“They drive or fly. Most drive with the trailers hauling our goods. They usually arrive a full day or two before us, depending on the venue and amount of staging they’ll need to put together.”
“Damn, the fridge is stocked. I’m starving.” Midian picked over what was available, while Major grabbed a chocolate éclair.
“We just ate huge breakfast burritos two hours ago.”
“Sam, growing men need food all the time. Major is good at making burritos though, I had like four.”
“Look at all you lazy people, eating up all the good food.” A newcomer joined them.
“Trish. I thought you planned on staying home?”
“Yeah, I planned on it too and then Garrick asked me to fly in. Seems he wants to make sure there are no issues.”
“Sam, Midian, Major and Vin, meet our personal assistant, Trish. She is the problem solver of the team, has super powers to make shit not hit the tabloids, and the balls to rip grown men to shreds with one look. We cower in fear of pissing her off.”
Trish snorted and slapped Jimmy in the back of his head. “Yeah. Jackson and Jimmy give me the most grief. Thankfully Jackson is grounded now, and no longer a live wire. Now, my main concern is Jimmy and the four of you.”
“You don’t have to worry about them. Midian and Major are dating my friend, Catalina, and Vin is dating my friend, Dominique.”
“I’m sure that will change. They’re young, and trust me when I say there will be an endless supply of willing skanks wanting an in with the band. Reminds me, please let me know if there is anything I should know about all of you. I don’t like surprises that may bite me in the ass.”
Jimmy noticed Sameera’s body tense. “Meerkat, the press will make it a point to bring up Miles’ death and our relationship. It’s not their business and I will close them down until you go through a media class with Trish. All of you need to know what to say or not to say, that includes posts on forums, and all social media. Like pictures of me with cheese whiz on my face in the shape of cock and balls.” He grabbed a Bavarian cream donut and took a seat.
“That is hilarious. I saw that this morning.” Trish laughed. “We will make time to talk either online via chat or in person. I do have a lot to teach you in a short time. Until then, censor comments, no using derogatory terms that will piss of the masses. Don’t alienate fans before you get them in your pocket. Right?”
“So what can we say?”
“Nothing about your personal life. Sam, we will set up an interview or two for you eventually. Keep your answers short and close ended, don’t leave openings for anyone to take your words out of context, which they love to do.” She turned to look at the room in general. “How about some rules to live by in the interim to make our lives easier. Try not to have any sex scandals just yet. Don’t trust anyone outside of your circle. People will sell you out to make a buck once you’re noticed. Friends from your past too. Don’t do drugs. Don’t drive drunk, we have a car service, use it, there’s no need for that drama. Did I say no sex scandals? Let me make you crystal clear. Sex tapes don’t go away. If you’ve had one made in the past, let me know so we can get nondisclosure contracts to the other participants. Boys and girl, always use a condom. Better yet, use your own, bitches will poke holes in the ones they bring. Practice exhibiting common sense, if you’re blasted and their blasted, no fucking. Last thing we need is a nonconsensual issue biting you in the ass, and yes, trifling bitches will pin one on you for money. And finally, until we train you on what to say to the public. Yell for security, or Crimson Rage, and say no comment. Smile and wave at people all you like but don’t speak unless you’ve been advised by the others.”
Jimmy chuckled at their deer in headlights expression. “And if you break her rules, she fines you. Garrick set it up. Some of those fines are huge. She’s a total dictator.”
“Now that that’s settled. I’d like to introduce you to Jacob, your security guard. He will work with Crimson Rage’s security guard, Mason. He’s been debriefed on our policies, exit strategies and general way of life.”
Jimmy moved to grab Sameera, but Trish’s expression stopped him. He crossed his arms and widened his stance as the muscle bound dickwad stepped into the room.
“I’m Jacob. It’ll be a pleasure protecting you. Nice to see you again, Sam.” He turned to the other males. “If you need anything, I will make sure you get it. If you want people backstage or people escorted out, I will handle that for you. Your safety is my concern. I’ll go through any gifts, bags, will confiscate phones and cameras from those allowed back stage and make sure those who have bribed other crew members to give them access to your dressing rooms are removed before you return.”
