317
Tilting her head at me, her hair perfectly pulled into a loose ponytail, she nodded at the alley that I was sure Jack-the-Ripper was hiding in.
“The back entrance is probably down there. We’re going in.” I gave her a dry look. “They’re not just going to let us in the back, Anna. We’ll have to buy tickets just like everybody else.” Rolling her eyes at me, she adjusted the ridiculously tight t-shirt she’d changed into before leaving the house. “Kiera, I’ve never bought a concert ticket in my life, and I’m not about to start now.” Smiling in that seductive way that she and Kellan had down to a science, she smirked and headed towards the alley again. Her bag elegantly slung over her shoulder, looked more like an overlarge purse than the duffel bag that mine resembled.
Hoping we survived this, I exhaled a quick breath and hurried to catch up to her. If we were going to die, I wanted us to die together.
Confidently strutting down the dark street, Anna looked completely fine with the situation. Wishing I had her guts, I tried to at least act like I did. Like she expected, we ran into a door being blocked by what could have been Sam’s long lost brother. All muscle and rough demeanor, he narrowed his eyes at us as we approached.
“Keep walking,” he muttered as we got close enough to hear.
Anna tilted her head, running a finger along the deep v-neck of her shirt. “But we want to talk to you.”
He frowned at her, then at me. “I just got rid of the last batch of you.
Don’t you girls have anything better to do than try and screw rock stars.”
I bristled at his words, both because that wasn’t what we were doing, not really, and because there was a steady group of girls out there that tried to do exactly what he was saying. Sticking my chin up, I defiantly said, “We just want to see our boyfriends, and they happen to be in one of the bands. If you could let us by, we’d really appreciate it.” 318
He smirked at me. “Wow, I’ve never heard that one before.” Rolling his eyes, he added, “When are you girls gonna learn that the actual girlfriends get passes to the show. They don’t come back here to see me.” With a smirk he added, “Not that the actual girlfriends are around much…if you know what I mean.”
He eyed me and my sister up and down, clearly undressing us, and my eyes narrowed at what he was implying—whores trumped girlfriends, by a long shot. Trying to ignore the heat in my stomach, I shook my head. “Our boyfriends don’t know we’re here…it’s a surprise.” He smiled with one edge of his lip, his bulging biceps not moving from in front of his chest. “Yes, and when they see you out here after the show, it will certainly be a surprise.”
My mouth dropped open in frustration but Anna shot me a look to keep me quiet. Sidling up to the man, she ran a finger along his arm.
Licking her lip as slowly and seductively as she could, she throatily murmured, “There must be some way to get past this…” she squeezed his arm, then let her hand travel down his side, “…impressive body in our way.”
Smirking at Anna, his eyes traveled to her chest and stayed there. She subtly straightened her shoulders, giving him the best view she could.
One of his hands uncrossing, he brazenly reached out and cupped one of her breasts. I wanted to smack his smug face but Anna held a warning finger behind her back, telling me not to.
As Anna wasn’t wearing a bra, the man got a nice little nipple rub. It disgusted me, but Anna only smiled at him like he was complimenting her on her hair. Smiling that she wasn’t moving, he dropped his hand and motioned to her shirt. “Show me, and I’ll let you in.” I sputtered and mumbled a protest but Anna only shrugged and lifted her shirt to him. When she finally lowered the fabric back down into place, I could tell the bouncer was…pleased. If the dazed smile on his face wasn’t a big enough clue, the bulge in his jeans was unmistakable.
I twisted my lips and looked away. “Dog,” I muttered. I was pretty sure Sam never would have pulled crap like that.
319
Focusing on my sister, I watched her brush her fingers over the man’s cheek. “Satisfied,” she purred, biting her lip, and glancing down at the evidence of his arousal.
“Definitely,” he growled. “Whatever guy you land in there is one lucky bastard.”
Anna smirked and smiled as he moved aside from the door. Rolling my eyes, I started to follow her, but the jerk blocked my path. “Nope, sorry, sweetheart.” Leering at my chest, he shook his head. “You haven’t paid the price of admission.”
Dropping my bag, I immediately crossed my arms over my chest, covering my already covered body. “I am not flashing you!” He shrugged, unperturbed. “Then you’re not getting back there.” My mouth dropped open and I smacked him across the chest. He narrowed his eyes at me and I stopped instantly, remembering that this was not a bouncer at Pete’s that I was messing with. Lifting my chin, I spat out, “You’re a pig.”
