Leather, Lace and Rock-N-Roll Read online

  Leather, Lace and Rock-n-Roll

  Title Page

  CHAPTER ONE

  CHAPTER TWO

  CHAPTER THREE

  CHAPTER FOUR

  CHAPTER FIVE

  CHAPTER SIX

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  CHAPTER NINE

  CHAPTER TEN

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  EPILOGUE

  Leather, Lace and Rock-n-Roll

  By Mia Dymond

  Copyright 2011 Mia Dymond

  Smashwords Edition

  Smashwords Edition, License Notes

  This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This e-book may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  CHAPTER ONE

  “Cameron, I can’t believe you’re making me do this!”

  Rachel took one look around the jam-packed auditorium of the Diablo Convention Center and felt the sudden urge to lose her lunch. No way could she do what Cameron expected her to do. The mere thought of it was totally ridiculous. She glanced at the closest exit sign and opened her mouth to speak.

  “Don’t even think about it,” Cameron said from beside her.

  “Why?”

  Rachel’s stomach spun and her cheeks heated as Cameron tugged her through a sea of spandex and sequins.

  “You tossed your back stage pass, remember?” Cameron’s infectious giggle was swallowed by the sound of hysterical, screaming women.

  Rachel squeezed her eyes closed and swallowed hard. How could I forget?

  Still, she had to try to change Cameron’s mind one more time. “Can’t I just buy you a pair of shoes?”

  Rachel glanced down at Cameron’s feet, wrapped in a pair of strappy black sandals that boosted her height at least six inches. Surely the Louis Vuitton pumps in Bergmann’s window could provide a tempting incentive.

  A sly grin creased Cameron’s lips. “Nah,” she said as she wrinkled her nose and pulled Rachel through the crowd.

  Rachel exhaled in frustration. Cameron had managed to talk her into doing something completely out of her comfort zone. Cameron had this bright idea (one of her best, she claimed) to get backstage to meet world-renowned rock star, Jaydon Hawke, at his concert. A completely Cameron thing to do, but oh so not Rachel’s modus operandi.

  Cameron tightened her hold on Rachel’s elbow. “I won’t miss this opportunity, not even for you.”

  Rachel frowned. Although she understood Cameron’s excitement, she wasn’t being entirely rational. “You realize less than 25% of women who attempt this feat actually succeed, don’t you?”

  Cameron looked at her like she grew two heads. “Where on Earth did you hear that?”

  “I didn’t. I researched it. It’s true.”

  Cameron shook her head. “You really need to relax, Rachel.”

  Rachel gave a heavy sigh. “There’s no guarantee we’ll get back there, let alone see Hawke.”

  Cameron stopped and folded her arms. “First of all, let me remind you that it was you who forced me to orchestrate this mission.”

  Rachel flinched as guilt poked her. “I know and I’m sorry. I was sure you’d go back there without me.” Rachel tucked a piece of hair behind her ear. “If you’ll just wait two seconds, I can run to the hospitality counter and explain. I’m sure I can finagle another pass.”

  The mischievous look that overtook Cameron’s face made Rachel’s nerves tremble.

  “Too late.” Cameron dismissed her with a wave of her hand and nudged her toward the stage. “Besides, you know as well as I do, I don’t care if we see Hawke or not.”

  Rachel paused. She knew good and well Cameron nursed a huge crush on Hawke’s drummer, Sean Pirelli. And apparently, being the object of Cameron’s raging hormones was a dangerous thing.

  “Yes, but what if someone sees me?”

  Cameron chuckled. “Believe me, Rachel, no one expects to see you here.”

  Rachel didn’t know whether to be insulted or relieved. But, Cameron had a point. Rachel had never been to a rock concert in her life and certainly never tried to get back stage.

  So she followed behind, both amazed and terrified when Cameron maneuvered them all the way up front and two feet from the backstage entrance. Unfortunately, the massive, bald, mountain of a man standing guard appeared to be unimpressed by Cameron’s tactics.

