Seducing Wrath (19 page)

“Do you know what you’re going to tell her yet?”

“No fuckin’ clue.” I’m sure my hair was standing up in six different directions as many times as I’d run my hands through it. I was fucking scared. It took a lot for me to admit it too, but not as much as it was going to take to tell her I loved her. “Maybe I’m wrong, this might be a really goddamn bad idea.”

“No fuckin’ way. We come out here for you and now you’re going to be a fuckin’ chicken shit?” Rage ran around the room flapping his arms making squawking sounds.

“Fuck you.”

“No fuck you, bro. Get your shit together. Who the fuck do you think you’re kidding?”

“What are you fucking talking about?”

Flame shook his head. “Do you really fucking believe we didn’t know you had the hots for her in high school?”

“No way.”

“Oh yes you fuckin' did. Your tongue hung out every time you looked at her.”

“Never. You’re all fuckin’ twisted.”

Chaos laughed. “Bro, you sure as shit had it bad. We couldn’t understand why you never did anything about it.”

Oh fucking God, really? Now I needed this shit from them? For the last seven years nothing, and now when everything hinged on whether she’d believe me, now they were giving me goddamn shit. “You’re all lucky I don’t carry a gun, that’s all the fuck I’m saying.”

Chaos must have realized how on edge I was and pushed them away. I was sitting with my head in my hands trying to figure this shit out when Joe opened the door and Jack, Sally, and another woman came in. It turned out she was Sunshine, Teresa’s mother. Teresa hadn’t been shitting me. Her mom looked like a modern day flower child.

We all took turns hugging our parents, Sally looked tired, and not her usual self but I wasn’t going to bring it up now. After she got done with all the hellos she came over and sat next to me.

“How’re you doing, Chris?”

“I’m good. How are you? You still look sick.”

“Thanks, sweetheart. Didn’t I tell you you’re not supposed to say things like that, compliments only?”

“Maybe.” I couldn’t help teasing her. I was worried, she looked old for the first time ever and I realized they were in their late sixties or early seventies, then there was Sunshine Duncan who looked like she wasn’t even fifty yet.

“I’m so glad you figured out who your Blue was.”

“Me too. I just hope she doesn’t tell me where to go.”

“I don’t think you have to worry.”

“Are you holding out on me?”

“Of course not, who could resist you?”

Laughing, I felt better than I had in a long time. Like the end was near and I was about to step into the light, finally.

*****

Sapphire/Teresa…

I’d had to take a cab after the train. No way was I walking around the city at night by myself. It pulled up in front of the Bottom Line and I looked at the Marquee expecting to see the name of the performers but all it said was special guests tonight. I knocked on the stage door entrance but no one answered. Shit. Guess it’s the front door for me.

I’d done several of these reviews in the last couple of weeks. They’d send out the junior staff to cover the bands and write up reviews on the appearances. I hoped it was a decent band at least. The one from last week sucked wind.

The doors opened at seven-thirty and the place filled up quickly. No one knew who was performing but it was crowded. Freakin’ strange, until someone mentioned getting free tickets. Now it made sense, how better to fill a club with a secret performance. Free would do it every time.

The Bottom Line was not set up like your normal club with lots of little tables. It had long rows of tables like in a lunchroom at school, and there was hardly any room to move around. I opted to take a seat near the edge of the stage on one of the outer tables so I could escape as soon as possible. It was my plan and I was sticking to it.

The lights went down and I pulled out my iPad to make notes for my write-up, I had a beer and I was ready. The place was packed and everyone was anxiously awaiting the band.

*****

Wrath…

Holy fuck. She’s out there.”

Joe laughed. “Of course she is. Her boss sent her. What did you think? She’d blow it off?”

“No, yes, maybe, I don’t fuckin’ know.”

“Chris, calm down. Look at me. The girl was head over heels for you, I don’t believe for one minute it changed in the last month or so. Now breathe.”

He had a point, if it was true. Was she really in love with me? I sure as fuck hoped so.

