by Sadie Grubor
Stellar Evolution
(A Falling Stars Novella)
by Sadie Grubor
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Copyright 2012 Sadie Grubor
Cover Art by VST
This book may not be reproduced or used in whole or in part by any existing means without written permission from the publisher. Contact Author at [email protected].
This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental. The characters are products of the author's imagination and used fictitiously.
Dedication & Special Thanks:
For everyone who wanted to know more, this is for you.
To my husband, as always, thank you for believing in me.
Special thanks to:
-My work wife – Glenda – for listening to my crazy plot ideas and constant questioning.
-My mother for always making me feel like I can accomplish anything.
-My newest savior Monica, thank you for making this shine!
-Every single one of you who has taken the time to read Falling Stars. (Know that part of your money will be contributed to the Domestic Violence Awareness Fund.)
Blurb
In Falling Stars, you were introduced to The Forgotten and Hushed Mentality, their lives written for the world to read. In this follow up novella, find out what happens after the tours have ended. Who can persevere under the pressure of love in the public eye? Who will fall apart? And who will become almost unrecognizable?
Some stars last for an eternity, some stars fade, and others evolve.
Chapter One
Chris
Sitting at the sound table with Jackson, listening to Monica lay down her latest single, I couldn't keep focus.
"Jesus, Christopher, your shaking the whole table." Jackson nodded toward my bouncing leg.
"Sorry." I stilled my leg.
"I get it. They've been gone for a couple weeks. What time do they return from New York?" He asked as his long pale fingers played with some dials on the board.
Mia and Hush had gone back on tour as headliners when Maggie was five months old. Between the separation periods when I couldn't come to them and the press playing every angle in the media, it was a rough time.
Sick of his womanizing ways, Mia Ryder leans on Tyre Sampson.
Jealous of Mia's New Boy Toy – Tyre – Christopher Mason seen taking his revenge with a leggy blonde.
It was such crap. Tyre, an upcoming alternative pop cross over artist on the Nobil label, is a big fan of Hush. He went to a show and after Mia found out he was there, she invited him onstage. After that, he asked her to be featured on his upcoming album. Because of this, both Mia and Tyre will be crossing into each other's fan base and Richard loves the collaboration.
"Stop messing with the bass, this isn't a hip hop single." Shoving his hand away, I replaced the knob to where it was originally. "They should pull in around six. Between the tour and this collaboration, I can't wait to get them home for more than a week."
The tour had ended almost a month ago and I'd gotten a week with them before Mia left for New York. New York being where Tyre is recording is album.
"I'm sure." Jackson nodded, keeping his eyes on the panel.
Realizing the freshness of Jackson's pain, guilt assaulted me. He's been different, angrier, since Laney fucked him over.
"Look, Jack, I didn't think about Lane–"
"Chris," Jackson turned a hard glare on me, "the last thing I want to talk about is her. And you sure as fuck don't need to apologize for talking about the tour. The tour didn't fuck some other guy, she did."
"Do you think she's going to be at the wedding?" Turning my eyes down to the sound board, I played with the treble dial. I still couldn't believe the wedding would be in Vegas.
"Probably, I mean it's her girl's wedding, isn't it?" He shrugged. "Look, I don't want to talk about this. What she does is her business. She's no longer my concern."
The chair protested with a groan when he forced himself to stand. I raised my head, looking up at him.
"Hey, man, I won't bring it up. It's all good. Fuck that bitch."
Jackson grimaced. "You can handle the rest. I'm going to take off."
"You sure?"
The studio door opened and our attention fell to Monica. Her newly cropped hair looked black in the dim lighting, instead of purple.
"How was that? Did I get the third chorus right?"
"Yeah, it was great." Jackson quickly answered. "Chris and I will play with some ideas later."
"You're leaving?" Her brow furrowed. "I thought we were going to work on the song Mia wrote."
"We'll do it another time." He shrugged and waved. "I'm taking off."
"Is he okay?" Monica asked after the door closed behind Jackson.
Turning back to the table, I shrugged. "Sure."
"Oh." Monica began to fidget. "So, does that mean I can take off?"
"Yeah, Jack or I will give you a call to work out more studio time."
"Great," she practically screamed, "I have a date with the hottest guy." Grabbing her pink plaid coat, she practically ran from the studio.
No matter what Mia says, it's going to be too hard keeping my mouth shut around Laney. Not with Jackson going through hell because of her.
Chapter Two
Mia
"Ready to see daddy? Huh?" Pressing the release button on her car seat, I removed the straps holding her.
"Daddy." Maggie smiled, revealing her little white teeth.
"Yep, daddy is in the house waiting for you." Placing kisses all over her cheeks, causing her to giggle, I started to climb out the back of the car. "Let's go see —"
Coming face to chest with shirtless Chris stopped my words. Looking up, he greeted me with the sexiest smile.
"My girls," he crooned.
Leaning forward, he pressed his lips to Maggie's forehead.
"Daddy." Maggie stretched her arms toward his neck, the weight of her disappearing from my arms as he took her.
