Total pages in book: 36
Estimated words: 34054 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 170(@200wpm)___ 136(@250wpm)___ 114(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 34054 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 170(@200wpm)___ 136(@250wpm)___ 114(@300wpm)
“Get out, Kaye,” I say without taking my eyes off Billie.
Kaye places her hands on her hips. “I’m exactly where I should be. You two were out of hand tonight.”
“Let me say it another way,” I growl. “Get the fuck out, Kaye, or you’re fired.”
Kaye huffs before she storms from the room, leaving Cain and me alone with little Billie Richmond.
“Long time no see, Billie Goat Gruff,” I whisper as I grab a bottle of whiskey.
Billie’s palms press flat against her thighs as she smooths her skirt. Gotta give it to her; she presents a calm exterior. The notion that she could’ve put the past behind her and moved on irritates me. I’ve dreamed about her since that night at the docks, and learning it isn’t the same for her sparks anger in my heart.
Her hands tremble, giving me hope that we still affect her, but then she looks up and smiles. “Will it be Blaze and you, or will the other guys join us? I was hoping to ask Mayhem about the infusion of classical music into his sound. I’ve never heard a keyboard player as talented as him.” She gazes down at her notebook. “He must’ve had some extensive training.”
I swallow all the years of anger and allow her to keep talking about the flawless skills of Marley Banks on the keys. I wonder how long she can keep going without acknowledging what’s right in front of her.
“Striker and Mayhem are on the tour bus,” I say as I open the green room door. Turning, I catch her eyes, still as beautiful as ever. “You coming?”
Billie says nothing as we walk backstage and out of the amphitheater. She wraps her arms around herself and rubs the fabric of her long sweater.
Shrugging off my long black trench coat, I drape it over her shoulders.
“Please, you need this more than I do,” Billie whispers as her eyes hungrily take in my bare chest and arms.
I raise the bottle of liquor and wave it at her. “Keeps me warm.”
Music blares from the bus. I’ll bet my career that Marley and Iggy have a harem of half-naked groupies begging for their attention. Iggy’s probably balls deep in one of them. That’s his thing. No relationships, but always down for fucking. The only people I’ve ever seen him care about are Marley and Kaye, who occasionally fuck groupies with them. Something is going on with those three, but as long as it doesn’t fuck with my business, I don’t give a shit.
“Go on up, Ms. Richmond,” I say, gesturing to the stairs.
Billie looks at me nervously before taking the first steps.
“How did you like our Smashing Pumpkins cover? If I recall, it was your favorite.”
Billie stops in her tracks. The half-naked girls don’t faze her as they gyrate around Marley while he fucks one of them. She glares at me like I’m a ghost she thought she’d buried. So that’s her plan—to pretend we never happened. Part of me can’t blame her. I’m the one who told her to walk away, but it didn’t mean I didn’t want her to hurt.
“Can you take off the mask?” Billie asks.
My hand moves to the black balaclava covering my face. We always wear them after the show. The gas masks get a little annoying after a set. Most days, I want to kick Cain’s ass for suggesting those things. At least the balaclava is breathable.
“Never comes off, baby.” I step up to her and relish how her breathing speeds up. I grip the top of her prim and proper good-girl sweater. “If I recall correctly, Billie-Goat, you liked anything dangerous.”
She swallows and licks her lips. Her eyes lock with mine, a trembling deer trapped in the headlights. She drops her gaze when I hold her stare. “That girl is long gone.”
I smirk as I trap her against a wall. “Nah, baby. No way that girl is dead and gone. She’s just hiding.”
She stares past me at Marley and Iggy. “Looks like now isn’t a good time to ask some questions.”
I turn to witness them tag-teaming a groupie while two others rim their asses. “It’s not like you haven’t done any of that yourself, Billie.”
Billie’s face turns bright red, but she stands firmly in place. “It’s getting late. I’ll see you all at the hotel in the morning.” She clutches her purse and storms from the bus.
I move to the window, pull the curtain back, and gaze at her retreating form.
“She’s still got the hottest ass I’ve ever seen,” Cain whispers in my ear.
Don’t I know it? No woman compares to Billie Richmond. That girl got hold of my heart ten years ago and never let up. She’s like a damn sorceress who put a spell on me. No matter what I achieve, a part of me is right back there with her.