by J. L. Ostle
I notice his cheeks flush. “I understand. I’d like us to be friends; we can be movie buddies.”
I giggle. “I would like that.”
He looks around the room, going redder. “Okay, I will catch you later.” He waves before leaving the bus.
I look at Slate and Rush, and they are looking the door before they look at me. I bite my lip before sitting back on the couch, not saying a word. I just want to watch the rest of the movie. I can feel Caspian and Zeke’s eyes on me, but I don’t say anything.
When Rush and Slate start talking again about music, I relax a little, but I still feel a little tightly wound. I don’t want to talk to them about Sean and I have a feeling they want to say something about it. I felt so relaxed and at ease before, but now I feel like I need a deep massage.
Once the movie is over, the guys gather a few things they want to take to the hotel. When I get to the door, without thinking, I open it up, only to scream when flashes of light start going off. Reporters getting up in my face.
“Fuck.” I hear Slate behind me, pulling me toward him. One by one, the guys keep pulling me back on the bus until I am behind them all. They close the door, but we can hear them knocking on it. “Dammit, where are Bert and Nile?” He grabs his phone and starts yelling to whoever Bert and Nile are. “Assholes.” He hangs up.
“What did they say?” Caspian pulls me into his side.
“They were doing security checks in the hotel; they are coming now with the police to help.” Slate looks out the windows; at least they are tinted, and they can’t look in.
“I think I’m blinded.” I blink a few times, still seeing spots.
Caspian kisses the top of my head, pulling me closer to him, acting like they are going to break in the bus any minute.
Slate gets a message on his phone, looks down, and then looks at me. “They are ready for us, stay close,” he tells me, then he opens the bus door. Even though the reporters are pulled aside, there isn’t much space to walk through to get to the hotel entrance.
“Don’t let go of my hand.” Caspian entwines his fingers with mine. We take a few steps; when I am fully off the bus, reporters and fans are screaming out. I swear I even heard someone shout they are carrying Rush’s baby.
Don’t they know that vampires can’t have children; I roll my eyes.
I am being squeezed through with the help of two big bald men, who I believe are Bert and Nile, police trying to hold people back also. Zeke takes my other hand, and we continue walking through the chaos.
“Ivory Bennett, is it true that you were hired to keep the band Beaten Hart distracted, no questions asked?” I hear a reporter ask. I know how that question sounded; I look at the reporter—a woman with wavy red hair and green eyes. She is smirking at me, waiting for a reaction.
Vultures.
If I were brave enough, I would reply, but I know she would get her story. I just look away, keeping my head down. When we get inside the hotel, I walk over to the corner, my hand on my chest.
That was crazy, and I feel a little light headed.
“Are you okay?” Zeke takes hold of my shoulders, looking down at me.
“I’m fine. I think I was holding my breath for too long.” I lean against the wall, looking at the immaculate peach colored ceiling.
“Come on, let’s get you to your room.” He takes hold of my hand again; the others are at the reception.
Slate looks downright angry as he speaks to the manager, furious by what happened outside. From what it sounds like, no one should have known the band was staying here and someone on the staff must have told.
We get our keys and take the elevator up to the very top floor. The elevator walls are covered in mirrors; I look at my reflection, only seeing my own. I look at Slate, who still looks angry; I look back in the mirror and only see myself.
“You look pretty,” Caspian says in my ear, his eyes looking at my reflection, and I smile.
“Sweet talker,” I tell him, and he smiles.
When we arrive at our floor, the doors open to a massive penthouse.
Holy crap, it’s huge.
The only penthouse I have ever seen is from the movie Pretty Woman, and this is like twice the size of that. The guys start walking in; I stumble in. There is a huge living room—four cream couches take up the middle of the room, with a glass coffee table in the middle.
A huge TV takes up a wall, on either side are wall-length windows. I look to the right and see a kitchen with a breakfast island in the middle. I walk toward it, opening cupboards to see plates, pots, pans, everything you can think of.
I open the fridge to see it full of bottled water, cans of coke, crackers, chocolates, hell, there are even strawberries. I grab the chocolate, opening it and taking a piece, letting the chocolate goodness hit my tongue. I moan. I am so eating it all before we leave.
I turn around; the guys are all staring at me, chuckling. “What?” I say with a full mouth, so unladylike.
“Help yourself,” Slate teases.
“I plan to.” I walk toward the dining table, gliding my hands along the surface. I see a glass door that leads to a balcony. I head there next, stepping out in the dark night.
It’s so beautiful. The lights shining around the city looks like a painting. I lean on the wall, breathing in the fresh air.
“Beautiful, isn’t it?” I turn, seeing Zeke.
“It is; it’s amazing,” I tell him, looking out the lights again, and I feel him behind me. After a few seconds, he wraps his arms around my middle, resting his chin on my shoulder. I place my hands over his. “I think this is going to be the best part of being on tour, seeing views like this.”
“I never thought about looking outside. I normally come in the room and chill on the couch; it’s nice seeing what you see.”
“I know you are going to live forever, but you never want to regret things you could have seen, could have done.” I turn my head to the side, looking at him, and he’s already looking at me.
