“Sameera, stop.” Nev laughed. “I do have to say, I feel easier about him leaving me now. I’ve been so anxious. There’s still so much to do and I’m used to having him here lately to help.”
“I’d be freaking out too, but you’re not alone. Carrie and Carlie aren’t coming with us so you’ll have them here to help you.”
“My two younger brothers, Zac and Neill, will come if you call. They’re keeping Roxie while we’re gone, since she’s too much for Carrie. Derrick and Marcus are too tied up with their careers to get a chance to breathe, but if there’s an emergency call them,” Shea shouted from his gaming chair.
“Where are the other ladies?” Sameera asked.
“Outside with your band loading up the groceries. Don’t worry, we asked the guys what you like and they went to the river market for you. I can’t wait to try some of your food. We just dropped in to wait for ya’ll and play a quick game.” Shea battled Jackson on some zombie apocalyptic game.
“Okay, just let me make one thing clear. I am not the only one who can cook on my team. All of the guys can.”
Jimmy laughed. “Don’t worry, Sam. A lot of times we stop and get drive through for a greasy burger, shake and fries.”
“Gross. You are what you eat, J.J.”
“Well, I damn sure ain’t a pussy and I eat plenty of that.”
“Really, bro, that’s what you respond with. Dumbass.”
Jimmy frowned. He grinned at Sam who rolled her eyes. “You knew I was joking right?”
“Yeah okay. You do know you’re pretty much known as a man whore. I wouldn’t put it past you to dive into beaver on whim.”
“Sam, I was kidding. I’m careful where I put my mouth.”
“Sure.” She patted him on the shoulder and moved past him. “I’m going to go check on the equipment and everything that was bought for me to cook.”
“Bro, you plan on winning her favor with your skank trash talk? Nice. I’d be brushing my mouth with bleach if I was her.” Jackson cracked up.
Jimmy caught the beer hurled his way and set it on the table.
“Not in a drinking mood.”
“I figured you must need a beer to get your balls back. Seriously, you didn’t hit that in the shower? That’s not you. Not at all.”
“Our little brother is growing up.” Shea tossed the controller on the table. “I concede, you are the all-time champion of this bullshit game, Jackson.” He reached over for Jimmy’s discarded beer.
“Why aren’t we on the bus, heading off?” Jimmy walked to the counter, getting himself a cup of water.
“Oh. Yeah. Midian and Major are banging some chick on the bus. Thought we’d let them get their good-bye in before we headed out.”
“Uh. Didn’t you just tell Sam they were only putting stuff away with the other girls?”
“The girls are putting stuff away. The trio are in the backroom.”
“Sam’s not used to bus dynamics yet.” He tossed his drink back and ran from the house, hoping to catch up to Sameera before she ran into the fuckfest going on. He passed Carlie and Carrie coming up the walkway. “Hey, where’s Sam?”
“Oh, she just got on the bus.”
“And you let her?” Jimmy growled, breaking out in a run as the two sisters giggled and passed him on their way inside.
Unbelievable. They had no class. Fuck, he didn’t possess an ounce of class either. Throwing open the door, he jogged up the stairs, passed the jump-seat, heading to the back of the bus. “Sam, Don’t open.” She opened the door to where she’d sleep before he could catch up to her. Her indrawn gasp filled the narrow hallway. Midian, Catalina and Major were tangled up together on the bed. From his spot, he saw both cocks gliding in and out of Catalina’s pussy and ass. Strong hands groping the woman’s bountiful breasts, another set holding her in place while they drilled into her. His dick jerked from the erotic vision in front of him. The two brothers shared equally. Sameera stood by with a shocked expression on her face. Jimmy walked up behind her and picked her jaw up from the floor. “Let’s give them some privacy,” he whispered in her ear, pulled the door shut, and turned Sameera to face him. Mirth threatened to spill out of his mouth at her starstruck expression, pebbled nipples and flushed skin. Yeah, she found the vision arousing.
“I can’t unsee that,” she whispered.
