His vehicle sat in the driveway of Patricia Hudson, a childhood friend who went by Patty. A year ago, he’d promised to stay in touch and take care of her. He wasn’t sure he could anymore. The reminders killed him on every visit.
Resigned to follow through on his promise, he opened the car door and stepped out into the August heat. Summer in New York could be brutal. That year was no exception. Like him, Patty lived in Long Beach, New York, which was on Long Island.
Dressed in all black, the sun beat on his back. Since high school, he followed his own path. The good thing was he didn’t go it alone.
“Hey, Shane.” Patty hugged him as soon as she opened the front door. “Was afraid you changed your mind.” She took in his tired expression. “Still have insomnia?”
He held her loosely. He still saw her as his best friend’s wife. “Yeah, I’ll be OK.”
To soothe him, she ran her fingers through his long, dark hair. The gray had become even more prominent than the last time she’d seen him. It looked good on him, but she knew it made him self-conscious. She wanted to dye it, but he didn’t seem to want to change anything at all.
Shane suddenly stepped back and followed her into the living room. Instantly, memories began to surface. He stared at the couch. Patty hadn’t had the heart to replace it even though she never sat on it. His last memory of Troy Hudson, his best friend and his band’s bassist, haunted him.
*** ♫♪♫♪ ***
Hours Before Troy’s Death…
“Troy’s at it again,” Patty complained when Shane answered the phone. “They’re calling the cops if someone doesn’t go get him.”
Shane sighed and sat up in bed. “I got it.” He glanced at his girlfriend, Amber. She was sleeping off a bender they’d gone on. “Give me a few to… uh… change.” He almost said sober up. “I’ll bring him home as soon as I can.” “Troy’s at it” meant Troy had gotten into a fight and was either still causing trouble or hurt.
After a cold shower, two cups of coffee and a few slaps to the face, Shane headed to Troy’s favorite bar. They’d hung out there before they were famous. Since Silverblade became popular, only Troy took the chance of being recognized. The rest of the band chose places with security, just in case.
He drove with a scowl. Troy left rehab less than a week ago. He’d already reverted to the usual stunts. It didn’t help that he’d signed himself out after two weeks.
Once he arrived, Shane found Troy passed out at the end of the bar. He glanced up at the bartender. “Whiskey or Tequila?”
“Tequila.”
Shane groaned. That meant Troy would be puking soon enough. He grabbed Troy by the arm and dragged him to his car. “Why can’t you handle shit like I do?” He dumped him in the passenger seat and shook his head. “You don’t see me passing out in bars and fucking with everyone anymore. Do you?”
The last fight Shane had involved Brandon Knight of Wicked End, over drugs. Shane didn’t remember many details. The only thing he recalled was his fury. Brandon was upset that Shane and Troy were doing lines of cocaine just offstage when already quite high.
That night had taught Shane a lot. It’d been the opening day of their first headlining tour. Less than an hour after the fight, Troy had passed out right on stage. He’d broken his bass and received a concussion.
That had started Troy’s downfall. When he’d gone further downhill, constantly high, they’d forced him into rehab. Maybe that’s why it didn’t work.
When Shane pulled into Troy’s driveway, he turned off the car and glanced at Troy again. He snored, oblivious to his own destructive behavior. Cuts and bruises speckled his face. Beyond aggravated, Shane stepped out. Within a minute, he walked up the stairs to Troy’s home with Troy over his shoulder.
Patty had the front door open before Shane knocked. She was a nervous wreck. He hated that Troy put her through hell. “He’s out like a light.” With a grunt, he dropped Troy on the couch. “You should put a bucket next to him… tequila.”
“I don’t know how much longer I can do this.” Patty was in tears.
Shane grabbed her arms. “Don’t say that.”
“You don’t understand. He does this all the time. I can’t live like this. Every night, I wonder if he’ll come home at all. I can’t keep doing this. Look at him.”
