Musician's Monsoon Page 3

  “Gimme a break!” he exclaimed. He still had a tight hold on her arm.

  She stole a tentative glance up into his eyes of green fire.

  He let out an annoyed sigh and shook his head. “You just kung-fooed me in the neck!”

  She wrinkled her brow, unsure of what to say or how to react.

  “I am not abducting you,” he persisted. “I wanted to take you back to my hotel because that’s where my instruments are. My band already left right after the show. They took off in the bus. I told them, as well as all of my security, to leave me the hell alone because I wanted to be by myself for once. I wanted to walk so I could try and get a certain woman out of my head who distracted me to a fault during the show.”

  Sophie’s cheeks burned once again.

  “By random chance, that same woman tried to blind me in the parking lot and, for some reason, her fiery temper and amazing blue eyes make me hear chords.” His voice softened, and he sighed, taking her chin in his free hand. “I’m not taking you to an abandoned warehouse to murder you. I got excited for a second because I haven’t been able to hear any music for months now. Forgive me for having a creative moment.” His fingers left her chin and spanned across the column of her throat.

  Sophie closed her eyes as the warmth of his palm settled over the pulse in her neck. She had to fight not to tremble.

  “Your heart is racing,” he continued, his voice sultry and sinful even in its sincerity. “I’m sorry I startled you. You just…you don’t understand.” He closed his eyes and let out a long, slow breath. He fixed his gaze on her again and smiled softly. “You’re absolutely right. I need to explain myself.” Zane traced the outline of her mouth and along her jawline, as if studying the texture of her skin. “I have been all over the world. I’ve met tons of fans and numerous gorgeous women. None of them radiated the same gentle, warm light that I saw coming from you during the show. It caught my attention from the stage because it seemed so genuine. You weren’t doing everything in your power to get noticed like your freaky cousin. You were just standing there, enjoying my music, the music that comes straight from the depths of my soul. It made me feel different. Not like a rock star.”

  She frowned thoughtfully. “But you are a rock star.”

  He shook his head. “No, I’m a musician. There’s a difference, but I think the two blended into one for a while, and I forgot where the musician ended and the celebrity began. It numbed me, made me apathetic, and I couldn’t create anymore. It’s been horrible….”

  “I love your music,” she blurted. “It’s…I don’t know how to explain it. I don’t only hear it, but I feel it, too… It feels like magic. Like euphoria.” She felt stupid for her words, but she thought maybe he needed to hear them. He’d just revealed something incredibly personal. The least she could do was give him some reassurance. “I love your music above all others. It sounds the way I feel inside.”

  His grin rivaled the Arizona lightning. “That is the best thing you could have said to me.”

  He closed his eyes with a blissful expression and began to hum a soft melody. It was barely discernable, and she leaned closer out of sheer curiosity. “What is that?” she asked softly.

  His chuckle reminded her of the rolling thunder in the distance, and it heated her blood. “It’s you,” he whispered. At her quizzical frown, he smiled. “I meant what I said, about hearing music. Your irritation was like a crashing cymbal. When you smiled, I imagined a slow, seductive bass line.”

  She blushed again, much to her dismay, and frowned because she didn’t know what else to do. “Why in the world would my smile inspire that?”

  He took the opportunity to slip an arm around her waist. “Because you’re sexy!” His grin reflected both teasing and sincerity.

  Her face grew even hotter, and she let her breath out in a huff. She was probably going to remain in a permanent state of red after this. “Right, whatever.”

  “I mean it!” he continued. “You have lovely eyes, and these are adorable.” He played a quick game of connect the dots with the freckles across her nose. “I especially enjoy these.” He grazed his fingers over the dimples in her cheeks. “And you’re just small enough to fit perfectly in my arms.” He shrugged one shoulder in a lazy, confident gesture. “Besides…” He reached behind her head to tug the tie out of her hair. It spilled free around her shoulders, and he ran his fingers through it. She marveled over the rapturous expression on his face. “Even your hair is made of notes.” He let the strands fall through his fingers and whispered chords as they cascaded down. “A…E…G….” He shook his head. “Incredible.”