“Sam and Jimmy. You’re free to leave anytime to go over your riff off. I want a solid and fun performance. Freestyle, don’t free style. Do whatever, just make sure you plan something entertaining. Garrick is doing some last minute prep before making sure the VIP section and backstage tour is set. There will not be a meet and greet. The fans will merely get a glimpse of backstage and an opp to take a picture with the Crimson Rage setting backdrop.”
Jimmy smirked at Jacob. He leveled a gaze on the guard while tucking Sam in his arm and dropping a searing kiss on her lips, leaving her unbalanced and gripping him for dear life.
“Jealous much?” she breathed into his ear.
Challenging hostile eyes met his. “Of that, nah. Just wanted him to know his place.”
* * * *
Damn. The woman was trying to kill him, or compelling him to kill every fucker in the audience for getting a peek at her curvy body. Trish handled her wardrobe to the max. Sameera looked good in a T-shirt any day. But the vision in front of him left him breathless. His meerket was dressed up in a top baring her midriff and gleaming belly button ring, add a pair of hip hugging short black shorts with the sexiest studded stiletto heels. The view made him want to strip her of everything but the heels and fuck her in every possible position. He wanted to do that anyway, but all dressed up with flawless makeup and her messy after-sex hair all over the place had pushed his buttons. Shit, his dick rose to the occasion. “Hell, meerkat. I’m gonna combust right here. Forget the fans, let’s go back to the bus and take care of this tension you created right now.”
Sameera laughed. “No. I didn’t go through sitting for an hour with the makeup artist to go ruin it. You ready for me?”
“Hell yeah, give me your worst. You ready for them?” He nodded in the direction of the restless fans.
“I was born ready.”
“Then let’s get out there and introduce you. Vin, Major and Midian, head on out to your spots on the stage. Sam and I will join you last.” Jimmy waited for them to move out. Sam appeared overexcited, a bundle of nerves. She needed reassurance. He slipped his hand into hers and leaned in to kiss her lips lightly. “You got this.” Hand in hand, he led her to the stage. The fans screamed his name when he stepped out and grabbed the mic.
“Indianapolis! How the fuck are you doing today? You ready to rock? I’d like you to meet Final Regret. In a few they will ramp up the volume and rock your fucking socks off. First, let me introduce them. We got Midian on drums.” He let Midian showboat for a second on his kit. “His little brother, Major, on lead guitar.” Major fingered his fret board like a woman’s pussy giving an orgasmic inducing sound. “Vin on bass.” Vin showed his swagger, posing for the screaming girls in front of him.
“And their leading lady, Sameera, with the voice of a siren, and playing rhythm guitar.” Sameera winked at the explosive crowd. “And folks, Sam and I go way back, back in time. Let’s see if she remembers what I taught her years ago.” Midian handed him his guitar and Vin handed Sameera’s over to her.
“Nothing like a bit of healthy competition, right?” Sam’s velvet voice broadcasted over the sound system. She licked her lips and tossed her hair over her shoulder. “Jimmy, I remember when I was seven and I picked up my first guitar.” She strapped her guitar over he
r shoulder, put the pic in her mouth and ran her fingers over the fretboard.
Jimmy took the lead, playing Crimson Rage’s first popular song. Sameera followed suit. He noticed she watched his every move, gave him a smirk of her own and amped up the complexity. The way her fingers flew over her guitar stole his attention.
“We love you, Sam. Show him, girl.” The female fans routed for her. Sameera moved toward him and leaned forward. He loved watching her in her element as he teased her with low cords.
“Ladies, isn’t this the sexiest bad boy ever?” Her husky voice teased his already raging dick. Sameera picked up the pace choosing to duel with him on his own song. The crescendo of their musical melody left her flushed and breathless. He leaned forward and stole a kiss. The crowd loved the interaction.
“He always was a cheater at games.” Sam chuckled into the mic. “To Jimmy, the man who taught me it all.”
He stepped up and stole the mic. “The student has by far passed the teacher. Damn babe, can’t wait to see you perform. Ya’ll ready for Final Regret? I said…Are you all ready to rock out? Kill it, Sam.” He tossed her the mic and sauntered off stage with his guitar to watch from the shadows.