“Why don’t I give you a grand tour of the rest of the bus?” He tugged her after him. In that room there’s a second bathroom and sink, but the only shower is on the other side of this living area, between the set of bunks.”
“How many bunks are there? I passed some sections. I didn’t think there’d be a sink or full fridge in here, and there are three sitting areas in the kitchen. The entertainment sectional is great too.”
“Yeah, we all pitched in, wanting to be as comfortable as possible when we were touring more. There are twelve bunks. But the loungers in the entertainment area can also be made into beds, plus the queen size bed in the backroom.”
“I love my friend, but that was entirely too much of her skin to see, and my bandmates. And isn’t that where I’m supposed to sleep?”
Jimmy slid a hand through his hair. “Uh…yeah.”
“They better not break the bed.”
Was this where he said not to worry? Instead of speaking, he lured her to the front of the bus, explaining all the compartments and showing where to stow stuff. By pushing up the blinds, he showed the TVs mounted on the wall at the foot of the bunk. “Each bed has its own tele.”
“Nice. You’ll have some fun out here with the rest of the guys.” Sameera slipped into one of them and laid on her back. “Feels like a casket kind of, not that I’ve ever been in one, but there’s not a lot of room.”
“Yeah well, we’re normally passed out cold when we get in, last thing we’re thinking about is comfort, we just wanna grab some sleep.”
“I guarantee you my band will end up crashing in that bed with me, just my luck.”
“That’s not happening.” Jimmy frowned.
“People can sleep next to others without having sex or having a sexual relationship. I’ve slept in the same bed with my guys before.”
Jealousy flared inside him. He ground his teeth to prevent from saying some shit to piss her off. She sensed his mood change and frowned. Jimmy traced the frown with his finger. “Yeah, not on the bus. Don’t push me too far, Sam.”
The door opening saved him from her response. Catalina, now fully clothed flounced past them with a huge smile on her face, looking thoroughly fucked. “Have a good trip, Sam. Text me.”
“Whatevs, super freak.”
“Yeah, I’m a brick house.” Catalina grinned, pulled her sunglasses down and exited the bus. Midian and Major came out back to back, their shirts off. Sameera glared daggers at them.
“Put on your shirts. Ew, and button your jeans. I don’t want a replay or to see your muscles upon muscles. Boundaries…and in my assigned room, really? Did you change the sheets?”
“Sorry babe, was the only spot big enough for the three of us. The bed is fucking comfortable though.” Midian scratched his stomach.
Sameera opened and shut her mouth without uttering a word, then screeched and turned to stomp off the bus. “Clean up your mess, and I better not step on another condom like I did at my place. God, why do you have to mark your territory everywhere?” she tossed over her shoulder. Garrick entered the bus, followed by Shea and Jackson, blocking her descent. Jimmy laughed at her frustration, when she turned and headed back to find a seat.
“We’re set to go. Craig, our driver, is checking out things. We play in Indianapolis tomorrow. Let’s get settled.”
“We’ll go take care of the room. Don’t worry, Sam, that’s what wastebaskets are for. Which bunks are taken?”
“The first four bunks are us, the rest you all can divide or figure out what you want to do. Sam has the room. However, Sam, in the past, that room was rotated for extra company.”
“I don’t mind bu
nking if someone in my band needs the bedroom. You guys are shit out of luck since your ladies are here.”
“So we are.” Garrick winked. He grabbed the remote and turned on the huge plasma screen. “Sam gets first pick. What are we watching?”
Sam surfed the steamline gallery and picked Safe Harbor. “Nothing like a good chick flick.” She winked, walked over to her cabinet, then decided to raid Jimmy’s stash of potato chips and soda.
“Make yourself comfortable.” Jimmy relaxed on the lounge.
Sam found her spot and popped the bag open. “Want some?” She turned the bag toward everyone taking a seat around her.
“Sam, you can have my shit, but they have their own.” Jimmy snatched the bag from her. “I’ll hold since you’re so friendly.” He leaned over to speak in her ear. “They will never let you choose a movie first again.”