  He gave a slight nod. “Ladies.”

  Rachel forced a smile and tried to hide as best she could behind Cameron’s five foot frame.

  In her usual sassy manner, Cameron tossed her naturally blonde curls, flashed her black and white VIP pass, and pointed behind him. “We’re supposed to be back there.”

  In one practiced swoop, he took her pass and slid it into his left front jeans pocket. “The meet-and-greet was two hours ago.”

  Rachel’s nerves skipped a happy dance. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Her relief, however, was short lived when she reached for Cameron’s elbow and grasped only air.

  Cameron took two steps closer to the guard.

  Rachel could only stare as Cameron fluttered her eyelids and molded her soft curves to his hard, muscled body. Then, with a steamy smile, she stood on her tiptoes to caress the top of his smooth, shiny head with her fingertips, and leaned in to tickle his ear with a whisper.

  Rachel stole a quick look around the area to make sure they hadn’t attracted any attention. When her gaze rested back on the bouncer, he stood with his hands crossed over his sculpted chest, his head lowered to gaze over the top of his Armani sunglasses, lazily perusing Cameron’s body from top to bottom. Rachel let some of the tension slide from her shoulders. Cameron had everything under control. He was quite obviously occupied for now. Maybe Cameron could pull this off alone.

  Cameron braced one smooth, shapely leg against his hip and Rachel’s eyes widened when she noticed the zipper of his black denim jeans strained to restrain his enthusiasm. Rachel moaned under her breath and fought the sudden urge to leave Cameron holding the bag. But once again, loyalty to Cameron stopped her and she shifted from foot to foot, certain they would be thrown out any minute. Instead, he stood morbidly still.

  Rachel swallowed hard when Cameron took a step back and placed both hands on the hem of her blouse.

  “Now,” she told Rachel.

  Against her better judgment, Rachel followed Cameron’s example and in the next second she and Cameron lifted their shirts and presented their lush, firm, bare breasts to the valiant soldier. He cocked an eyebrow and Rachel could’ve sworn his upper lip lifted a millimeter. Although she was totally embarrassed, Rachel felt somewhat relieved that his gaze was zeroed in on Cameron. And, obviously he’d forgotten all about her legs.

  Rachel shook herself free of her temporary insanity and yanked her shirt back in place, shocked that she actually participated. But even more shocking was motorcycle-man’s overly satisfied smile as he pushed his shades back up over his eyes, unclipped the velvet rope of the barrier, and waved them through the entrance.

  “See?” Cameron smoothed her top with both hands and plumped her breasts back up to the top. “Piece of cake. Now you’re ready for Harley’s.”

  “A biker bar?!” Rachel tossed her hair o
ver her shoulder in defiance as she repositioned herself. “No way.”

  “Way.” Cameron threw a playful wink at the burly watch dog still poised at the gate. “You’ve just proven your equipment is in tip-top condition.”

  Rachel gave Cameron her best when hell freezes look. “From now on, my equipment stays put.”

  “Well, we’re back here. Nothing’s stopping us now.”

  “What exactly did you say to him?”

  “I just explained we only had one pass but it would be worth his while to pretend we had two. Obviously, he agreed.”

  Although still not convinced the whole evening had not been a terrible nightmare, Rachel followed Cameron down the corridor, puzzled by the lack of security. Surely there were more bouncers than the one at the gate. A twinge of apprehension tickled the base of her back bone.

  “Uh, Cameron, where is everybody?”

  Even Cameron seemed to be bothered by the emptiness. “Kinda weird, huh? You’d think—”

  Rachel stopped in mid-step, just in time to stop herself from plowing into Cameron. “What’s wrong?”

  Rachel glanced around Cameron and her mouth fell open. There, in the flesh, headed straight for them was Jaydon Hawke himself. She looked closer. In the flesh was an understatement. His shirt flaps blew in the breeze behind him, his toned, sculpted abs rippled with each step. And lower, his tight red, leather pants had been left unzipped enough to catch a glimpse of his obliques, carved into a sexy valley leading to a nicely wrapped package between his legs.

