Beat to Their Heart Read online

  “I’m fine, Sky, thanks to you. Do you want to sit down and talk for a bit? It’s kinda loud here, but we can go sit in the back. You can even have your friend come if you want." He saw the apprehension in her eyes. “Just talking Skylar, nothing else.” She seemed to think about it before looking around.

  “I don’t see Casey anywhere, and since she didn’t tell me if she left, I can stay and talk for a couple minutes before I need to go.” Joey couldn’t help but smile as he reached down and took her hand in his. They were so soft compared to his callused ones. Joey pulled her in different directions, as people told him how good the set was until they finally made it to the back. A large man, who he knew as one of the club’s bouncers, let him pass. Walking to one of the backrooms he sat down in an overly large couch pulling Sky to sit down next to him.

  “I have to say you took me by surprise when you told me you knew the band and then started to play. I didn’t see that coming, or maybe I should have. You didn’t have a shirt on.” She laughed at her little joke. Her laugh was deep, throaty, and sexy as hell. His cock grew with every sound.

  “Yeah, not something I go around announcing, you know. Too many weird groupies.”

  “Well, everyone wants the hot drummer, or the sexy lead singer. It’s like a weird girl thing.” He ran his hand along the back of her arm.

  “The hot drummer, huh. So you think I’m hot?” He raised an eyebrow at her, which made her burst out laughing.

  “You know you are, or you wouldn’t have had your shirt off.”

  “It was a publicity ploy, not my idea. And I think you are beautiful.” He couldn’t help but say it out loud because she was.

  “I bet you say that to every girl you bring back here.”

  “Nope, never had a girl back here. And to be honest with you, normally if I wanted a girl, not much talking would be going on. But there is something interesting about you.”

  “Me, really I’m not special.”

  “There is something to you, Skylar. Tell me what you do, tell me about yourself.”

  “Please call me Sky, my mother use to call me Skylar when I was in trouble. And I’m pretty boring. I’m an ER nurse, and a single mother to a six-year-old boy. Other than that, I don’t go out, ever. Well except for tonight, that’s because Casey bribed my normal babysitter and begged to the point I felt bad. So yeah. You can leave when you want.” She smiled but then looked down at her hands. Joey didn’t understand why she was now shutting him out. Lifting her chin, he looked her in the eyes.

  “Why would I leave? I thought we were talking and having a good time.”

  “The whole single mother thing normally scares people away.” A sad smile flashed across her face.

  “Not me, I think it’s amazing that you are doing something as hard as raising a child by yourself. Most people aren’t strong enough to do that.” He shifted in his seat until he had one leg turned allowing him to look directly at her.

  “You know, you’re nothing like I thought you would be. I heard that drummers are…”

  “Asses, bastards, something like that? I normally am, trust me, baby. I’m a huge jackass, but something about you calms me. You sure you aren’t some weird witch, or did you put something in my water. I’m never this calm.” He was starting to get worried that something was wrong with him. He was a good time man. He played, got drunk, and screwed anything that he could get into when he needed some relief. But he was content just sitting on a damn couch talking with Sky. That didn’t mean he wasn’t thinking about stripping her down and burying his dick into her sweet honey, but there was something so much more to her. It made him want to be a better person. Now he was thinking there really could be something seriously wrong with him.

  “Nope, just plain, old, boring me.”

  “Not plain, old, or boring at all.” He moved a piece of hair away from her face and held onto her cheek. Her skin was soft and smooth, he couldn’t help marvel at it. Her breath caught and her pupils dilated. She was affected by him just as he was with her. Taking a chance, he lowered his mouth to hers slowly. Gently swiping his lips along hers, planting a soft sweet kiss. When she seemed to relax a little more he moved his hand into her hair, pulling her a little closer, pressing harder on her mouth. He licked her lower lip.

  “Open for me, Sky,” he growled with need. She seemed to feel it too as she opened her mouth. He took that moment to claim her fully.

