Sky turned her head, keeping her gaze on Rocky until the bathroom door closed and the lock clicked. She swiveled back around, caught me watching her and blushed. She had totally been checking him out.
"Have some protein, Sky, my dearest,” her brother ordered. “We have a little cushion of time at the hotel before sound check, but it’s not much. I’d rather not visit the ER if you have another sugar crash because you've let yourself be distracted by certain things."
"You’re right. I’m sorry." She bowed her head, more pink splashed on her cheeks. Lucky knew Sky was in love with Rocky and that his rejection of her was an open wound. Why had he called attention to it just now? Sure, they were drawn toward each other as if they were planets caught in each other's gravitational pull, but neither would act upon it. They had ample opportunity. They looked. They longed. But they never went beyond friends-only type touches.
"Sky's alright." I resisted kicking him under the table, but I wasn’t going to hold my tongue when I felt that he had been too harsh. "Don’t give her a hard time." The brunette lifted her head, and eyes the same striking shade as her brother’s beamed her gratitude at me. "If you wanna get onto someone for messing up our schedule and causing us to be late to Atlanta blame your best friend." Alec had violated a cardinal tour edict. We had lost half a day at the previous stop in Kansas City having the lone restroom sanitized.
"Sod off, Raven. You try holding it in when you got the hangover shits."
"Oi, don’t hate on my bird for pointing out the obvious. She’s new to the road but even she knows the rule."
"Yeah." Sky’s lips twitched in an upward direction as she entered the conversation. "It's just shit you deal with living on a bus."
"Good one, Sky." I giggled.
"Told you to go in the plastic bag, luv," Cody deadpanned, his giveaway grin awash in blue reflecting from the screen across the aisle from him. But he didn’t break his concentration on the game. His controller clicked rapidly as he popped open boxes releasing one coin after another in a steady rhythm.
"Fuck the lot of you." Alec threw his iPad on the couch, stood and stomped toward the back. But I knew he wasn’t really mad even though we’d been having fun at his expense. His gaze meeting mine, he paused and dipped his chin before continuing on. That was his way of letting me know he knew what I had been up to and approved. Sky's happiness was sacrosanct to all of us. Even to her brother who normally was her top defender. Ironic that it had been Lucky this morning who had crossed the un-crossable line.
"JUST GIVE ME a moment," Sky said as she exited the bathroom, a towel secured around her reed thin form.
"No problem. Alec and Cody already took off. They’re gonna check us in and get our room keys.” No use clamoring off the bus until we had them. “I don’t mind waiting until you get dressed.” I continued typing on my laptop, pretending not to notice Rocky’s eyes following Sky as she headed toward the back. The bathroom had barely enough room to get your clothes off. Most mornings, after three guys, it was a total disaster: wet towels on the floor, whisker stubble all over the counter and sticky toothpaste everywhere since Cody and Rocky never capped their tubes mostly to irritate Alec. Not surprising that Sky and I preferred to get dressed elsewhere. We had a small cachet of clothes stored in the back lounge closet. We had also co-opted the fold out dressing table as our own, keeping the mirror and the counter nice and clean and off limits to the guys. The stabbin’ cabin now included glamorizing.
"How many emails did you get today?" The drummer’s singsong voice interrupted my musings.
"Two hundred." I lifted my gaze. Across the banquette from me Rocky had started drumming his fingers on the tabletop.
"Blimey, that’s a lot."
"It’s usually more." I sighed and massaged my tired hands. They were dexterous from all the years of classical training on the piano, but the motion I used on the computer keyboard was different. I needed to power through the discomfort. The next venue had an upright grand I longed to try out. I had a new composition I wanted to work on. But I had RFC emails to answer first, and I was only a quarter of the way through my inbox.
"It would be nice if you had someone to organize your agenda and sort through all that for you."
"I can see that." I flicked my gaze to the couch where Lucky sat. He was speaking quietly to the Dragons bespectacled manager. They were going over the schedule for the day. Rocky’s comment wasn’t out of the blue. Lucky and I had gone round and round about me approaching the WMO to ask for an assistant. But I certainly wasn’t going to ask the big media conglomerate for any special favors right now with the VP in charge of my show pissed at me.
