Needing Forever VOL 2: Part of The Rocker... Series Universe Read online

  London glanced at him for a moment then grimaced. “Nah. We’ve changed our minds. Go away. We’re bored with you already.”

  I turned away, unable to continue to hide my laughter. I loved hanging out with these chicks. There was never a dull moment, no matter what we were doing. Snickering, London did the same, leaning in closer to whisper about what idiots these guys were.

  Steel-like fingers gripped my arm, and I felt my blood run cold. Pissed, I glared down at the hand now touching me with something close to violence before I snapped my eyes to the douchebag actor seething beside me. “Fuck off,” I gritted out, trying to pull free of Lowe’s hold, more than a little tempted to push his sleazy ass over the rail. Going to jail totally would have been worth it, watching his face as he fell. He probably wouldn’t have died—probably—but he’d break a few things upon landing.

  “Now, you listen to me, you little bitch. No one plays games with Jason Lowe.” London and Aubree snorted at his referring to himself in the third person. “He can have any piece of ass in this club he wants.”

  “Not me,” I fumed, the idea of pushing him over the railing more and more appealing with each word out of his pathetic mouth. “Let go of me before I make Jason Lowe famous for being pushed over the banister in LA’s favorite club.”

  But instead of him releasing me, his already punishingly tight hold on my wrist became even more painful. Both London and Aubree moved in closer, ready to intervene. Aubree had taken care of more than a few overzealous admirers of the other Blondes during the months I’d known them, so I knew she could take on Lowe all on her own. But this was my fight, and I was seriously debating how good I could make those ugly orange jumpsuits look while in jail.

  “Gentlemen,” a voice I only vaguely recognized half growled two seconds before the agonizing hold on my wrist dropped so quickly, it was like Lowe thought I had some communicable disease he could catch just from touching me. “I like to think anyone can come into my club and have a fun, safe experience. My friend here looks to be neither having fun, nor does she seem safe.”

  I lifted my gaze and met Harris Cutter’s aquamarine eyes. His hand fell onto Lowe’s shoulder and squeezed—hard. “I’m asking you politely to leave. You have five minutes to get off my property before Tiny escorts you.” He bent his head so he could make his point clearer. “And should this ever happen again, you can officially consider yourself banned from First Bass. For life.”

  “Ah, come on now, Cutter.” Lowe tried to laugh it off, seeming nervous. “We were just having a little fun with the ladies.”

  “I know what kind of fun you like to have, Lowe.” Harris clenched his hand even tighter until Jason Lowe could no longer hide his grimace of pain. “You now have four minutes to get out and off the property. And trust me, if Tiny has to get involved, I’ll let him do a perp walk out the front so the paps can get a nice, pretty shot of you with your hands in cable ties.”

  Lowe muttered a vicious curse, but he grabbed both his friend beside London and the one making out with Genesis and stormed away.

  “Bye-bye now,” London called after them. “Nice playing with you. Let’s do this again some time. Not!”

  “London,” Aubree muttered with a groan.

  “Hey,” Genesis whined. “I was having a good time. Which one of you bitches fucked it up?”

  I turned so I was facing Harris. “So, um, yeah. Thanks for that.”

  He shrugged. “No thanks needed. It’s my responsibility to make sure no one gets assaulted while in my club. It’s not the first time I’ve seen Lowe trying to work his magic, but it was the first time I’ve caught him with his hands on someone. This is his only warning. He gets caught again, and he will have to find somewhere else to chill while he’s in town.” Motioning to my wrist that I was now cradling against my stomach, he furrowed his brows in concern. “You should get some ice from Nate.”

  I pressed my lips together, not wanting to give Nate another reason to think he had the right to tell me how to dress. What had happened had nothing to do with my clothes. Some guys just thought they were so entitled in life, they could do whatever the hell they wanted. “I’ll be okay, and really, thanks again.”

  Harris nodded. “Let me know if you have any more issues.” His gaze went to the three Blondes. “Ladies, I believe we’ve talked about this multiple times in the past. No games in my club unless my wife is here to enjoy the entertainment. Please save tormenting the poor, unfortunate souls who don’t know any better than to mess with you until she’s had the baby and can visit the club again.”