  Sky didn’t know what the hell had come over her. She was just going to talk, but here she was lost in kissing Joey, whom she had only know for a short time. But that didn’t stop the ache in her pussy. It had been so long since she had sex, let alone had an orgasm that wasn’t self-induced. Joey had one hand in her hair holding her exactly where he wanted her, while his other hand moved up her leg. He grabbed the back of her knee pulling it quickly, making her slide back on the couch while Joey laid on top of her. She couldn’t help but open her legs giving him access. That seemed to fuel his need as he released her hair and moved on to her breasts. Grabbing and squeezing them through her shirt. The feeling of her nipples hard against her bra made her crazy with need. She needed him, and then he pushed his erection into her jean-covered sex. Unable to hold back the moan, he started to dry hump her while moving from kissing her mouth to her neck. She was almost there; it had been so long. His breathing increased and she held onto his back. Her nails dug into his back a little harder as he hissed, but it resulted in him biting her neck and pushing into her. She screamed, letting the orgasm rip through her. Joey covered her mouth to stifle her cry from others.

  “God, baby, I need you so fucking bad. I feel like I’m gonna blow my load in my pants if I don’t get inside you now.” He started to fumble with her buttons when someone cleared their throat. Screaming, she moved to get out from under Joey.

  “Sorry, man, but Marty needs us, like right now. Say goodbye to your play toy and let’s go.” Sky felt her face flush while she tried to stand fixing her clothes. Never in her life had she been as reckless as she just had been.

  “Fuck you, Booker,” Joey growled before moving.

  “Sky, I’m sorry. I...”

  “It’s okay, Joey. Really, I need to go anyway. See you.” And with that she practically ran out to the club to find Casey. She needed to head home and forget this whole night.

  Chapter Four

  Eight months later…

  It felt weird to be in one place this long. After that one amazing night in the club eight months ago, his life had taken a turn on the fast road. Chasing Tail had become an overnight success. Marty had actually come through and got them a deal of a lifetime. The very next day they were in a real recording studio laying down a track to put on the radio. Since then it's been nonstop with shows, radios spots, and a few TV shows. But he never gave up on Sky. She was like a memory he didn’t want to get rid of. Her throaty laugh, soft smile, and the way she connected with him. She didn’t act all star struck when she first met him. The only regret he had was that he had no clue how to contact her. No last name, and all he knew was she was with someone named Casey. He pulled into his new house that he had bought in Malibu after he got his royalty check. It sure as hell beat his old apartment he used to own. He needed a few hours of sleep before a party Marty was throwing for them. The whole band was coming out, but after being on the road, he drank too much and then slept. Sometimes he woke and didn’t even know which city he was in. But the one thing he did was stay away from women. The guys joked he had turned into a damn monk because he didn’t have a girl or two in his room every night. He didn’t want one or two, he couldn’t seem to get Sky out of his mind, making it all the more difficult to want the no connection fuck versus the feeling of what he could have with her. Being on the road, the guys had seemed to take the true rocker fashion with sex, drugs, and rock-n-roll to heart. He didn’t, well accept the booze and he had taken that to heart long before they had made it. The one time he tried to sleep with someone, he ended up letting her give him head before
he just pushed her away. The whole time his eyes were closed, he imagined it was Sky down on her knees, sucking him down with her plump lips. Her chocolate brown eyes looking up at him while he grabbed her hair and fucked her face. Damn, even now his dick grew with thoughts of her. A shower while he took matters into his own hand was needed. It was going to be a long night.