"Were you a good girl for mommy?" He held her tightly to his chest. "Of course you were. You're an angel aren't you?"
"She was great, as usual." Looking at our daughter wrapped in his inked arms warmed me.
His right hand cupped my neck and I looked into his eyes. His fingers slipped into the hair at the back of my head, pulling my face to his.
"I fucking missed the hell out of you."
Before I could scold him for swearing, his lips claimed my mouth. The metal from his viper piercing pressed against my bottom lip and chin, contrast to his tongue piercing smooth against my tongue. He pulled away and I groaned.
"You taste like Red Fish." He whispered, forehead pressed to mine.
"Mmhm." I nodded. He licked his bottom lip and I shivered.
A throat cleared. Giana, Maggie's nanny.
"We should get inside." We needed space and air, or Maggie would get an early lesson in making out.
"Don't worry, baby, you will be fully welcomed home tonight — after my rock princess is fast asleep." He winked, and then turned with Maggie in his arms. "Won't she, baby girl?" He tickled her stomach. "Yes, she will."
Giana laughed quietly, reaching to take the diaper bag from the back seat.
The moment going on tour again was mentioned, I started interviewing nannies. Giana had been my fourth interview. When I realized she was the one who became the comparison for others, I came to my senses and hired her.
Giana currently lived in the house with us, while her two children, a twelve year old boy and sixteen year old daughter, lived twenty minutes away with her sister. It amazed me how
she could travel on tour with me and live separate from her children.
While on tour, after the completion of the Chris's basement studio, he hired the crew to begin construction on the space above the garage. His plan was to create an apartment large enough for Giana and her two children. Giana was more than a nanny, and not just because she did more than help with Maggie. She went out of her way to cook, clean, and do so much more than was asked of her. But most of all, she and her children had become a part of the family.
"Well, you were missed, yes?" Her heavy Spanish accent making her words sound so much prettier than if I was to say them.
"It seems that way." I smiled.
"Seems? I say he quite clear." She giggled, walking into the house.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In the house, everything looked well in order. The maid must have come early, there is no way Chris kept the house this clean.
"I see that look on your face." Chris sat on the couch with Maggie playing between his feet on the floor. "I had Julie come yesterday to get ready for your return." He looked away from me as Maggie grabbed onto his knees and leaned into his lap.
"Thank you."
He nodded, placing Maggie against his chest. Her hands came up to his cheeks and then she began smacking.
"What the…" He grabbed her arms to stop her. "When did she start that shi…er…stuff?"
"Blame your buddy Elliott." Sitting next to them on the couch, Maggie crawled across Chris to get to my lap.
"Screw blame, I'm going to kick his—" My sharp glare stopped him. "Sorry."
"You're going to be sorry when she starts repeating those words."
"Juice." Maggie slipped from my lap and scampered toward the kitchen.
"You should be hungry." I got up from the couch, following her. "Do you want a snack?"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In the kitchen, Maggie sat in her chair drinking juice and eating one of the toddler meals we took when traveling.
"Mags, you still eat that crap?" Chris cringed, as he walked by her chair. He hated the look of it, the smell. The one time she had gotten some in his mouth he almost threw up. "I don't know how she eats it."
"Leave her alone. It's good for her."
His arms circled my waist. Resting my head against his chest, the heat of him warmed my back.
"Did your suit arrive for the wedding?"
"Yes." He sighed.
"What's wrong?" Turning in his arms, I put my hands on his bare chest.
One hand slid to my hip, the other rubbed the back of his head. "Is that whore going to be there?"
"Chris," I hissed. "Stop it. We agreed not to get involved and to keep the name calling out of our conversations."
"How can you still defend her?"
"I'm not." My voice rose a bit, but I got it under control. "What Laney did was wrong, is wrong. And I was really ticked off about it, but she is one of my best friends." Before he could speak, I continued. "She made a mistake, a huge mistake, but she's human, Chris. We make those occasionally. She's apologized and apologized, to everyone."
"Well, I can't let it go that easy." He dropped his hand from my waist. Stepping back, he crossed his arms over his chest. "You didn't see Jackson today. He's fucked up over it. Jack used to be a laid back, happy go lucky guy. She ruined him and I hate her for that."
Closing my eyes, I took a deep breath. "I understand."
"That's all you can say?"
Opening my eyes, I silently pleaded with him. "If it were the other way around, how would you act?"
His jaw flexed, lips thinned, but then relaxed. "But Jackson is my brother." He stated, dropping his defensive stance.
Stepping toward him, I wrapped my arms around his waist. "Laney is like a sister to me. We've been through so much together, including this."
His arms embraced me, chin resting on my head.
"Can we agree to be there for our brother and sister?"
Tension stiffened his body. "I can't be there for her."
"I know, but I'll be there for Jackson as well as Laney. Please, let's not argue about this anymore."
He relaxed against me. "No more arguing about them."
"Thank you." I pressed my lips next to his left nipple.
