Click (A Night Fire Novel Book 2) (10 page)

Chapter Fourteen

I hugged Monique for what had to be the tenth time in as many minutes. She offered a wry smile as she slung her bag over her shoulder.

“I want constant updates. Lots of pictures and details. And make sure you tell me how the visit to your parents goes.”

“Yeah, sure.” I grinned.

If I survive.

I leaned over and waived at Benny.

“Thanks for the time off Benster.”

“Thanks for the increase in business Ab.” he smiled crazily. “Make sure you keep telling the world where you used to work.”

I waived him off, he was too crazy for this hour of the morning.

“Tic toc Abigail.” Eden tapped her wrist from the open door by the limousine.

“Gotta go, love you guys.”

I quickly walked through the parting in the crowd, yep I was enemy number one now that I had been identified as Austin's girlfriend. The security was having trouble keeping them back. And the lucky girl that I was, I was being showered with lovely words of endearment. Even poor Frankie suffered, this band was being gripped by girlfriend fever. Two out of the five in a matter of weeks. The fan girls were vying for blood.

I slid along the seat to Austin, his arm reaching around me and pulling me in tight. The three bachelors were up the other end, Curtis and Frankie were on the side seat. I'd met Jerry their manager this morning, he was certainly a lively fellow. He was on the seat beside Curtis talking to someone on his phone. Eden slid onto the seat beside me as one of the security guards closed the door and got into the front with the driver.

We were on our way to the airport, traveling to Las Vegas. I was grateful for Benny who had gone to my apartment and packed everything that was on my list. The rest of my stuff I didn't have to worry about in the short term being that I shared an apartment with Monique.

To say that I wasn't impressed would be an accurate term to state my current mood. I had accepted the job of official photographer to the band that I thought was just an excuse for Austin to bring me along on the tour, not realizing that it was an actual offer. A serious offer that came with a pay packet. One that had been deposited into my account overnight.

Concerning? Yep, you had that one right. They had my bank details and just deposited a butt load of money in there. My bank account had gone from three digits to five. I didn't want to be funded so heavily, worse yet Austin ignored my protests. Complaining to Eden didn't help. She shrugged me off and said that she had to do what she was told and she was told to set up my wages and ensure that I had money to pay my share of the rent so that Monique wasn't left high and dry. Which in itself was ridiculous, she would get a new flatmate and pack my stuff into a few boxes. Maybe. Maybe she might enjoy the year by herself and enjoy the solitude. I know I would.

The plan for the next few weeks was pretty open, aside from a few days here and there of rehearsals there wasn't much that was set in stone. Except of course for the wedding. I had to find a dress, one that was elegant and I'd have Eden to help me with that gruesome task. Time would be found to visit my parents and going back to Florida to spend time with Austin's parents. It was all rather soon but life on the road wouldn't allow for too many variances in the schedule.

Waiting for us at the airport was a sleek white jet, staff scurrying in and out as they prepared for our imminent take off. I could only hope that they had entertainment on this thing. How many hours was it to Las Vegas?

Answer, too many. After the first hour I was ready to admit myself to the asylum. By the second hour I had read every single magazine that was on the plane, not caring how many breasts I saw. If it had an article in it, I had read it. Third hour was spent reading a book that was on the seat opposite us, turns out it was Austin's book. I wasn't really a crime fan but this was a real life one and by the first chapter, I was enthralled. So that kept me occupied for that hour.

Lunch was late because Fraser was in the bathroom with the stewardess. Not sure on how the two of them would have fitted in there considering that Fraser is one big boy. In the end Eden had to thump on the door, we were starving and no one had the key to the cabinet where the food was being kept. Then she proceeded to scold the stewardess and Fraser. It was amusing, he slunk off to his seat and pouted like a petulant child. Then the stewardess went about her duties, shame faced and watched by the icy glare of one pissed off assistant.

We ate lunch in relative silence, the stewardess on her best behavior and Fraser ignoring everyone made for an awkward situation. I guess it provided a little entertainment and by the look on Eden's face, it was only going to get more interesting. Austin's phone pipped, he reached into his pocket and it out. With a little huff he showed it to me.

Jerry: She's broken a rule in her employment contract. Need all to authorise termination.

It was a group messenger app that was set between the band, Jerry and Eden.

Evan: Couldn't give a shit.

Jaxon: Can I get time in the bathroom with her before you kick her out?

Evan: Eww dude, Fraser's been in there. You really want that?

Jaxon: As if you haven't fucked a chick after another man's just been in there.

Fraser: Can we not discuss this please?

Evan: Sure, decide and it's done. Except that someone's missing.

Everyone looked at the closed door at the back of the plane. Curtis and Frankie had disappeared into the bedroom at the back of the plane and hadn't ventured out since.

