by Sarah Grimm
“The album went multi-platinum.”
“That’s fantastic!” Gary’s brow furrowed. “What’s the look you’re wearing? Isn’t this a good thing?”
“Marvin’s been pushing Joe to write more, write faster.”
She recalled Marvin saying something along those lines when they’d been in Chicago. Although Marvin didn’t put it so nicely.
“Now that the label is here…” Gary shrugged. “I don’t know. I try to stay out of these things. Can I put my bloody arms down yet?”
“No one is stopping you, big guy.”
He cupped his hand around the back of his neck and muttered below his breath.
Emma flashed him her most innocent smile. God, she loved poking the ogre, and he made it so damn easy. “Well, for whatever reason Vivian is here, she’s beautiful. A bit young for you, but I say go for it. Ask her out. I mean, you have been a bit tense lately. Maybe she could help you with that.”
“What makes you think I am interested in—?”
Emma laughed, effectively cutting off his denial. She laughed so hard she lost her balance and made a grab for Gary, who steadied her with a hand on her elbow. “You do have a pulse, right?
He frowned down at her, his frustration evident in his voice. “And where would you have me ask her to? The bus? Not that many options open to me right now, are there?”
Setting her hand on his bicep, she gave it a squeeze. “All I’m saying is she’s obviously into you. And I believe if you think real hard on it, you’ll come up with a great big room in this place that has an even bigger couch in it.”
Gary sighed.
Emma winked at him. “Oh, she’s coming over here.” She patted his arm. “Behave yourself.”
“I could tell you the same thing.”
A smile on her face, Emma offered the woman her hand. “Hello, my name is Emma.” She flashed Gary a ‘see, I can be good’ look.
Gary frowned.
“Vivian Johnson,” the woman replied. She had a bit of an accent. One Emma couldn’t place. “I’m with record company.”
“So I’ve heard.”
“Emma is Joe’s girl,” Gary volunteered.
“That’s me.” Deciding to see what would happen if she did, she dropped her hand back to Gary’s arm and gave it a squeeze. “I’m also the thorn in Gary’s side.”
Vivian’s gaze zeroed in on Emma’s hand. “He does seem a bit perturbed.”
“I have mad skills when it comes to riling Gary. Of course, if he wasn’t already so tense it wouldn’t be so easy.”
Gary cleared his throat. “Emma.”
“I got this.” She patted him. “You see, Gare here—”
“Don’t.”
“—finds you very attractive.” Emma waited. Stayed quiet as Vivian’s gaze shifted from Gary to her. “Which you are, by the way.”
Vivian’s smile lit up her face. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” Emma glanced back at Gary, whose furrow deepened. “See, Gare, I don’t have a problem telling a woman she’s beautiful. Why can’t you do it?”
He didn’t say anything, just stared and frowned. Then his left eye started to twitch.
“Shit, that’s my sign it’s time to leave. Don’t worry though, Viv. He’s pretty harmless.”
Vivian ran her gaze over him, from head to toe and back again. She nibbled her bottom lip, a small smile on her face. “Is that so?”
Emma shrugged. “He hasn’t throttled me yet.”
“The day is young,” Gary muttered.
Emma cracked up. God, he was great! “I can’t stand still any longer. Gotta get moving. It was nice meeting you, Vivian.”
“You, too.”
Emma turned and pushed off.
“Slow down before you hurt yourself!” Gary called and she laughed again.
Joe stepped to the front of the stage, trying to recall what the hell he’d been singing as he waited for Emma to return to the arena. She’d been zooming around on those damn rollerblades all morning, wearing nothing but jeans and a concert tank, leaving all that soft pale skin exposed to damage should she fall. Dodging left or right as workers shifted in an attempt to avoid her, she whipped past at speeds that had his stomach clenching, a broad smile on her face and laughter in her wake.
Up until two songs ago, when she’d zipped up the ramp and disappeared, leaving him to wonder if she’d run into an obstacle she couldn’t avoid. Joe considered his options. Wait for her return, have one of his crew check on her, or go find her himself.