Sameera threw her head back and laughed. “I know. I chose a girly movie on purpose. They can watch some shit blowing up next.”
“Funny girl.” Jimmy grabbed a handful of chips. “I’m trusting you to hold this bag of chips.”
“Shh, the movie is starting.”
“Garrick, put your laptop away. We’re just now pulling out. Watch the movie with us.”
“Can’t, love. Gotta approve this story and the pics Nev wanted sent to Trish for the magazine layout. Thanks again for such a great idea. She gets a bit self-conscious and insecure with her weight. Everything I tried failed or made me appear like an uncaring ass.”
“You’re welcome, Garrick.” Sameera turned her attention back to the movie and tugged down her skirt.
Jimmy paused the movie. “Go put on something comfortable, babe. I promise if we get off the bus before our destination you’ll have time to change.”
“Smooth move, Casanova, but we’re still watching you,” Midian gave him a warning.
He ignored it. Sam came out in a sexy off the shoulder top, leggings and a pair of fuzzy bright pink socks, carrying a fuzzy blanket. The idea of her sitting in his lap with a blanket did nothing to quell his imagination, all the dirty things he wanted to do to her beginning with licking the expanse of skin from her shoulder slope to her neck.
“So much better.” She jumped on the chair and leaned back against him, covering herself up.
“I’ve missed this part of our past,” he murmured in her ear.
“So long as you remember the rules, hands where I can see them.”
His friends broke out in guffaws as did her bandmates. He shrugged. “Whatever you want, meerkat. You’re the boss.” As soon as the words were out of his mouth, he knew the guys wouldn’t let him live them down. Sameera flashed him a mega-watt grin, worth all the future ribbing in the world. How long had it been since he felt happy, content, chill? A long time. Too long of a time for sure.
The shift in dynamics was damned interesting. They’d come a long way from the rebels during their first and second tour. Perhaps it was the girlfriends that made them take pride in their belongings more, a clean bus, clean food, less drunkenness. For him it was seeing Sameera’s face when he woke up in the hospital after his close call with death. He never wanted to cause or see that pain etched in her soul again. Hell, he hadn’t sobered up a hundred percent, but began working out to get rid of the anger riding his back instead of turning to the bottle. She deserved more than who he was when Miles died, even though the struggle to retreat back to his prior ways when life became too much for him still existed. Jimmy fiddled on his phone with Sam tucked into his body. Bills had to be paid. His inability to trust anyone to do if for him meant he’d taken on the bothersome task himself. Hitting the send button to transfer money into his mother’s account took some force, he wanted nothing but to deny her, though the thought of her going to her ex-husband made him do a good deed. Maybe he’d get into Heaven after all. Not. For sure the devil kept an empty seat for him.
“Quit jostling me,” Sameera grumbled.
“I’m paying bills. I’ll be done in a few.”
“You need an assistant to handle that for you.” She turned to look at him. “Why haven’t you hired one?”
“We have a personal assistant for the band. I don’t need one for my personal life. Well, except to get out of sticky situations. My life is private. I can do my own bills, pay my own taxes.”
“Shhh. There is a movie playing,” Vin grumbled.
The corners of his lips turned up in a smile he couldn’t fight off. Who’d have thought Vin’s hard ass would enjoy a sappy chick flick.
“Next she’ll make us watch The Notebook, or some other pansy movie.”
“Eight hours of chick flicks sounds like a party to me!” Sameera cackled evilly. Jimmy smashed her with a pillow. “Behave before they believe you’d put them through that torture.”
“I can’t believe we’re moving. I mean I can feel it, but I’ve never been so comfortable in a vehicle of any kind before, well except for the plush plane.”
Jimmy nodded while watching the movie progress. In silence, the group sat together and watched the love story play out. Sameera’s breathing accelerated during the action packed scenes. When love scenes played he caught the flush of embarrassment on her face, especially with his bros making smooching noises and vehemently protesting the tenderness playing out. The ghost of the ex freaked them all out, he had to admit. But, they suffered through for Sameera because watching the movie made her smile and he’d be damned if anyone took that ray of sunshine away from him.