Austin: Aren't you going to stand up for your woman Fraser? She's on the verge of losing her job because you can't keep it in your pants.

Fraser: She isn't my woman and she knew the consequences. She understood that.

Well that's just cold. Stone cold. I looked at Austin but said nothing. It wasn't my place to interfere.

“So does this mean that all of your employees can't have sex with band members?” I whispered.

“Nah. She's not really an employee. Contractual help or some shit like that.”

Oh good. I'd hate to lose the job that I wanted with the pay that I didn't want just because I was having sex with Austin.

Jerry: Is there a decision in the near future? Curtis, you need to respond as well.

Curtis: You are interrupting my love life. Lucky for you lot I've worn her out so much, she's sleeping. I don't care what you do.

Evan: She fell asleep from boredom dude, not from you wearing her out.

Curtis: Fuck you. At least I'm man enough to commit to one woman for a lifetime instead of being a man whore.

Oh this was interesting. Who needs magazines? Give me the strained relations of band members any day.

Jaxon: Ain't nothing wrong with being a man whore Curtis, I think you've forgotten the past too easily.

Evan: Do you remember that woman in London?

Sniggering broke out between the two of them, I looked at Austin who was smiling. He leaned in to whisper.

“She handcuffed Curtis to the bed and stole everything out of his wallet.”

I chuckled, looking up at Eden who had a slight smile. Clearly she knew the tale.

“So if she's contractual does that mean she's not really fired?” I whispered.

“Kind of. It just means she can't work on our plane. She can go off to other private jets and Fraser can fuck the next one that comes along.”

“So I guess she's not the first, right?”

“Like a revolving door.”

I raised an eyebrow at Fraser who was opposite us, sitting beside Eden. He said nothing, gazing down at his phone.

Jerry: So we've got Evan and Curtis who don't care. Jaxon?

Jaxon: Don't care. Not my dick that's been in there. It's Fraser that she'll go all Fatal Attraction over.

Austin: Good point. We don't need a bunny boiler on flying tin can, hundreds of miles in the sky. She prepares our meals. She has access to the captain.

Curtis: Way to go Fraser. Maybe instead of deciding if we should kick her out we should decide on what brand of chastity belt we're going to buy Fraser.

Evan: Chop it off!!!

Jaxon: Dude, are you going to touch it to do the chopping?

Evan: Nah, Eden's good for it, ain't ya?

Eden: Sure. I'm sure the bunny boiler has a knife or two back there.

The color on Fraser's face dropped a few shades, Eden grinned darkly.

Eden: Any preferences? I personally like the butchers knife but if you want to inflict a long suffering pain I guess I could use a butter knife. Let's vote.

Austin: Butter

Evan: Definitely butter.

Jaxon: I'd prefer a spoon but seeing as it wasn't offered I'd go with butter.

Curtis: Hate to go against the norm, but I'd like to see Eden with the butcher's knife.

Jerry: How come I can't get such a quick response from you all?

Jerry: Butter.

I chuckled, Jerry's face was filled with a lot of pain and suffering but not nearly as much as Fraser's face.

Evan: Fraser, cast your vote.

Evan: Fraser, tell us how you want your junk cut off.

Evan: Fraaaassseerrr.

Curtis: Frankie says I'm wrong. Has to be a butter knife.

Eden: Well then it's decided. Butter knife it is. Sorry Curtis.

Curtis: I'm sure he'll suffer enough.

Evan: Fraaaassseerrr.

Fraser huffed and pulled out a magazine, ignoring everyone.

Eden: I'm going to need a magnifying glass and some gloves. Not for the blood, for the crabs.

Evan and Jaxon chuckled, even Jerry had a smile.

Jerry: Can I suggest that you not do it here, I can't imagine it would come out of the carpet too well.

Evan: The crabs?

Curtis: Do you think he has them?

Eden: I'd suggest checking but that means we'd have to look at it.

Jaxon: Oh you'd like that, wouldn't you Eden?

Eden: Piss off.

Evan: No denial. Eden and Fraser sitting in a tree.

Austin: K-I-S-S-I-N-G.

Eden rolled her eyes and put away her phone, opting to work on her laptop. That woman was always doing something on it. Every time I looked at her she was frowning at it, scoffing at it, screwing her face up at it. No doubt it had something to do with the band.

Jerry: Boys, can I have a call on the girl please?

Evan: Dude, we like you wife. You are not getting a call girl.

Jaxon: If you're planning on cheating on your wife, can I get a bit of cougar action?

Jerry: Touch my wife and I'll sick Eden on you.

Jerry thumped his fingers on the arm rest, waiting for them to make a final call on this never ending war of typed words. He should have waited until they were off the plane, it would have been easier. Then again, just watching them I could see they were a handful. Maybe this was the better solution.