The decision was made for him when she came flying into the arena and straight to the stage. She climbed through the barrier already in place to keep fans back and tipped her head.
The smile she shot him could power the city. “Hi.”
Leaning with his arm resting atop the mic stand, he stood there and absorbed. For a moment, he couldn’t draw enough oxygen into his lungs to save his soul. Happiness emanated off her—hell, she was nearly vibrating with it—filling him with a desperate desire to soak it up.
Placing the mic in the stand, he reached down for her. “Come here, Sunshine.”
She raised her hands and he grabbed them, lifted her up until her butt was on the stage. Then, before she could try to stand on her own, he snagged her beneath the arms, pulled her up and kissed her.
Joe molded her body to his and inhaled her, soaking up her warmth, the joy that called out to him. He kissed her until she sagged against him, gripping his shirt in two tight fists and whimpering into his mouth.
“Damn,” she gasped as he set her back on her feet.
His breathing was unsteady, ragged. He’d thought he was used to the way she affected him but, as she smoothed her palms down his chest and took his hand, tracing the G clef tattoo on his forearm with the tips of her fingers, the shock of excitement took him by surprise. A simple touch, and he felt himself stir with arousal. She might as well have had her hands in his pants.
He blinked away the mental images floating through his brain. The one about ordering everyone to vacate the arena so he could lay her out on the stage and have his way with her was especially persistent. He’d never given that kind of performance while behind the mic and he suddenly wanted it more than he wanted his next breath.
Too bad he had a meeting with someone from the label. The woman Gare just walked in with if Joe were to hazard a guess.
“It’s gorgeous outside.” Emma’s fingers smoothed up his arm, slipped into the sleeve of his shirt to rub his shoulder. “What are we all doing in here?”
“I’m trying to work.” Christ, he was gone over her. He was never going to get enough. The reality of that was as obvious as the soft smile on her face. “You, on the other hand, seem to be hell bent on driving me out of my bloody mind.”
“I didn’t get to give you my look this morning.”
“What look is that?” He asked the question, even though he knew exactly what look she was referring to.
“The one that sets your mood for the day.”
He smiled at the memory. “Consider my mood set.”
“Yeah?” She glanced between them, at his obvious erection, and licked her lips.
He groaned. “Jesus, what am I going to do with you?”
“Take me…” Her emphasis was on the word ‘take’ as she leaned closer and kissed the shell of his ear before whispering, “outside.”
The pounding in his cock told him his lower half was completely on board with the idea. His brain kept going back to how the hand she held on his arm had been shaking for at least thirty seconds now. Concern for her wrapped itself around his heart, made it hard to breathe. Whatever was going on, he didn’t think a mad dash outside for a quickie was the answer. “I can’t, Em. Work.”
She pushed away from him so fast he had to reach out and grab her arms for fear she’d roll right off the front of the stage.
“Um, guys,” Gary called. “You do realize you’re standing next to an open mic, right?”
&nbs
p; He hadn’t. Joe rubbed the back of his neck and swore. He’d completely forgotten that the moment she’d come gliding up to the stage.
Emma’s eyes threw fire and she skated away.
Joe actually felt like a pile of ash right then.
“What the hell?” Confusion sounded in Steve’s voice. “I can’t believe you turned her down.”
“Yeah, what the fuck was that?” Bobby asked.
Before Joe could reply, Emma returned. Spinning in a circle center stage, then facing Zach. “Hey, Zach, interested in taking me for a ride?”
Son of a bitch. No way had he heard her correctly. “Excuse me?”
“Um.” Zach was smart enough not to answer, his gaze ping ponged between Joe and Emma.
Emma had her hands on her hips, spoiling for a fight. “Motorcycle ride, me and Zach. What part of that did you miss?”
“The part where you mentioned a motorbike.” Jesus, she was a raw ball of emotion today. First, so damn happy she glowed and now so upset he feared she’d start throwing things any minute. Joe pushed his hair out of his face, considered the best way to handle this situation. “You can’t steal my guitarist.”
