King of Rock (Lions of Pride Island Book 1) Read online

  “I’m not done yet,” she said.

  “I… but…” He grunted, confused at the rapid turn of events and trying to focus despite what her hands were now doing.

  “Don’t keep me from what I want,” she growled, half playfully, half possessively.

  Beau couldn’t suppress his smile at seeing the powerful lioness come out to play.

  “But not sex,” he clarified, another shiver going down his spine as she stroked.

  “No. But that doesn’t mean I don’t want to see you come,” she said, her voice husky and aroused.

  She continued to stroke, her hands running along his entire length, making him shudder with building anticipation.

  Well, if they were going for one more ride, then she was coming on it with him.

  Deftly, he sneaked a hand between her two arms, reaching down between her legs as she still held his erect member, and began to tease her clit with his finger. She gasped, and her grip tightened, sending him even closer.

  Something told him neither of them were going to last long.

  Focusing on his mate’s pleasure, he stroked with fevered intensity, pushing her to the limit as she handled him with increasing speed. Both of their hearts raced, their breathing coming out as hurried gasps as they both continued to push each other to the furthest extremities of their control.

  But Beau knew his mate’s body already. Knew what she liked. Could tell exactly where she wanted it, how she wanted it. He rubbed along her clit with one slick stroke, her wetness making his finger glide, and she came beneath him. As her body tightened, her grip did as well, and he felt his own orgasm ripped from him as they came in unison.

  Beau’s entire body felt aflame with white-hot pleasure as his mate called his name once again, this time long and loud, filling him with happiness even as every drop of pleasure was wrenched from him in the most exhausting, satisfying way.

  As all the muscles within his body finally calmed down, he heard his mate give out a long, contented sigh. He hopped off the bed and cleaned off in the bathroom, then came back just as Stacy gave out a long yawn and turned on her side, exhausted and ready for a catnap.

  He wasn’t going to be one to question whether or not they should stay together that night, seeing as she was already half asleep, so he nestled in behind her and pulled the sheets over them. As he did, she scooted back to get closer to him, their bodies close and warm together.

  And as he drifted off, all he could think about was how lucky he was to have Stacy as his potential future mate.

  And also whether or not tomorrow was going to be awkward.

  That morning at at breakfast, Stacy couldn’t believe how far she’d gone with Beau. And how far they hadn’t gone. It had been so tempting, the motions between them heady, sexual, inevitable.

  But at the same time, there was a finality to full sex that, even with protection, she just wasn’t quite ready for.

  Beau seemed satisfied with what had happened. He kept sneaking furtive glances at her between bites of breakfast, which was served at the table on the patio. So much wide, sprawling land. How could he not get lonely here before?

  “How often are you home?” she asked.

  “I don’t tour as much as I used to,” he said, scratching his head as he sat back. “I know I’m still young, but everything went so fast that I just sort of burned out harder. I know it seems quiet out here, but truthfully, I’m ready for some peace and quiet.”

  She nodded, pushing the remainder of her bacon around on her plate. He scooted his chair over, took her fork, stabbed the remaining bacon, and held it out for her to eat. She frowned but then gave in, the playful, hopeful expression on his face too much for her to turn down.

  “Thanks,” she said.

  “Gotta make sure my mate is well fed. Takes a lot of energy to put up with me.”

  She grinned. “That’s for sure. So what are we doing today?”

  “I have a concert tonight. For a charity benefit,” he said.

  She bit her lip. “Do you want me to go?”

  “Don’t you want to?” he asked.

  He had a point. After what they’d shared last night, it was clear, at least for now, they were together. She didn’t really know how deep they were in yet, but there was something there. She’d felt it between them the entire time they’d been making love.

  She rested her head on her palm. “I guess so.”

  “Don’t get too excited,” he said dolefully, playing at being miffed. But maybe beneath the act, he was a bit miffed.

  “It’s not that. I guess the whole thing is confusing. It’s moving fast. Even faster than I thought.”

  “Well yeah, a week has to be fast,” he said.

  “Not that,” she said. “The thing is I didn’t think I’d be falling for you, so I didn’t worry about a week being enough to do that.”

  “Oh.” He raised an eyebrow playfully. “So you’re falling for me, huh?”

  She ignored the question, not wanting to puff up his ego any more than it was. “I just want to know, though… And this isn’t saying I plan to mate you, because I don’t. But if we did mate, what would happen after that?”

  Her heart beat hard as he considered it, sitting back in his chair once again. The breeze fluttered his hair, making the light-gold highlights catch in the sun. He was so beautiful she could just sit there watching him.

  Dangerously beautiful.

  “I guess things wouldn’t have to change that much,” he said. “I can still do my music, though I probably would cut back on touring if I had a mate to stay home with.” He gave her a wink. “And you could stay home with me and do charity work from there, with my money, or just continue your job. The important thing is we’d be mated. After that, it’s just up to my brothers to find their mates and then we’re set.”

  “Who’s set?” she asked carefully.

  He put his hands on the table. “The family, you know? The oracle will be pleased for another generation.”

