Rock Hard (2 page)

It had been a
few months later that she heard he’d got a record deal. Before the end of the
year, Gage Stevens was a name on everyone’s lips. His first album turned him
into an overnight success. Suddenly she turned on the TV and there he was on
some fancy talk show or someone was talking about him on the news. Gage Stevens
the new rock sensation. Suddenly, everyone wanted to work with him. His singles
were the fastest selling on any platform. His songs were playing all over the
airwaves and Kate couldn’t flip the damn radio on without hearing one of his
chart-topping hits.

* * *

And now,
years after, he’d lost none of his allure – or gifts. He’d released his
latest album just a month ago and already it was top of the charts both home
and internationally. Somehow, he managed to keep his music relevant, worked
with the right industry people, and kept himself in the limelight as much as he
could.

This meant
his management must have a lot on their hands ensuring that his face got on
every major endorsement deal. Also, every little thing in his personal life
certainly drew attention from the Press. There was always something in the
tabloids about his involvements with some supermodel or the newest young female
A-lister. Gage Stevens had turned into some kind of sex symbol and he was
always ranking high in all those “sexiest men” lists.

So now here
he was; a rich, famous, sought after and successful rock star. How did all this
happen in a space of about four years?

That’s what
Kate’s magazine wanted to find out.

It’s just a
job, Kate, she told herself as she exhaled deeply. All she had to do was focus
and get it done. She smiled slightly as the security operative turned to her
once they stopped in front of a door.

“Here you go.
Gage’s dressing room. You have a camera on you? He doesn’t really like pictures
after he’s done with a major concert,” the brawny bodyguard said, his eyes
regarding Kate’s frame admiringly. She tried not to squirm as she wondered if
he actually wanted to do a body search to make sure.

“No cameras,”
she assured him, her smile still in place. “Any pictures we need for the
interview will be taken in a few days once Gage can spare the time. Right now,
I just need a little time with him. Just me and my trusty tape recorder,” she
assured, tapping the satchel she had over her shoulder.

The guard
nodded briskly. “Well, he’s ready for you. You’d better go in.” He knocked
briefly on the door in front of them.

For a moment,
Kate couldn’t help but wonder about the man who was on the other side of that
door.

Gage Stevens.
He had always been the unconventional kind of heartthrob. Not that he was
overly fond of tattoos or piercings and he certainly didn’t have that many.
Which would have been strange, right? And he wasn’t the type to be into wild
haircuts or clothes. Sure, she knew he did like to sport a lot of black and
some jewelry but from what she’d seen in pictures and on TV, he always kept
things at a minimum.

Overall, it
could be said that Gage Stevens was a pretty laid-back, un-diva type rock star
god who didn’t get too caught up in the lifestyle. The only excess that he
seemed to enjoy, it seemed, was women.

Oh, Kate knew
all about those. His trysts with groupies as well as his cocky attitude, which
came across even on the screen, had warned Kate that Gage was not the same guy
she once loved.

So just how
much had he changed? Kate saw the guard twist the knob and then push the door
open and then she knew she was just moments from finding out…

* * *

Playing solo
had its challenges.

In many ways,
Gage had found this to be true. Breaking away from his former rock group to
start a solo career may have been the best decision he’d ever made – but
he still missed the camaraderie. The after-show party that would go on through
the night wasn’t the same without his old guys.

Now he had
his own backing band but it never really got close to when he and his three
other band mates had been part of one group known as No Extreme. Gage had been
lead vocalist and also played guitar. Now that he was a solo act, he still
played during vocals. He really did try to give it his all when live and he
felt he’d done that tonight.

The crowd had
been wild. And though some people would expect him to be out on his feet after
a four-hour long highly charged performance – on the contrary, Gage felt
his most energized after a show.

His blood was
pumping faster, and his senses were on edge. Nothing to do with drugs but his
own personal adrenalin, gained from doing what he loved to do best. Every day
he thanked his stars for giving him the chance to do what he enjoyed and still
get paid stupendously for it.