“Why the hell not? You have two.”
“I’d love to go,” Zach piped up.
Joe pitched his voice lower. “Sunshine.”
“Don’t Sunshine me,” Emma growled. “You had your chance.”
“Man, you are so fucked, Joe,” Steve mumbled.
Ba-dum tish. Kirk did two fast thumps and a cymbal splash as if Steve had made a cheesy joke.
Joe ignored them, keeping his focus on Emma, who shrugged. “If I can’t get any sexual satisfaction, at least I can satisfy my need for speed. These blades don’t go near fast enough.”
Zach grinned. “I’m ready whenever you are, Em.” He moved swiftly across the stage as Joe’s eyes narrowed, and wisely slipped out the back curtain.
Emma followed him.
Bobby barked a laugh. “Joe, seriously, I love—”
“Shut the fuck up, Bobby,” Joe growled, which only made Bobby laugh harder.
“Emma’s in quite a mood today,” Gary said from his front row seat.
“Yeah, she is.” Joe nodded and headed in the direction she’d disappeared.
He found her by the loading dock, her discarded rollerblades occupying the chair next to her as she leaned against the wall and tugged on her suede boots. Zach was at her side, holding a leather jacket.
Emma shook her head. “It’s too warm for that, Zach.”
“No, it’s not. You need it on the off chance something happens and I have to lay the bike down. It’ll protect your skin from the road.”
Fuck. Joe blew a long, hard breath.
Behind them, one of the roadies maneuvered Zach’s red custom chopper out of the trailer. Zach glanced at Joe, gave him a nod, then went over to help with the bike.
“Emma.” She looked up at him for the first time since he’d stepped next to her. “Maybe you should rethink this.” Even as he said it, Joe helped her into the jacket, snugging the buckles tight and zipping it for her.
“I need the fresh air.”
“You need the thrill.” He’d noticed that about her. Whenever she’d had a headache bad enough she had to medicate—and she’d had two since the one in Chicago that had scared the hell out of him—she followed it up by doing something outrageous the next day. With her last headache being just yesterday, her need for speed made sense.
“That, too.” She flashed him a smile that morphed into confusion. “Your forehead is creased and your jaw is popping. Stop clenching it before you break a molar.”
Zach started the chopper. At least Emma hadn’t asked Bobby to take her. His bike couldn’t carry a passenger safely. Zach’s could.
“Joe.” Her hand on his arm brought his attention back to her. “What are you so worried about?”
You. How damn fragile you look lately.
“Is Zach a safe driver?”
Joe shrugged. “I suppose. He’s never been hurt. Not yet.”
At his response, she moved in closer and shifted her hand to his chest. “Okay, so it’s the fact that my arms will be around him, my breasts pressed against his back that bothers you?”
He covered her hand with his. “When you put it that way.”
She burst out laughing and he couldn’t help but grin. Excitement showed in her eyes. She couldn’t wait to jump on the back of that bike.
Shit. He sighed. “Just make sure you bring him back in time for the show.”
They returned hours later, screaming into the parking lot at breakneck speed. Even from his spot inside the loading dock door, Joe could plainly see the broad smile on Emma’s face. She was laughing as she removed her helmet and handed it to Zach. Animated and talking a mile a minute.
Tom, the crewmember in charge of maintaining Zach and Bobby’s bikes and the man Joe had been speaking with, pushed out the door and started across the lot. Joe followed.
The closer he got to her, the more he relaxed. The ride had apparently done her some good. Her color was up. The circles of fatigue beneath her eyes, so evident that morning, faded. His steps slowed as he watched her strip the leather jacket off, greeting Tom with a smile and another flurry of conversation.
She was happy. Hell, she was more than happy. She glowed.
He stopped altogether as she turned her smile on him. Five seconds ago, he would’ve said there was no way she could look more vibrant. He’d have been wrong. The minute she noticed him standing there she lit up then launched herself at him. Two steps, and she was off the ground and in his arms, legs around his hips, mouth fused to his.
