Rocked (6 page)

"Un, Lewisville I think. They have a show there tonight."

"That's only an hour from here in traffic. This time of night you could be there in forty-five minutes."

"Kel, I can't just drop everything and go find him."

"Why not? I can see on your face you want to. Find him and give that sweet ass a big squeeze. Two even. One from me and one from you."

I laughed, but she was right. I needed to see him. Needed to know if what he sang was true. If what I was feeling was real. I couldn't wait until whenever he was in town next and over the phone wouldn't suffice.

"I'm working…" I said weakly, holding up my hands.

"Girl, please. Hey Darrell," she called out, "You could handle the rest of the night alone, right?"

"With this crowd," he said dryly, looking around the empty diner, "I think I can manage."

"There you go. No more excuses. Go home, get in your car and find that boy."

"I can't."

"You can."

I
could
.

"I will."

It was a miracle my car made it all the way to Lewisville, especially considering how fast I drove, but I made it in one piece and in record time. I pealed into the parking lot of the club and snagged one of the last spaces. I went to the door and paid for a ticket. The guy told me the openers were just starting their set and I sighed with relief. I hadn't missed anything. Slipping inside I was happy I'd spent a few minutes changing clothes. The black dress and boots were right in line with the rest of the crowd's attire and my curly, untamed hair fit in fine too among the dramatic colors and cuts.

I wandered around the club for a while, suddenly realizing I had no plan. I couldn't go backstage and talk to Joe. He wasn't expecting me and there was probably a list of approved people. I'd have to wait until the show was over. In which case I really hadn't needed to rush down and risk my car disintegrating under me.

Whatever. I was exhilarated and impressed with myself for being so impulsive. There was a gaggle of girls in front of me ignoring the band on stage and pointing above us. I looked up and saw the British guy from Joe's band. Peering into the darkness I saw other figures. There was a door at the end of the balcony where they stood that led behind the stage. I had to get up there.

I pushed my way through the crowd and stopped in front of a very large man behind a velvet rope. Behind him was a stairway leading up.

"VIP only, Miss."

"I just need to get a message to someone up there."

The bouncer looked me up and down. "You and every chick in this place. Sorry."

"Please, just tell Joe Hawk that Liss is here. Please?"

He rolled his eyes. "Send an email."

A female voice behind me laughed. "Give it up chubs."

I took a deep breath and ignored her. I stood up on my toes and talked to the bouncer again. "Sir, please. It is important. Just tell him that one thing and I'll leave you alone."

He shrugged. "Fine. At least you're being polite." He turned away and muttered into his headset. A thousand years went by before he looked down at me and smiled. "Go on up, Miss." He pushed aside the rope and I climbed the stairs. My heart soared and then I laughed as I heard the crowd in front of the bouncer complaining. That's right, I wanted to tell them. My fat ass is going up to see the band and your skinny ones are staying down there.

Giddy but not caring a bit I entered the VIP section. And there waiting for me at the top of the stairs was Joe. In tight pants and no shirt he was a vision. But before I could properly appreciate the view I was in his arms. He kissed me deeply and squeezed me tight.

"Liss," he said after finally releasing me enough to look into my eyes. "How did you know I needed to see you more than anything in the world tonight?"

"I didn't. But I heard your new song and…"

"I wanted to get it perfect before I played it for you."

"The whole world's heard it now, Joe."

"Yeah. I'm kind of in trouble for it. But I don't care."

I grinned and kissed him. "It's beautiful."

"
You're
beautiful." His eyes scanned down my body. "That is a great dress."

"Glad you like it."

He slung an arm around my shoulder, fingertips grazing my breasts, and led me deeper into the VIP area. There were low padded benches and a bar. The rest of his band and a bunch of other people were lounging around drinking and talking. No one was paying any attention to the stage.

"Let me introduce you to the guys," Joe said. He pointed at the British one I recognized. "This is Dex, our bass player. You talked to him on the phone briefly."

