Surrounded By Knight

by A. N. Hennessy

  As I stood listening to Trevelin’s spine tingling voice, male laughter erupted a few feet behind me. My skin prickled, instantly knowing it had to be the other band.

  Leisurely, I turned my head and my breathing stopped as my stomach leapt into my chest and dangled off my ribs. I was only feet away from one of my favorite bands and staring right at the lead singer I had crushed on since seeing a picture of his handsome face almost a year ago.

  Ryker Steele, lead singer of Myst of Misery, was hot to say the least. Smoldering, sexy gray eyes always seemed to glow in every photo I’d ever seem of him. Dark buzzed hair outfitted him with the perfect amount of critical hotness with a sculpted body that would cause anyone to weep at the rippled mound of lean muscle.

  He sported one full sleeve of darkly colored tattoos that stretched over his shoulder and onto his chest, as well as a couple on his opposite arm. Nothing that couldn’t easily be covered by correctly layered clothing. In most photos of Ryker that I’d seen, he had the look of just stepping out of a wicked underwear ad, not off of the cover of Rolling Stone.

  Dressed in a pair of dark washed, hip hugging jeans and a tight white Henley missing its sleeves, I stumbled to find my equilibrium. He was one attractive man. Yet seeing Ryker in the flesh after meeting Trevelin, I’d say he was missing that heart-stopping, eye-catching, soft beauty that Trevelin possessed full throttle.

  And what I mean by soft beauty was that Trevelin had a picturesque quality. Simply gorgeous. When looking him in his flawless face, you wouldn’t envision all the tattoos covering his muscular physique, but more like picturing him modeling for Calvin Klein or Abercrombie & Fitch. Nevertheless, all his ink was what made him so irresistible to look at along with that overly handsome, chiseled face with his teasing jawline. I had a hard time believing I would ever meet another man that was as mind gapingly beautiful as Trevelin Knight. Regardless, I wouldn’t say there weren’t any that made me think dirty thoughts like...Ryker Steele.

  I would just like to know what good deed I had done in my life time to be so blessed to be able to stand in an arena with seven scorching hot men. That was one deed I wanted to know so I could do it all over again.

  The other two members of Myst of Misery was Gage, who had chin length brown shaggy hair, big brown eyes and a killer endless tan; and lastly there was Alex, who sported short hair that was dyed a bright blue and definitely lived up to his rock and roll persona by being covered in tattoos. They traveled up and down both arms, his neck, and all over his chest and back. I knew this because they were all shirtless on the cover of their album Dustin had bought me.

  My blood froze when Ryker turned and caught me staring at him. Oh no! I’m an idiot, he caught me staring. Jerking my head back in the direction of the stage, I caught Trevelin glance over at me, giving a big goofy grin with a wink. That little act started my blood back flowing and my heart gave little jumps in my chest. He played a chord on his guitar, and when he looked back at me the goofy grin that he’d threw my way turned to a discouraged frown.

  “Well, hello there. Who might you be?” a deep, unmistakable voice asked from behind. I bit back a huge goofy grin of my own as I turned around to Ryker Steele standing only inches from me. His deep pink lips hitched into a bright smile.

  “Uh...um...Izzy,” my stupid voice staggered. Get a grip, Isabel, before you make yourself look like a total buffoon.

  “Does Umizzy have a last name?” The humor in his voice was unmistakable, and my cheeks started to burn from my embarrassing introduction.

  “Morgan. It’s Izzy Morgan.”

  “You a fan here watching the preshow or are you here with someone, Izzy Morgan?” He glanced around all the busy people bustling about before bringing those smoldering gray eyes back to my face. I could hardly think straight. Star struck! That’s what was wrong with me. I was star struck. I loved his music, and his good looks just seemed to play a huge role to my ridiculous, stupid behavior.

  I didn’t feel this way when I met the Knight Raiders, but of course I also didn’t know who they were either at our first encounter, nor had I ever listened to their music. But Trevelin’s outrageously good looks were definitely not unnoticed. My cousin, Dustin, was the one who introduced me to Myst of Misery when he’d asked the DJ at Buck’s one night to play their song, and I have listened to them grow ever since.

