Page 20 of Heartbeat Girl

Steve pulled me out of the doorway and shut it. “Stop sulking. We need to feed before Jayne comes back.”

Chapter Eight

JAYNE

Sitting inside the bus, I tapped my nails repeatedly against the booth as I peered out the window. Men were so frustrating! Those three wanted me to work for them, but one performance and I knew they had a way they did things and I had mine. I liked plans, and they had zero!

Sure. The boys could do what they wanted. If they wanted to fuck a fan or multiple ones, they could. If they wanted to share her or him, whatever! Go for it.

An image of Liam on top of a woman—touching her with those long, elegant fingers had bile rising in my throat. I clamped my mouth shut and took a deep breath.It has nothing to do with me.My belly wouldn’t stop twisting, though.

But I wasn’t kidding when I said there was a way things had to be done to protect them. Or more importantly, their image.

I liked to follow the rules. I didn’t realize how blessed I was working with Ruth, who never dated before Amit. Easy work, not counting the few death scandals. My upset stomach got worse thinking about how different The Oppressors were going to be with all the potential scandals on the horizon. How did they get away without incident for so long, acting so recklessly?

Not anymore.

My foot was coming down that night. If anything happened, I would be the one dealing with the paparazzi and harassing phone calls from reporters.

Oh, Lord.

I covered my face and groaned. This was why they needed me. They wanted to unwind, make mistakes, and let me deal with the consequences. Truth be told, I didn’t get why celebrities couldn’t do what they wanted without people bitching, but sadly, that wasn’t the way it worked. Whether the crowd loved or hated someone was ultimately what could make or break a person’s career. And the band’s career became mine when I took their offer. That was why I was so irritated. Not because I imagined tits and ass on any of their faces. Liam’s intense gaze flashed through my mind, and I shook my head. Ugh!Why am I getting so upset? I couldn’t dread someone’s presence daily, then get annoyed when I thought of someone else having his attention.

Back to what was important. The things I could control.

Maybe I was overthinking. Maybe this kind of news would only make girls even more crazy about the band.Wild and reckless rock band taking fans backstage for some extra lovin’.I could totally picture all the headlines and sites.

It’d been an hour. That was long enough for them to bone someone, right? Given they didn’t talk and flirt around, and got straight to business. Guys liked to cum, and that was it.Right? Exceptmy band, who didn’t know how to shut up. I grumbled, dropping my forehead against the table.

Remembering I accepted this job to see if they had any idea where Ruth could be, I got up and snooped. It only took a few minutes of picking through their things to realize something. My band had nothing but clothes, their instruments, and a puzzle scattered across the table. What was I expecting to find, anyway? If anything could tell me secrets, it’d probably be their phones.

So, I ended up waiting a little longer for the band. I started tapping my feet, flicking the pen over and over. It grew harder and harder to sit still. “Fuck it,” I muttered before I stood up and rushed to find my heels. “Rules. These guys are getting rules.”

I made it inside in record time. Well, almost. The back door was locked, and I had to bang like a madwoman against it until a nice young man let me in. With a huff, I strode past him. “Where are they?”

I didn’t have to say the band’s name. This worker had seen my cheeks puffed out while I argued with them all night, before, in between, and after the concert. Man, I bet… No. I hoped I annoyed The Oppressors with all my nagging. The job might be a little fun after all.

“Dressing room… I think,” the worker said.

I thanked him and went on my way. The lights brightened the stadium, and the employees had already started cleaning up. When I got to the room and looked beneath the door, a crack of light revealed moving shadows.Found them.My fingers twisted the knob, but nothing happened.

Locked?

I frowned and then banged on the door. “Guys?” I tried to sound nice at first, but the creak of someone’s boot caught my ear, and no one answered. “I know you’re all in there. I think I’ve given you enough time.”

Not really. I couldn’t understand why my muscles strained and my anger grew. Then I remembered I couldn’t have a hotel room until the weekend and these three were causing trouble. What difference did it make if I slept in a hotel if they were going to be doing this all night? An idea hit me, and I smiled. If I couldn’t have my way, they couldn’t either.

I leaned closer to the door. “Just say the word that we’ll be here awhile, and I’ll go check in at this hotel right beside us. It’s practically calling my—”

The door cracked open, and I shut up as Liam poked out his head. I narrowed my eyes as he squeezed himself through the opening and closed the door.

Hmm. Why not open it completely?

It was almost like he didn’t want me to see behind him. His mouth was redder than usual, slightly swollen, with a glossy tint to his azure eyes. He looked like someone gave him a grand time. And for some reason, my heart pinched tightly, like someone squeezed it in their hand. Discomfort. That’s what that was. Fear always hit me in the band’s presence. That I could accept over what I felt at that moment. It made me realize something. I’d never seen Liamthisway. I’d never heard or seen a peep of him with women, even while the band toured with Ruth. So, of course, I never encountered him right after having sex with someone. Strange. And uncomfortable. I didn’t know how else to put it. No, honestly, it stung, and I wish I knew why that was. My attraction to him was one thing. But being hurt by him being with a woman was another.

Liam tilted his head, staring right at my chest, and I frowned. Um? Did he not just fuck someone’s brains out? Why was he ogling my little noggins?

“Why did you step out of the room that way?” I asked, fighting the urge to shield my breasts.