Jax (Broken Strings #1)

by Cherry Shephard

  The crowd pushed him along before he had the chance to speak, and he reluctantly let go of her shoulder. As he walked away, he couldn’t resist a quick glance over his shoulder in her direction. A large grin spread across his face as he caught her checking out his ass. That same grin got impossibly wider as she blushed hotly, turning her back to him and stamping over to the refreshment table.

  For the next hour he kept one eye trained on her. All throughout high school she’d never shown the slightest bit of interest in him, so what was she doing here? He felt himself getting frustrated as the blonde next to him kept talking. Normally he’d be all over a woman like her by now, but he just couldn’t focus, knowing that Amaranth was in the room.

  A policeman entered the room and stood with his hands on his hips, looking around the room. His small, beady eyes landed on Amaranth, and a sick smile flashed across his face as he walked through the crowd and up to her side. She didn’t seem surprised to see him, she looked terrified. Her eyes darted over to Jax, settling on him briefly. It was all the encouragement he needed.

  Kane swaggered up to him, clearly drunk as he almost spilled his cup of beer into Jax’s lap.

  “What’s Amaranth doing here?” he slurred, barely able to stand on his feet.

  Jax shook his head. “I don’t know,” he said, standing up and disentangling himself from the blonde. “I’ll be right back,” he continued, not looking at Kane or the blonde as he walked directly towards Amaranth.

  He reached them just in time to catch the end of what the cop was saying.

  “I don’t care what you think, you’re coming with me,” he snarled, his meaty had gripping Amaranth’s arm so tightly that Jax could see small white imprints on her skin.

  “Is there a problem, officer?” he asked, staring at Amaranth.

  The officer looked up at Jax, but didn’t back down.

  Not a wise move, Jax thought fiercely.

  “Nothing that concerns you,” the officer said with a sneer. “This woman is being arrested for theft.”

  “Theft?” Jax said, raising his eyebrows in surprise as she stared at him. “I’m afraid there’s been a mistake,” he said, looking down at the officer. “This girl has been with me all night.”

  He looked up once more at her as relief flooded her beautiful features. She tugged on her arm, freeing it from the officer’s grip.

  “Bu-but that’s impossible!” the officer sputtered, his bulbous face turning bright red in anger.

  “I think it’s time for you to leave,” Jax said, leaning down and looking at the name tag on the cop’s uniform. “Officer Richard Tuner.”

  “I’m not going anywhere,” Richard said icily, finally regaining his composure and gripping Amaranth’s arm so tightly that she cried out in pain.

  Jax reacted without thought. Blinded by rage, he swung his fist, feeling bones crack as he connected with Richard’s jaw.

  The officer fell to the ground, dragging Amaranth with him.

  Jax paused, his fist still clenched as he breathed heavily. All around him, people had stopped to stare, many of them taking pictures and videos with their cell phones.

  He reached down and grabbed Amaranth’s hand, pulling her to her feet and practically shoving her toward the doors he’d entered through earlier.

  He led her into the band’s dressing room, stopping when he saw Tessa lounging on an oversized couch, a beer in her hand. “Hi stranger,” she said with a seductive smile.

  “Tessa, could I have a moment?” he asked quietly.

  Tessa’s eyes narrowed at Amaranth. “Fine,” she snapped, getting to her feet and flouncing out the door, slamming it closed behind her.

  “What the fuck’s wrong with her?” Amaranth asked in surprise.

  Jax didn’t answer her, instead he walked over to a bar fridge in the corner of the room and pulled out two cans of beer.

  He held one out to her, waiting until she crossed the room and took it, electricity shooting through his arm as their fingers brushed against one another.

  He snapped his can open and took a long swallow, his eyes never leaving her as she repeated his gesture.

  “What are you doing here?” he finally asked, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand.

  “I’m here to see the concert,” she replied, sounding a little surprised.

  She’s lying.

  “Bullshit,” he said, staring hard at her. “I just stuck my neck out for you, lying to a cop. The least you could do is be honest with me.”