  “Trevelin.” I pointed behind me to the stage where I could still hear his amazing voice singing the words to their song Love Potion. The lyrics made this encounter with Ryker all the more humiliating. Plus I seriously wanted to choke myself; Trevelin’s name was all I could muster to come out. How pathetic was I?

  Ryker made a face and tilted his head, looking from me to the stage in my backdrop. “Trevelin? Oh. You’re the girl he stayed with.” He backed up a bit, looking at me funny.

  “No. It’s not like that. Their bus broke down in Oklahoma and they—well, they stayed with us until it was fixed.” I shrugged, finally able speak a full sentence.

  “Then why are you in Wisconsin with them and not in Oklahoma?” He sounded bemused.

  “We—me and my sister, are finishing this tour with them. Their manager, Randy, has taken us on, and we’re playing a few shows with them, but for the most part just hanging out backstage.”

  “I see. No offense, Umizzy, but backstage at a rock and roll concert is no place for a ten like yourself.” He leaned closer and whispered close to my ear, “It can get wild and crazy back here at times.”

  “I think I can manage.” I swallowed hard at his nearness. He called me a ten! Whatever that means. Taking a breath, I went on, “I have been in a confined space with Reed Cox for the past few days.”

  Ryker laughed and crossed his arms, making his biceps flex with the movement. Look at his face. Look at his face, not his bulging muscles. “Point taken. So, you aren’t Trevelin’s?” His weight shifted to his other foot, and his question reminded me of what everyone assumed I was—Trevelin’s momentary southern hookup.

  I shook my head vigorously. “Nope, just friends.”

  Ryker’s face seemed to wash in relief before he started to say something, but a loud squeal prevented him from doing so.

  “OMIGOD!” The shriek of Addie nearly jolted me to the point of a massive heart attack. “Omigod, Izzy!” She ran to me, jumping up and down. Thank goodness the drinks in her hands were sealed bottles. She was bouncing around vigorously, body parts flying everywhere. I could just picture one of these days when she was doing that, that one of her boobs were going to fly up, smack her in the face, and knock her out. “Holy WOW! Myst of Misery is here! I love y’all’s song Love me Again. It’s my favorite song to bang to.”

  Ryker’s eyes grew wide and a mirthful tilt appeared on his lips at Addie’s bluntness. I could tell he was dying to hold back his laughter. I was desperately trying to myself.

  “You will have to excuse her. She doesn’t know how to filter what she is thinking before letting it spill out of her mouth.”

  “I like honesty,” Ryker chuckled. “I’m glad to hear you’re a fan...” He tilted his head, waiting for her name.

  “Addie...but call me whatever you like.” Really, Addie? I can think of a few things I’d like to call you. A horny-ho might be one.

  “Addie it is.” Ryker grinned, pulling his lips to the side. “So, Umizzy, if you and Addie are free after the show tonight you should join the crew and me. We’re going to this club called Jolt—”

  “We’ll be there,” Addie blurted, not letting him finish his invite while shoving my shaken up Sunkist at me. If I were to open it, I would be wearing the orange citrus drink.

  “Sure,” I said, playing it casual. Something Addie definitely didn’t know how to do. “And it’s just Izzy.”

  Ryker looked at me with an enormous grin and a wicked gleam in his eye. “Good, see ya soon...just Izzy.”

  ♪♫♪♫♪♫

  Addie and I went back to the bus for some down time before the show started. I heard her gush
on and on about Myst of Misery, and after a while I decided to take a shower to get ready for the concert, but frankly, it was more of a break from her rambling.

  I finished showering and shut the door to the bedroom wearing my pink lacy bra and panties. I had my outfit for tonight laid across the bed. Just as I was about to get dressed the door blew open, causing me to practically jump through the ceiling of the bus.

  Frantically, I tried to cover myself.

  “Oh fuck!” he grumbled.

  “Trevelin! What heck are you doing?” I shouted as he stood there stark still, staring at me with unwavering eyes.

  Then I could feel them rake down my semi-naked body. My heart began to race at an unhealthy speed, and there was a sudden hot rush growing within my core. I had a panging urge to grab him and toss him on the bed and tell him to fuck me like he sang about in that dirty song.

