Rock Bottom (2 page)

But now there
was a dinner being held by one of the biggest DJ’s in Europe and Gage wanted
her to accompany him – as his date.

“We’ll leave
once I’m done with signing autographs,” he told her lightly. “One of the road
crew will take you out back to the limo where you’ll wait for me.”

“Do I really
have to?” Kate said with a stony expression. “It sounds like a private event
and I wouldn’t want to be…”

“It’s true
that Chase Stone is an old pal but he’s also a professional acquaintance. He
wants to discuss a compilation of all of my top singles. I’m not sure if you’ve
ever heard of him but Chase is known in the business for making killer mixes.
Sometimes, the release actually tops sales of the original release. It’s always
great to keep the fans happy with fresh spins of their favorite songs from my
albums.”

“Wow, it sounds
great, Gage. I just thought that maybe you’d be better off seen at the event
with one of those socialites. You know, the type of girl your band mates keep
sneaking into your dressing room as if no one notices,” Kate said with
derision.

Gage’s eyes
narrowed. “Really, Kate? I think it’s about time that you stop believing that
I’m everything my lifestyle portrays me to be. Most of it is just created by my
PR agent. People expect it of me – doesn’t necessarily mean I actually
live by that creed.”

“You’re right.
I’m sorry, Gage…but you don’t need to explain anything to me. It’s really none
of my business.”

His lips
thinned for a moment before his hand slipped around her elbow. “I think I made
my point clear the other night, didn’t I?” His voice was low and rough as he
added, “On this tour, I’m expecting you to do exactly as I ask. No more, no
less. Otherwise the whole agreement is off. I had people from Rolling Stone
magazine wanting exclusive coverage of the entire tour, but I turned them down
so that I could offer it to you instead, and why? Not just for old times’ sake,
sweetheart. But for the chance to have you whenever and however I want. So if
that means that I want you to be my date for a damned dinner party, then whether
you like it or not, that’s what you’ll be.”

Kate tried to
tug her arm from his grip but it was too strong. Gritting her teeth, she
snarled, “I could walk away from this right now, Gage. If it costs me my job,
so be it. I’m getting tired of you thinking that you have the right to use me however
you please. I really don’t need this.”

Kate turned
to leave him but was startled when he reached out and pulled her against him,
his hand sliding up her thigh, brushing over her hip to grip the curve of her
waist. 

“What you
need
was never part of the agreement,” Gage snapped, his eyes stormy, his jaw rigid.
“We both know you stopped needing me a long time ago, Kate.” His eyes and smile
were fused with hurt and anger and it made her bristle. “Right now, what should
matter to you are
my
needs. And you may like to think that you could
walk away from it all so easily, but we both know that’s not true. Your career
is everything to you and from what I’ve heard, while you’ve worked hard to get
to where you are, your industry is just as cutthroat as mine is.  One
mistake, such as losing out on an exclusive with me, and you’ll be quickly
replaced with the next celeb-chasing hound dog that’s all too eager to be
thrown a bone. So, tell me Kate Preston, do you really want to do this?”

Kate’s eyes
were glistening and she felt her body quiver beneath his strong grip. She
swallowed down the lump that had formed in her throat as painful memories of
the past rose to the surface like air bubbles. His words pricked her pride because
they were true. She could be easily replaced if she didn’t deliver, and she
wondered how much he really knew or how closely he had followed her career. 
Swallowing nervously, she raised her head to search his face for clues as to
how far he was willing to go with this, yet his expression gave nothing
away.  She thought about how this all came to be, and how she had been
working so hard for a job that could easily be swept out from under her feet,
without a moment’s notice. She had only been given the chance to interview and
follow Gage’s tour not because she was some in-demand journalist, but because
of her connection to him. There were many other seasoned reporters her company
could have sent to do the job – and her bosses had never let her forget
it.