  “Ah,” she said, her heart growing a bit cold. Once again a reminder that the real reason for this was because of an obligation. He said he liked her. Was he making himself like her because he had no choice? Because he had to help his family and, in his view, the world?

  She frowned, and he looked over and finally seemed to realize how his words had sounded.

  “When I said that was the important thing, I only meant it was the important thing to my family. To me, the important thing is being mated to you.”

  Same thing as far as she was concerned. But life wasn’t a fairy tale, so she really shouldn’t complain. She wasn’t Cinderella, there were no fairy godmothers, and handsome princes didn’t just fall in love with normal women for no good reason.

  She guessed if she did care for him, she should just be fine with him liking her for whatever reason. The problem was the more she came to care for him, the more she wanted him to want her the same way. For who she was, not what she could bring him. After all, she was overcoming her promises to herself to be with him. He was just going along with what he’d always known would be interesting.

  She almost asked him about it right then. How much of his feelings were feelings he’d decided long ago to give to anyone the oracle chose, and how much were because of getting to know her?

  Certainly she hadn’t been the most endearing. She only knew how to verbally spar with him, tease him, and jump on him, despite claiming she didn’t want him.

  But hopefully he saw a different story in her eyes. That she was coming to love him, and it scared her breathless.

  “Sometimes when you look at me, I would kill to know what you’re thinking.”

  “That’s the problem with you pureblooded lions,” she muttered. “Always taking violence way too lightly.”

  His eyes narrowed, deepening the glittering blue there. “I don’t take violence lightly at all. I hate it, in fact. So do my brothers, as far as I know. The thing is it’s sometimes necessary.”

  She shook her
head. “I don’t know.” She stood. “Well, if you have a concert this evening, you probably have lots of things to get do. Not to mention you might want to relax.”

  He grinned. “Feeling a little overwhelmed after last night?”

  She nodded. Why hide it?

  His grin deepened. “Good.” Then his expression went serious. “Because I don’t think I’ll forget that for the rest of my life.”

  She froze, staring at him, feeling the pull between them. Something truly mystical. She’d said before she didn’t believe in fated mates or anything like that.

  But just how fast her feelings had changed for the frustrating, beautiful man in front of her seemed to prove all of that wrong.

  Maybe she did believe now. And maybe it would crush her if it turned out not to be true.

  “I’ll look forward to seeing your concert tonight,” she said. “Can I bring a friend? Like Lisa?”

  “The blonde who nearly crushed the life out of me before?” he asked.

  “She did?” Stacy had to think about it, and jealousy surged through her as she remembered. At the time, she’d been too nervous and resistant to meeting Beau to notice. But now it felt as if he were almost… hers.

  Suddenly, she didn’t want to share him with anyone. Especially someone who was a die-hard fan of his.

  “I’ll be fine on my own,” she said.

  “Are you sure?” he asked. “I can have someone go with you. You can sit with my publicist in a VIP seating area.”

  “I can do that.” She relented. “As long as I can see the stage well.”

  “Of course,” he said.

  She surprised herself with how much she wanted to see his show this time. Before, she’d been so reluctant, almost angry. But now, she just wanted to see him perform, to know that sexy man up there was all hers.

  Or could be if she wanted him.

  But would she only have his body and his sexy personality, or would she also have his heart?

  Beyond his charming smiles, was there a depth of feeling growing there?

  “I’m looking forward to it,” she said. “I guess I’m going to go take a nap and then pick out my outfit.”

  His blue eyes twinkled at her. “Something sexy, okay?”

  She nodded. “I think I can do that this time.”

  He threw his head back and laughed, looking supremely happy and relaxed in the morning sun.

  “What?” she asked. “Didn’t you think my outfit was sexy before?”

  He snorted. “Of course. I was laughing at the fact that you said ‘this time,’ as if you thought wearing conservative clothing last time could really hide how sexy you were. I was aroused the moment I met you.”

  She nearly choked on her shock, and her body clenched in response. “Um…” But she wasn’t ready yet after last night. It was already overwhelming what they’d done, and while her body was quickly becoming ready again, her heart had too many questions. “I’ll see you later, then.”

  So she marched away, sure he could see her obvious arousal and hearing his laughter echoing in the distance.

  10

  Stacy enjoyed the concert from the VIP booth much more than she had her first experience. Which was saying something, because despite her own reservations, she’d been very caught up in the moment and enjoyed every single song.

  It was even more amazing that all the proceeds tonight were going to charity.

  In reality, it was the perfect setup. He was in a good place to make a difference in society and use his position politically if need be, and at the same time, he could do a lot of good because he didn’t really need the money or fame that came with his talent.

  She sighed and rested her cheek in her palm as she looked out from her private box to the stage. Her seat was close to the stage, only slightly elevated a few feet above general seating, and gave her a private but thrilling front-row experience.

  The only other people in the box were Beau’s publicist, a middle aged woman who spent most of her time on her cell phone, and a few guests who’d paid an exorbitant amount for special seating.

  One seemed to be the son of some important hotelier, and he seemed to only be there because his girlfriend was obsessed with Beau.

