Tempting Flame: Raining Chaos, #3

By Lynne St. James

Flame’s dying to play Michelle’s body instead of his keyboards…

After being separated from Michelle for four months while Raining Chaos finished their tour, he can’t wait to spend some time with his hot little teacher.  But once they’re alone one thing after another causes trouble.  Instead of burning up the sheets, Flame finds out Michelle’s dealing with more than he knew. 

Harassed and stalked…

When the principal of the school where Michelle teaches threatens to let go her because of her relationship with Flame, she doesn’t know what to do.  The last thing she wants is to walk away from the first man who’s warmed her numb heart or the job she loves.  But when strange things start to happen, Flame’s welcome home doesn’t play out like they’d planned.

Will Flame be able to keep Michelle safe and convince her they’re meant to spend the rest of their lives together?  Find out in book three of the Raining Chaos series as the band returns to New York to take on stalkers, ex-girlfriends and make hearts catch fire.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lynne St. James
• Release date: Dec 14, 2015
• ISBN: 9781943847112

Book preview

Lynne St. James

––––––––

Copyright © Lynne St. James December 2015

ISBN # 978-1-943847-11-2

Cover Art Copyright © Lynne St. James December 2015

––––––––

All rights reserved.  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems—except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews—without permission in writing from the author.

This book is a work of fiction.  The names, characters, and places portrayed in this book are entirely products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously.  Any resemblance to actual events, locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental and not intended by the author.

The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal.  Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to five years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000.

If you find any eBooks being sold or shared illegally, please contact the author at [e-mail].

Dedication

––––––––

To my fans, y’all are beyond great.  I could always find a friendly word, encouragement, a smiling face, or a coffee meme!  It all helped get me through a year which was more than difficult.

To Lily, your support and friendship has been invaluable.  Without your help this book and so many other things wouldn’t have happened this year.  I can’t thank you enough!

To my hubby, because you’re always there to pick me up when I fall and never let me give up.

You all ROCK!  \m/

Lynne

xoxox

Chapter One

––––––––

Michelle...

Hi honey, I’m home. 

I’ve got a surprise, Teresa yelled from the kitchen with a laugh.  Get out of your school clothes and meet me in the living room.

School clothes?  She sounded like a mother, or my grandmother.  Bending down to pet Sylvester and grab my laptop, I headed to my bedroom.  Staying in Cyn’s apartment was definitely the best idea she’d come up with before she left.  It made perfect sense since it was paid for and we could stay rent free.  All we had to do was cover the utilities and keep it clean.  No biggie for a couple of women whose men were far away.  All we did was work and miss them.

Staring into the mirror as I washed off my makeup, I wondered if Flame missed me half as much as I missed him.  It’d been almost four months since we’d seen each other.  He called and sent texts but it wasn’t the same.  Hell, even the sexting only did so much for me.  I wanted him, his kisses, his hugs and most of all his hot naked body holding me close.

At Christmas, I’d thought he would propose but he didn’t.  No mention of a commitment at all.  But even busy as he was on tour he still kept in touch—sounded like commitment to me.

Hurry up, Michelle.  Geesh!  What are you doing in there?

I’ll be right out.  Smirking into the mirror, I shrugged and dropped my clothes in the hamper.  Grabbing a pair of yoga pants and a t-shirt, and pulling my hair into a pony tail, I put my daydreaming on hold.

Surprise, Teresa said as soon as she saw me.

I was surprised too.  Are we celebrating something?  A platter of sushi and two bottles of wine on the coffee table had me wondering if I’d missed something.

No, well maybe.  You’ve been having such a hard time at work, and I finally finished the story that’d been kicking my butt.  I figured why not a little celebration since I was actually out of work early for a change.  I stopped and picked it up.  I hope you’re in the mood.

My stomach growled and I hoped I wasn’t drooling.  We both laughed at the loud gurgle.  I dropped onto the couch and almost landed on Sylvester, who’d snuck up between us.  He too was a fan of sushi, big surprise there.  Are you kidding me?  Not in the mood.  This is great, and congrats on finishing the story.

Thanks.  I’m so happy it’s done.  I was worried my editor wouldn’t like it but he gave me the all clear and I took off.  Figured why give him a chance to change his mind.

I don’t blame you, I said as I reached for one of the wine bottles and the corkscrew.  As good as the sushi looked I needed a glass of wine.  The tension in my shoulders was getting worse by the day.  I needed to figure out what do to about work, and definitely before Raining Chaos got back from their tour.

Pouring our favorite pinot noir, I handed Teresa a glass.  We toasted to her finished project and the end of the week.  I wanted to toast to the demise of a certain pain in the ass bitch, but I kept it to myself.  At this point even if she died it wouldn’t fix anything, the damage was done.

The sushi was excellent.  Teresa picked a great selection, including my favorite the rainbow roll.  Sylvester got his share, there was no way not to.  He’d reach up and try to knock it out of our chopsticks.  One of these days we’d need to catch him on video.  It was hysterical to watch.  I didn’t remember him being like this when Cyn’s mom was alive.  I guess we’ve been spoiling him.