  Amaranth sighed deeply and dropped onto the couch Tessa had vacated moments earlier. “I’m here to see you,” she confessed, unable to meet his eyes.

  “Me?” Jax exclaimed. “But why?”

  “I thought,” Amaranth said, finally looking up at him. “I thought I might be able to convince you to give me a ride back to Michigan.”

  Jax balked. “You what?”

  Amaranth sighed and stood up, pacing the room back and forth. Jax’s eyes were drawn down to the curves of her ass, just peeking out from beneath her short black skirt. Her long dark hair hung down her back and swayed gently against her hips as she walked. His balls tightened and he bit back a groan as she leaned down to adjust her boot, giving him a perfect view of her ass, barely concealed by a tiny black thong.

  She stood back up and turned to face him, a knowing smile on her face as his eyes snapped back up to hers.

  “Yes,” she smiled a little indulgently. “I need to get home.”

  “Why?” he bit out. “You could take a plane.”

  Amaranth laughed. “Oh please,” she exclaimed. “You’ve seen what I do for a living, do you really think I could afford a plane?”

  His cock grew hard as he remembered the view of her ass wiggling around on that stage.

  “No,” he conceded, shaking his head. “I guess you can’t.”

  “Right,” she said, a smile tugging at the corner of her lips. “So will you help me?”

  Jax shook his head harder. “Not until you tell me why that cop was after you.”

  Amaranth paled and backed slightly away. “You can’t ask me that,” she said quietly, shaking her head.

  Jax followed her with slow, even steps. “Why not?” he asked in a low voice.

  “Because you won’t like the answer.” Her back bumped up against the closed door as he drew even closer, pressing his long body against hers.

  He felt light headed as her sweet breath brushed against his lips. “Try me,” he whispered. “That cop said you’re a thief, is that true, Amaranth?” he spoke her name like a lover’s caress. “Are you a thief?”

  “Yes,” she breathed. “Now will you take me?”

  “What will I get in return?” Jax asked quietly, his lips brushing her cheek in a feather light kiss.

  “What do you want?” she asked, a small moan escaping her full lips.

  He pulled back and stared deeply into her eyes. “I want you,” he said seriously.

  She froze and looked at him disbelievingly. “You what?”

  “You asked me what I wanted. I want you,” he repeated. “For the next five days you will succumb to my every depraved obsession, and believe me, princess,” he said, his lips brushing against hers. “There are so many things I want to do to you.”

  “Like what?” she whispered, licking her lips as her eyes fluttered closed.

  Jax needed no further encouragement. Bracing her against the wall he pressed his lips hard against hers, his hands wandering down until they grabbed the smooth globes of her ass. Lifting her up against the wall, he wrapped her legs around his hips and ground his hard cock against her.

  She ripped her lips away from his and tilted her head back against the wall as he moved one hand away from her ass, pulling her shirt away, ripping it in half and scattering buttons everywhere. His head dipped down between her breasts and he licked a single bead of sweat from her soft skin, inhaling the mild citrus scented perfume she wore.

  Her hands dug into his long hair, tugging
his head back as she devoured his lips, grinding herself against the seam of his jeans. She moaned into his mouth and he drank in the sound.

  His hand moved down once more to cup her ass, his fingers sliding beneath her thong to discover the folds of her wet pussy.

  He rubbed her firmly and she gasped, dropping her head onto his shoulder as he braced her more firmly against the door. He inserted two fingers, testing just how tight she was. Her pussy clamped down around his fingers and he shuddered, pulling his fingers out of her and up to his lips.

  She lifted her head and stared intensely at him as he stuck his fingers into his mouth, his eyes never leaving hers. Her taste, her aroma…. It enveloped him in an erotic cocoon.

  The sound of knocking on the door caused Amaranth to gasp, and she quickly tried to push him away, but Jax was having none of that.

  Pushing his fingers back inside her, he massaged her clit firmly with his thumb, watching her pupils dilate as she tightened around him.

  She was so close.

  “What?” Jax called out at the disruption, his fingers never slowing their caress.