"It’s gotten to be too much for you to do on your own."
“Yeah, I know.” I nodded.
"It’s going to get even worse once the series airs." Rocky reached across the table and covered my hand with his own and squeezed. "Denying there’s an issue isn’t going to make it go away, Raven."
"I realize that." I lifted a brow. That bit of wisdom could also apply to him and Sky. “I’m managing alright. I do what I have to do to get by. I’m sure you can understand.” The lack of secretarial help was just one of many issues cutting into my time with Lucky. His priority was always my well-being and vice versa. But how we went about achieving those objectives sometimes differed. It was hard enough to carve out space in our schedules for each other. I’d rather the time we did have as a couple not be wasted on arguments. What I needed was more hours in the day, not another person to keep track of. Not another fish in our crowded bowl.
"Hey." Lucky touched my arm. I hadn’t realized his meeting was over. I had missed watching him saunter over, and that was sad because his sexy stride was something I didn’t like to miss. “Manager’s gone. Got a whole list of stuff to do today.” He frowned at Rocky's hand on my own.
“You’re such a possessive prick.” The drummer rolled his eyes but removed his hand.
“You ready to go inside the hotel?" Lucky asked.
"Sure, but I promised Sky I would wait for her." I lowered the lid on my laptop. It clicked as it closed. I wasn’t near finished with my task, but RFC could wait. It would have to wait. No way was I was squandering hotel room time with Lucky.
"I’ll take care of Sky," Rocky offered in a solemn tone. “I’ll make certain she gets in the hotel safely.” When it came to Sky, he was always serious.
“Ok.” I scooted out into the aisle, stood and stretched to loosen my muscles.
"Keep her away from the press." Lucky ordered Rocky inclining his head to the row of windows opposite us. "There’s already a shit ton of them with the fans lined up outside."
"Done."
Shouts, catcalls, appreciative whistles, and several piercing screams suddenly reverberated through the walls.
"Show us your abs, Cody!"
“Alec, lift up your shirt. Show us what you’ve got!”
"I love you!”
"Sign my tits!"
We all three exchanged glances. Resigned ones. Some version of this voracious insanity had accompanied every stop lately, evidence of how rapidly the band’s popularity was escalating.
"How big’s the crowd this time?" My eyes were wide as I stared at Lucky. We’d had several close calls already, and I’d almost taken a header onto the pavement when an overenthusiastic group of well-wishers had surrounded us at the last venue.
"At least a hundred,” he replied. “Maybe more.” His brows dipped in concern. “The car park is filled with people. You’ll need to stick close." His expression serious, he pulled me into him, threw his arm around my shoulder and tucked me safely into his side. But as he steered us down the center aisle, I knew it would likely take more than his strength to keep me there. Even with roadies acting as security at the last stop, I had almost gotten hurt, and the crowd in Kansas City had been half the size of this one.
As we turned the corner and started down the stairs, the screaming outside the bus rose in volume. Cody had probably taken off h
is shirt again. He had a ripped torso, and he liked the appreciation from the fans. He flirted and played along with them. Male or female, they universally loved him. I think he overdid it a bit sometimes, overcompensating for Alec's discomfort in the limelight, but whatever his motivation the result was good for the band, and good for the rest of us. Happy Cody fans, distracted Cody fans meant the rest of us could usually slip by with less notice.
"Has local law enforcement been notified?" I asked as we stopped on the stair opposite the driver’s seat.
"Yeah, our manager rang them, like he did at the last stop, but you know how long it usually takes for them to arrive."
"Yeah, but it might be safer to wait.” I glanced up at him, my pulse racing as more screaming rattled the door in front of us.
"Normally I would, Angel.” His features tightened. “But it’s my last chance to spend some time alone with you before your flight.” Lucky pointed with his chin over my shoulder. “I’m taking precautions. I borrowed some things from the crew." He reached past me. His rock-solid body brushed mine as he reached for something on the driver’s seat behind me. His mandarin and rum scent along with his warmth spiked my heartrate. I suddenly was every bit as eager as Lucky to get off the bus. “Put these on.” He had two black support staff shirts and two black ball caps in his hand. He offered me one set and kept the other for himself. He hung the hats on the endcap of the handrail.
