Rock Me

by Alla Kar

  Paxton. Paxton. Paxton. Glancing up, Paxton let out a huge gasp. I must have looked as bad as I felt. My left eye was swollen but I could see the tears running down his face from my right eye.

  He was crying. The sob that was going to leave my throat caught. He was crying. “Are you okay, baby? Jesus H. Christ. Are you okay?” He was mumbling into my hair, my neck, my cheek. His tears were mixed with mine. “I’m going to kill ‘em. I’m going to kill ‘em.” He was saying it like a chant or more like a plea over and over again in my ear.

  “Paxton. I need to get home before Benton comes out. I don’t want to see him,” my voice was so low that I hadn’t known how weak it sounded.

  Paxton gripped my jaw and forced me to look up at his big blue eyes. They looked even bluer since he had been crying. “Did he do it?”

  I shook my head no and he exhaled with a shaky breath that didn’t comfort me any. “He’s still going to fucking die.”

  And I knew when Benton had made it out of his apartment because Paxton pushed past me. I swear everything went into slow motion as I scrambled toward him. Benton’s shirt was off and his jeans undone. Blood had stained his jeans on his upper thigh where I stabbed him.

  “You like to fight women? You like to make women do what they don’t want to?” Paxton was screaming. A few bystanders were starting to gather around but Paxton didn’t stop.

  Benton held his arms up in surrender and started backpedaling away from Paxton. If I had to guess I would say he’d shit himself by that look. “Wow, look it was an—,”

  Bam. Paxton connected his right fist against Benton’s left eye. It was so quick that one second he was standing and the next he was knocked out cold on the ground. “Get up!” Paxton yelled. “Fight like a man you fucking pussy!”

  Benton wasn’t getting up. The bystanders were starting to get on their phones, which meant the police would be there soon. “Paxton,” I said calmly.

  His torso heaved as he bent over with his hands braced on his knees over Benton. Sobs broke from his throat as his body shook.

  Racing toward him I wrapped him in my arms tightly. “Goddammit,” he whispered, turning to cup my face in his hands. “We need to call the cops because if we don’t I’m going to kill him. He better not wake up before they get here.”

  I nodded into his chest, and let him hold me. Tears were gushing down my cheeks. The metallic taste of blood had drizzled down my cheek to my mouth.

  When the police came they took my story and arrested Benton on the spot. His dad had just pulled up in his Beemer slinging gravel.

  “What the fuck is this?” he shouted, pointing his finger at the officer’s face. We were enough distance away to see them but we couldn’t hear the officer. When Mr. Ferguson looked over his shoulder his lip pulled up into a sneer. “My son would never—,”

  The officer walked off with Benton cutting Mr. Ferguson off. His head turned red and his fingers began to twitch. Benton had the same irate look in his eyes earlier.

  When he turned to face us, Paxton took a step in front of him to block me. They must have been giving each other death glares because Paxton was shaking in front of me.

  I heard footsteps and then the screeching of tires. Mr. Ferguson was gone and so were the cop cars besides one lingering one.

  “Ms. I’m going to need you to come down to the station. Would you like to call your parents?”

  “No, I’m eigh—,”

  “Yes, she would.” I glared up at Paxton. With his gaze on mine, he dug around in his pockets and pulled out his phone. “You need to call him because it’ll be all over the news tomorrow.”

  I furrowed my brow but then noticed the crowd of people standing around and a van unloading camera men. The cop scowled. “Damn journalist scum. Better get you two in the car before all hell breaks loose.”

  Paxton and I got into the back of the car and I felt a sense of relief knowing the media wasn’t going to have too many pictures of the incident. But then I realized—I was in the back of a cop car with Paxton.

  Paxton wrapped his arm around my shoulders and tugged me close to him. “You need to call your dad now. Tell him what happened. The truth.”

  I didn’t want to. Knowing Dad, he would think of a reason to blame me. Or Nick would bitch because I ruined their practice or show.

  “I don’t want to,” I whispered up at him.

  “Why?” he frowned and ran his finger against my bottom lip. “You were almost raped, Missy. Your dad deserves to know.”

