Jax (Broken Strings #1) (6 page)

Jax held his breath as she settled against him, one long leg draped across his.

His hand drifted down and lightly caressed her back. Was it wrong that he felt so comfortable like this, as though it’s where they belonged?

He studied her upturned face as she slept. She really was beautiful. Her upturned nose and small features reminded him of a pixie, and in sleep she appeared so relaxed, as though she didn’t have a care in the world.

What the hell had she been doing in that club? He knew she’d had it rough in school, but surely it couldn’t have been so bad that she’d resort to stripping…. All those men pawing at her.

He closed his eyes as a wave of jealousy washed over him, so keen that it was almost painful.

Amaranth stirred in her sleep and he held his breath, half expecting her to wake up. Instead, she rolled so that her back was too him, still sleeping.

Jax eased himself onto his side, wrapping an arm around her waist and pulling her gently up against him, tucking her head beneath his chin.

For the first time in months he slept easily.

CHAPTER SIX

“Jax!”

He groaned as the pounding on his door continued. Craning his neck up, he looked at the display on the digital clock next to the bed.

Ten am. Shit.

Amaranth still slept soundly beside him, and he carefully eased himself away from her and off the bed. Crossing the floor, he cracked open the door and peered out at Tessa’s angry face.

“What the fuck, Tess?” he said, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes.

“Look, I don’t care who you want to fuck,” she began, her eyes flashing angrily. “But we have been waiting for you on that damn bus for the last four hours. So wake her up and let’s go!”

She turned and stormed away before he could say anything.

Closing the door, he leaned against it and rubbed his hands over his face. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d slept in so late. He looked over to the bed where Amaranth still slept. He could watch her all day, but Tessa was right – they had to go.

Crossing the floor, he stopped above her and quietly called her name.

“Amaranth?” he said, gently shaking her shoulder. “Come on babe, you gotta get up.”

She groaned and rolled to her back, her eyelids slowly flickering open.

“Morning,” she said with a smile, stretching on the bed like a cat.

Jax felt the familiar pull of his cock, and fought against the urge to take her right there and then.

“Come on,” he said gruffly, pulling on his jeans. “We have to go.”

Amaranth slowly sat up, her hair in a mess and her eyes slightly swollen. “Is everything alright?” she asked, watching as he stood and fixed his hair in the mirror next to the bed.

Jax sighed and dropped his arms, turning to face her.

“No, it’s not,” he said with a small smile. “We should have been on the road four hours ago, Tessa’s pissed.”

Amaranth hopped out of the bed and straightened her clothes, eyeing Jax as he pulled on his shoes.

“I’m sorry,” she said quietly. “I didn’t mean to sleep in, it’s just that the bed was so comfortable, and it’s the first one I’ve slept on in months and-”

“Forget it,” Jax said with a dismissive wave of his hand.

But something she said stuck with him, and he looked at her, puzzled.

“What the hell do you mean, this is your first time on a bed in months. Where do you live?”

Amaranth looked at him, her mouth hanging slightly open as she appeared to realize that she’d told him more than she’d planned to.

“Well?” he thundered.

She didn’t answer, pursing her lips together and turning her head away from him.

He wasn’t in the mood for that game.

Stalking over to her, he grabbed her shoulders and shook her hard. “Amaranth! What the fuck is going on?” he demanded, noting the way that she flinched.

He backed away, running his hands through his hair.

She glared at him, crossing her arms over her breasts.

“I live on the fucking streets, okay?” she cried, angry tears coursing from her eyes. “Is that what you wanted to know? I earn a living by taking my clothes off. Does that make you happy?”

“Amaranth, I-” Jax began, reaching for her.

“No, don’t,” she said, pulling away from him, her eyes blazing. “We have to go, remember? They’re waiting for us.”

She turned and stormed out of the room, slamming the door closed behind her.

Jax slumped against the wall and ran his hands over his face.

Amaranth was homeless? He’d had no idea. How long had she been living this way, where did she sleep each night?

Something snapped inside of him and he kicked over the small table next to the door, sending the glass vase on top of it smashing to the floor.

He moved to the bed and pulled on his shoes. His heart was breaking for her, he had to do something… but what could he do? Amaranth clearly had no intention of accepting his help, she was too proud, too stubborn.

His shoes on, he stood and pulled his wallet from the back pocket of his jeans. Withdrawing a fifty dollar note, he tucked it under the lamp on the bedside table. He wasn’t sure if it’d be enough to  repair the damage he’d caused in his moment of blind anger, but it would have to do. He’d make sure Tobey checked later.

Leaving the room, he took his key back to the reception. The blonde wasn’t on the desk this time and he got through quickly with no trouble. He didn’t mention the mess he’d left behind.

Putting his sunglasses on, he walked through the hotel lobby and outside into the light.

The bus was still parked in the same spot, though about twenty young women started screeching as soon as he walked out of the hotel.

Fucking fans
, he thought savagely.

Jax loved his fans… most of the time. But right now there was only one person he wanted to see.

Craning his neck, he looked over the heads of the women that surrounded him, but he couldn’t see her anywhere.

Smiling a polite apology to his disappointed fans, he pressed his way through them and walked over to the bus where Kane stood leaning against it, an amused grin on his face.

“Did we have fun last night?” he asked casually.

“Shut up,” Jax snapped. “Where is she?”

