Deep Rocked

by Clara Bayard

  Dex stood up, refastened my pants and wrapped his arms around my waist. “There. Now you’re all mine.”

  I looked up at him and smiled before presenting my lips for another kiss. This one was as passionate as the last and left me breathing heavy.

  “My god, Becca.” Dex brushed the back of one hand along the side of my breast. “You are so fucking gorgeous right now.”

  I bit my tongue to gather some control. “We need to get out of here. Right now.” If my face looked anything like his, it would be evident to anyone who saw us what was going on.

  “Okay, okay. But after we’re done tonight I’m coming back with you. And I don’t plan on leaving your bed until tomorrow’s show.”

  “It’s a deal.”

  Chapter Seven

  The show went perfectly. And I managed to keep from drooling while I watch Dex play. Having had his talented hands and mouth on my body made every motion on stage erotic to me. When he closed his eyes in concentration I thought of how he’d done the same to keep from reaching climax with me before he wanted to. Each complicated maneuver on the frets of his bass reminded me of how he’d coaxed my arousal, made me ready for him.

  In the middle of the set I had to stop watching. It was too much. I noticed Joe’s girlfriend Liss in her little hiding space by the stage and smiled at her. She waved and came over to talk to me.

  “Damn, it never gets old, does it?”

  “What?” I asked.

  “Watching them up there. It’s like magic. Four drunk idiots on the bus turn into rock gods. Incredible.”

  I laughed as we walked back to the dressing room together. “That’s exactly right. Maybe they should change the name of the US tour to that.”

  “I agree.”

  “They’d probably like it, but I doubt the label would.”

  She shrugged. “You know a lot more about the business side than I do.”

  “Thanks. But I’m lucky. Been around this business my whole life.”

  “Ah. Yeah, not me. Before I met Joe my life was…different.”

  “I’m sure. But you seem to be making it work.”

  She smiled. “We are. Somehow. I’m worried about the fall. When I start school full time I won’t see him for months. But, we love each other. It’ll be hard, but I have faith in us, you know?”

  “Sure. It’s nice to hear that.”

  “Talk to me in October, I might tell you a whole different story. But you’ll keep an eye on him for me, right?”

  “Are you worried about groupies?”

  “Not really. As hard as it was to accept at first, I know he loves me and only wants to be with me. It’s more that I want him to be happy, even away from me. And I don’t want him to be lonely. They’re always surrounded by adoring throngs, but that can be as isolating as being alone.”

  I nodded. “I’m sure. And yes, of course. I’ll keep an eye on him. Assuming I’m still with the tour.”

  She cocked her head to the side. “Why wouldn’t you be? From what I’ve seen you’re doing a great job.”

  “I hope so. But this is my trial run. Right now Ryan could let me go as soon as we get back to the States.”

  “You have a contract, right?”

  “Yeah. But while I’ve agreed to be available for the whole tour, there’s an out if I don’t perform well.”

  She patted me on the shoulder and plopped down onto a couch, opening a beer. “I wouldn’t worry. The guys seem to like you, the crew adores you, and you’re working hard. Hell, I couldn’t imagine Ryan letting Dex leave the tour with anyone else. He must really trust you.”

  I blushed and looked away, but she noticed.

  “What is it? Did something happen when you and Dex left?” Liss’s eyes were full of concern. A big part of me wanted to tell her. There was an ocean between me and my girlfriends, and I was bursting to talk about it. But I couldn’t.

  “No. I mean, it was difficult for him. But he did fine.”

  “Okay.” She seemed skeptical, but didn’t press the issue. “So are you done for the night?”

  “I wish. Got a bunch of things to do and then I have to supervise the load-out. After that stuff got missed in London we’re being extra careful.”

  “Isn’t tomorrow’s show here?”

  “Yes, which is nice. Less stuff to move, but some things have to go with us.”

  “Bummer. Well, Mia made some friends and they’re dragging us all to a bar after the show. Do you think you’ll be able to come along?”

  “Sure. Text me the info and I’ll meet up with you.”

  “Okay, great.”

  “Well, I should get back to work. You need anything?”

  “Nope. See you later.”

  “Bye, Liss.”

  She smiled, took a drink and pulled out her phone.

  I left the room and went down to the club floor to rush through the rest of the things I needed to do, wondering about going out later. I mostly wanted to go back to the hotel, but people would notice if Dex bailed on the party and I didn’t want to raise any suspicions.

  The decision ended up out of my hands. Everyone went to the pub. It was only a few blocks from the hotel. Smallish but welcoming, the place was packed. The band was greeted warmly, but there was no gushing or thousands of photos being taken. A small mercy.

  At first I just sat on the edge of the group, sipping a soda. But as Dex drank shots with the guys, his glances over to me grew longer and more heated. I couldn’t say anything for fear of making it worse, so I ordered a glass of wine and let it calm me down a little.

  Unfortunately, it calmed me so much that I was soon returning the heated glances and making myself insane. Eventually I excused myself and went outside for some fresh air. But within a minute he was there.

  “You okay, love?”

  I nodded. “Just needed some air.”

