by Cat Mason
“Kat, we need to talk.” Slipping my sunglasses down over my eyes, I close myself off to her. Henry Richardson, impenetrable and unapproachable, that’s how I need to come across right now. Nothing and no one gets in unless I allow them to. That includes my heart and my mind, which never should have been an open playground for her or anyone for that matter. Jenn still owns my heart and soul, always will. Trust, respect, and faith; something I deem mandatory and accept no less from anyone.
Logging into that Shaft spotting website this morning, I find every juicy lie we hand fed Katheryn last night, posted to their feed. I wasn’t surprised or broken-hearted, but I had hoped there was another explanation. Instead, it was there in black and white, ruining any chance for us to ever have anything beyond right now.
“Okay,” She replies, uncertainty lacing her voice. “There’s something I wanted to talk to you about too.”
“Really?” I ask, wondering what she could possibly want to talk about.
Her fingers run along my now crossed arms. “With Mack handling things so well, I thought you could sit out the tour dates for the album release. You know, stay here with me?”
Shock hits me like a punch in the gut. “Wouldn’t you rather go with us?” I ask, knowing that I need to be blunt and call her out, even if I already knew the truth hours ago. “That way you can keep the ‘SHAFTSpotters’ updated regularly while we’re on the road.”
Shock registers on her face, telling exactly what I already know. Her cheeks heating as her eyes drop to my chest. Yep, leak found. Taking a step back from her, I reign in my temper. “Listen. This, us, it’s done.” I say adamantly. “You’ve done enough damage here; just leave before someone comes in. They saw through you immediately, I was too blind to see what you really are. Until now.” I grind out, cursing inwardly at myself for not seeing it sooner.
“What are you talking about baby?” She sniffles. “I posted stuff, sure, but nothing that I thought would cause a problem. Even bad publicity can still be spun into good publicity. Besides,” Reaching out to touch me again, her eyes soften as she looks up at me again. “You don’t have to stay with them. Don’t let them come between us, quit. Henry, I’ll give you everything you need.” She pleads, a tear slipping down her face.
Jerking away from her, I snap. “After everything I confided in you, how could you think I’d be able to just walk away from my family? Fuck the band, the name, the popularity. It can all be gone tomorrow!” I shout, my temper exploding at her thinking they all mean so little to me. “I’m not here for the money, or even the fame they are gaining. I’m. Here. For. Them. For my family; you need to leave. Now.”
The finality of my words hits home, her eyes glass over. Tears brimming the lids of beautiful whiskey colored eyes. Velvet and smooth usually; now they are broken. More tears slide down her face, but as much as it hurts her, I have no choice. She’s taken that from me by putting my family at risk with her carelessness. It just solidifies that much more to me that no one will ever be enough. Once you have held perfection, felt love that you would sell your soul to the devil to protect, nothing ever measures up.
That’s what you did too, pretty much, isn’t it Henry? You gave up your heart, soul, and everything that ever made you feel truly alive to protect a secret.
Walking away from Jenn kept her safe from everyone, especially me. Years later, it’s not any easier to live with. The look on her face, as I drove her away, haunts me to this day.
“I never meant to hurt anyone, Henry.” Katheryn explains, pulling me from my prison of memories. “Especially not you. All I wanted was you. I wanted nothing, but to make you happy.”
The door opens behind me with a thud. “Shit, sorry Big Man didn’t know anyone was in here.” Hunter says, holding the door open for Chase.
“I, um, just needed my makeup bag.” Chase says uncomfortably.
“Perfect,” Katheryn says rolling her eyes at the intrusion.
“Problem here?” Hunter asks, his eyes looking between us.
“This doesn’t concern any of you.” Kat snaps, swiping angrily at her tears.
“Katheryn was just leaving.” I bite out hoping she just goes.
“I could have made you happy, if you would’ve let me.”
“How were you plannin’ on doing that?” Chase asks, grabbing her bag off the vanity. “I’ve not been around the entire time, but from what I’ve heard all you’ve caused is trouble. Leakin’ shit was not your way of getting closer to Henry. It was sabotaging Shaft, all because you’re a bitch.”