  She couldn’t be jealous as the other girl squealed and cheered over his songs. This was just Beau’s effect on his fans, and he truly treasured them. She’d never be jealous of him for that.

  Still, as he hit a great guitar solo, she stood at the edge and cheered along with the other girl, extra loud so Beau could hear her.

  She flushed at her own audacity, and even deeper when he looked up and his eyes met hers, flashing with heat as he gripped the microphone and began singing again.

  Oh hell, he was sexy.

  The girl next to her screamed and grabbed her. “Did you see that? He looked at you?”

  The publicist looked up with a bored expression. “She’s Beau’s special guest. Please release her.”

  The girl stepped back, and the boyfriend, who’d been staring at his phone with a bored expression, looked over. He had dark, slicked-back hair, a tall, slumped physique that bulged at the middle, and a look that said he thought he was better than the rest of the world.

  “So you can get us backstage access?” he asked, walking forward.

  “I must insist you step back,” the publicist said, looking nervous as she glanced at the stage, where Beau was still singing but seemed to have noticed what was going on in the booth.

  Stacy didn’t have a good feeling about this at all. “If the tickets you purchased work for backstage access, then I suppose you can meet him.”

  “Come on,” the guy said, pushing around the publicist and coming toward Stacy, backing her up to the edge of the box. “Just a few hours.” He pulled out his wallet, grabbed bills so big she couldn’t even calculate how many zeroes. “I’m sure there’s a price.”

  She swallowed and shook her head. “I… don’t think so.”

  The song paused onstage, and she looked over to see Beau frozen with rage as he watched them. The stagehands looked confused, and she quickly got out of the way of the douche bro and waved to Beau that everything was fine. She didn’t want him overreacting and ruining the concert.

  Stay calm, please, she silently begged him.

  He finally nodded and went back to strumming. The crowd got immediately back into the song, quickly forgetting any disturbance, and the publicist sent her a look of grateful relief as they all took their seats again.

  But looking over at the douche, she knew it wasn’t over. He was stewing over there, looking at her in a way she didn’t like. It was clear he thought most things could be bought. She had an odd feeling that now that she’d opposed him, he was determined she be one of those things.

  She folded her arms and focused on the stage. Hopefully she’d be back in Beau’s arms soon. Where she felt safe and happy, no matter how weird that would have been to her just a few days ago. Now, nowhere else felt so right.

  When the concert was over and Beau was out bowing after his encore, she could already feel her body primed and ready for him. Excited to see him, she stood to exit the box but stopped abruptly when someone roughly caught her arm and pulled her aside.

  “Bitch, I’ll teach you to shove me,” the douche said, pulling her against him as she scrabbled and pushed at him. His girlfriend was still in the box, jumping and screaming over Beau’s encore, and hadn’t seen her boyfriend slip out.

  She pushed at him as he leaned in close. “Get off me.”

  “You think your boyfriend’s hot shit? Think I appreciate my girlfriend up there cheering for him while I watch? Think you can humiliate me by not even taking an offer to meet him?” He had her arms in a death grip and was shaking her. Heaven help anyone where male ego was involved.

  One of his hands started moving down, threatening to grope her, and she struggled harder. She was about to call out to the publicist when a horrible sound of mashed-up guitar noises combined with microphone
feedback resounded over the arena, and she was quickly released.

  She looked up to see Beau, a furious, avenging angel, sweaty in his black leather stage attire and white tank top, holding the remnants of a broken guitar. The douche who’d been attacking her crouched on the ground, cursing and holding his head.

  Beau looked around him, heaving, and then seemed to realize what he’d done as his manager pushed his way through to them, grabbing her with one hand and Beau with the other. Security quickly joined in, some going to the man on the ground and others escorting Stacy and Beau out of the venue, pulling them easily through the rushing, screaming crowd.

  They were quickly handed into a limousine, and Beau’s manager climbed in with them.

  “For fuck’s sake, Beau,” he said, running a hand through his thinning gray hair. “You couldn’t just call security? You aren’t just allowed to jump off stage and club one of your fans with a guitar.”

  “He wasn’t my fan, and he was assaulting my girlfriend.”

  The manager raised an eyebrow, jerking his head in Stacy’s direction. “So she’s more than a VIP now?”

  Beau nodded, putting an arm around her. She still felt shaken. Something about this seemed all too familiar. Maybe just people hurting each other. Violence in general. She shivered, and Beau tightened his grip.

  It sank in what he’d done for her. Jumped off the stage, attacked someone. There would probably be a lawsuit. His fans might be disappointed, depending on how they spun it.

  “What do you think the damage will be?” Beau asked, running a hand through his hair.

  She looked up at that, curious, too. She knew Beau cared about the people he worked with and wouldn’t want his actions to hurt them. But she’d seen the rage on his face and known there was nothing she or anyone could have done to stop him.

  It was the rage of a mate protecting what was his.

  “Are you okay?” the manager finally asked her, his face still red from exertion.

  She nodded.

  “That’s good,” he said, taking out a handkerchief to sponge his forehead. “I just… It’s going to be a bit of a mess I’m afraid. Well, at least Sherry got a good view of things. Hopefully she can spin it right.”