Hard Rocked by Clara Bayard Read Free Book Online Page A

beg off and walked outside. A line was already forming out front so I circled the building and spotted the small bus we were using to shuttle the band around the city. Figuring I could hide there for a little while I headed over. If anything came up Ryan could contact me on the headset.
    I approached the bus, mostly hidden behind stacks of boxes and a large post. The venue was hosting a meet and greet after the show so they didn’t want any fans catching the band before it.
    Turning the volume up on my headset I was about to slide the door open when I heard voices through a cracked-open window.
    “Babe, I can’t help myself.”
    A sexy, feminine giggle. “You don’t want to help yourself.”
    “That’s right,” came the masculine reply. “I want to help you. Help you out of those clothes.”
    I froze where I stood. It was Joe and Liss. Obviously they’d snuck away for some alone time too. Just not the sort I was looking for.
    “What is with you lately?” she asked.
    “You. I missed you so much and I need to stock up on Liss time before the end of summer.”
    “I’m going to school, not off to war, silly.”
    “Either way I won’t get to see you as often. Won’t get to touch you. Kiss you.”
    There was silence for a few seconds and then a contented sigh.
    “Okay, you’ve convinced me,” Liss said, her voice now soft. “But only because it’s crazy sexy to do this here, practically in public.”
    “And because you love me, right babe? Don’t make me think you’re using me as a sex object. Men have very fragile egos.”
    “Yeah, whatever. Screw your ego and screw me, Joe.”
    They laughed and I smiled. I felt bad for intruding on the private moment but their love for each other was amazing. It must have been difficult to manage the relationship with distance and lifestyles and everything else. But none of that showed. They were completely dedicated to each other, and from the sounds of things, just as passionate as ever.
    Soon the conversation stopped and the sounds changed to something else. I stayed a little too long, as I imagined it was me in that bus. With Dex. Wrapped around each other in a fit of passionate abandon. Not caring who heard or saw. Not worrying about the show or anything else except being there in the moment together.
    The shame I felt at the arousal building in me as I listened to Joe and Liss get more intimate did nothing to decrease it. In fact, feeling like a common pervert heightened the desire I felt and I stumbled quietly towards the back entrance of the venue knowing my breath was coming in little pants and my face was red.
    Back inside I waved my pass at the door guy and fled to the nearest bathroom. Avoiding the out-of-control expression on my face I took my hair down and then pulled it back up again in the secure bun at the nape of my neck. The ritual of smoothing and twisting soothed me and I started to calm down.
    I took a series of deep breaths and called Ryan over the headset to see how things were going. He asked me to go help unload boxes for the merchandise tables and I did, happy for another distraction that would keep me away from Dex.
    By the time that chore was complete the doors were about to open and it was so loud I couldn’t hear myself think. God bless rock and roll.
    I didn’t end up going backstage until Dream Defiled had already started to play Full Dark , the track that had launched their first album and always opened their shows now.
    I found Liss tucked into a corner in the wings, watching the show. “What are you doing in there?” I asked her.
    “I always find a little nook to hide in. Well, not too little or I wouldn’t fit.” She laughed.
    “Hey, I know what you mean. So, how’s it going up there?” It was hard not to feel awkward around her just then.
    “Great. They sound wonderful and it looks like everyone’s having a good time.”
    “Oh, good.”
    “Hey, while you’re here, I wanted to ask you something. I know you’re really