?”
“Let’s get in the car.” Helen suggested, nodding at the same time. “I’ll explain everything on our way back.”
6
Michelle was just as stunned as Helen. She found it hard to believe that the same, mysterious biker they had run into in Barbados, happened to be living in Los Angeles. However, it wasn’t long before she changed the subject. She was not so anxious about her performance anymore; Helen’s pep talk had boosted her confidence. Amazingly enough, Michelle chose not to bring up work at all, during their drive to their hotel. Instead, she chose to gossip about Gina and Rick. Understanding that such a topic would help her friend relieve her stress, and eager to find out more details about the new couple, Helen listened to everything she had to say. The two of them had a wonderful time, laughing about Gina’s bossy attitude.
The following night found Helen, Michelle and James in a small dressing room in the backstage area of the venue. Olivia’s husband was anxiously flipping through the pages of his sheet music, while Michelle was busy fixing her makeup. Helen remained silent, unwilling to address his nervousness. James had not been famous for his cool temper. There was always a chance of him snapping at her; she was not going to take any chances. So, she chose to focus on her friend.
“You look wonderful,” Helen complimented Michelle, standing behind her.
“Thank you, darling,” a bright smile lit up Michelle’s face, as she eased the eyeliner down on the dresser. Noticing a big, black hat and a pair of sunglasses next to it, she turned to James.
“Are you sure the sunglasses are a good idea?” Michelle inquired. “Will you able to see anything?”
“I tried them on earlier.” James declared, reaching down to pick up his hat. “I could see just fine.”
“I hope you know what you’re doing.” Michelle added, as he put his hat on. At that moment, a hard knock on the door, followed by a loud, hoarse voice drew their attention.
“You’re up in two!”
“Oh, my God,” Michelle spoke too fast.
“It’s all going to be alright,” James made his voice as calm and steady as possible, maintaining eye contact with her as he put his sunglasses on. “Tonight’s your night.”
“Yeah, go get them,” Helen encouraged, patting her on the back; “Both of you.”
“Okay…” Michelle sucked in a deep breath, closing her eyes. “Let’s do this.”
James started towards the door, as the two women followed. Upon opening it, he turned left and into a narrow corridor. Multiple, red, green and blue lights were lit, as he walked on stage. James settled his gaze on the piano across from him, as Michelle made her way towards the center of the stage. Helen stopped just before the exit and folded her arms across her chest, as a long round of applause filled the air.
“Good evening, everybody,” Michelle spoke through the microphone. “I’d like to thank you all for coming tonight. Now, let’s have some fun. Three, two, one…”
James put his hands over the piano keys, shutting his eyes, as she gripped the microphone. The first song they would play that night was the one that had sent shockwaves throughout the music industry: “Olivia”. Helen watched, as the two artists joined each other, proving to her that she had been right to believe in them. Michelle sang with presence and passion, her smoky voice rocking the arena to its core, as James’s fingers danced slowly over the keys. Each and every lyric exploded out of her mouth, sending the audience into a flurry of emotion. James sang his wife’s name for the chorus, the echoes of his loud, powerful voice ripping through the air…
Was it a dream – Was it a lie
An illusion of a life so far away
A whisper of fate – A breathless sigh
Or a tiny spark in my lightless day
Frozen inside my love you found me
Broken heart in a world of pain
Shadow of the one I used to be
A shattered wolf, howling in the rain
Olivia, my heart’s on fire
Olivia calls out my name
Olivia, my burning desire
Olivia, my dying flame
Your eyes like a river they flowed
Love so strong in my aching soul
Blinded by greed this love you sold
Bound by lust – acting a role
Lying on the snow my heart is bleeding
Scent of betrayal lingers in the air
Pale moon through the trees is peeking
This lonely night is my cross to bear
Olivia, my heart’s on fire
Olivia calls out my name
Olivia, my burning desire
Olivia, my dying flame
Michelle loosened her grip on the microphone, as James pressed the keys with passion for the outro. The capacity crowd didn’t wait for him to play the last few chords. A few seconds before the end of the song, most of them rose from their seats and burst into a loud, warm round of applause. Michelle slowly opened her eyes and looked out into the ecstatic crowd, with a broad smile on her face, as Helen frantically clapped her hands. Unlike their first time on stage, James remained seated and turned to the crowd, savoring every second of this.
