by Daiko, SC
Nothing new there…
“We’ll have a bottle of your best Prosecco,” Liam told the waitress.
I asked what that was, and they explained it was an Italian sparkling wine a little like Champagne. I’d never drunk either before… but kept that fact to myself.
“God, this place is terrible, innit?” Liam quipped.
I was about to contradict him, when I realized he was messing with me.
Two glasses later and I was giggling at everything he said. He had a typically British sense of humor, joking but deadpanning at the same time, and his quirkiness together with the alcohol relaxed me.
A flash of cameras and my heart gave a lurch. The guys had arrived and every eye in the place was on them. They stalked into the room like they owned it, beautiful women hanging onto their arms. Without even coming over to say hi, they sat at a table near the bar, waitresses fluttering around like butterflies.
I suddenly felt sick.
Sick with jealousy.
Which was stupid because I was supposed to be on a man hiatus. And I’d even made a bet with Axel that I wouldn’t let him fuck me to keep my integrity intact.
Now said integrity had taken a hike, and I’d give anything for him to be looking at me like he used to.
His entire attention was focused on the glamourous woman sitting next to him.
He hadn’t even glanced my way.
I pretended nonchalance and knocked back my wine. A jazz band had started playing and couples had moved onto the dance floor. I caught Liam’s eye and he held out his hand. “Just so you don’t get the wrong idea,” he bent and whispered. “I’m gay, but I love to dance.”
“Perfect,” I smiled, getting to my feet. “Lead the way.”
In the periphery of my vision, I perceived that Axel had finally glanced in my direction.
I huffed and stepped onto the dance floor with Liam. We swayed together; he was a good dancer. He took my hand, lifted it, and twirled me around. But when I turned to face him again, he’d disappeared and Axel had taken his place.
My stomach flipped over. “What the hell?”
“Just looking out for you.” He took my hand and started moving with me in time to the music, the other hand on the small of my back.
“I thought you were with her…” I flattened my lips and looked for the woman he’d worn on his arm like a spare coat, but she’d draped herself over Foxy and he’d pulled her onto his lap.
Axel stared down at me, his eyes burning into mine. “Were you jealous?”
“Me? Jealous?” My cheeks flamed. “As if…”
“You definitely were jealous.” He smirked. “Like I was when I saw you with Liam.”
“You were jealous?” I couldn’t keep the incredulity from my voice. “Why?”
“Isn’t it obvious?” He stroked a finger down my cheek.
I shook my head, confused.
He carried on staring down at me, and then he said, “I’m gonna tell the guys you’ve had too much to drink. That you aren’t feeling well. I’ll offer to take you back to the villa. You and I need to talk…”
I squished my eyebrows together, not knowing what to think.
“What if I wanna stay here?” I countered, unexpectedly nervous.
His gaze smoldered. “Remember I said I wouldn’t do anything you didn’t want me to do?”
Breathless, I nodded. Where was this going?
“Do you trust me?”
“Of course.”
Without another word, he put his arm around me and walked me over to the table where the guys were sitting. “Pretend to be drunk,” he said.
Except, I didn’t need to pretend.
It felt like my legs were suddenly slipping from under me.
Nausea rose in my throat, and I groaned. “I think I’m gonna throw up.”
11
I stared at Firebird and my scalp prickled.
Her face had turned almost as green as her eyes.
She must have drunk too much.
Fuck!
I needed to get her to a toilet.
Fast.
She clamped a hand to her mouth, a gurgling sound in her throat.
“We’re coming through,” I snarled to anyone in our way.
I pushed open the door to the ladies’ room, startling a couple of chicks.
“Leave, now,” I barked.
We’d made it just in time.
Phoenix’s hair was in an updo, but I smoothed loose strands back from her face with one hand and rubbed her shoulders with the other while she puked her guts up. When she’d stopped. I reached over and pressed flush. Then, with her leaning into me, I led her to a basin, turned on the tap, cupped my hand under the water and splashed her cheeks.
“Urgh, I’m such a dumbass,” she groaned. “Not used to drinking…”
Thea, the girl from Vanilla Sky, made an appearance. “I’ve brought you your handbag, love.”
“I’m taking her back to the villa,” I told the redhead. “Can you do something for me?”
“Sure,” she said.
“Can you go get my bodyguard, Mike?”
“Will do.”
I put my arm back around Firebird and led her into the corridor.
Shit.
People had gathered to take pictures of us with their phones, but Mike arrived not a moment too soon and put a stop to it.
“I’ve called our driver,” he said. “We can leave via the staff entrance at the back.”
“I feel so stupid,” Phoenix muttered.
“We’ve all been there,” I soothed her. “Suffered the wrath of grapes.”
She gave a wry laugh. “That’s funny.”
“Something my dad used to say.”
I half-led, half-carried her down the flight of stairs to a door that opened onto an alleyway behind the club. I helped her into the back seat, and Mike sat next to the driver.
Within seconds, she’d fallen asleep, nestled into my side.
Never had a girl do that before.
My heart hammered in my chest. Something was happening. Something totally unexpected. Music had been like a woman to me. My first and only love. Maybe, just maybe, there was room alongside it for someone else?
