It was show time at the Palais Omnisport de Paris-Bercy, more commonly known as Bercy. Everyone was at the side of the stage, including Marissa and Angus. Audra chose to watch the show as a member of the audience, with a long-awaited visit from her sister, Kira. Angel peeked out and saw them standing center stage waiting for the show to begin, just like they did back when it all started.
There wasn’t much time left before the show and Angel was still waiting for Jessi. She was putting the finishing touches on a cape he was supposed to wear during the opening number. If she didn’t arrive soon, he would be forced to go on stage without it. He walked halfway down the corridor that led to the stage to wait for her. He checked the time on his phone again and was about to walk back, when he saw her racing toward him.
She was out of breath. “I’m sorry. I couldn’t find the right thread.” She shook out the cape to fluff up the faux fur and it doubled in size. She draped it over his shoulders and tied it at the neck. It was red faux fur and fell to the floor. He felt like a matador.
He held his head high and fanned the cape open with one hand. “Your clothes propel the wearer into a fantasy. I could get lost in another world with this magnificent piece on my shoulders.”
Jessi threw her head back and laughed. “I love your drama, Angel.”
He snapped the cape closed. “All your clients should feel this way about your designs.”
“I hope they do.” She took his arm and led him down the corridor. “Come on, you’re going to be late.”
It wasn’t her responsibility to make sure he was on time anymore, but she still took the initiative. Her obligation to the band was probably something she would never relinquish.
“It’s not slipping off your shoulders anymore, is it?” Jessi peeked at him as they walked briskly toward the stage.
“No, sweetheart. It’s perfect.”
Tommy was just ahead at the curtain, Les Paul in hand. Angel joined him and they gazed out into the audience together. The crowd chanted for Immortal Angel in an alluring French accent.
“That sounds kinds of sexy, doesn’t it, my prince?”
Tommy turned to say something to Angel, but he stopped. His open mouth turned into a wide teasing smile. “What the hell are you wearing?”
Angel closed the furry cape in front of him like a vampire. “Isn’t it gorgeous?”
Tommy clamped his lips together and tried to hide his smile. “Isn’t it a little . . . floofy?”
“Floofy?” Angel raised his brow. “Is that a real word?”
“It’s a word that describes that cape.”
“Are you teasing me, Tommy Blade?” He feigned a scowl. “Because I know the designer personally and I have a good mind to tell her you’re making fun of her work.”
“Don’t you dare.”
Angel grinned with satisfaction. “Or, I could bend you over my knee and spank that white hot ass until its flaming red, to match my cape.”
“I’ll take the latter.” Tommy slid his guitar around to his back and circled Angel’s waist with his arms. The pick he held between his fingers scraped Angel’s bare skin and sent chills up his spine.
Just as their lips met, the lights dimmed and the crowd screamed.
“Oh, shit!” Tommy reached around his back and took hold of his guitar. He let his fingers glide over the strings and let loose with one of his signature riffs. He pointed the neck of the guitar toward the audience and ran on stage to thunderous applause.
Damien and Jimmy followed, but Angel stayed behind. He waited until the crowd roared and called his name. He closed his eyes and listened to their voices. His chest swelled and he grinned. It was time to make an entrance.
He slowly walked to the center of the stage. The wind machine threatened to blow open his cape, but he held it closed so it didn’t spoil the reveal. Underneath, he wore black Lurex pants that fit him like liquid metal, black boots and heavy silver chains rested on his bare chest.
He stood at the end of the stage and looked straight ahead as the crowd cheered and threw their fists in the air. The spotlight illuminated him, while the rest of the stage remained dark. With his arms at his side, he held onto the ends of the cape. It enveloped him like a red furry cocoon. He stretched his arms out to his sides and slowly brought them to the ceiling, opening the cape and revealing the satin lining, embellished with brilliant tiny rhinestones. He leaned his head back, closed his eyes and listened to the screaming crowd. He fed off their cheers. It was his lifeline. Without it, he would die.