“Alright.” I nodded. We were going incognito into the crowd. I quickly drew one of the shirts on while he did the same. He was quicker and helped me with mine. He smoothed the overly large cotton shirt over my curves. I got a little, ok a lot dazed from the feel of his warm hands on my skin. His lush lips curved. He knew the effect he had on me. "Where are your sunglasses?"
"In the back in our bunk,” I replied.
"We don’t have time to get them." He frowned. His were on his head. He removed them. “Here.” He started to put them on me.
“No, Lucky.” I waved him off. “You need them. You’re the more recognizable of us. Those are your fans out there. Not mine.”
"Alright, Angel.” He put the Aviator shades on and reached for the ball caps. I stood still and stared into his eyes, his shaded eyes, as he wrapped my long hair around his fingers. My scalp tingled. I felt more than just mere desire when he cared for me so tenderly.
“I love the feel of your fingers in my hair.”
“I love any excuse to have my hands in it or on any part of you,” he informed me, his voice deliciously low as he tucked my hair into the cap and placed it on my head.
“Lucky,” I breathed as all the emotions I felt for him flooded me.
"Hurry, Angel. Let’s get inside the hotel. The crowd’s only going to get bigger." He found and squeezed my hand, giving me a meaningful look before he released me. He put his ball cap on. It shadowed his features, but it wasn’t much of a disguise. Lucky Spencer was…well…Lucky Spencer. Inky hair, piercing blue eyes, over six feet of calendar cover-worthy man, he was in my estimation the sexiest frontman out there.
"Ok. I’m ready." My lips flattened with my determination. Though I was as eager as Lucky to disembark, the jostling we had gotten after the last concert suddenly loomed large in my mind. Those were Dragons fans outside. They were nuts for their band and understandably crazy about their lead singer. Maybe a little too crazy.
"C’mon," Lucky offered me his hand. I slid my fingers into his. Warmth and an incredible sense of security settled over me the way it always did whenever our hands were joined. He led me down the short set of stairs. I could feel the tension in his tight grip. And I heard it register in his dismay when I stepped out of the bus with him.
"Bloody hell…" The roar of the crowd drowned out the rest of his exclamation.
"Lucky! It’s Lucky!" a woman in a black and red ‘Get Lucky’ t-shirt yelled.
"I love you!" another fan beside her screamed.
"Fuck me, Lucky!"
"Wanna get lucky with me Lucky?"
I couldn’t see individuals anymore, just a wall of faces and a rush of movement coming straight toward us as we were inundated by people, most of them women in tight clothing and leather studded accessories. My body got slammed hard into Lucky’s. For a brief moment I registered his warmth and scent and felt safe, but then we were ripped apart. Impatient hands shoved me backward. Fans filled into the widening gap between us. Someone elbowed me hard in the ribs. As I doubled over trying to catch my breath, another person bumped me backward and more fans rushed in pushing me further away from him. Off balance and unable to hold my ground, I tripped over a hard obstacle at my feet I couldn’t even see because there were so many people pressing into me. On my way down, I caught a glimpse of Lucky. Several yards away now, he towered over the people surrounding him. I watched his lips form my name, but I couldn’t hear him over all the fans screaming. He was too far away to do anything anyway. There were too many people between us. He couldn’t save me this time.
"RAVEN," ALEC COAXED, his jade green eyes narrowed on my face. “Let me have a look, luv.”
"It's nothing." I huddled closer beside him on the overstuffed couch in the lobby. Inside the hotel, there wasn’t the massive press of humanity like out in the parking lot, but it was still pretty crowded. I was wrestling inside myself to regain my bearings after being knocked down on the pavement. I’d had to pull my arms and legs into my body to keep them from being stomped on. Thank God Alec and Cody had been nearby. They had shouldered their way in, helped me up and escorted me here. "It’s only a scratch."