Nah, impossible.
Phoenix wouldn’t want to stay with me. She’d made it clear how important her career was to her, how she’d fixed her sights on stardom. I knew what that meant. She’d have to forgo any distractions and work like a dog. If there was going to be anything between us, it would have to be only temporary.
I wouldn’t stand in the way of her ambitions.
I held her close until we rolled to a stop at the villa. The sudden lack of motion woke her and she shuffled her ass away from me. “Ow, my head hurts,” she moaned.
“You need to get some fluids and carbs into your system,” I suggested. “Let’s go see if there’s anything in the kitchen.”
I held her hand after we’d gotten out of the car. The kitchen was at the back of the villa—I’d gone in there this morning to ask for a sandwich after my workout—but it was two a.m. and no one was there. I opened the fridge and extracted a bottle of milk, remembering that she liked it, and also found a couple of croissants which I heated up in the microwave.
We sat at the oak table, and she gazed at me, her eyes enormous. “I don’t know what’s going on between us, Axel.” She played with a piece of pastry on her plate. “I’m so confused…”
I raked my fingers through my hair and decided to go all in. “I’ve never felt this way about anyone...”
“You have feelings for me?” She blinked, once. “I find that hard to believe.”
Sudden coldness hit at my center. I thought she’d admit to having feelings for me too. “Why don’t you believe it?” I shot back at her.
“One, you’re a rock god and I’m just a nobody.” She paused. “Two, your reputation with women. I think you’re confusing having feelings with the challenge of getting into my panties.” Another pause. “
Three, how would the guys react if they found out we were seeing each other? And last but not least, it would be unprofessional.”
I sucked a slow breath into my lungs. “Let me answer your points.” I started ticking them off on my fingers. “One, acting the rock god is only a role. A persona. It’s not the real me. You aren’t a nobody, for fuck’s sake, Firebird.” I lowered the pitch of my voice. “You are unique, and amazing, and beautiful.”
“I am?” She gave me a disbelieving look.
“You’re incredibly talented. And strong.” I was about to say I loved her for it, but bit down on my lip instead. It was too soon to reveal how deep my feelings for her were growing, and I didn’t want to scare her off.
Silence ensued while she ate a croissant and drank her milk. “I don’t wanna be merely another of your flings,” she said eventually. “I’ve been hurt before. I won’t let that happen again.”
“I won’t hurt you.” I set my jaw.
She shook her head. “How can you be so sure?”
“Because I’d rather stick a knife into my own belly than hurt you,” I blurted out.
Color rose in her cheeks. “You abandoned me after the concert. That hurt.” She lifted her chin. “Then you flirted with another woman at the club…”
“Whoa.” I held up my hands. “I’m sorry I didn’t get a chance to talk to you before we met with the fans and had that interview. I wanted to prepare you. It was a publicity stunt, that’s all…”
She tapped a finger against her bottom lip. “Hmm. What about the guys? What would we tell them?”
My heart gave a leap.
She was considering it.
“Well there is something.” An idea had come to me, and I spoke slowly. “I’m supposed to be coming up with new material for our next album. But what happened to Ella has made everything dark. When you were practicing with me before the tour, you inspired me to write a couple of riffs. We could tell everyone you’re my muse. No one would bat an eyelid about that.”
She opened and closed her mouth, not commenting, her gaze darting around the kitchen. “I need to call my parents, tell them about the concert. They’d be stoked if you said hi.”
She’d changed the subject. What did that mean? Also, she’d invited me to go to her room. Indirectly, but an invitation all the same. I wanted to punch the air, but I didn’t. Instead, I said, “I’d love that.”
Listening to Phoenix chatting with Cora and Bob Johnson about the concert made me nostalgic for my own family, and I resolved to phone my mother tomorrow. It had been too long since we’d spoken, and I wanted to find out if she’d made any headway with Dad.
“Mom wants to speak to ya,” Firebird interrupted my thoughts. She passed me her iPad and the thin, pale face of an obviously sick woman, with lank graying hair, came into view.
I reassured Cora that CM would continue to fund the insurance even after Phoenix’s contract ended, and the relief on her face was palpable. “I don’t know how to thank you,” she said.
“The guys and I felt it was the least we could do to help out.” I gave her a reassuring smile. “I’m sure they’d like to join me in wishing you a speedy recovery.”
Phoenix took the tablet from me, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.
I wanted to kiss those tears away, but she still hadn’t agreed to my proposal.
She said ‘bye to her parents, promising to check in with them when we arrived in Barcelona… we were flying there straight after tomorrow’s show.
With a sigh, she placed the iPad on her nightstand, then turned to me and said. “I’m gonna take a shower.”
I shuffled my feet. “Do you want me to leave?”
She shook her head. “I’m still a little dizzy from being sick. If you stayed, I’d be grateful.”
“I need to take a shower too… mind if I join you?” I waggled my eyebrows.
She huffed. “Must you be so direct?”
“Direct is my middle name,” I smirked. “I guess we’d better get naked.” I started unbuckling my belt before she could change her mind, and within seconds I’d stripped down to my briefs.