We went back into the dressing room and Joe announced, “Okay, people, show time.”

Taking our places, I took a deep breath and tried not to fuckin’ puke. Rage counted us in as the curtains parted and the crowd went crazy. Jumping to their feet and screaming—none of us were fucking prepared for that response.

“Holy fuck,” I whispered as I gazed at the sea of people stuffed into the small club. I searched the crowds for one face, and there it was. Off to the side, she hadn’t moved and as she met my eyes, her jaw dropped. I wasn’t sure what she was thinking until she jumped up on stage.

*****

Sapphire/Teresa…

Holy shit. Is it really him? Really? I actually pinched myself to make sure I wasn’t dreaming. Oh. My. God. What should I do? Holy crap. I started shaking, I didn’t know what to do, but then he smiled at me. Joe materialized at the side of the stage and held out his hand for me. I didn’t need any more hints.

I ran right to him, I didn’t care they were in the middle of a song, or the audience was packed, or if everyone else in the band hated me. I needed my Wrath. I needed to feel his arms around me.

He nodded to Chaos, put his guitar on the stand, and met me half way, wrapping his arms around me and pulling me close. I looked into his eyes. My brain trying to convince me it was really him.

“Welcome back, Blue.” The words had barely left his mouth when his lips claimed mine, and all the memories came flooding back. I held on to him like my life depended on it and this time it really did. I was his and he was mine and I would do anything to never lose him again.

Tearing my lips away, I touched his face. Neither of us realized the crowd was cheering or the band had stopped playing and everyone was clapping, at first. It wasn’t until Jack, Sally, and Mom came out from backstage that I noticed. I was crying and I couldn’t stop. I’d missed him so much, my heart had been so shattered.

“Wrath, I’m so sorry. I never, ever, ever intended for anyone to get hurt, or to betray any of you,” I rambled, tears running down my face. “I love you, Chris, and only you.”

He put his finger over my mouth. “I know, we all fuckin’ know. Great cover story by the way,” he said as he grinned. Pulling me closer, he kissed me hard and rough. I’d missed feeling him possess me with his kisses.

Breaking the kiss, he looked into my eyes and smiled. “Teresa, my blue-haired siren, I love you. You are mine. Promise me you’ll never leave me again.”

“I promise.”

The End

Books by Lynne St. James

Anamchara

Embracing Her Desires

Embracing Her Surrender

Embracing Her Love – Coming Soon

Raining Chaos

Taming Chaos

Seducing Wrath

A Raining Chaos Christmas – Coming Soon

Tempting Flame – Coming Soon

With other Publishing Houses

The Vampires of Eternity Series

Twice Bitten Not Shy

Twice Bitten to Paradise

Twice Bitten and Bewitched

Would love to hear from you!

Email: [email protected]

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorLynneStJames

Website: http://lynnestjames.com

Excerpt from Taming Chaos

Raining Chaos Book One

By Lynne St. James

Yup now this is what I’d expected. Seeing all the skanky women pour into the dressing room was more than I wanted to deal with, or maybe I was just jealous? At least that’s what Michelle would say. She might be right, but hell, I’m not admitting it to anyone. Still, there was no way I was going to stand there while some hoe practically climbed into his pants.

I doubt anyone noticed when I left anyway. My suitcase was still in Michelle’s car, so I figured I might as well get it now and head to the bus. Maybe I could get settled in before they all showed up with their sex partners for the night. Gross. Seriously, how could anyone have sex with random strangers just because they were rock stars? Okay, who was I kidding, I wanted Chaos, would I give in to that—hell no. It’d be totally wrong. Isn’t that what I hated most about my father? He was all about loving them and leaving them, at least as far as Mom was concerned.

Grabbing the suitcase from the car I shoved her spare key in the hideaway box under the front wheel well. Thank God I’d remembered it was there because I sure as hell hadn’t remembered to get the keys from her before I left the party. She’d been all over Flame. I knew she liked Raining Chaos but I hadn’t realized she had the hots for him until the drive over. All she did the whole time was ask about him. It was funny. Too bad this wasn’t her job for the next two weeks, she would have enjoyed it a hell of a lot more than I will.

