She loved Shade. Holy fucking shit, she loved him. She’d always loved him, but now she loved him. “Fuck me,” she whispered. “I’m in love with Shade Benson.” The man currently waving a hand to the TV audience as music signaled the show’s end. The man who was currently a world away on tour.
The fact the delivery guy arrived right then with her food kept her from freaking out too badly over the realization. But she couldn’t stop thinking about what the hell she was going to do with the new knowledge. Did she tell him the next time he called? Or maybe she should wait until they saw one another instead?
While chewing on a pizza slice, she realized the latter made the most sense. It wouldn’t do to say something like that over the phone when she couldn’t see his face. She needed to be touching him, and with his arms around her when she told him. Which meant she needed to wait. Nodding absently to herself, she made the decision. The moment she saw Shade in Paris she was going to tell him she loved him. She only hoped he felt the same way in return.
Chapter Sixteen
Shade stretched his arms over his head. He was pacing his suite anxiously when he should be resting. But he couldn’t do it, not when he knew Cat would be there any time now.
The band’s security chief had let him know that his man at the airport had reported in her flight was on schedule. She would be on the ground already, and through customs soon, he hoped. Then it would be maybe forty minutes, give or take, to get her from the airport and sneak her through the hotel to his rooms.
She’d be given a passkey that gave instant access to the hotel floor they had booked out. Shade only hoped she wasn’t too tired from the long flight. He needed to talk to her. He was worried about how off she’d sounded during their daily calls over the past week. When he’d questioned her about it, she’d blown him off with some excuse about a work issue, or distraction with getting ready to fly out to meet him.
He knew it well could be exactly that, but his gut was saying otherwise. Something was wrong. He hated not knowing what it might be. The distance between them the last two weeks had nothing to do with where they were on the planet. His biggest fear was she’d decided it was too hard to do this. He couldn’t lose her, he wouldn’t. Only he had no idea what to do to keep her in his life.
Frustration had him raking his hands through his hair again. The knock on his door a moment later only annoyed him since he knew it wouldn’t be Cat yet. Yanking the door open, he lifted an eyebrow at who he found there. “What?”
“Hello to you, too,” Jeremy said with a grin. He invited himself into the suite. The fucker went ahead in making himself comfortable on the sofa.
Slamming the door shut, Shade stalked over to collapse into a chair. “What the fuck do you want, Jeremy?”
Their lead singer clicked his tongue, and shook a finger in his direction. “Is that any way to talk to a friend? Come on man, we all know you’re freaking out about having Cat here. What’s going on?”
If not for the concern in his friend’s voice, Shade would have gladly shoved him back out the door with whatever means available. Blowing out a breath, Shade slouched down further in his seat. Because he needed to talk to someone about the thoughts swirling in his head, he gave a little in the face of Jeremy’s concern. “I don’t know. We’ve talked every day since we left L.A. but something’s off. It’s like she’s pulling away from me.”
Jeremy shook his head. Sitting forward, he braced his arms on his knees. “That can’t be, Shade. The girl loves you, and would do anything for you. I get that the distance is a huge issue, but you guys have been keeping your communication lines open. There has to be something else. I don’t know what, nor do I want to guess, what it could be. You probably don’t want my advice on this topic given I’m single and all. But I am going to give you some anyway. Don’t jump on her the moment she arrives. You’re exhausted, she’s likely the same, if not more so. Enjoy the fact she’s here, and worry about the rest when you are both in a better place.”
The fact the advice was perfectly sound irritated Shade more than it probably should. But he gave Jeremy a nod, and blew out a breath. “You’re right. She’s had a long flight to get here. We’re both going to be tired, and in no condition to have a rational conversation.” It sucked to have to say those words especially when they were true. Shade needed something to loosen the knot in his gut. But he wouldn’t push. If Cat wanted to talk he’d be there to listen. No judgment and no pressure.
