 | Chapter 1 Copyright 2005 by Rod Harden & Alison McKenna All rights reserved |  |
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Sierra Rodriguez nudged her friend as they waited against the security gate set up around the backstage entrance of their favorite local bar, Club 27. The club had reopened recently and now featured live bands on the weekends. She'd always been a frequent customer of the club since her ex-boyfriend introduced her to the wild and crazy club.
"He'll be coming out soon," she told her friend. "I just know it." Laci Palmer rolled her eyes and shook her head. "You spend way too much time here." Sierra shrugged. "Oh, well. I have to do something." "Usually something means you take off for weeks at a time without telling anyone." This time Sierra rolled her eyes. She kept her retort to herself and looked back at the door. She knew her friend was jealous of her inheritance which enabled her to anything and everything she wanted to. Sierra's parents had been the type to covet the money they earned. They had lived modesty by choice on her father's salary as a senior partner at Rodriguez, Taylor and Associates. Her mother had been a doctor and all of her earnings went into investments. But her mother hadn't lived long enough to enjoy any of it. She'd been killed by a drunk driver when Sierra was very young. Roberto Rodriguez had sued for millions upon millions, and actually collected most of it, as the driver was himself a wealthy banker. Sierra hadn't known the final amount settled then but she sure knew now. And when her father died from a heart attack a few years ago when she was nineteen, he left everything to her. Her trust fund alone could sustain her for life. But now, she could do as she pleased and not worry about a thing. Ever. Sierra had long dark hair that came to the curve of her ass. Her father had been Latino and her mother had been the all-around perfect American woman. Sierra was blessed with naturally tanned skin from her father, dark blue eyes with long lashes from her mother and with a perfect figure from the both of them. She was tall and lean with just the right amount of curves. Her only regret was that she didn't have the J. Lo ass she wanted, but she wasn't complaining too hard. Many men had tried to take hold of her but Sierra wouldn't let them. She was only 23. She had many years to go before she even thought about settling down. She learned from her parents' deaths that life was too short not to take chances. Which was exactly why she took off from her hometown of Madison, Wisconsin to follow a whim or the occasional rock star that took her fancy. She glanced back at her friend and smiled as she studied her. Laci was the exact opposite of her. Short and blond with a few extra pounds here and there. She had striking green eyes that shot off sparks if anyone dared to piss her off. Sierra herself didn't want to get into a catfight with her and she loved her for that. Laci had a presence that on occasion had upstaged Sierra. Right now Laci's boyfriend was a man Sierra had wanted for her own. But he preferred her tell-it-like-it-is attitude more than the fluff Sierra would've given him. Which was perfectly fine. At least one of them had him. Laci smiled back. "You're too much, you know that?" Sierra nodded. "Why do you think nobody can handle me?" "You just haven't met the right person." She paused. "Yet." Sierra laughed. "Laci, I don't WANT to meet that right person. At least, not right now. I just want to have fun." "And why does it have to be here? This used to be an underground bondage hangout. Guys that sold women sat in the very same seats we use when we're in there," Laci pointed out. "Oh, I know. It probably still happens. We just don't see it." Laci shook her head. "And you're okay with that? We're talking about women just like us being abducted and sold to strangers for sex. And... crazy rituals." Sierra laughed. "Oh, Lace. You're too funny. Those women probably wanted it. That's why they were in a bondage club. They probably got off on it. Besides, have you heard of any women being kidnapped?" "Well, no." "Then lighten up. Abductions are not high on the to-do list." Laci shook her head and frowned. "Sierra, I just worry about you." "I know. But you know me. I'm all about the fun." She sighed. "Okay. Promise me that if you take off again. You'll call." "Laci." "Sierra, I'm serious. Humor me for once. Okay? This club gives me the creeps." Sierra grinned knowingly. "Why? Because you secretly want to be kidnapped?" Laci laughed. "Yeah, right." Then she grinned. "Unless it was Derek doing the kidnapping." She gasped. "Oh, no way! You're into it, aren't you? I mean, bondage and shit?" Laci blushed a bright shade of red. "No." "Liar! Oh, my... What do you guys do?" She blushed deeper. "Nothing," she peeped. Sierra laughed. "Oh, Lace. I never knew." "Shut up!" Sierra shook her head. "Does he tie you up? I always thought he was too much of a wuss to do something like that." Laci smacked her lightly on the shoulder. "Hey! He's not a wuss. And anyway, don't knock it until you try it." "Yeah. That'll happen. I'll never let a man have that much control over ME," she declared proudly. She looked at Laci who suddenly wore a shocked expression on her face. "What?" Laci nodded slightly to her left.
Rock Star, Chapter 1
With a sense of dread, Sierra slowly turned her head to her right, and came face to face with the reason they were waiting outside the back doors to begin with. Her breath caught in her throat as she stared into the sky blue eyes of her latest crush. It was him. Gabriel Locke. The lead singer of Warranty Unlimited.
She found herself speechless for the first time in her life. It was something in those eyes, something she couldn't identify. She stared into them as though searching for whatever it was.
He smiled at her, the corner of his eyes crinkling in a way she found sexy. "Hello," he said. "Waiting for me?"
Sierra stood perfectly still for several moments, trapped within herself by his gaze. She finally snapped out of it when Laci nudged her discreetly. She flashed him a megawatt smile as she regained her composure. She silently cursed herself for letting her emotions get the best of her.
"No. Actually, we're waiting for your drummer," she lied, hoping she didn't come across as over eager.
His smile broadened and Sierra felt like she could drown in his gorgeous eyes. He took a step toward her. "You'll be waiting awhile. He's got groupies."
She forced herself to remain calm which was nearly impossible to do with him being so close to her. She'd always observed him from a distance, watching him while he belted out his songs. She'd fallen in lust with him almost immediately. Tossing her dark her off her shoulder, she asked brazenly, "And you don't?"
He took another step towards her. "Who do you think I'm looking at?"
Once again, she was speechless. She opened her mouth to say something but no sound came out. She stared at him, unable to connect one coherent thought with another.
"The band is staying at The Plaza. I'll leave a key at the front desk for you. Just ask for the key for 'Gorgeous'," he murmured, his deep voice resonating through her entire being. He winked and then walked over to where a white limo was waiting. He climbed in back and a second later the car pulled out of the parking lot.
The two young women stood in complete silence for several minutes. Sierra finally turned to look at her friend. "Oh, my shit! Do you believe that just happened?" she breathed out, excitedly.
Laci shook her head. "Sierra, don't tell me you're honestly thinking of going over there."
"Of course I am! He's a hottie!"
"You heard him. You're nothing but a groupie to him. Someone to just use and toss away. He probably has someone else waiting for him back at the hotel," Laci said, trying to dissuade her.
Sierra knew Laci would never approve of her hooking up with Gabriel. She pretended to think for a few moments before she finally nodded. "You're right, Lace," she conceded, knowing it's what her friend wanted to hear. She sighed in what she hoped was a depressing tone. "That sucks. But you're right."
Laci nodded. "Sorry, Sierra. You should know by now that guys like him only use and abuse. Remember that last creep you followed to California?"
She laughed. "You mean the one who was snacking on his band mate? Who would've thunk?"
Laci chuckled. "No, you knucklehead. Kris something or other. From that other band. Creepshow, I think."
"Oh, him. He was the knucklehead. He didn't know what he was missing," Sierra declared.
"Obviously. Anyway. Let's go home. I have to get to work early in the morning."
Sierra followed her friend back around the building to where their car was parked in the front lot. It was a good thing she had driven because now all she had to do was drop Laci off at home and head over to The Plaza. She just knew Gabriel would be waiting for her.
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