Altered Chords

by Kristen Echo

  “Um… thank you,” she said without looking at him.

  “Do you ever look where you’re going?” He kept his tone playful, but it came out deeper than he intended.

  Her eyes shot to his and a bright pink stained her cheeks. So sweet. “You. I mean, thank you. I’m not normally so klutzy.” She only came up to his chin. “Wh… what are you doing here?”

  “It’s nice to see you too.” His smile conveyed his wicked thoughts. “I’m with the band. What brings you to town?”

  “Long weekend getaway. You? Right, you just told me.” She chewed that lip again, and he squeezed her hand.

  “Want to dance?”

  “Not with you.” Her black-haired friend stepped between them, forcing their hands apart. “She’s waiting for someone.”

  “Actually, it’s perfect you know the band. You can introduce her to the singer,” her other friend chirped.

  He didn’t like what they were saying. “You want to meet Nathan? Really?” His eyebrow lifted as he waited for an answer. Everyone wanted Nate. It shouldn’t have surprised him, but it stung.

  “No. I mean, I don’t want to meet him,” she added quickly, stepping around her friend. “And I’d love to dance with you.” She sidestepped her other friend and held out her hand. It shook slightly.

  Their fingers twined, and he smiled at her, hoping to alleviate her nerves. “Lead the way, firecracker.” Any woman willing to stand up to her friends, was a gem in his books. He tended to date followers. He had a feeling this woman never followed orders a day in her life.

  They walked through the throngs of dancers and found the middle of the packed dance floor. Her feet stopped, and eyes widened as Nathan jumped off the stage and caressed the face of a woman dancing closer to the stage. He never stopped singing. Tyson watched her take in the scene. There was no lust-filled gaze or any desire from her part to move closer to the stage. She seemed happy to hide in the middle of the crowd.

  “They are really amazing. Do you play too?” She hobbled her feet from side to side. Her grip on his hand tightened like she wasn’t sure how to move.

  He found it cute, but he knew she had more rhythm than that. He twirled her out and painted her back to his front. “My talents lie elsewhere.” He let go of her hand and gripped her hips, swaying against them. They danced to another cover tune in silence, letting the music take over.

  Sweat dripped down his back as he held her close. Halfway through the band’s set, he was so hard it was painful. Her breath hitched as he nudged his erection between her ass cheeks, thrusting to the beat. She was either too into the music to notice or she was just as into him because she didn’t pull away. He ran his nose along her neck and kissed below her ear. She trembled in his arms. He needed more. He wanted all of her.

  His fingers slid along her stomach and up between her breasts. Her chest heaved against his hand. Her breathing was fast and matched his. He gripped her chin and tilted her head sideways towards him. Bright red lips and heavy-lidded eyes stared at him. Once again, daring him to kiss her.

  He did.

  Fuck. It was even better than their first. Those lips would be the death of him.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  Bria ♥

  H is lips seared into hers, like she’d been branded. She opened her mouth, and her tongue crashed against his. Twirling and swirling around and around. He tasted of liquor with a hint of smoke, making her drunk for more. Bria was completely lost to the moment.

  The music had a soul and transported her to a place where inhibitions no longer existed. The only thing that mattered was being with this man. Letting go of all her worries and enjoying herself. In his arms she felt safe, and she hadn’t had that sensation in a long time. It had been ages since she’d been this free.

  The strangers surrounding them faded away. She didn’t care what her friends were doing or what they would think of her kissing him. None of that mattered. It was just the two of them, the deep thumping of the bass and the vibrations in the air. His lips, his hands, and his body claimed her. She couldn’t concentrate on anything but him.

  Her fingers dove into his hair, clutching the shoulder length strands and tugging him closer. His kiss was so deep and hard she felt it in her toes. She wiggled her ass against his crotch, loving the hardness wedged there. He groaned into her mouth and ignited a blast of heat that traveled the length of her. She did it again, receiving the same heady reaction. She never wanted the moment to stop.

