Rock Star Redemption Read online

  “Me too.” The melancholy was clear in Kira’s voice. “What are you doing now?”

  Audra watched Alyssa meticulously place bright silver implements on a tray. “I’m getting my nipples pierced.”

  “Without me?”

  The piercing lost some of its appeal without Kira to share the experience. “Do you want me to wait so we can do it together?”

  “No.” Kira laughed. “I’m not sure I want my nipples pierced. I didn’t know you did either. Where are you getting it done?”

  “Alyssa’s doing it for me.” Audra eyed the eerie-looking supplies again. “I have to go. Alyssa’s waiting for me. Wish me luck.”

  “Call me when it’s over. Good luck!”

  Alyssa was eager to get started, and she had a gleam in her eyes, which made Audra nervous.

  “Don’t worry,” Jessi reassured her. “It’ll be over before you know it.” She put her arm around Audra’s shoulder and brought her to the bed, like a sacrificial lamb.

  Audra leaned back on the pillow and waited. The tray full of weapons was to her right. Surprisingly, the needle wasn’t the most imposing instrument. It was the forceps.

  Alyssa snapped on a pair of latex gloves, ready to start. “Strip from the waist up.”

  She wasn’t used to undressing in front of people, but Alyssa made it sound so methodical that Audra obeyed without inhibition.

  Alyssa dipped a cotton pad in Betadine and scrubbed it across the intended target. It was cold, and the roughness of the cleansing process made Audra’s nipple harden to a pointy nub.

  “Perfect.”

  Apparently, it was exactly the reaction Alyssa was hoping for. She wiped the excess solution away with a sterilized pad and marked two small dots for the proper placement. The menacing forceps clamped down on Audra’s nipple like a vice grip. She winced, but before she could protest, a sharp, stinging pain seared through her right breast. She watched the barbell push through the center of her nipple. It was strangely erotic and excruciating in equal measures.

  “Almost done.” Alyssa was working quickly, with both hands, but glanced up at Audra for a second to make sure she was okay. “That’s nipple number one.” Alyssa sat back, ripped off her gloves, and admired her work.

  Audra looked down at her breast. There was a long silver barbell through her right nipple, like a spear. It was so sexy that she totally forgot about the pain. “That’s so fucking cool.”

  Jessi crawled onto the bed to take a closer look. “That’s hot. Maybe I should get mine done.”

  Alyssa’s eyes widened and her face brightened. “You can be next.” The girl really did get off on piercing someone’s skin. She put on a fresh pair of gloves. “Ready for nip number two?”

  Audra nodded. She admired her new jewelry, hoping to take her mind off of the next piercing, but all she saw was a burning red nipple, plump and sore from the puncture. Cold liquid on her left nipple brought her attention to her other breast. Alyssa scoured it with Betadine, ready to repeat the procedure. The clamp was still a shock, even though Audra steadied herself for its tight grip, then the needle sliced through her tender flesh with a sharp prick.

  The second piercing almost seemed more painful than the first, and Audra held her breath while Alyssa pushed the barbell through and fastened the ends. When it was finally over, she let out a deep breath. Now that she was free to admire her newly pierced breasts without the anxiety from the impending needle, an enthusiastic smile spread across her face.

  She jumped off the bed and let out a sore laugh. The jiggling of her breasts caused the piercings to pull on her inflamed nipples. Her immediate reaction was to hold them, but Alyssa yelled, “Don’t touch them!” and Audra froze. She went to the full-length mirror and pushed her shoulders back. The light reflected off the shiny barbells and her breasts sparkled. She never had so much pride in her breasts before. “They look awesome! Thanks.”

  “Thank you. Anytime you want something pierced, I’m always available.” She turned to Jessi. “Do you have a clean T-shirt for her to wear?”

  Jessi unzipped one of her suitcases and presented Audra with an Immortal Angel T-Shirt.

  Audra couldn’t wear a bra. How the hell was she supposed to be perceived as a professional if she showed up at the next venue braless? She eased her way into the T-shirt and flinched when the material came in contact with one of the barbells. Maybe she should have reconsidered her timing for a piercing.

