Revamped Chapter One for Rock the Beat.
This novel has undergone some major changes. There were aspects of the novel I wasn't happy with, but rest assured I am working VERY hard to keep the release date the same (October 8th). Here is the new beginning to Trip and Holly's story in a brand new first chapter.
Thank you all for the support you have given me over the last year. You guys are the absolute best. I couldn't ask for better readers than you all!
Much Love,
Michelle
**Still Unedited and Subject to Most Likely Change**
Rock the Beat
Chapter 1
Closer
Holly
Why
are all the really hot men either gay or taken? I swear, I don’t think there’s
one decent man left in Tucson.
Thank God my best friend is with me. I have terrible gaydar.
It’s
nineties night in one of the hottest clubs in town, and I love to dance. It’s
the perfect combination to wipe away the memories of a man that’s done me
wrong.
“I
told you this would be great,” Max tells me as he dances with me to the beat of
a Roxette song blaring through the
speakers. “You’ll be saying Jackson who by the time we leave this heavenly bar
filled with hot men.”
I
giggle and take another sip of my Sex on the Beach compliments of Max and my
fake ID. “This was a great idea to celebrate the one year anniversary of
getting dumped on my birthday by the biggest jackass in the state.”
Max
laughs and his brown hair falls over the corner of his left eye before he takes
me by the hand ready to spin me. “That was the best thing that ever happened to
you, Holly. Trust me. He didn’t appreciate what he had in you.” He raises his
glass of soda. “Here’s to a new start in your twenties, may they be better than
your teen years.”
“I’ll
drink to that!” A tingle erupts in my hands, signaling I’ve nearly hit my
limit, but I’m not about to let this yummy drink go to waste. Plus, it’s hot in
here. I down the last of it and hand Max the glass. “One more?” I give him the
best pleading puppy-dog eyes I can manage.
I’m
not ready to stop having fun yet.
He
sighs. “One more, and that’s it. We’re leaving while you can still walk out of
here.”
I
throw my arms around his neck, leaning up on my tip-toes and kiss his cheek.
“Thanks, Max. You’re the bestest friend and designated driver a girl could ever
have.”
He
laughs. “Remember how much you love me when you’re praying to the porcelain god
in the morning cursing me for letting you drink so much.”
“Deal,”
I tell him as I release him and continue to rock my hips to the beat.
Before
I know it, there’s a body pressed up against my back, dancing in-time with me. The
music pumps all around us and the amount of drinks I’ve consumed has my head
swimming a little. I close my eyes and lean my head against the hard chest behind
me and breath in the spicy scent of the guy’s cologne. He smells
mouth-watering, I just pray when I turn around he’s as hot as the image my
imagination is running wild with.
The
song changes and our bodies move in sync to the erotic beat of Closer by Nine Inch Nails. Trent Reznor’s voice growling through the speakers
about fucking causes a strange flutter of arousal to come over me.
The
guy behind me feels it too. Our dance turns slow and sensual as he grinds
himself into my ass. Both of his hands run down my bare arms then rest on my
hips. He jerks me against him even tighter and then brushes my hair to the
side. I should stop him, but it’s been so long since I’ve been touched like this, I
don’t want it to end. I like it too much. The feel of his nose gliding against
my neck causes my mouth to drift open and I allow myself to enjoy his close
proximity.
“I
want to fuck you like an animal,” the stranger growls in my ear before biting
my earlobe.
Normally,
this guy would be getting a fist to the face right about now, but because it’s
been a little while since I’ve been with a man, and I’ve been drinking, I’m
going to allow it—if he’s cute, that is.
Hell,
if he’s as hot as he sounds, I might just drag him into an empty bathroom stall
and let him do exactly what he wants with me.
I
turn slowly with my eyes closed. My gaze
lands on a toned chest wearing a tight, black t-shirt. Good so far. My eyes
travel further up and I take in the light beard on his face beneath his strong
jaw-line before my gaze locks onto his bright green eyes.
Not
only is he hot, and this may be just the booze talking, but he’s beautiful. He could
be possibly the hottest guy I’ve ever seen. I lick my lips and allow him to
tighten his grip on my hips and mash me against his body harder. My fingers
dart out and run down his pecs before I wrap them around his neck and allow him
to rock my body with his to the sensual beat of the song.
The
devilish smirk he’s wearing draws my attention to his mouth. No man should have
lips that inviting. I bite my own to keep them from attacking his. This man
would be the perfect fling to take my mind off Jackson. I’m sure an hour alone with him
would make me forget how I’ve been a pathetic loser pinning over a man that no
longer wants me.
The
beautiful stranger notices the expression on my face, and without asking
permission he leans downs and presses his lips to mine. I close my eyes and
allow his greedy tongue entrance into my mouth. Every inch of my body comes
alive and goose bumps erupt from my flesh as I open myself up to him.
I
could do this all night. Wait scratch that. I want to do more than this all
night with him and I don’t even care that I don’t know even know his name.
Isn’t the second person you sleep with supposed to be the complete opposite of
the first one? Where I’d known Jackson practically my entire life, this guy is
a total stranger that’s very capable of surprising me and then I never have to
see him again.
He
pulls away and leans his forehead against mine. “Come home with me.” My heart
thunders in my chest while his tongue darts out and licks my lips before my drunken
brain even has time to process his request. “I promise you’ll love the way I
fuck you.”
I
sigh heavily. If his kissing skills are any indication of what sleeping with
him will be like, I have no doubt I’ll love it. This is exactly what I need.
Just
as I’m ready to agree to it, I’m jerked away and the stranger furrows his brow
as I’m tugged through the crowd. Once I’m out of the hot guy’s line of sight, I
turn to Max who has taken it upon himself to pull me away from a guy I was
about ready to leave with.
I
jerk my arm away. “What the hell are you doing?”
Max
stops in his tracks, and I stagger and fall into his six foot frame. “I’m
saving your ass.”
I
throw my hands on my hips. “My ass didn’t need saving, it needs laid.”
Max
laughs and shakes his head. “Yeah, you probably do need that. You’ve been extra
bitchy lately.”
“Hey.”
I smack his arm.
He
wraps his arms around my shoulders and leads me up the steps to reach the bar
overlooking the dance floor. Once we’re up there he turns us around so we can
watch the people dancing. “When you give up your cookie again, don’t give it to
a guy like that.”
My
eyes search the crowd until they land on the beautiful stranger I was just
dancing with who now has that magical tongue in some blonde bimbo’s mouth. I
roll my eyes and wish my short legs were long enough to reach up and kick my
own ass. “I’m such an idiot. Thanks, Max.”
Max
squeezes my shoulder. “Of course, what are friends for? You’re too good for a
guy like that. Don’t ever date another biker jerk like Jackson or that guy.
They don’t understand how special you are.”
I
sigh and lean my head on Max’s shoulder. “Why can’t you be straight? You’re the
perfect man for me.”
He
chuckles beside me. “My life would be a whole lot easier if I was. Come on.
Let’s get you home, drunk-ass, before I have to peel you off another huge
mistake with a penis.”
We
turn and leave the club, once outside of the loud music and away from the sexy
man who had me ready to chuck everything I stand for in order to have one
sinful night with him, I feel relieved. I have no idea how this guy had so much
power over me, but at least I’ll never have to see him again. Too much time
alone with a man like him would have me breaking every person rule I’ve ever
set for myself. Thank god that’ll never happen.