  The song blended into another with a faster tempo. Another cover, and their rendition was almost perfect. People sang along, creating a steady buzz around them. Her mouth was too busy kissing to sing. He tried to pull away, but she held his hair, keeping him firmly in place. His mouth planted against her. She wouldn’t let him go. Not yet, maybe never.

  He smiled against her lips as he moved his fingers from her chin and into the top of her blouse. The heat of his palm against her chest made her gasp. He dipped into her bra and squeezed her breast.

  Bria didn’t stop him, instead she smiled back and kissed him again. Her hips circled against him, driving them both insane. He pinched her nipple, and she whimpered, tearing her mouth away to catch her breath. He did it again and her body trembled with need.

  “Do you like the music?” He fondled her as he spoke. “Or is it my touch making you move like that?”

  Her body moved as one with him. “Both… I want more,” she panted before crashing her mouth into his again. She wanted so much more.

  He let go of her hip and inched towards her navel. She sucked on his tongue, inviting him to take and do whatever he wanted. The tips of his fingers found their way under her blouse and tickled her stomach. She squirmed against him as he undid the button of her shorts. Her breath hitched as the zipper lowered and his fingers found her bare mound.

  “No panties? That’s fucking hot.” He slipped his digits through her wet folds, teasing her. “Hmm… and so wet. I love that you didn’t put new ones on.” His fingers continued to torment her. He licked along her jaw and sucked her earlobe into his mouth.

  Her nipples puckered under his ministrations and her sex drenched his fingers. He hadn’t entered her yet, and she desperately wanted him to. She thrust her hips against his hand, seeking more. She widened her stance, granting him full access.

  “Touch me,” she begged, moving her hand over his. “Don’t tease me. I need more.”

  His soft chuckle sent a ripple of desire into her core. He was so sexy. “You want this.” He dipped only the tip of one finger inside her, as he rolled her nipple between his other fingers. He circled her entrance but didn’t go any further. The ache grew deeper, and she moaned. “Tell me what you want me to do.”

  She’d never been a vocal lover. Her previous boyfriends said nothing during sex and neither had she. She stayed quiet. Not sure what to say. She bit her lip and swiveled her hips, chasing his fingers. But he refused to give her any more.

  “Tell me, or I can stop all together.” He loosened his grip on her nipple, but he didn’t take either hand away.

  “No! Don’t stop.” If her cheeks hadn’t been red before, they were now. She closed her eyes, not wanting to see the surrounding people. She only wanted to feel. “I like having your hands on me. I want them in me too. Please.”

  This was all new to her. Public displays of affection and baring her soul. She’d never even told Klein what she liked. But everything was different with this guy. Anything was possible, and she had no fear. All her anxiety flew away when she was near him.

  He pinched her harder than before, and she cried out in ecstasy. “Do you want me to make you come? Right here with all these people around,” he whispered into her ear as he pushed two fingers deep into her. “Do you like it rough?”

  The softness of his voice was at odds with his hands and the rough way he touched her. She rested her head against his shoulder. “Yes. Please make me come.” His fingers pressed deeper, stretching her. “Do anything you want.”


  The words surprised her, and she clenched her eyes closed. As if not seeing her wanton display would somehow erase it. Her comment seemed to be what he’d been waiting to hear because he pounded into her with abandon. When he rubbed his thumb against her clit, she clung to his arms for support. He pushed deeper into her core and she came hard. She’d been so close that one tiny touch was enough to send her over.

  “Yes! Oh… shit. Yes!” she screamed into the darkness. Her legs slammed together, caging him there as the orgasm rolled over her. The crowd cheered as the band finished another song, reminding her they weren’t alone. Her eyes flew open, but no one paid them any attention.

  “Your walls are sucking me in even deeper as you come. Tight and so wet. Your juices are slipping past my knuckles. Fuck, I wanna taste you so bad.” He licked the outer shell of her ear as he continued to rub her the right way. Within a minute she was near the edge again. His fingers moved to the beat and their bodies rocked as one. “Come for me again, firecracker. Show me how wet I can make you.”