"Baby, you keep doing that and we are going to need Giana to get her ass in here to take care of baby girl." He palmed my ass.
"Giana is already here." She knocked on the counter behind us.
"Thank you, Jesus!" Though, Chris pronounced it Hey-Seuss.
Bending, he lifted me onto his shoulder, taking long strides to the staircase.
"Christopher," I yelled, turning red from embarrassment and the rush of blood to my head.
He took the stairs two at a time, made it to our bedroom, and tossed me onto our bed. I bounced once before he began to climb over my body.
"Chris! Now Giana knows exactly what's going on up here."
"Yep, and that means she'll leave us the hell alone." He stated very matter-of-factly while his fingers deftly worked at the buttons of my jeans.
"You aren't embarrassed at all that she's taking care of our daughter so we can have sex?" My body jerked from the force in which he pulled my pants and underwear off.
"No." Pressing open my thighs, he bowed until his mouth lined up with me. "And I am about to do so much more than just have sex with you."
The warmth of his breath washed over me intimately, chilling when he stopped speaking.
"Look at me." He commanded.
Looking down my body, his piercing blue eyes stared back from over my naked flesh.
"Take off your shirt." His warm command caused a throb between my legs, my inner thighs to tensing.
Grabbing the hem of my shirt, I leaned up, pulling it over my head. His hands grabbed my waist. I froze.
"Stay up, but lose the bra." His fingers trailed over my hips, lightly. The throb between my legs intensified.
With the bra removed, he leaned in, touching the tip of his tongue and piercing to the fold covering my clit. With a moan, I leaned back onto my hands. My breathe quickened, getting heavier, my nipples stiffened with need.
"Good girl," he whispered. "Grab my head and show me what you want, Mia."
I didn't need any further encouragement. Slipping my fingers into his spikey black hair, I fisted and pulled back his head, causing him to rise up a few inches. I took his mouth with mine.
When his tongue dove into my mouth, I finally claimed the damn tongue piercing that taunted me by the car. He moaned. Releasing his tongue, I sat back, pressing his head back between my thighs.
"I want your piercing on my clit, Christopher. Make me come on your tongue." Holding his head between my legs, I rolled my hips in a circular motion. He slipped his tongue between my lips — lapping, sucking, and pushing into intimate depths. He slid two fingers inside, making me scream his name.
I lay back on the rumpled bed, panting. Rolling my head, I looked down as he slipped off the bed.
"Fuck, I love when you get all demanding and descript." He wiped his mouth on the back of his hand.
The sound of a zipper and then denim slipping against skin filled the room. He climbed over me, skin against skin. Using his knees, he pushed my thighs wide open. He looked down, his hands holding my knees apart.
"Look how wet you are," he groaned.
Inching forward, my legs spread further and his cock slipped against my wet lips. We groaned in unison. Back and forth, he moved against me. His tip slipped against my clit, causing my body to react to him once more.
"Tell me you're current with your shot, Mia." He licked his lips, keeping his eyes on where our bodies touched.
"Yes." I gasped when he brushed harder over my clit.
"You're sure?" He slowed.
Need and want quickly changed to aggravation.
"Yes, Christopher! Now fuck me or I'm getting the vibrator out to finish the job!" My hands slapped the mattress.
He thrust inside.
"God, yes!"
I fisted the comforter covering the bed beneath our joined bodies.
Keeping his hands on my knees and a straight back, he worked in and out of me bringing me close to the precipice twice before releasing me to ecstasy. He followed, grunting with each hard thrust into my body.
Releasing my knees, he fell over me. Wrapping my arms around his neck, I kissed his collarbone. His face came to mine, needing breath, but not willing to stop kissing each other. We eventually pulled away, panting and sated, lying with each other until both our bodies calmed.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I slipped my underwear and jeans over my legs, doing a couple hops to get them up my sweaty legs.
"You know, you really need to get over the birth control thing." Chris lay on the bed with his jeans on, but not buttoned. "It almost kills the mood."
He shrugged. "You know I love having Maggie, but I won't lose you."
"I know how you feel about more babies, I do, but you can't live in fear." Slipping back onto the bed, fully dressed, I lay next to him.
"It's not the more babies thing that bothers me and you know it." He circled me with his arms, turning on his side to face me. "I won't, no, I can't, lose you in childbirth. Not again."
"Chris, you didn't lose me. The C-section was fine and happens to a lot of women. You just weren't in a good place and reacted—"
"I won't risk it." His hard eyes matched the seriousness of his voice.
"We aren't having any more kids." I placed my hand on his cheek. "Just please stop living in fear."
"I can't." He pulled me closer, so tight I almost couldn't breathe.
"Then get a vasectomy." I stated, keeping a straight face. I waited for horror to wash over his face, instead, he looked contemplative. "Chris, I was just trying to lighten the conversation."
"Maybe I should. Then I would feel better." His eyes searched mine for answers. I was about to start this serious discussion with him, but he spoke again. "But don't you dare tell any of those fuckers about it. Not the girls, not the guys, you understand?"
