by Terra Wolf
I could tell she was excited to hear I spent more time alone with Jack. She had only gotten the gist of our first encounter through text. “He was just kinda honest, ya know?”
“You’re both not invisible. Ugh, so freakin’ cute. So do you think it’s going anywhere?”
“What me and the rock star? No. This isn’t some movie. It’s real life. Though let me tell you, being in his arms felt real good.”
“Ugh, do it again, do it again!”
“What go up on a roof and make him think I’m going to jump?”
“Whatever it takes to get you back between his arms, or him between your sheets.”
“You’re crazy. So tell me about you, how’s the job? The new roommate?”
She sighed. “The job is fine. I work long hours, but the money is seriously so good.” She lowered her voice to a whisper. “The roommate is so goddamned clean I think I’m living with my mother. Please tell me you’re coming back soon!”
I laughed. “As soon as I can. Eight more weeks. You’ll survive.”
“So will you. Fuck Ryker and his arrogance. And just fuck Jack.”
That was the thought I couldn’t get out of my mind. I saw the sound guy waving to me and I hung up quickly and got ready to work another show.
Leo, the guy who I never saw without headphones, looked frantic. “Jack has his mic on and something is up in the dressing rooms. Get there now.”
I sprinted as fast as I could through the rows of chairs and was close to the dressing rooms when I heard yelling. It sounded like a huge uproar and I hurried towards the sound. I walked into Ryker's dressing room where Jason, Jack and a few girls were hanging out. Ryker was up in Jack's face and they were both screaming a slew of curse words at each other. Their faces were beet red and I hoped it wasn't going to get physical.
“I am sick of your shit, Ryker. You really think you're something special, and to be honest, your whole attitude makes me sick. You have let the biz get to you. You never used to be such an asshole to everyone around you. Why don't you just grow the fuck up?”
“Get out of my face, Jack. You're just jealous that the best girls only want me. You only get my leftovers. Hell, even my leftovers don't want you.”
Jack looked like he wanted to hit Ryker, he was a whole foot taller than him. Being a bear shifter had that effect on the body, at least that’s what the media said. He could have killed Ryker if it came to a fight. He growled at him and Jason rushed the girls out the door.
“Guys, enough.” Jason said sternly, and Jack walked past me and out of the room. I wasn't about to stick around and become an object of Ryker's ridicule, so I followed Jack instead.
He made a sharp turn and headed outside into the evening sun. I didn’t know what to say.
“Your mic is on,” I said blandly.
“Huh?” He turned and looked at me.
“Your mic is still on from sound check. Leo heard the fight. What was that all about?”
He shrugged. “I’m sick and tired of him. He’s toxic to all of us. I heard Cash, our drummer, wants to leave because Ryker made some crude joke about sleeping with his wife. And you do not mess with someone’s mate. I don’t blame him. I want out too.”
“But you’re still going to play tonight, right? I mean they need you.”
He sighed, dragging his fingers through his wavy hair. “Yeah, I guess. Will you be watching?”
“Always.” I could hardly take my eyes off of him now.
“Good.” He smiled and then clicked off his mic. “See you in there.”
“Bye.”
When the concert finally got underway, it went downhill fast. I could tell Jack was attempting to let go of his anger from earlier, but Ryker was relentless. At one point while he was singing, Ryker even picked up a guitar of his own and started riffing through Jack's parts. Jack glared at him, but Ryker didn’t even notice, or maybe he just didn’t care. My mouth hung open as I watched Ryker rip apart the concert, and Jason just stood to the side shaking his head. We were powerless to stop it, and nobody wanted to bring any more attention to the situation than the two guys were.
“This is going to be everywhere. I’ll have to call the publicist for damage control.” He said to me looking defeated. “The only shifter band on the market and they’re not representing us well.”
When the last set was finished, Jack stormed off the stage and walked up to Jason and said, “I quit,” before walking away.
Both Jason and I followed behind him. “What are you talking about? You can't quit.” Jason grabbed hold of Jack's arm and stopped him.