Katheryn glares at Chase, “You bitches never liked having me around anyway. Hate to contradict your opinion of me, but you’re really no better than I am.” Taking a step away from me, she eyes Hunter. “You sure did like me until she changed your mind. Your Tiger Lily is nothing but a glorified groupie too, you know?” She smirks, placing a hand on her hip.
Chase charges across the room, no doubt ready to give Kat a cunt punt with her stiletto. Hunter grabs her by the waist, just smiling at Katheryn. “Bitch, your name should be Herpes. All you cause is irritation and you leave every man you fuck with scratchin’ his head.” Katheryn’s face presses into a hard line, but Hunter continues. “I was fine letting you hang around once Chase and I discussed how that night meant shit to me. Thought you were making Big Man happy: that’s something he needed. If you were givin’ that to him great, but you’re not.”
“Which means you’re leaving.” I interrupt steering her toward the door.
“Whatever, you’ve got your wish. I’m gone. Enjoy your regret, Henry. You’ll miss me.” She says storming out of the room toward the Exit doors.
“You good Big Man?” Hunter asks, clapping me on the back.
Shrugging, I nod. “Heart’s not mine to give anyone else anyway. No sense to let a woman believe otherwise. It’s unfair to them.” I reply, leading them up the other end of the hallway toward the Staging Room.
Mack is leaning back against the wall just on the other side of the closed door. A bleach blonde on her knees, mouth attached to the dick jutting through his opened zipper. “Aw, yeah. You’re definitely approved by Big Mack’s shaft.” He moans, fisting his hands in her hair. “That’s right beautiful, swallow me whole. Fuck!”
I am about two seconds away from dragging Mack and his puffer out that exit and kicking his ass for being so stupid. You don’t do that shit in the hall, especially when you’re the one responsible for the group at the moment. Someone needs to remind Big Mack that he’s not Cunter, or a member of Shaft. He’s security, plain and simple.
Hunter’s eyes widen in shock. He shoves Chase into the Staging Room with the others, yanking the door closed behind her once she’s inside so that she doesn’t see Mack fucking the groupies face like he’s riveting a steel beam. “What the fuck?” Hunter shouts glaring at Mack. “Oh for the love of a good blow job. Get that bitch off your dick, man. Those lines you’re spewin’ are makin’ my cock cry to be put out of his misery.”
Dick Drip Is Not A Fashion Trend
Hunter
Just as I expected, my outburst stops her mid-glide. Horror flooding Mack’s face as he realizes I’ve just killed his chance for a pre-show orgasm. Enjoy the blue-balls my man, or learn to find a door with a lock instead of a hallway. I should teach a class on this shit, I am a black belt in creative ways to shoot my load.
The chick pushes herself to her feet, wiping her mouth as she faces us. “Are you with the band too?” She purrs, stepping toward us on clear platform heels. Mack groans, painfully shoving his partially pleasured dick back into his pants. His friend looks like she is late for her usual shift on the corner of ‘Thundercunt Road’ and ‘Greasy Snatch Boulevard’. Her skirt, if you can call it that, is black leather. The ‘SHAFT Approved’ halter that she is wearing is about three sizes too small and barely covering her fake tits.
I shake my head pathetically. “Henry get her outta here, then make sure Luke and Jazzie are in the right seats please.”
&nb
sp; “You ruined a great head job, Hunter.” Mack bitches, shoving through the door to the Staging Room. “I needed that.” He adds flopping onto the sofa beside Daisy and Gray. “Cam and Aiden are off somewhere gettin’ theirs, fuckin’ kill joy.”
“Jeez Mack, in the hallway?” Chase shudders.
“We’ve all been there.” Gray chuckles making Daisy glare at him. “Just not a smart idea, hindsight and all.”
“Nice save, Sex and Sin.” She teases.
“Mack,” I start, taking a seat and pulling Chase into my lap. “There’s a time and a place for that shit. When it comes to groupie pussy, I’m a fine connoisseur. Hell, I’m a fuckin’ ninja master of the random snatch. Not trying to be a cock-blocker, because that’s against everything Shaft stands for, but you’ve gotta pace yourself. You know, be a bit more selective and a lot more private.”
“Yeah, man.” Gray chuckles, wrapping an arm around Daisy. “Dick drip is not a new fashion trend. You’ve gotta watch that shit.”
