by Michelle Lee
He looks absolutely, drop-dead, unbelievably gorgeous. He’s wearing faded jeans slung low on his hips and a dark blue T-shirt with a washed-out design on it that resembles wings and fire. A silver belt buckle peeks out from underneath the shirt, his hair is in its perfect disarray, the overhead lights capturing its bluish almost purple streaks in his dark hair, he hasn’t shaved, the scruffiness of his beard making him look even more captivating, and his eyes are bright and gleaming. They are so alive and expressive, I can see the excitement in them that tonight brings.
“God, I’ve fucking missed you,” he breathes into my ear as he pulls me into him.
My mind gets all foggy, and I can barely find the will to speak. He has rendered me completely and utterly dazzled. How this man does this to me, I’ll never know. All I can do is nod in response. Dash pulls away, his hands resting on the top of my ass. Finally I find my voice. “I’ve missed you too.” His eyes rake up and down me, taking every square inch of me in.
“You look… shit, Jules, I don’t think there are words. You, you should really cover up. I don’t want anyone else to see you like this. I mean, I don’t want anyone else to think the things I’m thinking about right now, the things I want to do to you. You… just… fuck… you’re unbelievably sexy right now. Love the boots,” he stammers.
I can’t help but blush at his words. He always has a way of making me feel like someone I’m not. Although I have to agree with him on tonight’s look. I’m glad Tracy put it in my suitcase even though I thought I wouldn’t have a reason to wear it.
“Thank you. And if I do say so myself, you look completely… lickable,” I tease, surprising myself at the brazenness of my words.
“Jules, you… fuck… you can’t say things like that, I mean not now, not before I have to perform. I might just have to take you to a dark corner and do to you some of the things I’m thinking.” He exhales, eyes blazing.
Oh my.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean… it wasn’t my intention, you just look, well… you look completely gorgeous and the way you were looking at me, I just,” I begin, and Dash stops me by crashing his lips into mine. His lips mold to mine, warm and sweet. His luscious tongue swipes at my bottom lip, and I instantly part my lips and dart my tongue out, meeting his. Our kiss deepens and our tongues tease, caress, and explore each other. Dash grips my backside tighter, pulling me into him, and I instantaneously feel his hard length grind against me.
“Oh, just fan-fuckin-tastic, the fuck fest is in full swing again tonight. Does someone have a fucking hose? Seriously, a bucket of water, some Evian, spit even?” Vic bellows nearby.
Dash breaks our kiss, smiling against my lips as he does. “Sorry, Vic, I just keep on forgetting how hard up you are,” Dash teases, his smile widening.
“I’m not. Shit, Ford, do you have to be so fucking cruel? It’s not like I can act,” Vic replies and then storms off in a huff.
“He’s not really mad, is he?” I ask.
“Nah, he’s just being Vic,” Dash replies, shrugging.
I don’t think Vic was just being Vic. I think he has feelings for Val; maybe it’s just lust, but there’s something there between them. Unfortunately they can’t act on those feelings, even if it was to scratch an itch, so to speak. They might be able to keep it a secret from her boss, but Val has always had a strict policy to never get personal with clients, no matter what. I feel guilty that I am able to express my feelings for Dash openly. I just hope one day, in the near future, Val and Vic are able to do the same, but I have a feeling that will never happen.
“You okay?” Dash questions, pulling me out of my inner conclusions.
“Perfect,” I reply.
“Perfect?” he inquires.
“Yep, absolutely perfect,” I reiterate, poking at his muscular chest.
“You are that, Miss Bennett,” he practically whispers.
I feel my cheeks radiate with heat, and once again this incredible man has me blushing like some school girl. He pulls me against his chest, his arms wrapping tightly around me. I nuzzle against him, breathing in his intoxicating scent. Whatever cologne he’s wearing is the most amazing thing I’ve ever smelled before. His fingers stroke against my back, causing goose bumps to erupt. All the commotion and activity around us falls away, and it’s as if it’s just the two of us. I relish this feeling with him. I wish it could be just the two of us. I wish at times all this didn’t matter. I wish…
“Dash, time for the meet and greet?” Roland bursts our private little bubble.