Do you have any plans for this weekend, I asked as I shoved another piece of sushi in my mouth, breathing slowly as the wasabi burned my nasal passages.  Congested? Wasabi was the answer!

Nope, how about you?

Only the usual.  I wasn’t sure if you were going to visit your mom or not.

Nope not this weekend, she’s doing some kind of craft fair with Jack and Sally.  I figured maybe we could go to a museum to get out of the apartment.  Or maybe go to Central Park if the weather holds.

Sounds good.  I’m getting tired of being inside.  Winter was a bitch this year.  Turning on the six o’clock news we watched for the weather when familiar faces appeared on the screen.

Oh turn it up, Teresa said, bouncing on the couch with excitement.  I understood, I really did.  We missed our men.  We’d made a pact not to whine about it except over ice cream and wine once a month.  But the longing for them was always there.

Clicking the remote to raise the volume, we listened to the reporter gush about the concert—their last one in London.

Last one?  Last one!  Did you know they were done with the tour? I asked Teresa.  From the look on her face she was just as surprised.

Nope.  I was about to bitch you out for not telling me.

Do you think they kept it a secret on purpose or did something happen?

"I’m wondering the same thing.  When did you talk to Flame last?

Two days ago.  How about Wrath?

The same.

Hmm.  I wonder...

Me too. 

Suddenly the sushi didn’t taste as good, it was like all the happiness in the room had been sucked out.  We sat on the couch, holding our wine glasses, and staring at the television.

I was wondering if it was a live report when the Live graphic flashed on the screen.  The reporter was backstage and about to interview the band.  Maybe we’d find out what was going on.  As far as we knew they had another month of touring before they were due home.

The dressing room looked the same as almost every other venue they played in.  I guess it didn’t matter what country they were all alike.  But there was something different this time—a blonde chic hanging all over Flame.  What the hell?  I squinted at the TV.  Maybe giving her the evil eye would stop her from pawing at my man.

Hi, I’m with lead singer Chaos of the band Raining Chaos.  As you can see the after the show party is in full swing.  Your performance was brilliant tonight.  The fans loved it.

Thank you.  The welcome you’ve given us here in England has been great.  We look forward to coming back on our next tour.

Do you know when that will be?

Our next album should be coming out by the end of this year.  After its release we’ll post the tour dates on our website, raingingchaos.com.

You’ve been touring non-stop and we know you got married at Christmas.  Has married life been difficult on the road?

I was gnawing on the end of my chopstick and Teresa grabbed it out of my hand.  I’d been hanging on Chaos’ every word, and even saw him pull Cynda in front of the reporter.  But I couldn’t take my eyes off the bitch mauling Flame.  Why wasn’t he tossing her ass?

It’s been great.  Like a long honeymoon with lots of music, Cyn replied to the reporter.  I reined in my jealousy long enough to pay attention to what she was saying.  She looked great too.  Happy.  I couldn’t remember the last time I’d seen her so happy.  Good for her.  She’d been through hell the last few years between nursing her mother through the cancer, and then the rocky beginning of her relationship with Chaos. 

They look good don’t they?

Chaos and Cyn?  Or are you drooling over Wrath?

Teresa’s cheeks turned pink and she stuck out her tongue.  All of them, well except for the slut hanging on Flame.  What’s up with that?

I’d love to know.  I hope this isn’t a public break up.

Why would you think that?  Did something happen the last time you talked to him?

No.  Everything was fine, at least I thought so.  It was wasn’t it?  I didn’t miss some innuendo he’d dropped, did I?  We’d been chatting a lot and it was obvious how tired he’d been lately.  So instead of a little phone sex I’d let him get to bed the last time we spoke.  Maybe I shouldn’t...fuck that shit.  I’m not going to second guess myself.  He either wanted me or he didn’t.  Nothing I could do about it right now and driving myself crazy wasn’t going to help at all.  I’d just have to wait ‘til we talked again.

I’m sure it’s nothing.  He probably doesn’t want to make a big deal while the cameras are on.  You know how Joe is.  He gets his manager voice on ‘don’t do anything to embarrass the band, remember this is our brand.’

True.  I laughed at her impression of Joe.  He was a great guy and an even better manager, and had been her mother’s boyfriend since Christmas. 

The interview ended and the local news came back with the weather forecast for sunny and mild for the weekend.  Deciding I wasn’t going to sit around and mope until I heard from him, we planned on a day in Central Park.  We’d work on our suntans so we wouldn’t look like two ghosts.

Want to watch a movie?  It’ll take your mind off the slut and Flame.

What movie?

’The Avengers’.  C’mon with all those sexy guys, you know you’ll be drooling and Flame will be the last thing on your mind.

Laughing as I agreed, nothing like a little man candy for a distraction.  Who the hell wouldn’t want to drool over Chris Hemsworth and Robert Downey, Jr.  Go ahead, put it on and I’ll put the rest of the sushi in the fridge, unless you want more?

Nah, I’m good.  Leave the wine though.

It surprised me at first how well the two of us got along.  We didn’t know each other very long and yet she read me so well.  Cyn would always be my best friend, but Teresa was now a close second.  We understood each other, maybe part of it was our upbringing—both of us raised by women, her mother and my grandmother.  Either way I was glad to have her.  These last four months would have been almost impossible to get through without her.

