Free Rockin' the Heart (Hot Wired) by Gracen Miller Page B

gotten in on the tyranny a time or two. Tears stung her eyes at the thought of her pal. She missed Nessa and hadn’t seen her in over two years. College kept her friend busy, while Sam goofed off and rebelled at her unsatisfactory life. Texting and phone calls were inadequate. Often she felt as if Nessa had her future mapped out, while Sam was stuck in the same dead-end navigation. Breaking out of bad habits compared to a junkie’s inability to detox without assistance.
    With a sigh, s he racked the billiard balls. She didn’t resent Nessa’s goals, but was happy for her. It wasn’t Nessa’s fault Sam was miserable. The only person who could change her circumstances was herself, but displeasing Jase was her biggest worry.
    Like my criminal behavior pleases him.
    Confessing all to Nessa might relieve her tension, but she wasn’t ready to admit the truth of her emotions for Heath to anyone.
    Being Heath ’s fake-girlfriend held an expiration date. Their affair couldn’t continue indefinitely. If by some miracle their romance endured until the end of the tour, she’d have to break up with him then. Fans adored Heath, so the consequences should be minimal for him, and she could tolerate anything the news-hounds threw at her.
    S am chalked her stick before settling into a bent over position, her aim lined up with the cue ball. One quick thrust and the pool-stick connected with the white ball, which sent it careening into its multi-colored siblings.
    The crack of their meeting soothed her frazzled nerves and t hree plunked into pockets each with a thunk . Calm drenched her. Billiards appeased her the same way a bubble bath would normal women. In her youth she’d had a runaway temper, and her daddy taught her to play initially to refocus and quiet her rages.
    Daddy , I miss you .
    With a sniffle, s he sunk two more balls into pockets. Her agitation might be pacified if she thought of Derringer and Keys in the same carnal way she did Heath. They’d helped raise her after her parents died. It didn’t matter that she hadn’t known them as long as Heath, they were still as much her family as Heath and Jase.
    Why can ’t I be lusting after Derringer or Keys ? She adored both men, but neither did anything for her.
    “ Did you kill Fang’s cat?” Thinking of the devils must have brought them out of hiding, as both Derr and Keys entered the game room. Their testosterone riddled energies swaggered in ahead of them.
    She rolled her eyes at Keys ’ tasteless joke. “I’m a hell-raiser, not a cat-killer.” The twenty-five pound feline would probably shred her to pieces if she tried to injure him. If he could work up the energy to do something other than sleep and eat. She adored the overweight purring snuggler. He’d never be in danger from her for any reason. “Why do you ask?”
    “ Oh, no reason, really.” Derringer ran his fingertips along the dark shadow of a mustache and halted beside her. “Except Fang was a fucking tyrant just now.”
    T wo balls went in their pockets. “What’s that got to do with me?”
    “ He came from your illustrious presence, hellion.” Derr shoulder bumped her. “He was fine until your private tête-à-tête.”
    Tête-à-tête indeed!
    Note to self: all future sequestered conversations with Heath are off limits .
    The man was lethal to her willpower. Putting his mouth and tongue on her wasn’t playing fair. And she couldn’t trust herself to make the right choices in his presence. Heath only had to grin at her and she wanted to strip and offer herself up for his personal enjoyment. Just one little kiss and she wanted more. Her tongue vibrated with the memory of how he’d piloted his against hers.
    Keys took the stick from her, distracting her from her thoughts. Thank goodness! She needed some interference.
    He executed ill-trained shots, knocking balls around the felt-lined slate. She cringed at his novice mistakes. She’d offer instructions, but he excelled at instruments and