  Dex looked around, but the few people on the street didn’t seem to be paying us any attention. He stepped close to me, reaching behind my head, and tugged my hair down. “Mm. Much better.”

  “Don’t,” I said playfully. “We both know what happens when the hair comes down.”

  “We sure do.” He brushed his thumb across my lips. “I can’t take this anymore, Becca.”

  “What?”

  “Looking at you and not touching you. I’m going mad. I need you.”

  I sighed. “Thank god it’s not just me.”

  “Let’s get out of here. No one else is at the hotel yet except Ryan and I’m sure he’s fast asleep.”

  “We can’t just leave.”

  “We have to, or I’m going to tackle you right in front of everyone.”

  “You wouldn’t.”

  “I might.” His finger dipped inside my pants and pressed against the spot where he’d marked me. “When it comes to you, Becca, there’s no telling what I might do.”

  Blushing, I kissed him softly on the lips.

  But when the door of the pub opened I jumped away from him, crossing my arms in front of me.

  Mia, the tour’s blogger and Ryan’s niece, walked out with two other girls. “Oh hey, guys.”

  “Hi,” I said. “What’s up?”

  “Not much. This is Kate and Sarah.”

  I nodded at the other girls, but they were ignoring me and staring at Dex. Something primal in me wanted to growl, scratch at them. I guess he wasn’t the only one with a possessive side.

  “Are you all leaving?”

  Mia shook her head. “Nah. Just waiting with them. They’ve got some friends coming to join us.”

  One of the other girls nudged her.

  “Oh yeah. Um Dex?”

  “Huh?” He looked a little surprised and distracted, but finally turned his attention to her.

  “Kate wants to ask you something.”

  “Okay.”

  The girl stepped forward, twisting a lock of long, dark hair around her finger. “I was reading an interview you gave. Said you are half American?”

  He si
ghed. “Sort of. I’m an American citizen, but I was born outside London and I’ve lived all over the world.”

  I thought back to when we were heading to catch up with everyone. I’d mentioned going home and he agreed. More than most people, I understood that home isn’t always a place. Sometimes it’s the people you feel the most yourself around. But I didn’t imagine the drunk girl was capable of understanding that, and she certainly didn’t know that this was not the best time to make Dex think about his parents and his upbringing.

  “That’s really interesting,” she continued, still rolling that piece of hair in what she probably thought was an alluring manner, but struck me as a nervous habit. “I bet you have a woman in every city.”

  He shrugged and cast a quick look over at me. “I meet a lot of people.”

  “Well, if you’re in need of a tour guide, I’ve lived here all my life. Never been nowhere.”

  “Well, thanks. But we’re only here another day and a half. Not much time for sightseeing. But if you like, I’d be happy to hook you ladies up with tickets for the show tomorrow.”

  The girl pouted prettily, batting her eyes at him. “Is that all?”

  Dex slipped into flirting with her naturally. “Is it?” He leaned against the wall, letting a lock of hair fall over his face.

  She giggled and glanced over at her friend before moving closer to him. “There could be more. If you want. I could show you around my neighborhood. And my place.”

  My fingers curled into fists and stung where my nails dug into my palms. I tried to remind myself this was part of his job. And covering both of our asses. But I’d had enough.

  Oblivious, Dex kept chatting playfully with the girl, Kate. “Now what could we possibly do in your neighborhood? Is there a good pub?”

  “No,” she said, smiling. “But I’ve got a stocked liquor cupboard. I can make anything you want.” Her hand finally left her hair and moved to play with the strip of flat stomach exposed between her halter top and denim mini. “I am very good with my hands.”

  My eyes narrowed. I was going to explode. “Well, if you all will excuse me, I should get back inside.”

  Mia turned to look at me. In the dim light I couldn’t read her expression, but I had never seen her so alert, which made me nervous.

  “Becca, wait,” Dex said. “Hold on one second.” He turned to Kate and smiled. “Look, darling. I’d love to keep chatting with you, but Becca and I have some band business to discuss.”

  Kate finally spared me a second glance. “You’re with the band?”

  “She’s our tour manager, basically,” he answered.

  She shrugged. “Oh, well, whatever.” Pulling a phone from her pocket, she held it up to Dex. “When you’re done with business, give me a call. It doesn’t matter how late.”

  I very much wanted to punch her. I closed my eyes and counted to fifty while he wrote down her number on a scrap of paper.

  Thankfully, a taxi pulled up right then, and a gaggle of people tumbled out. Kate squealed and started hugging them, still making sure to keep her eye on Dex. But in the madness of the crowd she was pulled back into the pub and away from us. Mia joined them and suddenly we were alone again.

  There was a long awkward silence.

  “That was…something,” I managed to get out.

  “Yes. Look, Becca. I’m not going to call that girl.”

  “I know,” I said, mostly meaning it.

  “I’m serious. In fact, here.” He fished the paper out of his pocket and held it out to me. “Throw it away. Burn it for all I care.”

  I softened. “That won’t be necessary.”

  He ripped it in half and dropped it on the ground. “Gone.”

  My mouth dropped open in mock horror. “Flirting with girls and littering? For shame.”

  He laughed. “The only girl I want to flirt with is you, love.”

