by Denise Marie
“I am totally helping with the plans,” Abigail pitched in.
He tucked an arm under her knees, braced the other around her back, and stood. “If you ladies don’t mind, I think I am going to take my fiancé to bed in the spare room tonight.”
She snuggled into his chest and inhaled the scent once temporary. Not anymore.
“No bucket list items yet, Cole, doctors’ orders,” Carol lectured from her bedroom.
She gasped at her mother’s voice, fully aware of what they’d done on tour.
“And, welcome to the family.”
He fell asleep with a smile the second his head hit the pillow and she held him tight, all night.
****
Isabelle sat out on the swing with Katherine and sipped her coffee. The early morning dew made the green grass, and all of her mother’s hard work sparkle. Birds sang and the high-spirited banter from the men and women inside, as they enjoyed her mother’s feast, warmed Isabelle’s heart.
Her chest had tightened when she sat at the table earlier. Katherine, good at sensing her need for diversion, explained to everyone she needed some alone time with her best friend and gave them a glare that said back the fuck off, when they protested. The guys now made fun of her motherly tone; it was priceless.
Isabelle crossed her legs, lifted her mug to her nose, and inhaled. Her mind wandered as she admired the colorful flowers. She pictured the many days to come alongside her mom and her best friends as they worked in the garden and drank anything cold that mixed well with liquor.
She was right all along. His friends matched well with hers. She couldn’t see any romantic notions, but friendships had kindled.
She let her head fall back on the cushion with her contented gaze on Katherine. “Thank you for being there for me and Cole.”
Katherine shrugged her shoulders. “I’ll admit,” she sighed. “It wasn’t easy letting you go. The list made it feel like there was an end, one I didn’t want to face.” Katherine adjusted in her seat with a subtle cough and directed her somber face to the garden. She took a sip of her coffee, held it close to her mouth, and spoke softly. “Your list brought you the love of your life. Maybe there’s something to it.”
About the Author
Denise Marie lives in Canada with her husband, and two children. She divides her time between family, a day job, and writing, while also trying to sneak in a little break for a steamy read. She enjoys the trials and tribulations of life, often catching herself imagining the sizzling story she could make of it.
Visit Denise at
https://www.facebook.com/denisemarieauthor
To chat with Denise Marie and other Wild Rose Press authors of erotic romance, join us at www.groups.yahoo.com/group/thewilderroses.
Also Available
Angel’s Addiction
Rockin’ Hard, Book One
by
Nese Lane
http://amzn.com/B00FZ1O1HM
his angel…
Gabriella Blanchett can’t seem to resist the addictive lure of another pleasure-filled night with the smoldering rock star. He’d be perfect except for the sudden and mysterious disappearances in the middle of the night. His ability to sense her every need, coupled with the secrets he harbors, leave her head spinning, her body humming, and her heart in jeopardy.
her addiction…
Rock star Auro Moretti tours the world with a goal that’s two-fold. He hopes his music is inspiring, but as an empath, he also heals tortured young souls in the audience with his gypsy gift. Protecting his family’s secret and Romani heritage proves as difficult a task as keeping Gabriella in his bed.
She fills his soul with light…he feeds her craving for love…and a stalker threatens to destroy both.
Chapter One
Gabriella
Sweat trickled between my breasts as I yanked on the door to the amphitheater. For six months, I’d craved his touch, a lifetime of replaying each moment of our short time together. I shouldn’t have come. Being with him was like a drug to me. Addiction in any form was dangerous. But how do you rehab yourself from a person? How do you insist to your inner voice, making love to a rock star who appeared to sense your every desire was bad for you? You don’t. Or at least, I hadn’t been able to. So much for being a strong, intelligent woman. Oh, well, they say the meek shall inherit the earth.
Yeah, right. I am so screwed.
The music and energy hit me full in the face when the door swung open. I straightened my shoulders and made my way through the throng of people standing in the aisle. The time before, I’d come with friends. This visit was all on me. I searched the stage for his presence. His voice alone could send me into mini-orgasms, but he wasn’t singing now.
