LIMITLESS: A Less Than Zero Rockstar Romance: Book 2: Jace & Alex

by Kaylene Winter

  Kaylene Winter

  Acknowledgements

  It takes a village! Thank you to everyone who has helped me bring Alex & Jace to life:

  Cover/Graphic Designer/Finder of hotties: Regina Womba

  Cover Model: Garret McCall/Mr.McModel

  Editor: Grace Bradley

  Proofreading/Formatting: Ebook Launch Squad

  Thank you to all of my Beta readers, Street Team, and ARC readers—you are all awesome.

  SPECIAL THANKS to Beth & Anna who have been such great new friends and supporters.

  And last, but not least, thank you thank you thank you to all of the bloggers, reviewers, and readers who have helped to spread the word—it’s a new journey for me, and I’m overwhelmed by your love, support, kindness, etc. Thank you for making my dream come true!

  EXCERPT

  ENDLESS: A Less Than Zero Rockstar Romance

  Book 1: Ty & Zoey

  Prologue

  ZOEY

  I burrowed into my delicious rocker’s side, breathing in his manly scent, a mix of leather and grapefruit body wash. I reached up to carefully brush a long, chocolate-brown wave from Tyson’s full lips while he slept deeply. His long, silky hair cascaded over the pillow; his square jaw was covered with the beginnings of a beard because he hadn’t shaved in a few days. It made my sweet rocker look slightly dangerous. Gazing at the three small scars nearly hidden in his thick, dark eyebrows, I still couldn’t fathom how tough his childhood was and how anyone could hurt such a beautiful soul.

  My breath hitched. I tried to memorize everything about him, to soak in every detail of my gorgeous man. I knew I was about to hurt him, and it destroyed me. When I traced my finger over a smattering of his rough stubble, he sighed in his sleep and pulled me in even closer. I held him tightly too, resting my head on his lithe but defined chest and gripped his hip, careful not to rouse him. I wished I could gaze into the pools of his deep-blue eyes one more time.

  If only I didn’t have to leave him.

  I was moving to Bellingham to embark upon my new normal, living with a roommate in a dorm and working toward my college degree in social services. Ty’s band departed for their first tour in a few hours, traveling cross-country in a small van for six months. Letting him sleep was important. It would be grueling enough spending long hours in such cramped quarters without the added weight of heartbreak. The least I could do was let him get some rest now.

  So I laid for as long as I could against my love and listened to his heartbeat. My mind was a hamster wheel. Second-guessing. Third-guessing. Then—resolved. I had been asked by possibly the most influential person in his life to do something for Ty. For his future. As much as I didn’t want to, leaving him now was the right thing for me to do. But it didn’t make it any less devastating.

  When my tears wet his chest, I knew it was time to go or I’d wake him. My heart seized in agony at the thought of never seeing him again. I wasn’t sure how I’d survive. Yet, I knew that I had to set him completely free, without any ties to me, so he could embrace his shot at fame.

  Maybe someday Ty would understand why I left him.

  Maybe someday he’d forgive me.

  Chapter 1

  ZOEY

  Five Months Previous

  “C’mon!” Alex pleaded with me. “We’re going to be late!”

  “I can’t help it if I need extra time, you look amazing in a paper sack,” I whined to my best friend since diaper-hood.

  Even though my family had moved from Ballard to a big, renovated craftsman in the Wallingford neighborhood when I was eight, Alex and I spent time together most weekends and nearly every day during the summer. Our neighborhoods were close enough that we retained our sisterly bond, which was so tight we could finish each other’s sentences. Now, with only a few weeks to go until graduation from our respective high schools, all we did was obsess over music and boys, sometimes not in that order.

  Which meant on a Saturday night, as per our usual routine, we got ready at my house to go out for the evening.

  “You look gorgeous, you always do.” Alex surveyed my outfit, her hands on her hips. Tall and thin with supermodel beauty, my BFF looked fantastic in her simple getup of a black, V-neck fitted T-shirt, baggy boyfriend jeans with a beat-up brown belt holding them up, hoop earrings, a distressed, black motorcycle jacket, and black motorcycle boots. Her blonde hair styled with fringy bangs was effortlessly tussled as though she’d spent hours on it, when really all she did was run her fingers through it a few times.