  “He doesn’t care, Paxton. Please—,”

  “I care,” he blurted out. “I need you to tell your dad because he’s going to find out tomorrow anyway. I need someone with power on your side to take Benton down where he fucking belongs. Now, please,” he whispered against my mouth. “Call your dad.”

  Crap.

  Dad picked up on the second ring because I was calling from Paxton’s phone. “Dad,” I choked out.

  He was silent for a second. “Where are you?”

  “I’m heading to the police stat—,”

  Dad barked out a laugh. “You’re kidding right? I don’t have time for this shit Missy. We have a concert in thirty minutes—and why is Paxton with you? He’s supposed to be here.”

  Paxton must have seen the tears prickling at the side of my eyes because he grabbed the phone and ran his fingers against my arm. “Mr. King this is Paxton. I’m—If’ you’ll let me talk I can tell you. Okay, Benton tried to rape Missy tonight. She called me to come help her. We’re heading to the jail to file a report. Can you come get us? No, I took a cab here. Yes sir.”

  Paxton ended the call and took me in his arms. “You’re going to be fine, Missy. That bastard won’t touch you again—I swear it.”

  ***

  Dad didn’t show up until after we’d already filed the police report. He came charging in like he owned the place, his phone plastered to his ear.

  The detective on the case stuck out his hand and dad shook it once before gesturing for Ginger to talk to me. Really? Ginger’s heels click-clacked against the tile and she bent down to look me in the eye.

  “Are you okay, Missy?”

  As badly as I wanted to dislike Ginger for cheating on her husband with my douchebag dad, I couldn’t. Genuine worry was written on her face.

  She wiped the tear from my cheek before glancing up at Paxton. “I’m surprised you’re not in jail right now.”

  He shrugged. “Luckily the kid knocks out with one punch or I would be.”

  I believe him. When dad finally got off the phone he stormed over while shoving his phone into his jacket pocket. “Okay, what is going on here?”

  He kept his eyes locked on the officer but would occasionally glance my way and it scared me. “So, is Benton in jail now?”

  The officer nodded, and stroked his beard. “Yes, but his dad is trying to bail him out now.”

  Great. Paxton growled and ran his fingers through his hair. “What was the bail?”

  “I think $25,000, son,” he said, slapping Paxton’s shoulder. “Thank God you got there when you did.” He turned to me. “And good job for stabbing him with that fork.”

  Paxton snorted and I had to keep my smile at bay. It felt good knowing I’d cut the fucker. “You stabbed him, Missy?” Dad said, his voice low but I knew that meant he was trying not to flip his lid.

  “Good girl,” Ginger said.

  But I didn’t look her way. Dad was staring at me like he wanted to kill me himself. Then I remembered why I had wanted to leave Benton’s in the first place. Dad and Mr. Ferguson had a collaboration going with Fringe and Switch.

  And I had messed up his plans. He didn’t care what Benton had done because it was messing up his agenda.

  Selfish bastard.

  Paxton leaned over and shoved his shoulder against mine but I couldn’t look up. I was on the verge of tears when Dad took us back to the tour bus.

  I had hoped we would talk about what happened when we got back but we all got ont
o the tour bus and left.

  I was sitting on my bed when the floor squeaked. Dillon was standing awkwardly in the entrance, hands shoved down into the depth of his pockets. “Are you okay? Your dad wouldn’t tell us anything but I saw—,” he dug his phone out of his pockets and waved the screen at me.

  I didn’t have to look to know it’d already leaked.

  “Did he rape you?” he whispered, nervously fingering his shoulder length hair.

  “I stabbed him in the leg before he got to,” I said, swinging my feet off the side of the bed.

  He grinned. “That’s my girl. So,” he took another step closer to look at Paxton’s empty bed. “I’m surprised Paxton didn’t kill him. I saw the punch.”

  “How?”

  “Someone posted it to YouTube.” Oh, great. I closed my eyes and shook my head. “But he was in the right. I would have done the same thing.”

  I grinned. It was good to hear some people had a heart on this tour bus. “Thanks, Dillon.”

  Waving me off, he stretched and ruffled his hair. “So, I bet it’s hard to keep quiet up here with us being right down stairs.”

