Resisting Velocity Read online

  “Consider yourself fired.” He would turn the place upside down looking for Charlie with the nagging pull in his gut the whole time. When he passed through to people shutting down, he thought he caught a whiff of wolf in the air. He stopped, breathed in short and sharp, and bolted into the woods. His sneakers pounded the ground as he weaved through trees.

  “Charlie?” His relief was audible as he came up on a clearing to find her and Benji sitting on a log, their legs splayed out in front of them. His body shuddered, the panic curling into wisps of smoke. Charlie was safe—sweaty and smudged with dirt, her clothes wrinkled, but safe.

  “What’s wrong?” Her eyes were wide as he stalked towards her. “Zane, I—” She gasped as he took her face in his hands and placed a demanding kiss upon those lips. Her hands fluttered at his chest and he backed away, breathing hard. “Zane?” It took her a moment to compose herself.

  “I thought they’d gotten you,” he said softly, glancing sidelong to Benji. The other man stiffened, his hands stuffed in his pockets. Relief washed through Zane like a river. “I’m glad she was with you, Benj.” Another man would’ve been jealous that his friend and fellow band mate had gone for a romp with his girl, but he trusted Benji. And he trusted Charlie, so all he felt was relief.

  He turned to Charlie, gathered her hands in his. “I want to take you out.”

  “On a date?”

  “Is that a problem? Yeah, I want to take you out. A night on the town, just you and me.”

  She looked at Benji and he followed her gaze. The wolf looked sad, but nodded in a small way. Charlie released a breath and squeezed Zane’s hands. “Okay, it’s a date, but I want to clean up first. I feel like I just rolled in mud.”

  Benji smirked. “You did.”

  “See you later, Benj,” she said with a wave, then strode off. She left them in an awkward sort of silence. Zane watched her go for a moment, then turned to Benji on a sigh.

  “Look. I’m sorry, man. I had no idea that you liked her.”

  “Not that it matters.” Benji shrugged slender shoulders.

  “It does. It feels like I stepped on your toes.”

  He smiled wistfully. “She’s never liked me that way. I’m just the kid-brother type, always there and loyal to her, but she’s never seen me in the same light. But you…” He shook his head slowly. “She has that sparkle in her eye when you come around. I hate admitting it, knowing that I’ll never get my chance, but this is it for you, isn’t it?”

  Zane tipped his head, curious. “What do you mean?”

  “You’re ready to settle down. Your party days are over and your wolf is ready to mate. Maybe you’ll take Elysium once your parents step down. Maybe you’ll have a couple kids. Zane Alexander is smitten with a woman.”

  Zane smiled, chuckling as he realized that Benji just hit the nail on the head. “Looks that way, huh? Still, I feel bad”

  “No. Just, I meant what I said. I don’t want to see her hurt. I can’t stand the idea of picking up the pieces if you broke her heart. I’d take advantage of her sorrow, her emotions, and she’d have me—but not the way that I want.” He let out a low sigh. “She’s yours, Zane. Even if I challenged you, I’d have no chance. So congrats. Just be good to her.”

  “I will.”

  Benji smiled and in that moment, the shadows that seemed to plague him were lifted. “Go woo your woman, Zane,” he said and walked away, straight into the woods. Probably to run off the emotions warring inside of him, to chase off the disappointment.

  Zane walked back to the trailer, nerves turning his stomach inside out the closer he got. He wanted to make tonight right, make it perfect—something she’d always remember, even when they were sixty and had grandchildren. Not just dinner and a movie, but laughs, maybe a few stolen kisses.

  “You ready?”

  Zane stood in the doorway as Charlie slipped on a pair of strappy black heels. She wore a slinky dress, one that hugged each and every perfect curve, and a black choker. She smiled at him, her summer eyes bright.

  “I’d say you’re a little too dressed up, but damn, woman.” He let out a low whistle and Charlie seemed to glow. She was just radiant. He offered a hand. “I’m probably going to imagine stripping that dress off of you during the entire date, hope you know.”

  She shot him an impish smile, a touch of the woman he’d slept with last night. “Good.”