Instead, I caught sight of a blond in ragged jeans, crooning into the microphone. Jasper Lyons, lead singer for the opening band, Twisted Talons. His voice was sweet and sultry, almost every woman’s wet dream. Just not mine. He was all kinds of yummy, but too cocky for my tastes. The fans on the floor next to the catwalk observed, completely enthralled.
I wandered to the side of the stage, the laminated badge hanging from my neck, and cut through people and security like a warm knife through butter. All Access Pass. I snorted. If people only knew what it gave admission to.
I had received it three days ago in a pretty box with a single piece of white card stock. Elegantly written in a masculine hand were five little words—Angel Eyes, I need you.
My world had tilted. My first thought was, yes! Then, holy crap, he found me. Now what? It was supposed to have been a fling. How had he found out my name? Discovered where I worked?
Decorator’s Walk, the exclusive store I owned, provided unique items for interior designers. Located in The Houston Design Center, the boutique was away from the bustle of downtown. And I’d made sure to be vague during our time together. I thought back, to figure out what I might have done to give myself away.
The night had started out normal. I went with friends to a local restaurant for dinner and drinks. The week had been long and hard, so I decided to let loose and relax. The parmesan-encrusted filet mignon was to die for. I sipped a glass of cabernet, listening to the joking banter among the other women at the table. They were all hardworking ladies who loved getting together. My group kept me grounded.
Lisa called a waiter over and whispered her order into his ear. Crazy heifer, always an instigator. We’d been friends since grade school. Either of us would do whatever it took to help the other.
The server returned with a round of tequila shots for all six of us, accompanied by a tart lime slice. I shook my head, lifting my wine glass.
Lisa stared at me, the fire from her Latina heritage reflected in her eyes. “Give it up, chica. We’re all doing this. Roxy has the company limo for the evening so designated driving isn’t an issue.”
“Oh, what the hell.” I picked up the small glass and licked some of the salt off the rim. It couldn’t hurt to live a little.
“On three,” Lisa said, with a smirk. “One…two…three!”
We all downed the smooth agave at the same time. When I bit into the small wedge of citrus, the flavor exploded on my tongue and I licked my lips savoring the taste. After my initial reluctance, more liquor followed. A little reckless, why not? I deserved to let go. Three of the others called it a night and left me, Lisa and Roxy discussing various options to extend our evening out.
“We could go to a club. Neon Nights is supposed to be the new rage,” Roxy said.
“They’re having a party down at East Beach. Sand, warm fire, hot guys. What’s not to like?” Lisa chimed in.
I rolled my eyes. Galveston? I mean, was she serious? In my opinion, it was a tad juvenile for twenty-something career women to crash a beach party. But before I could express my reluctance, the owner of the restaurant, Michael Rand, a friend of Roxy’s, walked up to our table with an envelope in hand. “Ladies, I hope you enjoyed your dinner.”
We all made the right noises, oohin
g and ahhing over what we’d consumed. I commented on the filet and raved about the asparagus salad. I turned to ask Michael if I could beg the chef for his recipe and noticed him watching Roxy. A look of desire flashed in the depth of his gaze before he cleared his throat. “Would you lovelies be interested in taking in a concert tonight?”
The roar of the crowd chanting “Encore! Encore!” brought me back to the present. Michael Rand. He had to be the connection. The night of the concert, he mentioned he had been given the passes by a friend in the band. Roxy’s buddy must have handed over the information needed to track me down. Mr. Rand had some explaining to do, though to be honest, I hoped this night would bring a status change from ex to current lover.
Michael may have given my info, but I’m the one who couldn’t stay away, definitely a glutton for punishment. Hello, I’d walked out last time because he wouldn’t come clean about why he left me hanging at the hotel. There were so many things about him I didn’t know or understand. And now I had chosen to return to his chaotic world. I shoved the irritating inner voice to the back of my mind. The addict in me hoped for the best.