My heart was hammering in my chest. This is bad. Really bad.
Jack spun around and looked at us. “Fuck it, Jason. Ryker is out of control. There isn't a hat big enough to cover up that ego and I'm sick of it. I'm sorry, Jason, I know this puts you in a difficult position, but I can't continue to work with him. I'll start my own band. Screw this shit. Now leave me alone. I'm going.”
Ryker sauntered up to us from the stage. “Some show,” he said with a sneer.
“What the fuck were you doing out there?” Jack screamed. “You destroyed the concert, you’ll be lucky if we don’t have to give people their money back!”
“What?” Ryker sounded drunk, or high, I couldn’t tell. “They loved it. Well they loved me.”
“They don’t give a shit about you.”
Ryker’s eyes flared with madness. He looked completely insane. “Liar. You’re just jealous.”
“Jealous? Of what? Some little wolf punk who thinks he better than everyone else?”
Cash walked up to the two of them, he towered above Ryker, like Jack, but he was thicker than either of them. If a fight ensued, he would win.
“Ryker, you’re being a dick and everyone knows it. What you said about my wife…” His words ended with a low growl.
“Whatever, fuck both of you. I’m done.”
He passed me just before he moved towards the dressing rooms. “Of course you’re here. Gotta be close to the big bear, right? Dumbass.”
“What did you just call her?” Jack moved in front of me and put an arm across me in a protective stance.
“A dumbass. You have a problem with how I treat the intern now too?”
“I always have. Apologize.”
“Or what?”
“I’ll end you.” Jack grabbed Ryker’s shirt and lifted him clear off the ground. His strength astounded me. But Ryker hardly flinched.
“Then do it.”
I think he would have if Jason hadn’t intervened. “Put him down, Jack. You and Cash with me.”
Jack dropped him, leaving Ryker in a pile on the floor. “I’m not coming.”
I honestly thought he was going to kill him, or shift of something. His whole body was rattling, and a low humming was emitting from him. I had never seen anyone do that before, it wasn’t human. I couldn’t believe how he had protected me, no one had ever stood up like that for me before..
“What?”
“I wasn’t kidding about quitting. I’m out.”
“Fine.” Jason threw up his hands and walked away. Jack and I stood there staring at each other. He moved closer to me.
“Come with me.”
“What?”
“Come back to New York with me. I need you to be there, someone to have my back.”
“I mean, I guess, but only if I can stay on as your intern. It's pretty important to me.” I didn't want to admit that I needed the money desperately and he didn't make me explain.
“That’s not a problem. In fact, I’ll double whatever Jason is paying you. I just can't be here anymore.”
I walked away in silence, shocked at the events that had occurred so quickly. Talking to Jason before I left would have to be a priority. I couldn't just leave him hanging. I searched around until I found him on the bus. Things didn't look good at all. He had his head in his hands and a bottle of whiskey opened. He looked up at me when I came in and started to pour some whiskey ov
er ice.
“Can I get you one?” He took a long swig from his glass.
I shook my head. “Jason I'm really sorry.” I meant every word I said. I felt terrible about what had happened, but I also couldn't blame Jack for leaving. Ryker was a handful and not in a good way.
“I should have seen it coming. Jack is right, though. Ryker is a nightmare, but what celebrity isn't? Especially a wolf, Jesus. And he’s the only one besides me. The other guys are all bears, makes them calmer I think. That's what my job is; handling all the lunatics.”
“I'm going to go with Jack. He asked me to join him. I really need the job, Jason, but I wanted to check in with you that it was really okay. Since I was mainly hired for Jack, I'm assuming it's okay that I join him?”
He stared at me briefly before answering, “Yeah...you can go, but under one condition.”
“What's that?”
“Take a week with him and convince him to come back. I don't want that guy gone forever. Whether Ryker believes it or not, this band is nothing without Jack. It will quickly fall apart if he doesn't come back. Ryker will bury it. The band is too popular and I won't allow it to become a failure over one team member. If I could fire Ryker, I would, but I can't; we need both of them.”
