Free Rock the Heart by Michelle A. Valentine Page A

of pure malice until now. Noel expression and body language clearly says he wants to rip Riff’s head off and spit down his throat. This tension between them can’t honestly be about me, can it? It feels more personal than just a case of mistaken identity. 
    Riff and Noel continue to stare each other down. There’s obviously some bad history between these two, and I’ve just added fuel to the fire. Something has to give. I can’t let the band struggle because of me. This situation needs to be diffused.
    I pull on Noel’s arm and he tilts his head and gazes down at me. “Come on, Noel. I want to show you something.” I grab his hand in mine and tug him toward the bedroom. 
    Noel stares at Riff, like he’s debating on if he should just pummel him now and get it over with. Finally, he nods and follows me down the hallway, leaving Riff alone in the front of the bus. 
    He sits on the edge of the bed while I close the door. He drops his head down and combs his hand through this thick, dark hair. The bed gives a little under my weight when I sit beside him. His back is smooth and clean as I run my fingers along it in attempts to comfort him. The smell soap lingers on his skin. He doesn’t respond to my touch—his gaze points toward the floor.
    I stare at the star tattoo he has on his right shoulder. “It’s going to be okay. He didn’t realize who I am and I doubt he’ll do it again.”
    Noel rubs the palms of his hands together. “You don’t know him like I do. Riff doesn’t stop until he gets what he wants, which includes women. I won’t let him use you like that.”
    I want to laugh. Doesn’t he know me at all? “He’s not going to get me, Noel. I’m not like the random sluts he’s used to seeing you with.”
    Blue eyes meet mine. “No, you’re not.” He searches my face and his brow pulls in. He opens his mouth to say something, then closes it quickly and turns away. “You better get ready. One hell of a party is about to go down.”

CHAPTER NINE

I wiggle a bit between Noel and Riff in the back of the SUV on the way to this humongous afterparty for all the bands who performed at Rock on the Range this weekend. The A&R Music Bar here in Columbus hosts the bash to millionaire bad-boy rock stars, roadies, and of course, their groupies. 
    It takes forever to get close to the building. Hoards of people surround the building hoping to catch a glimpse of their favorite rock stars, and are blocking traffic half way down the street. 
    When the vehicle finally stops near the back entrance, Mike, Noel’s bodyguard from the restaurant, hops out and opens the door for us. Trip and Tyke grin at each other before emerging into the mass of fans. They love the attention. They hug several of the screaming female fans and even stop to sign a couple bare boobs thrusting in their direction. 
    Riff looks at me and winks before he jumps out.
    I roll my eyes. Of course he would love this.
    I slide over to follow Riff, and Noel lays his hand on top of mine. “Stay by me in here. Shit like this gets crazy. Don’t accept drinks from anyone other than me or Mike. There are real assholes in there that would love to get in your pants.”
    I raise my eyebrow. “They can’t be any worse than you.”
    His mouth pulls into a tight line. “You have no idea.”
    Inside the club, it appears like something out of a music video. Bodies writhe everywhere to the beat of the rock song echoing throughout the room. Strobe lights flash in every direction, and women wearing bikinis dance in cages. One next to me reaches through the bars and strokes my arm with her fingertips. Her touch catches me off guard and I instinctively jerk away. Noel chuckles beside me. 
    I narrow my eyes at him. “So not funny.”
    His smile widens. “Get used to it, babe. When you’re with me, everyone’s going to want a piece of you.”
    “Gross.”
    He throws his arms around me and leans into my ear. “What’s it like to know you’re with the one