“Good man.” Smiling at him, Jeremy got off the sofa. “We’re here for you, both you and Cateline if you need us. There’s nothing on the schedule for tomorrow until the concert. Take the day with your girl to get reacquainted. We’ll see you both for dinner before we all head out.”
Pushing to his feet, Shade clapped the other man on the shoulder. “Thank you,” he said quietly. After letting him out, Shade stayed leaning against the wood while staring blindly into the suite. He was damn lucky to have friends like he did. Without them he might have fucked everything up all because he could well have given in to the growing panic deep inside.
Now maybe he wouldn’t. He knew it would be better once Cat was with him. The anxious tension he was feeling had to do with knowing she was close, but not close enough.
The next knock on his door had his palms instantly breaking out in dampness. Wiping them to his jeans, he made his way across the suite to pull the door open. His smile was instantaneous at seeing Cat standing there. Taking her luggage from the security guy who’d brought her to him with thanks, Shade shut and locked the door.
After dropping the bags in the main bedroom he faced her again. “Hi, kitten.”
She came straight to him, and wrapped her arms around him while snuggling in close. Relief punched through him at the familiar action. Wrapping his arms around her, Shade buried his nose in her hair to breathe her in. His eyelids slid closed as he soaked in the heat her tiny body gave off while wrapped tight in his arms.
“I missed you, too, Cat.” He gently wrapped her hair around his fist, and tugged her head back to kiss her. She met him stroke for stroke with her tongue. Shade drew her in tighter until she squirmed.
Letting her go, he wasn’t all that surprised when she jumped up into his arms, her one hand instantly burrowed into his hair to hold tight. He met her kiss again giving in to the frantic need for her.
Blindly he turned toward the bed, and by some miracle found it. Taking her down to the soft surface, Shade devoured her mouth. He couldn’t believe how much he’d missed her taste, her scent, and those little sounds she made deep in her throat. Rocking his hips forward to rub his cock to her covered pussy, he swallowed the tiny scream she let loose.
She pulled hard on his hair. “Naked, now,” she demanded.
More than willing to give her what she wanted, Shade set her free. Clambering off the bed, he tore at his own clothing quickly. A moment’s clarity had him scrambling quickly to find a condom from the box he had packed up before leaving America. Sheathing his cock, he met her back on the bed.
Cat pushed at his shoulders until he was laid out flat on his back. She climbed over him to rub her soaking pussy over his latex-covered cock. It was his turn to moan when she rolled her hips at the same time she scraped her short nails down his chest.
She sucked hard on his tongue while drenching his cock with her wetness. Taking her hips in a firm hold Shade lifted her up enough to feel his cock pressing to her heat. Cat knew immediately what to do. With a firm grip she pressed him into her body.
Breaking the kiss, she threw her head back during her press down onto him. She gave a violent shiver when he was fully sheathed inside her tight body. “Too long,” she panted out. “Fuck me hard, Shade. Please, fuck me.”
With a growl, he rolled them over to put her on the bottom. Grabbing her hands he laced their fingers together and pressed them up over her head. He began to thrust. No technique, only pure need driving his movements.
His balls slapped to her ass with each nearly v
iolent movement his cock made through her slick folds. Faster, and faster he went. The pressure built to volcanic pressures inside. But he couldn’t go over before her. He always made sure she found her pleasure first.
To that end he dipped his head to bite her shoulder, and scrape his teeth to her flesh. Releasing her hands, he cupped her ass with one hand to angle her hips up. Her strangled scream combined with the clawing at his shoulders told him she was right there. Two more hard thrusts and she latched on. Her nails dug deep, and her pussy clutched his cock tight enough that he couldn’t move. All Shade could do was fall over the edge with her, yelling her name as his release tried to rip his spine free from his body.
Chapter Seventeen
After catching her breath, and when Shade had returned to the bed after disposing with the condom, Cat curled into his side. “Hi,” she whispered. Her lips couldn’t seem to stop curling into a smile now that she had him close again.