  His words coupled with the way his hands worked her over was all she needed to be catapulted to the moon again. This orgasm was even more intense, making her entire body shake. “Oh! God!” She bit her lip to stop from crying out again, but she couldn’t stop the moaning as her body quivered from bliss.

  “Sexiest sound I’ve ever heard.” He pulled his fingers from inside her shorts and top. “I don’t think I’ve been this hard in my entire life.” He pushed his erection against her again.

  She loved the hardness of it. Everything about him was huge. She wanted to touch it with her hands and lick every glorious inch of his cock. Those thoughts made her scramble to zip up her shorts so they could get out of there. She was riding high from an orgasm and never wanted to come down. He laughed at her sudden urgency to right her clothing. He had no idea what naughty things she wanted to do with him. His hands and his scent; he was intoxicating. She’d let him do things to her on that dance floor she’d never in a million years let happen. Never mind by a stranger.

  His fingers danced along her lips, wetting them. The musk from her release filled the air. Bria turned to face him and tilted her chin towards him. Their eyes locked. His were so dark and she’d never been more drawn to another human being in her life. She ran her hand over his cock and smiled.

  “Let’s get out of here.” She caressed the side of his face with her hand. The stubble scratched her palm as she guided his mouth back towards her. She kissed him. The soft press lasted only a second before he tore his mouth away. It was far too chaste.

  “Hey arsehole! Get your hands off my fiancée,” a familiar voice yelled next to them. Bria recognized it instantly. Her heart sank to the floor.

  He’d found her. But how? No, it couldn’t be him, it had to be someone else. A stranger with the exact same Irish accent wasn’t likely. Her eyes flicked over to the intruder and widened.

  Fear and loathing replaced the bliss she’d had a second earlier. Instead of leaving to explore her wild side, all hell broke loose. Klein, flanked by two of his bodyguards, stood facing her dark, handsome stranger. His big blue eyes were filled with menace.

  A slow-motion nightmare unfolded. Klein’s fist flew through the air, connecting with his target. Bria screamed and jumped back as the sucker punch knocked her stranger to the ground. The music stopped, so did her heart. This was wrong. All wrong.

  CHAPTER SIX

  Tyson ♫

  F ighting wasn’t new to Tyson, but he hadn’t seen that fist coming. He’d let his guard down and took a blow to the chin for it. Most of the fistfights he’d been involved in never started with a sucker punch. Only a weak person would strike unannounced. Tyson didn’t consider himself a good guy, but he wasn’t a coward.

  He shook his head and looked down at the ground, wondering how he’d gotten there.

  One second, he was tasting the sweetest lips coated in honey then someone had yanked him away. The word fiancée had slammed like a bat against his ears. He’d suspected she had a man, but he’d checked for a ring. Not even a tan line rested on her finger. That wasn’t something he would have missed. Still, a woman who smelled that good and kissed like that wouldn’t be single.

  When something hard landed on his back, he stayed down. He deserved it. The blow to the face hadn’t been overly hard, but it surprised him and sent him down to his knees. He rubbed his jaw and smelled her juices on his fingers. Fuck, why did she let him touch her if she belonged to someone else?

  “Fiancée,” he repeated the word. That pissed him off more than anything. Cheating was unacceptable. He wouldn’t be a party to breaking up a relationship.

  “Stop!” she screamed as if she cared what happened to him.

  “Unbelievable,” he mumbled, attempting to stand. A shoe landed against his stomach, winding him. He could have grabbed the guys legs and brought him down, but he didn’t. Tyson didn’t even bother trying to defend himself.

  “That’s right. Stay down and never touch my woman again!” The venom in the man’s voice came through loud and clear over his accent.

  He understood that kind of pain. It caused rational men to do irrational things. He had a criminal record to prove it. Tyson glanced up in time to watch a man wearing a suit grab her arm. The grip didn’t seem loving. In fact, it looked like he meant to hurt her. There’s no way Tyson would let that happen.

