Chapter 2

She looked flustered, out of place, unsure.

She stood on the side of the stage, juggling water bottles, her shirt mottled with wet spots and her cheeks flushed from either the heat of the lights, the energy from the crowd, or from running around all night being barked at by Carlisle.

Or maybe it was a reaction to me. It was probably me. It was usually me.

I'd seen her all day at the venue. Shiny, laminated crew pass hanging around her neck between her breasts. She followed Carlisle around and did all the shit he didn't want to do. Every time she appeared in my line of sight she was looking at me and would duck her head at being caught.

It was something I was used to, being ogled, so I thought nothing of it.

One of many.

The screams of ten thousand fans echoed in my ears yelling for us to come back out, but we were done after two encores. Groupies were lined up on either side of the hallway leading to the green room, all of them hoping for the chance that one of us would deem them interesting enough for a couple hours of entertainment.

I lingered last in line, always the final one off the stage because I was what the crowd really wanted. I glanced at the girls who would giggle and make their poses, waiting to see who I chose before settling for second best with any of the other guys. They were all music video-hot. Big tits, tiny clothes, desperate faces. Any of them would work nicely for the evening.

I gave a slick smile to the blonde on the right and asked her name. I didn't wait to hear her response and slung an arm around her. A water bottle was in my hand and then out of it not a second later.

"I'm so sorry!" The assistant was bending down, retrieving the bottle she'd let slip out of my grasp. She looked up at me, eyes huge with what looked like fear that she'd fucked up in front of me of all people, and fumbled it again.

I stood there and I could see it in her, the hesitation that she'd fucked up. She looked kind of terrified. Did I have that bad a rep?

Even scared shitless, in this position looking up at me from the floor, she'd be kind of hot if she'd just lick her lips and pout them out a little. Brush that hair back over her shoulder.

Crouching down, I gave her my best smile. The one I knew came as easily to me as music. The one that made women want to do unspeakable things with me.

"You new?" My fingers touched hers lightly, the bottle threatening to fall again from her trembling hand.

"Yes. First day." All breathy and like she was going to faint. "I'm sorry, it just slipped-" My hand moved to her wrist and two fingers crawled around it, helping her up.

She rose with me, eyes never leaving mine. The blonde next to me snaked an arm around my waist, trying to draw my attention back to herself as the girl kept my gaze.

"Bella." Carlisle appeared over her shoulder, and grabbed the bottle himself, placing it in my hand. "Go get some more water and bring it to the crew, okay?"

I couldn't tell if she looked relieved or slightly miffed at my manager. She hurried off without another glance. She was already leaving my mind as the blonde placed her hand on my ass, poking fun at the clumsy girl.

"People get nervous around me..." I smiled down at the blonde. Was it Lucy? Rachel? I nuzzled the blonde's hair. "She seemed sweet..." An afterthought.

Carlisle piped up behind me. "Don't even think about it, Cullen."

"Don't know what you're talking about, boss." I smirked at him.

"Bella's my niece. My nineteen-year-old niece, she is not up for grabs."

I pulled the blonde along and made my way towards the green room. I saw the niece rushing ahead of me, weaving through the crowd of hangers-on, crew, and security. Her jeans hugged her ass nicely, I liked the way her hair was halfway down her back, easy to pull.

Carlisle's niece.

The threat made her infinitely more interesting.

But nineteen. She was so fucking young.

The blonde led the way into the green room and just as security was shutting the door, I caught a glimpse of the niece over with the roadies, and she smiled at Big Tim, handed him a bottle no problem. I guess I was the only one to make her nervous.

I smiled.

I knew better.

But I also knew it wouldn't stop me.

I was going to destroy her.