Phoenix was struggling with the zip at the back of her dress, so I helped her with it and let the garment drop to the floor.
I turned my hand over and ran my knuckles across her cheeks. “Is this what you want, Firebird? Step back now if it isn’t, and I’ll do the same.”
She smiled and let me stroke her soft skin, let me run my hands down her sides.
Groaning, I pulled her against me.
“I really need a shower,” she murmured into my chest.
“Me too.”
I stepped away from her and she stumbled without my arms to hold her up. I took her hand and led her into the bathroom. She quickly cleaned her teeth and removed her makeup. Then I pulled down her knickers, unclipped her bra, and stripped off my own underpants. With one arm around her, I slid the shower door open with the other and reached for the tap.
Hot steam filled the air, billowing around us. I bent to press my mouth to her shoulder, tracing her firebird tattoo with my tongue.
“That tickles,” she giggled.
The sound went straight to my dick.
I crushed my mouth to hers hard and fast.
My hand on the back of her neck, I bit down on her bottom lip.
With a moan, she flicked her tongue and I captured it with mine.
My cock swelled between us.
For an instant, for a minuscule moment, I questioned my motives. Phoenix wasn’t a quick fuck. She was sweet… innocent even. When I’d promised I wouldn’t hurt her, I’d been sincere. But no one knows what the future will bring. Should I call a halt to this before disaster struck? Apart from the success of the band, my life had been one massive clusterfuck until now…
She gave me access to her neck, chasing the doubts from my mind. I kissed and sucked and bit, snaking my hands down to squeeze her peachy ass. “God, you’re beautiful,” I rasped, my throat thick with lust. “How are you feeling?”
“Fine,” she said. “The milk and pastry have settled my stomach and sobered me up.”
I lifted her and she wrapped her legs around my waist as I carried her into the shower. Hot water rained down on us with a hiss. I lowered her and reached for the sponge, squirting bodywash onto it. I raised her arm and spread the warm soapy foam over her skin. Then I washed her back and her beautiful bird tattoo before bending my knees and spreading the bubbles down her shapely long legs.
She stared at me, seemingly fascinated with watching me wash her. I lifted her thigh, placed her foot on my knee, and washed between her legs. My fingers itched to slip inside her, but I didn’t let them.
Not yet.
I soaped the other leg, then turned her around to wash her stomach. Her hair was still in an updo, so I unpinned it, squirted shampoo into my hand and rubbed it into her scalp.
“That feels nice,” she sighed.
I quickly soaped myself, then rinsed the two of us with the hand-held shower nozzle.
“We’re both squeaky clean,” I said, turning off the tap. I reached for a couple of towels and dried myself while she did likewise, also drying her hair.
We stood on the tiled floor of the bathroom, staring at each other. It was now or never, I decided. I held out my arms and she came into them. “I’m not going to fuck you tonight, Phoenix,” I said, resting my forehead on hers. “For a start, I don’t have any condoms on me. I just want to give you oral.”
She leaned away, her eyes widening. “Well, you don’t dance around, do ya?”
“I told you my middle name is ‘direct’,” I said, pulling her in for a kiss. I brushed my nose against her cheek before slipping my tongue into her mouth.
She gave a whimper and lifted her hands to cup my beard. I walked us toward the bed and we fell onto it. “I’m going to make you come so hard you won’t know what’s hit you,” I growled.
“Mmm.”
Was that a yes?
I sta
red into her glistening green eyes.
It was definitely a yes.
12
Axel removed the towel from me, leaned me against the headboard and kissed his way down my jaw, my neck, my collarbone and my chest… until he got to my breasts. I became like liquid in his arms, dissolving into a puddle of need. Even though I knew I might regret what I was allowing to happen, I couldn’t help myself. Axel had drawn me into his trajectory by the force of his will and I was lost to him.
He sucked my left nipple into his hot mouth, circling his tongue around it and biting. “Oh, oh, oh.” I squirmed and writhed as he moved from one nipple to the other and back again.
I wanted him so fucking badly.
Inside me.
Now.
To hell with the consequences.
He trailed kisses down my stomach.
Yes. Yes. Yes.
His head was between my legs.
I threaded my fingers into his hair.
Oh. My. God.
I almost shot off the bed as his warm wet tongue pressed into me.
He licked my seam, and I clenched.
“You taste like heaven, Firebird,” he breathed.
I wanted his tongue inside me, but I was shy about asking for it. Instead, I thrust my hips upward and he pinned me down in response. “Spread yourself wide for me, baby.”
I obeyed, but it wasn’t enough.
“One leg over my shoulder.”
I did as he’d asked, catching him looking up, his brown eyes glowing.
He kept on staring while his tongue penetrated me.
Hard.
Waves of want washed through me.
“Axel,” I stuttered out a shaky breath.
He reached up and kneaded my right breast, his fingers pinching my nipple.
I yelped at the zing of delight.
My upper thighs trembled against his beard as he tongued me harder, the heat from his breath driving me wild.
I whimpered and I clamped around him.
“You’re so beautiful,” he said, stopping momentarily to grab my ass and hoist me up.