  She felt awkward under his scrutiny and didn’t know how to handle the kind of things he said to her, so she desperately tried to make a stab at humor. “Well, I guess if anyone would be made of music, it would have to be me. I do teach choir and orchestra.”

  Instead of rolling his eyes at her pathetic excuse for witticism, he gave her a warm, beautiful grin while he continued to thread his slender fingers through her hair. “Well, that does make sense, doesn’t it?”

  This was insane. She had no idea if he was serious, or if he was handing her a line. Sophie was a practical person, a rational person. She wasn’t necessarily the most spontaneous, so random occurrences in which famous rock stars tried to tell her she inspired music and then attempted to haul her back to a hotel were slightly out of her element. She knew she wasn’t beautiful, not worthy of inspiring much of anything except maybe obedience from her students when she lost her temper, so either this dude was out of his mind, or he was full of it.

  Odds were, he was full of it. But it was weird that he would be trying to pick her up, of all people. If he just wanted to get lucky, he could go down the street and have his pick of any number of hot women at one of the bars along Mill Avenue. Why bother with her at all? There was the fact that she had tried to detach his retina with an antenna ball, but that should have annoyed him, not intrigued him. None of this made any kind of sense whatsoever. It defied every social rule she knew about.

  Which led her to believe that maybe he wasn’t full of it after all.

  That meant he had to be out of his mind. Only logical explanation.

  He raised an eyebrow as he studied her expression. “What in the world is going on inside your head?” he questioned.

  She glanced up at him. “Why, you smell smoke and burning rubber?”

  Amusement flashed over his features. “You’re a teacher, so I hope not. I would assume you’re usually pretty good about using your gray matter.”

  She shrugged. “Depends on the day.”

  A gentle smile curved his lips, and he removed his fingers from her hair to trail them lightly down her bare arms as he took a step away from her. “I’m coming on too strong. I apologize. People always tell me I’m too aggressive and too impulsive.”

  The moist heat of the night suddenly felt cold as it filled the distance he had put between them, and she found some crazy part of her longing for his all-consuming presence again. She shook her head and tried to make her mind stop spinning long enough to form a coherent thought. “I wouldn’t necessarily call you aggressive. Impulsive, maybe.” She smirked up at him. “You’re not used to people, women especially, telling you no, either.”

  His brow furrowed and he averted his gaze, looking genuinely troubled by her words. “That’s not what this is about, Sophie. I haven’t said all of this to you because I’m trying to hook up with you, and the fact that you didn’t melt at my feet isn’t some kind of challenge. Maybe I’m a rock star, but I’m still a man, a unique individual. Please don’t define my personality based on my occupation.”

  His rebuke wasn’t harsh, but it was powerful regardless. Self-loathing washed over her at the fact that she had summed him up and judged him when she knew nothing about him. “I’m sorry, Zane. I didn’t mean to do that. I just…” She swallowed the lump of shame that had lodged in her throat. “Things like this don’t happen to me.”

&nbs
p; He met her gaze and smirked. “You said that already.”

  She held her arms out at her sides helplessly. “Well, it’s true! I’m a nobody! I’m practically invisible most of the time. The things you’re saying to me are like a foreign language.”

  “Stop saying negative things about yourself,” he said as he reached out to take her hand. “It’s bothering me.” He pulled her back into the circle of his arm, and Sophie’s breath vanished as her senses, once again, filled with his warmth, the solidness of his body, and the smell of lingering cologne mixed with beer and sweat. That should have been gross to her, but it wasn’t.

  “I had no way of knowing you would deny my advances when I glimpsed you from the stage. At that point, I wasn’t planning on making any advances. It’s very simple, Sophie. My passion vanished. I don’t know why. You brought it back. I don’t know why that is either. I just know it’s true.”