Looking for the buses, I followed the directions dickman had given me earlier. I went back in the Garden and down the long hallway to the rear exit. I’d almost made it when I heard the sound of high heels on the tile floor behind me. Fully expecting it to be one of the skanks from the party, I turned to come face-to-face with Sweets.
Oh shit.

“Hey.”

“Hi.”

“Cynda is it or should I just call you bitch?”

“Excuse me?”

“You heard me. I don’t like you coming in here and butting in. We don’t need you and Chaos definitely doesn’t need you. I’ve got everything he needs right here.” She gestured across her body, and yeah she had it. Huge boobs trying to escape from the leather vest she wore over a way too short leather mini-skirt and black high heels with silver studs. If this is what he liked more power to him, it just reinforced the no sex no way rule. I thought Wrath had said they were like sisters. Maybe someone needed to tell her.

“I don’t know what your problem is, but you need to back off. I’m not here to hurt anyone or cause problems. I’m just here to do my job. You don’t like it, talk to Chaos, he’s the one who made me come on tour with you. Trust me it wasn’t my idea.”

“Yeah I know,” she answered and took a drink from the beer in her hand. She was drunk, it was obvious, but I didn’t think it mattered. She’d been shooting shitty looks at me since I’d shown up earlier.

“So if you know, why are you giving me shit?”

“Because I want you to fuckin’ walk away, stay off the fuckin’ bus. Make up some damn excuse but stay the fuck away from all of us.”

“No way. I told you I have a job to do and I’m going to do it. What the hell is your problem? I know he’s not your boyfriend, so what’s with the possessive act?”

“Bitch, you have no idea. You’d have to be crazy to think he’d want you.”

I agreed with her but it still hurt. Michelle had given me a makeover and even convinced me to buy and wear make-up. New clothes, new hair, and still there was no way I could or would want to compete with these skanks for his attention. “I told you I’m here for work. I don’t want him and I don’t care what you two do. Got that?”

I’d had enough, I was tired, it’d been a long ass day and I wanted to find a place to sleep, even if it was a chair on the damn bus. At least dickman told me they didn’t sleep on the bus with the guys, they were on the second bus.

“You need to sleep it off,” I said as I turned hoping to get away from her before it got worse. No such luck when I felt a hand on my shoulder. Turning I gave her the ‘fuck you bitch’ look, but she either didn’t care or was too drunk to notice.

“Listen, Cinder, or whatever your name is. Don’t make me hurt you…”

Excerpt from Playing for Keeps

Surviving the Dream Book Two

By Whiskey Starr

Hunter sat watching Milo play another round of Mario and wondered how a kid his age could kick his butt. Looking at the clock he knew Milo needed to head to bed.

“All right, big man, your momma is going to bust me if you don’t get ready for bed. School in the morning.” Hunter hated to be the mean uncle, he left the parenting stuff up to Mickey, but the ass was on the phone, again.

“But, Uncle Hunter, one more game. Please?”

“Come on, dude. Don’t make me the mean guy. I’m the fun uncle, remember?” Milo gave him a pouty face and then once again they were playing Mario.

“Damn it. I mean dang it, Hunter. Sky is going to make me eat at home if Milo doesn’t go to bed on time. Hey, kiddo, teeth then bed,” Mickey snapped with just the right amount of tone to catch Milo’s attention.

Milo let out a sigh before shutting down the game and heading upstairs.

“Night, big man,” Hunter called out to Milo, making the kid smile.

“Seriously? Why do I have to be the grownup here? Milo is a kid and has a bed time for a reason, you just can’t let him play games all night.”

“Nah, wasn’t going to be all night, just until he fell asleep, and then I was heading out to a party in Beverly Hills,” Hunter said with a grin.

“Man, we have to be in the studio in the morning. You are seriously going to head out all night then come in hung over? I don’t think so.”