Austin: I'd prefer to not fly in a plane that is staffed by a victim of Fraser's love.

Jaxon: Agreed.

Curtis: Yep. Austin called it.

Evan: Sure. That's the way to do it. Kick her because she spread.

Curtis: More like bent over.

More sniggering. It was like they were fifteen again.

Jerry: Alright. It's done.

He looked grimly in Fraser's direction but the man didn't look up, his face stuck in the magazine and avoiding everyone.

Evan: Have you ever noticed how he follows her around everywhere?

Jaxon: Hadn't, but will definitely watch now.

Austin: Screwing every woman within a hundred miles isn't going to help him.

Evan: He's trying to make her jealous.

Jaxon: Seriously?

Everyone looked at them, sitting together on the same seat. Neither of them had realised that the conversation was turning serious. I hadn't seen much of Fraser in the past few hours and last night it seemed that Eden was the last person on his mind. It was definitely a curious situation though.

Chapter Fifteen

Austin and I were dropped at his place first, Jaxon yelling rather loudly that we had to be at his place by no later than nine pm. Austin waived him off, almost ignoring him. With our bags in hand, we wandered into the rather swank apartment building. The fellow on the door nodded and opened the door for us.

“Good afternoon Mister Gibson.”

“Hello Tyson, this Abigail my girlfriend.”

“Miss Marshall.” he smiled with a nod.

Okay, I didn't want to know how he knew my surname. Or that he'd probably seen the lagoon picture. Damn this photo taking world.

“Hey.” I returned the smile and then scurried after Austin.

Hide behind the wall of hair falling over the side of my face. Pretend that the lagoon never happened. We walked through the rather garish lobby. It was done in a white marble, the walls, the floor, even the front desk was done in the stuff. Ridiculous. At the end of the white lobby with its chandelier and plush black lounge was four elevators. I went to press the button wondering why Austin walked past it.

“This one Abigail.”

He walked to the second one on the left side and punched a code into the keypad beside it. The doors opened and revealed a shiny black room. Walls of black glass, black floor tiles.

“Private elevator.” he grinned mischievously as the doors closed. “Only goes to one floor so don't ever let anyone in that you don't want in our place.”

Oh.
Our place.

“You might need the code.”

Austin dropped the bag in his hand and walked to me, pressing me against the glass. I gasped as his lips nipped at my skin, five nips as he moved to my ear.

“Five.” he whispered and then kissed my lips once.

“One.”

His hands moved to my backside, grabbing each side and pressing hard into the flesh.

“Two.”

One hand trailed over my hip and slid in between my legs as he whispered one. His fingers pressed hard against jeans, sliding up to my stomach. I dropped the bags, moving my hands to his waist. The skin underneath his shirt was so warm, incredibly inviting.

“Did you want to go to the party tonight?”

I shrugged as a wicked grin curled into his lips.

“It would mean that we would have to get dressed and venture from the apartment.”

“Oh okay.”

“I have a hot tub. Never used it before. We could christen it.”

Soft lips pressed against my collar bone, tugging at the skin with gentle bites.

“Sure.”

I gasped when the elevator stopped and Austin pressed against me. His hips fell onto mine, the hard dig of his erection against me. The doors slid open and Austin kicked his bag over the opening to stop the doors from closing again. His lips found mine in a fervent and desperate kiss, my hand sliding around the back of his neck.

“Austin?”

Our kiss stopped abruptly as a woman called out to him.

“Is that you darling?”

His eyes widened and he pulled away. My heart went thud. Dead. Gone. Bye-bye.

“Hey mom. Wasn't expecting you to be here.”

Austin rolled his eyes with a wry grin and picked up the bags. I grabbed mine and said goodbye to elevator sex. Hot tub sex. Kitchen counter sex. Who was I kidding? Our entire evening would have been the entry floor because we couldn't get any further.

Not any more
my mind sweetly giggled as it taunted me.

I took a deep breath and ventured to the small lobby and the woman standing at the black double doors. Time to brave the woman that probably hated me for hurting her son.

“Well Curtis is getting married, remember?”

“Yeah but it's the weekend. You said that you'd be here Friday.”

“Nonsense. I said we would be here when we got here. Shame that I had to learn that my son had a girlfriend through the media.”

“Sorry mom.”

He stepped aside and it was like looking at the picture in his book again. Austin really was a great artist. She smiled at me, pale pink lips stretched across her face. Like his mother, the two of them had jet black hair and dark blue eyes.

“Mom, this is Abigail.”

Austin did a casual flick of his fingers from under the bag he was holding, gesturing to his mother.

“Heather.”

I was engulfed in a hug before I could even say hello. It was so unexpected and crushing that I might have actually squeaked in shock. Heather was tall like her son, almost as wiry in build as well. As I was crushed against the chiffon of her dress I looked to Austin who had a wide grin.