  “It’ll be fine in a few days,” Alyssa reassured her. “Just don’t think about it.”

  It was hard not to think about the throbbing pain centered on both of her breasts. She couldn’t think about anything else – until Tommy knocked on the door.

  “Why is the door locked? Jessi? You in there, hon?”

  “I’ll be right out.” Jessi turned to Audra. “Is it okay to open the door?”

  Audra nodded, but now she was more self-conscious about standing in front of Tommy without a bra, than obsessing over the pulsating spasms in her nipples.

  “Is Alyssa with her?” Damien’s voice came from behind the closed door.

  “I don’t know,” Tommy answered.

  Someone’s knuckles rapped on the door. “Alyssa, you in there?”

  “Are all the girls locked in the bedroom?” Now Angel’s voice joined Tommy and Damien’s. Great. All they needed was for Jimmy to show up behind the door and the entire band would be wondering what they were doing.

  “What’s going on, man?”

  A small laugh fell from Audra’s mouth at the sound of Jimmy’s voice.

  Alyssa rolled her eyes and flung the door open. “I swear you guys are helpless without us.”

  The guys practically fell through the doorway and all four pairs of eyes immediately landed on the piercing supplies on the bed.

  “Who got pierced?” Tommy’s eyes rested on Jessi, probing for an answer.

  “And where?” Damien asked, with the hint of a smile tucked in the corner of his mouth.

  Jimmy knew it was Audra right away. He slowly walked up to her, with a smile stuck on his lips, and put his mouth to her ear. “It was you, wasn’t it? You have that little Miss Innocent look on the outside, but I bet on the inside you’re a naughty girl. I want to meet that naughty girl.”

  She held her breath, and her heart fluttered in her chest. Her eyes remained locked on his, while his stare penetrated her soul. She had always been the good girl, but he saw the bad girl that hid inside of her who wanted to break free. She wanted to let that bad girl out to play.

  Chapter Five

  Jimmy couldn’t stop thinking about the night he heard Audra masturbating behind the curtain. Her flowing honey-colored hair, her hazel eyes, and her killer bod underneath the flimsy tank top and tiny shorts, were burned into his memory. Now some newly pierced body part pushed those images to the next level and kept his imagination in X-rated territory.

  He sat on the leather couch in front of the flat screen TV in the main section of the tour bus and tried to tell himself that Audra was off limits – the boss’s daughter – but that only made her more enticing. He was waiting for his friends to check into the hotel, so he could get Audra alone.

  Tommy was the first to head out, with Angel and Jessi in tow. He stopped in front of the couch where Jimmy was sitting. “If you’re gonna use the back bedroom, make sure you change the sheets and pick up after yourself. I don’t want my wife to find a woman’s dirty panties in there and catch the rap for it.”

  “It’s cool.” Jimmy waved them forward, hoping to get them off the bus as quickly as possible, but the three of them didn’t move.

  “Don’t leave a mess in here, either,” Angel said. “I’m not stepping on another used condom. That was fucking disgusting.”

  Jessi let out a light laugh. “I told you to wear your slippers.”

  Tommy extended his thumb in Jimmy’s direction. “You should probably wear your boots with the way this guy leaves those things lying around.”

  “I
’m not leaving anything anywhere, man. I’m just chillin’ tonight.” Jimmy glanced toward the kitchen area where Audra was talking to Alyssa, to make sure she wasn’t listening. He didn’t want her to hear them teasing him about his sex life.

  “I highly doubt that, but have fun.” Tommy waved goodbye, and the trio headed for the hotel. Now if Damien and Alyssa would just leave, Jimmy would finally be alone with Audra. He clicked through the channels, while he kept one eye on Alyssa and Audra. They were still in deep conversation. Where the hell was Damien, and why was he taking so long?

  A few seconds later, the girls gasped and groaned. They barreled past Jimmy, with their hands over their nose and mouth, and ran out of the bus. The stench snuck up on Jimmy and almost knocked him over. “Oh fuck!” He covered his mouth and gagged as he ran from the bus and joined the girls outside. “Why didn’t you warn me? Shit!”