"You must be the famous Liss this prat keeps going on about," Dex said with a smile. "Pleasure to meet you."

I smiled and shook his hand, so happy to be next to Joe again. It felt like home.

We were moving on to the next band member when a really tall guy with an annoyed expression hurried over. He scowled at everyone before speaking. "Guys, come on. You're supposed to be backstage already. The label rep wants to schmooze before you go on. Besides the whole crowd is trying to watch you party instead of paying attention to the opening act."

Agreeable grumbles came from all sides and everyone started moving towards the door to backstage. Joe pulled me along with him as he took one last gulp of his drink, but the tall man stopped us. "No guests."

"Ryan, this is Liss. She's coming with me."

Ah, Ryan, the manager.

"Joseph, please. Band and crew only."

I sniggered. He called Joe by his full name just like Sarah insisted on doing to me. Maybe they were a match made in officious jerk heaven.

"I
said
she's with me. Either get out of our way or have no one to sing Full Dark for all those people down there."

I squeezed Joe's waist tighter, enjoying this side of him.

"Fine, whatever. But stay out of the way, girlie."

Girlie?
Really?
He couldn't have been older than thirty-five but talked like a character from an old movie.

Joe and I laughed as he led me into the inner sanctum of the club.

"Babe, let me go handle whatever bullshit Ryan wants us to do. I'll come say hello before we go on, okay? Just ask someone if you want a drink or anything."

"Of course. Enjoy your bullshit."

He grinned and kissed me on the cheek before striding after the rest of the band.

I tried to stay out of the way but things were chaotic. So many people coming and going, carrying equipment and food and drinks. Everyone had a pass around their necks that I guessed allowed them access to the area. It was cool to watch the secret goings-on that audiences never see.

The opening band finished their set and walked past the room I waited in. They looked sweaty and ready to drop. A girl rushed over and handed out towels and bottles of water and the whole group kept moving.

After a little while Joe came back in to get me. His hair was spiky and clearly freshly gelled. He'd put on a shirt too, which was a shame.

"Liss, we're about to go on. Give me a kiss and come watch from the wings."

"Really?"

"Of course. Hell, I'd put you on stage next to me but Ryan would murder both of us."

"I wouldn't go anyway. Standing in front of a crowd is your thing, Joe. I prefer a nice empty diner."

He kissed my hand and tugged me along. "So do I babe. So do I."

I nestled into my little corner out of the way as he went on stage. Watching them play was incredible. Joe was larger than life on that stage, holding every member of the audience in his hand. He riled them up with hard driving songs and sucked them in with softer numbers. And when he played their hit single, Full Dark, I could hear everyone in the crowd singing along as the guitars wailed and the drums pounded. Even I couldn't stay still, dancing a bit all by myself. They played for an hour but it felt like a few minutes. As they left the stage to thunderous applause Joe pulled me in for a kiss. He was sweaty and smelly but I loved it and held him close. The moment was all too brief and they went back for an encore. Jazzed on the contact high of the show I thought this kind of like would be wonderful. This overwhelming rush of excitement every night.

~*~

Joe and I practically ran away from the rest of the band when we got back to the hotel. Everyone else was heading to the bar for an after party but we wanted to be alone.

The hotel room we entered this time was clean, his suitcase on the floor in a corner.

"I know what you're thinking but we just got here. Haven't had time to mess the place up yet."

I smiled. "Hey, you saw my apartment. I'm no neat freak."

Joe sidled up to me and took me in his arms. "Oh no? What kind of freak are you?"

I laughed and kissed his chest above his t-shirt, taking in his clean, freshly showered smell. "Wanna find out?"

"I sure do," he replied and pushed me back against the wall, his hands already pulling up my dress. "I know I said I liked your clothes but I really like what's under them.

I suppressed the moment of panic at him seeing me standing in a well-lit room in my underwear. It was silly, and he wasn't judging. And as he turned me around and ground against my butt I knew he was very happy with how my body looked and felt.

