Page 9 of Hard Rock Desires
“You think pretty highly of yourself, don’t you?” I asked.
“Sure do,” he said. “It’s easy when you’re me.”
I pursed my lips at him.
A loud bang echoed through the alley as a metal door swung open and hit the wall. I jumped, startled.
“Zain!” a loud male voice called out. “Where the fuck are you?”
“Sorry, love.” The conceited guy I’d been speaking to for the last twenty minutes threw me a wink. A long-lashed wink. “I’d stay and chat, but my friends will kick my ass if I don’t go back.”
“I suppose I should get back, too,” I said.
“You suppose?” he chuckled. “You sound real excited about this concert.”
“I’m just here with a friend,” I said. “I’m not really into this kind of thing.”
He cocked his head.
“And what’s ‘this kind of thing’?” he asked.
“Clubs,” I said. “Rock shows.” I waved at him. “Leather pants. The whole thing. I’m only here so she’s not alone on her birthday.”
“You know this is an exclusive, VIP, limited-ticket concert, right?” he asked. “You know there are a thousand fans who would kill to be here?”
“Too bad my friend’s boyfriend got sick,” I said. “Instead she’s stuck with me. And I’m stuck here.”
“Don’t worry, you’ll have a good time,” he said confidently. “I’ll make sure you enjoy the show.”
“How will you—?”
“Zain!!” It was a higher-pitched female voice this time, cutting me off.
Zain winced. “Gotta go. Great talking with you, love.”
He disappeared through the door, leaving a dark silhouette for a short moment, much in the same way he’d appeared in front of me like a shadow.
I stared as the heavy door banged closed behind him. The night now seemed eerily silent without the sound of his voice, without the sound of his breathing.
His entire presence had taken up so much space that the alleyway now felt vast, wide and empty.
My phone buzzed in my sling purse. It was Lisa, texting me.
Where are you?? The real show’s about to start!!
I’d been gone longer than I’d thought. That Zain guy had distracted me completely — from my thoughts, and from the time.
As much of a conceited, skirt-chasing egomaniac as he seemed to be, at the very least he’d listened to me. It was a kind, considerate act from a random stranger, and I was thankful for it. I felt better now than I had when I’d first stumbled out of the club, gasping for air.
I waved my VIP bracelet at the bouncer as I went back in, and he gave me no trouble. I had to elbow my way back to where Lisa was standing right at the front and to the left. Luckily, I was deft and nimble, finding small pockets of space to slip between.
“Where were you?” Lisa yelled. “Until We Break is just about to go on!”
“Sorry!” I yelled, but she’d already turned back to the stage in excitement.
The lights went down. The crowd erupted. Six figures took the stage.
“Are you ready to fucking rock!?” a deep voice shouted into a microphone as the audience went wild.