"I’m thinking that’s not entirely true." He gently took my hand and frowned as he flipped it over.
“You’re bleeding.” He frowned and shook his head when he saw my knee.
"My palms are a little abraded from the pavement, and I have an insignificant cut on my knee."
“I’ll be the judge of that,” Alec corrected and turned to Cody who stood protectively beside us. “Get a manager. Make sure they’re sending extra security to the parking lot. I’ll take care of Raven.” Eyes large, I watched Cody move toward the front desk and tried to convince my heartbeat to slow down. The adrenaline rush from almost being trampled still surged inside me. I knew Lucky was fine. His adoring fans wouldn’t hurt him. It was him they had wanted. I had only been an unfortunate impediment on the way to reaching their goal.
"Raven.” Alec carefully gathered my hands. “I’m going to find a first aid kit. Some water maybe. You look a little pale.”
“I’m ok. Don’t make a fuss. It's not a big deal." I swallowed to moisten my dry throat. I really didn’t want him to leave me alone.
"It’s going to be a big deal.” He released my hands to smooth my tangled hair from my face. “Lucky’s going to be furious when he sees you like this, and then he’s going to be mad at me for not doing a bloody thing about it."
"You did do something. You rescued me. You and Cody both." I shoved my ripped sleeve up my shoulder, but it only slid right back down my arm again. "Lucky’s not going to be angry. He’s going to be grateful. I certainly am."
"Where the bloody hell is she?" Lucky stepped through the sliding glass doors practically shaking the walls as he stormed inside the lobby. Apparently he wasn’t ready to be grateful just yet.
“I’m here,” I squeaked. Unsticking myself from Alec’s side, I stood and lifted my arm waving my hand up in the air. Lucky’s gaze swept over me and his expression immediately darkened. He strode straight toward me. The people standing between us took one look at him and jumped to get of his way. The hotel security that had flanked him peeled away and moved into position at the glass doors. If only they had been around to help us a little earlier.
“Oh, Raven,” he said, grabbing me by the upper arms as I swayed. “I’m so very sorry.” After another quicker head to toe glance, he pulled me into him and tucked my head into his chest.
“I’m ok,” I assured him.
“Are you sure, Angel?” His fingers flexed into the skin at my nap
e. “You don’t look well.” His black roadie shirt was all I saw, but I heard his dismay. It rumbled from deep inside his chest to my ear. “Shall we call the doctor?”
“No, that won’t be necessary. I’m just a little shaky.” And I felt a little needy. I wanted to stay right where I was with him holding me.
"I messed up badly. I’m truly sorry.”
“It’s ok.” I wrapped my arms tighter around his waist and burrowed my cheek more into his chest, exhaling a relieved breath as he began to soothingly stroke one of his hands along the length of my spine. “I’m fine.”
"I should have waited for an escort.”
"We both should have. It was a mutual decision." I eased back to look up at him. His hand slipped from my hair.
"It was my fuckup. My mistake.” He lifted both hands and framed my face with them. “One I won’t ever repeat, I promise you." His eyes blazed cobalt flames. "No more chances. Not with you." He stroked my smooth skin with the pads of his thumbs while staring down at me. His expression became even more troubled. “When I saw you fall…” He trailed off. “And then I couldn’t get to you.” I felt the tremor that rolled through his solid body.
"I’m fine." And I was. Now. He had me. Pulling myself together, I loosened my death grip from his waist.
"You’re not fine,” he disagreed. Removing my hands from his back, he brought them to the front and shook his head as he inspected the abraded skin on my palms.
"Ok, minus getting a little scuffed up and hurting my knee.” Mentioning my knee was the wrong thing to do. It made my brain focus on it. It suddenly started throbbing as if my heartbeat were centered there. I started to feel a little woozy. "Um, I think maybe I should sit down." I swayed as the fight or flight adrenaline decided fighting time was over.
“I’ve got you.” Grasping me by my shoulders and under my knees, Lucky swept me off my feet, drawing me up into his strong arms.
A Postseason One Novella: Rock F*ck Club, #2 Page 3
