STAGE READY
Memphis
“Right there?” I ask as I push into her, and she moans. “I’ll take that as a yes.”
“More,” she begs.
I’m kneeling in front of her with her legs wrapped around me. I pull one leg up and rest it on my shoulder.
“No, no, no, no—”
“Okay, damn girl, the view from up here was fine, though.”
“Too much pressure.” She wraps her long, lean leg back around my waist as I hold her hip in my hands.
I lean down and suck hard on her left nipple, making her back arch. I keep sucking as I slowly lift her leg to put it back on my shoulder, and she opens her eyes.
“Really?” She laughs as she pulls it back down.
“Get out of your head, Tales. Just enjoy the feels, babe.”
We’ve been at it for hours, trying different positions with the new and improved steel. Some, she clearly likes better than others.
“I’m enjoying. Are you?” She sits up and wraps her legs securely around me as she grabs my face. “Tell me we can stay like this forever.”
“Do that again.” I smirk.
“What?”
“Sit up while you’re impaled.”
She kisses me. “See?” She leans back then sits up again. “Don’t even need a gym. I have you.”
“You’ve got me, all right, by the dick, by the balls …” She rolls her eyes. “By the heart and by the soul.”
That gains me a sweet, little look and some lip action. That lip action gains her missionary position with a happy ending had by all.
I flop on my back, panting while holding her hand as she does the same.
I glance over at the clock. “Tales, it’s fucking three in the morning,” I groan as I sit up.
“Don’t leave.”
I look back down at her, totally naked with marks from my mouth still on her tits. “I have to be at an interview at seven in the—”
“Please,” she whispers, closing her eyes.
“You do know the reason I can’t stay is because waking up with you in Miami was amazing, and I know damn well I won’t be able to leave this bed with you draped over me.”
“I promise to kick you out at six.”
“In three hours, Tales?”
“If you drive back to your place, it’ll give you even less time to sleep,” she argues, batting her lashes at me.
I stand up then lean down to kiss her. “I can’t fuck this up, Tales.”
“Fine,” she says, her lips popping out right before she rolls over.
Stake to the heart.
I walk around the bed and grab a quarter off the nightstand. “Flip for it?”
She opens her eyes and smiles. “Tails, you stay?”
“Sure.”
“Heads, I use my mouth as an alarm clock?”
“Shit, Tales.” I smile. “When did you get so naughty?” I say as I flip the coin.
“That time I stayed with a bunch of rock stars in Miami.” She smiles.
“I see.” I look down at the coin. “Ha, heads, I win.”
She giggles and scoots over. “Go to sleep.”
I lie down, and then I think about what just happened.
“Tales?”
“Yeah?”
“You just manipulated that coin toss to your benefit. Either way, I was gonna end up staying.”
She yawns and turns off the light. “It was mutually beneficial.”
I wake up to her hand on my cock and glance over. Five forty-five in the morning. I pretend to be asleep because I hate getting woken up, fucking hate it. Then her lips wrap around me, and suddenly I’m a morning person.
***
It’s two days before the show when I walk into Forever Four and realize I’m the only person here. I look at my phone to check the time. I’m an hour early.
Fuck.
I grab my phone and call Tallia. She answers, and I know damn well she went back to bed.
“Tales, you up?”
“Yeah, of course.”
“I call bullshit.”
She giggles.
“Not funny, sweet cheeks. You did that shit on purpose, didn’t you?”
“Did what?”
“Woke me up early.”
“No, actually it wasn’t on purpose.”
“No? Then what was it?”
“A craving, I guess?”
“You guess?”
She yawns. “Uh-huh.”
“You know what they say about payback, right?”
“Yep, that if someone loves you, there is no such thing as—”
“No, it’s a bitch, Tales. That’s what they say. Payback is a bitch.”
“Be nice.”
“We’ll see.”
