Rock Star Redemption Read online

  The male fan wasn’t too pleased wearing Jimmy’s sweat-soaked shirt like a hat, until he was bombarded with girls who climbed over each other and on top of him to snag the piece of clothing.

  Jimmy threw his head back and laughed. He spotted Audra at the side of the stage. She wasn’t watching Angel the way she usually did, or checking with the production team on scheduling. She was staring straight at Jimmy. She wore a sweet and enticing smile on her lips which held Jimmy’s gaze. He winked at her and blew her a kiss.

  She tilted her head to the side and scrunched her nose at him. She was so God damn cute.

  Thirty minutes into the show, the crowd was bouncing up and down with an overabundance of energy. Damien yelled “Circle pit!” into the mic with an evil grin. Throngs of concert-goers pushed hard against the railing, while others behind them engaged in organized chaos. People pushed and shoved each other in an open circle and danced with wild abandonment. Crowd surfers made their way to the front of the stage and were either caught by security or deposited on the concrete floor.

  Angel jumped onto one of the higher amps, and his unblemished voice floated through the air. His voice was strong, and he had a wide vocal range. He could hit a high note and hold it for almost 20 seconds and then get down and gritty with the raunchy lyrics of Sex & Greed.

  He grabbed his crotch and did a slow roll of his hips, which sent the fans into an excited uproar. He stroked the smooth leather, and he breathed heavily into the mic. Tommy stood underneath him, watched his lover with an erotic smile, and rattled off a killer guitar riff at Angel’s feet.

  Angel leaned over and sang to Tommy. Their faces were a mere inch apart, and the exchange of passion that transpired between them was more than just from their intimate relationship. It was the music. They all had it – that spark that fueled and unleashed something deep inside. There was no escaping the furor the music awakened. It was an addiction that needed to be fed. It was a craving that could only be satisfied by the cheers of the crowd.

  Jimmy channeled his hunger with the strength and speed behind his beats. Damien internalized his need with a hypnotic trance. But Tommy and Angel fed off each other.

  Tommy baited Angel with the erotic melody that bled from his Les Paul and with the throes of his long, blond hair.

  Angel had zero willpower when it came to Tommy. He jumped off the amp and chased Tommy all the way to the other side of the stage, where he caught him by the back of his hair. Angel pulled Tommy’s head back, gave him a quick, hard kiss on the mouth, and then sent him on his way.

  The crowd went nuts! Their screams were so loud, the sound guy needed to turn up the amps.

  Jimmy found Audra staring at him from the side curtain again. It was the third time he had caught her watching him – no one else – just him. He wondered if she’d been watching him the entire time, or if it was just coincidence that he felt her stare and met her eye on three separate occasions.

  She was all smiles, and he winked at her again. This time, she winked back.

  Audra watched the show with a new high. Maybe it was because she had been mostly paying attention to Jimmy and the way his muscles flexed when he hit the drums. She had watched his tattoos ripple with the movement of his arms and the deep rise and fall of his chest. She had watched the little droplets of sweat bead across his upper body like a warm mist. The show took on a new erotic flavor for her tonight, and she was left breathless.

  Jimmy left the stage and was headed straight toward her. She was so caught up in admiring his body that she didn’t realize the show had ended. Her eyes lit up as he approached her.

  “How was the show?” Jimmy asked, flashing his radiant smile.

  Her exuberance was magnified in the wake of her raging hormones. She inhaled a deep breath before she spoke. “It was fantastic. All of Immortal Angel’s shows are always better than the last, but tonight was a little extra special for me. I listened to you play the drums – really listened – and I watched you.” Her eyes traveled over his bare chest and his biceps. They were still glistening, and his pecs swelled with his deep breaths. She forced herself to look back up at his eyes, but they were just as distracting. They were pale blue and smoldered with allure. “I know you’re one of the best drummers in the field. No one possesses your showmanship on the drum or plays as fast as you do, but I never noticed your passion before. You live to play the drums.” Her smile grew wider, and her eyes sparkled at him. “You’re incredible.”

