UnBurdened Read online

  UnBurdened

  By Bethany Bazile

  UnBurdened

  Copyright © 2012 by Bethany Bazile

  All rights reserved.

  Warning: No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

  This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real locales are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  Table of Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Epilogue

  Chapter 1

  “Is it over yet?”

  Ally rolls her eyes at me obviously annoyed with my indifference to her favorite band. She basically had to drag me to this concert so I can’t wait to get out of here. My best friend Allison has been screaming the lead singers name so loud I’m sure he can hear her. The crowd is on their feet joining in Allison’s crazy obsession with UnBurdened. Don’t get me wrong the music is good but I’ve never really been into rock and I defiantly don’t have a thing for heavily tattooed guitarist or men screaming into the microphone. I’ve been sitting here messing around with the apps on my iphone for most of the show. The crowd is beginning to shout ‘Encore’, so from my estimation I’m almost out of here.

  A spotlight shines center stage to highlight the lead singer. He’s sitting on a stool with his head cocked to the right, his dark hair drenched in sweat. His booted foot is hitched up on the footrest and he clutches his guitar to his now bare chest. When had he lost his shirt? And how did I miss that? His body is…amazing. Broad shoulders, perfectly chiseled abs, he appears to be made of pure steel, hard and smooth. I just want to run my hand over his pecs and down to explore his six pack abs. Umm…manly perfection.

  He begins to sing again and I’m dazed. His voice is amazing, rough and raspy as he sings a ballad of a beautiful woman that’s beyond his grasp. I can’t believe this guy had sung for the last hour and I was oblivious. He lifts his head and seems to look straight towards me. A shiver runs down my spine as our eyes meet. I feel like the millions of women who think he’s singing to them, only I don’t think the looks he’s throwing my way are imagined. I begin to feel uncomfortable because the lyrics are explicitly describing all the sexual things he wants to do to her, or maybe to me judging by the way he’s looking at me. I think he’s undressing me with his eyes because the way his eyes run over my body make my panties wet. The dirty words coming out his mouth make my pussy clench.

  “He’s amazingly hot, isn’t he?” Allison screams into my ear, breaking me away from the trance he had me under.

  “I guess so, if you’re into that kind of guy,” I lie. The moisture in my panties says he’s hot enough to set a fire in my core.

  When I glance back up I see him walking off the stage the muscles on his back flowing as he walks. We gather our things and begin to make our way out the aisle. When we get to the end a big bulky looking security guard pats me on the shoulder and announces, “Mr. Quinn would like you to join him backstage.” He practically ordered me to go.

  I’m being summoned. I knew I wasn’t imagining those looks from the stage.

  “I’m sorry I’m here with my friend and we have somewhere to be”. There’s no way I’m getting anywhere near that man. If he had that kind of power over me from a distance, I know he’ll have me naked, screaming his name and running my nails down his back before the night is over. A man like that has a cesspool of sluts to choose from and I’m not going to lower myself by acting like a groupie. No matter how much I want him between my legs.

  “Are you crazy!?” Allison gasps. “We don’t have anywhere to be” she announces.

  “Your friend can come too.” He answers flatly.

  “Yea! Let’s go” she grabs my hand and drags me to the door the guard is sliding his key card into. We walk down a long corridor and a feeling of dread hangs over me. I often let Allison get me into messy situations but this time I know I should turn around and flee.

  At the end of the hallway we are led through a set of doors. The room is packed with scantily clad women, tables full of food and lots of alcohol. There are posters on the wall, most of my sexy singer. I have no idea when he became mine but there it is, floating around in my head. Brayden Quinn the posters read. Even his name is sexy. The band has yet to make their appearance so people are mingling amongst each other. Allison pulls me over to the bar and orders shots of tequila. There’s no way I’m letting tequila mess with my thinking tonight. “Can I have a margarita?” I ask as the bartender places two shot glass in front of us.

  “Come on Kerri, just one shot.” Ally pleads with me. “It will help ease your nerves; it’s not every day a girl gets a personal invitation by a rock god.”

  I know I should refuse but I really am quite nervous to be around that man. My reaction to his attention from afar will only be heightened up close. I lick the back of my hand and shake some salt on it I let my tongue savor the tingly saltiness than throw back the shot. As I throw the lime in my mouth to chase the burn an electric sensation runs down my spine and I know instantly it’s not an after effect from the shot.

  “I love a woman who can handle her tequila.” A deep husky voice vibrates against my ear, sending shivers up my spine as his warm breath caresses my neck. His hand rests on my hips slowly moving around my waist. As I spin around I prepare for a faceoff with this douche bag, he actually thinks he can send his bodyguard to deliver him some ass for the night.

  The first thing I notice is the most amazing blue eyes I’ve ever seen. His lips are inches away from mine with a cocky grin on them; he knows he’s sexy. So sexy I can taste his delicious flavor on my tongue without even touching him.

  I forgot what I was angry about seconds ago as his spicy all male smell hit me. He must have just gotten out of the shower because his hair is still wet and disheveled. I tried backing up to get him out of my space but the bar behind me refuses me that luxury.