He heard the
knock on his door and suddenly remembered why he was still lingering in his
dressing room. The interview with the reporter from that fancy New York
magazine. Gage liked listening to his PR people so when they told him this was
a great opportunity to boost sales of his new album further, he decided against
his better judgment and finally agreed to go for it. The thing about having a
new album out was that any publicity was good publicity and you had to get it
where you could.

Which meant
he had a few minutes or so to spare with this columnist person he was supposed
to meet. A moment after the knock, one of his security personnel whom he
recognized as Nick pushed his clean-shaven head and broad shoulders through.

“The
journalist from Stardom Magazine is here, Gage,” Nick said with a nod, before
turning back to someone just behind him. “Alright, Ms. Preston. You have twenty
minutes.”

Gage smirked
as he thought to himself that there was no way he would spend the next twenty
minutes talking about himself. He could tell the reporter all that was needed
to know in a quarter of that time. Spinning on his heel, he faced the open
doorway with a bored expression that turned slack when a tall, shapely redhead
strode into the room.

God. Kate.
Preston. What the
fuck
was she doing here?

“You have got
to fucking kidding me.”

* * *

Gage Stevens
barking out those words at her came as no surprise.

And yet Kate
had expected better. Had expected if not a friendly welcome, then perhaps, a
formal yet polite greeting. It had been five years after all. Five years of
having to look at him only through the pages of a magazine or on the TV screen.
And now that they were seeing eye to eye so to speak, Kate could see that he
hadn’t changed much.

Except that
now he looked hotter, tougher and downright too sexy to be legal. Like,
jump-into-bed-with-him-at-first-sight sexy.

A pair of
designer ripped jeans clung to his lean rocker’s hips. He had a startling white
dress shirt on, unbuttoned low on his ripped chest, showing a glint of gold
chain.

The sleeves
were rolled up to display his masculine arms, lightly dusted with hair. His
dark mane was flopping over his handsome forehead and the tips brushed the
collar of his shirt, giving him a boyish, ruffled air.
Gorgeous.

Oh no,
thought Kate. Her worst fears were confirmed. She still considered him the most
desirable man she’d ever met. That certainly hadn’t changed one bit.

This was
going to be one hell of an assignment.

* * *

Suddenly it
felt too hot, like he was burning up even though he’d showered and was dressed
in an open-necked white dress shirt.

Something
pumped in Gage’s ears and for a second, his mind when black. It took several
seconds for his pulse to stop throbbing like he’d just been shot through with
electricity.

Kate
couldn’t
be standing there in his dressing room, looking hardly any different from that
sunny morning when she’d walked away from him for good. She wore a pair of what
looked like tailored blue jeans, a white t-shirt and a cropped leather jacket.
Everything she wore, she filled out nicely. Her red hair was just a mass of
waves upon waves, swept over one side of her face. She looked like something
from his wildest dream.
And his worst nightmare.

“It’s good to
see you too, Gage,” she said lightly with a wry smile in reply to his blurted
words. “And I’m from the Stardom magazine.”

“You’re the
reporter?” he asked, shoving his fingers through his slightly long hair.

“Shit!”

“Trust me, I
was as surprised as you when I got the project. And I wanted to contact you
prior to the interview but you’re a hard man to get hold of on the phone.” She
sighed when he just stood there looking at her. “Look, it’s okay if you don’t
want to do this. I totally understand. I’ll just have to tell my bosses to send
someone else – “

She’d already
whirled angrily and was heading for the door again when he recollected himself
enough to surge forward and grasp her arm. “Hey. No, wait. I apologize for
being so abrupt. I was just so…Damn, Kate. Never in a million years did I ever
dream I’d see you again.”

“I can
imagine,” she said, her tone mild as she turned to face him warily.

 
“Please,
take a seat.”
He indicated one of the chairs lining the front of the
mirrored walls. For now they were the only ones there but Gage knew some of his
band and management team would be coming round any minute. He smiled
encouragingly at the woman sitting stiffly in the chair across from him. He
folded his arms.

