by Clara Bayard
"Wanna christen your new home away from home?"
"What? No!" I sat up, shoving him off me playfully. "We are not having sex on this bus with all those people out there."
Joe pouted, sticking his lower lip out. "What if I ask really nicely?"
"You'd have to ask with a million dollars and eight sets of earplugs."
"Hmm, good to know. I'll consider that a rain check."
I shook my head, smiling. "You're impossible."
He leaned over and kissed my neck. "I think you mean irresistible."
"That too." I put my hand on his chest to push him away but ended up just feeling the ripple of his muscles. "I'm glad I'm here."
Joe placed his hand over mine and stared into my eyes. "So am I, Liss. I can't even tell you how much."
We sat there for a while, just looking at each other. I could feel Joe's heart beating under my hand and for that moment I had no doubts or worries. I was exactly where I belonged.
Chapter Three
By the time we actually got on the road I was feeling a lot more comfortable on the bus. Once everyone's luggage and gear was safely stowed under the bus and in the trailer behind us we'd all had a couple of beers and were watching some action movie based on a video game I'd never heard of.
The driver pulled into the thick evening rush hour traffic and we headed south, further and further away from home and towards who knew what.
Dex was regaling me with obviously fake stories about Joe's clumsiness. Which amused me because he was so smooth and agile where I spent a lot of my time tripping over things.
"I don't believe you," I said.
"Would I lie to a lovely lady such as yourself?"
I snorted. "I'm pretty sure you lie to all the ladies, Dex."
He chuckled and poked me in the side with a finger. I flinched, uncomfortable. I'd barely gotten used to accepting Joe liking my body; I certainly couldn't deal with someone else encountering my abundance flesh.
"Sorry, love."
"No, it's not your fault. I'm just…ticklish."
"Good to know." Dex waggled his eyebrows suggestively and I giggled.
"Do you mind?" Once again, Rick was glaring at me. "Some of us are trying to watch the movie."
Joe gave him the finger and kissed me loudly on the lips. "Don't be jealous, man. I'm sure there's a deaf and blind girl out there who'd wanna spend time with you. Just keep looking."
I stifled another giggled and turned my face to the television.
Rick stood up. "Yeah, like what you got is such a prize." He sneered at the shock on my face.
Joe jumped up. "What the fuck did you just say?"
I grabbed his arm and pulled him back down next to me. "Stop. Please." I could feel my face going red and I prayed I wasn't tearing up. "Just forget it."
With a derisive snort Rick stomped back to the kitchenette, grabbed a bottle of something and retreated to his bunk.
The muscles in Joe's arm flexed under my hand but I held him tightly. "Joe, please. Relax."
He glanced over at me, his jaw set.
"Joe," I pleaded.
He shook his head and took a deep breath. "You're right. I'm sorry." He kissed me softly and settled in close. "That guy is a piece of shit sometimes."
"No arguments here," I said, calming down as he did. Nestled between the man who set my heart and body on fire and his friend who'd kept me laughing, Rick's words seemed meaningless. I was happy and having a great time.
The movie ended as the sun finally sank below the horizon and Ryan started flipping channels on the television. My head lolled on Joe's shoulder and I could barely keep my eyes open. It was part lack of sleep and a whole lot the beers I'd had. Even at my size I was no match for these guys in the drinking department. I was about to ask Joe what time we could go to bed when Beth cleared her throat to get everyone's attention.
I'd almost forgotten she was there. She'd spent the entire evening on a laptop at the table and speaking softly into her phone.
"Good news, gang. The others just got to the hotel and they're going to check us all in."
Joe ran his fingers up my arm and smiled. "Hear that? I'll have you all to myself soon."
"I don’t care. I could sleep right here."
"Sleeping is not what I have in mind for you."
I grunted and rolled my eyes. "We'll see."
He laughed. "You're cute when you're drunk and sleepy."
"Thought I was always cute."
"Fair point. Should have said 'even cuter' instead."
"Much better," I muttered and let my eyes droop. Next to me Dex was snoring softly, his hand still wrapped tightly around a beer bottle.