  He brought his lips to hover right above hers, enough so his breath tickled her mouth. Her heart did all kinds of acrobatics, and any trepidation she’d had before was obliterated by a complete and unadulterated craving for the man in front of her. He had always epitomized passion to her, the way he composed, the way he played. To have him standing so close, touching her the way he was, made her feel like she had fallen into some kind of strange fantasy. She closed her eyes and, without even meaning to, her free hand crept up to rest against his shoulder.

  No one had ever looked at her the way Zane had from the stage, the way he continued to look at her now. Not plain, uninteresting, average Sophie. He made her feel like a goddess. Her common sense told her that was ridiculous and that he was probably still just trying to get into her pants, but the expression on his face said otherwise. So did her heart. And she’d always been an exceptional judge of character.

  “Sophie,” he purred.

  “Hmmm?”

  “I’d like to try something, but I’m afraid you’ll hit me.” He rested his forehead against hers and grinned. “And I get the distinct feeling you’re one of those girls who doesn’t kiss on the first date.”

  A shiver trickled down her spine at the thought of kissing Zane. She instinctively pressed closer to him, wanting more of the delicious heat his strong body emitted. “Who says this is a date?” she whispered.

  He pulled away enough to look down at her. “Oh, that’s right. It was an assault that turned into an abduction.”

  She laughed, and the jubilation put her at ease. Her palm rested on his shoulder, close to the base of his neck, and she felt his pulse. It hammered almost as hard as hers. She shook her head in wonderment. “You’re really not full of crap, are you?” she murmured.

  He gave her an easy, irresistible smile. “No, I’m not,” he replied.

  She sighed and decided not to think about any of this, or second-guess it, or be boring, as Lorraine would call her. She reached her fingers over to the spot on his neck she had tried to hatchet and rubbed the muscle there in soothing circles. He tilted his head to grant her access and closed his eyes in contentment. She smiled. “I’m sorry I attacked you…twice…after Lorraine tried to pile-drive you on stage.”

  He shook his head, his gentle smile remaining. Zane took her hand in his and placed a lingering kiss on her palm. “Make it up to me.” His smile reflected all devilish mirth.

  Far off along the horizon, lightning illuminated the darkness, and thunder rolled ominously from one side of the desert sky to the other. It caught their attention, and Zane grinned. “Nature’s rock concert,” he murmured.

  Sophie watched him for several quiet moments, taking in his beauty, both physically and in what he was showing her of his soul. She let out a tremulous breath and whispered his name. Really, what did she have to lose? Her life had been greatly devoid of sinful fantasies. She deserved at least one, didn’t she?

  When he looked back at her, she raised herself on her toes and wrapped her arms around his neck, pressing her body to his as their lips met. He sucked his breath in and made a happy noise in his throat before he took her face in his hands and returned the kiss eagerly. His lips were softer than anything she had ever felt, and they played over hers with expertise she lacked. It was intimidating, yet extremely sexy. He gently deepened the kiss, and as his tongue slid along hers, a groan escaped Sophie, and everything inside her ignited.

  She slid her palms down his chest and gripped the fabric of his shirt in her fists as his lips and tongue teased and played with hers. Heat coiled within her, and infernal desire like she had never known swept through her like a violent storm. She had always been a reserved person, a relatively cautious person. She didn’t recognize herself right now, or her reactions to him. She didn’t care. When was the last time she had had any kind of an adventure? Oh, right. Never.

  He pulled away with a long, slow exhale, but his arms slid around her and he tucked her close against his chest as he rested his cheek on top of her head. “That’s exactly what I thought it would be,” he breathed.

  She tugged on her bottom lip with her teeth and tried to calm her pounding heart. She closed her eyes and relished the warm protection she felt cocooned in his embrace. “Which is?”

  He met her gaze, and his grin lit up every beautiful line of his face. “A musical masterpiece.”

  “Sophie? Sophie, where did you go?”

  Sophie bristled as Lorraine’s whiny, slightly slurred speech sliced across the otherwise peaceful parking lot. “Great,” Sophie grumbled. “Hurry, before she tries to kill you again.” She grabbed Zane’s hand and tugged him around to hide behind the far wall of the venue.