  “I’m not having sex with you,” I declare. There. I’ve made my position clear and I hope he believes me more than I believe myself. I grab my margarita off the bar and hope it will chase away my nervous stomach. Or is it even nerves that are causing this fluttering feeling?

  “It’s a good thing I’m not that easy love” he runs his hand through his hair and smiles at me. “Well maybe I am but I’ll make an exception for you. I’ll wait for you take advantage of me.” He looks in my eyes with a burning hunger. It’s predatory. Animalistic. It warms me, excites me, and scares me at the same time. I place my hand on his chest and push back against a hard wall of muscle. That soft Irish accent he has is officially my new weakness.

  He sits in the stool next to me with his body facing me as he leans his elbow on the bar top, eyes studying me intently.

  “Do you usually summon woman from your audience?” I ask. The corner of his lip twitches and he shakes his head.

  “You’re my first.” He says and I’m not sure I believe that.

  “Why me?”

  ‘Curious is all. Couldn’t understand how the sexiest woman in the place was more interested in her phone than my perfo
rmance.”

  “Oh, so your ego was wounded and you decided to see if you could win me over.”

  His eyes scan the room and he gets oddly serious. “I just sensed you were different. I just wanted to be around a pretty woman that wasn’t blinded by my persona. You know what I mean?”

  His blue gaze locks with mine and he runs his hand over that sexy five o’clock shadow and I know I’m not going to be able to fight him off as planned.

  “I’m going to the restroom” I say as I get up and walk away. I hear Ally introducing herself and wasting no time getting cozy with him.

  I return from getting my emotions or should I say hormones under control and the vultures have already descended. Ally is practically sitting in his lap, another blonde reaches over and whispers something into his ear as she runs her fingers through his hair. He flinches from the contact and gently pushes her off. I know it shouldn’t matter to me but I can’t help but feel relieved that he hasn’t moved on from me yet.

  I scoot in front of the skanky blonde cutting off her contact with him. He notices the move I make to mark my territory and smirks. “Wanna get out of here?” he asks.

  I shouldn’t. I know his type. I really don’t need to get caught up with a rock star. If I could only get my heart to stop pounding and my body to stop tingling at every word he says in that sexy accent, I might be strong enough to say no. I grab the shot glass the bartender puts down in front of him and throw it back.

  “I wouldn’t want to take advantage of you so soon.” I say flirtatiously smiling at him, the tequila whirling through my body making me bolder.

  “Don’t worry, I’m too exhausted to put in the kind of work you deserve. Just let me take you to dinner because I’m starving.” He rubs his belly and the corner of his shirt lifts exposing the smooth skin on his stomach and my panties get even wetter. He gets up and reaches for my hand but my mind is still stuck on the glimpse of his sexy torso.

  “You coming?” He asks, not noticing how shaken I am by my attraction to him. I grab his hand and after making sure Ally is alright being there alone he pull me towards the exit.

  “Have fun!” Ally yells after us, catching the attention of a group of women closest to us. They throw dirty looks my way, angry that I just marched out the room with the man they had their eyes on.

  We silently make our way through the hallways and exit the building into a black Range Rover with dark windows. I notice the same bulky guy who led me into the VIP room was driving us to dinner. “Is he your security guard?”

  “Yeah, Butch has been with me for ages. I got tired of all the constant new faces our management threw at us and decided to keep Butch after our second tour. He acts more like my uncle from hell though, I don’t know why I keep him around,” he jokes.

  “Fuck you B,” Butch throws up a middle finger from his seat up front and Brayden laughs at him.

  As we begin to travel the streets of midtown I feel his heated gaze focusing on my face. He shifts restlessly in his seat and it’s almost as if this super famous rock star is nervous.

  “Since you’ve already propositioned me,” he breaks the tense silence. “And I’ve agreed to let you have your way with me, I think it’s only fair I at least get your name.”

  “Kerri,” I answer.

  “Well Kerri, I’m going to have to at least make you promise to leave me with your number when you’re done with me.” It’s funny how he’s making me feel like I have all the power in this connection that’s beginning to spark between us when he’s the one controlling everything with his sexy accent and enticing smile. He gazed at me from the stage and something instantly sparked between us.

  “Let’s wait to see how well you perform before I promise you my number.” I smile enjoying how easy it is to play around with him.

  “What? I put on the performance of my life for you on that stage. Did you miss all the screaming and sweating.” He responds, laughter rumbling from deep in his chest. “I like you Kerri, it’s been a while since I’ve actually laughed in the company of a woman. Is Kerri short for something?” He asks as the car come to a stop in front of the restaurant.

  “Kerrington” I reply. Usually you have to pry that out of me but I was too lost in his sapphire eyes to care.

  “Wow that’s very prim and proper you must be a proper lady.”

  “Ha,” I giggle, if he only knew the improper thought flowing through my mind right now.