This was playing dirty, but I needed him to let me go. I wanted to be with Jack, wherever he was. “I'll do whatever I can to help, I promise.”
Seven
There was no denying it, I was having far more fun back in New York than I had when I was on tour. I was currently working for Jack, but it seemed like all we were doing was messing around. The crazy thing was that Jack was wining and dining me as if we were a couple. Talk about confusing. Nothing had happened between Jack and me to suggest he wanted anything more than a platonic relationship, and yet we spent all of our time together. The only moments I had away from him were with Harper, who was more than happy to have me home. I was staying at Jack’s since she still had the new roommate, but I was in a separate guest room with a private bath. I didn't even have to spend a dime of my own. He spent his own money taking me out for dinner, going to shows. It was one of the best weeks of my life. I almost didn't want to have to talk to him about going back. But the next show was in a few days and I had to do whatever it took to get him there.
We had a full day planned, starting with me setting up a picnic in the park. Romantic, right? Tell me about it, and yet Jack hadn't even kissed me. I didn't want to hold out my hopes that a man like him would want to be with someone like me, but he certainly seemed to enjoy spending time with me.
I laid out the blanket while he unpacked our picnic basket. Talk about a spread. There was a bottle of wine and meats and cheeses that I had never even seen before. The fruit tray was even more exquisite.
I giggled.
“What?” He looked up from what he was doing.
“You totally didn't pack this yourself.”
He laughed. “It's that obvious, is it? Naw, if I would have packed it there would probably only be beer and a bag of Doritos in it. I ordered it in. I hope that's okay.”
“Oh, it's great. Though I do love Doritos.” I winked at him and he smiled warmly at me. We dug into the food that was there and I completely stuffed myself. It was all just so delicious and there were cheeses in that basket straight up from Paris.
When the food was done and we had drank half a bottle of wine, he filled our glasses again and pulled out a book. It was the Tolstoy that I had packed for him.
He laid back and put his hand behind his head and began reading. I was scanning a magazine when he spoke.
“Is this what it’s like?”
“What what’s like?”
“To be normal. I haven’t been normal in so long I don’t remember.”
“Yeah, this isn’t really my normal.”
He set down the book. “What do you mean?”
I looked away. “I’m poor,” I admitted. “I don’t get pretty baskets and days off. I have to work really hard just to stay afloat.” I didn’t say anything more, it was too embarrassing, but I felt like he needed to know.
He picked his book back up. “My dad said hard work was good for people. He worked hard like you do.” Neither of us said anything more on the topic. And I didn’t see a hint of pity in his eyes.
“I love being outside, well my bear does.” He stretched his neck. “I don’t get to get away enough.”
“What’s it like?” I asked.
“What?”
“Being a shifter? Is that bad to ask? I’m sorry, I don’t mean to offend you.”
He shook his head, “I’m not offended.” He sighed, “It’s like having two parts to you though. One that is human, and one that has all this instinct. It’s hard to keep a balance. And we had to hide for so long.”
“So you never told anyone as a child?”
“Nope, my dad was really serious about us hiding it. He was afraid people would come after us. We lived up in Maine for a while, then Canada, we moved around a lot so people couldn’t figure it out. It was tough.”
“I bet.”
“Do you know any others?” He asked me.
“No, I mean I think this kid at my high school might have been a wolf. Always missing on full moons. But we weren’t close or anything.”
“There’s more than people realize.”
I nodded. “I’m sure there are.”
I looked up to see four people moving slowly towards us. What was even more startling was that they had cameras in their hands. Holy shit, it's the paparazzi!
“Uh, Jack, we have to go.”
He looked up. “Shit, it’ll be everywhere that I’m not on tour where I’m supposed to be. On the count of three, we bail. One, two…”
We left the blanket and everything on it and ran across the park. I could hear the surprised cameramen calling out to us. They probably hadn't expected us to abandon ship so easily. We laughed as we ran back to Jack's car and far away from the paparazzi. I hoped that they didn't get any good pictures. I would hate for Jason to think I was just fooling around instead of getting Jack back to the band.