  They got in one of the band’s privately owned cars and drove into town. Streetlights and shrubs passed them in a blur, the city big and shiny. He wasn’t sure yet where he was taking her; he started out just driving aimlessly around, but when he saw the glow of rope lighting advertising an arcade and mini-golf, he knew that was it. Perfect. Remote enough that they could probably get through a couple rounds of golf without being spotted by fans, yet still fun.

  When he pulled in, her eyes met his, surprised.

  “Do you doubt my dating abilities?”

  “Maybe.”

  “I vow to make this the best night of your life, and that’s before I take you home for another round of mind-blowing sex.”

  “Cocky.”

  “So I’ve been told.” He flashed a smile, then got out of the car and went around to open her door. “Right this way, sweeting,” he said on a purr and she used his arm as leverage to climb out. His eyes slid down her back and she spun in a teasing little circle before taking off for the arcade. He was right on her tail.

  The arcade was loud and brightly glaring, almost overwhelming and definitely not little-black-dress and heels approved, but Charlie took it in stride. She owned it and it made him want to take her out and ravish her. There would be time for that later, but damn. He paid for two rounds of golf, handed her a neon pink putter, and they went out the doors and onto the golf course.

  “This is pretty homey,” she commented as she swung back. Her club hit the ball and it flew up the ramp, circling the hole and then dropping right in for a hole-in-one. “Hot damn! Did you see that?”

  “Why do I have the bad feeling that I’m going to lose?”

  “Is that a challenge? You’re on, Alexander.”

  They spent the night laughing, taking turns knocking the ball around, and Zane found something he was truly horrible at. When he swung too hard on the last hole, the ball flew up, up, up—and landed in the little waterfall, plunking into the water with a splash. “Shit.”

  “Aw, poor sport?” She flicked him on the nose. “I win.”

  He grabbed her arm and gave a tug and she pressed up against him. One arm coiled around her waist while the other played with the dark curls at the nape of her neck, he gently tugged her head back and kissed her. “What do you say we go home and play a different sort of game?” He took her mouth again and again; he’d never grow tired of her.

  She gave a mewl into his mouth and he pulled back. “At this rate, I don’t know if I’ll make it back home…”

  His heart jumped. “Well we can’t do it right here—there’s little kids around.”

  “What about the car?” Her eyes flashed with excitement, lighting up like bulbs on a Christmas tree. As she spoke, her hand trailed down, stroking against the denim of his jeans. He groaned and kissed her again.

  “Car works.” Ditching the golf clubs at the last hole, Zane took her by the hand. They half-ran to the car parked in the lot, Charlie giving a gleeful giggle. “I’ll find us someplace secret to park, just give me a few minutes,” he said and kicked the car into gear on one final kiss.

  Chapter Eleven

  “Mmph!” The sound came out a startled mix of pain and sleepiness and Charlie looked over to see that she’d just cracked Zane square in the back of the head. She tried to suppress a giggle, but in too good of a mood after last night’s fun, she gave up the fight and laughed out loud.

  “Damn it, woman. I was sleeping.”

  “Good morning, Sunshine.”

  “Blow me—again.”

  “You’re an addict.”

  Charlie let out a squea
l as Zane tackled her, pinning her to the bed in one fell swoop. They wrestled for a few moments before his mouth found hers, then dipped lower. She threaded her fingers through Zane’s hair, wanting so badly to urge him on for another round, but knowing better.

  Mustering up her last ounces of self control, she called a halt to their fun and smiled when Zane pouted. “You’ve got a lot to do today. Show day—and your fans will probably riot if you walk offstage early again.”

  “Yeah, yeah. I’ve already gotten the lecture of the century from the guys and Conner. I’ll be good—this time.” The smile that he flashed was all too naughty.

  After a luxurious shower in which Zane picked up where he left off, his kisses making heat blossom at her core and his fingers bringing her release, they slapped together breakfast and left the trailer. Her arm curled through his, the picture of young love, made her feel a sudden rush of possessiveness.