  Jimmy was humbled, and his confident smile turned into a sincere nod of appreciation. “Thank you. I mean it. I know you’re not just stroking my ego. I value your compliment and take it to heart.” He pulled a drumstick from his back pocket and kissed it before he handed it to her. “I saved this for you, my number one fan.”

  She cradled it to her chest and laughed. “I’ll treasure it always.” She had collected over a dozen of Jimmy’s drum sticks through the years, but this one was special. There was a connotation behind it that symbolized the growing attraction between them, and she cherished it.

  She walked with him back toward the dressing rooms. They passed through the crowded corridor of bustling activity. It was just as chaotic after the show as before. A group of workers barreled past Jimmy with a piece of equipment, and he fell into her. She was pinned between his sweat-covered chest and the wall. Her hands were braced against his pecs, and her fingers curled into the hard muscles, testing their strength. The closeness of their bodies ignited another fire inside her, and she held her breath.

  “Sorry, babe. You okay?”

  His hands were flat against the wall behind her, imprisoning her between his taut arms. She looked from one tattooed bicep to the other, and then her eyes went to his lips. She exhaled deeply, and her breath blew across his chest. She slowly looked up and met his eyes. They were magnetic and held her hostage. He gazed back at her with a deep, penetrating stare, and his eyes dropped to her mouth. She felt the heat of his kiss descend upon her before she had a chance to protest. Her heart raced out of control, and her resistance faded. Her body relaxed under his touch, and she leaned into the hard muscles of his chest.

  His mouth was commanding and his hands held her in a tight embrace, which sent a hot tingle down her spine and a flurry of emotions through her head. What the hell was she doing? This was Jimmy Wilder. A ladies’ man. A player. She abruptly pulled away. “I’m sorry, Jimmy. I don’t do one-night stands.” Regret was already coursing through her body. She wanted him. She wanted the wild night and free-spirited sex that Jimmy offered, but her head knew better. “I’m not going to be just another notch in your rock star belt.”

  The hurt was vivid across Jimmy’s face. “I care about you, Audra. I’m not using you for sex. I would never treat you with disrespect like that.”

  There was so much sincerity in his voice and in his eyes that she almost fell into his arms. She steeled herself and shook her head vigorously. “I’m not going to add my name to the long list of women you’ve been with. You’re a wild man.” His untamed and reckless ways should have put her off, but instead, it turned her on.

  “That’s all just hype. Don’t believe the headlines. I’m not as bad as the paparazzi insinuates.”

  She wasn’t falling for his excuses. “I’ve seen it for myself. We’ve been on the bus together for weeks. I know you’re not spending the night alone when you stay at the hotels between shows. I see the women that hang all over you. I’ve seen it for years.” Every sentence reinforced why she shouldn’t get involved with him, but she was drawn closer to him with each word she spoke. She turned away from him, afraid she was going to give in to his unyielding sex appeal, but he circled her so she still faced him.

  “Tell me what I can do. How can I make you understand that I want more than just a passing fling with you?” His pleading eyes searched for an answer. “I’ve been with a lot of women. I won’t deny that. But you make me want to forget about all of them.”

  She tried to brush past him, but he block
ed her path and placed his hands on her shoulders. His touch made her shudder. She had never wanted anyone the way she wanted Jimmy, but she would never belittle herself by falling victim to a man’s charm – especially one as charismatic as Jimmy. She would never compromise her ethics and be just another groupie sleeping with one of her rock star idols.

  “Let me prove it to you. I’ll show you how serious I am about this. I’ll calm down. I’ll stop partying all night and spend every night on the bus. You’ll know where I am and what I’m doing.” He flashed his irresistible smile and put his hand over his heart. “I’ll be a saint from now on. Just give me a chance.”

  Jimmy Wilder, the notorious playboy, had never sounded so sincere and heartfelt, and her defenses came tumbling down. Her head told her she was a fool, but her heart wanted to take a leap of faith. “Okay. You get one chance. Prove to me that I can trust you, and we’ll see where this thing between us leads.” More than anything in the world, she wanted him to hold true to his word. The idea of a relationship with Jimmy – a serious, committed relationship – held everything her heart wanted. It sounded perfect, except for one thing – her father.