“Okay, well, you have a good day. I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
I hang up the phone and toss it on the couch then flop down beside it. I can’t sleep, though. My head is high on daily fuck sessions, a lot of overnights with Tales, and the high of two days from now when I’ll be standing on the stage. Just three months ago, we were an opening act, and now we are going to be the main fucking attraction.
I stand up and pace the floor for what must be an hour before the guys walk in behind Xavier.
“All right.” He claps his hands and rubs them together. “We have an announcement. Change in plans. Our opening act shit the bed, which caused a big fucking headache last night, but we pulled off one hell of a hat trick. You all remember Stevie Danielle? Kick ass rocker chick who didn’t get shit for attention she deserved because of her old man’s fucked-up career?”
“Yeah, her old man was a douchebag. Talented as fuck, but didn’t know how to take no for an answer,” River says, cracking open a Red Bull. “Four women came forward, claiming rape, and everyone rallied around him until she stepped up with missing security footage from their Beverly Hills house. Yeah, who the hell doesn’t know the story? She got shunned by the industry as a whole.”
“Well, she’s gonna open for STD, and—”
“X-man, I don’t think that’s a good idea,” I say, feeling my head start to spin.
“I disagree.” Taelyn walks in, throwing a file on the table. “Your band’s name pegs you as a bunch of irresponsible hot boys in tight pants who want to ‘spread around your disease’.” She air quotes the hell out of it. “She has a huge following in the women’s liberation community, and if they will rally behind you, you’ll sell more tickets so we can get the rest of this year booked up.”
“I still don’t like it,” Finn says nervously.
“No? If we sell out ten more stadiums, you’ll each walk away with about seven hundred fifty thousand dollars in income. If we sell out twenty, everyone’s gonna follow suit, and you double that.”
“I think it’s a terrific idea.” River laughs. “Millionaires, can you imagine what—”
“Now it’s an even worse idea,” Finn grumbles. “You’ll end up so fucked up—”
“He’ll be fine,” Billy says then gives Finn a nasty-ass glare.
“X, you should know something about Stevie Danielle.”
He gives me a look like spill it.
“I fucked her,” Finn confesses. “Seven years ago, I fucked the chick, and I wasn’t even legal. I don’t want that bitch around.”
“She violated you?” Taelyn gasped.
“Fuck no. I violated the hell out of her and her ass, but—”
“All right!” Xavier yells, pointing a finger at Finn. “Watch your tone with my wife.”
“Xavier Steel.” Taelyn laughs loudly. “You are all about violating—”
“Irish, don’t you even go there,” he warns her
Finn stands up and walks to the door. “She’s a fucking cunt.”
River gasps and looks at Taelyn, and she starts laughing and throws her hands in the air. “Did I lose my honorary brass balls over night? Stop acting like I’m made of glass, guys.”
“I’
m gonna have to say I am on Finn’s side here,” I say louder this time because my opinion doesn’t seem to matter right now.
“Why? Because she’s a cunt?” Taelyn laughs.
“Irish, you shouldn’t say shit like that.” Xavier looks at her sternly.
She smirks.
“Okay, remember when I went to the woodshed in Tampa?” I say a little too loudly, and they all look at me. “I came back with “Bang Bang”?”
Finn walks back in, leans against the door jamb, and crosses his arms over his chest. “You fucked her, too?”
“I didn’t just fuck her; I violated every orifice that woman had. I don’t trust this one fucking bit. She’s fucked two of us.”
“Every orifice?” River asks inquisitively. Finn and I both nod. “Well, hell, I say keep her. I’d like to test those waters, too.”
“Keep your dicks in your pants, and it’ll be fine.” He hits a few keys on the keyboard. “Her assistant, Sonya, is driving sales.” He turns the monitor to face us. “Social media marketing at its finest. We do the show, and you four behave. We are respectful, and we walk away after it’s all done with. I’m not one to ever cry boss, but today I am. Suck it up, and fuck it up, and then it’s off to Texas.” Xavier smirks.