  “Exactly.” Damien stood on the bottom step of the bus with a satisfied smile on his face.

  “Why the hell didn’t you do that in the hotel room, man?”

  Damien shrugged. “Couldn’t wait.” He hopped onto the asphalt, slung his arm around Alyssa’s neck and began to walk toward the hotel. He looked over his shoulder at Jimmy. “Enjoy your night.”

  Fuck. Now Jimmy’s plans to detain Audra on the bus long enough to make a move were on hold, indefinitely, while the toxic fumes permeating the air returned to the bowels of hell. He smiled at Audra, and hoped to salvage the night. “Do you want to go for a walk? I don’t think it’ll be safe to board the bus for a while.”

  “It’s late. I think I’m just going to check into the hotel.”

  “You don’t have your bag, and it’s not safe to go back in the bus yet.” He let his smile work its magic. “It’s barely 11:30, and it’s a beautiful night.” He put his hand over his heart. “I’ll be on my best behavior.” It was a promise he had no intention of keeping.

  She gave him a playful smirk while she contemplated her answer. “Okay, but just until the bus airs out. Do you think fans will bother you? Maybe we should take security with us.”

  Jimmy didn’t want security tagging along. He wanted one-on-one time with the beautiful lady in front of him. He did a quick scan of the parking lot and its perimeter. It was basically empty. It seemed the bus had pulled into Raleigh unnoticed. “We should be fine if we stay off the main strip.”

  They headed down a quiet side street, without saying much. The uneven concrete caused Audra to stumble in her high heels, and Jimmy steadied her with a hand on her upper arm. “Careful. Better hang on.” He offered her his arm, and she circled her hand around his bicep. The skin-on-skin contact sent his hormones reeling. He wasn’t accustomed to restraint and fought the urge to push her against the side of a building and run his hands over her body.

  “Tell me about your background,” Audra said. “I’m Immortal Angel’s number one fan, and I have no idea about your family. I should know these things. I need to stay up on my game.”

  He realized that although they’d known each other for many years, they really didn’t know that much about each other’s family or their lives outside of Immortal Angel. “You know I lived in Brooklyn my whole life. I got two brothers, one crazier than the other, both younger than me, and neither interested in music. They’re sports fanatics, which ain’t my thing.”

  “It’s always been about the drums for you, huh?”

  “Probably from the day I was born. My dad was a famous drummer in his day, but he gave it up for us. He wanted to be home with his sons.” Jimmy had so much respect for his dad and the values that refused to be compromised, even by his dream. “When I was a kid, I used to sit on my dad’s lap and play the drums. I used to imitate his beats and kick the bass drum with the tip of my foot, because I couldn’t reach the pedal. He taught me how to play, but he tries to tell me I picked it up on my own.”

  “I think talent like yours is something you’re born with. I don’t think it’s something someone can teach you. I’ve been around musicians my entire life, Jimmy, and I’ve never seen anyone play the way you do. You’re amazing to watch on the drums. You’re truly gifted.”

  He stopped, genuinely touched by her compliment. He was used to fans gushing over him and praising his drumming skills, but he was unfamiliar with such sincerity. “I really appreciate that. It means a lot coming from someone with your background.” He used to think she was just another pretty face, another fan swept up by the thrill of the limelight, but she continually surprised him with her industry knowledge. Her position at Falcon Records wasn’t just handed to her. She earned it, and he had immense respect for her.

  The idea of luring her into bed suddenly felt dishonorable. It was degrading. He didn’t want to treat her like another warm body to shove his dick into. Maybe he should play it slow with Audra. They had a connection that was real, and that’s something he hadn’t felt in a long time. He wanted to explore where it would lead.

  He lived his life with woman after woman, often two or three at a time. Every night was a new face, a new body, and a new fantasy. The idea of actually getting to know a woman and form a bond was foreign to him, and it blew his mind.

