“I don’t know. I’m not really familiar with what a bass guitar can play. This is the first time I’ve really sat and listened to one all by itself.”
He laughed. “You should talk to Tia.”
“Why?”
“She said the same thing to Ryker and you should’ve seen the lesson he gave her.”
“Oh?” Would this spur Bent into doing the same? “Can you show me?”
“Let’s start simple.” He rested the guitar on his knee and looked out into the blackness of where a crowd might be. “Does that look lighter to you?”
“Um, I think Forest is tinkering. He told me he was going to work on a few things while we talked. Don’t be surprised if pyrotechnics start going off.” She needed Bent not to focus on the gradual introduction of a crowd.
“Oh, he showed me that. I even helped him work on some of the timing.”
“I haven’t seen it, but he did warn me. Sorry, I should’ve said something. I’m sure he would’ve if he was here.”
“About that, can he listen to us when we’re in here?”
“If he’s here with us, he can.”
“But like, when I’m talking to you, I’m also talking out there. I don’t want him listening.”
“I don’t think so.”
“Can you check?”
She sent a message to Forest to give Bent some privacy.
“He went inside, and says you’re alone.”
“Good, because there’s something I want to say.”
Piper’s gut clenched. She scooted back into the couch, both in VR and in the real world. This was it.
Lover Boy
Bent
“I want to do it again.”
Those weren’t the words Bent had wanted to lead with, but that’s what flew out of his damn mouth.
Way to play it cool, douche-bag!
What he should’ve said was that he was sorry. What he’d done had been wrong, and that he’d never do it again. There was only one problem. He wasn’t sorry he’d kissed her and he was definitely going to do it again. If that kiss had been wrong, then why couldn’t he stop thinking about it? She had responded too. He hadn’t misread her reaction. Unlike the choking.
Shit!
Her lack of response had him chewing at his lower lip. Should he say something? Or wait a little longer?
“What do you want to do again?” Her high-pitch voice sounded different, lower than normal. Hesitant and unsure. “Play with the band? That’s what I want for you too.”
“I do want to play with the guys again, but that’s not what I meant.”
“Then what did you mean?”
He got rid of the guitar and let it fall to the stage. It wasn’t real, and it wasn’t like he could damage it. A few steps brought him towering over her small form. The poor thing cowered on the couch. A fake couch, with a fake Piper.
He hated this world.
He couldn’t see her expressions, the way her nose wrinkled when she thought something was funny, the arch of her brow when she challenged him, or the perky slant of her lips when she pushed him. He couldn’t breathe in her intoxicating scent. He hated the cold, blocky, and cartoonish representation of the woman he loved.
“Where are you?” A possessive growl emanated from his throat. He needed to feel her, hold her, taste her—fuck, he needed to claim her.
“I’m right here.”
“No, where are you out there?”
“Bent…I don’t think…I don’t want…”
“I swear to God, Piper, if you don’t tell me right now, I’m going to tear up Insanity looking for you.”
“Bent!”
“Don’t play games with me.”
It was time to turn the tables on Piper. She had held the upper hand for far too long, bossy with her exercises, insistent that he participate, and demanding when he wouldn’t budge. He was done letting her take charge. It was time to show her what kind of man Bentley Hawthorne was meant to be.
“Tell me where you are…Right. Now.”
“Why?”
“You know why.”
“No, I don’t.”
“If you don’t tell me right now, once I’m done kissing you, I’m going to flip you over my knee and paddle your ass red.”
With a squeak, her avatar disappeared.
Game on, Piper Raines! I’m coming.
Bent ripped off his gloves and then the headset, fumbling slightly with his right hand. Fatigued, the muscles of his hand didn’t want to work right. He stretched out his fingers and rubbed at the soreness.
A quick glance revealed nobody poolside. As Piper had said, Forest had removed himself so that Bent and Piper could speak privately. Only Bent hadn’t said any of the things he’d wanted Piper to hear. Well, he’d said he wanted to kiss her and paddle her ass. Which one of those had prompted that squeak? Which one had sent her running?
His cock twitched thinking about doing both those things, maybe more, but only if she was exactly what he was hoping she could be. That train of thought had him fully erect now. He was on the hunt and he loved to chase.
He’d learned never to assume and that conversations and agreements were important before any exploratory play occurred. Too many women were willing to lay themselves down at his feet. Most wanted nothing other than the notoriety that came from sleeping with a rock star. A few enjoyed his brand of kink. He’d made a mistake early on, assuming something that wasn’t there. Their band manager at the time, Thomas Tuttle, had been forced into damage control mode for that one.
There was no illusion about what existed between him and Piper. Heat had been simmering between them from their very first encounter. Her position as his tormenter, and his daily insistence she leave, had served to keep them apart. That had all changed in the past few days. She had awakened his protective instincts, stirred the dominant beast slumbering inside of him, and had set his heart spinning whenever she was around.
As the one in charge, his approach demanded caution, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t, and wouldn’t, tear Insanity apart looking for the girl.
