by Cari Quinn
He laughed as he wrestled out a condom. She took it from him. With shaking fingers, she rolled it down the length of him.
Ryan yanked her panties to the side until there was a tearing sound. They were far too sturdy, but he moved them enough to get inside her. She was going to wear some elastic burn along her panty line for days, but she didn’t care.
The tip of his cock was finally there.
She sat up astride him and took him deep in one long stroke. She threw her head back and could have wept. “Thank you, God,” she said aloud.
Quiet theater? Screw that.
He gripped her hips and owned their rhythm. “Fuck. Ride me, Den. Ride me.”
Her body was strung so tight she couldn’t breathe around it. But he was right there. His hands keeping her steady as she rolled her hips again and again, taking him deeper. She reached for his shoulders to stabilize herself and each thrust pushed her closer and closer to what she needed.
The friction, the darkness, the all-day tease, the anger and worry living inside her, all of it coalesced into a bright, shredding release. He rose up to meet her, one hand clasping the back of her neck to hold her mouth against his. And he swallowed her cries.
Her whole body shuddered and tensed, and she was so damn afraid a wall was waiting for her, but he held her tighter and flicked his thumb between them in just the right combination of circles until her world went bright white then fucking purple as something exploded on the screen behind her.
He brought her face to his neck as he jerked under her and a guttural groan echoed through her chest. His groan.
For her.
She collapsed against him and couldn’t stop the sob.
His arms came around her. “Shh. Denver, shhh.”
He didn’t ask her what was wrong. She couldn’t have answered him if he did. He just held on to her. His lips brushed against her temple, against her cheeks as he kissed away her tears. She lay her cheek against his chest, her heart racing along with his. As his heartbeat slowed, so did hers. Until finally there was only one heartbeat synced together.
Theirs.
She’d never allowed herself to stay this close to someone after sex. One and done was so much easier, especially when she’d never known any different.
What she had known before didn’t resemble this in any way.
Finally, she pulled away and repaired her clothes. She couldn’t look at him. It had been too much. Sex wasn’t supposed to be that intense.
“Colorado.”
“We need to get back. People are going to know…”
“They’re not stupid, you know.”
Her shoulders slumped. “We don’t have to toss it in everyone’s faces either.”
“What? That we had a quickie at the movies?”
She jammed her foot into her sneaker. “If I hadn’t been so wound up, I wouldn’t have done this. It’s a theater, for God’s sake. The floor is sticky.”
He laughed as he pulled on his button-down shirt. “So much derision in so few words.” He tugged on her hair until she turned to him. “We don’t have to talk about—”
“Good, I don’t want to talk about anything. Can we just go?” She looked around to make sure she wasn’t leaving anything behind. Anything to not look at him.
“You can talk to me. No matter what, okay?”
She pressed her lips together. “Yep. Got it.” The sooner she got out of this theater and back on the bus, the better. Driving. There were finite rules of the road and the only emotions were of the flipping-the-bird variety.
So much safer.
Chapter Twelve
Ryan followed her onto the bus. He tried to tangle their fingers before he went by, but she’d fisted her hands into her hoodie pockets. She dropped into her seat and started fiddling with her GPS. He gripped the top of her chair and twisted her to look up at him.
“Don’t shut me out, Colorado.”
She tilted her head in that don’t-fuck-with-me way she had. The knot in his chest eased. That was a helluva lot better than the shattered eyes he’d seen in the flickering lights of the theater. They’d been so focused on the crazy one-upping of each other he hadn’t thought about anyone else around them, let alone what emotions might do to the situation.
He knew he was falling for her.
Hell, he was already gone. It had been a foregone conclusion the moment she’d saved him in that alley. Even before he’d gotten inside that sweet, lush body, he’d been gonzo. No one evened him out quite like she did.
Knowing it and dealing with the aftermath was a whole different show. Pushing her was also a mistake, so he twisted her seat back to facing the front window. “Mind the rumble strips, hey?”
She slammed her fist into his shoulder and he laughed before whistling his way down the aisle to the back of the bus.
Before he could slip into the bathroom, Molly hopped down in front of him. “You wouldn’t be doing anything stupid, would you?”
“Taking a piss?”
A perfectly arched blond brow rose. “Don’t play dumb, Ryan.”
“Not sure it’s any of your business, Mol.”
“It’s my business when it affects the band. And you’re distracted on the best of days, but lately?” She shrugged.
He peered down at her. “Are you saying I can’t do my job?”
“Just what do you want your job to be?”
He dipped his hands into his pockets and found the little toy he’d taken from Denver. He’d forgotten about it in all the excitement of the theater. “I’m exactly what I’ve always been to this band. I fill out the songs in whichever way is needed.”
“You don’t do what we rehearse more than half the time. You can’t just freestyle through any song. We need structure and a setlist we can depend on.”
Molly had always been a bit of a control freak when it came to the setlist, but this was the first he’d heard she didn’t like how the concerts had gone. “We’ve always had a touch of improvisation in our sets. It’s what keeps the show fresh.”
“Except when it doesn’t work.”
