THE BIGGEST STAGE (A Brothers of Rock - WILLOW SON - novel) (21 page)

(22)

Colby crouched down and put the two
mugs on the floor.
“
Careful,
it
’
s still hot.
”

“
Thanks,
”
Tessa said.

Colby got behind her and put his
legs around her. He slipped his arms around her, holding her tight between his
legs.

He took a few breaths, looking at
the crackling fire.

“
What
are you doing?
”
Tessa
asked.

“
Enjoying
this moment. Because I hate what comes next.
”

“
I
’
m not going
…”

“
We
were signed really young,
”
Colby said.
“
Willow Son was
just destined. The right band at the right time. We had crowds outside the
clubs and bars. We were almost arrested for inciting a riot a few times. The
crowds were big and they wanted us. They wanted Willow Son. We finally signed,
got paid a ton of money, and started living the life. Everything we did was
golden. We had so much music, we just kept recording. The idea of new music
didn
’
t come into play for
three years. So we just lived, partied, got in trouble, got out of trouble. We
were arrested for so much shit. And you know what?
”

Tessa looked back at Colby.
“
What?
”

“
We
did whatever we had to do to get out of it,
”
Colby said.
“
The best
lawyers. Paid judges. Paid off people. Anything. The celebrity thing helped.
And, hell, we were rockstars. It was kind of expected. As long as we didn
’
t
…
as long as we didn
’
t kill
anyone
…”

Tessa licked her lips.
“
What happened, Colby? I want to
hear you say it.
”

“
Tell
me first what you read.
”

“
I
…”
Tessa shook her head.

“
Do
it,
”
Colby said.
“
Please.
”

“
Fine.
I read that you were driving. Drunk. You crashed a car with two other people in
it. One of the those men died. And you were charged
…”

Colby shut his eyes and nodded.

He could still hear it all
happening. The rev of the engine. The squeal of the tires. Then the horrible
crashing and crunching sound. Almost like a giant soda can being stepped on.
Darkness. Pain. Moans. Then a silence that would haunt him forever.

Colby opened his eyes and cleared
his throat.
“
I was charged
with killing my friend. Because I was the driver. Right?
”

Tessa nodded.

“
The
truth, Tessa
…
I wasn
’
t driving the car.
”

The words left Tessa
’
s eyes wide open.

Colby gave it a second to settle in
as he reached for the hot chocolate and took a sip.

It was warm. Sugary. Not as
satisfying as booze though.

“
Drink,
”
he whispered.
“
It
’
s
cool enough to drink.
”

“
I
don
’
t want a drink
…”

“
Take
a drink.
”

Tessa grabbed her mug and took a
sip.
“
It
’
s good.
”

“
It
’
s from a box. It
’
s all sugar.
”

“
It
’
s still good.
”

Colby grinned.
“
You make me happy.
”

“
Just
tell me everything. You weren
’
t
driving? Who was?
”

“
A
friend named Vinnie,
”
Colby
said.
“
He and Richie were
cousins. They grew up rough. Had a bad family. Bad everything. But we were all
friends. They were tough guys. They
’
d
beat the shit out of someone if we needed it done. I mean, if someone looked at
us the wrong way or whatever, and security wouldn
’
t
do it, Richie and Vinnie would. I should have never gotten in the car that
night. But Richie and Vinnie got into some argument. Vinnie was dead drunk. He
got to the car and told us all to fuck off. Richie climbed in and kept arguing
with Vinnie. I tried to be the peacekeeper of it all. Hell, there was a party
going on in the house. We were supposed to be having a good night.

“
They
kept going at it. Richie took a swing at Vinnie and then they started fighting.
I jumped in the backseat and climbed forward to get between them. I stopped the
fight and that
’
s when
Vinnie started to drive. I screamed for him to stop. So he looked at me and
told me he just wanted to take a ride. I should have stopped him. But I didn
’
t. He and Richie started talking
and I thought things were going to be good. Quick spin around the block. But
that
’
s not how it ever
goes. Vinnie somehow lost control of the damn car. All I remember was him revving
the engine, and then we were done. We hit a tree and the car just
…
crunch. Richie was killed on
impact. That
’
s what they
told us. Vinnie was hanging out the window. I damn near barely had a mark on
me.
”

“
Then
why did you get arrested?
”

“
I
switched with Vinnie. He would have served jail time. So I switched with him.
To save his ass.
”

Tessa
’
s
eyes were wide.
“
You did
that
…”

“
I
thought I could buy my way out of everything,
”
Colby said.
“
I came really
close. I could have gotten into a lot more trouble than I did. You see why Portis
wanted to keep a close eye on us, right?
”

“
I
’
m
…”

“
That
’
s not it,
”
Colby said.
“
I
’
m a murderer.
”

“
You
weren
’
t driving, Colby.
”

“
Exactly.
”

“
I
’
m confused.
”

Colby gritted his teeth.
“
The guilt destroyed Vinnie. He
was a free man. And he buried himself in drugs and booze. Then he killed
himself. Because of what I did.
”

The room was silent.