  I smiled.

  “Now, where were we? Oh yes. You were kissing me passionately and about to ravish me.”

  “That’s not exactly how I remember it, Dex.”

  “Hmm. I do.”

  I walked over and hugged him. “This is so dangerous. Anyone could see.”

  “Then I guess we better get off the street, yeah? I know just the place.”

  “Is it close by?”

  “Very. We could be there in minutes if he hurry.”

  “But there’s a whole party going on inside. Everyone is waiting for us. Well, for you.”

  “Fuck ‘em.”

  I laughed and pulled back, taking his hand in mine. “Where’s your patience?”

  “I have none, not when it comes to you. Every second I spend not naked with you is a waste of my life.”

  “We can’t spend all of our time in bed.”

  “We could try.”

  I dropped his hand and reached back to put my hair up again. “Maybe so. But for now we need to get back.”

  He frowned. “No more sex-kitten?”

  “Not here. Not where we could be seen.”

  “You like this, don’t you? Knowing you’re torturing me. How much I want you.”

  “Maybe. And I kind of like that this…whatever it is, is just between us. That whenever you’re talking to someone, they don’t know what I do. What we do.”

  “So do I, actually. Our secret. No one’s business but ours.”

  I nodded in agreement, but a tiny part of me didn’t like that. Wanted him to want everyone in the world to know about us. Wanted him to be proud to be with me. But was it my own doubts that created that niggling question, or something I felt coming from Dex? Obviously he wanted me. That much was clear. But would he want to introduce me to his family as more than a friend or colleague? Would he gush about me openly to reporters? Smile and hold my hand while paparazzi snapped shot after shot of us?

  Not that I thought any of those things could happen. As much as I loved being with Dex, I needed to keep my job. And whatever his reasons for enjoying our privacy, I wasn’t going to sabotage it with my paranoid thoughts.

  But still, as we devised a quick plan to leave the pub without drawing attention, I still wondered. Our relationship had bloomed in secret, away from the reality of the tour. If it did come to light, could we survive that? Would he want to? Would I?

  Those questions haunted me a bit. As we managed to return to the hotel together undetected I was quiet. And when he pulled me close in the elevator, I pulled away.

  The look of hurt on his face embarrassed me. He’d done nothing but open his heart to me and I doubted him based on one tiny comment. That wasn’t fair.

  “What is it? No one’s in here.”

  “Nothing,” I replied, slipping my arms around him. “I was just thinking.”

  “Do you mean worrying?”

  “A little.”

  “What will it take to make you stop?”

  “I’ll be fine.”

  “That’s not good enough.” He crowded me up against the wall of the elevator. “But I can fix it. As soon as we’re behind a locked door I’m going to strip you bare. And then I’m going to make you come so many times you forget everything except me. Us.”

  His words shot right through to my core and I whimpered, grabbing on to the hem of his shirt. “Oh, honey. You’re killing me.”

  “Now you know how I feel.”

  And for all my stupid doubts, I did. He was an open book to me. And, true to his word, once we got back to my room, he made me forget everything. For hours.

  Chapter Eight

  Another day, another airport. One of the few times I actually felt like the babysitter Ryan referred to me as, was trying to wrangle everyone through the airport to catch a flight on time. After another great show and an early morning departure time, we were all moving slowly. I thought about the ease of strolling onto the private jet that brought us across the Atlantic Ocean and missed it terribly.

  I was a little cranky from lack of sleep and antsy about the next leg of the trip. We were headed to Paris,
finally. I’d dreamed of visiting, and now I’d be going. And not alone. I’d have Dex with me, and I couldn’t imagine anything more romantic. It was a big enough city that we could get lost. Find some out of the way places and just be ourselves. It would be fun and hopefully help banish my worried thoughts for good.

  Plus, everyone was exhausted, and after tonight’s charity event we’d have two whole days off. Heavenly. The band only had to play two songs and weren’t allowed to bring any of their own equipment, so there wouldn’t be much work to do for the afternoon, either.

  Liss and I were waiting for everyone to clear security and planning the shopping and eating we’d do on our girls’ day out. Mia was invited, but had been strangely noncommittal about joining us. Not that I minded that much. She was nice, but we didn’t connect, really. And ever since the night outside the bar, she’d been watching me closely for some reason, brushing off my questions about it.

  Finally, when we’d all been cleared, we trudged upstairs towards our gate. But when we arrived, my good mood went south quickly. A big sign indicated long delays, and the grumpy crowds we had to slog through finally made sense.

  Ryan and I pushed forward and managed to speak to someone on staff. Apparently there were big storms in the area, delaying flights in and out of the country. At this point there weren’t any firm estimates of when our flight would arrive, let alone be ready to depart with us on it.

  I sighed and went back to the group to deliver the bad news. Which is when things got even worse. In the three minutes I’d been gone, the band had been spotted and identified. Obviously all the press they did had worked. It was a zoo. Upwards of a hundred people crowded around them, some trying to get autographs and everyone snapping pictures.

  And then even people who weren’t involved started to yell. The crowded terminal became a roiling mass of noise, a knot of people blocking everything.