“Oh darling.” she hummed as she gripped me by the shoulder and pulled me out. “She's a cutie.”

Austin rolled his eyes and walked into the apartment. Heather let her hands drop and turned to the door he had just walked through.

“You are supposed to agree with me son.”

“Yes mom. She's gorgeous.” the voice came from somewhere in the depths of his apartment.

Heather pressed her lips with a slight grin, nodding her head once.

“Dang straight.”

“It's darn straight Heather.”

At the door was his father, a man that was more like a frickin' mountain. Not sure what these people were standing in when they were growing up but having them looming over me made me feel incredibly short.

I followed Heather to the door that was held open, the man looked a little panicked as I drew closer. Oh yes, that's right. Awkward greeting time.

“Abigail, this is Austin's father Neil.”

“Hello.” I smiled and was suddenly grateful that I was weighed down by bags.

Neil shifted on his feet, moving the weight from one side to the other as his gaze darted to the two bags in my hands and the one over the shoulder. Pretty sure that Benny had packed everything I owned and not just the list that I had given him.

“Hello Abigail.”

Then he stepped into the room and held the door open, waiting for us to pass. Heather went first, gliding into the room like she was born with pure grace. Lucky thing.

I stepped into the entry, more of the ostentatious white marble. To the right was a closed door but ahead of us was the most incredible view of Las Vegas I had ever seen. The room was the formal lounge room, giant glass sliding doors opened out to a large deck that had a glass balustrade so that it wouldn't destroy the stunning view. The afternoon sun glinted off the buildings, a soft dappled orange hue cast across the land.

Slowly I walked closer to the lounge, almost entranced by the view.

“You want a tour?”

I turned to the soft husky voice to the side of me, Austin had his hands in his pockets and was looking at me with that sexy smirk that kept me wet.

“Sure.”

He took the two bags in my hands and led me further into the apartment. We walked into the lounge room, a vast room that housed the sitting area to the right and a pool table and bar to the left. Along the length of the room was an open corridor.

“Down there is the kitchen and dining room. To the left of it is the guest quarters.”

A sly grin slicked over his face. “Far, far away.”

“Not far enough.” I whispered.

Austin chuckled and led me to the right.

“Powder room to the right, media room to the left.”

We had delved into the enclosed part of the corridor, no longer in the open section. When we arrived a set of stairs that led down.

“Far, far away.”

As I walked down the stairs I grinned, thinking that we really were far away. It was another vast open area that had more amazing views. Behind the staircase with a decorative wrought iron balustrade was a single black door.

“Laundry, gym and a study beyond that one.”

A plush lounge sat in the center of the room, Austin ran his fingers over the back of the lounge as we walked along the exterior. Through the glass doors was the hot tub that sat in the center of the deck. Yep. Far, far away. On the other side of the room was a set of double doors that were open, Austin led the way into the bedroom.

The hardwood floor of the second lounge room gave way to the soft and plush carpet of the master bedroom. I kind of wanted to take my shoes off just to feel it. Would it be too much to roll around on it? Maybe it might induce some spontaneous loving from the suddenly quiet one.

Shades drew down on the view, taking away the bright glittering light that was shining it's way past the building. Through the windows that spanned one entire wall, I could see the same view as what the lounge room held. Well, could. Not anymore. Bags hit the ground somewhere behind me and a click made me come alive with anticipation. The shades allowed for light to still come into the room but gave privacy from the other high rise buildings around us.

Turning to see Austin slowly stalking closer across the carpet I could feel the burning need rising along with the panic. His parents were upstairs. They knew we were down here. I did not want to look like some tart that ran straight to the bedroom as soon as we got here.

“Austin, your parents are upstairs.”

“So?”

“I don't think it's appropriate considering that we just got here.”

His figure was darkened because of the lack of light, like an ominous presence that stalked my every move.

“You don't want this?”

He took my hand and caressed the curve of his jeans, feeling the hard length that was begging to be freed.

“Of course I do. I just don't want to be so obvious. I think that you should spend time with them. They came to see you, not to sit in your apartment while you fuck me. God, what would they think?”

“They are happy that I am happy. If you want to sit and have an afternoon of them and not hot and earth shattering sex then that's fine by me.”

Austin moved closer, pushing me onto the bed.

“But just so that you know, you are missing out on one hell of an orgasm.”

His lips pressed into the gully at the base of my throat, his hair flopping onto my face for a second until he lowered to my sternum. Another kiss gently placed upon the skin, lowering further. One placed in between my ribs, then again at my navel.

He chuckled as he nuzzled against my thigh, pressing a kiss onto the zip of my jeans.

“Such a shame.” he whispered.

Then he got up from the bed and walked out of the room.

“Bastard.” I hissed to no one.