Blissful Tragedy Read online

  We’re on the sixth floor. The elevator doors open and he leads me into the room. It’s incredible, decorated in white and blue with a massive king-sized bed beside a huge window which offers a magnificent view of the Atlantic Ocean. There’s also a sitting area with a table and chairs, and an enormous bathroom. I step over to the window, captured by the view of the sea.

  “Van, it’s breathtaking.”

  “Wow, I was shooting for nice,” he says and flashes a smile. “We’ll have to be at Bader Field around six so I thought we could order some room service and have dinner here. What do you like?”

  I bite my lip. “Surprise me.” I’m definitely not one of those girls who starve themselves. A man from Kansas can probably be trusted to order some savory cuisine, right?

  He jerks his head back slightly and scrunches his eyebrows. “Huh, you want me to surprise you? Ok, get yourself settled and I’ll order up some food.”

  He goes over to the phone and I unpack my things. Ten minutes later, there’s a knock on the door. Wow, I guess rockers get prime treatment here. A man dressed in black pants, a white shirt, and a bow tie wheels in two trays covered with silver domes and a bottle of white wine. He lifts the domes to reveal two filet mignon dinners with baked potatoes, green beans, and chocolate cake. Van Sinclair is most definitely the perfect man.

  “I hope you aren’t a vegetarian.”

  “Yum!” It’s hands down one of the best steak dinners I’ve ever had. The soft texture melts in my mouth and the flavor tantalizes my taste buds. This is the best date I’ve ever been on. He really chooses hotels with all the bells and whistles. I look out the window at the sun glistening off the ocean. It’s an image you can print on a postcard.

  Van glances at his watch. “We have about an hour before we have to head to the show. Do you want to walk with me on the beach?”

  “Just give me a minute. These boots won’t work so well in the sand.”

  Van’s eyes burn through me as I disappear into the bathroom to quickly freshen up. My fruity perfume fills the air as I rub my wrists together. I slip into my flip flops and head out of the bathroom, ready for sun and sand. Van sits on the edge of the bed, waiting for me. His flawless skin glistens from the sunlight shining in through the window. My heart beats like a jackhammer. He’s the epitome of perfection.

  “Ready?” he asks as he runs his hand through his hair.

  “Yes, definitely,” I answer, hoping it will hold true for our entire evening.

  It’s an ideal spring day. The light breeze flows through our hair as Van holds my hand and we walk along the shoreline. My body tingles, sparked by the energy that’s created when we touch. I inhale the fresh salty air as the cool water hits our feet, sinking me into the gritty sand.

  “It’s so beautiful here. Thank you for inviting me.”

  “I had to see you again. You said you love the ocean. It’s the perfect bribe.”

  “You didn’t have to bribe me, I would’ve come even if you’d invited me to a mud pit,” I say with a grin.

  “Well that could certainly be interesting,” he says with a smirk. “I’ll have to remember that for next time.”

  My pulse quickens at the thought of a next time. He’s planning on seeing me again? I hope that holds true after tonight. I’m queasy just thinking about it.

  As we pass an empty lifeguard chair, Van stops. “Come on, let’s get a better look at the ocean.”

  We walk over to the chair and he boosts me up. My muscles tense as his hand touches my thigh. He puts his arm around me, running his finger along my arm as we sit, watching the sun glisten off the waves. Warmth floods my body and my breath quickens. A fluttering begins in my chest. I clench my hands briefly and release them, rubbing my palms against the bottom of my dress.

  “I can see why you like the beach so much,” he says.

  “Especially on a perfect day like today.”

  We sit and watch the waves crash in perfectly choreographed rhythm. I take a deep breath and try to control the fluttering of my stomach.

  “We better head back,” he says reluctantly.

  “Ok. Hey, in case I forget to tell you later, I had a great time tonight.” I tilt my head and gaze into his eyes.

  His lips slowly rise into a sexy smile. He climbs off the chair and glides his hands up my legs and onto my hips to help me down. I hold onto his shoulders and jump into the sand in front of him, slowly sliding my hands down his hard chest. My body trembles as my fingertips slip down the soft T-shirt. His hands, still on my hips, move up to my face. My heart races, faster and faster. His emerald eyes are locked on mine. He takes a step forward and brushes his lips over mine. My body is a blazing inferno, sending shockwaves from my head to my toes. I pull him closer, gripping his shirt as he massages his tongue against mine in a sweet, smooth motion. He gently sucks on my bottom lip and pulls away, keeping his eyes fastened on mine.