“Sure, just give me a sec.” Dash wraps his arms tighter around me. It almost feels like he’s trying to protect me from Roland
“Hmmm. Well, don’t take too long. Your fans are waiting, and they’ve been waiting a while when they shouldn’t.” I look up from Dash’s chest, and Roland looks irritated while pointing to his watch.
“I know, Roland. I said I will be there, and I will. Just give me a fucking second.” Dash’s agitated voice reverberates against my ear. Roland gets the hint and pivots on his feet and stomps off.
I feel guilty keeping Dash away from his fans that are still waiting for him. I don’t need to give them any more reasons to hate me than they already have. Just me being with Dash makes them hate me, so I can only imagine how they would react and what they would think of me if they knew I was occupying his attention when he should be with them. “Dash, if you need…”
“What I need is right here in my arms. They can wait. I seriously doubt they’re going to leave. Just give me this moment to have you in my arms. Just give me this moment of peace and calm amongst all this chaos. Just give me you.”
My heart stutters and then thumps wildly in my chest. I melt in his arms. The man has a way of disarming me with his words. Dash pulls away, only putting a few inches between us. His eyes flicker to my lips and then back to my eyes. His hand comes off my waist and caresses my cheek—so tenderly, so sweetly. Again I start to melt. His eyes flicker over my face. And then slowly, ever so slowly, his lips descend upon mine. The kiss is tender and unhurried, as if we have all the time in the world. Time… I wish we had, but unfortunately we do not and the sooner he goes, does the meet and greet and then the concert, the sooner he can come back to me. His lips continue to caress mine. Even though this kiss isn’t the usual deep, passionate ones we share, it’s the most perfect one right now.
Dash’s lips pull away from mine, and a slow moan of disapproval escapes my lips. His lips brush my forehead as a smile graces his lips afterwards.
“I really don’t want to go. I wish I could take you back to my room and bury myself deep inside you—to feel you clench around me, your heat devouring me. Then kiss every inch of you until my lips, my mouth, my tongue has memorized every inch of your glorious skin. I so want to forget about this fucking concert, this fucking meet and greet, this fucking tour. But I gotta go do this meet and greet and then huddle with the guys, so I won’t be able to get my hands and mouth back on you until after the show. Although you could come with me to the meet and greet. I couldn’t be with you, but at least I would know you are in the room nearby.”
The thought of being that close to him in a room full of women that adore him and want I piece of him makes my stomach churn. I don’t think I could handle witnessing, especially not now after the day I’ve had. “I’ll be here waiting as long as I need to.”
He looks like he wants to say something, to question my response, but instead a smile widens across his lips. “I love the sound of that, and I love you.”
“I love you too, Dash.” I hesitate before continuing, but do anyway. “Besides, I wouldn’t want you to disappoint any of your fans because of me.”
“I don’t care about disappointing them, I only care about disappointing you,” he tells me as his hand slips under my chin, willing me to look at him.
I don’t answer. A million thoughts begin swirling around in my head. The horde of female fans that are present would probably lynch me for keeping him from per
forming. Lord knows they are practically already ready to do that now that pictures of Dash and me together have been released.
“Jules, what is it?”
I simply shake my head, turning away from him.
“Hey, look at me. Talk to me , please,” he pleads.
I haven’t told Dash anything about what has been going on with me and the paparazzi, his fans, or Nadia. Val has seen it, Russell now knows about Blake and what’s happening with that. I know I should tell him, but I don’t want to add to his stress; besides, I can handle it. Scratch that—I’m trying to handle. What am I talking about? I’m not exactly handling it. I’m doing everything and anything but handling it. I’m not exactly growing that thicker skin Val mentioned. I need to—I desperately need to. And I need to tell Dash; not everything, but some of it. Now is not the time—not before he’s about to go on stage to a sold-out crowd. The time will come, but not now.