I glanced at the platform once more. Jasper Lyons took his final bow, then exited the stage to screams of “I love you, Jasper” and “I want to have your baby.” Some girls didn’t have a clue. Maybe I was one of them. The roadies scrambled to reset the dais for the headliner, Empathy, his band.
The feeling of a small winged creature trying to fight its way out of my stomach made me pause and reevaluate my decision. Most people got butterflies. I got bats. What am I doing? I’d been back and forth for the past three days. My resolution slipped.
I pivoted toward the aisle to make my escape when a familiar voice rang out. “Angel? My god, it’s you! Auro is going to freakin’ flip!”
I glanced over my shoulder to see who’d recognized me. The rumpled appearance of the mastermind behind the sound and lights portion of the show made me smile. His curly, light brown hair was in disarray, evident from the fact he was running his fingers through it while we spoke. The wire-rimmed glasses balanced on his nose made the geek in him more apparent.
“Hey, Chad. How’s it hangin’?” A slight blush tinged his cheeks. He was way too easy to tease. “Auro shouldn’t be too surprised. He sent me the pass.”
“From what I hear, he wasn’t sure you would come.”
“I almost didn’t.” Derision hardened my voice.
He ducked his head. “Well, I gotta head to the S&L board in the back and make sure things are ready to go. The crowd is getting restless.” He gestured to the mass of bodies in the mosh pit. “Go on upstairs. I’m sure he’d rather you be in the wings than standing down here in bedlam. Why didn’t you come in through the back entrance?”
I shrugged. “You know, it never even occurred to me.” Only having been to a concert once before, it hadn’t crossed my mind. I was so bad at this rock star’s lover thing. That explained the odd look from the guy taking tickets at the door.
“Big Lou is handling security on this side. Go on up and get settled in for the show.” With a wave, he headed to the back of the arena and slid behind the immense control panel.
I drew a quick breath to bolster my courage and climbed the metal stairs. At the top, I stopped when a massive body blocked my path.
His head was completely shaved, his arms and neck covered in tribal tattoos. The sleeves on the black security T-shirt he wore stretched taut, trying to cover the enormous biceps. “No groupies allowed in this area.”
I kept my head down not meeting his gaze. “Not even with an All Access Pass?”
He snorted. “Try another one, missy. Those only go out to family and sponsors.”
I chuckled at his response. This was going to be fun. Big Lou looked scary as hell, but I knew better. “What about close personal friends of Auro Moretti?”
The weight of his gaze began at my hair and traveled down the entire length of my hourglass figure. I had dressed sexier than my norm, but it was still a far cry from fan girl attire. I’d settled on a see-thru navy blouse with a dark lace bra underneath. I wore my favorite crushed-velvet pencil skirt with a slit up the front left side that showed flashes of my black stockings but didn’t go high enough to show the garters holding them.
My one sexy indulgence was a pair of four inch, platform, peep-toe, fuck-me heels in black patent leather. Observing discreetly from under lowered lashes, I smothered a giggle when his gaze hovered there briefly before coming back up to my face. I tilted my head back, staring straight at him. The realization of who I was registered on his face. “So does the package meet with your approval Big Lou? Or should I turn around and show you my ass as well?”
A prickling sensation at the back of my neck was the only warning I had before—
“Now that is a vision few men could give the proper appreciation.”
I shivered when the sinfully seductive notes of his voice skidded across my senses, causing an immediate dampness between my legs. I turned, searching for the source, gasping when my gaze locked with the decadent chocolate eyes of my former lover.
For a moment, I thought the mind kept memories a little fuzzy as a coping mechanism. I’d remembered his gorgeous face and lithe form, imagining it was him while I pleasured myself. The image before me now was so beyond my paltry musings. He leaned negligently against the metal truss layered with multi-colored lights.
“Ro,” I whispered.
“Occhi Angelichi.”