  Things had slowly settled down. She and Zane were in a tentative relationship, the stalker attacks had ceased as quickly as they’d begun, and her friendship with Benji had been patched up. Now if they could only catch the bastard who had caused so much trouble, things would be gold.

  “You in la-la land, sugar? Need me to wake you up?” Parker’s suggestive tone startled her. Somehow during her wandering thoughts, they’d ended up amidst the hustle and bustle backstage. Charlie rolled her eyes, gave him a wave, and went looking for a seat, but his next words made her turn back around. “Man, Char. You aren’t even telling me to shut up? Love is a strange master.”

  Love? What was he even talking about? Sure, she was going against the grain having sex with her boss, but certainly she wasn’t already in love with him. Love didn’t happen like in the movies. It took time and work…right?

  She gave a bark of laughter that felt more forced than real and went to sit down. She found a spot in the front row, right in the middle. Lost in her mind, Charlie didn’t notice that she had company sitting right beside her until the other woman spoke.

  “So what, you’ve taken a sudden interest in banging Zane?”

  Charlie stiffened at the tone in the short, scantily-clad wolf’s voice, bitterness lacing the edges. “Lola, how lovely to see you. You must’ve gotten backstage passes for tonight’s show.”

  “Probably the same way you did—on your back.”

  Charlie couldn’t help but give a bark of laughter at the hostility. “I’ve had backstage security clearance since day one; why would I need to have to do anything to have it now?”

  “Cut the crap. You’re not doing much of anything anymore, just running around without a care in the world. Not to mention the fiasco at the last concert. You’re going to ruin High Velocity…but you know what’s worse? You’re not even a true fan. True fans have Velocity Violet in their hair.”

  She pulled on the tips of her bangs, which were painted a vivid purple. “What do you have? Nothing. I don’t get it, I really don’t. Here I am, a true fan, and Zane walks offstage for you? Tell me just what’s wrong with that picture.”

  The pout on Lola’s face along with the glint of malice behind the words had Charlie fighting to keep everything that came out of her mouth classy and professional. “I don’t think this is an appropriate conversation. We’ve gotten along in the past—how about a change of subject?”

  The dark look continued to hover on the other woman’s face and after a pause, Charlie received her answer. “I don’t think so. You just remember that I had him first.” A low growl. “Zane’s mine.”

  Charlie snorted. “Yours? Oh honey, there’s nobody out there that could own Zane Alexander, least of all you.”

  “Whatever.” With that, Lola stood and strutted off and Charlie watched her leave. What was the point in being so catty about the band members? As far as she knew, Lola didn’t have a particular favorite—besides rock star. Groupies were always forming inappropriate bonds to members of bands, wanting to claim them as their own. It just made it worse when you were dealing with werewolves. They could be a tad bit on the impulsive and possessive side.

  “Whatever indeed.” Putting her worries over her strange relationship with Zane and Lola’s aggressive behavior on a shelf to deal with later, Charlie flagged Conner down, the need to do something rising fiercely in her chest. “Need me for anything?”

  “I think we’re covered. With the intensity of security we have set up, everything should be good tonight. I think the boys are ready to have themselves a nice night of rock and roll.”

  “Good.”

  “See ya. Oh, and try to get Zane to keep it in his pants until after the show is over, eh?”

  She felt herself start to burn. “Er, sure.” Good grief, she was catching hell wherever she went and the whispering and pointing from those backstage was becoming an unbearable itch. It seemed Zane’s little walk-off had sparked a bigger reaction that she’d ever expected and spending the last day hiding had only increased the rumors, the names.

  “Fuck it, people are always going to talk,” she told herself and, shoving past the whispers and glances, Charlie settled in for the show. She had a concert to enjoy and to avoid the buzz in her head, she was going to keep an eye out, to see if she picked up anything that Conner had happened to miss. It was nice to be back in the saddle, so to speak. It was good to be where she felt useful.

  ***

  He leaned back in his chair as Reese did his makeup, her hands skilled beyond her twenty-six years. Her blonde hair was tied back in a knot at the base of her neck and held with oriental sticks, the tip of her tongue sticking out in concentration as she worked. She was exceptionally quiet tonight. She hadn’t said more than two words to him, and those were to tell him to turn his head.