  I sighed, studying my image in the full-length mirror. As a short and slightly voluptuous girl, I tried to accentuate my curvy assets. Tonight, I wore a casual outfit of skinny black jeans with shredded knees, my favorite black, flat, suede knee-high boots, and a vintage Van Halen T-shirt with the sides and back cut out in a crisscross pattern, which gave a glimpse, but not full view, of my D-cup boobs.

  “Well, this is as good as it’s going to get.” I shook out my long, thick blonde hair streaked in beachy waves, and turned to check out how my butt looked. I loved my curves, and thanks to the Kardashians normalizing a bit of tits and ass, I could hold my own even if I couldn’t be bothered to paint on a perfect Instagram contour.

  “Thank God, the Uber is here.” Alex swooshed out of the room and bounded down the stairs, with me following close behind.

  We had been waiting all week for tonight’s show at The Mission, an iconic Seattle all-ages venue, which launched the grunge era over two decades ago. My parents had met there at a Limelight show, so they were surprisingly cool about my acute love of live music. The club, which lacked in charm, still featured an awesome lineup of up-and-coming bands and we loved nothing more than to experience live music up close and personal.

  Even better, we were finally going to see Less Than Zero, a throw-back rock band that made actual real music and didn’t rely on auto-tune or fancy production. We’d been obsessed with their YouTube channel and Instagram account because of all their hot pictures and crazy video snippets. Their music was amazing, driven by screaming guitar riffs, anthemic lyrics, and groovy beats. It also didn’t hurt that all the guys in the band were tasty, tasty snacks.

  “Are you staying over tonight, Alex?” my dad called out as we bounded past him in the living room.

  “No, Mr. Pearson.” Alex stopped to address him. “Mom and I have plans early tomorrow morning.”

  Alex’s mom and dad were divorced, and she lived with her hilarious mother who had a successful mail-order pie business. If her sense of humor wasn’t reason enough to hang out at her house, we were guinea pigs for her kitchen experiments, which turned out some delicious food. Her dad, a developer who had remarried, lived on Bainbridge Island, a suburb across Puget Sound.

  “Alex, how many times do I need to tell you to call me Mike,” Dad chastised good-naturedly. “Are you off to The Mission, then?”

  “Yep!” I bopped over to give him a kiss on the forehead. “I’ll be home by midnight.”

  “How are you getting home?”

  “Jeez, Dad. Stop interrogating me like a lawyer. You know I’ll take an Uber.” I rolled my eyes. For God’s sake, I was a dedicated 4.3 GPA student, it was annoying that he didn’t think I could figure out a ride home.

  “Zoey, I’m glad you’re finally getting out of the house, you’ve earned some free time to go out and be more social.” Dad hugged me. “I’m just happy you’re not buried in books for a change.”

  “Is Mom home tonight?” I ignored his annoying comment. My mom, Olivia, traveled a lot for her job as a pharmaceutical sales manager. She was flying in that night from a conference in Miami.

  “Yes, I’m going to pick her up in an hour.” Dad smiled cheekily. They were still so in love, I hoped to find that for myself someday. Maybe when I was thirty.

  When we finally made it through the long line into the divey, dark club, Less Than Zero’s melodic, guitar-driven, ass-kicking rock was already in full force. As was our usual M.O., we pushed our way to
the front of the stage so we could see the band in action and, of course, dance. Our bodies couldn’t resist moving to the music. LTZ was on point. By the time they launched into their third song, I felt electrified. The energy in the crowd was intense, as if we all knew we were witnessing something special.

  All the guys in the band looked hot in the videos and pictures we had been poring over on YouTube and social. LTZ in person? Other-worldly.

  Drummer, Jace Deveraux, played shirtless, lean with taut muscles, intense, piercing green bedroom eyes, and sexy dirty-blond hair that brushed just past his shoulders. He thrashed hard yet kept the most complicated groovy rhythm, his mouth moved in time to the beats he played.

  Zane Rocks, a pretty boy with an infectious grin, dark-brown eyes, and a mop of jet-black, unruly hair that didn’t quite reach his collar, played lead guitar. He bounced all over the stage but managed to make eye contact with everyone in the crowd, drawing them in. Effortlessly channeling classic Slash and Eddie Van Halen, his natural skill translated into his own unique sound.