Kane’s grin widened even more, exposing his white teeth. “You must have really made an impression on her,” he chuckled. “She left in a cab about five minutes ago.”

Jax felt the breath leave his body as though he’d been sucker punched in the gut.

“She…what?” he asked, not ready to believe it.

“Cheer up,” Kane said, slapping him on the back as he pushed away from the side of the bus. “It’s probably for the best. Come on dude, we have to go.”

Kane waved gallantly to the screaming women that still surrounded them, before boarding the bus.

Jax paused on the steps, searching the crowd around the hotel. There was still no sign of Amaranth.

With a loud sigh of defeat he boarded the bus and watched the doors close behind him.

CHAPTER SEVEN

“Dude, forget about her, she’s gone!” Kane said in frustration.

They’d been on the road for the past hour, and Jax had spent the entire time staring out the window, watching for Amaranth.

“I just don’t understand it,” he said in a quiet voice.

“Jax,” Tessa said quietly as she sat down beside him. “I’m sorry, but you have to snap out of this. Amaranth’s gone, and it’s probably for the best.”

Jax turned his head toward her with a small smile. “You’re starting to sound just like Kane.”

“Well good,” Tessa replied with a smile. “Maybe now you’ll listen.”

“Tessa’s right,” Tobey said from the other side of the bus as he looked up from his paperwork.

Jax looked at Tobey curiously, since when did he start agreeing with Tess?

“Okay guys listen up,” Tobey continued, standing up with a handful of papers. “Tonight we’re playing Phoenix and-”

“What? Phoenix, why?” Kane cried tiredly. “That’s hours out of our way!”

“A gig is a gig,” Tobey said with a warning look. “Now, Tessa we’re not going to have you in the middle of the stage this…..”

Jax let his mind wander as Tobey and Tessa talked business. It wasn’t as though he wasn’t interested, he just had too much going on his mind at that moment to focus on what they were saying.

Quietly excusing himself, he squeezed past Tessa and went into his room and lay on the bed.

***

Hours later he was woken by Kane. They’d arrived in Phoenix.

Quickly showering and dressing, he stepped off the bus. The time was four pm, and the sun had just begun to sink in the sky, making the wind that blew a little chilly.

Walking over to a large door at the side of the entertainment center, he pulled it open and stepped inside, squinting his eyes at the sudden darkness.

Where the fuck are the lights?
He thought.

A sound to the right of him caught his attention, and he turned and began walking along an empty corridor.

“Kane?” he called, straining his ears for any sound. “Tessa!”

Where the hell was everyone?

He reached the end of the corridor and rounded the corner, only to find another corridor. The center was like a fucking maze.

He heard a sound once more, a distinct thud of something dropping heavily to the ground.

“Hello?” he called, walking down that corridor. He sped up as he heard footsteps walking quickly away from him.

Jax broke into a jog as he heard a loud scraping sound. It seemed to come from all around him.

He rounded the next corner, and almost ran straight into Tobey.

“Tobey,” he gasped, leaning forward out of breath. “Where the fuck is everyone?”

“Are you alright?” Tobey asked, looking at him in concern.

“I’m fine,” Jax lied, standing up straight, still panting.

“Have you seen Tessa?” Tobey asked.

Jax looked at him curiously. “Is something going on between you and Tess?” he asked.

Tobey blushed and ducked his head. “No, of course not,” he said, a little too quickly. “I just have to go over some stuff with her before the show.”

He was clearly lying.

“I haven’t seen her,” Jax replied, shaking his head.

“Okay,” Tobey said distractedly. “Walk down this hall and turn left. You can’t miss the dressing rooms.”

Jax watched as Tobey walked quickly in the opposite direction. There was definitely something he was missing.

Shaking his head, he turned and walked down the corridor.

He found the dressing rooms easily enough, and Kane was sitting in there with a group of young women.

“Jax,” the drummer said happily as he entered the room. “You’re just in time. Abigail here was just about to show us how she can put her legs behind her head,” he said, winking suggestively at a blonde as she giggled, her large breasts heaving.

Jax smiled. “Not tonight,” he said, walking over to the mini bar and grabbing a can of beer.

“Man, are you still hung up over that chick?” Kane said, standing on unsteady legs as he made his way over to where Kane stood, looking out the window.

“Give it up man, she’s not coming back.”

“I know that,” Jax said defensively. “I just wish I understood why she left in the first place.”

“Jax, sometimes things are just better left unknown,” Kane said with a laugh, draping his arm over Jax’s shoulders.

“Hey guys, we’re on in fifteen,” Tessa said, sticking her head around the corner of the door.

“Hey Tess,” Jax said with a sly smile. “How’s Tobey?”

“What? How the hell should I know?” Tessa asked, looking confused.

“Fifteen minutes,” she reminded them as she closed the door.

Now Jax was confused. If something was going on between Tobey and Tessa, then clearly they were hiding it pretty damn well. Tessa was a great actress, pretending to be confused.

“Okay ladies,” Kane said with a sigh. “It’s time for you all to leave.”

The ladies all groaned in unison, and Jax laughed.

“I know, I know,” Kane said, sounding dismayed. “I don’t want you to go either. But, you’ll be happy to know that I’ve arranged for all of you to have free tickets to tonight’s show, and I would like to invite you to a very
exclusive
after party,” he slapped the blonde on her round ass as she squealed in excitement.