  London smirked. “I’ll do my best to try, but some of these idiots are just walking around, begging for us to fuck with them.”

  “Try harder,” he muttered with a dry laugh. “I’m going to entrust Miss Riley’s safety to the three of you for the rest of the night. I’m about to head home and cuddle Lucy and her beautiful baby bump for the remainder of the evening.”

  Aubree saluted him. “On it, boss. Give Lucy a kiss for us.”

  His face softened. “You are all coming to the shower tomorrow, right? She’s expecting you.”

  We all nodded. “Wouldn’t miss it,” the Blondes assured him. “We’ll even be dragging Sin along with us. So, if you have any heavy lifting that still needs doing, please feel free to borrow him for any and all of that shit.”

  Grinning, Harris nodded. “Noted. Have fun, ladies.”

  As he walked away, London called after him, “You know you’re bored around here without us to cause trouble.”

  “Bored isn’t what I would call it,” he returned, glancing at us over his shoulder. “More like, I have better control over my sanity now that you three aren’t always around to make me want to tear my hair out.”

  “Aww,” Genesis cooed. “He really cares.”

  The four of us laughed as he shook his head and continued walking. Relaxing now that the drama was over, I turned to glance out over the first floor and tried to hide the fact that my wrist was aching. Damn, did Lowe have a bionic hand or something? Because I felt the pain all the way down to the bones in my wrist.

  “Heads up,” Aubree muttered close to my ear several minutes later, making me turn my head to see what she was talking about.

  And there he was, with a bag of ice in his hands, walking toward us.

  I didn’t know if Harris had told Nate to bring it to me, or if he’d seen what happened, but even though I was dreading him bitching more about what I was wearing, I was glad to see him.

  His beautiful eyes were already skimming over me before he even reached us, as if assessing me for damage. When they fell on me cradling my wrist in my other hand, those eyes that entranced me so easily darkened. “Boss said you needed some ice. What the fuck happened, Riley?”

  “Jason Lowe happened,” London provided. “He got a little rough with her when we told him to fuck off.”

  That was a good downplay of what had happened. Sighing, I told him the truth as I accepted the bag of ice and placed it on my throbbing wrist. I didn’t have anything to wrap it in so I wasn’t going to be able to keep the ice directly on there for long, but it was enough of a relief for the moment.

  “You told me you were staying in tonight,” he grumbled as he cupped my elbow in one hand and ran his fingers down my injured arm with the other.

  “Yeah, well, that was before you turned into an asshole again and started dictating what I should and shouldn’t wear,” I told him with a pout.

  “For fuck’s sake, woman,” he growled. “Wear whatever the hell makes you happy if it bothers you that damn much. I was just trying to protect you. Do you know how many times I’ve had to kick a dumbass guy out of here because he can’t keep his hands off a beautiful woman in an outfit this sexy? The thought of something like that happening to you while I’m not there to do something about it drives me nuts.”

  When he put it like that, it didn’t seem too bad.

  “And you were so jealous thinking of other eyes on what’s yours, you couldn’t stand it,” London countered, making the other two Blondes nod in agreement.

  He clenched his jaw. “I’m not denying that. Fucking look at her. If she were yours, wouldn’t you be?”

  “I’m not going to argue with you over it,” London told him with a laugh. “Just making sure you man up to all the reasons why you want her to dress like a nun when she’s anywhere but at home.”

  Nate scrubbed his hands over his face. “You know, I don’t miss you Blondes being here so much these days. The only one of you who doesn’t get into trouble brings freaking Sin everywhere she goes, and that’s not a plus.”

  Reaching out with both hands, he pulled me against him before cupping my face. “Listen to me, Riley. I’m not trying to change you or make you into some kind of submissive, if that is what you’ve been thinking. I like you just the way you are.” Lowering his head, he brushed his lips over my ear. “More than like you. I fucking care about you,” he murmured so that I only could hear him. “Dress however you want. I just want you to be happy. I’m jealous of any guy who even looks twice at you, but they’re going to do that no matter what you’re wearing.”