Chase elbows me in the ribs. “You guys are disgusting.” She scolds before looking at Mack. “You’re a sweet guy Mack. Just don’t do something you’ll regret by playing with a girl’s heart.”
Mack laughs, “Listen, I’ve got no desire to play with a chick’s heart. I’d rather play with her tits, she’s got two of those.” He shrugs and I gotta agree with that, its simple math people. “Besides, most of the time, we both end up enjoying that.”
I can’t help laughing which makes Chase and everyone else’s eyes hit me. “What? Aw, come on, I gotta give him credit.” I defend my redheaded protégé. “That’s a helluva line.”
Mack stands to his feet. “Yes. Hell yes, it was.” He says bumping my fist before leaving the room.
“You’re encouraging him to be a man-whore?” Daisy asks in disbelief.
“This is Hunter; he is rooting him on with fucking pom poms.” Chase chuckles from my lap.
“If I’m not cashin’ in on the prime pussy buffet, someone has to. Since I’ve had my fill of random snatch, it’s only fair to pass on my skills to the next generation.” I explain.
“Well, that’s a relief.” Chase deadpans. “So this is you providing a service then?”
“Oh I provide a host of services.” I purr, completely cocky because I do, I am, and later…I will. By the look on her face, she knows it too.
“Luke and Jasmine are front row and ready.” Henry says entering the room. “Stage is callin’, time to go kick ass.”
Everyone stands ready to do what we do best. Grabbing Chase’s hand, I kiss her wrist. “Time to make ‘em scream babe.”
Just as we walk up the ramp, Aiden and Cam join us. Her hair all mussed up proving Mack was right as to where they’ve been. Henry takes his place against the wall alongside a still pouting Mack, watching everything.
Cam and Daisy take their places on their stools, Chase standing beside hers instead of sitting. Aiden leaps behind his kit, thumping his bass pedal. Yanking his sticks up, he cracks them over his head to keep time. Gray strums the acoustic guitar while I prepare to woo the ladies.
“Tonight, we’re doing things a little differently.” I say grabbing the mic, “This may be an acoustic set, but be ready.” My eyes scan the crowd then land on Chase, a wide grin spreading across my lips. “Even if we’re not givin’ it to you hard and fast, you kittens always come.” The crowd cheers, fueling my adrenaline tanks as I dive into ‘Shield’, the song Gray wrote for Daisy.
The crowd eats it up, song after song. Gray, Aiden, and I are faultless. Beats and rhythms flowing with every note I sing as if we were one entity. My voice floats through the air, drawing everyone in the place in. It’s a drug. My fucking fix and I crave it almost as much as I crave Chase. To watch the crowd of people, no matter the size, eat up our music. Every person in the audience is ravenous as we give them what they came here for, but God, if I don’t need more.
“We’ve got one more for you tonight, but I’m gonna need some help with it.” I say yanking my shirt over my head. Tossing it to my feet, I motion to stage left. “Come on, babe.” I encourage when she makes no move to join me at the mics. Her chest rising and falling rapidly in that strapless dress, those perfect tits of hers making me want to leap off stage and bury myself inside her.
Chase blows out a breath, her heels clicking across the stage as she makes her way to me. The crowd cheering when she comes into view. “Chase and I are going to sing the new single from the album. So get fuckin’ excited, this is the first time we’ve preformed it live.”
When the guys come in on the intro, I grab her hand, thankful that I don’t have a guitar to come between us. “You ready?” I mouth when she steps up to the mic.
“Yes,” Chase replies, blowing out a breath.
Releasing her hand, I grab my mic stand. The lyrics flow from my lips, my eyes never leaving hers. Every word, every note, I sing to her. The crowd around me is forgotten. I’m not sucking them in, or eating up their attention; this is about us. Though I know the words aren’t just mine. They mean just as much to Gray and Aiden, it’s just as much a song for Camaron and Daisy too.
The audience loses their shit when Chase comes in on the chorus. Her voice floating octaves above, something I am becoming accustomed to. The way we complement each other, feed off of each other. Give and take, yin and fucking yang. For every fault, that fiery ass red head and her smart mouth is my positive balance.