You guys were made for this. Helen thought to herself. Your voices and instruments are always in perfect harmony. You have heart; soul. What is more important than that? I’d love to stay here for the rest of the show, but I need to get ready for my date. I’ll have plenty of chances to watch you later.
7
Despite Helen’s expectations, Michelle and James were having so much fun that, a few minutes before eleven, they were still on stage. She would not wait until the end of the concert. Instead, Helen picked up pen and paper and left them a note on the dresser:
“Sorry, but I had to go. I had a date.
See you tomorrow.
P.S.: Great job out there tonight.”
With a heart full of anticipation, she left the backstage area and headed for the side exit. She checked the clock on her cell phone, as her footsteps led her out of the building. Just when she walked outside, she realized that Marcus was already there, waiting for her on his Harley.
“You’re late.” He said, with a teasing smile on his pointy face.
“Hey.” Helen gave a short laugh, sauntering towards him. “How long have you been here?”
“Just a few minutes,” Marcus replied, tossing a small, black helmet towards her.
“Thanks.” She chirped, snatching it out of the air. “Where are we going?”
“Someplace you don’t get to see very often.” He murmured, pressing the ignition button.
“I’m sorry, what?” Helen squinted at him.
“Just hop on.” Marcus urged, as his smile turned into a grin. “You’ll know soon enough.”
Curiosity growing, she put her helmet on and obliged. This time however, Helen would not place her hands on the holds under the seat. Leaning forward, she rested her head on his back and circled her arms around his waist. The fine smell of leather filled her nostrils, as they rode off.
Again, what’s with all the secrets? ‘Someplace I don’t get to see very often’? What is it? An apartment? A dance club? Okay, that would be a very bad joke. I don’t know where you’re taking me, Mr. Biker. All I know is that it feels amazing to be riding on the back of this baby. I just love how free it makes me feel. I’m even starting to like the noise.”
For more than twenty minutes, the iconic motorcycle devoured mile after mile, adding to Helen’s excitement. The feeling was much more intense than the night before. After all, the ride was much longer and they were going a lot faster. The open face helmet she had on allowed her to feel the rushing wind on her skin. As a matter of fact, Helen enjoyed this so much that she caught herself wishing she had experienced this much sooner. And, not long afterwards, she discovered that they were not going towards the downtown area. On the contrary, they were headed towards the beach.
So, that’s where you’re taking me. Maybe I should
have known. You and Mr. Grumpy have been talking about me. You called me ‘mountain girl’ last night. Now, you’re giving me something I’ve been missing out on since the day I was born. I’m so excited that I want to grab you and kiss you.
Marcus entered a large, luxurious, beachside property, surprising Helen even further. She couldn’t help but gaze out at the calm waters, as his motorcycle slowly rolled to a halt in the driveway. The moon cast its reflection on the ocean, taking her breath away, as the scent of salt filled the air.
“Earth to Helen?” Marcus waved a hand in front of her face. “Are you still with me?”
“I’m sorry,” she said, as her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. “It’s just so pretty out here.”
“The view’s even better from the porch.” He stated. “Come on. Follow me.”
Helen averted her gaze from the sea, but, as she turned her head right, she was shocked to her core. She had been staring at the waters for too long to notice the massive beach house. Straight away, suspicion crept into her mind.
“What do you do?” She asked, as they climbed up the staircase.
“I’m a mechanic,” Marcus claimed, his voice calm and steady.
“Mechanics don’t make that much where I come from.” Helen’s voice was dripping with irony.
“It’s not mine. It’s my cousin’s. He’s out of town.” His tone was indignant enough to relieve her suspicion. Marcus peeled off his leather jacket and tossed it on the table. He then turned his body left and sat down on the porch swing, before bringing his gaze up to her face. “Care to join me?”
“You seem to know an awful lot about me.” Helen remarked, seating herself beside him.
“James likes you a lot.” Marcus spoke, leaning against the swing. “He doesn’t like too many people.”
“Yeah, that’s true.” Helen smiled, leaning against him. “Can I ask you something?”
Filthy Desires: A Romantic Suspense Collection Page 97