  To my utter surprise and absolute horror, I felt tears sting my eyes. Pressing my face into his chest so he couldn’t see them, I tried to get control of myself. What the hell was wrong with me? I never cried and certainly not over something so mundane.

  Putting it down to being tired after having been up all night with Nate and then the whole incident with Lowe, I gave myself a mental bitching to suck it up and get over it. Only when I knew my eyes were dry did I lean back to look up at him. “Good talk,” I told him with a sexy little wink. “But who is manning the bar while you’re over here whispering sweet nothings to me?”

  “Fuck th
e bar.” His beautiful eyes scanned mine. “Are we good?”

  Pushing up ever so slightly onto my tiptoes since I didn’t need nearly as much height in these heels, I brushed a quick kiss over his lips. “We’re good.”

  “Can I come by when I get off work?”

  “I’d like that,” I murmured quietly and watched as his eyes dilated.

  Shaking his head, he looked down at my wrist, adjusting the ice pack so he could examine it. The skin was red from the direct contact with the ice, but even with the huge discoloration, it was easy to tell where Lowe had been holding me so hard. “Next time someone touches you like this, knock their teeth down their throat.”

  “I was actually contemplating how much time I would get if I’d pushed him over the railing,” I told him honestly.

  “Self-defense, baby. No cop would have arrested you.” Lifting my hand, he bent his head just enough to kiss my sore wrist. “I feel like I say this every time I’m leaving you, but be good.” One more kiss to the back of my hand and he backed away. “You know where I’ll be if you need me.”

  “I’m leaving in a few,” I promised, and his eyes filled with relief.

  “Good. Get some rest. You’re going to need it.”

  Chapter 5

  Riley

  My phone was ringing with the one tone I didn’t want to hear on my day off.

  Work.

  Groaning, I reached out blindly for my cell, and after lifting one eyelid enough to swipe my thumb over the answer option on the screen, I lifted it to my ear. “What?” I rasped in a sleepy voice, making Nate’s arms tighten around me in protest.

  “Riley!” My mom’s panicked voice surprised me, and I sat up like I’d had ice water poured on me.

  “Mom?”

  “Please tell me you’re out of bed and dressed. Debbie and Vera both called out with the stomach bug, and poor Cindy is at the shop all by herself. I have two meetings with our supplier in less than an hour, so I can’t stay and help.”

  I looked down at my naked chest, the covers having fallen off as soon as I’d sat up. “You woke me up,” I told her honestly, pushing a few locks of hair out of my eyes. “But I can be there in thirty minutes if traffic permits.”

  “Thank you, sweetheart. I know it’s your day off, but there’s just no one else.”

  “Mom, relax. We’re partners in this, remember?” I was already out of bed, thankful Nate had tempted me into showering with him when he’d gotten home from work in the early hours of the morning.

  That thought made me pause with my hand in my underwear drawer. Home. I’d started considering this Nate’s home. Hell, he’d slept here every night since our hookup the Friday before, so it had only been a week. Yet it felt like this was his home, right here with me.

  “Riley?” Mom called out, her voice laced with concern.

  “Right, sorry. I’m getting dressed now. Go to your meetings. Tell Cindy I’ll be there as soon as I can.” Hanging up after she thanked me yet again, I started pulling on clothes.

  Behind me, I heard Nate shifting around in bed. “Gotta go to work, baby?”

  I glanced at him over my shoulder. The room was pretty dim, but I could make out his naked form leaning back against the headboard. Something contracted in the vicinity of my heart, and I had to take a deep breath before it eased. “Yeah. Two girls are out sick today and we’re having a huge sale, so I can’t leave Cindy on her own.”

  Pulling on a pair of jeans, I grabbed a tank top and walked back to him as I slid it over my head. Leaning down, I kissed him. “I don’t know how long I’ll be, so I might not make it back before you have to go to work.”

  He cupped the back of my head, pulling me back in for another kiss and making me want to slide on top of him. But our Friday sales always brought in a huge crowd, and I couldn’t leave my only healthy employee alone for long. Reluctantly, I cut the kiss short. “I have to go,” I told him with a pout.