  “Hey ladies.”

  Rachel raised her gaze from his groin to his face, a split second before Cameron passed smooth out, her lemon drop curls threatening to smack the cement on the way down. Baffled by both Cameron’s reaction and Hawke’s arrival, Rachel managed to overcome her confusion long enough to catch Cameron and fold her neatly on the floor.

  “Darn you, Cameron, this was your idea,” she mumbled.

  Rachel squatted beside Cameron and fanned her vigorously, tempted to slap her silly.

  “Sonuva—”

  Hawke’s half-curse stalled her motion.

  “What now?” she snapped.

  Almost embarrassed by her sharp tone, Rachel released a heavy breath. It wasn’t his fault her evening had gone to hell.

  “I need you to come here for a minute.”

  Rachel snorted and resumed moving the air around Cameron. She gave Cameron’s shoulder a shake. For Pete’s sake, wake up! “I can’t leave her like this.”

  “She’s fine,” he insisted, “it happens all the time. I really need your help.”

  Rachel rolled her eyes. Of course this happened all the time. Forcing herself to admit Cameron was still out cold, she glanced over her shoulder.

  “Oh, God.” Her jaw fell open. “What are you doing?”

  Hawke stood inches from her with his hands between his legs and a smirk on his face. ”Not what you think.” He moved his hands to the side. “My zipper is jammed. You’re going to have to help me.”

  Mortified, all she could do was stare like a star struck idiot. This is not happening. “You have got to be kidding.”

  “I wish like hell I was.”

  Rachel glanced down at his groin and then back at him. “No.”

  He released a throaty chuckle. “You don’t expect me to go out there like this, do you?”

  Rachel couldn’t help but lower her eyes again. His pants were so tight, it was quite obvious what rested beneath. He’d cause a riot.

  Without moving her gaze, she made a last ditch effort to sway his decision. “Just leave your shirt untucked.”

  Another low, sexy laugh. “You’ve never seen my show, have you?”

  Rachel shook her head.

  “My pants really need to be zipped,” he said. “My shirt won’t stay on long.”

  Rachel closed her eyes and briefly chastised herself for blindly following Cameron. This is exactly what I get. First I flash the bodyguard, now this.

  Determined to end the madness, she released an aggravated sigh. “Can you come closer? I really don’t want to leave her.”

  She saw his jaw clench as he inched closer. Rachel glanced back down at Cameron who appeared to be sleeping peacefully. Surely this wouldn’t take long. And he did appear to be sincere about needing her help.

  Rachel turned and crouched between his legs, positioning one palm on each side of his zipper. Sudden movement under her right hand made her flinch.

  “Um.” She swallowed hard. “That’s only going to complicate matters.”

  He placed a finger under her chin and tilted her head until their eyes met. “Sweetheart, there’s not a damn thing I can do about that.”

  Rachel’s cheeks burnt. There was absolutely no way she would work the zipper around that obstacle. “I don’t think I’m the right person for this. Let me get someone else.”

  Something between panic and amusement flashed in his eyes. “No time. I’ve got to get out there.”

  Rachel released another sigh and refocused on her task. The zipper was stuck halfway up the tract. If she could force it back down, he could take it from there.

  “Can you squeeze the edges together?”

  For a split second she thought he might argue. And then he reached down and pinched the fabric between his fingers.

  Rachel moved her hand from the overwhelming warmth of his body and grasped the zipper. After a few quick tugs, it slid free. Just as Rachel was about to declare victory, she heard Cameron’s voice behind her.

  “That was definitely not part of the plan.”

  Sheer, white terror enveloped her as Rachel looked over her shoulder. Too late she realized that in her surprise, her hands lay plastered to Hawke’s groin, her fingers all but wrapped around his anatomy. Cameron now sat on the concrete floor, her legs folded beneath her, both eyebrows raised in curiosity.