  I forced that impulse away with all the strength I could muster and stared at his beautifully scruffy face that had a lock of blond hair hanging down his forehead that I so desperately wanted to brush away. I swear his hair speaks to me.

  He roughly cleared his throat, not breaking his gaze. “I could ask you the same damn question.” His voice was close to a growl, and he slowly began walking around the bed after he’d kicked the door closed. My pulse was pounding in every part of my body, but the most noticeable area was the throb between my legs, so intense that if I were to walk I would collapse to the floor.

  I stumbled backward, bumping into the small nightstand behind me. “I’m getting ready,” I managed to tell him, swallowing the small ocean that had formed in my mouth. “So you need to get out.” He stopped inches from me. So close that his body heat was likely to set me ablaze. Reaching out, ignoring what I’d said, he ran the tips of his fingers down my arm, blossoming goose-bumps in their path. “Trevelin...” my voice trembled, low and raspy.

  I didn’t even know what I wanted to say. Should I beg him to stop? Beg him to continue? Beg him to be my first?

  I wanted to do it all.

  “Shut the fuck up and kiss me,” he breathed heavily next to my ear, his cheek nearly pressed to mine. Warm lips brushed the shell of my ear as the heat of his words trailed down my neck. I held back a moan that was dying to escape.

  What is he doing to me? Hell, what am I doing to myself?

  I didn’t think this way. I didn’t crave the feel of a man’s hand roaming across my naked body. I didn’t spontaneously want to rip a man’s clothes off and fuck him senseless. But Trevelin—he made me think all of that and more. He was the deadliest aphrodisiac to my system. My sexual hormones were running rampant through my body as I became aware of his hand that had been trailing down my arm had now landed on my hip, his thumb working small circles on my hipbone above my panties. My heart was beating so hard he had to hear it. I could barely breathe.

  He scanned my face. His pale eyes flickered dark with desire as if asking a million unspoken questions, and within an instant his lips took mine.

  Not a simple peck like we’d shared a few times before—no. This one was an actual intimate, tongue-lashing, mouth-bruising, mind-warping kiss.

  I sank into the soft warmness of his tasty lips as his tongue skimmed my mouth, asking to be let all the way in. I couldn’t control my actions. They were no longer mine and responded to his request, opening voluntarily. In went his tongue, pushing and groping against mine. His mouth tasted like he’d just smoked a cigarette, and the flavor was mixed with a fruity taste of what I guessed to be Red Bull.

  Oddly enough, the intoxicating flavors blended together were something I considered to be straight from heaven. I found my hands had grown a brain of their own, working their way through his disheveled hair. Something I had badgered myself with wanting to do many times before. Pushing and pulling at the silky strands.

  “Sweet...so fucking sweet...” he muttered against my mouth as our tongues tangled passionately. “You taste so sweet. Better than I’d imagined.” His chest heaved, pressing hard against my barely covered breasts. “I need this. I need you. So goddamn bad,” he practically growled.

  My own breathing hitched when he cupped my ass in his hand as the other clasped the side of my face, his thumb rubbing back and forth over my cheekbone. I couldn’t bring myself to respond. I was too worked up, and furthermore, I just didn’t know what to say. We were going hot and heavy—exploring each other’s mouths like horny teenagers, moaning and groaning, tugging and pulling, caressing and fondling—when a loud noise from the hall broke me from my high.

  I fell from my drunken state, weakness clearing as all rational thinking that had disappeared moments ago reappeared, snapping me out of my intoxicated frame of mind. I pulled away, breathless, and so badly wanting to continue, knowing I shouldn’t have let it get this far in the first place.

  “What the heck was that, Trevelin?” I panted, rubbing my finger across my raw, swollen lips.

  He looked at me as if mourning my loss. “That was everything it felt like, babe. And if you’re havin’ to ask me, then maybe I need to do it again, because I obviously didn’t do it right,” he spoke in a hoarse, lust-fueled voice. He went to cup my face again, but I caught his hands. Oh, trust me, you did it right. Too right!

  “We can’t.” It came out as a whisper, not sounding very convincing. “I’m not a onetime bang ‘em and leave ‘em girl. Actually...I’ve never...” I faded off, my voice so faint I couldn’t even hear it.