  “It’s time to go,” Tessa’s voice sounded through the door, a little impatiently.

  “Say yes,” he whispered against Amaranth’s ear.

  He pressed down more firmly on her clit and she moaned. “Say yes,” he repeated.

  “Jax?” Tessa’s voice sounded once more from outside the door.

  “Do it,” he whispered harshly to Amaranth. “I’m coming,” he said louder, directing his voice to Tessa.

  He waited until he heard her footsteps walk away before turning his attention back to Amaranth, who continued to writhe against him as he still braced her against the door, her legs still wrapped around his hips.

  He ground against her in a slow, delicious circle until she whimpered.

  “Tell me,” he demanded, pinching her clit lightly between his thumb and index finger. “Or I won’t make you cum.”

  “Yes!” she finally screamed. “Oh god, do it, Jax!”

  All teasing left him in that moment, and he struggled to stop himself from cumming in his jeans like a horny teenager.

  He pinched her clit harder and she exploded against him, her hips bucking wildly as she came.

  He watched in fascination as her face contorted, his fingers keeping up their speed until she finally collapsed against his shoulder once more.

  He slowly removed his fingers from her pussy and lowered her shaking legs to the floor, resting his forehead against hers as he waited for her breathing to return to normal.

  “We need to go,” he said quietly, stepping back and watching as she tried to pull her torn shirt together to no avail.

  “Here,” he said, walking across the room to Tessa’s vanity table. Turning, he held out a plain black singlet that was torn down the back and pieced back together with dark purple ribbons and safety pins.

  “Are you sure Tessa won’t mind?” she asked, pulling it on over her head and turning to look at herself in the mirror as she fixed her hair.

  “No,” he lied. “She won’t mind.”

  Actually, she’ll be mad as hell, he thought. But I can’t think about that right now.

  “Okay, I’m ready,” she said, turning back towards him with a smile. “Are you?”

  You have no fucking idea, princess. But you will….

  “Sure,” he said out loud.

  He walked slowly over to her and yanked her up against him, running his hand down her back until he gripped her ass once more.

  “Rule number one,” he said hotly against her lips. “No underwear.”

  “What?” she gasped, her eyes widening.

  “You heard me,” he nodded. “If I see so much as a panty line I will strip you naked.”

  “You can’t be serious,” she gaped, staring up at him.

  “Try me,” he said, before covering her mouth with his own in a kiss designed to brand her, possess her.

  A knock sounded on the door. “Jax?” Kane’s voice sounded right outside. “Dude, we have to go.”

  “Coming,” Jax called out, his eyes never leaving Amaranth’s. “I mean it,” he said quietly, his fingers caressing the soft skin of her ass. “No underwear. Now hurry up and get your fine ass on that bus, before I change my mind.”

  Amaranth jerked away from him, her eyes flashing angrily. “You don’t own me, Jax Hawthorne.”

  “Yes, I do,” he growled, stalking her like prey. “For the next five days you’re mine, and I have no problem taking you every way I want, whenever I want… wherever I want. You’ve kept me waiting for six fucking years, Amaranth, I won’t be denied this time.”

  “Six… years?” Amaranth gasped in disbelief.

  Jax nodded. “So, unless you want me to pick you up and fuck you senseless against the wall right now, I suggest you get your ass on that bus.”

  Amaranth nodded slowly, backing away from him before turning and opening the door, slipping through the crack and squeezing past a grinning Kane.

  “Don’t start,” Jax warned as Kane came into the room.

  “Who? Me?” Kane feigned innocence. “I wouldn’t dream of it. So what did the delectable Amaranth want?”

  “A ride,” Jax said as roadies swarmed into the room and began stripping it bare of their belongings.

  “A ride, huh?” Kane asked, wiggling his eyebrows.

  “Don’t be a dumbass,” Jax laughed. “She just wants to get back to Michigan.”

  “Tessa’s gonna be pissed,” Kane warned. “You know she’s had a thing for you since high school.”