Pyrotechnics lit up the stage behind him and sent a white light over the crowd. He could see their faces, alive with excitement, shouting and hollering. A blur of hands reached toward him and flowers landed at the foot of the stage.
It was hypnotic and he stood, motionless, mesmerized by the sea of faces that called to Immortal Angel.
The room erupted with the sound of Cyanide Sensation and broke Angel’s trance. He took the microphone from the stand. The energy of the crowd spilled out onto the stage and ignited Angel’s performance. The blood surged up into his sternum and filled his chest. His heart thumped in tandem with the pounding beat of Jimmy’s bass drum.
Angel jumped from amp to amp and sang the raunchy lyrics. The music reverberated under his feet and sent a vibration up his legs. The tight shiny pants fit him like a second skin and hugged his bulging crotch. His groin pulsed to the beat and he couldn’t keep his hand off it.
At the end of the song, Angel darted to the side of the stage to change outfits. Jessi was waiting for him. He had seconds before he needed to be back on stage. She took the cape from his shoulders and helped him into the leather jacket. She straightened some of the fringes and he ran back out on stage just in time to pick up the first line of Sex & Greed. He looked down and saw Audra and Kira at the front of the stage. He picked up two flowers that were strewn near his feet and handed one to each of the girls.
Tommy’s guitar riffs were fast and melodic. He flipped his hair from side to side in a crazy throw back to his heavy metal days. He circled Angel with the guitar and taunted him by staying just out of reach. Every time Angel tried to put his hand on Tommy’s shoulder or around his neck, Tommy dipped out of the way in a coy game of cat and mouse. Frustrated, Angel reached out with one of his long arms and grabbed Tommy by his T-shirt, but Tommy broke free with a teasing laugh and scampered away.
Tommy bounced across the stage and stood next to Damien. It normally annoyed Damien, but tonight Damien exhibited a bout of showmanship. He jumped on the amp and gestured for Tommy to join him. The two of them just about fit on top of the amp together and stood back to back. Guitar god versus bass brainiac. The iconic purr of Tommy’s Les Paul caressed the ear while the low bass tones of Damien’s Ibanez bellowed back, delivering sounds that showcased the talent of Immortal Angel.
The dancers entered from both sides of the stage, shrouded in thick metal chains that hooked into the ceiling. A pulley carried them high across the arena, where they performed acrobatics with the agility and grace of a ballerina.
The band transitioned into Overdose. It was their latest hit single and the fans roared with enthusiasm as soon as the recognizable melody filled the arena. Angel caught sight of Jessi by the curtain. She had a new endeavor now, and it brought her into the spotlight. She took on the job of handing Tommy his guitars on stage during the show. It was a menial task, but she loved to step into the limelight. He nodded at her as he sang the last lyric of Overdose. That was her cue.
As soon as the audience saw her cross the stage, a piercing whistle filled the air, followed by an array of cat calls from the male fans. It startled her and it took a moment before she realized the hollering and cheering were for her.
She traded guitars with Tommy and helped him free his hair from the strap on his shoulder. Meanwhile, Tommy’s eyes never left her face.
Angel joined them. “You love this life just as much as we do. The fans, the music, the electricity in the air, it drives you the same wa
y it drives us. You’re part of this band, Jessi. You helped bring Immortal Angel the success we achieved.”
She fanned her hand across the stage. “Everything I love is right here – the audience, the band, my designs, and my husbands.”
The explicit lyrics of Dirty Love were . . . dirty, which is probably why it was a fan favorite to hear live. Censorship necessitated a radio-friendly version, but Angel was free to shout the four letter words that the song contained during a live performance, and the fans loved to shout them along with him. Angel extended the microphone toward the crowd and waved his hand to encourage them to sing. He never expected the decibel of their response and didn’t need the microphone to amplify their voices. He listened as a crowd of 16,000 people joined together and shouted the entire second verse and chorus of Dirty Love, on their own, without pause. Hearing fans sing one of his favorite songs, in a language that wasn’t native to their country, was humbling. “That was incredible! Thank you!” he shouted into the microphone before picking up with the third verse. The lyrics were raw and edgy, but Angel always felt that musically the song needed a little something to push it one step further.