Joe caught her effortlessly, even though the move took him by surprise. She wasn’t one to jump into his arms and usually wound up wrapped around him only because he lifted her off the floor. He dropped his hands to her hips as she cupped the back of his head and deepened the kiss, fisting her hand in his hair. Electricity crackled between them. Her taste exploded on his tongue.
“Christ,” he muttered as they came up for air, both of them panting. “You had a good time.”
“I had a great time! My God, you have to try that. There are no words.”
“You want me to ride bitch on Zach’s motorbike?”
Her eyes lit with humor. “I do. It’s exhilarating.”
Her second kiss tasted as good as the first. He could drown in her. Just happily let himself go right under, but she broke away from him and left his head spinning.
Her hand brushed his cheek. “The wind in your hair. The rumble of the bike. Do you have any idea how good it feels? The vibrations…Jesus, it’s so titillating.”
“I believe you’re still vibrating.”
She quivered, pressed her lower half against his stomach. “Oh, I am. I’m so turned on I can’t stand it.”
“I can tell.”
She nuzzled below his ear. “The bus is right behind you.” The words whispered between them. “Hurry.”
Zach’s laughter echoed behind them. “You can thank me later, Joe!”
Yeah. Later. Right now, he was too busy trying to get up the steps without dropping Emma. She was on fire, rubbing against him as she sucked on his neck. Fuck, he could feel her heat through both layers of denim. His cock pulsed, desperate to get closer.
“Hurry,” she mumbled between kisses. “God, please hurry.”
She was killing him. Setting her on her feet, he closed the door and flicked the lock. He went to work on his pants.
Emma pulled off her boots and shucked her jeans in record time. Then she was on him again, crawling up his body, legs closing around his hips. He barely had his pants to his thighs, but she didn’t care. She took him in hand and held him at her entrance, wiggling, shifting, loosening her grip around his neck until she sunk down on him, taking him deep.
Fuck! She didn’t even give him a moment to recover from the shock before she was kissing him again, sliding up and down his cock. His bare cock.
&nbs
p; He wasn’t wearing a condom.
“Christ, Emma.” She clenched down on him and he hissed a breath. “Condom.”
“I won’t get pregnant. I can’t.”
He hadn’t gone bareback since he was a teenager. The sensations made him crazy. She felt so good, so fucking amazing.
“I’m clean.” He pinned her between his body and the refrigerator. “Routine health checks.” He couldn’t believe what she did to him, how quickly she made him lose control.
“Joe.” She tugged her tank over her head. “Shut up and move. I need you to move.”
He dipped his head and pulled a nipple into his mouth.
She let out a soft sound that ended in a groan. “Now, Joe.”
“God, yes.” Curling an arm under her ass, he dropped his other hand between them and worked her clit with his thumb. Flexing his hips, he filled her then retreated, tipping his head to watch his body slide in and out of hers. “You’re so tight and wet. Are you wet for me or the motorbike?”
She laughed and he felt it throughout her body and into his own. Her muscles tightened around his cock, pulling a groan from the back of his throat.
“It’s for you,” she whispered, pressing kisses to his neck, his temple and ear. “Look at me. Look at me, Joe.”
He did. Looked into her eyes and saw something she hadn’t allowed him to see before.
“It’s all for you,” she repeated, holding his gaze prisoner. “I love you.”
Then she came, her entire body contracting, milking him, taking him over the edge with her in an orgasm more powerful than ever before.
May 14
I’m in love with Joe.
I love him so much it hurts. I knew all along it would happen. Hell, I was halfway there when I left Cleveland to join him. But I never knew, could never imagine that it could feel this good to feel this bad.
I have to tell him. Dear God, I have to.
I’ve tried a few times. Started the conversation about what drove me to go against character and accept his invitation backstage. Why I was willing to be just like the women at the after parties I hate so much. How I would have done anything and everything he asked that night just for the memory. For that moment in time when he saw me, wanted me, and turned to me to satisfy a need.