Really looking at me.
“I have so many regrets; I don’t want the what ifs with you,” he says in such a low voice before he leans in, kissing me, his hand moving to my cheek, pulling me into him. I move myself, my back hitting the wall.
Kissing him, feeling his lips against mine, feels so nice, so calming. I wrap my arms around his neck, his hands on my waist. He kisses me for another minute before he pulls back, his forehead pressing against mine.
“If I could, you would have left me breathless.” He smiles at me, and I chuckle.
“I must have magical lips; you all seem drawn to them,” I tease.
“No, we are drawn to you, petal.” He kisses me again before taking my hand and guiding me back inside.
The guys all sit on the couches and start talking about their music. I give them a kiss on the cheek and continue to tour the place. There is a powder room near the kitchen area, I look into one bedroom noticing it’s an ensuite, walking into the bathroom, I notice this one has a Jacuzzi; I am going in that soon. I look in each of the other rooms, and I scrunch up my face when I notice there are only four rooms in total. Am I going to have to share with someone?
I walk back out to the guys. I stand there, waiting for them to finish talking. They must know I’m waiting for something since they stop mid-conversation and look at me.
“Something wrong?” Rush asks.
“I notice there are only four bedrooms.” I bite my lip. “Where am I sleeping? Or sharing with?” I feel my cheeks blushing.
“Well, you can pick who you want to share with, or if you want a room to yourself, one of us can take a couch; it’s no problem. We would have gotten you your own room in the hotel, but we thought it would be safer if you were with us in the suite.” Slate stands and comes closer to me and sits on the couch arm.
“I don’t want to be a pain. I don’t want to kick anyone out of their room. I don’t mind sharing” —I look to the ground, clearing my throat— “a room. Who wants to sha
re with me?” I look up and I see all the guy’s hands are raised; I burst out laughing. “Of course, you were all going to say you would.” I shake my head.
“Whoever you want, petal,” Slate says warmly.
I look at each of them, and I will feel bad if I don’t pick them. “I don’t like choosing; I will let you all decide between you.” I sit down on the couch, taking a pillow, hugging it to myself.
“I dibs me,” Rush says quickly.
“I think she will enjoy sleeping with me more.” Zeke leans back on the couch.
“I think we should share mine,” Caspian adds.
“This isn’t helping,” Slate says, taking his seat beside me. “You can take my room; I will sleep on the couch.” He takes hold of my hand, lifting it to his lips, giving it a kiss.
“I won’t let you sleep on the couch; I will share with you,” I tell him. I haven’t even kissed him yet.
Not that I’m trying to get through them all.
I put my face in my hands. I am feeling a little whorish; it’s like I am working my way through the band. I stand up and start pacing.
“Petal, what’s wrong?” Slate stands, blocking my path.
“What are we doing? What are we? Am I your plaything? You have to admit this is messed up. I have slept with two of you and kissed three. In a matter of a couple of days. Hell, you have all seen my pussy.” I wave my hands up in the air.
“What do you want it to be?” he asks me soothingly.
“I don’t want you to think I’m a groupie, or a fuck buddy, or an easy fuck. I’m not normally like this. I normally let the guy wait three months before I even think about sleeping with him.” I look into Slate’s eyes, and he is looking at me with understanding.
“We don’t see you as those things. We like you, we respect you; we didn’t plan on this happening either, especially with a human. Tell us how you want us to be and we will accept that.”
I think it over; want do I want?
“If this is going to work, with me being with you all...” I pause, trying so hard not to get embarrassed by this topic. “I want it to be a relationship. As long as you are with me, you are mine, and I am yours, which means you can’t go screwing around with other people. If you want to end it, you tell me, and then it ends.”
“You want us to be your boyfriends?” Zeke stands, coming over.
I bite my lip. “I guess I am.”
“You will be our girlfriend?” Caspian asks, coming over also.
“I will.”
“We get to keep you?” Rush then asks.
“Until the tour is over.”
They all look at me confused. “You will leave after the tour?” Rush comes over, crossing his arms, not looking pleased with my answer.
I can’t be with them permanently; it wouldn’t work. I am human, and I have a home. They will continue with their music.
“You know we live in different worlds. In time, I will start to age. I need sunlight. It just makes sense. I can offer myself to you for two months then after that, you will have to let me go.” Just thinking of me leaving them, of saying goodbye, is hard, but it’s the only way it will work.
“I understand that. I am yours for however long you want me.” Slate takes my hand, pulling me into him, hugging me.
“I agree,” Zeke says, pulling me into a hug.
“Will be hard saying goodbye, but I’d rather have this time with you than not all.” Caspian stands and pulls me into his side.
I look at Rush, and he looks torn. “You are going to find it easy to walk away after this tour is done?”
“I won’t find it easy, but it is something I will have to do.” I walk over to him. “You don’t have to agree; we can still be friends, very good ones.” I give him my hand to shake. He looks at it for a moment before pulling me in and kissing me hard on the lips.