  I lifted a brow. “What do you mean?”

  Rolling his eyes, he took his drums sticks out of his pockets and started tapping along on the wall. “We all know you’re banging up here, Missy. We’re not stupid.”

  My mouth popped open. “No we’re not—,”

  “Sure, Sugar,” he whispered, dropping an octave to mimic Paxton’s voice.

  “I don’t sound like that,” Paxton said from the bathroom doorway.

  Dillon snorted. “Yes, you do.”

  Paxton rolled his eyes and looked over at me. “Why don’t you give us some privacy then Dillon? I mean, in case we decided to bang.”

  Dillon grinned like a Cheshire cat and disappeared down the stairwell. “Are you okay?”

  I nodded, and swallowed the painful lump in my throat. “Why don’t you come take a shower with me?”

  “What about—,”

  “Sugar, don’t worry about them.” His blue eyes were begging me. “Just please let me clean you.”

  Clean me. That sounded nice. Nodding, I let him lead me into the bathroom and lock the door. I just wanted to lose myself in the shower and silence. Paxton kept his distance and I figured it was because of what had just happened.

  He leaned against the cabinet and stared at me for several minutes. “I want to touch you—kiss you, but I don’t want to push anything, Missy. If you don’t want to do this—,”

  Stepping forward, I silenced him with my lips. I needed him to touch me. To cleanse me of the monster my dad set me up with. I needed someone that actually gave a damn about me.

  “I need you, Paxton. All of you. I need to feel your warmth and care. I need someone that cares,” I sobbed.

  He stroked my hair, and began slipping the oversized T-shirt the police offer gave me at the station over my head and onto the floor. He covered me with kisses from my forehead to my neck.

  Then he reached forward and unzipped my jeans and then pulled my panties down my ankles. I sat on the closed toilet seat as he warmed the water and shed his clothes. I watched his lean muscles move as he pulled the shower curtain back and offered me his hand.

  This beautiful, tattooed man was nothing like I’d expected and everything I’d wanted but didn’t know. Taking his hand, I let him lead me into the warm water. I didn’t think anything could get the creepy feeling of something crawling on my skin away, but Paxton tried.

  His hands slid down between my breasts and then down my stomach. “I’ll scrub every inch of you clean, Sugar.”

  Tears stung my eyes, and I was thankful for the shower to cover their tracks. I leaned my head back against his shoulder and relaxed as he washed between my legs. It didn’t feel awkward or nasty but comforting. He was perfect.

  He washed my hair and conditioned it while he sang into my ear. The songs began to blend together and then the water was cold. My skin was red and raw when we stepped out of the shower together.

  I was in one of his T-shirts and in my bed, he snuggled in behind me, stroking my arms and face. “You’re going to be okay. He’ll have his day in court and there is no way he’s not going. I’ll make sure of it.”

  I nodded into his chest. “I can’t believe he did it. I could tell he was getting mad, and he kept accusing me of sleeping with you but I never confirmed it. I—I just wish my dad hadn’t made me go.”

  He snorted and hugged me tighter. “You’re telling me. I wanted to rip his head off this morning. Both of their heads off.”

  “Well at least I know why now.”

  Paxton stilled. “Why what?”

  “Why my dad is trying to get us together.” He urged me on with his eyes. “Because they’re trying to do a collaboration with you guys and Switch.”

  Paxton gritted his teeth. “Fucking figures, bastards.”

  “My thoughts exactly.”

  “Are you going to tell your mom?”

  Mom. I hadn’t even realized I hadn’t told her. I reached for my phone but then remembered it was at Paxton’s house. “I’m sorry. I left your go-phone in his apartment.”

  “Use mine.” He handed me his and I dialed my mother’s number.

  “Hello?”

  “Mom,” I choked out.

  “What’s wrong, baby? Are you okay? Is Nick okay?”

  I nodded but realized she couldn’t hear me. “Mommy,” I whispered.

  And then I told her everything through sobs.

  Chapter Eleven

  Paxton

  Missy shivered against me most of the night. I had held her as tight as I could that wouldn’t harm her.

