Read Rock 01 - FRET for Free Online Page A

had a look of wonder on his face.
    I grinned and put the guitar down.
    “Wow,” he marveled softly. “It’s like you’re this different person when you play. You’re so open and real. I can’t believe you never took one lesson.”
    “Couldn’t afford them. I listened to a lot of music growing up; it’s how I handled things most of the time. Want to go check out the backyard? I could really go for a swim.”
    “I take it the pool’s heated?”
    “Solar heated in fact. It is Arizona.”
    “Well, lead the way.”
     
    I changed into my trunks and waited for Axel to join me. The pool was clear blue and 98 degrees. It was perfect. A waterfall off to one side gurgled softly. At least I knew my pool guy was taking care of it while I was gone. The sliding glass door opened and Axel stepped out.
    I almost swallowed my tongue.
    He wore swim shorts that hung low on his hips giving me a perfect view of his V. A line of hair curled around his belly button and disappeared under his shorts. His chest was slightly hairy, not gorilla hairy, thank God, and it looked soft. I wanted to touch it. Beautiful, colorful tattoos decorated his biceps, rib cage and chest.
    “Wow,” I nearly stammered. “That’s a lot of ink.”
    “You’ve got quite a bit yourself.” Axel indicated my own tattoos.
    “Yes, but yours are so colorful. Where did you get them?”
    “All over. Some in Thailand, others in Turkey. Where did you get yours?”
    “Not anywhere so exotic. Los Angeles, and right here in Arizona.”
    Axel brushed past me and stuck a foot in the pool. I got a good view of his back and covered my mouth to try to keep my gasp inaudible.
    “I see you noticed my battle scars,” he tossed over his shoulder.
    “Oh my God,” I whispered. I couldn’t help it; I reached out and traced one of the scars with my fingertip. Axel whipped around with a snarl and grabbed my wrist.
    “Don’t ever touch me!”
    I shrank back immediately and Axel’s features moved from anger to shock.
    “Oh shit! I’m sorry.” He let go of my wrist.
    “No. It’s okay. I shouldn’t have, um, touched you.”
    “It’s just a knee-jerk reaction, I guess,” Axel admitted. “I’m not used to people putting their hands on me.”
    “So you’ve never…?” I let the question hang.
    “Of course I’ve had sex. I just don’t let anyone touch me.”
    “Oh. Okay.” I swallowed hard. “Note to self, don’t touch the pissy bodyguard.”
    And with that, Axel threw me in the pool.

Chapter 3: Axel
     
    Little shit. Gareth came up spitting water and I had to laugh. Things had gotten way too intense for my liking. His touch had actually sent a shiver through me, and that alone freaked me out.
    I never let anyone get close to me. Not even Mac. He sucked me and that’s as far as it went. I never kissed him; hell, I’d never kissed anyone. I could suck a dick like a pro, though. The nameless, faceless men I’d been with I’d only topped. I never let anyone get the drop on me.
    “That was so mean!” Gareth pouted from the pool.
    “Aw. Poor rock idol is all wet.” I put out my bottom lip to match his.
    I slipped into the shallow end and almost groaned at the sensation of the warm water on my body. I’d been wound so tightly; I needed to uncoil for a bit. I was still on high alert. I don’t care if no one supposedly knows where this house is. Someone knows something, somewhere.
    “I’m going to need to go shopping.” Gareth broke through my thoughts.
    “Don’t you have someone who does that for you?” I asked.
    “No. I don’t. I prefer to do my own shopping.”
    “You really are weird. You do know that, right?”
    “Why does that seem weird?”
    “Look, I’ve heard the stories from a lot of the babysitters. They get stuck with these rich little shits —”
    “Well, I’m not a rich little shit.” Gareth shot me a look.
    “I’m getting that.” I held a hand up in surrender. “Don’t get all pissy.”
    Gareth splashed me and I