  *****

  Sky looked at the damn clock as she started her shift. Another night shift, but it was the best time with Milo in school. Hudson, thank goodness, wasn’t in until later this evening. She, at least for the first part of her shift, didn’t have to deal with him. Casey had questioned her several times about Joey and what happened after the party, but it was her secret. She never told Casey about the hot kiss she shared with him. He seemed so different to her. Yes, he was big and scary with his dark brooding eyes, scruffy goatee and shaggy hair, but damn if he didn’t get her motor running. When the other band member came in the room right before they actually were going to fuck on the couch, she was mortified, then he called her a plaything. God, how low could she have felt? She ended up taking a taxi home with the little money she had and texted Casey to let her know she needed to leave. A simple lie to Trudy that she started to feel sick made her drop the subject. But on a positive note, she saw that Chasing Tail was picked up. She even admitted to buying the songs on her iPod and listening to them when she got a chance. She even recorded shows the band had been on just so she could see him. To her he looked tired, and in serious need of a haircut, but he still played. The last one she noted how he was lost in the music and didn’t look at the camera as the others did. It tore at her heart.

  Tonight she was working with a new nurse, Daisy, who seemed to be a little lost at what to do on the down time. It was a good thing Sky was patient and helped her because if it was Casey, the poor girl would quit. A few patients came in with illnesses, which honestly could have been taken care of with simple over the counter medication. The ones that drove her nuts where the patients who came in because of a toothache. What in heaven’s name is an ER going to do? Nothing, expect provide Motrin and tell them to see a dentist in the morning. Seriously, some people got on her nerves.

  Taking her lunch into the break room, she started to sit down when she heard some shouting in triage.

  “Someone help me, my friend took something, I think he might have over dosed.” Since the triage nurse would only call a doctor and Daisy wouldn’t know how to handle it, she took off running. Pushing the doors open, she yelled for Daisy to hold the door open while she went to assess the situation. Three large men were carrying another man who seemed to be unconscious, but that wasn’t what caused her to stop for a second. The man holding the patient was Joey. She couldn’t stop and think about it. She yelled at him to follow her. Daisy told the two other men who followed to stay put and let Joey carry the patient to trauma one.

  “What did he take?” She didn’t look at Joey before she started to connect the BP cuff, oxygen, and other equipment. The doctor hadn't shown up yet, and she wondered what the hell was taking so long.

  “Sky?” She looked up at Joey staring at her like he couldn’t believe it was her.

  “Damn it, Joey, he’s starting to seize. I need to know what he took. Does he have any allergies, medical conditions we need to know about?”

  “Crap, I don’t know. Some guys said something about a new coke, but someone thinks it was cut with something else. He has a bee allergy, and that’s all I know. Is he going to be okay?” Sky didn’t have time to answer his question as she rolled the patient and Hudson soon came running in starting to call out orders. After that, she forgot that Joey was standing there. She had a job to do, and no matter how sexy he was, she wasn’t going to let him distract her.

  *****

  Joey didn’t know what the hell just happened. He was at the party, really not having too much fun as the groupies at this party were just looking at being some rock stars pet, or worse—wife. With a beer in his hand he just walked around so he didn’t look to stupid sitting and doing nothing. He heard Marty and Booker had gone to go try some samples Booker had gotten. Joey rolled his eyes at that. It wasn’t something he did, or hell, something he even accepted, but the one time he spoke up Booker and he got into a fight. So he shut up, if the idiot wanted to end his life with drugs that was all him. Hunter was currently sitting with two women on his lap watching them make out. Not too long ago that would have been him, while Mickey was talking to some big wigs about various concerts. Each one of them were so different, but they'd come from the same neighborhood.

  It hadn’t even been an hour when he heard someone yelling. A woman came running up to Mickey and by the look on her face, Joey knew something was up. Following her into a backroom, Marty had a half-naked woman laying on the side of the bed while Booker wasn't waking up. His breathing was shallow and something wasn’t right.

  “Fuck, Marty, what the hell happened?”

  “He only took a line, but I don’t know what he did before he got in here. Shit, I think he OD’d, man. You gotta get him to the hospital and keep the cops away. We don’t need this in the paper.” Joey was seeing red as he lifted Booker up and ran out the door. Hunter dropped the two women on the ground as he ran to grab the SUV with Mickey following behind.