“Um…” Thinking was complicated. Shane wasn’t as sober as he seemed. “Getting clean’s not easy.”
She looked up at him with tears still on her cheeks. “You did it.”
“No, I didn’t,” he admitted softly.
The next morning, Patty called to say Troy was dead. Shane felt guilty as if he should have known something was amiss. He had no idea Troy had also taken high doses of numerous drugs. If he’d known, instead of bringing him home, he would have gone to a hospital.
It took him months to let that guilt go. He still carried a piece of it. It was the biggest reason the band was no more.
*** ♫♪♫♪ ***
Present Day…
“You OK?” Patty laid a hand on Shane’s arm.
He shook his head to force the memory away. “Uh, yeah, just crap goin’ through my mind.”
“I know what you mean.” Patty led the way to the large balcony in the rear of the house. She used that in the warm months instead of the living room. “Has she finally stopped calling?” She sat in a cushioned wicker rocker.
Shane knew she meant his druggie ex-girlfriend, Amber. “Yeah.” He sat next to her and sighed. They’re all alike.
His response almost made her grin. The bitch finally gave up. Amber had wreaked havoc on his life and jaded him to a point. The first few months back from rehab, she’d checked on him twice a day.
At one point, he’d fallen into a depression, which improved with therapy. From his behavior, he might be regressing into it. I’m not gonna let that happen.
Although he hid some things from most people, he couldn’t hide much from her. She had known immediately when he’d found out Amber had given him a curable STD. It embarrassed him he’d been stupid enough to trust her.
After his ex, Lacey, had screwed him over, she thought he would be more careful. His constant state of high had allowed his guard to come down.
She wanted to wipe the streets with most of his exes. Amber had stolen from him and lied about almost everything. Patty had known it, but he hadn’t been able to accept it. Once he’d gotten sober, he saw it all.
“You’ll find someone who’s stable and has your best interests at heart.” She palmed his cheek to show how much she cared. “She’s out there.”
He shook his head. “Doubt it. They all want something from me. Fuck relationships. Fuck women.” He glanced up sheepishly. “That doesn’t include you.” He smiled when she did. “No woman is like you. You’re one in a million.” He took a deep breath. She can never know I’m attracted to her. It’s just wrong. “Can we change the subject?”
“Sure.” She sat back. “I wanna auction off most of Troy’s guitars and start a charity to help young people get clean...”
She’d hoped to avoid tears, but it didn’t seem to be possible. After she took a few deep breaths, she met his eyes.
“Before it’s too late.” She wanted to ease his pain, but she wasn’t sure if her idea would make it better or worse. “Will you be on the board and help out some?”
“Of course.” It was the least Shane could do. “It’s not like I have anything else to do.” He’d done nothing for the past year, except kick drugs and alcohol. Rehab was tough but worth it. “I can donate some stuff, and I’m sure the other guys will, too. If you want, we can sign autographs. I think we still have some fans.”
She rolled her eyes. “You think you still have fans? Shane, they play Silverblade’s music on the radio all the time. Your fans never gave up. Don’t you read the things people post? They’re hoping for a new record.”
“It’s over.” Shane looked past the railing, at Reynolds Channel beyond. The calm water didn’t soothe him as it usually did. �
�I can’t move on like nothing happened.”
US: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07DVY35ML
UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07DVY35ML
AU: http://www.amazon.com.au/gp/product/B07DVY35ML
CA: http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B07DVY35ML
ROCKIN’ RHYTHM
Velocity Book 1
Ash Taylor looked down at the chick on her knees before him. He had already forgotten her name. They had met a few days prior at a bar. She hadn’t realized who he was right away. Then of course, she had sobered up a bit and went nuts. He just wanted to get laid. His conscience wouldn’t allow him to fuck her while she was inebriated. He got her number and said he would call. That was one promise he regretted.
“Are you a virgin?” He was sure of the answer, but that would explain a lot.