  Zane chuckled and remained near Sophie, keeping one arm wrapped loosely around her waist. “I feel like a teenager hiding from a parent,” he said.

  Sophie snorted. “Even that would be a more pleasant situation. Seriously, if she sees me with you she’s gonna flip, and I don’t want to hear it. That, and she’ll probably attach herself to your leg or something.”

  He laughed and tightened his arm, bringing her close. “What do you suggest?” He whispered against her ear and nuzzled his lips at the base of her neck.

  Sophie’s knees almost buckled, but to her credit, she remained upright. She glanced back at Lorraine, who wandered aimlessly, then turned to Zane, feeling mischievous and free. “You up for an adventure?”

  He arched an eyebrow. “Always.”

  “Do you have a little bit of time before you have to hit the road again?”

  “We’re here for a day.”

  She grinned and placed her palms against his chest. “She’s drunk, so she won’t move that fast. I can steal her car. She’ll find her way to a hotel.”

  He stared at her in shock. Gradually, his surprise melted into amusement. “Bad teacher,” he teased.

  She shrugged. “I have my moments.” Actually, she usually didn’t, but now seemed like a good time to start. She bit her lip. “You game?”

  His gaze softened, and he cupped her cheek in his palm, feathering his thumb across her lip. “Where are we going?”

  “Let’s go chase the storm,” she said in excitement. “Get a front row seat to nature’s rock concert.”

  The way he looked at her melted her heart in a dangerous way, and she knew she was in trouble when it came to this man. But, for some reason, it was okay. It felt right, somehow.

  He reached for her hand and squeezed, giving her a smile that said a thousand things. “Ready when you are.”

  Chapter Three

  Sophie screamed as she and Zane made a mad dash toward Lorraine’s car. The parking lot was pretty well abandoned, so they had a straight shot, but Lorraine caught on faster than Sophie had been anticipating.

  “Sophie?” Lorraine called right as the two of them reached the car. She wobbled in their direction. “What are you doing? Who are you― Oh my gosh!” With superhuman speed and more agility than she should have possessed at that moment, Lorraine started sprinting across the parking lot. “What are you doing with Zane Blake?” she screeched.
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  Sophie fumbled with the keys while Zane tugged on the door handle of the passenger car, not that that would do any good.

  “Hurry up!” he half shouted, half laughed. “Someone let the freak out of the circus, and she’s coming straight for me!”

  Sophie laughed so hard she snorted, and she dropped the keys in the process.

  “Sophie!” Zane cried. “You’ve already tried to kill me twice tonight. Whatever I did to piss you off so badly, I’m sorry! Just don’t hand me over to your cousin. I’m begging you!” He yanked on the door handle again while Lorraine let out a hair-raising banshee shriek.

  Sophie messed around with the keys while laughing and finally managed to yank the door open. She jumped in and reached over to unlock the passenger door right as Lorraine got to the car. Zane all but vaulted in and slammed the door, locking it for good measure.

  Sophie turned the key in the ignition, and Lorraine ran around to her side to pound on the window. “Sophie! What are you doing? Stealing my car? Why are you with Zane Blake? Are you for real right now? Or am I really just that drunk?” She staggered away from the car with a hyenalike cackle. “I have to be hallucinating, because I know my stupid, boring, plain Jane cousin would be the last person to attract the attention of a rock star!” She laughed again. “This is a joke, right? Am I on camera somewhere?” She stumbled around the parking lot shouting for the nonexistent camera crew to come out.

  Sophie’s hands froze on the steering wheel and, for one humiliating moment, she fought tears. She didn’t know why, but right then, the words Lorraine had always hurled at her hurt worse than they ever had. Maybe because Zane had almost had her believing she was something special for half a second.

  What was she even doing here with him? This was stupid. She should go back home. Take him to his hotel and then drive back to Flagstaff with her heinous cousin. Go on with her life―her boring life―and just teach school and go about her routine. That was safe. That was normalcy. She wasn’t the type of person for whirlwind adventure. Not rational, teacher Sophie.