“So how’ve
you been? Or aren’t we allowed to go there?” he asked casually.

Kate
shrugged. “I guess we can spend a few minutes catching up. I’m a journalist
with Stardom, like I said. I’ve been there for a year now. Before that, I worked
with an online feature magazine. I’ve been good. But no need to ask how
you’ve
been doing.”

“Looks like
we both reached our goals, huh?” he smirked.

“Was that
your goal? To be a megastar rock god?” she asked, tilting her head.

Gage’s eyes
narrowed. “Has the interview started?”

She looked
quizzical for a moment. “It starts when you want it to, Gage. It can start
right now, if you like.”

“On the
contrary; right now I’d like to party,” he murmured, fluffing his fingers
through his hair again. “Are you coming?”

“What? I…”

“The
after-party. At the hotel. Everyone’s going to be there. My band members, some
fans and guests. We can talk, you’ll ask me anything. I’m too wired up after a
gig to stay still for long. Come on, Kate.”

He grinned,
taking her arm and pulling her up. He knew he’d caught her unawares by the way
she stumbled. The next thing, she was in his arms, clutching at his shoulders
for balance.

“Still can’t
keep your hands off me, huh?” he growled, a feral grin breaking over his face
as he wrapped an arm instantly around her waist, pinning her to him. Damn, she
felt even better than he remembered. She’d grown some dangerous curves, noted
Gage. He just wanted to grope her up and find out how juicy her luscious flesh
would feel in his hands.

She pushed against
his chest, her green eyes flashing. “What do you think you’re doing? This isn’t
what I came for.”

“Oh, I know
what you came for, Kate Preston. You just haven’t figured it out yet.”

Gage slanted
his head and seized her lips in a hard kiss before she could even blink. She
gasped against his mouth, giving him access to probe deeper with his tongue.

Her
taste…fuck. It sent a beam of lust right down to his cock. Five years and she
still tasted like all his favorite things…like ginger spice and  fucking
chocolate coated caramel. How the hell was that even possible?

His lips
molded moistly to hers and he felt her hands flatten against his chest. For a
moment it was a shove but the next, her fingers were sliding up to link around
his neck. Gage groaned, deepening the kiss and running his hands down her back
to cup her ass. He palmed the succulent apple-shaped flesh and squeezed hard,
making her whimper. His hardened cock pillowed against her stomach and it was
all he could do not to rip her out of her clothes, spin her face down on the
dressing table and mount her. Damn she set him off like a freaking time bomb
and right now he was about ready to explode…

“Hey, Gage,
we’ve got you the…”

Suddenly the
door bust open and several people spilled in laughing and boisterous. Gage
reluctantly pulled away as Kate seemed to jump out of her skin. A few guys from
his band were now in the spacious dressing room, followed by four or five
skimpily clad young beauties, obviously groupies. His bass guitarist, Sheldon
stopped short and then grinned when he saw the woman in Gage’s arms.

“I was about
to say we have the chicks covered for the party and all but it seems you’ve got
your hands full already buddy,” Sheldon said goofily, and Gage tried to give
him a warning look but it was too late. The giggling ladies were already
screeching with joy and two broke off from the group to launch at Gage. He let
out a surprised laugh while Kate promptly tore herself away, stepping back
while the two girls, who looked to be just a bit older than twenty one, skipped
all over him.

“We’re so
glad we got the backstage pass and we can’t wait to get to the party!”

“The show was
awesome! You were so out there! Just, in another stratosphere! “We love you,
Gage!”

Gage felt his
face get plastered with cherry glossed lips and had to make an effort to peel
the girls off him. “Glad you’re joining us, erm…?”

“Hayley,” one
said, her blue eyes dancing beneath her blonde bangs. “And this is my cousin
Ann-Marie. We won backstage passes to your concert! And then Sheldon said we’re
invited to the after-party too.”