She shook her head. “No. Why?”
“Never mind.” He groaned when she moved in the opposite direction that he did. Wow! Can this get any worse? “Did you cum yet?” There was no way he could tell. Her nod assured him that it didn’t suck for her at least.
He pulled back and slammed into her as deep as he could. Nothing. Not a sound, no movement. This is like fucking a dead fish. What’s the point of this? He closed his eyes and tried to imagine she was his last girlfriend. That woman knew how to please a man. She had no limits and was wild as hell in bed. He didn’t want her drama but wished he could find someone like her. So far, it seemed impossible.
With thoughts of a more aggressive woman, his body finally felt pleasure. Unfortunately, it dissolved immediately. He pumped harder. An idea came to mind, then was quickly dismissed. She probably won’t like anal anyway. Why bother? He started to grasp at straws. Fuck this.
He pulled out and laid down next to her. “Blow me. Do a good job, and I’ll call again.” His number was blocked, so he didn’t need to worry about her bothering him. “Leave the condom on.” Eyes closed, he felt the bed move then it dipped between his open legs.
“Why do we need the condom now?” She was reluctant.
He sighed. “Because I said so.” He always played it safe.
“Can I put a new one on you?”
With a sigh, Ash got to his feet and grabbed his jeans. He always carried several. The trailer they were in was only for sex. Since they were abundant in his area, he thought it was more convenient than driving to the next town every time he had a hook up. It also allowed him the privacy and anonymity he needed.
He looked up and saw the frown on the blonde’s face. Then another idea came to him. The dresser across the room held many supplies, one of which was a box of flavored condoms. “I have strawberry. That should taste better.”
“OK.” She hoped it did.
After he was comfortable, Ash closed his eyes and put his hands behind his head. “Now get sucking. I need to cum.” She closed her mouth over the head of his cock. He waited a while before she took him a bit deeper. “Harder. I can barely feel your mouth.” It took a few more minutes for her to get a good rhythm going. “Wait. Just stay still, right there.” He pumped his hips up a few times and watched her fake breasts jiggle slightly. “Much better.”
It didn’t take even a minute for her to ruin that as well. He shook his head and gently pushed her away. Then he laid back again, yanked off the condom and stroked himself. Why’d I bother with this chick?
She stood at the foot of the bed with her hands on her hips. “What about me?”
Although it wasn’t easy, he ignored her so he could get off. His mind drifted as his eyes closed. An image of a woman he knew was out of his league came to mind. If only she was available and I was her type. His hand moved faster. Thoughts of her always made his body respond. Before he knew it, he panted and his back arched.
“You like your hand better than me?”
Ash’s eyes snapped open just as he spewed semen all over the blanket beneath him. Droplets wound up on his abdomen as well and some on his hand. Then he heard a door slam. “Shit!” He rushed to clean up and get pants on.
The front door of the trailer was wide open. He rarely went there during the day. His eyes moved around the area because he didn’t want the neighbors to see them. He curiously glanced at one trailer in particular. That was the only neighbor he had not met. He heard it was a single woman who kept to herself.
“I’m insulted that you chose your hand over me.” The annoying chick glared at him as she threw open her car door. “How could you not want this amazing body?” She ran her own hands down her sides. “I’m a catch, Ash Taylor! You’ll be sorry you passed this up!”
He gritted his teeth. Yeah, some catch, more like dead fish. “Shut up! I have neighbors, ya know.”
“I don’t care. They can all hear about how much you suck… um… at sex.” Obviously, she didn’t have a way with words. “Everyone should know that Ash Taylor can’t get the deed done.”
He scowled. “Oh, I got it done all right. No thanks to you.” He groaned when a door opened. “Go home already.”
“You need some help with this one?”
Ash shook his head at the nosy man. “I think I got it.” He hated when anyone in the small trailer park approached him. It worried him that someone would discover his “love nest.”