Angel Eyes, his nickname for me. I hesitated, my body warring with my mind. The physical urge to touch him was excruciating, but inside my head, I was screaming… He will make love to you and move on. Can you deal with that?
Quit lying to yourself. You were the one who left last time…remember?
Got it. Shut up!
My indecision must have shown on my face, because he raised a single brow in question, shoved away from the support beam, and sauntered my way.
His hair was longer than I remembered, the straight ebony tresses hung over his shoulders. The ends flirted with the play of muscles in his chest as he drifted my way. Oh hell, yes, I was doing this. Dealing with the fall out would have to come later.
I gulped down a moan. The passion in his gaze brought back a flash of the night we met.
He’d entered the after party, ignoring the jovial greetings and compliments, perusing the room until he fixated on my face, as if he’d been searching for me, which was crazy since we’d never met. He strode my direction, his actions dripping raw power. It took everything I had not to back away. His breathtaking form towered over me. Strangely enough, he was actually of average height and build. Watching him perform on stage was minimal compared to his charismatic force in person.
Eye candy didn’t come close to describing what stood before me. Holy-shit-hot just about covered it. He was almost effeminate in his beauty. The harsh planes of his cheek and jaw kept his masculinity apparent, but the overall sight made my breath catch.
I will never forget the first thing he said, his Italian accent thick with sentiment. “You have stolen my soul with your angel eyes.”
It took a second or two to process his statement. I laughed and then covered my mouth with my hand to try to disguise my disbelief. Was this guy for real?
“So, is that a standard pick up line for a rock star? Sorry, I really enjoyed the show, but I’m not groupie material.” The snarky comment fell from my lips before I could stop it.
His confusion showed plainly on his face. “You laugh at my emotion?”
I couldn’t believe he was serious. “Don’t you think soul stealing is a little strong for someone you haven’t even met?”
“Auro is my name. And yours is?”
“Irrelevant.”
He raised his brows sardonically. “If you will not tell me your name, I will just call you Angel. It seems appropriate considering the color of your eyes. They are so grey they appear silver in the light. I was held spellbound through most of the set by t
heir radiance.”
I wondered if this smitten routine worked for him with other women? Not really impressed with the conversation, I turned to look for Lisa or Roxy, hoping to make my excuses. “Um, thanks for the compliment, but I need to find my friends.”
When I turned to go, he wrapped his fingers around my wrist. “Please do not leave. I just want to talk…to know you.”
His touch electrified me, and the sizzle coursed from my arm straight to my clit. I bit down on the inside of my lower lip to keep a whimper from escaping. I glanced back, first, to where he held me in his grasp, then up to see the imploring expression on his stunning face. My reaction to the contact of his hand had my senses reeling. If we were ever head to toe, skin to skin, I’d implode.
Of course, that never happened, but eruptions of passion, followed by mind-blowing orgasms did. And the promise of those explosions reflected now in his gaze.
With Big Lou in front of me, Auro stepped behind. He gripped my hips and eased me back against his solid frame. One arm slipped around my waist, and his fingers slid under my blouse to play with my belly button ring. I jolted at the contact, my nipples tightening, my clit swelling.
He nuzzled the side of my neck, placing a feather light kiss at the base of my ear. “I have missed you, cara.”
He breathed the words against my skin, causing me to tremble and close my eyes. My pulse accelerated, producing a flutter in the hollow of my throat. He nipped and laved that point, then growled as he spun me in his arms.
With the unexpected movement, I fell forward, my frame resting against his from knees to hip, my hands gliding up his chest. The full contact of my body against his hard muscular build amplified my desire.
He lowered his head and brushed my lips lightly, then teased the bottom one with his teeth. His tongue soothed away the slight pleasure-pain before delving into my mouth. The black currant flavor that was uniquely Auro exploded across my taste buds, feeding my addiction.
His tongue sought then intertwined with mine, the silkiness teased and retreated, then teased again. My core pulsed with arousal, and I squeezed my thighs together.