Giggling woke him from his nap. He swiped his hand across his face and felt a thick stream of orange goop. A growl tore from his lips as he jumped up and stormed to the bathroom to take a look at the damage. “Cheese wiz? That’s all you got, meerkat?” He washed the image of a penis and balls off his face and dried off.
“Could have been a sharpie. I owe you from your last prank on me. Don’t worry, the images are only up on the band pages and fan forums.” A sing song voice reverberated from the main room.
Jimmy stalked from the bathroom to find Sameera pointing her camera phone at him, standing behind Vin and Midian. “Waging war can be disastrous to your health. Take them down, meerkat.”
“Too late.” She jumped from between the guys and headed into enemy territory. Shea and Jackson picked her up and carted her to him. Jimmy tossed her over his shoulder and strode to her bedroom. “Time to pay the pied piper.” He slammed the door shut, locking everyone else out. At least the room no longer smelled of sex. She must’ve sprayed an entire canister of air freshener.
“I was just kidding put me down.” She huffed, beating against his back.
Jimmy dropped her down on the satin comforter. With her flushed face and wide eyes, he wanted to strip her naked and savor every inch of her delectable body. A heady tension rocketed through the room. Jimmy ghosted a hand up her chest, his fingers coming into contact with the frantic beat of her heart. Desire pooled through her. He leaned over to brush his lips over her parted ones. One taste wouldn’t hurt. His resolve would kick in. One sample of her soft sweet lips drove the need for more. Their tongues meshed. Swallowing her groan of pleasure, he dove deeper into the sweetest taste, the one he couldn’t forget. Her hands came around him, drawing him closer to her body.
Sameera needed to know who was in charge of their little unclarified relationship. He slipped his hands up her rib cage, reveling in her soft skin. “War has only one winner.” A soft nip here and there had her body softening under him. Strong thighs blocked her from moving her arms while he dug in, teasing and tickling without mercy. Her peals of laughter filled the air. He didn’t stop at her rib cage. He grasped her feet and brought her to breathless tears.
“N-not fa-air.” She fought for breath in-between peals of incessant giggles.
“Hey sweetheart, if it tickles that much, he don’t know what he’s doin.” Vin pounded on the door.
“You thought I was going to have my wicked way with you on the first night?” Jimmy ignored Vin and chuckled in her ear. “Tell
me you give up on the prank wars. I’ll give you clemency, make you feel damn good.”
“Never. I will not concede.” Sameera’s soft intake of breath clashed with her strong spoken words.
“You sure you wanna start this, meerkat? You are vastly outnumbered on this bus.”
She fought to sit up and wiggle out from under him. Strategic movements prevented her from sliding free, though his hand ended up cupping a breast. Her nipples pushed against the restraints of her thin shirt. Jimmy reached down and sucked the barrier covered flesh into his mouth. Under him she squirmed.
“Jimmy.”
“Concede to ending the pranks I have no doubt you’ll pull on everyone?” He flicked her bud with his tongue. Sameera’s pout came close to disarming him. The twinkle in her eye told him she knew damn well the effect of her not smiling did to him.
“No. I’m the only girl on this bus. Gotta get my kicks somehow.”
Jimmy sighed. “Okay. Don’t come crying that you haven’t been warned.” He climbed off her body.
“I’ll just go make dinner for everyone then.” Sameera licked her lips and roved her gaze over his body, lingering a bit too long on his wood.
“You go do that, meerkat.” Jimmy chuckled, fixing her bedding. For one last parting shot, he launched a pillow at her, knocking into face. She scrambled around him and grabbed a book from off the bed, but not before he noticed the cover.
“You dirty little girl. Is that a smutty novel? And under the pillow? I could see a sex toy there but a book?” He snatched said book from her hand. “Pain and Pleasure, an exploration of S and M lifestyle with short erotic works.” He thumbed through the pages, bypassing a manila envelope tucked in as a bookmark.
Kiss Me Deadly Page 10
