Page 19 of Rock Star

Something woke me.

A loud noise.

I sat up.

Oh. My. God.

There was a thunderstorm going on.

White-knuckled I gripped the sheets.

My entire body trembled.

I swiveled my legs out of the bed and rushed across the floor to the window.

I pulled back the drapes.

Sideways rain sheeted down.

Thunder crashed and I yelped.

A fork of lightning lit up the inky blackness of the sky.

I ran back to my bed and curled myself into a shivering ball of fear.

When I’d told Axel that I was scared of storms, I hadn’t been kidding. I’d been in SoCal once when there were rumbles of thunder and the occasional bolt of lightning. It had freaked me out, but now it seemed wimpy in comparison with what was going down here. It was like World War III had broken out as thunder split my ears and lightning flashes lit up the room.

Another sound.

Persistent knocking at my bedroom door.

“Who is it?” I called out, my teeth chattering.

“It’s me, Axel.”

“What do you want?”

“I remembered you told me you hated storms. Thought you might need some company.”

Despite being so scared, my heart melted.

I went to the door, opened up, and fell straight into his arms.

He held me tight, whispering, “It’s okay, I’ve got you.”

I buried my head in his chest. “Stay with me, please.”9I lifted her and carried her to an armchair in the corner of the room, where I sat with her on my lap.

A crash of thunder split the air, closely followed by a flash of lightning.

She was shaking like a leaf, and I ran my hands up her bare arms, trying to soothe her.

“Oh, God, you must think I’m such a dork…” She shivered, and it wasn’t from cold… the heat between our bodies was intense.

I bent and kissed her on the forehead, then tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “I don’t think anything of the kind, Firebird. Most of us have something we’re scared of. Your phobia just happens to be storms.”

She raised her eyes and gazed into mine. “What’s your phobia, Axel?”

“Heights,” I came right out with it. “I can never look out of windows in tall buildings. And my biggest nightmare would be to ride in a cable car.”

“Oh.” She looked down at her hands. “I had no clue…”

“I don’t publicize the fact.” I shrugged. “Doesn’t exactly go with my rock star image.”

Another boom of thunder, and she curled into herself.

I wrapped my arms around her, rocking her gently. “You’re safe with me. The storm won’t last too long. Just breathe, okay?”

She nodded and puffed out a breath.

I stroked her back, her arms, her head, seeking to calm her jangling nerves.

Christ, she was so fucking beautiful. Her skin so smooth. Her hair so silky.

I was playing with fire, and I knew it. She was only dressed in pajama shorts and a cami top.

Don’t think about that.

Gradually, the crashes of thunder and the bolts of lightning grew farther and farther apart. The storm was passing and soon I’d have to leave her and return to my room.

“You want me to go?” I asked, hoping she’d say no.

She squirmed in my lap. “You think the storm might come back?”

“There’s a chance,” I said, and I wasn’t lying. Storms in the pre-alps were notorious for doubling back on themselves.

“I hope we won’t have one tomorrow night. It would ruin the concert,” she whispered.

“The forecast looks good.”

“Okay… Phew. I wouldn’t wanna freak out on you in the middle of ‘Ghost in the Heart’.”

I didn’t tell her this particular storm hadn’t been forecast either—I’m obsessive with checking my weather app—I didn’t want to worry her.

“Maybe we should get some sleep,’ I said. ‘Tomorrow will be a long day.”

“You’ll stay with me?” I heard the innocence in her tone.

She got off my lap and climbed into her bed.

I lay down next to her, facing her.

“Can you switch off the light, please, Axel? I’m too tired…”

I did as she’d asked, then turned to face her again, fighting the urge to kiss her. But she’d closed her beautiful green eyes, and I could tell from her deep breathing that she’d already fallen asleep.

Sleep was coming for me too, and I didn’t fight it.

I didn’t know how long I slept before the nightmare overtook my dreams. I was back in Madison Square Garden, high on the coke I’d snorted in my dressing room. Euphoric, super-confident, ready to go out on the town and party ‘till dawn.

But I needed to talk to Ella first. She’d been dating someone but hadn’t told me who it was. Said I was too over-protective and would scare him off.

Damn right I looked out for her. The world was full of predators like me.

I strode down the passageway and pushed open the door, hoping to persuade her to spill the beans.

Only, something wasn’t right.

She should have been sitting in front of her mirror.

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