That night we ordered in pizza and just sat around his place and hung out. Another normal evening with my fake boyfriend, the rock star. It was also the best opportunity for me to talk to him about the band.
After I ate three slices of pepperoni pizza I settled back onto the couch and sipped my beer.
“Jack, you know you need to go back, right?”
He looked over at me, eyebrows in the air. “What?”
“Your next show is tomorrow and you need to go back. Your fans will be so disappointed if you don't. Plus, you are only letting Ryker win by leaving.”
He hung his head. “I know. Believe me, I miss it all. The jamming, the touring and life on stage. It's my life and I miss it, but Ryker ruins everything he touches. I don't know. I know I have to go back, but sometimes I think it might be better here...with you.”
Oh. My. God.
Just like that, my heart was beating hard and I was rendered speechless. No one had ever said anything like that to me before, especially no one that looked like Jack.
He leaned in and kissed me full on the lips. His mouth met mine and the kiss sizzled between us. I almost moaned he tasted so good.
I pulled back for a moment. He looked at me with hungry eyes. “Don’t you want me to kiss you?”
“I want that. I do, but…” Why was my brain freaking out now?
“But?”
“But guys like you don’t go for girls like me. This isn’t real, it can’t be.”
He smiled devilishly and pulled me back into him. “This is as real as it gets.”
He kissed me again and this time our tongues found each other. His hands were in my hair and our kisses became even more heated.
He started pulling off his t-shirt and tossed it aside. I was a little self-conscious about taking off my clothes in front of someone as sexy as Jack, but I thought, to hell with it. I pulled off my blo
use and unclasped by bra. My full breasts bobbed before him. He smiled, lust in his eyes as he came to me and put his hot mouth on my nipple. He sucked and my eyes fluttered back in my head. Oh, I wanted so much more.
I didn't care what he did to me. I was going to allow Jack to take me wherever he wanted. My mind was racing as I watched him unzip his pants. We were going to have sex right there on his couch. I couldn't possibly believe what was happening between us and yet it all felt so natural. My thoughts suddenly shut down when he dropped his pants and then his underwear. I gasped at his forwardness. When our eyes met, he smiled, and I couldn't help but smile back.
I slipped out of the shorts I was wearing and I was so thankful that I had decided to wear the sexy, red lace panties I put on that morning.
Jack moved above me and gently laid his hand on my pussy. I could see his cock and I yearned for it. I wanted him so badly it hurt. My pussy ached with anticipation.
He bent down and slowly removed my underwear, taking it agonizingly slow. Finally, I was released and he slipped a finger through my folds.
“You’re so wet,” he whispered as he pushed a finger inside my pussy and finger fucked me. My eyes fluttered as I moaned. God, that feels so good. I couldn't believe what was happening to me. I couldn't even think straight while he was touching me.
“Mmmm, harder, Jack.”
He leaned down and crushed his mouth onto mine with a kiss. I playfully bit his lower lip. He moaned and the sound thrilled me. I loved pleasing him and I wanted to do more of it. I wanted to taste every inch of him. He continued to kiss me as he slid his fingers in and out of me, and I was bombarded with waves of pleasure.
He took his fingers out of me and put his hands on my ass and squeezed it tight. I loved feeling his hands on me; it felt amazing. I kissed his jawline, nipping at his throat. He growled and I bit him even harder. My hands found his cock as I played with his balls before bending down. I didn't have a lot of room, but I wasn't missing the opportunity to taste his cock. I bent down and took his cock into my mouth.
Jack let out low growl as his hands got lost in my hair. I sucked hard while massaging his balls. I loved the power that I had with his cock was in my mouth. I controlled the pleasure that Jack got in that moment. His cock hit the back of my throat and he called out my name. I moved in rhythm over his cock, slowly at first, and then he pounded into my mouth. I didn't want to make him cum right away so I kept slowing things down.