“Piper!” His roar rattled the windows, but there was no sign of his wayward physical therapist.
Where could she be?
Forest. He bet his left nut the girl was with Forest. That man could be protective as shit. Normally, Bent admired that in Forest, but now it put them at odds. He stalked toward Forest’s suite of rooms.
Unlike the rest of the band, whose accommodations all overlooked the ocean, Forest had chosen his rooms facing the rolling California hills. He said he’d gotten enough of the Pacific on a trans-pacific yachting adventure, but Bent felt there was more to the story. Something Forest never shared.
Bent blew through the common areas, long legs devouring the distance, eyes scanning for Piper, his mind working out the conversation the two of them would have, the kiss he would give her, and all that would come next.
He came to a stop outside Forest’s rooms, and lifted his good hand to bang on the door. Before he could connect with the ornately carved door, Forest yanked it open, leaving Bent pulling back or risk punching Forest in the chest.
“She’s not here, Lover Boy.”
“Where the fuck is she?”
“I’m not supposed to tell you. She swore me to silence.”
“I don’t care what the fuck pinky-swear you two have going on. Where the hell is Piper?”
Forest smirked. “Now that’s not the best way to be polite.”
“Stop fucking with me.”
“Or what?” Forest puffed out his chest. “You want to go at it with me? I’m good with that. You’re big enough to give me a run for my money, but I’ll still win. I’ve trained, whereas all you’ve ever done is brawl in a bar a time or two.”
“So what? You’re just going to stand there and bust my chops? Or are you going to tell me where she is?”
“I told you I can’t tell you that, but I have a question for you.”
Bent resisted the urge to
roll his eyes. Thing was, Forest knew exactly where Piper was hiding. Bent could see it in the laughter rolling behind Forest’s eyes. Bent could waste hours searching for Piper in Insanity. It was too large, and she could just circle around him for hours. He didn’t want to waste hours. He needed her now.
“What the fuck is your question?”
“Are you going to hurt her again?”
“I never hurt her in the first place.”
“You know what I’m talking about. If you hurt Piper, I’m coming for your ass, and you’re not going to like what I do to it.”
“Just tell me where the hell she is.”
“She’s not a fuck her once and you’re done kind of girl. You can’t do that to Piper. She’s had it rough and has enough trouble trusting people. You mess with her head and I’ll break both your arms.”
“Ha. Ha. Funny.”
Forest poked him in the chest. “See, this is where we’re going to have a problem. I’m not joking. Not when it comes to Piper.”
Bent curled his fingers and suppressed a growl. “I’m not going to hurt her.”
“Exactly what are you going to do? Because if you go off half-cocked and lead with your dick, we’re going to have problems.”
“What the fuck?”
Forest groaned. “She’s still on the estate. Probably not in her rooms. Obviously not here.”
“Then where?”
“I told you I can’t tell you where she is, but if you shut the fuck up, I can tell you a whole lot of places she’s not.”
Bent took a step back. “You’re helping me now?”
Forest had to be the most confusing person on the planet.
“It’s not you I’m helping. I don’t give a flying fuck about you.”
Where’s the Girl?
Bent
Forest had taken his sweet ass time telling Bent everywhere Piper wasn’t, leaving only two places for her to be. Why she would retreat to Bent’s rooms made no sense at all, but neither did the beach. He decided to check out his rooms first, but no surprise. She wasn’t there.
It had been nearly an hour since she’d disappeared from the VR world by the time he called the gondola from the beach. Since it was down the cliff, it made good sense she was in fact down there. Was she waiting for him, or hiding from him?
The spectacular view was lost on him. He spent the slow ride down the gondola searching the beach for his red-headed pixie. There was no sign of Piper, but he didn’t worry. As odd as Forest could be, he wasn’t one to lie. Piper was down here somewhere and Bent would find her.
The gondola came to a stop with a screech. A quick yank and Bent was free from the doors and bounding out. Left or right? North or south? Which way would she have gone? He headed north, thinking maybe she still had hopes about that stupid pen. The rocky beach didn’t leave footprints to follow, but it felt right for her to have gone this way.
Overhead, the sun blazed down on him, warming him against the ever-present breeze off the ocean. The faint tang of brine tickled his nose and the salty air clung to his skin, making it feel tacky even though he wasn’t sweating.
He picked up his pace, scanning the tide pools for Piper. Unlike the last time he’d been here with her, it was low tide, which meant hundreds of tide pools had been exposed. It also meant rocks obscured his view. She could be hunched down behind one and he could walk past, never seeing her.
“Piper!” His shout carried on the wind and startled some seabirds into the air with angry squawks.
Less than fifty feet in front of him, near the pounding surf, a tuft of red caught his attention. Piper turned to him with stormy eyes, but she didn’t run away.
He closed the distance between them, legs pumping, fingers twitching, and cock stiffening. Whoa, rein it back boy. Not time for that yet.
Her lips parted as he rounded the corner of the outcropping of rock.
“You need to understand something, pixie.”
She took a step back, but stopped when he gave a sharp shake of his head.