  Aside from the driver, the bus was empty. The rest of the band was probably either at the hotel or at an after-party, but Jimmy didn’t want the temptation of alcohol and groupies to interfere with his time with Audra. He showered in the larger bathroom in the back of the bus and threw on a pair of jeans and a T-shirt. He slicked some product through his hair and looked at himself in the mirror. He leaned toward his reflection. “Be a gentleman,” he told himself. “Don’t fuck up.” He headed toward the front of the bus in search of Audra, determined to heed his own advice.

  Audra was on the couch facing the flat screen television. Two open beer bottles sat on the side table, and she handed one to Jimmy.

  He clinked his bottle against hers and took a long sip.

  She patted the seat next to her and invited him to join her.

  The driver disappeared and there was no sign of the rest of the band or the other girls, so they had privacy. Jimmy wiped the palms of his hands on his jeans. He needed to be on his best behavior, and it made him nervous. He wasn’t used to taking it slow with women. He never romanced a woman. They always threw themselves at him. This was a new challenge, and because it was Audra, it left him invigorated. It was a good thing his smile was always naturally plastered across his face; otherwise, he’d look like an idiot right now.

  “Do you want to order a pizza or something?” Audra asked before she tipped back her beer.

  The something part was all he could think about. He forced himself to respond with decorum. “We could go out to a nice restaurant if you want. We don’t have to stay in the bus.”

  “I don’t mind. Besides, if we go out now, you’ll be inundated with fans and we won’t be able to talk.” She held up her Budweiser. “I’m fine with beer and pizza.”

  Beer and pizza. She probably had ten times his money and stood to inherit millions more, and she was good with beer and pizza. She was one cool chick.

  Audra snuggled into the leather couch, pulled out her phone and ordered a pizza from the nearest delivery place.

  Movement in his jeans reminded Jimmy that he was supposed to be on his best behavior. He stifled a groan and tried to think of something to say to keep his mind off of reaching out and kissing Audra. “Tell me what it was like growing up in the middle of the music business. Did you always want to work at the record label?”

  “Of course. Both Kira and I used to make believe we were executives at Falcon Records instead of playing house like most little girls.” She smiled as she reflected on the memory. “We used to pose our stuffed animals and dolls like they were musicians and offer them record contracts. Music was always part of our lives.”

  That was just too God damn fucking adorable. “Is it only you and Kira? No other sisters or brothers?”

  She shook her head, and her smile turned downward. “It’s just us. My mom died when we were kids. Lung cancer.”

  “I’m sorry.” Jimmy had no idea she had lost her mother, and he mourned Audra’s loss.

  “Thank you. We were very young when she died, and that’s why Kira and I are so close. We really bonded after our mother died, and even though my father worked long hours and we had an au pair, we clung to him. He always made time for us. No matter how busy he was, he always called to say goodnight if he worked late, and he always had breakfast with us before we went to school.” She looked off into the distance for a few seconds, reliving more memories. “He always took us to the playground in the park on Saturday mornings. It’s my favorite place.”

  “Central Park?”

  She laughed, like it was the only park in Manhattan, and Jimmy was happy to see the light return to her eyes. “Of course, Central Park. It’s beautiful. I still spend all of my free time there, reading or listening to music. I always wanted to have a picnic in the park. After Kira and I outgrew the playground, my father planned to take us on a hike and a picnic a few times, but either the weather didn’t cooperate, or my father had to work, and we never got around to it.”

  Jimmy fiddled with the label on his beer. He wanted to do something nice for Audra – something to make up for some of the sadness that still lingered inside her at the loss of her mother. “Maybe one day I can take you on that picnic.”

  She turned toward him with a tilt of her head. “That’s so sweet of you. I think that’s a lovely idea. I live right across the street, you know . . . from the park. Kira and I bought adjoining apartments right after we turned 21 and inherited our trust funds. We have an amazing view of Central Park. It’s beautiful to see all that greenery in the middle of so much concrete.”