Kate had
worked hard at her career from the very beginning, but the truth was, her heart
had never really been in it. She’d pursued the journalism path out of necessity
because it had offered solid prospects at a time when she wasn’t really sure
what she wanted to do with her life. She’d always believed that hard work and
dedication would bring you success even if it were for a career that she didn’t
feel she was destined for. Still, having grown up in a family where she felt
the sting of watching her parents struggle just to make ends meet, she wasn’t
one to turn down an opportunity, even if it led her away from her dreams.  

But now Kate
thought about how Gage had once told her, many years ago, about success and
happiness being all about passion and zest for life, not just going through the
motions and certainly not living a lie. His words had never rung more true till
now.

Watching him
perform in front of screaming fans, doing what he loved to do…what he was
born
to do, had opened her eyes to the truth. She wasn’t happy with her career and
while she had always been the type to do the responsible, practical thing, she
envied Gage’s free spirit and how despite all odds, he pursued his dream and
now it was his reality. 

She wished
she had done the same…had the same faith in herself that he once had in her.
Faith that she had never returned to him when he was begging her for only one
thing - to believe in him.

His lips now
pressing against her neck snapped her back to reality, and she looked up at him
to see desire crinkling the corners of his eyes.

“So, what’s
it gonna be, Kate?” Jaw flexed, his lips curled into a smile that sent a burst
of heat to the apex between her legs.  That bad-boy smile would have
melted even the most frozen of hearts and Kate found herself simply nodding,
not trusting herself to speak.

“Good,” he
replied in a gentle whisper, his lips grazing her forehead, his warm breath
fluttering across her cheeks to her neck.

Shivering in
delight, she simply allowed herself to curl against him, her head nestled in
the crook of his broad shoulder, her hand pressed tightly against his chest.

Oh yeah, she
was under his spell all right, and she knew there was no going back.

* * *

When he
caught sight of her, dressed in a short, black leather skirt that hugged her
ample hips and showed off her shapely thighs, matched with a fitted low-cut
turquoise t-shirt that emphasized her oversized breasts, he found himself
fighting the incredible urge to rip her clothes from her body and ravish her
like a wild animal in heat.  She was absolutely stunning, and he tried to
stop the powerful torrent of emotions and memories that washed over him but he
couldn’t stop his cock from stiffening at the alluring sight of her and the
seductive way she moved toward him.

“You look
amazing”, he had said, desire jolting through his body, but he simply took her
hand in his and guided her to the waiting limo. Before long they were pulling
up to the gated drive.

Chase Stone owned
a sprawling three-story condo in the heart of the city – just the kind of
home one would expect from an internationally acclaimed DJ who’d worked with the
top recording artists in the music industry. Everyone either wanted to know Chase,
or be Chase. Just one look at him, and it was clear that he was also incredibly
good looking with his flaxen hair, piercing blue eyes, and hot as sin
Australian accent.

By the time
the band arrived at the party it was already in full swing, with celebrities
huddled in corners gossiping, party girls and socialites drinking up a storm
and men from different sectors of the music industry throwing back shots,
followed by a constant roar of laughter.

A
self-conscious Kate appeared on Gage’s arm. She prayed that there wouldn’t be
any paparazzi lurking in the shadows eager to snap their photos, as she wasn’t
so sure she could possibly handle the burning eyes and barrage of questions
that would follow should the public discover them together. Besides, the last
thing Kate wanted was for her picture to be splashed all over the tabloids, the
headline screaming out to the public that she was nothing more than Gage’s
latest conquest. Although she had to admit, in her tight shirt and short
leather skirt complete with platform peep-toe heels, she certainly looked like
a woman befitting of a rockstar.

Chase Stone
was a fantastic host and he proudly opened his beautiful home to his friends,
grinning from ear to ear as each guest arrived. When he saw Gage, his smile
widened and he greeted him with a quick hug, leaning in close to whisper
something that brought a roar of laughter from the two men. His jovial
demeanor, impeccable sense of style, undeniable good looks and a bank account
that would impress even a real estate mogul, it was a surprise to many that he
was still single.  One of the most eligible bachelors in the country, his
status certainly wasn’t for lack of options.

