Bad For Me (My Forbidden Rockstar) (5 page)

I can’t help but smile.

I hope Dom’s balls are so swollen that he can’t screw for a
week.

We finish dinner, and I’m relieved that Dom still hasn’t
returned. I gleefully imagine him trying to soak his balls in a sink full of
cold water.

I'm so pleased with myself that I practically skip to the
music room.

Daddy, in typical fashion, created a music room in his
house, equipped with a piano, acoustics, plush seating and other
state-of-the-art luxuries. He and Roxie settle themselves into two
deep-cushioned red chairs, as I flip on the laptop and fiddle with the track
lists. I can play the guitar, but I’m not that good at it.

 I prefer to just focus on singing.

I decide I’m in the mood for a slow kind of rock song, and I
select
Don’t Speak
by No Doubt.

The music starts, and I close my eyes.

I can’t help but see Sid when I close them, he was there the
last time I stepped in front of the mic.

Then I start to sing.

“You and me, we used to be together, every day together,
always.”

The melody swells, and I’m taken away by the song, pouring
my heart out, adding my own riffs, and feeling my upper register soar with the
higher notes. My voice is raw and spot on, and I know I’m nailing it.

I’m living and breathing every note, every word, and I don’t
even notice as the tears roll down my cheeks.

I don’t want Sid any more, but I can’t deny the broken mess
he left behind.

When I open my eyes, I see my dad and Roxie’s surprised
faces, and my dad is bursting with fatherly pride.

I smile widely, and wipe at the unexpected tears.

There’s clapping, which confuses me and I look to the back
of the room.

There’s Dom, looking all dark and sexy, his green eyes wide
with admiration.

“That was fucking incredible,” he says sincerely.

“Dominic! Language please!” Roxie exclaims.

Dom moves towards me, and I feel riveted to the floor,
unable to move under his gaze. I feel it again, that clenching deep in my
stomach, and my mind screams to focus.

“Your voice is amazing. Raw and rich. I can’t believe you
don’t have a record deal already.”

Even though I think Dom is a total dick, I’m so flattered
right now...he is Dom Dresden, after all.

“Th-Thank you,” I stutter.

“You deserve way more, but you should come on tour with us,”
he pleads, “You should be singing front and center, but that’s all I can offer
you now. Your voice is too good to be wasted, and we are hurting for a female
vocalist right now.”

I’m still flattered, but I’m not taking handouts.

“Thanks, but I can’t.”

“Why?” he asks, and his voice is hard. “What are you doing
now that’s bigger than going on tour with Diesel? This could launch your
career!”

And there it is again, that cocky attitude of his.

“What I’m doing now, is trying to make it on my own!” I
snap. I'm sure my eyes are flashing with anger.

“Stop being so fucking proud and take me up on my offer. It
has nothing to do with the fact that my mom is marrying your dad. I don’t give
a shit!”

“Dominic! Watch your mouth!”

“I said no thanks,” I say acidly. “Why would I want to tour
with a cocky prick like you, anyway?”

“Annabelle!” Now it’s my father’s turn to sound scandalized.

“I knew you were a prissy bitch,” Dom hisses.

Roxie all but shrieks from his foul language.

“Go to hell!” I scream at him.

I storm out of the room, and down the hall, until I’m
outside. The driver is still there and I jump into the limo.

I don’t ever want to see that arrogant bastard again.

Chapter Five

Dom

I watch that uptight bitch stomp out of the room and I don’t
bother following her. She sang the shit out of that song, and I was blow away.

Seriously blown away. Like, Gwen Stefani would be proud.

But I draw the line somewhere.

I don’t chase after women.

Period.

Even if I hadn’t known her, even if our parents weren’t
getting married, I still would have offered her a spot on our tour. She's a
fool to pass this up, and she could at least
act
grateful.

I hear a door slam somewhere far away and Cliff hurries out
of the room, while my mom still stares at me in shock.

“What was that all about?” she demands.

“Nothing.”

“Don’t lie to me, Dominic!”

I feel a little bad about kissing Annie now. I wasn’t sure
how I could admit that to my mom, so I just shrug and pretend like I have no
idea.

She rolls her eyes and storms out of the room too.

This place is like a fuckin soap opera.

I saunter over to one of the big, comfy chairs and sink
down. Tilting my head back, I close my eyes. All I can see is Annie singing,
making love to the mic with her voice.

My balls still ache, and I grit my teeth in annoyance. I
can’t believe she had the nerve to knee me in the balls! Who the hell does she
think she is?

But I have to admit that I like the fact that Annie doesn’t
give a shit who I am.  But at the same time, it annoys me too.

Damn her!

I can't just sit here, so I jump up to go chase after that
crazy bitch.

What is with me? I'm acting just as crazy as she is.

I stride down the hall and see my mom standing in the
doorway. I look out at Cliff hanging over an open window of a limo, arguing in
a low voice. He seems to be pleading with Annie over something.

I wonder if he’s pleading with her to come back inside and
to take me up on my offer. I watch with complete surprise as she gets out of the
limo. What the hell did Cliff say that actually made her get out of the car?
This girl is something else.

Cliff smiles with relief, and he steps aside to let Annie
pass first. I still can’t help but to stare at her body. Her dress hugs her
curves in all the right places, and I can just make out the soft curve of her
hips and the flatness of her stomach. I already had a nice view of her thighs
when she tripped, but I rake my eyes up and down her toned calves and those
strappy little shoes she’s wearing.

My dick twitches in my pants again, and I roll my eyes with
exasperation. This is ridiculous. Especially, if Annie actually takes me up on
my offer to go on tour. Here I am, standing in the grand foyer of my mother’s
fiancé’s house, with my dick trembling over my future - what? Stepsister?