  Her place sounded extraordinary and it reminded Jimmy that he still hadn’t purchased a place to live. He’d been renting a spacious loft in Brooklyn, but he wanted a place of his own. Between touring and rehearsal, he simply hadn’t had the time. “Maybe you could show me your apartment when we get back home.” Shit. The innuendo just slipped out, and he laughed. “I didn’t mean it the way it sounded. I really need to buy a place.” He scooted closer and flashed a killer grin. “Although I wouldn’t mind getting you alone in your apartment.” What the hell was wrong with him? Couldn’t he control himself for one evening?

  She smiled back at him. “When we get back to New York, I want you to come to my apartment. For dinner.”

  His heart galloped in his chest, and he needed to adjust his posture to release the pressure of his engorged cock against his jeans. She was teasing him, and he wasn’t used to exercising self-control. Every muscle in his body was fighting to touch her. He wanted to run his fingers through her sandy blonde hair and kiss her pink lips. He wanted to unzip his jeans and place her hand on his crotch . . . He took a deep breath and chugged back the rest of his beer, while he tried to think about something else.

  She knew he was fighting the urge to make a move on her, and she watched him with that same sly smile.

  All he could do was smile back, while his cock twitched between his legs. Limitations weren’t something he had much experience with when it came to women, and maintaining control was killing him. He stood with his beer bottle in front of him to shield his bulging erection. “I’m just gonna use the can. I’ll be right back.” He briskly walked through the bus to the back bathroom, lowered his zipper and let out a long moan. His poor cock begged to be touched. He wrapped his hand around it and pumped it with long, quick strokes. He closed his eyes and envisioned Audra’s mouth on him. He imagined her beautiful, pink lips touching the tip of his cock and sucking it in. He pictured her tongue running up and down his shaft and her hands on his inner thighs. A bolt of sensations traveled through his body. He gasped and came all over the bathroom sink. He braced himself on the small vanity and hung his head into his chest as the last of his juices squirted from his cock. Shit. He should have done that before he sat down on the couch with her. He quickly cleaned up the mess, washed his hands
and hurried back to Audra.

  He grabbed two more beers from the fridge and sat down next to her. His ear-to-ear grin probably gave him away, but he was too high to care. The beer buzz left his body along with his cum. He was high on the excitement of being with Audra. Just sitting together on the couch, spending time together, talking about life and engaging in general chatter, was a refreshing change from the sex-obsessed women that usually occupied his free time, although his cock obviously felt very differently.

  The bus driver returned just in time to accept the pizza delivery, because a large group of fans prevented Jimmy from opening the door to the bus, and he wouldn’t risk Audra’s safety by allowing her to take it. He watched her eat. He watched her lips as she took small nibbles of the pizza and watched her tongue as it licked her lips between bites. She had a small dot of sauce in the corner of her mouth, and Jimmy wanted to wash it away with his tongue, but the napkin in her hand beat him to it.

  They were sitting close enough that their thighs were touching, and Jimmy’s cock began to harden again. She met his gaze, bit her lower lip, and then dropped her eyes to her lap. He wasn’t sure if the good girl persona she always projected was a cover, or if she was only testing him. The silence between them was filled with sexual tension. They both felt it, but neither acted on it.

  “This is nice,” Jimmy finally said after a significant pause. “I can’t remember the last time I had an evening like this.”

  That teasing smile was back on her lips. “Keep playing your cards right, and it can get a lot nicer.”

  A sharp kick to his boot woke Jimmy from a sound sleep. Momentarily dazed, he opened his eyes to find Damien’s blue mohawk looming over him.

  “What the fuck are you doin’ with Audra?”

  Still groggy, Jimmy rubbed the sleep out of his eyes and stretched the kink out of his back. Audra was asleep with her head on one of the couch pillows, only inches from his lap. Panic made his eyes bolt wide open. What the hell happened last night? His head throbbed from too many beers, and he didn’t remember much after he rubbed one out in the bathroom. Wait. They were both fully clothed. There was no evidence of a condom nearby, just a box of half-eaten pizza and a dozen or so empty beer bottles. Relief washed over him with a deep breath and settled his rapid heartbeat. They must have fallen asleep while they watched TV.