“How’s our girl doin?” Garrick sidled up beside him as she thanked the crowd for coming out and chose to rock out with her first song Liar Liar.
“Good. She has great stage presence. Fuck, I could listen to her talk all day. The four of them make a unique team. An unforgettable one. Amazing lyrics. How’s Nev?”
“She’s okay. We’re back on the whole weight issue thing. She’s unhappy with how much she’s gaining carrying the twins and we’re out here with what she considers the perfect sized female population.”
“Sucks to be you, bro. It’s the hormones. Watch, shit’ll get back to normal after she pops those two out.” Jackson and Shea moved toward them with a beer in their hands. Jimmy accepted his and handed one to Garrick.
“They sound great.” The band finished their first song and segued into their next, Fire and Ice. In their mix, he heard the undertones of cello. Her voice hooked him, hell, hooked the audience. She swayed the female population with her words and slayed the men for their supposed arrogant ways, leaving them all screaming for more.
“Indianapolis, we only have two more songs for you. I’m going to do a cover of my favorite song, and then finish with an acoustic song. Yeah, but first, let me say for me and my guys, it’s been an absolute pleasure rocking with you. Thank you for being our first big show, for your support. We do have some merchandise. Stop by and take a look, find us after our show.” She signaled for Midian to drop the beat and turned on the sass with Kiss Me Deadly.
Damn, she was a natural at including the fans in a popular older song, encouraging them to sing along with her, while she played guitar. Her passion and joy filtered through. In the back, Midian kicked up the beats, hitting his tom, the cadence of his sticks amped the crowd.
“Can’t take your eyes off her, huh?”
“Never could.” He caught Jacob watching her and strode over to him.
“Bro?” Garrick warned.
Jimmy shrugged off the authoritative tone of his brother. Jacob met him halfway. “I don’t like the way you look at Sam. You’re here in a capacity to step in if there’s an issue. Not here to moon over what’s mine.”
“Don’t tell me how to do my job.” Jacob stepped into his face and smirked. “If she belongs to you, why did she have her tongue shoved down my throat the other night? Oh, that’s right. You wish, she belonged to you.”
“There a problem?” Shea stepped in.
“Nah, just showing rent-a-cop his place and to stay away from Sam on a personal level.”
“In your dreams, dick. When she tells me to back off, I’ll back off. We’re done here.” Jacob turned his back, crossing the backstage.
“Man, stop pressuring her. We all know ya’ll belong together. Let the fake cop get his jollies looking at her.”
“It’s the way he looks at her that sets me on edge. Fucking perverted opportunistic dick.” Jimmy blew out a breath and gazed out at the stage. Sameera quieted the fans down, deciding to finish with her acoustic guitar and the song about them. Perfect Storm. The lyrics haunted him, caused his own demons to come to the surface of his skin. Watching her band connect with the fans continued to blow his mind. She may have thought he’d never seen her perform in her symphony, but he had countless DVDs of her on stage. Those moments didn’t compare to seeing her peel off her shy skin and embrace her talent. He had to give props to the guys in Final Regret for urging her to try something new, something undiscovered. The last chorus of her song tapered off and the music stilled.
“Indianapolis, thank you for coming out tonight! It’s been a pleasure. Are you ready for Crimson Rage? I know I am.” He watched her blow the fans a kiss and leave the stage with Vin, Major and Midian right behind her.
The stagehands moved past them onto the stage to break down the platform and pack up their equipment, to make room for his band.
“OMG! That was amazing. I’d hug you, but I’m sweaty and you are all ready to go on.”
Garrick pulled her in for a hug. “No worries, we’ll all be sweaty soon too.” He kissed the top of her head. “Good job, kid. All of you.” He clapped the guys on the back. “Damn good first show.”
“Meerkat.” Jimmy slinked his arms around her waist, stealing her from Garrick. She turned in his arms and locked her lips to his. “Thank you.” Take that you dick cop. He wound his hands in her hair and carried them to a private room for their own private celebration. His vixen tugged at his shirt, peeling it off and jerked the button of his jeans off. Jimmy slipped his hands into her shorts and peeled them from her body. A ripping sound brought a chuckle from them both. “I’ll replace those.”
