Page 1 of Desire

Prologue

Justine

Age 20

“Who’s that?”I ask my sister, Billie, pointing to the older man talking to our brother, Rayne.

“Not sure, why?” she inquires.

“He’s awfully good looking, don’t you think?” I muse. Ever since we started playing small clubs, our band, Savage Wilde, has been attracting attention. Part of me hopes that we make it big; the glam and glitter of living a rockstar life is appealing. Plus, the money wouldn’t hurt since I’m a girl who loves her accessories.

“I guess,” she replies, shrugging.

I continue packing up my equipment, making sure that my precious keyboard is stored properly and ready to be hauled out to the van we use to get back and forth to gigs. Even though I continue to work, I keep my eye on the handsome stranger. There’s something about him that makes my heart rate speed up and I hope that he’s going to make our dreams become reality.

Rayne finally shakes the man’s hand and turns to the three of us. Yes, he's the leader of our band and my older brother. Walking toward us I see the smile on his face and instinctively know that what he’s going to share will be a game changer for us all.

Chapter One

Justine

Present Day

He’s beena part of our lives,mylife, for so long now, that I can’t imagine life without him. Being older than me may be a deterrent in his eyes, but I know he’s interested so I need to push the issue. As my hands glide over my keyboards, I lose myself in the music. Since Rayne and Jacey have reunited, the songs he’s been writing have caused my own creative juices to flow.

“That sounds good, is it new?” His voice washes over me like that first sip of an ice-cold Coke, and I have to hold back my full-body shiver.

“Just goofing off,” I reply, looking up at him. He’s been rocking the salt and pepper look for years but the fact that he now has a beard that frames his full lips has my libido ramping up.

“Well, I like it,” he states, coming to stand next to me. I watch as his hand reaches out to tuck a loose curl behind my ear. “You okay, Justine? You’ve been a bit quiet lately. Need to check on my number one girl and make sure she’s alright.”

“You say that to all of us, Sebastian,” I reply. “We’re all your number one girl, remember?”

He chuckles and the sound once again has my body on edge. “You’ve got me there, but seriously, are you okay? Anything I can help you with?”

I take a deep breath. Then another one. In all the years since he discovered us, I’ve never seen him with a steady woman, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t one who he keeps away from the madness that is our world. Finally deciding that honesty is the best way to go, I capture his gaze with mine and say, “I’m feeling lonely, especially since Rayne and Jacey are together again. This life doesn’t really lend itself to relationships unless the other person is in the industry as well, but no one we know even remotely interests me.”Well, except for you,I silently add.

His eyes widen at my admission and I see an expression cross his face I wasn’t expecting.

Desire.

“I know what you mean. Anyone I’ve dated couldn’t handle all the women at the concerts and regardless of the fact that I’d never cheat on someone, their accusations of that very thing makes it difficult for me as well,” he states.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen you with anyone on a steady basis,” I confess. “I mean, not that it’s any of my business,” I rush out, my face heating in embarrassment. I have, of course, met a few women he’s brought around, but it was more than obvious they were temporary. Well, at least to me.

“I’ve dated from time to time, but no one measures up to the one I can never have,” he admits.

“Why can’t you?” I ask, my curiosity roused. While he isn’t our manager, he did discover us and so he’s part of our entourage. Hell, I was still a gangly young woman when he swooped in after hearing us play at a local event. Braces were my nemesis, and I went nearly two years without smiling, something that he took personally because he would tell me stupid jokes just to get me to laugh.

“Because her brother would kill me,” he replies.

Sebastian

When I first met Justine Wilde, shewas almost twenty and far too young for me, since I was fast approaching thirty at the time. And no, I never looked at her like that until she came into her own when she hit twenty-one. I remember a shy, pretty teen who never smiled because she was worried about what people would say about her braces. Watching her mature into a stunning, independent woman has been hard because ever since she hit adulthood, I’ve been attracted to her.

The faceless, nameless women I’ve wined, dined and bedded can’t hold a candle to her. Only… Rayne would kill me. He’d draw and quarter me, then leave my body out in some desert to be eaten by predators. After he covered me in honey and fire ants, that is. He’s fiercely protective of his sisters, as he should be, but I’d never hurt her.

“I’m sure if you talked to him, he’d understand, Sebastian.” Her melodious voice washes through me and I feel my body reacting.

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