“Elle could crack a whammy bar and Mikey could break a string. Hell, even Mal could split one of his skins. Shit happens.”
“Yes, but they have a secondary guitar to play when theirs has an issue. Your box of toys doesn’t come with spares.”
“So, I pick up another one and fix it when I get offstage.”
“I’ve been watching our YouTubes. Your little skipping-through-the-daisies routine isn’t working, Ryan.”
He slammed his molars together before he could mouth off at her. “Has anyone else felt this way?”
“Everyone’s too friendly with you to let you know.”
“Oh really?” His gut churned. He’d been exploring all sorts of instruments to create a more melodic accompaniment to Michael’s and Elle’s shredding guitars. The band skewed to the hard rock side more often than not, but he’d always wanted to add more layers to the arrangements. He’d been doing just that—at least he’d believed he was.
Ryan stepped back to the middle bunks and flipped open West’s curtain.
“Hey!” West held up a hand at the stream of watery daylight invading his cave. “What the hell, man?”
“You hearing this?”
West pulled out an earbud. “I don’t eavesdrop. That’s Lo’s department.”
“Molly thinks I have no direction onstage. You agree?”
West yawned and swung his feet around so he could drop to the floor. He cracked his neck, but he didn’t say anything right away.
Ryan’s shoulders tensed.
West clapped a hand on Ryan’s upper arm. “C’mon, man. It’s not that—at least not exactly. We just could use a little more composition. We aren’t exactly a jam band. And honestly, there’s enough Dave Matthews Band wannabes out there.”
“Okay. What does that mean for me? I’m not necessary?”
“No. We’re not saying that. You’re an integral part of us. You’
re the reason we don’t sound like every other hard rock band.”
“Excuse me?” Molly’s voice went haughty and shrill.
West sighed. “Mol, we’ve never had a problem with your pipes. Re-fucking-lax. We’re talking about the band as a whole.”
“If he’d pay attention at rehearsal, we’d be fine. He’s just counting the minutes to get out of there.”
Ryan fisted his hands in his pockets. “There’s no magic in an empty room. Of course I don’t like rehearsal.”
“If we have a solid setlist and know what you’re going to play, then we can plan accordingly.”
Ryan whirled on Molly. “There’s no spontaneity to that. If we drill it down to the nuts and bolts of instruments, we take the joy out of it all.”
“Really? Is that what you’re feeling onstage when you’re digging into that trunk? Joy? Or are you missing the interaction of the band with the crowd? Or are you taking attention off us—”
“You?”
Molly jerked back as if she’d been slapped.
“Isn’t that what you meant?” Ryan snarled.
Molly’s face went expressionless. Immediately he felt like an asshole, but she was already climbing back into her bunk. “I emailed the tentative setlist to everyone. See that you read it.”
“Good job, man.”
Ryan tipped back his head. “We’re a band, not her backup band. When is she going to realize that?”
“Molly is Molly. The setlist is tentative, as she said. We make changes all the time, you know that. She just happens to be really good at putting them together ninety percent of the time.” West leaned against the bunks. “And she’s being harsh, but then again, she’s that way about everyone. You’re not special—at least not in that regard. Sorry to burst your bubble.”
West wanted to pull a smile out of Ryan, but he wasn’t ready to give it. Had he really been that off-base about his role in the band? Maybe his I-can-play-anything thing was getting a little thin, but it usually got people talking about them. And in this business, buzz was half the success. Get the fans talking about them and the more a single soared.
It had been working with the last three songs they’d released.
“Guess I’ll just pick three instruments tonight and stick to them.”
“Man, come on. That’s not what she means.”
“No?” Ryan shouldered his way past his best friend and into the bathroom. West stood on the threshold before he could close the door. “Do you mind?”
“I’ve stood next to you when you pissed.”
“Just for that, I’ll go for door number two.”
West’s nose wrinkled. “No shitting on the bus, you know that.” He crossed his arms and leaned on the doorjamb. “Look, all she means is that sometimes it’s a distraction when you’re digging away for some instrument you have a wild hair about. If you could just pick out the majority of them beforehand, we’d be golden.”
Ryan leaned over the sink and soaped his hands. The lingering scent of Denver was all over him. She was all of his good choices lined up in a row. He curled his fingers into the towel above the sink. Bands were about compromise. And as much as he loved the impromptu flavor of their songs, he hated to admit he missed some of the best parts of their shows because he was looking for some instrument in his case.
“I hear you,” he said finally.
“We’re magic, man. Can’t you feel it? We’re so damn close.”
Ryan met West’s gaze in the mirror. “Let’s take a look at that setlist.”
“All right, all right.” West added a little Matthew McConaughey twang.
He followed West to the front of the bus and found Elle strumming quietly on her acoustic.
She didn’t look up. “Everything cool?”
Ryan dropped onto the couch beside her. Elle hated confrontation of any kind. “Yeah. Just a little discussion. What do you think about me adding a sax to ‘Intent’?”
She peered out from her bangs. “I have good feelings.”
“Good. Me too.”
By the time they got to the third song in the setlist, Michael and Jules were out in the main living area, giving their two cents on song choices.
