Rock Hard: Bad Boy Bandmates & Babies Series by Jamie Knight (ebook reader 8 inch .TXT) 📗

them at the wedding but, going by the wardrobe change, had the sneaking suspicion that it might have been a defanged version that I was hearing. I wanted the real deal.

Pressing the play icon, I closed my eyes, and awaited enlightenment. It was quick in coming, the sound that filled my earbuds unlike anything I’d ever heard. It wasn’t the deep, heavy black metal I was expecting, at least based on my limited experience, and it also bore a slight resemblance to the stripped-down version in the bandstand. Louder for sure, there was also an increased energy and spirit.

And Ragnar sounded even better with a full kit. The guitar soared with surprising melody over the rock-solid foundation laid down by the bass. Everything Jonna had ever told me about music came flooding back, and I found myself understanding more than I ever thought I would.

I didn’t listen to music much. I liked it as much as the next girl, but mostly in the background while driving, or trying to go to sleep. For Jonna it was a major part of her existence, like she would cry for days if ever deprived of the thing she loved most. I honestly envied her, I’d never had anything that I was so passionate about, most things feeling like they were happening to me and I was along for the ride. There were plenty of things I liked, and was even good at, but I wouldn’t call any of them a ‘passion.’

My phone pinged, bringing me back to reality. It was a text from Seth.

Seth: Loki’s Laugh gig tonight, coming?

Me: Yeah.

I didn’t even need to think about it. The chance to see them again, only really being themselves, was not something I was going to give up. Even if I ended up regretting it, at least I tried.

When I got home and threw open my closet, I was met with an instant flood of frustration. It was like a line of soldiers. All of my outfits nearly identical, none at all right for the evening. I believed very much in dressing for the occasion, and I seriously doubted that a skirt-suit and heels would cut it at a metal show. I needed something tough, something sexy. Only problem was. I really didn’t know that might be and was pretty sure I wouldn’t have it if I did.

Jeans and a sweater were as close as I could get. Except the jeans were a light blue and the sweater was pink with a floral design embroidered onto it. Not exactly tough.

A knock at my door made me jump. Still in my dork-wear, I went to answer the door, idly wondering who would be coming by so late.

“Hey, sis!”

“Jonna?”

My baby sister enveloped me in an attack hug, despite the bag she was carrying.

“What are you doing here? Not that I mind at all.”

“Seth said you might need some help.”

“Help?” I furrowed my brow in confusion.

“With the show. You’re still going right?”

“Yes.”

“Right, and I assume you’re not going like that?”

She scanned me up and down, taking in the full impact of the ensemble. To be fair, it wasn’t a train wreck or anything, it was cute, but still, not quite appropriate for where I was going.

“Do you have any better suggestions?”

“Absolutely! Come with me, well get you sorted out.”

Taking my hand, Jonna led me, bags, and all, back to the bedroom where she lay four pre-arranged outfits made out of her own clothes.

“This could work,” she said, picking up a nice, but very short, skirt.

“Maybe, with tights.”

“No tights, I’ll keep looking.”

Picking up a pair of black jeans, Jonna came around behind me, and held them to my hips.

“Definitely,” she concluded, hanging them over my shoulder.

Before I could object, she went back over to the collection and got a baggy band shirt, bearing the name of one of Jonna’s favorite bands that I’d never heard of. The shirt was oversized, went down well past my hips, and would cover my ass.

“Perfect, this way you can decide how much to show off depending on if you tuck in. Just a FYI, these jeans will make your ass look great. Now, shoes.”

Zipping back over to the bed, she picked up a pair of black and white Converse sneakers. Taking the offered pieces, I eschewed the cute for the kick-ass.

“Much better,” Jonna said, as we assessed the results in the full-length mirror.

I couldn’t disagree. It felt a bit strange, but I did look fantastic. All dark and sexy, like a vampire on the prowl. It helped that my hair was black. Not naturally of course, but I’d started dyeing it in college, generally finding people took me more seriously.

“Here,” Jonna said, gently tying my hair back into a ponytail.

The effect was instant, showing more of my face as well as my neck.

“Now for your make-up,” Jonna announced.

With a light, quick, almost professional touch, Jonna wiped away my professional look, replacing it with dark, vampy lipstick and a seductive smokey eye.

“Wow,” I whispered when she positioned me back in front of the mirror.

“One more thing.”

I could feel the cool weight on my shoulders as the black leather jacket settled into place.

“Perfect,” she said delightedly.

“Thank you.”

“No problem, sis.”

Jonna hugged me from behind, putting her head on my shoulder like she would when we were kids. We were both older, and a little taller, and she was a married woman with a family of her own. But she would always be my little sister.

Chapter Four - Ragnar

The rules were clear. There was to be no smoking or drinking within the Sanctuary. It was quite like church in that respect, minus the wine. One of many lessons we’d learned the hard way. There were no rules about doing