  “I know,” he said with a frustrated sigh. “Come by the club tonight so I can kiss you again.”

  “Yeah?” His command didn’t make me the least bit grumpy. If anything, it made my heart squeeze all over again.

  “Yeah.” Nate’s fingers locked with mine for a moment before I was standing. “Can I come back again tonight?”

  “Don’t you get tired of going from work to here and then to your apartment again before going back to work?” I asked, not sure how smart what I was about to offer was, but unable to stop myself because I wanted him to say yes.

  “Are you tired of me already?” he asked, his voice holding just a trace of uncertainty.

  “No,” I assured him as I grabbed my brush off the top of the dresser and started smoothing out the tangles in my hair. “I’m just wondering if you would like to bring a few things here so you don’t have to go back and forth so much.”

  “You want me to move in?” The uncertainty was gone, replaced by disbelief.

  “Um, no,” I laughed. “It’s way too soon for that. I’m just saying bring an extra toothbrush. A few clothes. Your travel shaving kit and toiletries. I’ll make some room in the bathroom and the closet, maybe give you your own drawer…” I trailed off with a shrug. “It’s up to you. But I can have a key made for you if you want to.”

  I had my back to him as I finished, not wanting to see even his shadow if he turned down my offer. Before I could put down my brush, strong arms wrapped around me from behind, his scruffy day-old beard rubbing against my skin as he kissed me just below my ear. “Yes, Riley. I want all of that. The key, the drawer, the closet space. Whatever you want to give me, I’ll take it.”

  Heart lifting with happiness, I turned in his arms. “Yeah?”

  He brushed his lips over the tip of my nose. “Yeah, love.”

  I wanted to melt into him or scream and do a happy dance—which was beyond crazy because only the week before, I’d been telling myself repeatedly how this was a one and done. But I couldn’t do any of that because I needed to get to freaking work.

  Instead, I hugged him hard then grabbed my shoes and ran out the door.

  It wasn’t a lifetime commitment, but it was the biggest step I’d ever taken with any guy. I’d never given a guy his own drawer before, never had this need to want one to be around long enough to even make the offer. This was huge for me, and I didn’t have time to stop and contemplate what it all meant. What I was freaking feeling.

  Work was pure chaos as soon as I walked through the door. Poor Cindy looked like she’d been in a war zone, and more than thirty people were walking around the shop, five of whom were at the counter asking a hundred and one questions without taking the time to realize Cindy was at the end of her rope. I didn’t even have time to take my stuff to the back; I just put it behind the counter and stepped right up to the register to get the people in line waiting to pay out the door as quickly as possible.

  By lunchtime, the store hadn’t cleared out much. Even though I was getting them checked out and on their way quickly, more and more kept coming in. It was great for business, but both Cindy and I were starving at that point, and I was anything but perky when I was hungry.

  My phone rang in my pocket, and I wasn’t going to answer because of how busy we were, but something told me to pick up. Pulling it out of my back pocket, I swiped my thumb over the screen without giving it more than a glance while I scanned the few items the next customer had just placed on the counter.

  “This is Riley,” I said distractedly.

  “Baby.” Nate’s voice filled my ear, surprising me. “I know you’re busy, but I’m in jail. I didn’t know who else to call.”

  I laughed. “Good one.” Folding up a pair of jeans, I placed them in a bag.

  “I’m serious,” he said with a heavy sigh, and the tiredness in his voice told me he wasn’t joking in the least.

  “What do you mean, you’re in jail?” I whisper-shouted, turning my back on the customer because I needed to focus completely on the situation at hand for a moment. “I left you in bed. How did you go from sleeping to jail?”

  “Jace showed up looking for Kin. I was half asleep and he was ringing the bell and pounding on the door, so I couldn’t ignore it. He freaked, we fought, and your neighbor arrested us both. So now, I’m in a jail cell beside Kin’s ex. I wouldn’t have bothered you, babe, but I didn’t want you to worry if you got home and I wasn’t there.”