When the band played the last note of Dirty Love, Angel was about to address the crowd, but Jimmy kept kicking his bass drum. Angel turned around first, followed by Damien, then Tommy, and the three of them approached the drum riser to listen to the impromptu solo. Jimmy’s drum sticks crashed down on the cymbals, bounced across his toms and smashed into his snare, while his bass drum sent a thunderous beat throughout the arena. It was loud, fast and stunned the fans into silence. Jimmy twirled his sticks in both hands and threw them both into the air. They sailed high above his head. He caught them, stood up and threw them past the stage and into the audience. The addition of a drum solo, strategically placed at the end of the song, whether intentional or spontaneous, transformed the song in an unprecedented piece of musical genius.
The last song of the night was their brand new single, Rock Goddess, off their soon to be released second album. This was Jessi’s song and everyone in the band turned their head in her direction when the fans screamed their approval.
Hundreds of balloons fell from the ceiling, followed by a thick fog of multi-colored confetti. It filled the air like New Year’s Eve in Times Square and marked the finale of a tour that had as many highs as it did lows. In the end, they finished on top with a new single that was already climbing the charts.
With the last show of the tour behind them, calmness settled over Angel as he lay in bed waiting for Tommy and Jessi. He put his hands behind his head, smiled up at the ceiling and reflected on the last few months. The tour was a success. They had a second album scheduled to be released, along with a new single, and order was restored to his personal life. He was exactly where he wanted to be. Well, almost. He cherished the thought of being back home in his own bed.
Tommy crawled in bed next to him, and his outstretched his arm invited Angel inside. The mound of Tommy’s chest was heaven against Angel’s cheek. “We’ll be home in a few days, and then we can lie in bed like this all day.”
Tommy sighed. “I’m glad this tour is finally over. It was a whirlwind, and it kicked my ass.”
“The next one won’t be as hectic, now that Angus is off our backs.”
Jessi stood in the doorway to the bedroom and cleared her throat to get their attention. She had something in her hand and was twirling it like a drumstick – a large, fat, drumstick. Angel squinted to identify it clearly. He thought he imagined it, but now that she was slowly swaying it in her hand, he saw that he was right. It was indeed a double-headed dildo.
Tommy gave a hearty laugh. “Where the hell did you get that thing, and what do you plan on doing with it?”
“It was another present I bought for you when you were in Asia.” She slowly walked over to the bed, eyeing the toy in her hand. “I originally thought that me and you could use it together, but now I want to use it on you and Angel.”
Alarm caused Angel to sit upright. He wasn’t a bottom, and that thing was huge. He’d rather use it on Tommy, and if Jessi jumped on the other end it might be entertaining, but he wasn’t interested in straddling it.
Tommy took the double-headed dong from her hand, held it in his fist and turned to Angel with a twinkle in his eyes.
Angel was still uncomfortable with the idea. “Do you see the size of that thing? My body isn’t as receptive as yours.”
“Look at all the new things I’ve tried,” Jessi said, clearly trying to persuade him. “You’re nervous about sharing a dildo?” She waved her hand at him. “Piece of cake.”
Tommy nuzzled Angel’s cheek. His lips and warm breath found Angel’s neck, just below his ear, and tickled it with a kiss. “We’ll do it together, slowly. If it hurts, we’ll stop. Can you imagine how special that’ll be? We’ll be connected, experiencing the same stimulation at opposite ends of the same toy.”
The way Tommy described it made Angel yearn for the experience. It was impossible to resist, even though he was still slightly apprehensive. “Are you trying to romance me, Tommy Blade? Because it’s working.”
Tommy bowed his head. “I learned from the master.”
Tommy’s kiss guided Angel back down onto the bed. “Just relax. I’m going to get you nice and ready.” Tommy held up the dildo. “You’re not even going to feel this thing slip inside you, and while I’m getting you ready, Jessi is going to get me ready.”