  Jax sighed. “I know,” he admitted. “But I couldn’t turn Amaranth away.”

  “I understand,” Kane said indulgently. “But it’s not me you need to convince.”

  Jax nodded slowly. “You’re right,” he answered.

  “Well I know one thing for sure,” Kane said, another grin on his handsome face. “This is gonna be one hell of a ride!”

  Jax couldn’t argue with that. But what was he supposed to do? He’d wanted Amaranth for far too long, and now she was his. Maybe it was a little underhanded, but he was sure that after he’d fucked her, he’d finally be able to move on from his obsession with her.

  It wasn’t like anything could go wrong… could it?

  CHAPTER FOUR

  “What the hell is she doing here?” Tessa demanded as Jax lead Amaranth onto the bus.

  He paused, unsure of how to explain… but he didn’t need to worry.

  “Back off, bitch,” Amaranth snarled beside him. “I was invited.”

  A slight grin tugged at the corner of Jax’s lips, clearly the little spitfire could fend for herself.

  “What the fuck are you wearing?” Tessa said icily, stalking up to Amaranth and poking her in the chest. “Did I say you could go through my shit?”

  “Tessa,” Kane warned from where he was sitting on a couch on the other side of the bus.

  “I’m sorry,” Amaranth said,

  smiling sweetly. “Jax told me it would be okay, you know, since he ripped my top off in the dressing room.”

  Tessa slid Jax a vicious glance before turning her gaze back to Amaranth. “Get the fuck off this bus,” she snarled, her nose pressing up against Amaranth’s.

  “Make me,” Amaranth bit back.

  “Ladies, ladies,” Kane said, standing up and moving over to them, barely able to disguise his grin.

  Tessa shot him a vicious sideways glance before flouncing off to the other side of the bus.

  Jax suppressed a grin of his own. He’d thought he’d have to protect Amaranth, but clearly she was capable of defending herself.

  “Hey Ammy,” Kane said with a smile, gently laying a hand on her arm.

  Jax flinched at the familiar nickname. He’d always hated it when people called her Ammy. An Amaranth was an immortal flower, it should be revered, worship, loved.

  Just like her.

  He took Amaranth’s arm and, ignoring Tessa’s heated gaze, led
her to a curtain covered area at the back of the bus.

  He stepped back and allowed her to precede him, watching her face carefully as she took her first look at how he lived.

  Everyone assumed that the life of a famous rock star was glamorous, with five star hotels that they trashed every night. The truth was, this huge renovated bus was their home.

  He swallowed hard as she moved to sit on the edge of his large bed, crossing her legs in that damn short skirt as she smiled up at him.

  “Nice place you’ve got here,” she observed.

  “I wouldn’t go that far,” he chuckled, moving to sit beside her.

  He watched as she shifted, her skirt riding higher up her thighs.

  Jax suppressed a groan as she leaned forward to adjust her boots, giving him an eyeful of her buxom cleavage.

  “I’ll be back in a few minutes,” he said gruffly, standing up as he attempted to conceal his suddenly hard cock. “There’s a shower through there,” he said, pointing to a closed door on the other side of the room. “Feel free to make yourself at home.”

  He pushed his way out of the room and threw himself into the nearest couch.

  Kane looked at him, a knowing grin on his handsome face. “Everything okay?” he asked.

  Jax shot him a venomous look. “Everything’s great,” he lied. “Are we leaving soon?”

  “Any minute,” Kane answered, walking over to him and handing him a cold can of beer. “Is Ammy alright?”

  Jax glared at him. “Don’t call her that,” he snapped.

  “Hey man, take it easy,” Kane said, his eyebrows shooting up into his hairline in shock. “What’s gotten into you?”

  “I’ll tell you what’s gotten into him,” Tessa answered as she stood up from her own curtain covered bed. “That bitch in there is what’s gotten into him.”

  “Tessa,” Kane warned, but she was having none of it.

  “Why the hell is she here?” she snapped.

  “She needed a ride back to Michigan,” Jax said. “We’re headed there, so I told her she could come with us.”