“If I tell you I’m going to do something, I’m going to do it.”
“Bent…”
The way she stood her ground made his heart swell with hope. She knew what was coming and didn’t flee. With the angle of the sun, her face was cast in shadow. Her luminous eyes practically glowed and the sun glinting off her hair made it seem like it was on fire.
He reached out and gripped her wrist. She didn’t resist as he pulled her to him. Her entire body stilled, waiting perhaps for the kiss he’d promised.
“Bent, I…”
“I said I was going to kiss you.”
Her cheeks slid into a timid smile and her gaze dropped.
With a hand tangled in her hair, he slid a thumb along her jawline, taking a moment to admire her incredible beauty. Her eyes danced, shifting between his and dipping down to his lips. Desire ignited within him, then rushed out, needing an outlet. He found that release with the clashing of his lips upon hers.
Sweet, and a little salty from the ocean air, the moment his lips touched hers, his body swelled with reaction. His heart thudded. His breathing deepened. His cock throbbed with an unrelenting ache. Everything Piper flooded his senses, and he drowned in the taste of coming home.
He took control of the kiss, swept his tongue along the seam of her lips, and dipped inside to lick and taste. Both of his hands palmed her cheeks, giving him absolute control of her face. He dove in, taking what he wanted while demanding she give him more. And she met his hunger. Piper rose to her tiptoes, fingers clutching at his forearms.
Her breath caught. Her lips parted. She submitted to his demands and met each stab of his tongue with open surrender. As her body bent before him, he swept inside, tangling their tongues in a maddening dance.
Her fingers twisted on his forearms and a sharp stab to his chest nearly crippled him with what that might mean. He pulled in a deep breath and lifted his head to take a moment to drink in her expression, and make sense of the turbulence of the emotions simmering in her eyes.
“You can say no at any time, luv, and I’ll honor your choice, but know that there is only one way this is going to end.”
“Bent…”
“Is that a no?”
She bit her lower lip.
“Look, luv, you gotta communicate.”
Instead of answering, she buried herself against his chest and wrapped her arms around his waist. Her head barely came to his shoulders, which allowed him to rest his jaw over the crown of her head. He couldn’t tell if she was crying, laughing, or simply breathing with the same irregular rhythm in his chest.
They stood there for several minutes while his body screamed to dive full steam ahead to an inevitable conclusion, but he held that urge in check. This was the first time he’d really had a chance to hold Piper in his arms. No arguments lingered between them. There was nothing but a pause in life, one suspended between the beating of their hearts. As the rhythm of her heart pounded beneath the soft swell of her breasts, her essence settled deep into his soul.
He wanted to cup her breasts, tease her nipples, and devour her from head to toe, but for now, he was content to simply hold her in his arms.
She tucked her head and pressed her cheek against his shirt. Then, her entire body relaxed.
“You smell good,” she said.
“You taste better,” he countered.
“I’m scared.”
She leaned back enough to tilt her face and meet the stony block of his expression. If he were to follow through on everything he’d promised, there was one thing which had to follow. Was she willing? His gut told him the beginning of their path needed to start the way it would end.
“You’re safe with me.”
“I’m not sure about that.”
“I will never hurt you, what happened before—”
She lifted her hand and pressed her finger over his lips, silencing him.
“I don’t want to talk about that.”
“We�
��re having this conversation.”
“Bent, please…”
He gripped her hands and threaded his fingers between hers. The contrast between his right and left hand made his gut churn, but he tamped down that emotion.
“I didn’t know,” he said.
“Didn’t know what?”
“About your past.”
She hung her head.
He lifted her chin and forced her to look at him while he explained. Now wasn’t the time for running.
“You need to know something about me, before this goes any further. You’ve only seen one side of me so far, a side I’m not particularly proud of…”
She opened her mouth to refute him, but he shook his head.
“Let me finish. If I don’t say this now, I never will.”
“Okay.”
“I’ve always been the biggest man in the room.” He huffed a laugh. “At least until Forest came along.”
She smiled. “He’s pretty intimidating.”
“True, but he’s not a part of this conversation. Like I was saying, I’ve always been the biggest, strongest, and most powerful. I’m a big guy with a commanding presence. I’m not telling you this to boast, but rather to explain what I lost.”
“But—”
He shook his head, commanding her to silence.
“That bus accident rocked my world. The damage done to my arm wasn’t the only thing injured in that wreck. It destroyed who I was. I’ve never had to deal with weakness, and knowing this is the new me…well, that’s a difficult pill to swallow. You’ve seen me at my worst, at the most pathetic time in my life. I’m not proud of this.”
“But, that’s where you’re wrong. I see this all the time. Bent—”
He cocked a brow. “I do believe I commanded you to silence, pixie. Let me finish…”
“Or what?”
“Exactly how red to you want that bottom of yours to be?”
She tried to take a step back, but he had her hands effectively trapped. He tugged her forward, eliminating the gap between them.
“Now, hush, and let me finish. I want you to understand what I’m saying, and then I want you to make a choice.”
Hearts Collide Page 11