Exclusive Backstage Pass Excerpt

You can read the first chapter of Backstage Pass on my blog at this link: http://oliviacunning.wordpress.com/backstage-pass-chapter-one/ . I decided to share part of Chapter Two here, as it introduces the members of the band. It also gives us a glimpse of the hero, Brian, at his most charming. NOT!


From Chapter Two of Backstage Pass

Brian flushed the toilet and leaned against the stall door. He pressed the back of his wrist against his mouth and swallowed several times to fight his nausea.


No good.


He rushed forward and vomited into the toilet again. One day he would learn the limit of his alcohol tolerance. Apparently, today wasn’t the day.


“Dude, do you need me to hold your hair for you?” Eric called from outside the stall. He snickered.


“Fuck you,” Brian gasped, and threw up again.


“That’s a lot of perfectly good beer you’re wasting.”


“If you want it, come get it.”


Brian leaned against the cool, metal partition and flushed the toilet with his foot. He stood there for a moment and finally decided he felt well enough come out of the stall.


Eric looked at him hopefully. “Better?”


Brian nodded slightly.


“You’ve gotta stop letting chicks get to you.”


Tell him something he didn’t know.


Brian moved to the sink and rinsed his mouth with water several times before glancing in the mirror. Bloodshot eyes. Pale and waxy skin. He ran a hand over his slack face. “God, I look like shit.”


“I don’t notice any difference.”


Brian held up the three centermost fingers of his right hand.


“Read between the lines, asshole.”


Eric looked more puzzled than usual. “I never learned to read.”


“Here, let me help you.” Brian bent his ring finger and index finger down, leaving his middle finger extended. “Do you know sign language?”


“Nope. Sorry.” Eric punched him in the arm, thumbed his nose, and punched him again. Brian knew he’d feel those in the morning. Eric never held back in his blows.


“You ready to go back? You sure made an ass of yourself in front of that classy babe.”


“Thanks for the reminder.” Luckily, Brian probably wouldn’t remember any of it tomorrow.


“Come on. Let’s go.”


“What’s your rush?” Brian asked.


“How often do you get to hang out with a sophisticated sexpot like her?”


“Besides last night when I boned your mom?”


“Dude, if I had a mom, I might take offense.”


Brian scowled. Why had he said that? Being drunk was no excuse. “Sorry, man. I didn’t mean…” He rubbed his face vigorously with both hands. “Fuck.”


“If we don’t hurry back, Sed will be all over that sweet piece of ass.”


Brian splashed some cool water on his face. “Yeah, so what’s new?” Sed was all over every sweet piece of ass.


“It’s totally unfair. Sed gets all the pussy.”


All of them did fine with that. Couldn’t complain. Actually, it would do Brian good to lay off the pussy for a while. “We all get plenty.”


“But Sed gets all the good pussy. This is Certified Grade A pussy we’re talking about, Be-Rye. He’s probably already got her on her back with her ankles around his neck.” He tilted his head back and did his best chick-getting-laid-by-Sed impression. “Oh Sed. Yes. Yes. Sed. Ohhhh!”


Brian rolled his eyes and shook his head. “You’re an ass, Eric. You know that?”


“I’d like a piece of ass. I do know that. Hurry the fuck up or I’m going back without you.”


Brian dried his face on a paper towel and headed for the bathroom exit. “All right then, let’s go get you some Certified Grade A pussy.” He clapped Eric on the back, walking without any assistance now. Eric had no chance with Myrna if Sed had his sights on her. But hey, a guy could dream.


When they reached the table, Brian found Myrna sitting demurely next to Sed. All her clothes were still in place. Sed’s hand wasn’t up her skirt. They weren’t even making out. In fact, they were talking and laughing. Even Jace, who said fewer than five words in the average day, chatted quietly with the Certified Grade A Sex Professor. When Brian’s shadow crossed her face, Myrna glanced up at him and smiled brightly. She had a great smile, flashing perfect, white teeth between soft, kissable lips.


“Are you feeling better?” She looked him over with genuine concern.


Don’t do that, he thought. I’m still trying to get over what’s-herface. Angie. Yeah. I’m trying to get over Angie.


Brian glanced at Sed, who avoided his accusatory glare by finding Jace uncommonly interesting.


Angie… Brian’s heart panged unpleasantly and he clenched his fist.


That fucking slut.


“Yeah, I feel a little better,” he said to Myrna.


“He blew chunks,” Eric found necessary to inform everyone.


Myrna patted the seat next to her, which apparently signaled Eric to shove Brian out of the way so he could sit next to her. She laughed and hugged Eric’s arm. “Thanks for taking care of Brian.”


Eric beamed. “Hey, no problem. That’s what friends are for.”


Fuckhead.


Brian took a seat next to Trey, who lounged on the bench across from Myrna with a lollipop stick protruding from his mouth.


Trey had to be the only guy on earth who could make sucking on a lollipop look cool. He’d given up smoking a few months ago, but still needed something in his mouth at all times. His dentist made a killing.


“So are you really a fan of ours?” Eric asked Myrna.


“Yeah, for years. Even before you made it really big. I use snippets of your guitar music in my classes to discuss male sensu…” She glanced at Brian, her eyes widening as if she’d been caught doing something wrong.


She never finished the thought, because Jace decided now was a good time to break his regular silence. “She even knows all of our names.”


Looking relieved about the subject change, she pointed to each of them in turn. “Eric Sticks−drums. Three bass drums, fourteen cymbals. He does it with perfect rhythm.”


“Every time,” he said, tapping the table with his palms.


“Sedric Lionheart. Lead vocals. The sound of his voice makes the ladies cream their panties.”


Sed leaned closer to her and said in his signature, baritone growl,” Yours included? I could sing a few bars, if you like.”


“That’s entirely unnecessary.”


“Ah, you’re killing me, Myr.”


She grinned deviously. Brian wondered what he’d missed while he’d been worshiping the porcelain god. Just like Sed to move in for the kill immediately.


She continued, “Jace Seymour. Bassist.” She paused, contemplating the newest member of their band.


“Hey, don’t I get a byline?” Jace complained.


Myrna leaned across Sed and beckoned Jace closer. She whispered something in his ear and he flushed to the roots of his bleached hair. “Seriously?” he sputtered.


She stared into his eyes and nodded. “Seriously.”


Now that was just wrong. What had she told him?


“Trey Mills. Rhythm guitarist. Dreamy green eyes to melt hearts. Nimble fingers to, well, get a lady’s thoughts going in all sorts of inappropriate directions.”


Trey winked and wriggled his fingers at her.


Her eyes moved to Brian. “Brian Sinclair.” She paused. Brian’s gaze focused on her pouty, pink lips. He wondered how many of her male students sat through her class with wood in their pants.


Captivated, he waited for her words. A slow smile spread across her lovely face. “A musical genius.”


No way! He didn’t get something sexy said about him? He might melt under the heat of her gaze, however. She wanted him. He’d been around enough women to know that look. Why had he drunk so much? He was in no condition to pull off any level of seduction.

© Olivia Cunning, Sourcebooks Casablanca, 2010

Or is he...? I’m not telling. You’ll have to read what happens next for yourself. The guys do make a bet that Brian will fail to get Myrna into bed. The guys are always making bets. They’re such guys, if you know what I mean.

What was the last bet you made?