  “What? You’ve never what?” He bent down, searching my face, his chest still moved frantically from the wild kiss.

  Had sex, I mouthed.

  Trevelin quickly straightened, his forehead etched in confusion with dark brows knit. “You serious?”

  I nodded. “Very.”

  “Who cares? I don’t. That doesn’t bother me,” he huskily breathed, moving in, trying to grab me again.

  I stopped him, placing my hands on his hard chest. “I do. I have waited this long, so I think I can wait a little longer and give myself to someone I love and who wants me for more than a onetime thrill ride in return.”

  Trevelin regarded me with an intense expression, looking from me then up to the ceiling of the bus before saying, “But Country...I...I want...” Pausing, he looked around the room bleakly, like he’d lost what he was going to say. “FUCK!” I jumped at the fury in his briskness, watching him run a hand roughly through that marvelous hair. The way I had just done. The way I still want to. “I’m sorry. I got carried away seeing you so,” he motioned to my body, “scantily dressed. Just...just next time, make sure you lock the damn door.”

  “I didn’t know y’all would be back so soon.” My words sounded more like an apology as I pulled on my halter dress. Who would have thought I could feel comfortable dressing in front of Trevelin, a guy who spilled sexiness with every move he made. I thought I would feel embarrassed and self-conscious to have a man see me with no clothes on—almost naked—but standing in front of Trevelin, in this moment, I felt anything but. Actually, I felt sexy.

  He opened a drawer and almost angrily withdrew a clean shirt and jeans, then started undressing in front of me. As he lifted his shirt over his head, it gave me a stunning, unobstructed view of his sculpted body along with the sexiest nipples known to mankind.

  Keep it together, Izzy. It’s just a downright, insanely hot male body.

  Who was I kidding, I felt like Addie. I wanted to run my tongue over every one of those darn tattoos before sucking on his freakin’ sexy nipples.

  Pants dropped to the floor, and I gasped in awe as I nearly fainted. I believe my heart actually did. Normally he wore boxers, but apparently today wasn’t a normal day. Nope. I was staring, or more like gawking, at Trevelin Knight’s fully naked body. Holy mother-of-all-things-dream-worthy, this man is blessed, in so many ways.

  I’d felt the size of him pressed against my back before and seen how it could pitch a teepee in his underwear, but now it was splayed out in the open. Right in front of me, and it was way lar
ger than I’d pictured.

  “Trevelin,” I reprimanded, somewhat appalled, covering my eyes though also wanting to admire the view. I now knew where the snake tattoo ended, and I blushed brightly at the thought. Oh. My. Gosh. It is so hot.

  “Oh right, forgot you’re rated PG,” he chuckled smugly, pulling up his new pair of jeans. Yes, I peeked. Who wouldn’t?

  “I’ve seen one before, I just haven’t...gone all the way.”

  “You’re too innocent, Country.”

  “No, I’m not,” I countered, not wanting to talk about my inexperienced sex life. “I thought y’all had people that dress you before the concert?” I desperately wanted a change of subject. The sexual tension that was fogging this very small room was stifling and needed to be cleared out.

  “We do.” He sat on the bed to put back on his boots that he had kicked off at some point. He must have envisioned more than a breath-stealing make-out session.

  “Then why are you changing?”

  He looked up at me, those shimmering ever-shifting eyes seared my skin as they seemed to take in every feature of my face. “They smell like you,” he clarified, as if it made perfect sense, then looked back down as he continued putting on the other boot. “I can’t walk around with a boner until the show starts, can I?”

  ♪♫♪♫♪♫

  I should have stopped him. Submitting to my wants and not stopping Trevelin from kissing me was the worst thing I could have ever done. My head’s crammed with endless thoughts of what would have happened if I hadn’t stopped it when I did.

  Would I no longer be a virgin?

  Would he have treated me like all the other women he’d been with?

  Most importantly, how would it have changed our relationship? I couldn’t say I didn’t enjoy it, because I did.

  More than I should. Also, I should have been pissed at him for starting it and with myself for liking it so much...but I wasn’t. There wasn’t a way to control what my body wanted, and in that very moment, it wanted Trevelin Knight. Like real bad. In so many different ways.