I get in the Escalade, and Finn, River, and Billy jump in. Then I send Tales a message.
Gonna need some down time for a couple days to get prepped for the concert. You good with that?
- As long as I get you after the show. <3
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
* * *
NOT READY
Tallia
I stand in front of the mirror, wearing the tightest tank top known to man, all leopard print and sequins, paired with black silk, boy shorts and thigh-high, six-inch, black leather boots. My makeup is stage-ready times a million, and my hair is blown out, resembling an afro.
I look like a freaking stripper—no, a hooker. I turn and look at my butt. POW! should have a for sale sign on it. Right now, I wish I had on ballet pink. I look awful, and worse yet, I feel awful.
When I found out Stevie Danielle’s band was opening for STD, I was nervous and excited. I couldn’t wait to surprise Memphis, but then Stevie started acting like a diva and changing everything up that we had perfected, and when I say perfected, I mean it. I’m self-critical about everything.
My phone rings, and it’s Memphis, so I answer immediately.
“Tales, are you coming tonight?”
“Of course I am. Wouldn’t miss it for the world,” I say, hoping he doesn’t catch the hint of sadness in my voice.
“Good. Mads is gonna meet you at gate six with your VIP pass.”
“So I’ll be a VIP?” I joke.
“Of course you will, Tales. Why the hell are you even asking a question like that?” He sounds angry.
“I was joking, Memphis. Geesh.”
“Sorry, sweet cheeks. I am amped. Wish you were here.”
“Where are you?” I ask, looking around and knowing he is done with sound checks.
“Getting in a car. Just finished sound checks. Now the opening act is going to do theirs, and then it’s show time, Tales. Fuck, this is crazy.”
“Is the opening act any good?”
“Some say so, I guess. I don’t know. Why would you ask that? I mean, really, who gives a shit, right?”
“Right.” Wow, he is nervous. “Well, you are going to kill it. I just know it.”
“It’s a given.” I laugh, and he sighs. “Miss you.”
“I’ve missed you, too.”
Sonya pokes her head in the dressing room, and I press mute. “Stage, Tally.”
“Right.” I take the phone off mute. “Hey, what do rock stars get after a show? Flowers? A card?”
“Dome.” His tone is serious.
“Wow.”
“It’s expected.”
“Is that so?”
“Yeah, sweet cheeks, it’s so. Hey, see you soon?”
“Of course. Break a leg, Memphis.”
“Let’s fucking hope not.”
I shove the phone in my bag then quickly make my way on stage. Everyone is there, and Stevie looks pissed when she sees me.
“You do know who the star is, correct?”
I give her a smile. “Stevie Danielle.”
She rolls her eyes. “One last minute change. This song just won’t go away. I was very inspired one hot as hell night, and well, let’s just say that inspiration has returned.” She is all starry-eyed and looks downright smitten. Good for her. “You know what they say; you can’t keep a hard man … or is it a good man down?” Everyone laughs, including me.
“Dancers”—so now we are nameless? I think to myself—“Same beat as “Go, Go”. I think you can keep up.”
I walk up the ramp to the center.
“Shit, Tallia, I need you in the cage.” She points to the tall cage, left of center. “You can freestyle this one. Show off that wild animal inside of you. No one can pull that off like you can with all that...hair.” She looks at me in disgust, but then she smiles. “And no one on this stage can move like you—well, except me.”
“All right girls, let’s do this!” She smiles as I climb in the cage.
My stomach is in knots. I don’t ever go on stage unprepared. It’s unacceptable.
Kellie taps the sticks, and the band starts a familiar beat. I’ve got this.
Black leather at the bar, he’s looking at me.
Glazed blue eyes give me all I need.
I feel the weight of his desire.
I feel it everywhere.
I give him what he wants.
I dance for him.
He stands up slowly, the look of sin.
No slowing it down, this heat we feel
He takes my hand, and we seal the deal.