“What about your mandolin?”
Ryan twisted at Mal’s deep voice. “What about it?”
“Well, you have those spindly chick fingers. And you play it so pretty.”
Ryan laughed. “You’re an asshole.”
Mal shrugged. “I heard you listening to that Sting song. We should cover it.”
His playlist for Denver. Evidently, Mal had been listening when she put it on the front speakers. Ryan popped his knuckles. “Seems tame for you, big guy.”
“Gets chicks wet. Say you can do some tantric sex and voila. Bendy girls say hi with panties in hand.”
“Pig,” Elle muttered.
“Oink. I like to get right in there and sniff around before I go down on a girl.” Mal’s smile was wide and just a little malevolent.
Elle’s fingers tightened on the frets, but she didn’t say a word.
“Really? Your nose? Is that to tickle the clit?” Lauren asked from behind him.
Elle and Jules groaned in unison.
West stood. “Don’t get him started, Lo.”
Mal stepped back into the hallway and rolled into his bunk. “Lesson’s over, chickadee. You’ll have to ask your boyfriend.” And with that, he snapped his curtain shut.
Lauren looked up at West. “Nose?” She touched the end of hers. “It’s kinda perfect.”
West slid his arm around her neck and curled her in close and whispered something in her ear.
Her blue eyes went wide and she grabbed his hand. “You guys good?”
Jules dropped back into her beanbag chair with a giggle. “Go!”
West grinned over his shoulder. “It’s for science.”
“Yeah right.” Elle was smiling even as she pulled her hair forward to mask it.
“Looks like we have a setlist, people.” Michael flicked his thumb over his iPad screen. “We’ll see if they all work during soundcheck.”
“Sounds good.” Ryan glanced over his shoulder. Denver’s divider was half open. He could tell she was listening, since there was a smile playing on her lips. He stood and snagged a Mountain Dew from the mini fridge in the front of the bus. There were never enough drinks on board for this crew.
He slid the soda along the back of her neck.
She stiffened and reached around her chair to grab his thigh.
“What if it wasn’t me?”
“Then I’d get another handful of Mal.”
Ryan looked down at how low she was on his thigh and growled. “Funny.”
Her almost smile went even wider. “Truth hurts.”
He leaned down. “Oh, let’s not go there. I’m still wearing your scent on my dick. You like mine well enough.”
She lifted her chin and swallowed hard, but didn’t spare him a look. “Is there a reason you’re up here bugging me?”
“Just thought you might need a drink.” He tapped the soda against her shoulder.
She took it and dropped it into her cup holder. “Thanks.”
“Coming in to listen tonight?”
“Maybe.”
“I think you should.” He gripped the top of her seat. “I’d really like it if you did.”
She glanced up at him briefly before focusing on the road again. He wasn’t sure what she saw, but some of the tension eased out of her shoulders. “All right.”
He didn’t know why it meant so much to him, but he relaxed as well. “Good.” He started to duck through her curtain.
“Ry?”
He turned back to her.
“This is new for me. In a lot of ways.”
“Me too, Colorado.” He flicked her ponytail, giving it a little extra tug. Just a little reminder that they were good together in so many ways.
He moved into the main living area and caught a speculative look from Elle. He definite
ly didn’t want to get into anything with her. Especially since she and Denver had been all up in each other’s business last night.
“Ten-minute warning, kids.” Denver’s voice came through the speakers from her front microphone.
He slipped into the bathroom before anyone else could and took care of business before he washed up a little. He smelled like sex and honey, but he wasn’t kidding. He was going to wear her scent on him tonight.
Even if he had a perpetual semi from the memories of her during that fucking movie. Strung out and so hot for him. Christ, it would be a damn long time before he could walk into a theater without thinking of her.
The door shook from a fist. “Other people have to piss, douchebag.”
He opened the door to Mal’s brooding face. “All yours, asshole.”
Mal moved to the side as Ryan came out. He paused before he shut the door. “Sure you know what you’re doing?”
His eyebrows shot up. “You too?”
Mal shrugged. “I like Denver. Don’t fuck her up.” And he shut the door.
Ryan sighed. “Secret, my ass.”
The bus was a flurry of activity as people packed up their bags for the day. There was no overnight in a swanky hotel tonight. They were off to Chicago after tonight’s set for a few shows before Vegas.
Ryan scrubbed his palm down his thigh. He had to admit, he was getting a little nervy about Vegas. They were really starting to get some momentum with this album. They were making a run on the awards circuit for Best New Artist. They’d taken the Spectrum Awards, but lost The Chart Toppers’ Award over the spring. If they took the Alternative, Rock, & Crossover Award, then they’d be on top again.
Damn, it felt good to be making their way toward something bigger and better.
The bus went over a huge bump and Ryan slapped his hand onto the bunk frame. Guess they’d reached the campus.
A muffled screech came from Molly’s bunk as she looked out. “What the hell?”
“We’re here.”
She glared at him then snapped her curtain shut again.
He sighed. He had to make up with Molly. She might be a queen bitch some days, but she’d been right. He had been too scattered, he just didn’t want to own up to it.
