Breaking Her Bad by Michelle Mankin

 

 

 

 

 

Kyle

“You look good with your dad’s ESP strapped to your shoulder,” Claire said, coming up behind me.

We were alone in the ABCR blast-from-the-past storage room. In addition to the instruments that Rachel, Addy, and Tommy had hauled to the stage, there were fascinating pictures from the band’s bygone era tacked to the wall.

“Thank you,” I said, turning my head to look at Claire.

“You’re welcome.” She went up on tiptoes to touch her mouth to mine.

Any other time, I would have taken that further like my cock wanted—further meaning all the fucking way. But I was the band leader. We had practice, and Claire and I had important unfinished business.

“You okay with your mom knowing about us?” I asked her as I stared hard at a photo of the ABCR band members standing beside an old van.

In the photo, Rachel was young and gorgeous. She resembled Claire, only she looked much happier than now. Andy was tall, blond, and thin. An arrogant tilt to his head, he had one arm around Rachel and the other around my father.

“Yes, I’m okay with it,” Claire said. “Not that there’s any going back since I blurted it all out, sex and everything.”

“So you did. But you tend to overshare when you’re caught off guard or nervous.”

Claire teared up sometimes too, but I didn’t get into that. The level of my obsession with her was well-established.

“They look cool,” she said softly. Commenting on the photo, she gave me a pass on the other. “Happy too.”

I looked a little closer, amazed to see my dad smiling and his gaze lucid. He was muscular, and his skin was a healthy color.

“I wouldn’t believe it if I wasn’t seeing it with my own eyes.” I shook my head. “My dad never looked like that when I knew him.”

“I’m sorry. I wish things had been different.” Claire pressed a kiss to my spine right over my scar, then laid her cheek against it.

“It’s in the past.”

And with Claire mine, the past didn’t hurt as much. It also helped to see my old man like that. To have his guitar. To take up his mantle. To try to do better than he had. Staring at the photo another moment, I vowed to do just that.

Claire pointed to the photo. “Barry looks the same.”

Even back then, he was built like a heavyweight wrestler, his huge arms draped around Addy. She was staring at my dad, the longing in her expression evident. Barry’s gaze was just as intense, only he was looking at Addy.

We had undercurrents within our friend group like ABCR had. Chad was into Missy. She was into him too, but she would never cross the line. Maybe she wasn’t as into Chad as I was Claire, or maybe she was more able to resist the temptation.

Turning away from the past, I focused on Claire. “How do you feel about playing bass guitar in the group?”

“You on lead guitar is a given.” She tilted her head, her brown eyes active. “So, bass is the only vacant position. Is this your way of asking me to play bass?”

“Yeah, babe. I don’t want you unhappy.”

“I find it difficult to be unhappy when I’m with you. Especially when you have a guitar in your hands.” Her gaze flared. “You look hot, by the way.”

“Claire . . .” I shook my head in warning. “Don’t look at me like that.”

“Why not?”

“Because I can’t do anything about it right now. We don’t have enough time for me to fuck you against this wall like I want to.”

“Oh.” Her mouth rounded. “I’d like that too.” Giving me a hopeful look, she said, “Maybe later?”

“If we can sneak away.”

Lots of people were on to us now, one of those being her mom. It would be harder to steal moments alone.

“You’ll find that I’m relentless pursuing what I want.” Claire cocked her brow. “And what I want is you.”

I didn’t argue. My girl was determined.

Talking me into staying with her in Lakeside. Coming to confront me at the shit hole when I was trying to do the right thing. And then today when she’d kissed me in front of nearly everyone because she was tired of keeping us secret.

For now, I could give Claire what she wanted. But I wasn’t sure how long that would last.

“I’m a lucky bastard.” My eyes—hell, all of me—burned with that truth.

“You are.” She nodded. “And I’m just as fortunate.”

“Hold that thought.”

“Okay.” Both her dark blond brows rose above the rim of her glasses. “But why?”

“I want to tell you how it’s gonna have to go inside the group while you’re still thinking positive thoughts about me.” I pulled in a breath and gave her my decision. “I’m putting you on bass.”

“I thought we already agreed.”

“Did we?” I shook my head. “I missed the part where you said yes.”

“Yes, Kyle, I’ll be the bass player,” she said teasingly. “Yes, I’ll sing lead. I’ll sing anything if you promise to back me up.”

“Always.”

“Right.” She smiled. “I’ll also play keyboards where they’re needed.” Her eyes twinkled. “I rock the keys.”

No doubt, she did. She definitely rocked me.

“Have you ever played bass before?” I asked.

If she hadn’t, it would be okay. She would get it down eventually. It would just take us longer as a band to get where we needed to go, and I wasn’t feeling like we had all that long.

She shrugged. “Some.”

My brows snapped together. “We’re going onstage in front of an audience on Tuesday.”

“Don’t look so worried. Bass is easier than guitar. I’ll master it.”

Claire went up on her toes. Careful of the guitar strapped to my shoulder, she kissed me, then said in a flirty tone that made my already hard cock harder, “I can find any beat if you’re playing melody.”