“Hi yourself,” he said. He pressed a kiss to her lips when she tipped her chin up. “Not that I’m complaining in the least, but what was that all about?”
“I missed you.” Chewing on her lip, she lifted a hand to touch his cheek. Lightly stroking her fingers over the scruff on his jaw, she let out a breath. After pushing her hair back, Cat sat up to look down at him. “I’m not exactly sure how to say this. It’s a first for me. Hopefully I don’t fuck it up.”
Shade sat up, looking concerned. He lifted her to straddle his lap, cuddling her close. “Talk to me, kitten.”
She took a breath, put her hand on his cheeks, and gave him a quick kiss. This was a lot harder than she would have thought. Maybe she should have taken the easy way out and told him over the phone. “I love you, Shade Benson. I am in love with you. I’ve missed you these last weeks, and hated every minute we were apart. It hurt to have to hang up with you each day knowing it would be hours before I could hear your voice again. That I couldn’t drive over to see you if the urge hit. To have you wrap me in your arms, and hold me close. I don’t like being away from you.”
He looked stunned, shocked, and taken aback. Then he kissed her. Wrapping her arms around his head she held on tight until he broke the kiss. “I love you, too, Cateline Lyon. I wanted to tell you before I left that I’d fallen for you hard, but I didn’t think it was fair. You have this huge decision to make, and I didn’t want anything I said to sway you one way or the other. I needed you to make the choice your way.”
“You should have told me,” she whispered. “I was nervous about coming here to tell you. I couldn’t get to sleep on the flight because my mind wouldn’t stop spinning. I was afraid you wouldn’t feel the same way I do.”
“I most definitely do, kitten. I didn’t expect it, but I should have known. You always have held my heart. First when we were friends, and now as the only woman I can see being there through the years to come whatever they might hold, or wherever we are.”
Tears slid hotly down her cheeks. Unable to form words, she pulled him in for another kiss. When they broke apart again she pressed her face into the curve of his neck and held on. They’d managed one hurdle, but they still had many to come. Cat’s decision was getting harder by the minute to make. She knew that Shade would stand by her choice no matter what it was. He would always stand by her. It was only one reason why she loved him. It actually felt like her heart would burst open to shower the world in all she felt at any second.
Shade got them back down onto the bed, keeping her over his chest. He tucked the blanket around her, and then wrapped her up in his arms. His soft words, and the warmth of his hand stroking her back created eased Cat into sleep. Maybe when she woke up she’d know what to do.
****
Cat would never get used to the effect a band could have on a crowd. Victorious had everyone up on their feet from the word go until the last song. Eerie silence filled the venue when the last song in their nightly set began. She’d witnessed the same thing in L.A. all those months before, but to see it in a totally different country was surreal. Sharing a smile with Jennifer, they watched Lance sing to the thousands in the crowd.
The man who sang nothing else, whether on the albums, or in concert, held the entire venue in his palm. Not a soul seemed to breathe at the gritty and sensual lyrics that were backed by spine-tingling musical accompaniment. When the last note hung in the air still no one moved. Then, like an explosion, the building erupted with an ear piercing volume.
“Holy shit,” she whispered.
Jennifer nodded while bouncing on her toes. “I fucking love that man and his voice. I mean Jeremy is amazing, but my man.” She gave a little squeal and jumped the man in question when he came into the wings off the stage.
Still shaking her head in awe, Cat turned her face up to accept Shade’s lazy kiss. “You guys are phenomenal.”
She could feel his smile against her mouth. “You enjoyed it then?”
“I don’t think the word truly encompasses what an experience that was. I mean I’ve seen you guys perform before. But out in the audience it’s entirely different than back here. Wow.” Wrapping her arms around his sweaty shoulders she let him lift her up allowing her to wind her legs around his waist.
He was grinning ear to ear. “I’m glad you had fun.”