"I had this whole romantic scene playing in my head, babe, but it will have to wait. I need you right now." He nuzzled my neck and reached inside my bra.

I gasped and let my head fall back onto his shoulder. God I loved his fingers, so dexterous and gentle with the callused tips from all that guitar playing.

Joe played my body too, building my arousal with caresses down my chest. And when he delved between my thighs, raking through the soft curls I moaned, desperate for him and wondering how I'd survived all these years without his hands and lips on me.

He pulled away and started undressing. I followed suit and soon we were both naked. I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him, holding my chest to his and feeling his hard length against my stomach.

"Come here," he said, flipping of the lights and leading me over towards the bed. But we went past the immaculately made king and to the open window where the lights of the city glowed two dozen floors below.

"Joe, what-"

"Trust me, Liss. Turn around."

I did, so I did.

He pushed me forward so my breasts were pressed lightly against the cold glass, making my nipples even harder. Joe pulled at my hips so I was bent over a bit and had to use my arms to brace myself. I was about to ask what he was up to when his intentions became clear.

The head of his cock came to rest at my dewy entrance and he leaned over me to whisper in my ear.

"Next time there will be hours of foreplay. I'll make you come a hundred times. But I need to be inside you right now. I can't wait."

"Then don’t," I breathed and pushed back against him.

He slipped inside me, slickness helping him along. So hot and hard, even better than I remembered and my fingers curled in as he stroked in and out. Every nerve in my body was alive and flickering with passion and something more. I'd never felt so connected to someone, so safe and so desired.

The noises coming from Joe as he made love to me were soft and feral. As our pace sped up and we moved as one I gave in to the rhythm, letting everything except our bodies sliding against each other go, becoming a creature of only lust and sensation.

"Babe, you feel so good. I'm not going to last. Come with me?"

I nodded, unable to speak. Joe's fingers crept around to my front and rubbed at my tender nub, the final push I needed to go over. I shattered and reformed a million times. We climaxed together and I grabbed his hand, entwining our fingers as our bodies erupted in ecstasy together.

Ten minutes later we were nestled in bed together. Joe brushed hair from my eyes and smiled down at me. "Did I thank you for coming all the way down here? I can't remember…"

"You don't have to."

"Are you going to be in trouble at work?"

"Nah, Darrell approved of the plan."

"I'm glad. I'd hate being with me to create any problems for you. I want your life to be perfect."

I chuckled. "No one's life is perfect, Joe. Though," I continued, tracing the tattoo on his shoulder," this is pretty close."

"I agree."

"It'll be sad when you move to your next stop and I go home. I'll miss you a lot."

"So don't go."

"Yeah, okay."

Joe sat up. "I'm serious."

I gathered the sheet around me and stared at him. "What are you talking about?"

"Just what you said. This is close to perfect. I can't imagine anything more wonderful than coming home to you after every show. Spending the night in your arms and the day exploring every new city.

"I just realized I don't want to be without you, Liss. Seeing your face makes every day brighter. I forget all the craziness around me and can focus on what really matters. You."

"You're being nuts right now. Just a day ago you were talking about not wanting a girlfriend. Now you want me to what, move in with you on the tour bus?"

"Fuck what I said. I didn't realize until I saw you standing in the wings when I came off stage. Call it what you want but I want that. Every night. Every show."

"I don't know. What about my job? My apartment?"

"It's only two weeks, then we go back in the studio for a while. Take two weeks and try this with me."

"Joe, I…"

"Stay with me. Come with me. Live inside this storm for a while. We can keep each other from flying apart. I don't want to wake up without you again, Liss."

And there it was. His heart open in words even more clearly than the song he wrote for me. The details could be worked out. In that moment I was being offered everything I'd ever dreamed of and there was only one answer.

"Yes. I'll come with you. I'll be with you."

Joe kissed me and we tumbled back down, wrapped in each other's arms. Our kisses and touches made promises that didn't need words. And as he made love to me again it was slow and real and true. I was embarking on an adventure of the lifetime and had never felt so safe.