*** ♫♪♫♪ ***
Less than an hour later, Ash walked into Safe Haven in the hope it would lift his mood. Usually, he called it “The Center.” He had developed the habit of visiting when he was down or bored. It was a place he wished had existed when he was a kid.
The band had created it to help single parents and low income families. They did free daycare, and also had an after school program, summer camps, and weekend events. It was open seven days a week, and even major holidays with limited staff. They knew some parents had to work all the time.
He and most of his bandmates had grown up in south Riverview, only a few miles from The Center. Most people thought of Florida as just a vacation destination. It was much more, and not all of it pretty.
Tampa was only 30 minutes away. Unless you had a car, that could be across the ocean. This isn’t helping. He knew he had to forget the past to change his mood.
With a grin, he greeted several teachers and the receptionist, “Afternoon ladies. Quiet day?”
His eyes settled on Michelle Reynolds, so he didn’t hear if anyone had replied. If only it had been you for real, instead of only in my head. Her happy face lit up his dreary day. She always made him smile. He felt better already. She was his only female friend who was not related to his band.
He directed all his attention to her. “I thought Tuesdays were busy here.”
“It’s early. Most of the kids are still at school.” Michelle was a teacher for the five to seven-year-old range. She adored Ash from afar. His shoulder length, dirty blonde hair, bright blue eyes, and model good looks intimidated most normal women, which included her.
He took a deep breath. “Any kids here today?” He had hoped to distract himself with a basketball game or something.
Michelle nodded. “Mostly young ones.” She knew he related to the teenagers best.
“Do you have to work Saturday?” He wasn’t sure why he had asked that.
Her head snapped up. He had never showed interest in her personal life. “Not this week, since from what some parents told me, there’s a church sponsored trip Saturday to Siesta Key. I love the beach there.”
“Me too.” His smile was automatic.
He liked Michelle but had never thought about asking her out. Normal women usually didn’t react the same to his come-ons. They had never so much as shared an innuendo. He had assumed she was married with kids, although she wore no ring. Maybe I was wrong. If she had been, she would have mentioned something about going with them to Siesta Key or something. Wouldn’t she?
His eyes moved over her conservative dress. It was loose enough that he couldn’t be sure what her body was like, but he could tell she wasn’t beyond his range of preference. She wasn’t short like mo
st women, which always made him look twice.
Her head almost came up to his eyes in flats. That put her at about 5’ 7”, since he was 5’ 10”. Movement started in his pants as he admired her natural beauty.
She didn’t wear makeup, and her dark brown hair was always up. That made his imagination churn. What’s she like outside of this place?
He always went after hot, wild girls. It had gotten old. Maybe I need someone down to earth for a change. She could be the one I’m looking for.
He almost groaned aloud. Sometimes his head came up with outrageous ideas. Ones he didn’t think were necessary, like finding “the one” which was not a real thing. He didn’t believe in that bullshit.
Another look at her made his heart beat faster though. Maybe she’s not as untouchable as I thought.
US: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01LXH4UMH
UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01LXH4UMH
AU: http://www.amazon.com.au/gp/product/B01LXH4UMH
CA: http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B01LXH4UMH
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Bella Jeanisse lives for rock music. Addicted to concerts, Avenged Sevenfold, fictional rockers, and blasting music in the car, she can’t get enough. After her father turned her on to Queen, there was no going back. Of course, it didn’t stop there. Playing guitar became a pastime, which didn’t turn into a career… until she started to pen her fantasies and publish them.
Originally from Brooklyn, New York City, she grew up with access to clubs like L’Amour and CBGBs, hung out in Greenwich Village, as well as had plenty of friends in bands. No wonder rockers stayed on her mind. Bringing her ideas to life was a long time coming.
She is now living near Tampa, FL with 3 kids and 3 grandkids, as a single mom. Her family supports her writing even when it seems to take up more time than they feel is necessary. Can’t stop the muse, ya know!
Bait Me Page 11