~*~
When we got to the hotel the crew from the other car was waiting. Joe grabbed our bags, a keycard and my hand.
"Goodnight. Anyone who knocks on our door or calls me loses a limb."
I laughed and waved as he dragged me through the doors and the lobby to the elevator. "That wasn't very nice, Joe."
"I don't give a shit. I've got my girl. To hell with the rest of them."
I couldn't argue with that logic, so I didn't.
We got up to our room and collapsed onto the bed together.
"What time is it?"
Joe shrugged. "I dunno. My phone's off. Look over at the clock."
"Can't. Too tired."
"Too tired to move at all?"
"Yup."
"Interesting." He slid a hand over my shoulder and across my breasts. "Let's test that." Joe rolled onto his side and pushed my shirt up, revealing my bra. He traced the line where it met my skin with a finger, delving deep into my cleavage.
I sighed, but didn't move or speak.
He moved his hand down over the swell of my stomach and to the waist of my pants. His face descended to my breasts, his hair tickling my neck.
As he tongued my nipple through my bra a shiver of pleasure went through me.
"Ah, progress."
He slid his hand down over the crotch of my pants and pressed it there, between my thighs.
I moaned and arched into his touch.
"A-ha. We have movement."
"Doesn’t count," I whispered.
"Fine." He stood up next to the bed and pulled my pants down, hooking my panties along with them.
In just a bra, goosebumps rose on my skin from the cold air in the room.
Joe positioned himself between my legs and slid a finger over my cleft. "If this won't wake you up nothing will."
He lowered his mouth and licked me gently.
My legs sagged apart and I chewed on my lower lip.
With mouth and tongue and teeth and fingers Joe teased me and brought me to the brink of climax more times than I could count. Finally, when I couldn't stand it any longer I relented.
"Joe, please," I cried out, grabbing his head in my hands and slanting my hips to get him closer to my slick arousal.
"I win," he said and then went back to driving me wild. I came with a shout, nails digging into my palms as my toes flexed over and over.
When I could breathe again Joe had pulled a sheet over both of us and removed his clothes. He snuggled in next to me, flinging a leg over mine.
I closed my eyes. "Your turn in the morning."
"Everyone can have a turn after we get some sleep."
I chuckled and kissed his shoulder, feeling the slightly raised skin there. "You have to tell me about this tattoo."
"You want to hear about that right now?"
"Yeah. Good bedtime story I bet."
"Not really." He tangled his hand in my hair and breathed deeply. "But I'll tell you."
I smiled and listened to his voice, loving the low, smooth cadence of his words. Speaking or singing, I could listen to his beautiful voice forever.
"When I was a kid I used to love birds. I'd watch them from my window and get in trouble for feeding them on our porch. Hell, I even used to get in trouble at school for doing more bird watching than paying attenti
on to the teacher. But I couldn't help it. Even a stupid pigeon was a marvel to me. I don't think it was as simple as wanting to fly away, but that was a part of it. I just always thought they were majestic and free. Soaring overhead or flapping down to a tree.
"When I joined my first band we called ourselves Phoenix. Seriously trite, I know. But I became a new person then. Music let me fly like the birds I'd admired. So I took the name Joe Hawk from the first bird I remember admiring in a zoo. And when this band got together it clicked. We just worked. So we all went and got new ink together. Mine was the hawk on my shoulder.
"Nothing had ever felt so right before. That is, until I met you. Now I'm soaring in a new way, Liss. And you're right there with me."
I made a soft humming sound and hugged him close to me. "That was a nice story."
"Ha. I figured you'd fallen asleep in the middle."
"Never. But I bet I'll dream about that. You and me flying away together."
"Sounds perfect, babe."
It did. And it was, for a time.
~*~
The next morning we went down to breakfast together. Ryan was there, on his phone as usual, but he hung up as soon as we appeared.
"Morning lovebirds. Have a seat."
