Chapter 1

AUBREY

I tip my head back, listening to the beat of the music echoing down the hallway and readjust my backstage pass. This isn’t the piece of cake first assignment for my best friend, Lanie, although I thought it would be. I just hope she isn’t beating the crap out of Noel Falcon on the other side of that red door.

The brick wall is cold against the bare skin on my shoulders as I lean against it. This is such a fucked up mess. If I’d known things would get this heated between Lanie and Noel I might’ve agreed with her that she shouldn’t take Diana Swagger, our boss, up on her offer to head up his children’s literacy campaign. Seeing an ex is never easy. I can’t even imagine what I would do if my ex became a rock-god and I was forced to work with him in order to advance my career.

She’s definitely got her work cut out for her.

A few screams at the end of the hall draw my attention. I stiffen against the wall as my gaze lands on Riff, the lead guitarist of Black Falcon. Women rip open their shirts for him to sign their chests as he moves gracefully among them down the hall. My eyes rake over his body. I can see why women line up to throw themselves at him. He’s really, really sexy.

The hair on his head is perfectly styled into a tall Mohawk that alternates between blond and black chunk stripes, while his wife-beater tank top shows off a vast array of tattoos covering his broad shoulders and impressive forearms. Riff grins as he signs a couple of bare breasts with a silver Sharpie while another fan kisses his cheek. Everything about him emits raw sex appeal, and it’s impossible to tear my gaze away.

I bite my bottom lip just as Riff glances up and notices me. Every instinct in my body advises me to look away because this guy is trouble—the kind I’ve sworn off since the last bad boy I messed around with broke my heart. Guys like him aren’t good news.

He holds my eyes with his for a few seconds and when I don’t break our stare, a slow, cocky smile spreads across his lips.

Oh shit. Why do I have the feeling that look means I’m in for it?

Riff leans over and says something to one of the security guards then claps him on the back before he stalks towards me alone.

Security holds the crazed fans back. The girls behind him continue to scream out Riff’s name as he leaves them standing there still starving for his attention, but he never looks back. His gaze pins me as he heads right for me.

I swallow hard and my heart hammers inside my chest. The moment is surreal. Since getting to know Lanie in college and learning about her connection to Black Falcon, I admit Riff is the one band member that’s always caught my eye. Everything about him that screams naughty sex on a stick, and I can’t believe he’s heading my way.

My knees grow a little weak beneath me as he stops a couple feet in front of me. Riff smirks as his eyes trail over my body unabashedly, lingering a good while on my breasts beneath my form fitting halter-top. “You’re tits are amazing.”

I flinch and my mouth drops open. It’s not like I’m dressed like a skank, but this form-fitting halter doesn’t do anything to disguise that I have a large chest. It doesn’t give him the right to be so crude about it. “Excuse me?”

His grin widens as he leans into me and braces himself against the wall with a hand beside my head. “I knew it. Redheads are always feisty, and they never disappoint in the sack.”

Where does he get off? I’m not a prude. I’m down for having all kinds of fun with a random hottie, but just because he’s a fucking rock-star doesn’t give him the right to treat women like random pieces of rump-roast, especially ones like me. I’m not a usable doormat.

Any other pick-up line would’ve given him better shot at getting in my panties. Now, he’s just pissed me off.

“Um, ever heard of personal space?” I place my hand on his chest and give him a gentle shove.

Riff’s hand shoots up and he wraps his fingers around my wrist. “Feisty and brave. I can only imagine what a night with you would be like. I bet you’re a regular wildcat. Here. Take this.” He reaches in his back pocket of his jeans and pulls out a golden piece of paper and slips it into my palm. “Meet me out by our bus. Let me have just one night to fuck you senseless. I guarantee I’ll have you speaking in tongues before the nights through.”

I stare down at the paper, which looks like a pass to an amusement park ride. My fingers crumple the golden ticket in my fist. “What the hell is this?”

He moves his other arm and places his left hand on the other side of my head, effectively pinning me against the wall. Both of his knees bump into mine as he leans into me. I feel my own lips betray me as they part when Riff dips his head low, like he’s about to kiss me. I close my eyes and my chest heaves with anticipation. Damn my stupid body for getting turned on by this beautiful asshole. This is wrong on so many levels, but a rational reason to not allow this to happen doesn’t enter my brain.

The door across the hall startles me as it slams shut, and a very pissed Noel Falcon flees from the room. Riff watches the back of the lead singer of his band storm down the hall, obviously distraught as he grips handfuls of his own hair in his fists.

Riff shifts his gaze back to me. “Use this ticket and come find me. Security will let you through as long as you have it. We aren’t done with this conversation.”

I open my mouth to protest, but he leans in and kisses me so passionately my knees below me nearly give out. The warmth of his tongue gliding over mine causes a tingle in my belly that spreads down between my legs. Riff cups my face in the palms of his hands and gives me a final peck on the lips. “Find me.”