  The drive didn’t take long as they went to the first hospital they knew. He lifted Booker, grateful he had been lifting weights as he ran inside the ER. The nurse rushed him back and he set him in a room. But as he set Booker down, he looked at the nurse and all logical thoughts scattered. Skylar. She was standing right in front of him. He said her name, not sure if it was really her. Then she yelled at him asking what Booker took. Responding with an answer the doctor came in and suddenly he was pushed out of the room and told to go wait in the waiting room so they could work.

  Walking back, he was a mix of emotions and suddenly needed a drink or to hit something. Booker was in bad shape, but he had found Sky. He spotted Mickey and Hunter pacing back and forth.

  “How is he?”

  “He’s bad, man. The doctor is with him, but that’s all I know. They will come out when they have something to tell us.” They both nodded, but proceeded to walk back and forth. A nurse, who seemed really young, came out to gather some information about insurance and family members. He rattled off what he could and gave her the manager’s information as well. About an hour later a doctor came out asking about relatives for Booker.

  “We're his brothers.” The doctor looked at them, but then decided to talk anyway.

  “Well, Mr. Dane is in bad shape. We were able to stabilize him, but don’t know the exact drug he ingested. We are admitting him, and waiting to see how he responds.” They all nodded.

  “Can we see him?” Mickey asked.

  “Only one can for right now.” The doctor looked at the three of us.

  “I hate hospitals,” Hunter complained.

  “I should call Marty and try to keep the press out of this, Joey, go on back. We will be out here.” Just like Mickey to play ringleader.

  The doctor led him to the door that had a curtain drawn. Joey thanked him and walked inside. Booker was connected to some weird machine that was making a lot of beeping noises, and wires going in every direction. He sat down in a chair and just did nothing. He honestly didn’t know what to do, or why he was even sitting in the back. Booker had been an ass since being on the road. To him they seemed to have traded places since going on the road, he had been the one spiraling out of control, now Booker was taking over the role. It was like something changed him. The access to money, drugs, girls. He wanted to try it all, and no one could stop him. Maybe it was a good thing they were all taking a long break. Get Booker into a rehab program and they could all relax some. Lay down some new tracks. Damn, he was tired. He just watched the machine for the longest time, but then someone pulled back the curtains. Looking up he looked into the same eyes that had haunted his dreams for eight damn months.

  “Sky,” he said her n
ame and this time she responded with a small smile.

  “Hi, Joey. I didn’t think you would remember me after all this time.” She started walking around Booker with a clipboard in her hand writing down numbers.

  “How could I not. I have done nothing but think about you.” With everything that had happened, how could he waste time on a lie. With Booker laying in a damn hospital bed, he had realized he spent too much time living in the past.

  “Joey, look, it was a long time ago. And I’m at work. I can’t talk about this here.” Sky was nervous with taking care of a member of the band Chasing Tail. If something went wrong, the press would have a field day. And now Joey was here right in front of her saying he actually thought about her. How naive could she be?

  “I know, and I’m sorry.” She noticed he wanted to say more but Dr. Hudson came in and started looking over her notes. She used that moment to leave the room. She didn’t know what else to do. Did she admit that he had been in more than one wet dream? God, she was hopeless. She had a crush on a damn rocker.

  Walking into the bathroom she splashed water on her face trying to cool her over heated cheeks before heading into the break room. She needed some coffee. Only half of her shift was done and for some odd reason she knew Joey wasn’t going to let her go without talking to her. But she did her best to avoid him at all cost, after all it was a large hospital and she could keep herself busy. Well, if Hudson didn’t make her keep track of the patient who was still in trauma one with the one man who she couldn’t escape.

  Chapter Five

  Joey had been asked to leave so they could move Booker up to another room in the hospital. He hadn’t seen Sky since she came into the room to look at Booker’s charts. Getting annoyed, he found another nurse, a cute young thing that seemed like she was in over her head. Her stethoscope said her name was Daisy.