I smiled, remembering Joe's story from last night. Lovebirds. I liked it. And in a secret place deep inside me I knew we were on the way to falling in love. And much faster than I had thought possible.
A waiter brought coffee and I refused a menu. I wasn't hungry at all.
"So, we have a busy day planned," Ryan told Joe. "I'll go over the list in a minute. But first there's something I need to talk to both of you about."
I dumped a huge heap of sugar in my coffee and raised my eyebrows. Ryan had barely spared a word for me since we'd met and I couldn't imagine what he'd possibly want to speak to me about now.
"What is it," Joe asked, squeezing my knee under the table.
"I don't have a problem with you having Melissa on the road with you for a little while. But there are ground rules."
"We have been through this, Ryan. Three times."
"Well I have some new ones."
Joe groaned and slouched down in his chair. "Fine. What now?"
"Joseph, this is serious. You are on the cusp of getting everything I promised you. For the sake of all of us I'm not going to let you fuck it up."
Joe's hand tightened on my knee and I patted him reassuringly.
"Look, I know this is all fun and exciting but we're here to work."
"Man, I know that. I'm busting my ass every show."
"This isn't about just shows anymore. You've got a public image and it matters. I know, I know. You're all about the music. That's cute when you're playing dive bars and selling albums through your website. You're in the big leagues now, Joseph, and that means more press, more stress and more attention."
"It is way too early for this shit." Joe was sitting up now, leaning forward at Ryan, his voice growing louder. "Will you just come out with it?"
"Fine. Your friend here is welcome on the bus and backstage, but you will not be photographed together. She will not be interviewed, or mentioned in your interviews. The band is what matters. Nothing else. The world is going to get to know your work and your personality. Not whatever girl you're banging that week."
I tensed up and bit down on my lip. Honestly, I'd never thought about doing interviews or anything like that. I was here to be with Joe, not become a celebrity. But the way Ryan announced it to Joe like I wasn't even there was cold. And rude. Was it me? I bet if Joe had met a six foot tall supermodel she'd be paraded around like a trophy. But me, the chubby and frizzy-haired regular girl? Not good for the image, I guess. And damn him for reminding me how fleeting this experience could be. Joe and I were still getting to know each other and it felt like there could be a future between us, but I wasn't naïve.
While I was musing, Joe was getting angry.
"Fuck you, Ryan. You don't tell me what to say or who to stand next to. I'm not a fucking product for you to market."
"Keep your voice down," his manager seethed. "You are a product. A talented, pain the ass product. When will you get it through your thick skull? I'm not trying to control you; I'm trying to help you. Don't you want this? Bigger records, bigger tours?"
"Of course."
"Then you have to let me do my job."
"Not if your job means being a dick to my girlfriend."
His what? My mouth fell open and I almost dropped my coffee. Joe was calling me his girlfriend? I was half excited and half annoyed that the first I heard if it was during this stupid argument. I decided not to address that little slip and just be happy about it.
"Um, sorry to interrupt, but since you're talking about me and I'm sitting right here, I figure I can participate a little."
Joe grinned at me, eyes twinkling.
"What is it," Ryan asked, clearly irritated at both of us.
"I understand what both of you are saying, but it doesn't matter. I have no desire to be in the public eye. As far as anyone except us knows I'm just a member of the entourage. That's fine with me. In fact, I prefer it."
Ryan shrugged. "Great. Then it's settled.
"You sure, babe?"
"Yup. You be the rock star. I'll be the invisible woman."
Joe kissed me on the cheek. "You're amazing."
"I know," I said, laughing.
With a grunt that I guess was supposed to be goodbye Ryan stood, dropped a copy of the day's schedule in front of Joe and left the table. I finished my coffee and nibbled on a piece of fruit that tasted of nothing. The first cracks were appearing in this perfect adventure and I worried what was next.
Chapter Four
That night was my first show with Joe and I was excited and nervous at the same time. I spent two hours getting ready while Joe met with the rest of the band about something, and was barely dressed when he came back to tell me it was time to head over to the club.