As our voices weave together, everyone in the place falls silent. This is more than just three and a half minutes of riffs, beats, and words thrown together. It is our story. It’s everything we have all been through in one song. No I’m not a philosophical asshole trying to spout shit that, one day, I will publish into a memoir. I do, however, have more things in my head than bacon, booze, and pussy on any given day. Not saying they are all as fun to swallow, or easy to stomach; but, hey, it is what it is.
We’ve all had our battles, fighting our demons to get through the shitty parts in life. We can choose to lie down and die, sure. To stay on that eternal hamster wheel in our mundane existence and swallow that it’s all we get. Or, like Chase said, we can fight. Putting everything on the line, we can push back against that fucking bitch fate and take what’s ours.
Chase throws her head back, lost in the moment with me. She belts out the chorus, holding the last note with everything she has. Just like she does with everything in life, it steals my breath. My heart beats faster, my hands itch to touch her, and my dick is rock hard just watching her find her feet on stage.
“Chase Motherfuckin’ Hanlon, you’re lucky fuckers to get to see my Tiger Lily in action.” I shout into the mic, making her blush. “Isn’t she amazing? Drool all you want, she’s all mine.” I purr, grabbing her hand and pulling her to me. Ignoring the applause and shouting, I tip her chin up. Her fingers slide up my arms, carefully. Slowly they trail up my sleeve until they finally reach the dragon. Losing control, I pull her flush against me and slam my mouth to hers.
Unable to help myself, I cup her ass with both hands. Chase gasps into my mouth so I dive in like a hungry Ethiopian ready for his first Thanksgiving feast. Don’t care about the crowd or the fact that I’m mauling my girl in front of like a thousand people, one of which being her brother. All that matters is kissing her.
“Thanks for comin’ out everyone.” Gray says into the mic, “That’s all we’ve got for you tonight.”
Breaking my lip lock with Chase, I look at him confused. “No cover tonight?”
Grinning, he shakes his head. “Nah, man, said all we needed to say in that song.”
Walking off the stage, we are lead down the hallway backstage like ducks in a row. Mack and Henry effectively keep the backstage pass holders at bay so that we can have a few minutes to ourselves. “So, I’ve been thinking.” I say when we walk back into the Staging Room. Henry closes the door once we’re all inside, standing guard outside while we unwind.
“Oh hell, that is getting to be a new trend.” Gray de
adpans, running a hand through his hair.
“Flip yourself off for me dick trickle, I’m busy. This needs to be settled before Luke brings the kid in.” I wave him off, “I think we need to adjust last night’s bet. Since, obviously, our women aren’t strippin’ unless it’s for us, I feel ripped the fuck off. I won, dammit. Finally, I beat Daisy at something, and it was a trick to catch a shady twat. Do I really get no payback for all the shit Daisy made me do while we’ve been on tour.”
“You loved every minute and took it far beyond any of the things I ever wagered.” Daisy tosses out. “Hell, you strutted in every outfit we ever made you wear and ate up the attention like those mom’s on an episode of ‘Toddlers and Tiara’s’.”
“Calm down,” Aiden says sitting on the couch beside Cam. Everyone else looks at Daisy who is smug as hell. “What do you expect bro, you can only have so much bacon.”
“Don’t ever say something so horrible again. That’s a myth.” I gasp, rubbing my chin. “It is true, Daisy gives nice hard bacon. She has stamina when it comes to porkin’ me.” I laugh. “See what I did there?”
“Very funny.” Daisy snorts sarcastically. “If bacon is what you want, I’ll send Mack to the store. It’s not in the produce section but…”
Mack throws up both middle fingers as he slumps into the chair. “Yeah, yeah. I’ll get my hot and heavy ya bunch of cock-blockers. Just wait.”
“We’re back on the bus next week, got a show in North Carolina.” Cam interrupts. “I can’t wait to dip my toes in the ocean and hit those little shops. The shopping around the Outer Banks is amazing. After that, we have New York for some morning talk show performances of the new single.”
“And release day is huge at the mall in downtown Nashville.” Daisy tosses in.
“Shit is getting huge!” I shout, slapping Chase on the ass.
“The best is yet to come.” Gray says, bumping my fist. “Feels like yesterday, the tour started with us opening for No Approval Needed. Now here we are headliners.”