  So Zane’s curiosity got the best of him. “What’s up, ladybird?”

  She finished lining one eye in kohl black, then looked right at him. He was so used to seeing her bubbling, happy-go-lucky, go-get-em attitude that the solemn expression on her face was foreign. “Do you really think a guy in your position will be able to make a long term relationship work?”

  He was glad she’d stopped with the eyeliner, because it snapped his head up in an instant. “What?”

  “You and Charlie. It’s all over the place, the rumors and half-truths. People say that she’s your little whore. The other wolves on crew say that you’ve claimed her as your mate. But do you really think it’ll work out?”

  Zane slowly shook his head, the pit at the center of his stomach becoming a gnawing black hole. “Haven’t thought that far ahead, honestly,” he told her, though it was a lie. He’d been pondering it lightly, amidst the music in his soul, but he’d come to no conclusions. “But to quiet the rumors, at least for a moment, what Charlie and I have is friends with benefits. Not saying I’m not trying for more—but that’s off the record, got it?” He looked at her sharply and she nodded.

  “But what about the band? There’ll come a time when travelling all over the world will strain a relationship. Say you do…mate her.” She picked her words carefully. “What happens when she’s carrying your child? What happens to the band when you become a father?”

  He looked at her, his brows furrowing. “Are you asking me to choose between my love of music and my love of Charlie?”

  “So it’s love then?”

  He whistled. “Damn, girl. Fishing deep. What does it matter? So maybe it’s moving in that direction, but I’m still a musician. I’ve always been a musician. Nothing’s going to change. And if you’re worried about being out of a job—don’t. This is crazy talk. It’s not like I’ve proposed to her.”

  She smiled, a little wistfully. “And what happens when Parker falls in love? Benji? Micah? What happens then?”

  “I don’t have the answer to that. If they’re in love, if they’re happy? Maybe High Velocity will split, but it’s too early to tell. Parker’s life is filled with one-night-stands, Micah will probably never get hitched, and Benji…” Benji was still nursing the wound from crushing on Charlie. �
��Sure, it’ll happen, someday. Everyone wants to fall in love and find their mate, but High Velocity isn’t going down without a fight. I promise you that, Reese. Now drop it and make me beautiful.”

  She only smiled.

  As the guys got ready, the tension in the air was thick like pea soup. The crowd was antsy and rightfully so. Zane called his band mates over and they huddled together with their heads bent. “Okay, guys. We need to make this one powerful. A show that they’ll never forget.”

  “Agreed,” Benji said. “Play our strongest tunes.”

  “Start with a bang, end with a bang,” Micah agreed. “Sounds good. Let’s give it a hundred and ten percent.”

  “Hells yeah!”

  The concert rocked on, filling the arena with piercing notes and thudding bass and the pulse of drums. Zane sang his heart out, spilled his spirit to the crowd and told them a tale. It was harder than hell for him to not single Charlie out, even when he wanted to. But tonight was for the crowd. She’d understand.

  During a softer song, he unhooked the mic and drew close to the front row, crooning to a couple of girls. They seemed to swoon with stars in their eyes and Zane grinned wide, touching their hands. He turned and saw Lola watching him, mouthing his name, her golden eyes darkened with want. He reached out and brushed his fingertips against hers and she seemed to melt back into the crowd.

  “Thank you!” Zane cried out as the concert slammed to a halt. People were still shrieking when Zane headed off stage, energy bounding through him, as if he was a livewire. Parker danced, fist-bumping Micah and then gave Benji a noogie. Zane shouldered up against Benji and that earned him a smile that reassured him that their friendship was still strong, despite the whole Charlie thing.

  But when Charlie herself strode towards them, he couldn’t help the tremor that rode him hard, stiffening his body like iron. The boys quieted, looking straight at her, assessing her. He wanted so badly for them to just accept it. Accept that she was part of their lives now, even if it was only for another few weeks. When they relaxed and Micah pulled her to him with a laugh, Zane felt himself relax.