The fire crackled.

It was close to dying out.

Colby pushed away from Tessa and
went to the fire. He threw a couple logs on and let them catch.

He turned, standing there, arms at
his side. It was the most vulnerable moment of his life.

“
That
’
s the truth,
”
Colby said.
“
And no matter what I do
…
right or wrong, it gets thrown
in my face. People always leaving comments and attacking me. The night I punched
Portis? He made a comment about it. And the truth doesn
’
t matter. Why would it? If I tried to tell the
truth, it would make things worse. I
’
d
look like an asshole. And Vinnie
’
s
dead. Richie
’
s dead.
Nothing I could say would bring them back.
”

Tessa slowly climbed to her feet.
She approached, her hands holding the sheet around her body.

“
I
’
m
…
I
’
m still in love with you,
”
she said.

Colby felt his heart squeeze, but
it didn
’
t break.

No, it didn
’
t break.

Because Tessa
…
she was putting it all back
together.

Tessa then opened her arms, opened
the sheet, and she let it fall to the floor.

She stood there before Colby,
naked.

He shook his head. His hands came
forward, gently touching her body. Fingers sliding to her hips, to her lower
back. Pulling her close.

“
You
do this
…
we do this
…”
Colby licked his lips.
“
I don
’
t say things I don
’
t
mean. I fall - I did fall - in love with you, and that
’
s it.
”

“
That
’
s it,
”
Tessa whispered.

Their lips slowly came together.
Colby slowly turned sideways, letting the heat of the fire sweep over both of
them. Tessa
’
s hands went
right for his jeans again. There was nothing but his jeans on this time.

Tessa
’
s
hand moved into his jeans, her fingers sliding around him, holding him tight.
Her touch was hotter than the fire next to him. Tessa was the most beautiful
woman he
’
d ever met.

Maybe fate was real. Maybe it was
just something romantic to fantasize about.

But as Colby gently lowered Tessa
to the floor, hovering over her body, he never felt anything so intense in his
life.

Tessa still held tight to his
manhood, her small and soft hand stroking with care. Colby made fists and
placed them on the floor, keeping himself above Tessa
’
s body. Not for fear of crushing her, but because
he wanted to watch her body. He wanted to watch himself ease in and out of her,
watch her wide and sultry rock with his thrusts. He wanted to see the way her
breasts moved, feel her nails digging at his arms, and then see the pleasure
and love pouring from her eyes.

As he came forward, slipping into
Tessa again, he realized she was the ultimate comfort he
’
d been looking for all his life. Miles on the road,
miles in the air, all of it was a sense of searching. For this moment right
here.

They came together, gently at
first, Tessa
’
s breathing
slow and heavy. But Colby couldn
’
t
hold himself back for long. Not with the way Tessa was able to move, to groan,
to tear right through every wall he
’
d
ever built and get to his soul.

Colby placed a hand to the back of
her head and held her. He sped up, needing her, not just for tonight, but for
the rest of his life.

**

Tessa felt Colby
’
s lips touch her shoulder. A
second later, his fingers were there.

“
I
think our hot chocolate is cold,
”
he whispered.

Tessa grinned and opened her eyes.
It was dark out now. She had fallen asleep. They had made love -
no, they
had fucked
…
good and
hard
…
- right in
front of the fire. When they finished, Colby held Tessa. She shut her eyes for
a moment and it was now hours later.

That
’
s
what time did when she was with him. It just slipped away. It had no more
meaning. Time was just a reminder of searching. Tessa didn
’
t have to search anymore.

She turned to her back. Colby was
right there, his naked body still against hers. Tessa was certain Colby was
hotter than the fire. She reached up and touched his face. He gently kissed her
lips.

“
Thank
you for telling me the truth,
”
she whispered.
“
I would
never judge you, either way.
”

“
I
know,
”
Colby said.
“
To finish the story
…
that guy at the club who wanted
to hurt me. His name is Dan. He
’
s
Vinnie
’
s brother-in-law. He
always blamed me for everything. Vinnie told him the truth and Dan saw how much
it messed with Vinnie
’
s
head. That
’
s why I never
get mad when he shows up. Which isn
’
t
often. That makes me scared for you. Harry and Portis wanted me to get some
kind of restraining order on him or something. I just might have to now. I
would hate myself if you were hurt because of my past.
”

“
Then
don
’
t worry about it,
”
Tessa said.
“
Just focus on the future.
”

Colby shook his head.
“
No. I can
’
t do that.
”

“
Why
not?
”

“
Why
would I care about the future when the present is so beautiful?
”

Tessa lost her breath for a second.

Colby
’
s
hand traced her cheek and moved down her neck. He cupped her breast and she let
out a sigh. Never before had a man made her feel so alive. Made her body react
so quickly to a single touch.

His fingertips kept going
…
down her body, beyond her
belly, all the way down until he curled around her damp sex. His fingers
touched, playing, leaving Tessa rocking up, wanting him back inside her. The
need had never been so great before. It was like she couldn
’
t be completely satisfied
…
but she was. She was more than
satisfied.