  My morning wood was pressed against her ass and I refrained from slipping my hands underneath her underwear. She didn’t need that. Carefully, I tried to tug her from underneath my arm but she stirred.

  “She’s always been a light sleeper.”

  “What the—,” I yelled, jumping up and hitting my hand against the nightstand.

  A woman I’d never seen before was standing at the entrance to the stairwell. Her hair was blond and long, hanging loosely against her shoulders. Her grin was wide so I didn’t panic on her seeing me asleep in Missy’s bed.

  “Sorry to scare you! I’m Missy’s mother.”

  Oh, fuck. I scrambled up out of her bed and then realized I was in my underwear. Way to go, Paxton. “God,” I mumbled underneath my breath.

  She began to laugh, holding her stomach like a kid. When she glanced back up her eyes were watering with tears. “Don’t worry about it. I’m just glad she’s actually in bed with a boy.”

  “Mom,” Missy mumbled and then sat straight up in my bed. Her hair was a wild tornado of loose curls around her face, and I smiled. “What in the—Oh, my gosh,” she groaned when she saw me.

  “Mom, I didn’t realize you were coming. You should have called!”

  Her mom blew her bangs off her forehead and rolled her eyes. “You thought I was going to let you be alone after what happened last night? Your dad obviously doesn’t give a shit but I do.”

  Missy sniffled and her mom walked toward her and pulled her into a huge hug. “It’s okay, baby. He’ll be in jail soon, and you’re safe.”

  Missy nodded and sobbed into her shirt while I stood and watched. “My name is Stephanie by the way,” she said. “What’s your name? Missy hadn’t mentioned anything about a male suitor in her life.”

  Missy blushed and then stood up. “Mom this is Paxton my—,” she trailed off.

  “Boyfriend,” I said offering her my hand. “We’ve already been over this, Missy,” I said. “And you said your name was Stephanie?”

  Missy burst out laughing when I gave her a pointed look. “Interesting,” I said.

  She cocked an eyebrow. “I’m not sure I want to know what you’re talking about. But you two need to get dressed while I go talk to your dad. And then we’re going to go out to eat.”

  Missy nodded. “What
are you going to say to dad?”

  She flipped her blond hair. “Don’t you worry about it. Just go get your bath.” She glanced over at me with a smile. “And don’t forget to invite your guest.”

  “Mom!” Missy screeched and gawked as Stephanie ran down the stairs.

  “Your mom is—,”

  Missy held up her finger in warning. “Don’t you dare call her hot.”

  I grinned. “Friendly,” I said.

  She narrowed her eyes and then walked toward the shower. “Well, my mom did tell me to invite my guest.”

  “Well, hot damn. Your mom needs to come visit more often.”

  ***

  Missy slipped into a soft summer dress that I couldn’t keep my hands off of. “You should definitely try to wear something else. Rethink these things, Missy. I can’t keep my hands off of you.”

  She took a few quick steps out of my grasp and turned to face me, placing those small hands on my chest. “I do think about my outfits, why do you think I’m wearing this?”

  I grinned, nuzzling her neck. She smelled like flowers and my dick always responded to her no matter what. “You’re torturing me?”

  She laughed. “I thought this morning would be enough to satisfy those urges.”

  I leaned my head back and laughed loudly. “I thought you knew by now that I’m never going to get enough of you, Sugar.”

  By the time we had both showered and exited the bus, Stephanie was still chewing Mr. King out. They were both standing by Mr. King’s SUV pointing and yelling at one another. Ginger hadn’t even gotten out of the vehicle.

  “You’re a son of a bitch, Patrick. And maybe you’d know that if you weren’t so fucking selfish.”

  Mr. King’s head looked like it was about to explode. “What in the—,”he trailed off when he caught sight of us.

  “We can chat later, Stephanie. We have company.” Stephanie lifted a brow and glanced over at us.

  “I’m taking Missy and Paxton with me to eat today. Since he helped save our daughter’s life and all.”

  He scoffed. “Paxton has to stay here and practice for their—,”

  “Come on, Kids. We’re going to get something to eat.”

  Mr. King gritted his teeth but I turned and followed them before he could blow up on me.