Smirking, he winked at me. “Yeah, and you’re still not getting back there until I see some tatas.”
An exasperated noise fell out of my mouth as I looked up at Anna, waiting with one palm on the door. She shrugged and made a stripping motion with her hand. I cringed back, not wanting to do this…but wanting to see Kellan.
My cheeks flaming so hot they hurt, I shook my head indignantly. “Go get Kellan Kyle! He’s the lead singer of the D-Bags. He’ll vouch for me, that I’m his girlfriend…and then you’ll have to let me in!” The man yawned, bored. “Listen, sweetheart. The musicians and I have a deal. I don’t bother them, and they let me have a groupie or two.
It works out great, and I’m not going to jeopardize that for you.” He smiled again, in a creepy way that made my skin crawl. “Now strip…or go home.”
320
Feeling tears sting my eyes, I glared at my sister. “I’m gonna kill you for this, Anna.” Before she could answer, I twisted to the man and snarled, “The bra stays on!”
He rolled his eyes and shrugged and I closed mine. Wishing I could disappear, I fought against every sense in my body and lifted my shirt to the repugnant man before me. I heard him chuckle as he muttered, “Ah, white cotton with the cute little flower in the middle. Aren’t you a sweet thing?”
Just as his fingers came out to touch, I smacked his hand away and lowered my clothes, holding them tight around myself. Looking satisfied that I’d done it, he motioned to the door where Anna was standing. Glaring at him, I picked up my bag and stiffly walked past him.
Grabbing my arm as I brushed against him, he leaned into me. “I love the innocent ones…they’re the wildest in the sack.” He nodded at the closed door. “I’ll be around, once you’re done with this Kellan guy, if you want to experience a real man.” He ground his still-aroused body in-to my leg and I forced myself to not slap him.
Backing away, I straightened and muttered, “No, thank you.” Then shoved Anna’s back so she’d open the door and get us out of that damn alley. “You’re so dead, Anna,” I muttered again while the sound of the bouncer chuckling was washed away by the sounds in the theater as she finally opened the heavy, steel door.
Anna was highly entertained by the whole thing. As we walked down the hall, she slung her arm over my shoulders and laughed out, “Oh my God, I so thought you were going to deck that guy!” Biting my lip, I glared at her. She only laughed harder and squeezed me tight. Resting her head against mine, she merrily exclaimed, “Ah, relax, Kiera, no harm done, and now you’re one step closer to Kellan.” She winked at me as I pushed her away. “I’ll turn you into a vixen yet, sister,” she giggled. I rolled my eyes at her but did smile a little. Well, Kellan had wanted me to have a good story to tell him. I guess, now I did.
321
The music of the band currently on stage filtered around us as we aimlessly walked through corridors and open areas. There were tons of people about, some that seemed to work at the venue, walking around with headsets and clipboards, some that looked more like security, which we purposely avoided since we technically weren’t supposed to be here. Some seemed to be from a local radio station, and some were clearly band members. But the majority seemed to be women, just like us. It helped us blend in, but I wasn’t thrilled at the girl-to-guy ratio that I was seeing.
Not knowing where our boys were in the lineup, or where they might be hanging out until it was their turn, we just kept searching. Anna flipped out when she spotted Justin and his band— Anna loved their music just as much as I did. She started heading his way but I grabbed her arm. “Don’t, Anna!”
She glared back at me. “Don’t you know who that is?” I rolled my eyes and nodded. “Yeah, we met when the boys left.” Anna slung her arm around me, dragging me forward. “Perfect, then he’ll tell you where Kellan is.”
I felt heat in my cheeks that was nearly painful. Our introduction hadn’t exactly been smooth…and…he’d been at the restaurant for Kellan’s little, erotic performance. Oh God, I could not look him in the eye after that!
“He won’t remember me, Anna.” Oh God, yeah, he probably would remember me now…
Anna giggled in my ear as we got closer to Justin, his smile wide as he talked with a couple of girls nearby. “Who could forget you, Kiera?” I rolled my eyes at her and wanted to protest further, but Justin had turned his head and noticed us. His light blue eyes widened as he pointed a finger at me; I could see the spark of recognition in the pale depths.