  My lips part and I stare, hypnotized in a lust-filled trance. His look is extremely intense, like he wants to devour me at that very moment. My knees are weak. It’s most definitely the very best kiss of my entire life. If this is any indication of what’s to come, I’m way out of my league. I need to do something to prevent anything more from happening on the beach. Besides, I don’t want him to be late for his show. No need to give the band members a reason not to like me. I reach my arms around and pull him into an embrace. He exhales deeply and puts his arms around me, slowly running his hands down my back. He slithers his fingers along mine, intertwining our hands and we start walking back to the hotel.

  There are hundreds of people filing into Bader Field when we arrive. It’s an impressive turn out for an up-and-coming band. Dozens of half-dressed women lurk near the entrances to the restricted areas. Van and I walk hand-in-hand to the meeting area in the back of the pavilion where Chaz, Tyler, Marcus, and Jenna are waiting.

  “Nice of you to show up!” Chaz teases, waving his hand in the air.

  “Yeah, I figured you wouldn’t start without me,” Van sneers.

  Jenna’s eyes travel from my boots to my face. “Umm, hi. I’ve never seen one of you twice. This is new. I guess I should introduce myself. I’m Jenna Crane.”

  “Hi Jenna. I’m Lexie Waters.” I hold out my hand and we exchange a quick handshake. Even Jenna’s smart ass comments can’t ruin my pure euphoria.

  Jenna and I stand at the side of the stage to watch the boys do their thing. My eyes fixate on the plethora of screaming fans waiting for the show to begin. Suddenly, it’s show time. The lights shine down, illuminating the flawless face that leaves me mesmerized. I’m breathless! Van keeps looking over at me and smiling between songs.

  I tilt my head and let out a soft sigh. I’m the luckiest girl alive. Not everyone gets to live out their rock star fantasy. Although I don’t know how I’ll feel tomorrow, tonight is shaping up to be one of the best of my life.

  The band meets with a few fans and signs some autographs. I wait patiently for Van to finish.

  “Hey guys, great show! We’re heading back to the hotel. Catch you tomorrow at breakfast,” Van says.

  “More girls for me,” Chaz replies.

  As we step into the hotel room my breathing becomes rapid and my heart races. It’s as if I’ve stepped into another dimension. I scurry into the bathroom to freshen up and give myself another pep talk. The moment that I yearn for, yet fear, has arrived. I unzip my boots and yank them off, letting the cool tile collide with my hot feet. Ah, the sensation invigorates my body. My palms rest against the granite countertop. I close my eyes and take a deep breath, slowly opening them and gazing at my reflection. Come on Lexie, pull yourself together! He’s just a guy. Yeah right. I run my fingers through my hair, removing my headband and pull my necklace over my head, dropping it onto the counter. A quick spray of perfume on my belly and I’m as ready as I’ll ever be.

  I step into the bedroom, twirling my hair around my fingers. Van sits on the bed and lifts his eyes; they scorch through me, encircling my
soul. He runs his fingers through his hair and stands. God, he’s so sexy. No matter what happens, I’ll never forget this night.

  Keeping his eyes locked onto mine like a predator stalking his next meal, he slowly moves toward me. My heart is thrashing against my chest. He leans in, brushes a few strands of hair away from my face, and sweeps his lips over mine. A firestorm streams through my body. I reach around and slide my fingers over the solid muscles of his back and press myself against him. Ah, he really wants me. The deep passion intensifies as his tongue penetrates my mouth. I’m so out of my league. I start shaking.

  He pulls away. “Are you cold?”

  “Just need to warm up.”

  “I can help with that.”

  Holy crap, he can feel me shiver. I have to pull myself together. I’m my own worst enemy. I move my hands up his body and weave my fingers through his still-damp hair, re-igniting our make-out session. His soft lips glide across my jaw and down my neck, causing every hair on my body to rise. I run my hands down to the bottom of his soft T-shirt, slowly slithering my fingers over an array of peaks and valleys as I pull it up and over his head. My grip loosens and the shirt falls to the floor.