“It’s nothing.” I give him my best smile, trying to convey that everything is fine, but I have a feeling he’s going to see right through me, right through my lie.
“Jules,” he demands, his voice stern.
I let out a deep breath. I knew it… I knew he would see right through me. I’ve never been good at lying; Val has always teased me about it. After another deep breath, the truth comes out. “Let’s just say your fans aren’t exactly thrilled with the idea that I’m with you, that’s all.” I leave out all the gory details, and anything doing with Nadia.
“What do you mean?”
Before I can answer, Roland calls for Dash, sounding beyond irritated.
“Shit. Listen, we are going to finish this later after the show, okay? Promise me.” He gives a pointed look, his eyebrow quirked in that challenging way.
“Sure, later,” I quickly respond.
Dash leans down and kisses me ever so sweetly. If we were in an old-time movie right now, I would probably be bending one of my legs up. “Yes, later,” he says before kissing me one last time, and then he hurries off to the meet and greet. I watch him walk away, and I can’t take my eyes off of him. He turns around and glances in my direction with a playful smile on his face, and I can’t help but blush. And then he’s gone for real this time. I feel my heart leave my chest and go running after him. Wherever he is, it is.
However, I simply stand there, my feet cemented to the floor, unable to move, to go after him. I try to will my legs to move, but they don’t budge. When did my limbs stop taking commands from my brain? And why did I say I wouldn’t be there with him? I’m out of my freaking mind for saying so. Before I even have a chance to answer the questions swirling in my head, an arm snakes around mine and begins to pull me forward.
“Why are you standing here like a dumbass, when your man is in there? Let’s go, missy,” Val says as my feet and legs begin to cooperate.
“VAL? WHEN DID you… how… I just thought that I wasn’t…” I begin, my thoughts a scattered mess at the moment. I thought she would be with the guys, being their PR rep and whatnot. I haven’t seen her all day.
Val just shakes her head, knowing what I’m trying to say. “You are so allowed in the meet and greet. We just need to keep our distance, so to speak. Let the boys do their thing, okay?” she answers as we get closer to the room holding the meet and greet.
As we approach the doorway, a sea of girls meets our eyes with a few guys sprinkled in. The guys are lined up behind a table and the fans take turns meeting each of them, getting them to sign things and take pictures with them. Val pulls me over to a secluded corner that has a perfect view of what is going on. I can’t help but smile watching Dash interact with his fans. He seems a slight bit shy, a pink hue coloring his cheeks from time to time, probably due to some random, sexual, or complimentary comment. We are alike in that respect.
I scan the room, and I notice a young girl off by herself not approaching the line. She looks to be no more than eleven or twelve. She’s wearing a Redemption T-shirt, has what looks like autograph book in her hand, and she is staring at her feet, watching them play with someone unknown, unseen entity on the floor. I can’t help but feel for her, thinking that would be me in the same situation. I release Val’s grip from my arm.
“I’ll be right back,” I tell her as I nod toward the girl by herself.
“Sure,” she replies, smiling.
I slowly make my way over to the girl, not wanting to scare the shit out of her if I were to come up on her abruptly. “Hi,” I practically whisper.
She turns to look at me, her eyes giving away her nervousness and fear and she’s also fidgeting like she has to use the restroom or something. “Um, hi,” she whispers back, her eyes turning away from me.
“How come you’re not in line like the rest of them?”
She hesitates, her eyes roaming all around the room, but avoiding looking at the guys at the table or myself. With a shaky breath, she answers. “Well… um… I’m… I’m really nervous and… and… I’m scared too, you know, to actually meet them face to face… My mom set this up for me since we’re vacationing here and she knows that they are my all-time favorite band. I just, um, don’t know what to say to them, especially, um Dash. He’s, um, my favorite and I would just die like a million horrible deaths if I were, to, um, say something completely stupid or incoherent. And my luck being what it is, I will definitely say something stupid,” she speaks quickly. It’s almost as if she’s afraid if she didn’t get it all out at once, she would completely lose her nerve. I can so relate.