  “You know a proper lady should always have a chaperone on every date or a scoundrel like me may corrupt you.” He continues as Butch opens the door. He steps out onto the sidewalk, turn and offers me his right hand with his left tucked behind him in true 19th century form.

  I take the hand offered and bow my head playing along. “I must say my lord; my father warned me that you Irishman were all philandering Lotharios.” I contain my smile and keep a serious face.

  His eyes narrow as he studies my face, testing how long it will take for me to crack a smile. Once he realizes I should be an academy award winning actress, he throws his head back and roars in laughter. He grabs my hand a drags me into the restaurant still chuckling.

  Chapter 2

  As we’re led through the main room I notice a table of two women staring our way whispering behind their hands as we pass. The rest of the diners ignore us as we are seated in a corner table.

  We barely look at the menu while we wait for our waiter, so engrossed in our easy conversation. He quickly orders the filet minion and the best wine in the house, I order a burger and he gapes at me.

  “Come on you can have a burger anywhere, I’m trying to impress you here and you order a burger.” He holds a hand over his heart.

  “First, you’ve never had a burger here before. You can’t get this anywhere, it’s fantastic. Secondly, you don’t need to go overboard trying to impress me, you made me smile and that’s pretty impressive.”

  “I guess I should ask you the typical first date questions then. Like…what do you do for a living? How old are you? Where are you from?” He asks in quick succession.

  “Wow, you’re in a hurry to get to know me. Did I already tell you I wouldn’t sleep with you until our third date? Because if I divulge that much information we’re going to have to skip over date two and three. What’s going to be left to talk about?”

  “You’re easy to talk to so I know we’ll never be short on conversation.” He answers honestly.

  “In that case,” I smile wryly. “I’m in banking, I’m 24 and I’ve lived in the city all my life. Now it’s my turn,” I lean in excitedly. “How old are you? How long you been in this band? Where are you from? How many women have you slept with?” I giggle as his eyes widen at my last question.

  “That’s not fair you got an extra question. I move to strike the last one.” His eyes dance around with humor.

  “Come on, I’ve always wanted to ask a rock star that question. I’ll even give you another question.” I plead.

  “Two more question,” he bargains.

  “Fine.”

  “I’m 28, been in a band since I was 14 but didn’t make it big till I was 19. I’m originally from Dublin moved to Seattle at ten. I still have a condo there but I spend most of my time on my ranch in Nevada.”

  “You live on a ranch?” I interrupt.

  “Yes a real ranch, not the Nevada ranches you watch on HBO.” He winks.

  “I know you don’t own the bunny ranch besides I don’t watch Cathouse.” I reply rolling my eyes.

  “Then how did you know the name of the ranch?” his brows furrow in question. He smiles cockily when he gets his answer from the rosy shade on my face. “Ah, Lady Kerrington I don’t think it’s going to be very challenging to corrupt you after all.”

  My cheeks get even warmer at the thought of him corrupting me in all types of delicious ways. Our server arrives with our food and he digs in.

  “Ah Ah Ah…” I wave my finger at him as he goes to take his first bite.

  “What?” />
  “You’re stalling, you haven’t answered question number four.” I wait.

  “Okay okay but can I answer after dinner, I’m starving.” He’s stalling so I know it has to be worse than I thought. It makes my stomach anxious. He’s not mine and I just met him tonight but the thought of him touching other women or them touching his beautiful body and having a piece of him is making me unexpectedly jealous.

  We eat over casual conversation about his tour and his crazy band members. When he walks me out of the restaurant Butch magically appears and let us in the tinted SUV. We sit much closer this time, so close I could smell his rich smell tantalizing me. He takes my phone from my fingers, entwines our hands and lays them on his lap. I lay my head on his shoulder and close my eyes. I put my nose against his neck and inhale his amazing scent. It unnerves me how relaxed I feel with this man I just met a few hours ago.

  “You smell so good,” I whisper as I glance up into his eyes. “What are you wearing?”

  “UnBurdened by Brayden Quinn,” a light smile plays on his lips. “I can’t expect people to buy something I won’t wear.”

  “I’m sure it smell better on you though,”

  “When can I see you again?” He asks abruptly.

  “You don’t get another question until you answer question number four”

  He sighs and pushes his head back against the headrest, gazing at the roof of the car contemplating how to answer my question. When he finally looks into my eyes he replies, “I really like you and I don’t want to chase you away.”

  I wait quietly for him to answer. I’m not letting him off the hook. His eyes waver a bit, fearful?

  “Would it be really horrible if I said I’m not sure? I can probably give you a ballpark number.”

  “Horrible? No. Cliché rock-star? Yes.”

  “Probably near a hundred” He finally answers. “But that spans over twelve years and I was a bit of a slut in my early years. I’m not like that anymore. I’m tired of having empty sex with woman whose face I can’t even remember. I haven’t been with anyone in over a month and I get checked regularly, I’m clean. I know you probably have your preconceived notions about rock stars but just give me a chance. I’m just looking for a change and I think I might have found that in you.”