  At last, a chance to admire his chiseled body. I rest my hands on his shoulders and lower my head. My eyes travel over the rugged terrain of his torso. God, he’s sexy. My heart is pounding out of my chest. Can he hear it?

  He reaches around and whisks my hair away from my back. His fingers softly caress my skin causing goose bumps to spread over my body as he unzips the back of my dress. I step out of it, revealing my black lace bra and panties.

  He runs his hand along my face and down my side. “Wow, the view from this room just keeps getting better.”

  He scoops me up and places me on the bed. The silky blue sheets cool my blazing body. I’m breathing so fast I’m almost panting. All my negative thoughts are now replaced by an overwhelming need to touch and explore every inch of Van Sinclair.

  He hooks his fingers under my bra straps, gradually slipping them down while placing soft kisses from my neck down to my breasts. Every hair on my body stands on end and I try to erase any physical distance between us. His flawless body stings my fingers, the unique electricity flowing through, as I move down to the waist of his jeans, pulling against the thick fabric. Finally the button gives, allowing me to release him from the denim stranglehold.

  I reach down and slide my hand against the silky fabric of his boxers, exploring every inch of him. He groans.

  He slips his index fingers on both sides of my panties and slides them down. My body quivers as I arch my back to help him complete the journey. He gently caresses my most sensitive areas while sliding his fingers inside of me. I’m in a state of complete bliss, desire building within. His hand pats the night stand as he searches the drawer and retrieves a condom. He kicks off his boxers, opens the packet, and slides it on. He crawls on top of me traveling soft kisses from my neck to my lips. He entwines his hands with mine as he pushes against me, slowly entering my body.

  I gasp as he fills every inch of me. We start moving in a slow, steady motion. Every magical cell in my body awakens and my breathing increases once again. My body jolts into a frenzy of tremors and I moan as I find my release; the reaction from my intense pleasure results in him finding his shortly afterward. Our bodies lay entwined and our breathing slows.

  He sits up on his elbow and turns toward me, his emerald eyes still locked with mine. “Lexie Waters, you have no idea what you do to me.”

  I mimic his movements. “Right back at ya.” He ignites my body with the softest touch. It’s truly amazing. He’s my own personal catalyst of desire.

  I excuse myself to freshen up. Damn it! I forgot to pack something to sleep in. I peek my head out of the bathroom door.

  “Can I borrow one of your T-shirts?” I ask, meek as a mouse.

  He roots through his duffel bag and pulls out a shirt. “You need one of these anyway,” he says as he hands it to me.

  Ooh, a Devil’s Garden T-shirt. He’s right, I do need one. As I pull the T-shirt over my head my body shivers. I breathe deep, taking in Van’s scent which is trapped in every fiber. There’s no way I’ll ever wash it. I skip out of the bathroom and proceed toward the bed.

  “It looks great on you,” he says and pulls me under the covers. His strong arms surround me as we drift to sleep.

  I wake to a dragon staring at me. I lift my head from Van’s chest; the bright sunlight peeking through the window illuminates his body. With his arm wrapped around me, his tattoo is positioned directly in front of my eyes. He opens his eyes, squinting from the sunbeams.

  He stretches. “Good morning.”

  “Good morning, it looks like another beautiful day.”

  He fastens his hypnotizing eyes on mine. “Definitely beautiful.”

  Chills run through my body and I smile at the compliment. He props himself on his elbow and turns toward me. I do the same, facing him and smiling. He reaches over and tucks a stray piece of hair behind my ear.

  “Everyone’s meeting at the diner around the corner for breakfast in about an hour. Then we have a radio interview before we hit the road.”

  “Ok, I think I’ll take a quick shower first.”

  He tilts his head and raises his eyebrow. “You read my mind.”

  I’m suddenly being carried into the bathroom.

  Van turns the water on and sets me on my feet. He places his forehead against mine and grabs the hem of my T-shirt, slowly pulling it up and over my head. My body tingles as he brushes his fingers along my skin. He grabs my hips and pulls me closer to his body, slamming every inch of his flesh against mine. I moan as he moves forward, backing me against the bathroom wall. The smooth tiles slide across my skin as he brushes his lips against me, placing kisses up my neck, against my jaw, ending at my lips.