"Oh babe, you look good enough to eat," he said, taking in my low v-neck top and skirt. They highlighted my cleavage and calves, and hid my stomach, hips and thighs.
I was suddenly happy I'd let Kelly help me pack. She'd basically shoved all my sexiest clothes in my suitcase and called it a day. It had been a long time since I'd gone out enough to need a lot of cute outfits and figured I'd need to do some shopping while we were on the road. Maybe even get some things that looked like they belonged with the dark denim and leather that the band wore like uniforms.
"Thanks. But quit looking at me like that or we'll never leave this room."
Joe shrugged and came over to wrap his arms around my waist. "Works for me. Show cancelled due to an unplanned night of wild sex. The crowd will understand."
I squirmed away as he was starting to kiss my neck, and put the bed between us. "They might, but Ryan won't. Now go. I'm heading downstairs. Beth wanted to chat about something before we leave."
"Fine, fine. But it's all your fault I'm going to spend the whole night with a raging boner."
I laughed, grabbed my purse and headed for the door. "And how is that different from every night?"
I was out in the hallway before he could answer, and smiling. In my very small relationship history I'd never felt so comfortable with a guy. Joe and I could go from teasing each other to kissing passionately and it always felt right. Thinking about how good he made me feel raised my spirits. So what if this tour and some of the people on it weren't perfect. It was a million times better than my real life and we'd only just begun.
When I got downstairs Beth was, as usual, on her phone. She'd changed into a really tight tiny dress that showed off her long limbs and almost boyish figure. I looked down at my own curves and smoothed down my skirt nervously. But when she spotted me her bright, open smile snapped me out of it and I headed over.
"Hey. You look great."
"You too, Liss. Thanks for meeting me. I thought it might be good if I gave you an overview of the night so the
re are no surprises."
"That would be great. I was backstage once before but it's all a blur."
"I totally understand. Things get hectic. Let's go sit down."
We picked a set of delicate armchairs and moved them closer together. Beth flicked through a list on her tablet and walked me through the itinerary.
"The boys have a quick interview before the show that we'll do on the bus. So once we get to the club you'll go inside with the rest of the team. Someone will show you to Joe's dressing room and you can hang out there until he's done.
"Assuming everything is close to on time, which it never is, you'll have about an hour to do whatever before the show starts." She bent close and lowered her voice. "He gets changed fast so you have plenty of alone time." With that she looked away, her short shiny hair covering her eyes.
"Beth, we're not bunnies. I think Joe and I can manage to keep our hands to ourselves until after the show."
She smiled. "You say that now, but…things get intense. There's a lot of energy going through the backstage area and everything is heightened."
There was a strange wistfulness in her voice and I wondered if she was speaking from experience. I hadn't sensed any vibes between her and the band but maybe she'd dated a guy from another group before. It would explain why she'd been so nice, and understood how foreign all of this was to me.
"Well, whatever happens I'm not going to get in Joe's way or distract him from work."
She recrossed her long legs and patted my hand. "I know that. Look, I heard Ryan talked to you and was his usual blunt self. Don't take it personally."
"I'll try not to."
"Good. Joe is happier than I've ever seen him with you. Happy and focused which is all any of us wants. Nothing like…" She glanced down at her phone. "Hold on, I need to take this." She stood up and walked a few steps away.
I wondered briefly what she was about to say when she called out to me. "Sorry, Liss. I need to take care of something. I'll see you on the bus, okay?"
"Sure," I said and stood up, not sure what to do with myself.
I wandered across the lobby towards the hotel bar that was beginning to fill up. A pair of girls was standing by the entrance. They were clearly underage and the giggling and primping made me feel old. Which, considering I was only a few years their senior, was kind of depressing. They were dressed almost identically in dark leggings and long tank tops. Both had the same shade of fake red hair and I smiled, thinking about how my friends and I used to do the same thing, going out for the night like twins. Of course, I was never skinny enough to look like anyone's twin but it was still fun. I sauntered closer to listen to their conversation, keeping my eye on the lobby to make sure I didn't miss my ride to the club.
