Karyn Gerrard - Heart of Rock

A snarl, almost animal-like in tone, came from the end of the table. Byrne leapt out of his chair, grabbed her arm, and pulled her against the wall. "Stop. I can see the pity on your face. Don't you ever feel pity for me," he saidangrily.

She shoved at his chest. "I don't, you Irish shit! Back off."

He stood way too close, and his nearness affected her. Byrne's potent presence surrounded her and made her body react, damn him. She could feel the anger and annoyance come off him in waves. Her hand brushed his rock hard chest. No wonder he went shirtless on stage. She ached to touch him again, but she pulled her hand away.

He leaned in close. "Why is your hair red and black? Couldn't make up your mind?"

"You're a fine one to talk," she mumbled.

"I like changing my hair color and style. It's like trying on a new persona." He laughed huskily.

"Yeah, you know all about that." She snorted.

"Come on—tell me the real color of your hair and I'll tell you mine."

"Enough games. Let me go. You're acting drunk." But she knew he wasn't. She had touched a nerve, and he gave her the full arrogant 'Rock God' façade.

He grabbed her wrists in one hand and held them against the wall above her head. Byrne's eyes scanned down her body. She was angry now, and her chest heaved in irritation. He looked down between her legs. "Love, I know a way I can find out your true hair color."

"Jesus, your brother was right: You are a pig. Going to take me against the wall like you do those groupie whores? Just try it and I'll have Gio tear you to pieces."

Byrne began to laugh. "You know, Montgomery, I haven't been this entertained in ages."

"Let me go or I'll whistle for him."

He released her and backed away. "Just having some fun—"

"I'll show you fun." Carly reached down and grabbed his balls in a vise grip capable of cracking walnuts. Holy shit… her fingers brushed past quite the erection. He was turned on? He was a pig! She squeezed tighter because, damn him, she was turned on as well. This man had her confused six ways from Sunday, and she didn't need this. Byrne cried out with a definite girly scream.

"Don't you ever do that to me again, back me against a wall and make lewd comments. You treat me with respect, or I will have these nailed to a wall. I don't take any abuse off any man, verbal or otherwise—got it?"

"Aye," he croaked an octave higher than he usually spoke.

She let him go and walked away with a slight smile on her face. She could have brought him to his knees very easily; however, she'd held back. The rumors were true. Carly heard the talk of Byrne's prowess. All right, damn him. She heard he could strap his cock to his leg. Her anger quickly dissipated. She wished to hell she was a manager to Carole King or someone less trouble. The last week had certainly not been dull. She was annoyed but also intrigued.

Brogan ached. Not only where she had grabbed him but in his raging, off-the-charts arousal. This woman interested him like no other in a long time, not even Abbie. His hand moved down over the front of his jeans. He was going to be sore there in more ways than one. To him, women and sex were a game. Her frank talk irritated him, but he was more fascinated than anything else. He wanted to see her reaction to his arrogant self. Carly stood up to him, and he admired her. Hell, he liked it. Her balls were bigger than his. Far out.

Before the show in Newark and the concert dates in Canada, Brogan and the tour took a brief break. Cascade Records rented a small house in a secluded area of Cape Cod. The crew was at a nearby hotel while Brogan, Carly, and Gio relaxed at the seaside home. Brogan was sober for a week. All the damned drugs he was on certainly took the edge off, but the demon was still in there snarling silently.

Brogan walked on the small stretch of beach at dusk. He glanced at the house. Carly was inside discussing the upcoming concerts with Gio, working out security and other details that bored the shite out of him. They hadn't talked much since the turkey dinner. As one side-effect of their interaction, he had been in a constant state of arousal ever since she crushed his bollocks. Actually, he derived some amusement from watching her try to keep their dealings removed and professional. Aye, she couldn't hide the flush of her cheeks or the direction of her gaze. Carly constantly scanned his body with her intense stare, usually stopping the longest on his crotch. He made no effort to hide his interest. She no doubt had been aware of his stiff cock when she held his balls between her fingers.

Would he act on the obvious sizzle that simmered between them? He kicked at the sand with his boot. He had heard of Carly Montgomery along the Cascade Record grapevine but had never met her before now. Brogan didn't bother much with the office and the minions who worked under Nigel. He winced. Aye, he was arrogant. However, even though he'd heard she didn't sleep around, there was gossip of a short-term fling with a roadie two years ago.

Brogan stopped walking and gazed up at the star laden sky. It was a beautiful late summer night. A cool, bracing sea breeze skimmed in off the ocean. The hint of impending autumn teased the air. The half moon was bright, casting a soft illumination over the beach. The moon's cascading light also revealed a dinghy coming ashore. Inside the small boat were two scantily clad women. He had to admire their ingenuity. How did they even know where he was?

The two women giggled and hurried to him, gushing adoringly about his music, his voice, and his body. When they began to undress him and cover him with admiring kisses, he didn't protest. Nor did he complain when they brought bottles of beer ashore. No harm in a little foreplay or maybe a drink or two. He didn't have to have sex with them. Just some fun. He told the dark-haired chick she could wank him off but no oral or otherwise. Being worshipped and venerated by women had always appealed to him. Besides, he already had a hard-on before they appeared, and there was no sense putting a perfectly good erection to waste. The women giggled again and began to undress. He stretched out flat in the cool sand. The two women began to crawl all over him. The dark-haired one began to fondle his cock. She teased his swollen head briefly with her tongue and then picked up the pace of her hand strokes until he moaned for release. The dyed blonde was all but inhaling his mouth and tongue. He reached and cupped her breasts, and his thumbs rubbed her nipples into hardness. The chick leaned over him, dangling her tits enticingly. They looked as rich and succulent as low-hanging fruit. His mouth closed over one, and he sucked eagerly. Oh, yeah. More.

Carly flipped through the stack of contracts and paper-clipped the relevant ones together. This was taking longer than she'd expected. Byrne's previous manager, Byron, left things in a bit of a mess toward the end. Gio stood, stretched, and walked to the large picture window overlooking the beach. "Is that a boat?"

Carly scrambled out of her seat and rushed to the window. She cupped her hand and peered out through the glass. Damn it, it was a boat, and Byrne was nowhere in sight.

"I'll check it out. I need a little fresh air anyway."

"Are you sure?"

"I'll yell if I need you. Have a drink and relax for a bit." She touched Gio briefly on his arm, and then moved toward the sliding doors. Gio, for all his brawn, had plenty of brains to spare. They had been working together for two years, and she considered him a good friend and not just her assistant. He was darkly handsome, and his Italian heritage was evident in the dusky olive tone of his skin and his dark, seductive eyes. She had never had any longings toward Gio. To her, he was the older brother she always wished she had. He was kind, funny, and protective.