  A foot connected with his rib and he winced, rubbing the area. Another landed on the opposite side, telling him he had more than one attacker. Without further hesitation, he rose to his feet in one swift move. Unfortunately, he didn’t get the chance to steady himself before someone grabbed his arms from behind, pinning them back. A fist landed against the side of his mouth, causing his head to jerk left.

  “Mr. Burgess told you to stay down and out of the way.”

  “I don’t answer to anyone,” he said, throwing his head back and connecting with the nose of the man behind him. It worked to free his arms.

  Another fist landed against his stomach, but he’d been expecting it. The men attacking weren’t street fighters. Not like him. A few people shrieked when another punch connected against his mouth, drawing blood. The metallic tang didn’t bother him, and he smiled as he dodged the next swing.

  That’s when he noticed the music had stopped. Any second his friends would come to his aid. Even if he didn’t need their help. Nathan never backed down from a fight. They couldn’t afford any more negative press.

  “Stop it. He did nothing to you!” Out of the corner of his eye, he caught the firecracker jerk her arms free and pound against the man’s chest. “How the hell did you find me, Klein?”

  The happiness and serene look on her face from a moment ago vanished. There was a touch of something in her voice he couldn’t decipher. Distress or hatred. Her eyes were wild, almost scared. He had to protect her, but first he had to defend himself. Tyson kept his eyes on the woman as he sidestepped another swing.

  “Baby, I always know where you are. We need to talk, Bria.” The man in the suit grabbed her arm again and tugged hard, wrenching her forward.

  So, her name was Bria. It suited the firecracker. “You are not my anything. Let go of me!” She tried to remove his hand from her arm but failed.

  “You heard her.” Tyson stepped between Bria and her fiancé. “She’s not leaving with you, pal.” He placed his hand over the other man’s and squeezed. Hard.

  The man laughed and let go. “Don’t make me kick your arse again.” The man shoved him with both hands, but Tyson held his ground. “Get out of my way. I’ll take my fiancée anywhere I please. Bria, we’re leaving. Together. No is not an option.”

  Those were fighting words, but he couldn’t take the bait. Tyson closed his eyes for only a second, letting the statement sink in. The last thing he needed was to get in the middle of a domestic situation. If they were a couple, he wouldn’t get involved. He couldn’t. The risk was too high.

  Hiding behind him with her nails digging into
his forearm, Bria trembled. “Klein, the engagement’s off. You can’t be here. My lawyers—”

  “Ye owe me an explanation. Why are ye out to ruin my reputation?”

  “You’re kidding, right? Get away from me before I call the cops.” She kept her body behind Tyson, and he noticed the shaking getting worse the longer they talked.

  The urge to protect her pulsed through his veins. He didn’t understand what the hell was going on, but she could explain it all later. Fiancé or not, he’d keep her safe.

  “Do we have a problem here?” Nate asked, getting right in the suit’s face.

  Klein ran his fingers over the lapels of his jacket. “No problems. Bria and I are leaving.” The arrogance in his tone was too rich for Tyson.

  “Enough bullshit. Do you want to be with this guy or are you with me?” Tyson turned and faced Bria.

  His posture was as stiff as his cock. The introduction of a fiancé did nothing to stop his desire for this woman. Her response would trigger two outcomes. If she belonged to Klein, then he’d walk away that very second. However, if she picked him, then Tyson would knock that SOB out and take Bria out back and fuck her brains out.

  The seconds waiting for her response felt like an eternity.

  “No, I’m not his fiancée anymore. He’s my ex,” she said as her eyes implored him to save her. “I’m with you. I mean, I’d like to be.”

  Her public declaration was all he needed. Tyson smiled and balled his hands into two fists ready to attack. He’d let those guys get in their licks, thinking he owed them something. A penance for being involved in cheating. He shouldn’t have assumed every woman cheated. Learning to trust again was harder than he imagined.