She’d had a blast. Pressing another kiss to his lips she hugged her close. Cat was eternally glad she’d agreed to come visit him, if only for this experience. It had been wild, loud, and the best thing she’d ever experienced. Next to telling him she loved him and having him reciprocate in kind.
Oddly it had also made her extremely horny. Which she’d share with him when they got back to the hotel, and were alone. There was something about watching him pour everything he was into playing a song. Knowing the same fingers that could pull such intensely emotional notes from a guitar were what stroked her to orgasm was a major turn on. Her panties were soaked through from the performance. She knew he’d get a kick from that when, if she told him. Right before tossing her onto the bed to have his delightfully wicked way with her.
“What’s next?” she asked rubbing her nose to his.
“Next we sign autographs for all those who have backstage passes, and take some pictures. And then we chill out for a bit in the dressing room before heading out for the night.”
Cat wasn’t sure about sticking around for the autographs. Shade must have picked up on it because he gave her a kiss before telling her, “You can hide out with Jen in the dressing rooms if you want. It won’t hurt my feelings, kitten. There will be media there, too. If you’re not ready for the world to know we’re together yet, it might be an idea to slip away.”
While she didn’t want to have her face splashed across every newspaper around, she was still hesitant. Maybe it was the fact that most fans that showed up for the backstage portion were female. Okay, she was flat out jealous. One reason she avoided the one page on their website completely. She didn’t need to see some other woman plastered up against Shade.
Giving him a nod, she took another kiss because she could. “Might be a good plan,” she told him. “Try not to let them feel you up too much, please.”
She could have kicked herself at having said that. His smile was way too knowing. “There’s only one woman I care about feeling me up. But I will try to keep the fans from getting too gropey with me.” Shade eased her down until her feet hit the ground, his expression turned serious. “You are the only one I want in my life, and in my pants, kitten. Always.”
She felt better with the words he gave her. Another quick kiss because security was giving the band the warning about the fans, and she let him loose. “I love you,” she whispered.
Shade blew her a kiss when he went one way, and she the other with Jennifer. “I love you too, kitten.”
Holding his words close, Cat grinned at Jennifer. She had a feeling it matched the goofy one the other woman was wearing. With a laugh, Jennifer hooked her arm through Cat’s. “Welcome to the club, Cat. It’s a crazy place to be,
but there’s nowhere else I’d want to be.”
All Cat could do was nod at that. Jennifer’s words echoed exactly what Cat was feeling. She couldn’t imagine being anywhere else in that moment. Maybe the decision wouldn’t be all that hard to make.
Chapter Eighteen
For the first Christmas in too long, Shade felt truly happy. His woman was in his arms, warm, and snug against his skin. The band was reaching a whole new fan base with their decision to start being more open about themselves. Life was pretty damn fucking good in his humble opinion. Only thing that could make it better was being able to share it all with Cat on a daily basis.
He knew she was enjoying herself. The other guys in the band adored her, and already considered her family. It was actually pretty simple when it came down to it. She’d always been Shade’s, but now she had an extended family with the guys. They were finally all at a point where they were comfortable enough to truly tease her. Not the careful, cautious teasing they’d done whenever she’d been at the compound in L.A., but more what you’d expect from a bunch of goofballs like they were.
Stroking his hand lightly down her side, Shade smiled when she murmured sleepily, and snuggled in closer. He didn’t want to wake her yet. She needed the sleep. Victorious ran on a schedule few could tolerate unless they were in the business. She’d done admirably up to that point, but any chance he had to let her sleep in he did. No way in hell was he letting her get run down. Not when he had plans to exhaust her later in his own unique way.
He gently extricated himself from her, tucking her in tight to his pillow, and then went to the bathroom. When he came out ten minutes later all he could see was her nose peeking out. Chuckling softly, he left her to sleep while he went to find the room service menu. He’d get the order in, and then crawl back under the blankets with her. If he timed it right he could give her breakfast in bed to start their Christmas off right.
The Bass Page 9