This was a new role for Angel. It was a new game where he surrendered his body to Tommy, and he was eager to get started.
Jessi sat next to Tommy with her hands on her knees. She looked like his assistant, ready to take notes.
Tommy propped a few pillows underneath Angel’s hips, and he settled into the soft cushion. Tommy’s hands roughly massaged Angel’s inner thighs, sending a shiver of excitement up Angel’s back, and he let out a deep sigh.
Tommy glided his tongue between Angel’s legs, over his cock and then swallowed it. Angel could feel the stop in the back of Tommy’s throat, but he never gagged. Angel’s body was already tingling all over. That man of his knew exactly how he liked it and could get him off in seconds if he wanted to. Angel tipped his chin up to the ceiling and took several euphoric breaths to steady the rush of endorphins.
Tommy’s tongue danced over Angel’s sac and down between his cheeks. Everything felt glorious, and Angel was relaxed, ready for penetration. He lifted his pelvis for easier access and waited impatiently for the first finger. It poked its way inside with little effort, but Angel still clenched his muscles. It was an involuntary reflex, until his bottom stretched enough to accommodate its inhabitant. His breathing steadied, and he nodded at Tommy. The second finger tested the elasticity of his body, but after the initial resistance, he calmed enough to let Tommy work freely to stretch his body with the spreading action of his fingers.
Angel never took more than two fingers, but he found himself anxiously awaiting the third. It came quicker than expected, and Angel held his breath. It took more than a minute for him to relax enough to accept it. Once he did, and Tommy tickled that heavenly spot inside him, an exquisite sensation washed over him.
Jessi watched – closely. He couldn’t hear what she was saying because his loud breathing echoed in his ears, but she appeared to be giving Tommy instructions. With her experience, she could probably draw a diagram and teach a course in ass play.
In the beginning of their relationship, Angel had felt awkward and self-conscious to have her face so close to his open and vulnerable privates. Now her interest was regarded as the naughty voyeur that she was, seeking a thrill from the erotic sights that she witnessed.
Tommy withdrew his magical fingers, and Angel whimpered, begging for their return, but it was the slick head of the dildo that wanted entrance. Extra lubrication allowed it to make a small introduction. It was bigger than he thought, but Tommy’s sweet lips made him forget the strain on his bottom. “Your mouth is always as soft as butter, mi amo
r. I could kiss those delicious lips all day.” He swiped his tongue across Tommy’s lower lip.
“Then you shall.” Tommy’s billowy mouth adorned Angel with its grace and his tongue bathed the inside of Angel’s mouth. Tommy’s hair was flipped over to one side, and it formed an aromatic wall of blond silk. His hands traveled downward and met Angel’s waiting cock. Angel wasn’t aware that it was Jessi who was in charge of the dildo, entertaining him with grand circles. He had been too caught up in the delicious flavor of Tommy’s mouth. Tommy’s hand joined Jessi’s, and they both twisted the rubber toy over the knot inside him. It drove him wild, and he pulled Tommy back up for a kiss.
Angel was the recipient of a generous love bite on his neck while Jessi was working miracles with that dildo. It was a surplus of stimulation, as Tommy’s hands were free to caress Angel’s face and chest, and his lips brought sweet indulgence to Angel’s mouth, all the while he was filled with an appendage that brought him to near orgasm.
Tommy needed to straddle the other end of the dildo before Angel succumbed to the throb inside him. “Hurry and catch up,” Angel whispered. “I don’t know how long I can hold out.”
“I’m ready.”
He couldn’t possibly be ready. He needed to be open and receptive in order to handle penetration, especially from something the size of the new toy. Angel picked his head up just in time to see Jessi wiping her hand on a towel. She had been preparing Tommy’s bottom with one hand and controlled the dildo with the other. “You ambidextrous nymph!”
She let loose with provocative laughter. “You keep underestimating me, Angel!”
Between a Rock and a Hard Place Page 32