Women lined
up everywhere he went, eager to meet the man that had led countless artists to
the top of the charts. Some called him the “Magic Man” because he could take
even a fledgling artist and transform them into the
who’s who
of the
music industry.  And to top it off, not only did he look like Adonis, with
his flaxen hair and bright, clear eyes, he seemed to have the Midas touch in
all aspects of business. Always on top of his game, he was eons ahead of other
DJ’s in his industry and while his chiseled face would quickly soften at the
sight of a beautiful woman there was no mistaking the incredible power behind
his bluish-steel eyes that glistened with a shiny darkness that made her think
the devil lived somewhere in them.

Gage
introduced her as his companion, but the way in which his hand slid around her
lower back as if he wanted to make sure Chase knew that she was his, wasn’t
lost on her and she found herself slinking closer to him, allowing herself to
feel what it was like to be a beautiful, desired trophy.

“It’s very nice
to meet you.”  Chase’s voice was a low growl, his bright eyes searing down
at her with genuine interest.

Clearing her
throat nervously, Kate smiled at the handsome stranger and watched as he gallantly
kissed her hand, gently, carefully, his silk lips barely touching her skin
before brushing over her curled knuckles.

“You’re so
beautiful. It’s no surprise that Gage has kept you secret.” He smiled, his eyes
roving appreciatively over her full-figured frame. Kate blushed and had to
remind herself that like Gage, Chase was the consummate charmer. Gage chuckled
and drew her protectively to his side, and Kate couldn’t help but notice how
Chase grinned with rakish satisfaction.  Obviously there was a darker history
between these men and she wondered what the story was.

Before too
long, Kate and Gage were seated at Chase’s table as dinner was served. The
entire room was buzzing with conversation, and each table was treated to a
custom five-star menu created specifically for the night’s event. Drowning in
delectable champagne, Kate was quickly buzzing, the numbness weaving its way
down her cheeks to her neck and shoulders.  She chastised herself for
letting her nerves get the best of her.  

Surprisingly
the live music playing in the background was more classical than rock, and it
gave an elegant ambience to the night filled with singers, DJs, models and industry
gods. Sitting next to Chase was what Kate assumed to be his latest conquest - a
beautiful swimsuit model that looked as though she were flown to the dinner straight
from a runway somewhere in Europe. Kate noticed the curious looks that came her
way, as the model surveyed the body language between her and Gage and she knew
what she was thinking –
how did the likes of her ever land the
gorgeous rocker?
– and she couldn’t help but smile at her with the
sweetest expression that she could muster.

Come on,
girl. Bring it.

One thing was
crystal clear - Gage had absolutely no qualms about being affectionate in
public and Kate was secretly thrilled to see how comfortable he was with her
even around friends. In fact, it seemed as though he was barely able to keep
his hands off of her and as the night wore on, whether it was his arm draping
over her shoulder, or his fingers fluttering over her thighs beneath the table,
she was very conscious of every touch, every hot flash of breath against her
skin and every stamp of ownership that he cast her way.  She was also very
aware of the way her heart pounded each time she felt his touch and it made her
think back to their night together, when her treacherous body betrayed her,
willing itself to ignore all rational thought and seek out only what she most
desired. To her shame, she also noticed the way her nipples went sharp and hard
against the bodice of her t-shirt, and how her pulse quickened as her breath
caught in her throat at the simplest dark glance of desire that he cast her
way.

You belong
to me and me alone
…  He didn’t have to say it out loud; the words of desire,
of ownership, of delicious hunger hung thick in the air between them, igniting
a spark that would make every touch feel as though it were burning her skin.

“Come back,
Kate.”

She blinked
at the sound of Gage’s gruff voice teasing in her ear. Her head snapped
sideways and she met his humorous, hooded gaze. “I must say you seem rather
distracted tonight and it makes me wonder…” He leaned in close enough that his
lips caught her earlobe. “What it would take to get your full attention.”