The heat from her dripping wet core on his fingers tantalized him for a taste. Her hands slid his dick. If she didn’t stop he’d blow before stuffing her hot channel.
“Fuck me, Jimmy.”
“That book is teaching you some things, huh?” He lifted her legs around his waist and slid home in a solid thrust. Sam anchored her arms around his neck and ground on him.
“Umhm. Couldn’t wait until later, to wound up right now. Promise me we’ll finish this in bed? I don’t want to make you late. Fuck me hard.”
“Aren’t you full of surprises.” He breathed into her neck, trailing his tongue over her exposed skin. Jimmy braced her back to the wall. “Ask and you shall receive.” She nipped his neck eliciting a savage growl from him. Satin folds wrapped around his cock promising to suck his seed, but not before he gave her the hard screw she requested. Skin slapping against skin filled their small lover’s cove. She murmured his name in gasps as he drilled home.
“J.J.” She drenched his cock in cream. Jimmy sucked on a patch of her neck, leaving a red bite mark. Her flesh worked him with aftershocks. Locked up, he came hard, his hands dug into the globes of her ass.
“Tonight we finish this the right way.” He kissed a path up her neck to her lips. “I want to sample every inch of you. We better get back out there.” He yanked the rest of her panties the rest of the way off and stuffed them in his back pocket. “For luck.”
Sam laughed as he let her feet touch the ground. He picked up her shorts and helped her into them. Spotting a paper on the floor, he picked it up and noticed his brother’s handwriting. “Sam?” he asked in confusion as he scanned the page, reading the letter in full. Crushing agony seized his heart. The paper fell from his hands when he looked at Sameera, her face filled with tears. She knew he despised secrecy. Fuck.
“Jimmy, I can explain.”
“How long have you had a letter for me from him?” Forcing himself to turn away from her to compose himself took all his will power. He righted his clothes and took a deep breath. “How long, Sam, have you lied to me?”
“J.J., I haven’t lied to you. This guy from his team brought me the letters a year ago. At first, I wanted to give them
to you but I wasn’t sure you could handle reading what he wrote, not after the binge you went on after the funeral. I never read your letter, it’s still sealed.”
“Show me now.” He stomped out of the room with her trailing behind him.
“You don’t have time to do this now. After the show, please. I don’t want you to go on like this.”
“Garrick, I’m heading to the bus for ten.”
“All right. Everything is almost set up. The guys are out there tuning the guitars for us and staging our set list.”
“Move it, Sam.” Jimmy dashed for the bus, thankful it was parked underground in the private lot a few minutes away.
“I’m sorry.”
“We’ll talk in the bus. Not here where everyone can fucking hear every word.” He dragged her to the bus, passing Jacob along the way. “Bro, don’t even think to step in.”
“Sameera, everything good?”
“We’re fine.” Jimmy noted the panic in her voice. She didn’t trust him not to blow up and destroy shit. He swung open the door and jumped over the jump seat, blazing a trail to the back of the bus into her room.
“I didn’t want to hurt you or make you mad. I just didn’t know how to give it to you or how to bring up I had it. I planned to though on this trip.” She stepped into the room behind him and wrapped her hands around his waist.
“Don’t touch me right now. I’m not in a good place, Sam. Get the letter.” Sameera wiped her tears and moved toward the cubby holding her luggage. She pulled out the suitcase and unzipped the top pouch, pulling out a manila envelope. With shaky hands, she handed the parcel to him. “Jimmy. Please forgive me.”
“I used to think we were above the bullshit and secrecy, Sam. We’ve got so much history. But this, is big. Please go back inside. I’ll be in as soon as I’m done reading. I need to be alone.”
“Okay.”
She swallowed hard. He fought the urge to pull her into his arms and kiss her quivering lips. How he wanted to take her hurt away while struggling to get a handle on his own. He ripped open the top and pulled the sheet of paper out, and was transported back in time.
Kiss Me Deadly Page 12