“Well, I know for a fact that Dash is nervous himself to meet so many of his fans. And, I also know he would be highly disappointed if he knew you were here and didn’t get a chance to meet you,” I inform her, trying to put her worried mind at ease.
“Really?” she asks, surprised.
“Really. I happen to know that Dash would really like to meet you. In fact, if you want, I will personally introduce you,” I tell her.
“You don’t have to do that. I’m sure you’re busy and have better things to do,” she says, her eyes fixed on her feet yet again.
“It’s the least I can do. I’m Jules, by the way.” I put my hand out to shake hers.
“I’m Kristin. Nice to meet you.” A small smile tugs at her lips as she slips her hand into mine.
“Nice to meet you too, Kristin. Now let’s get you to the front of the line,” I reply, not letting her hand go and pulling her to my side.
As we approach the line, I make my way past the eager fans, catching ugly looks in the process, but I ignore them. Kristin and I are next in line for her to meet Dash. I feel her grip my hand tighter, and her skin is wet and clammy. If she only knew he has the same effect on me.
The girl before us slips Dash a piece of paper before giggling her way through the line to meet Lance. I can’t help but roll my eyes. Dash finally looks up, and a broad smile plays across his face as I stand before him.
“Hi, Dash. I would like you to meet a very good friend of mine—this is Kristin. She’s here on vacation with her family, and she just had to make to the show.” I introduce Kristin to Dash, and she grips my hand even tighter.
“Well, Kristin, any friend of Jules’s is a friend of mine. It’s really great to meet you, and I can’t thank you enough for coming to the show tonight even when you’re on vacation. It really means a lot.” The sincerity oozes off his tongue, and he reaches out to shake Kristin’s hand.
“It’s nice to meet you too. You um, are like really, um, amazing.” Kristin blushes as she slips her hand into Dash’s.
“I don’t know about amazing, but thank you. Where are you from?” he asks, extending their conversation.
“I’m from Pennsylvania. We’re just here on vacation for a few weeks,” Kristin tells him, her blush deepening.
“Well, the next time we play in Pennsylvania, near you, how about I set aside two tickets for you, front row?”
Kristin begins to vibrate and she opens her mouth, but nothing comes out. Dash has rendered another girl
completely speechless.
“Would you like that?” he continues.
Kristin shakes her head and finally answers, “Yes, Oh. My. God. Yes.”
“Great. Before you leave, give Roland, our manager, your info. Jules can take you to him and you’ll be all set,” he tells her.
With the hugest smile I’ve ever seen on a young girl, Kristin is beaming from ear to ear and is all glowy. Dash definitely can make a girl’s dreams come true.
“Thank you so much, really, I can’t believe, just thank you,” Kristin rambles as Dash hands her an autographed picture.
She holds on to it as if her life depended on it, and I turn us to take her over to Roland.
“It was nice meeting you, Kristin,” Dash says as we start to leave.
“It was, um, great to, um, meet you too. And again, thank you.” She beams at him.
I turn to Dash and mouth “thank you,” and he does the same. I take Kristin over to Roland and explain to him what Dash had just done. Kristin quickly gives Roland her information.
“Jules, thank you so much. If… if it weren’t for you… Thank you,” she says, her voice slightly shaky.
“It was my pleasure. I’m glad you got to meet him.”
A woman over by the door waves to us, motioning for us to come over. “Oh, that’s my mom. I guess I better go. Thanks again.” Kristin tightly hugs me before she bounces off toward her mom, rambling on about what her mom won’t believe.
I can’t help but smile before I’m rudely interrupted.
“Awwww, that was so sweet of you,” Nadia purrs behind me.
I turn around to find her glaring down at me, a devilish smirk playing on her lips. “You know what, Nadia? Shut the fuck up and go to hell,” I practically spew my words all over her. Finally my brain has caught up with the earlier situation. Nadia looks at me, confused. It’s almost as if I’ve cut her tongue out of her mouth, because she says nothing and just huffs off in disbelief.
