Assured (Soul Serenade #2) (27 page)

Cole’s hand that has been under my shirt—well,
his
shirt—all night snakes up toward my chest. “Morning, sweets. How you feeling?” his sleep-laced voices asks as he palms my breast.

Any other day, I would be doing whatever I could in this cramped space to give him more of me, to see and to touch more of him. Not today. Today, I pretend to be sick.

“I’m just feeling blah, I guess. Nothing hurts, just cold,” I lie, burrowing into the covers to make it more believable. I’m going to hell for this. I either lie to the man I love, or tell him the truth and ruin what he and his band have busted their asses for. There is no good ending to either solution, so I’m just going to hold onto him. Cherish every touch, every kiss and pray that fuck-stick Wilson doesn’t spill. Surely, he’s smarter than that, right?

“Can I do anything?”

“I think I just need to rest.” Another lie falling from my lips.

“Are you hungry?” He reaches up to the small shelf above and grabs his phone. “I can make you some breakfast.”

“You cook?”

He laughs. “I was thinking like a toasted bagel.”

“Okay, Mr. Hampton. Dazzle me with your toasting skills.”

“Oh, don’t you worry.”

I roll over slowly to face him. I bite my tongue when I hit my arm on the side of the bus. Shit, that hurts!

“You haven’t seen anything until you’ve seen me spread cream cheese.” He winks.

Cocky ass.

“Uh-huh. Let me up, crazy man, I have to pee.”

Sweet Cole returns as he kisses my forehead before rolling out of the bunk.

I rush past him and into the small bathroom, locking the door. Once I’ve handled my business, I push back my sleeves to wash my hands and dark purple bruises cover my arms.

Shit.

I do bruise easily, but these look like I’ve been beaten. You can see exactly where his fingers were. I swallow the lump in my throat, knowing I’m lucky he didn’t take it further. The look in his eyes said he wanted to. I have never been so grateful for the interruption of voices in my life.

A single tear slides down my cheek as I think about lying to Cole, to Logan and the rest of the guys. I hate Wilson and the position he’s put me in. I hate that I really, truly,
finally
believe that what Cole wants is more than just to get his dick wet and that I’m the one who could screw it all up. I avoided him thinking he would use me and here I am being the liar in the relationship.

“You okay in there, sweets?” Cole lightly knocks on the door.

I wipe my face and clear my throat. “Yeah, just washing my hands.”

When I make it to the living area, Cole is already eating his bagel. Mine sits on a plate next to him.

“You, okay?”

“Yeah, just moving slow.”

“Eat and we can go lie back down. I don’t have to be at sound check for a few hours.”

“You don’t have to wait around with me, Cole. I’m sure you have things to do today. You guys are always busy on show days.”

The bagel he’s holding stops just before he takes a bite. Slowly, he places it back on the paper plate. That same hand cups my cheek. “You. You are what’s important. I don’t want to be anywhere but here. I can blow off the radio interview. We’ve all done it a time or two, claiming other obligations. The only thing I won’t do, unless it’s an emergency, is bail on the show. The guys depend on me. Please don’t take that the wrong way, but it’s my job.”

“Never. This is your career, Cole. I understand the sacrifices that you have to make.”

“And you. As my girlfriend, there will sacrifices that you will have to make as well. Spending the holidays on the road, possibly missed birthdays or anniversaries.”

I know all too well about sacrifices.
I take a drink of my orange juice, giving myself time to shake off the memories of last night. “Sounds like a long-term thing.” I’m baiting him, but I just can’t help it. I don’t want to push him to talk about the future, but teasing I can do. Besides, the conversation needs to change from talking about sacrifices.

That I’m living.

Leaning in, he kisses me softly. “I love you. That’s long-term, sweets,” he says, going back to his breakfast.

Be still my heart. Cole Hampton, rocker extraordinaire, is lethal. He should come with a warning label. No wonder Logan fell as hard as she did. I mean, I watched her and Kacen and I could see the connection. Cole and his man bun, his cocky attitude and his words . . . I’m like putty in his hands.

“Where is everyone?” I ask him.

“Gavin and Tristan are sleeping. I assume Kacen and Logan are as well.”

“What time is it?”

“Seven.”

Damn! My worry has us up early. “I’m sorry I woke you. You should go back to bed.”

“Finish your breakfast and we’ll go lie down for a few hours.” He shoves the last bite—or rather half of his bagel—into his mouth.

I manage to eat one half and slide the other over to him. He finishes it off in a couple of big bites while I throw our trash away. “I’m going to lie down,” I tell him.

“I’m going to grab a quick shower before everyone gets up. I’ll be there in a minute.”

Crawling back into the bottom bunk, I burrow under the covers. It’s a dreary day, which is good—it fits my mood. I hear the door to Kacen and Logan’s room open. I wish I could talk to her about this, but I don’t want to risk her telling Kacen and besides that, she doesn’t need the stress. It’s not good for her or the baby.

I hear Cole greet them. “Listen, man. Stacy still isn’t feeling well. I’m going to skip the radio spot so I can stay with her. I’ll be at sound check.”

“Need anything?” Kacen asks.

“Nah, just want to be there for her, you know?”

“Cole, thank you,” Logan says.

“For?”

“Taking care of her. She deserves someone like you. Fiercely protective and caring all at the same time.”

“I love her,” is his simple reply.

I can only imagine what Logan’s face looks like. I’m sure she’s grinning like a damn fool right now.

Cole slowly pulls back the curtain and crawls in next to me. He doesn’t say a word as he tucks me in close, my back to his front. There is nothing like his strong arms wrapped around me. He makes it better, makes everything better.