 I’m one sick fucker.

What I need is a good blowjob to clear my mind, but I’m not
ready to go yet.

Annie softly apologizes to my mom, and she comes to stand
before me in the doorway. I realize that I’m blocking her entrance, so I step
aside for her.

But I wait a beat too long.

I can’t make out what emotions are going on behind Annie’s
eyes, because they are careful and guarded. Her lips are pursed, and I think
she wants to say something, but she doesn’t.

She moves past me into the hallway, and I get a whiff of her
again.

Why does she smell so damn good?

And while I know that I’m going to see that groupie Khloe
again, I can’t help but wish it were Annie who wanted to meet me tonight.

I needed to know more about her.

Not able to help myself, I whip out my phone and send a
quick text to one of my old music buddies who still plays at the Cherry Tower.

Do u know anything about a chick named Annabelle
Winterford who used to work at the Cherry Tower?

I follow everyone back into the dining room, and I surmise
that we are going to finally have dessert.

A minute later, my phone buzzes.

I don’t know an Annabelle Winterford, but there used to
be an Annie Winter who used to sing here. Girl could sing and she was HOT as
hell.

That has to be the same Annie. I’m not surprised she doesn’t
use her father’s last name.

I’m sure that’s her. Why doesn’t she sing there anymore?

The housekeeper bustles in with a platter of fresh berries,
pound cake and homemade whipped cream. Cliff and Annie are discussing something
in low voices and my mother shoots me an annoyed look.

“Put the phone away,” she hisses.

I slip the phone away, and think about what a pansy I am.
I’m a grown man of twenty-nine, and I’m still listening to my mother.

“So, Annabelle,” my mom begins, and I can hear that careful
tone which means she’s going to approach a delicate subject. “I’m sorry about
earlier, but I thought you sounded beautiful. Cliff said you sang, but I had no
idea you sang like that.”

Annie looks pleased, and she smiles a real genuine smile at
my mom as she heaps a spoonful of berries onto her slice of cake.

“Thanks, Roxie.”

Annie is different now, more subdued.

I wonder what Cliff said to her.

My phone buzzes and it takes every ounce of willpower not to
pull it out of my pocket, but I don’t want the wrath of my mother to reign down
on me.

“Dominic liked it too,” my mom says cautiously, and I know
she’s hoping Annie will say she’ll go on tour with me.

Why did I offer her that gig?

Now, I don’t think it’s such a good idea. How am I going to
stop myself from thinking about her? And why I am overanalyzing her anyway?
She’s practically bipolar. She’s been hot and cold all night.

“Mmmhmm,” Annie says evasively, taking a big bite of her
dessert.

I can’t rescind my offer now and I’m still not sure I want
to. I think the best course of action is just to let it sit. I’ll talk to the
band in the morning about a replacement and maybe they will have had some luck
finding someone else.

I can’t help my curiosity any longer, and I need to read
that damn text. I excuse myself, and head out of the room and find myself in a
formal sitting room. I take out my phone and look at the text.

She used to date Sid Black. Found out he had another girl
on the side and she went nuts during one of his performances. Pulled out all
his wires and shit. It was pretty wild.

I sank down into one of the stiff chairs in the room.

Annie had dated Sid Black? I try to picture it but I can’t.
He is a complete douche. I can’t help but chuckle as I picture Annie flying
into a rage and destroying his stage. I’m sure the dickhead deserved it.

It’s hard to imagine, and It makes me like her more, yet I
can’t help wondering if she’s a live wire.

She must be a freak in bed.

Fuck, there I go again thinking about her like that.

And then I wonder if I’m hallucinating, because Annie is
there before me, looking like a vision.

She enters from the other side of the room, and the setting
sun behind her makes her look like she’s glowing. She’s bathed in warm golden sunlight,
and she reminds me of a dark-haired angel.

And then I notice the faint lines of her skimpy little
panties, and I’m shot straight back to Hell.

“Dom?” she asks tentatively.

“Yeah?” My voice sounds too gruff.

“Can I speak to you?”

I nod, and she steps into the room. I can’t see her panties
anymore and that’s a damn shame. She situates herself in the chair in front of
me, and crosses her legs. She bites her lip, which only makes me think about
all the things those lips could do.

And my stomach twists into an angry snarl when I think of
what those lips did to Sid Black. I’m sure he didn’t deserve her, crazy bitch
or not.

“I really appreciate your offer, but I feel like you only
made it because of our parents. Oh, and I’m sorry about calling you a prick
earlier.”

I can see that it’s taking a lot for her to say this, and
I’m almost enjoying watching her fidget under my gaze.

This is my opportunity to tell her it was out of pity.

But it wasn’t.

“It had nothing to do with our parents. The offer still stands.
But I need to know by tomorrow morning.”

Annie continues to bite her lip, she's unsure whether I'm
being honest. Finally, she nods, and I guess she decides to believe me.

“I need a change in pace. I need to get out of LA for a
bit,” she admits.

I wonder if it has anything to do with that fucker Sid, how
long ago did they break up?

“Is that a yes?”

She looks at me, and gives me a wide grin.

“Yes. It’s a yes.”

“Alright!” I whoop, jumping up. I can’t help my enthusiasm.
Annie is going to sing the shit out of our backups. And I’m already thinking of
some songs where we can feature her voice more.

Now, we need to talk business though.

“I’ll have the contract drawn up tomorrow and then our
people will be in touch with you in the next day or so. We’re getting ready to
go into a pretty intense rehearsal schedule and there’s a lot of music for you
to learn. I can set you up with someone to work on the music.”