  Jimmy checked into his hotel room and sat on the bed with a whiskey. He never gave much thought to his life before. He lived it to the fullest each and every day. There were no commitments, no ramifications or repercussions. The drums had always been his one true love – his soulmate. Music was his mistress. He never had enough time to devote to one woman, nor did he want to. He didn’t know how to incorporate a steady relationship into his life, and he refused to compromise either one, until now. Audra fit perfectly into his lifestyle. She was dedicated to his music and loyal to the band. Could she be the one to make him finally settle down and give him stability? His heart had never been drawn to anything but his music, but Audra stirred something inside him that even the drums couldn’t compete with. She brought a sense of completeness to his life. She filled a void he didn’t know existed. He gulped down his whiskey and swirled the last amber drop in the glass. Maybe it was time to grow up. Calmness and clarity washed over him. He’d been drinking and screwing every girl he could get his hands on for as long as he could remember. The band’s popularity afforded him luxuries most people only dreamed about. His life was one long never-ending party and a perpetual good time, but it was all meaningless. For the first time in his life, he wanted someone to share his life with. He wanted more than a one night stand.

  Chapter Six

  The sound of Tommy’s Les Paul filled the PNC Arena, rivaling the crowd’s boisterous cheers. Damien strolled onto the stage and plugged in his bass, like he had all the time in the world. His calm and confident walk was only surpassed by the laid-back acknowledgement of the fans with a slight wave of his hand. They screamed back at him, incited by his cool and casual demeanor.

  Jimmy ran on stage and jumped onto the riser. He greeted the fans with a raised arm and his sticks fisted in one hand. They shouted back with rock and roll horns in the air.

  Lastly, Angel made his grand entrance. It was always a production. The man lived for drama. He was a showman and a born rock star. The extravagant, florid stage outfits he wore were custom made by none other than Jessi Blade. Angel brought everything to each performance. No one ever walked away from an Immortal Angel show anything less than blown away.

  Angel sauntered onto the stage with a cool, confident swagger. His leather pants were so tight, they looked like they were painted on. He didn’t bother with a shirt. A spiked, leather harness crisscrossed over his chest. His arrival on stage caused a communal wail from men and women alike. He stood at the front of the stage, and his head swept the room from right to left as he took in the mass of noise projected from the crowd. His legs started to jiggle in tune to the rumbling of the stage floor as fans stomped their feet, impatient for the show to begin. He raised his arms and two large mortars went off on either side of the stage with a loud boom. Fireworks shot toward the ceiling in a plum
e of blues and purples. Spotlights highlighted each band member in a glow of soft white as the smoke machine pumped fog across the stage.

  Jimmy clacked his sticks together – one, two, three, four – and the first song of the night blasted through the sound system. As soon as his sticks struck the drum skin, magic happened. It was like a second heartbeat. The bass drum thundered in tandem with the thump in his chest. He was connected to the music with an invisible lifeline. He felt his biceps contract with each rise and fall of his arms. The reverberation traveled up his limbs like an electrical current. He was in a trance where nothing existed except the music and the beat that penetrated his soul. He listened to the growl of Damien’s bass. It linked them to the rhythm and to each other.

  Jimmy’s hands and arms moved faster than the eye, flying across his drums with a blur of sound and coordination. He twirled a drumstick through his fingers like a propeller on a helicopter and returned it to his floor tom without missing a beat. The energy he dispensed was freeing. It filled him with uninhibited joy and released any stress that harbored in his body and mind. That’s why he was always so carefree.

  The song ended with a loud roar from the fans. Jimmy guzzled half the contents of a bottle of water and doused himself with the rest. He ripped off his shirt and tossed it into the crowd, but it got hung up on his hand and landed on the end of Tommy’s guitar. It hung there like a bra thrown from one of the fans.

  Tommy turned and laughed, along with the rest of the audience. “What the fuck? Are you trying to electrocute me? This is soaked!” Tommy held the shirt up by the tip of his finger, while water dripped onto the stage.

  Jimmy raised his shoulders with an innocent shrug. “Sorry, man!”

  Tommy flipped Jimmy’s wet shirt into the audience, which created a fanlike spray over the crowd, until it landed on someone’s head with a splat.