A few hours later, I wake up sweating. Cole and all of his muscles throw off the heat. Not to mention the blanket and his sweatshirt I’m wearing.

“Feeling any better?” His voice startles me.

“How long have you been awake?”

“About an hour or so.”

“You’ve just been watching me sleep?”

“Yeah.” He brushes my wild hair from my eyes. “It’s suddenly one of my favorite things to do.”

“When is sound check?”

“I need to be leaving. I was trying to wait as long as I could to wake you up. Logan and the guys are already there. I told them I would meet them.”

“Go! They’re waiting on you.” I push on him, but he doesn’t move.

“You going to be okay here? I can wait until you’re ready to come with me.”

“Yes, I’ll be fine. I’m going to take a shower and just relax. Maybe read a little.”

“You think you’ll feel like coming to the show?” I can hear the hope in his voice.

“Yes.” I kiss his chin. “I have to keep the groupies away from my man.”

Leaning over, he captures my lips with his. “Say it again,” he breathes.

“I have to keep the groupies away.”

“No, the other part.” He kisses me again.

“Oh, you mean ‘my man’? Yeah, Tristan needs the extra coverage.” I can see the fire in his eyes.

“Mine,” he declares as he kisses me hard.

His hand snakes under the sweatshirt I’m wearing and that’s when I remember—I can’t get naked with him, not yet. I need to stop this. “Go, I have to make myself rock star-girlfriend material.”

“You’re fucking beautiful right here, right now. I would walk off this bus with you on my arm and be damn fucking honored that it’s you.”

“I love you, Cole Hampton. Now, go. I’ll be here when you get back.”

With one last kiss, he’s gone. I exhale in relief. Since I can get ready without anyone here, there is less of a chance of them seeing what I’m hiding.

The crowds on this tour keep getting better and better. The rush of knowing that thousands of people come out each night just to watch us will never get old. I watch from my spot on the stage as Kacen interacts with the crowd.

“It’s fucking hot in here!” he bellows into the microphone as he rips his T-shirt over his head. I throw my head back and laugh as he tosses it out to the crowd. People are diving just to touch a shirt that he wore.

That shit is crazy! I don’t think it’s something I will ever get used to. Glancing over, I see Logan wearing a grin, her hands protectively on their baby. She knows just like the rest of the world that this is all show. Kacen only has eyes for his wife. He’s adamant about the fact and will tell anyone willing to listen.

Stacy is sitting next to Logan, nodding along to the beat that Tristan is now tapping out on his drums. I force myself to take my eyes off her and get my head back in the show.

“Kace, my man, you shouldn’t have done that,” I say into my mic.

“Here we go,” Gavin chimes in.

“It’s fucking hot up here, center-stage, C,” Kacen replies, and the crowd goes wild.

Gavin and I join Kace center-stage. “Ladies, we need some help,” I address the crowd.

“You see, Kace here has all this.” Gavin points to Kacen. “But we think you would rather see this.” He points to me.

I slide my guitar to my back and lift my shirt. The deafening screams of the ladies fill the arena.

“Or,” I say, pulling my shirt, back down, “this.” I point to Gavin and he mimics what I just did, pulling up his shirt.

The beat stops. “Hold up, fellas.” Tristan grabs his mic and steps down from the drums. “Looks to me like they need to be able to read the full menu before ordering.” He stops beside me. “Right, ladies?”

It amazes me the men who toss their women on their shoulders just to get closer to us. If that was me, and it was Stacy, I don’t think I could do it. I don’t think I could watch her drool and scream over a guy who wasn’t me. It’s also surprising that a good majority of our fan base is women. Who knew?

Tristan takes his turn and, of course, the crowd goes wild.

“Well, my beautiful wife is the only opinion that matters.” Kacen looks to the side-stage area and holds his hand out.

As if they share a brain, Logan slowly stands and walks toward us. He meets her halfway, kissing her before they go any further.

“You all have met my wife, right? Baby, meet this kick-ass crowd we have tonight.” Again, the roars fill the arena.

Logan gives a shy wave. “You heard it, ladies. Your options just dwindled down to three,” Gavin informs them.

The crowd eats this shit up and gives us time to catch our breath before finishing the show. Suddenly, an idea hits. “Make that two, my man. My girl is backstage,” I confess.

I look over at Stacy and she’s grinning. No matter what gets thrown at her, at us, she’s wearing that smile for me. I decide to push my luck a little and hold my hand out for her, just like Kacen did for Logan.

She shakes her head.

“They want to meet you, sweets,” I say into the mic. The crowd lets her know that what I say is true.

She shakes her head again and I can almost read her mind. “Logan’s a wife, I’m just a girlfriend.” But she’s more than that. Someday, I will convince her of the fact.

“Stacy,” I say. The microphone picks it up and they start chanting her name.

“Stacy, Stacy, Stacy.”

Reluctantly, she stands and takes a hesitant step. That’s all I need. I jog to her and wrap my arm around her shoulders. Leaning over, I kiss the top of her head as we join the group center-stage. “Here she is. Babe, meet tonight’s crowd.”

More cheers and chants of her name flow through the arena.

“Looks like our boy Cole is officially off the market. That leaves these two jokers.” Kacen points to Tristan and Gavin.

“Winner gets bragging rights,” I say, keeping Stacy tucked into my side.

“Now, let’s do this so we can get back to fucking rocking!” Kacen booms into the microphone. “When I point, you need to make some noise. Loudest is the winner, you know the drill,” he explains to the crowd.