Bang, bang. My heart beats like drum.
Bang, bang. No choice but to succumb.
Bang, bang. Not sent from above.
Bang, bang. Fits like a glove
Bang, bang. He’s driving it home.
Bang, bang. A rocker’s syndrome
Bang, bang. He’s a loaded gun.
Bang, bang. Two seconds to run.
Bang, bang. No room for love.
Bang, bang. Not sent from above.
I freeze. I feel sick. I want to scream. Then the speakers go dead.
“What the fuck is that?” booms over the microphone.
I look toward the sound booth to see a black man covered in tattoos storming toward the stage.
“Is there something wrong?” Stevie asks.
“You know damn well there’s something wrong,” he says as he hops the fence and jumps on stage. “That’s not your fucking song, Stevie.”
“Sure is, Nickie.”
“That’s STD’s song. Memphis wrote that song. It’s already fucking copyrighted and recorded. It releases tomorrow!”
“I had no idea.”
“No? Really?”
“Well, I didn’t expect him to release the song our time together inspired.” She pauses and covers her face. “God, of course he would.”
“He wrote the song, so of course he—”
“He may have written the words, but I didn’t think he would ever record it without me. Our night inspired every lyric, every emotion, every—”
“Now why the fuck would he not record a song he fucking wrote?”
“He didn’t mention it when we saw each other again in Florida the day before he left to come here, and he hasn’t mentioned it in the two days we have spent together.”
I can’t listen to any more. God, how could I have trusted him? His behavior has been off, and I should have known. I should have seen it coming.
I climb down from the cage and quickly make it off stage, hoping I haven’t been seen.
“Tales?” I look up to see Madison. “What the hell?” She laughs. “Does Memphis know you’re—?”
“No, and please don’t tell him.”
“You’re goin
g to surprise him? That’s a fabulous idea. Then what? Will you come to work for STD? I mean, Memphis has talked about maybe getting you involved with contests for opening acts. Says it’s taxing, and he...” She keeps talking.
My head is spinning, and my ears are ringing. Taxing? Yeah, I bet.
“Tales?”
“Yeah?” I ask.
“Why are you crying?”
“Oh.” I wipe away a tear that has escaped. “Just overwhelmed.”
“Don’t be. I heard him tell River, ‘Yeah, I fucking love her. Now shut the fuck up,’ so that must be love, right?”
All I can do is smile and force a nod.
“I miss you. I really hope this means you’ll join STD’s tour. They are selling out stadiums, Tales. I never knew what went into putting on a show. It blows my mind how this team works. It’s exhausting yet thrilling.”
I hug her. “See you soon?”
“Yeah, really soon. Oh, man, I can’t wait to see the shock on his face.”
Sonya walks up to me. “Let’s go. Stage, Tally. What the hell is your problem?”
I follow her out and do my best to get through the sound check, and then I wonder why I even have to be at a sound check. This is messed up, so incredibly messed up.
I look up to see the man who was giving Stevie hell with his phone to his ear.
“We’ve got a fucking problem. This bitch is fucking crazy, Xavier, like padded cell shit.” He walks away, and I can’t hear him anymore.
I look left and see Sonya and Stevie whispering.
Then Stevie laughs and claps her hands. “That tape will go viral if they fuck with me. That song is going to put me back in the spotlight.” I see her pull something out of her bra and hand it to Sonya. “This is the only copy. Guard it with your life. Now get that little bitch on stage so she can look like the nothing she is.”
Sonya nods and drops what I assume is a flash drive of the two of them having sex into her bag. I then see the man, Nickie, rushing an equally as large, even more tattooed man in through the rear entrance—Xavier.
Sonya looks up, and my eyes are locked on her. Her almost amber eyes narrow as we literally stare each other down.
I want that flash drive. I want to see with my own eyes that Memphis Black is what the world thinks him to be—a walking STD waiting to explode.
Rock Star Romance Ultimate Volume 2 Page 105