“Like fuck I will let these fuckers have all the fun. I know how good you feel and like hell I want to give that up quite yet.” He smiles at me; it’s rare I see him genuinely smile—it just lights up his whole face.
I step back, looking at them all. “I can’t believe I have four boyfriends at once.” I laugh to myself.
“Hot, sexy, vampire ones,” Zeke adds.
“Yeah, now this is going to be interesting.”
“Tell me about it.” Rush winks at me.
Chapter Twelve
Ivory
The band kicked ass, and the crowd loved every second. I was over the moon when there were no issues with the meet and greet. I got to meet a few other vampires, and they were so lovely that I added them on Snapchat and promised to keep in touch.
We are now being taken to a very well-known club that is really hard to get into if you aren’t a celebrity. I quickly get changed on the bus, wanting to wear something more clubby. I decided on a red dress that hugs me in all the right places, and when the guy’s mouths dropped when they saw me, I knew it was the right choice.
Entering the club, I see people dancing, drinking, and laughing. The atmosphere screams fun. I am moving my body to the beat as we are guided to the VIP area. I take a seat, still moving around, bopping to the music.
I look at everything around me. When I see our waitress approach, my mouth drops open in awe. She is so beautiful. Long white hair, silky white skin, and the brightest blue eyes I have ever seen. She is taking the guys’ orders, and when she looks at me, she gives me a warm smile.
“Are you okay sweetie?” she asks me. I swear if I was a lesbian I would be all over her.
“I forgot words,” I babble, and she and the guys chuckle.
“She is a fae,” Slate whispers in my ear.
I have heard of faes; I have never actually seen one. “You are so pretty,” I tell her.
“I am to the human eye. To supernatural eyes, I am just like anyone else.” She waves me off.
I look at Slate, who is looking at me. Why would he, or any of these gorgeous guys, want me when they could have her? “You can see how beautiful she is, right?” I ask him.
“She is beautiful, but we don’t see what you see. She looks like any other person at this club,” he tells me.
I stand, wanting a better look. “Can you see how you look?”
“I can see what you see and as supernaturals see me,” she answers.
“Do you have powers?” I know I’m being nosey, but I’m so curious.
“I have a gift, yes. I have an inner light; it keeps me safe.” Inner light, do I have an inner light? But I know I’m not a fae.
“Why do you work here?”
She starts laughing. “This place is a safe haven: no harm can happen to anyone, plus my family and friends work here. This is connected to a hotel and a restaurant; it’s all a safe place. There are some bad people out there who try and take gifts, especially faes’ inner light for their own selfish needs.”
“People want your light?”
“We may be supernatural beings, but we don’t want to die just like any human doesn’t. Humans kill for money and greed; the bad people in our world want what makes us special. To help them become more powerful.”
“That’s awful.”
She waves me off. “You are here to have fun; a bottle of Champagne is coming, but would you like anything else?”
“A mojito please.” She nods. “Sorry for bothering you; I am sure you get enough humans that come in here pawning at you if they see what I do.”
“Don’t be…” She takes my hand, and she pauses, her eyes starting to glow, her breathing stopped.
“Miss?” I ask her, but she keeps hold of my hand. “Slate,” I call out to him; he stands coming to my side.
“What happened?” he asks me.
“I don’t know. We were talking, and she ended up like this. What is happening; is she okay?” I look at her eyes, and they look a little creepy.
Her eyes then return to normal, and she looks at me like I grew two hands. “It’s you,” she breathes. “You are she.” She beams at me, pull
ing me in for a hug.
“I am who?” I ask confused.
“I am so happy to meet you.” She hugs me again. “Make sure you all look after her,” she tells the guys and walks away. I watch her go, wondering what she was talking about.
“I am confused,” I tell Slate.
“Me too; I will be right back.” He follows her, and I sit back down, sitting next to Zeke.
“It’s never a dull moment with you,” he laughs, pulling me into his side.
“Tell me about it; my life was boring until three days ago.”
The guys talk, and I sit there listening. When Slate comes back over, shaking his head, we all look at him, waiting for him to fill us in.
“She was having a premonition. She can’t tell me exactly what it was about as it might change the lines of fate, but she was smiling all the way through, so it must be good.”
“Maybe I become famous.” I shake his arm. “Or cure cancer or create a world where no evil exists.” I think of the things I could do in my future.
“You might join a band,” Rush jokes.
“I wish I knew, but I guess my path will take me to it. I just hope it’s nothing disgusting; I can’t deal with spiders or snakes. Now that scares me.” I shiver just thinking about it.
“You are in a world of vampires, demons, and witches, and you are more scared of snakes and spiders,” Zeke laughs.
“It’s the feel of them. Snakes are so scaly and spiders with all those legs, look at tarantulas, with those hairy legs and fangs…” I pause, looking at the guys. “Sorry, you know what I mean.”
“Yeah, that you are more scared of a spider’s fangs than vampires,” Rush laughs.
“I will throw my drink at you,” I threaten him playfully, and he raises his arms in surrender.
The waitress comes back over, and she keeps smiling and looking at me. I wish I could get what she knows out of her. I take a sip of my Champagne, the bubbles going down my throat.