  Bassist Conner McLoughlin was the hottest ginger I’d ever seen, his thick, reddish-brown hair hung well past his jaw. He stared into the crowd with light, golden-brown eyes that were brooding and almost dangerous. Ropy, thick muscles bulged underneath his vintage Alice in Chains T-shirt. He was cool AF, popping and thumping in perfect rhythm with Jace’s percussion.

  As hot as the rest of the LTZ guys were, lead singer Tyson Rainier was the most magnificent-looking guy I’d ever seen in real life. His chiseled, square-jawed face with just a hint of stubble made him look like a young, rogue biker. His gorgeous long, brown hair hung in loose waves. He swung it wildly, scanning the crowd through sapphire-blue eyes rimmed with dark, long lashes. His lithe yet muscular body rocked tight skinny jeans and a frayed, fitted white V-neck. He stomped around the stage like a throw-back grunge rocker in duct-taped, forest-green Doc Martins. Ty’s voice was mesmerizing—a mix of soaring range, complicated and unique lyrical phrasing, wolf-like growls, and passionate, emotional delivery.

  He figuratively and literally mastered the stage and the audience, and I was hypnotized by him. There was no way not to stare. To me, he was passion personified. My body was consumed with what felt like an intense, gravitational pull.

  While I was gaping at him, the beat changed to a slow, sultry low groove. At that moment, he looked down from the stage directly into my eyes. Like a lightning bolt, his look caused a zap straight to my core. My heart thumped so fast. I wouldn’t have been surprised if it exploded. I glanced around and saw beautiful women everywhere having the same reaction to this magnificent rock god. Immediately, I felt foolish. He hadn’t singled me out, specifically. I was nothing special. He just had that effect, which is why LTZ was destined for something bigger than a local club.

  Throughout the rest of the show, I purposefully avoided looking at the sexy singer. Making eye contact was like looking directly into the sun. Smiling to myself at the ludicrous thought that I would ever have a chance in hell with Tyson Rainier, I immersed myself in the music. Alex and I swayed, danced, and cheered at LTZ’s awesomeness. Hands down, they were the coolest band I’d ever seen.

  After their encore, Alex and I were still a bit sweaty by the time we pushed through the crowd to find our friends, who were live-streaming their commentary about the show. Alex added to her Instagram story, and I flashed her some rock horns when she turned the camera phone on me. We couldn’t stop squeeing about the band and how incredible they were. Despite my earlier insecurities, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something about the lead singer had struck a chord deep inside me.

  “I think he looked right at you.” As if reading my mind, Alex nudged me and waggled her eyebrows.

  “Uh-huh. There is no chance,” I guffawed, “the lights were shining in his eyes, he couldn’t see anyone in the crowd.”

  “No, I’m serious. He kept trying to catch your attention,” she asserted. “You didn’t see it? He was singing to you. My Gawd, you have to talk to him!”

  “I can’t do that.” I wrapped my arms around myself protectively. “I’d die of embarrassment. I’d just be standing there looking completely basic.”

  The thought of it made me cringe.

  “Holy fucking shit. Well, you better think fast because I’m pretty sure he’s heading this way.” Alex’s eyes were wide with excitement.

  I barely had the chance to turn around when a big hand clasped my shoulder and a distinctive, deep, husky voice asked, “Hey, um. Sorry to interrupt, but haven’t I seen you before?”

  Looking up into the deepest blue eyes I’d ever seen, for a beat too long, electricity once again crackled throughout my body. I managed to speak, if not eloquently, “Um—Umm. I just was watching your show.”

  I stared at his exquisite face, not able to help it. After a beat too long I finally was able to look down at my shoulder where his hand rested. “You are amazing, I mean—the band was amazing— I mean— I loved it!” I stuttered, wanting to disappear through the floor at my ineptitude of being able to flirt.

  “Oh, uh, cool. Thanks.” Ty’s cheeks visibly reddened and he looked at his boots almost bashfully. This took me by surprise, I hadn’t expected any of the LTZ guys to be modest. Or nice. Or shy. They were all so, well, overwhelmingly hot. Brushing off the compliment, Ty looked at me intensely. “No, I mean it. I feel like we’ve met somewhere and it’s driving me crazy trying to figure it out.”

  I couldn’t find my words. With little dating experience, having such a powerful reaction to a guy was new. But then this was not just any guy—he was a fucking rock god, so maybe it was to be expected. “Oh-kay, but no, I think I’d remember you.”