  “Later,” Rachel mumbled.

  She redirected her gaze back to Hawke with every intention of moving her hands. But when scalding heat burnt the distance between them, she lost all good sense. For one split lust-filled second, she actually considered slipping her hands inside to play.

  Good Lord.

  “You’re good to go,” she managed to say. “Be careful zipping up.”

  He glanced down between his legs. “Watch your fingers.”

  Rachel gasped and dropped her hands as she stood.

  He tucked himself deep within his pants and zipped without incident before he extended a hand. “Jaydon Hawke.”

  Rachel tilted her head to one side and slid her hand inside his, momentarily at a loss for words. What exactly was she supposed to say to the man whose anatomy she literally held in her hands?

  A shiver of awareness tickled her neck as he stroked the back of her knuckles with his thumb. “I’ll have security bring you back after the show. I owe you something.”

  Rachel raised an eyebrow, amused that he would offer such a thing. Little did he know, she didn’t need a security escort. After all, she had done just fine by herself.

  She extracted her hand from his hold and pasted a polite smile on her face. “That’s really not necessary.”

  Cameron cleared her throat and Hawke raised an eyebrow. Apparently, neither Cameron nor he thought her serious. Rachel bit her lip to keep from screaming. She was as serious as the heart attack she was sure to experience in the next few seconds if her pounding heart didn’t slow its pace.

  Hawke’s expression turned from one of confidence to one of utter confusion, but the arrival of a familiar face interrupted any further discussion. Rachel took a deep breath to calm her trembling nerves as the bouncer from the gate glanced at her, then Cameron, then at Hawke.

  “Everything alright back here?”

  “Fine, Max,” Hawke answered.

  Max gestured at Cameron with his head. “What about her?”

  Rachel turned to look at Cameron, silently pleading for her to release her usual quick retort. Cameron, the traitor, just raised her eyebrows
and grinned.

  Determined to remain composed, Rachel glanced at Max. “I’ll get some water.”

  Max nodded. “Wait here. I’ll take you girls back out as soon as Hawke’s on stage.”

  As soon as the order left Max’s mouth, Rachel knew Cameron’s sass couldn’t resist.

  “I’m sure we can find the skybox.” Cameron folded her arms across her chest and tilted her head to the side. “Since it’s the only section hanging from the ceiling, it shouldn’t be hard to locate.”

  Both the bouncer and Hawke stood silent for a moment and Rachel prepared herself for the worst. Instead, Hawke gave her one last mouth-watering smile before he turned and started toward the stage, granting her a bird’s eye view of his backside in the process. No wonder groupies fell at his feet. She, however, was no groupie.

  “Thanks again,” he said over his shoulder.

  “Any time,” she muttered.

  Wiping her trembling hands on her skirt, Rachel attempted to regulate her breathing while she offered Cameron a hand. “Are you crazy? He’s ten times your size!”

  Cameron only shrugged as she took Rachel’s hand and stood. “Spill.”

  “You passed out.” Rachel gave her balls-of-steel best friend a smug grin. “You blew your big chance. And after you flashed your goodies too.”

  Cameron gave her a devilish look. “I’ll buy that explanation. But, what exactly did you and Mr. Hawke do while I was out?”

  Rachel hesitated, not quite sure how long Cameron had been awake or what she saw.

  “His zipper was stuck.”

  Cameron’s eyes flashed. “That was an awfully quick explanation.” Rachel could only stare open-mouthed, but Cameron apparently didn’t expect further elaboration. “Maybe you don’t need to relax as much as I thought.”

  Rachel’s head spun in relief. “Maybe.” She poked her hair behind her ears and nudged Cameron toward the exit. “C’mon, the show is about to start.”

  Cameron smirked. “Think we can find our seats without the hired muscle?”

  “I’m not waiting for him, Cameron,” Rachel growled. “I’ve already been humiliated enough for one evening.”