  My heart drums as the kisses become intense and passionate. I run my fingers through his silky hair, gripping at the strands.

  He lifts me up and I wrap my legs around his waist, my body refusing to break my lips from his. He starts walking back to the bedroom and lowers me onto the soft sheets. I’m out of breath, panting like I’ve just run for miles. He slides his hands along my thighs and pulls off my panties in one smooth movement. Goose bumps erupt as he trails kisses down my chest and stomach and continues down to my nether regions. His tongue moves around my most sensitive areas.

  I groan and my heart races as the desire inside me builds to an intense level quickly. I moan while releasing my pleasure. I crash my head down on the bed, trying to catch my breath and lower my pulse to an acceptable level. Now, soft kisses are moving up my body, over my belly and breasts, back up to my neck, over my jaw finally ending on my lips, much more intense than before. I reach down over the silky fabric and tug Van’s boxers away to release him. Breathing quickly, he reaches into the nightstand, rips open the package, and thrusts himself inside me. I moan as his thrusts fuel my building desire. Our breathing becomes rapid and we both find our release together.

  Finally, I catch my breath. Wow, that was the best sexual experience of my life. My whole body tingles as the intense pleasure continues to radiate through me.

  Van holds himself up on his elbows and brushes a few strands of hair away from my face. “I lose all self-control when I’m with you.”

  I press my forehead against his and softly kiss his lips. “I think it may be time for that shower.”

  Van rolls over and holds out his hand to lead me to the shower. Steam from the running water fills the room and fogs the mirrors. Face to face, the warm water engulfs our bodies. We rub soapy bubbles over each other in between giggles and kisses. Ah, he has a fun, playful side as well as an intense, seductive side.

  Why is time flying? Already it’s time to head to meet Jenna and the band. My new Devil’s Garden T-shirt sends shock waves through me. The cells of my body are tricked by the faint smell of Van trapped in its fibers. Looks like I have a new favorite T-shirt. We walk do
wn the sidewalk and arrive at the quaint diner. Van puts his arm around my waist and pushes open the door. I look over at the table full of his band mates, who are staring at me.

  Marcus pulls out a chair. “Hey Lexie, nice to see you again.”

  I take a seat and twirl my hair around my fingers. “Hi everyone.”

  “Van, you really missed out this time. Atlantic City girls are hot and freaky,” Chaz says.

  Van looks over at me. “I didn’t miss out on anything.” My face heats as I think about our night together. I try to hold back a smile.

  “Bader Field was awesome. The crowd loved us and we had a pretty good turn out.” Tyler says, changing the subject.

  “Yeah, it was awesome,” Marcus agrees.

  The waitress sets a smorgasbord on the table. My stomach growls as I inhale the aroma of blueberry pancakes, cinnamon French toast, bacon, and sausage. I guess I worked up an appetite. I fill a plate while the guys discuss which songs they’ll promote at their radio interview.

  “So Lexie, want to hit some stores while the guys do their thing?” Jenna asks. “The shopping here is great.” She searches my face and sips her juice.

  I raise my eyebrow and look at her. Doesn’t she hate me?

  Van glances over at me nibbling on a slice of bacon. “We’ll catch up with you girls after the interview.”

  “Ok, sounds fun.” This is strange, but also intriguing. Why does Jenna want to be alone with me? The boys walk across the street to the station and Jenna and I head toward the stores.

  “Ready for some girl time?” she cocks her head to one side.

  “As ready as I’ll ever be.”

  CHAPTER 4—JENNA

  The shopping district resembles a high-fashion avenue in the big city. All of the big name stores from Gucci to Burberry are at hand. Good thing I don’t need to buy anything. Selling a kidney would be the only way I could afford to shop on this street.

  The cool breeze blows my hair around my face, tickling my nose. I pat it down to the best of my ability and turn to Jenna. Her heels click on the sidewalk as she stands tall with her chin up to the sky, every strand of her hair perfectly flowing in the wind. Why does she want to spend alone time with me? Everything she’s said to me in the few times we’ve spoken has been pretty insulting. I have to lay things on the table before we can have any real conversation.