Free My Heart's Blood (Hard Love & Dark Rock #1) by Ashley Grace Page B

light.  "What kind do you want?  I got a French tickler, or this one is crème-brulee flavored.  This one's ribbed.  This one's colored black, if you wanna go with the Goth theme, though it might look kind of weird on Trace's schlong since he's so pasty white."  Her eyes went distant, as if she was seeing the image in her mind.  "Dunno.  Could be hot."
    "Geez, Becca.  How many condoms did you think you were gonna need?"
    "Well, you can never be too prepared.  Ah, this is the one for you!  Durex Ultra Thin, with extra lube.  It's the perfect condom for getting your cherry popped.  Here, on second thought, you better take two.  If you're too sore the first time, take a break, have a drink, maybe get him to lick your pussy or something, and try again."
    "Becca!"
    "What?  Don't think he's a muff diver?  Maybe you're right, but I heard all these singers are sort of orally inclined."
    My face blazed with embarrassment, but I couldn't think of anything to say.  I reached out and took the condoms.
    "Attagirl, Anne.  Listen to your dear friend Becca.  Tonight is gonna be a night you never forget.  You're about to bang Trace LeBeau!"
    And even though I knew it was crazy, I was starting to believe her.
     

Chapter 16
    Trace
     
    Sara's eyes were squeezed shut, and another tear came slipping down her cheek.  But a moment later she pulled in a deep breath, and let it out.  She opened her big eyes and looked up at me.
    Behind me, the door to the hallway burst open, and Sergio's cousin Angel came in.
    "Are you guys all right?" he said.  "It's getting pretty crazy out there."
    Coming in through the open door, we heard it.  Hundreds of voices joined together as one, screaming at the top of their lungs from the concert hall.
    "BELL-LUH-TRISTS!  BELL-LUH-TRISTS!  BELL-LUH-TRISTS!"
    "If you guys don't get back out there," Angel said, "that crowd might tear this whole place apart!"
    I looked from Angel to Sergio, over to Micah and then back to Joey.  I could see the energy building in them, the excitement.  And despite the pills, I felt it too, flaring deep within me.
    But when I looked back at Sara, I saw hesitation.
    "If you don't want to go back up there, we won't," I said.
    She pressed her lips to a thin line, shaking her head back and forth.  "I don't want to be the one to keep the band from playing.  Bernstein's right—Lucy wouldn't have wanted that.  But it's just…"
    I watched her blue eyes, and suddenly I thought I understood.
    "How about if we don't play any more of the new stuff tonight.  Let's just give them what they want, finish off with the rest of our hits."
    A look of relief came into her eyes, and she nodded.
    "Okay," she said.  "Let's do it."
    "Right on!" Joey shouted, smacking me on the back.
    And when I looked back at Bernstein, I thought I saw a hint of relief in his face, too.
    -
    Back in the hallway, as we made our way to the stage, Joey pulled me to the side.
    "You've got your girl, right?" he said.
    "What?"
    "Your girl.  You've got your girl.  Before we got in the limo, you promised me that you'd keep your eyes open, see if any girls looked interested in coming back to the hotel with you."
    The conversation we'd had in the hotel room—when Joey had come to bring me to the suite for the pre-show party—came back to me.
    "Are you serious?" I said.  "You're thinking about that now?  After what just happened with Sara?"
    "Yes, I'm thinking about that now!  If anything, Sara's little breakdown makes the topic even more pertinent."
    "Are you for real?  How in the world did what just happened in that green room make me picking up a groupie more of a good idea?"
    He gave me an incredulous look.  "You really don't get it, do you?"
    "Get what?"
    Joey shook his head.  "Did Sara not just admit that every time she sees you, she thinks of Lucy?"
    Another twinge of sorrow and guilt cut through me.  "Yeah, she did," I said, looking away.
    "And why do you think that is?"
    "Because her sister