He did remember me, which meant, he probably remembered overhear-ing the phone sex, too. Damn it. I really hate you right now, Kellan Kyle.
322
Tilting his blond head, he grinned crookedly and let out a short laugh.
“Hey, aren’t you…Kellan’s girl?”
Biting my lip, I walked up to him. My knees were shaking, but I made myself say, “Yeah, my sister and I came out to see him…to surprise him.” Not able to look Justin in the eye, I stared at the ink scrawled across his chest; I couldn’t read it, but the lines were a nice distraction for my embarrassment.
Anna took over at my ineptitude. Thrusting her hand out and sliding as close to him as etiquette allowed, she purred, “Anna Allen, huge fan.
‘Kick Me When I’m Down’ has got to be my favorite song in the world.” I looked up at her and scowled. Of course she would remember a song title. Justin seemed pleased that she had, and that she wasn’t wearing a bra. His eyes only quickly flashed over her breasts, not blatantly staring like the bouncer had, but he still checked her out as he shook her hand.
“Nice to meet you, Anna.”
His eyes burned a little as he watched her and I thought my sister might actually have a shot with him. Not surprising really, my sister could have just about anybody. She usually got whatever boy she set her sights on. Except Kellan. She never had gotten to have him.
But Anna didn’t seem too interested in Justin. Instead, she waved her hand around the mammoth backstage area. “We’re looking for the D-Bags. Have you seen Kellan and Griffin?”
Justin twisted his lips. He seemed disappointed that Anna didn’t want to hang out with him. “Griffin?” By the way his lip twisted even more, I thought maybe Justin had met The Hulk too. Pointing over his thumb, he shrugged. “Last I saw, they were drinking with some girls back there.” A knot in my stomach formed at hearing his words. Drinking with girls? I tried to put a lid on the knot growing, though. Drinking with girls didn’t mean sleeping with girls. At least, not in Kellan’s case.
Anna brightened and thanked him. We both said goodbye and Justin seemed a little sad as Anna left his sight. I looked back before we turned a corner to another corridor and accidentally locked eyes with Justin. He 323
suddenly looked amused. He chuckled and leaned over to a friend of his, pointing at me again. The friend stared at me too, chuckling in the same way. Knowing that they were talking about Kellan faking jacking-off at their table, I clenched my fists and hurried after Anna as she pushed herself through a group of people. That was not the way I wanted a celebrity to remember me. In fact, I’d rather he didn’t.
As we got to a large room filled with people, I felt like we’d stepped back into Pete’s bar. It was smaller than the bar, but the alcohol was flowing, girls were giggling, and the music from the stage was being piped through some speakers, filling the room with noise. I suddenly felt like I should have a tray and a bag full of lollipops.
I looked around the clusters of people, but didn’t see my D-Bag anywhere. Chairs and couches were tossed around the space, seemingly at random, with small tables holding stacks of empty cups. I wasn’t sure how long ago the show had started, but this party seemed to already be in full effect.
Girls clamored over boys I didn’t know; I figured they were some of the other band’s members. As I watched a girl lean up and tug on a boy’s earlobe, I wondered if any of these guys had girls waiting back home. It sort of made me nauseous to think about it. Anna grabbed my hand, leading us through the throngs, and my stomach tightened with every step.
Maybe coming here was a bad idea. If I caught Kellan in the act with another girl…I think my heart would explode right then and there. I don’t think I could take it. While I’d always felt bad about Denny having seen our moment, I had a newfound appreciation for his pain. No wonder he’d flown off the handle. I wanted to already as I watched boys openly flirting with loose girls, and I hadn’t even found Kellan yet.
I found him a few moments later. He was standing with his back to me, luckily with no girls hanging off him, chuckling over something in front of him. Women next to me mimicked pinching his ass and giggled.
Other women around looked about ready to sling their drunk arms around him and kiss him. Ignoring them, I concentrated on the messy head of sandy-brown hair that I’d missed so much. As he leaned over to laughingly whisper something to the man beside him, who I finally 324
realized was Griffin, my eyes were transfixed to the strong jaw line, the full lips speaking words through his smile.
He was so impossibly attractive, it was nearly unfair. But that wasn’t all he was, and my heart swelled with the love I felt for him, love that was only growing since we’d been forced apart.