While putting the leftovers in plastic containers and the dishes in the dishwasher, my mind wandered back to Flame and the slut.  Was it like Teresa said, he didn’t want to make a big deal on camera?  Or was he tired of me?  It would totally suck with everything else going on.  But then it would be typical Murphy’s Law.

Chapter Two

––––––––

Flame...

Get the fuck off me already, you skanky bitch.  How many times do I have to tell you?

But baby.  You know you want me.  I can tell, she said as she reached down and squeezed my junk.

What the fuck?  I grabbed her hand before she could squeeze any harder and pushed her away.  I didn’t care how many freakin’ cameras were still on, enough of this shit.  I wasn’t this bitch’s play thing for the night. 

She slid against the wall and ended up on her ass.  I know I didn’t push her that hard.  Jack would have whooped my ass if I ever even thought about hurting a woman.  But there she was half sitting half lying in a drunken mess.

Of course the cameras caught everything.  Just fuckin’ great.  I looked around for Joe but couldn’t find him.  Wrath was talking to some dude but I got his attention.

Fuck, Flame.  What the hell happened?

She grabbed my fuckin’ junk man.  I pushed her away but not hard enough to hurt her.  I wanted her off me.  She’s drunk.

Joe’s gonna have a heart attack.  Get her and bring in the back room, while I find Joe or Chaos.

God dammit.  Why did these things always happen to me?  I mean c’mon.  Groupies were part of the deal but I wasn’t doing them anymore.  Not since Michelle.  They all looked like sluts and I didn’t want anything to do with them.

Grabbing the woman, hell I didn’t even know her name, I steered her half-conscious body into the back dressing room.  Are you okay?

What the hell happened?

You’re drunk, and when I tried to make you let go, you fell.

You pushed me, she screeched.  I’m gonna press charges, you bloody wanker.  You can’t treat me like shit.

Just fuckin’ hold on.  You’re the one grabbing my junk.  Who gave you the right?

She seemed to consider my words.  Thank God she at least she stopped screaming.  But you wanted me.  You didn’t stop me earlier.

Because we were on camera and I didn’t want to make a scene.  I am so not into you, sorry.

Why not?  What’s wrong with me?

Fuck.  Here come the tears.  Her face crinkled up and her cheeks got red.  I hated this part of the rock business.  Unfortunately it went with the rest of it, and I never could stand when a women cried.

As soon as I knelt beside her I knew it was a mistake.  You know, one of those things as you’re doing it, your mind says what the hell?  But you do it anyway.  Yup, I did.  And sure enough, she threw herself at me wrapping her arms around my neck.  Losing my balance I ended up flat on my back with her sprawled all over me.  Just fuckin’ great.  I bet you can guess what happened next.  The door opened and Joe and Chaos looked at us with a WTF expression on their faces.  I’d tilted my head back when I heard the door open, but I knew it was them before I saw their faces.  This was going to go well.  Not.

What the hell is going on in here?  Wrath said the girl passed out.

Pushing her off my body, I sat up and rubbed the back of my head.  She was sorta.  I got her in here and tried to talk to her.

Chaos shook his head, probably thinking what a dumb fuck I was.  I didn’t blame him either.

Miss, are you okay?  Joe reached for her hand and helped her into a chair.

Of course Joe was going to take her side.  Or at least look like it.  He was the fix-it man, our manager, and maker of everything right.

Chaos helped me stand and when I looked at her I could almost see the wheels turning in her head.  She had trouble flashing in neon lights on her fuckin’ forehead.  Fuck.  We didn’t need this, but then did anyone?  We were going back home in the morning.  Four months was too long to be away.  We’d already decided no more long tours like this.  Besides I missed Michelle and seeing Cyn every day only made it worse.

Are you hurt? Joe asked the woman.

I’m not sure.  My head hurts a little and maybe my neck.

You’ve got to be fuckin’ kidding me.  You landed on top of me, bitch.  If you think you’re...

Flame, shut up.  Just shut the hell up, Joe yelled. 

I’d never heard him yell before and it kind of freaked me out.  The bitch was smiling.  Of course.  Chaos’ lips were pressed together in a thin line.  Oh yeah he was pissed.  At me or her though?

What’s your name?

Janie, actually Janice Radford.

Okay, Janie.  Do you need medical attention?

I watched her, she looked from me to Joe and back again.  I’m sure she was trying to decide how far to take this.

I’m not sure.

How about this?  I’ll give you three hundred dollars so you can visit your own doctor tomorrow if you need to.  Will that cover it, do you think?

Oh brilliant.  For sure, it should.  Thank you.

Great, Joe said as he pulled money out of his wallet.  I’ll call you a taxi, but before you go I need you to sign this agreement.

What is it for?

That you’re fine and will take no further action on this or any other matter.

I couldn’t believe he was going to pay her off, but I guess it was better than the alternative.

Do I have to sign it to get the money?

I’m afraid so.

We all waited while she thought about it.  It was like the world stopped for a few minutes while this con artist decided if she could get more out of us.  Finally she agreed and grabbed the money and