Free Rock the Heart by Michelle A. Valentine

wants a piece of him. 
    The song ends, but the guys play an extra few bars on the song to allow Noel time to thank the crowd before they wrap up their set.
    Tyke waves to the fans before he heads behind the stage. Riff throws out guitar picks, and Trip wings his sticks out to the people in the back. Noel wipes his face with a white hand towel before he tosses it into the mass of people. There are about ten fans that shove and grab for the towel before one lucky guy yanks it into his grasp. 
    The life of a rock star is unreal.   
    Big Bertha is quiet when Noel and I climb inside, which is a relief after we just fought our way through a ton of screaming women on the other side of security. Those guys in the yellow shirts have to put up with a lot of crap to protect the stars.
    Noel’s sweat drenched shirt clings to his sculpted chest. His normal fohawk is a flat disaster. “I need to go shower. I’ll only be a few minutes. Wait for me right here?”
    He brings my right hand up to his lips and kisses my fingertips. A rush of warmth spreads through me before I pull them away. “I’m not going anywhere.”
     Noel grins at me before he rushes off toward the small bathroom on the bus. 
    My stomach rumbles because I’ve forgotten to eat during the midst of this crazy day. I step over to the kitchen area and open a couple of top cabinet doors. No food. What do these guys live on? Beer? I bend down to check the bottom shelves.
    “I knew you’d be here.” I slam the door shut and stand to face Riff. “The ladies never turn down the golden ticket.”  
    Riff’s arm stretches above his head as he balances his weight against a top cabinet. He’s shirtless, and I can clearly see the tattoos across his arms and chest. Both of his nipples are pierced along with his bottom lip and his hair still stands in his trademark Mohawk. 
    A slow grin pulls across his face as I pull at the legs of my shorts, hoping to cover some more skin. His eyes trace the curves of my body as he pulls his arm down and takes a step.
    I hold out my hand palm up. “Stop right there.”
    Riff reaches out for my hand, but I snatch it away from his grasp. “Baby, I told you. No need to play hard to get. I won’t tell anyone that you fucked me.”
    My eyes widen at his audacity. “You’re really full of yourself, you know that?”
    He smirks. “Only when it comes to women.”
    I roll my eyes. “I hate to be the one to break it to you, but not every woman on the planet is willing to sleep with you, Riff.”
    “Maybe.” He shrugs. “But I can tell that you want me.”  He takes another step toward me and I try to back away from his advance only to bump against the cabinets behind me.
    I shove my hand into his chest and shake my head. “No, I don’t want you. I’m here with—”
    “Shhhhhhhhhhhhh.” Riff strokes the skin on my shoulder. “No more talking.”
    “What the fuck do you think you’re doing, Riff?” Noel growls from the hallway, wearing a low-slung towel around his hips, while water beads speckle his chest. Riff jumps at the sound of Noel’s voice. 
    Riff releases me and takes a step back. His eyes lock on my face. “You’re Lanie?”
    I nod and glance at Noel. “I’ve tried to tell you. I told you I was with someone when you first tried to shove that ticket thing in my hand.”
    Noel’s eyes narrow at Riff. “You gave her one of your fucking Golden Tickets? I’m going to fucking kill you.” 
    Noel lunges at Riff, but he reacts just quick enough to stay out of Noel’s grasp and shove his hands away. 
    I throw my hands against Noel’s chest. “It’s okay. Let it go. He made a mistake.” I point my stare at Riff. “Right?”
    Riff stares Noel down. “Yeah, we wouldn’t want to accidently steal each other’s woman, would we?”
    Riff’s tone makes me flinch. 
    The muscle in Noel’s jaw clenches. “You stay away from her. Or so help me God, Riff, I will end you.”
    I swallow hard. I’ve never seen a look