  Realizing this came out somewhat snarky, I changed my tone, trying to be sexier and more confident. Unfortunately, instead, I sounded like a total nerd fangirl. “I mean, I’d for sure remember meeting you.”

  God, I’m an idiot. I blushed literally everywhere.

  Some of the crowd swarmed around us when they noticed the singer of LTZ was among the masses. Ty didn’t appear to be aware of his effect at all. His focus was solely on me, like I was the only person in the club. He moved closer in so he could hear me better. His fingers lightly stroked down my arm, almost like he was afraid to touch me but couldn’t help it. “I’m not super good at this, um. Well, maybe I made up an excuse to say hello, so hello. I’m Ty.”

  Not good at it? How could this possibly be? Everyone wanted to talk to him as evidenced by the crowd of people pushing toward us.

  “I’m Zoey,” I answered, and then my mind emptied of all coherent thought because the world around us fell away and there was only me and him in the room.

  We stared at each other, both of us with goofy grins on our faces, the silence between us embarrassingly long. I didn’t know how to flirt with him. Apparently, he was in the same boat. Beautiful girls of every size, shape, and color surrounded us, batting their eyelashes, trying to catch his attention. Clearly wondering how to divert his attention from me.

  “That’s a pretty name for the prettiest girl here,” he said before finally breaking eye contact to glance down at his phone.

  My bullshit detector activated.

  “Really? That’s your line?” I cocked my hip and wrinkled my nose in dismay. Surprised, but internally cheering for myself, at my wariness. “I almost fell for it. This is actually how you meet girls after a show. Ty, I’m not a thirsty groupie, I actually genuinely loved your music.”

  A look of mortification passed through his eyes before changing into intrigue. His hand continued running up and down my arm slowly. “Hmmm, well, I admit—that sounded super cheesy.” He looked back down at his phone but smiled up at me through his mane of brown waves, scrunching his nose slightly.

  My arm was tingling, hyperaware of his touch. Could he feel the energy between us too? I studied him and challenged, “I was hoping you wouldn’t be a pick-up-line guy.”

  His blue eyes snapped up from his phone, pier
cing mine again intensely. “I’m not a pick-up-line guy,” he insisted.

  A text lit up his phone that he read quickly before he shoved the device back into his pocket.

  “I’ve gotta go help load out, Zo-ey.” His deep voice drew my name out, which sent sparks to my girl-parts.

  “I didn’t mean—” I called out to Ty’s back. He was already stalking back toward the stage where the rest of the band was packing up their gear. Feeling deflated, I traced my arm absently, immediately missing the warmth and zing of his hand rubbing it.

  “OMG are you SERIOUS?” Alex whisper-squealed, interrupting my trance. “He is the most gorgeous man I’ve ever seen in real life. Although . . . No. The drummer is delicious, more my type.”

  “Alex, I just royally fucked that up.” I pouted dramatically. “I’m such a tool, I basically put the hottest guy that ever talked to me on blast. No wonder he bailed. I totally just missed my chance.”

  “Shut the fuck up. Did you see the way he looked at you? He’ll be back, trust me. Let’s just chill and hang out for a bit more. Just look nonchalant, cool. As your dad would say, ‘Be Fonzie.’” She laughed.

  I tried to be Fonzie. Unsuccessfully. Keeping an eye where the band was loading out, I hoped to catch a glimpse of the gorgeous singer and maybe make amends. Waiting around while Alex chatted with friends, I prayed Ty would come back. After a while, there didn’t appear to be any sign of LTZ, their gear, or Ty. Of course, I was so short it was hard to get a good look, even when I continuously stood on my tiptoes to assess the situation.

  Dejectedly, when my curfew approached, I turned back to the group and pulled out my phone. After one more hopeful look, I opened my Uber app, tapped in the address of The Mission, and said my goodbyes. “Guys, I’m calling it. I’m heading home.”

  Because the club was in the heart of downtown Seattle, a car arrived in under two minutes. I was a wannabe Cinderella, and the hourglass had run out for any chance at talking to Ty ever again. I didn’t exactly give up. I took one last, sad look around the club before dashing out the side exit to locate the car. When it pulled up, I jumped in and was closing the door when it suddenly flung back open.