by Stella Price
So why was Saffron such a threat? Because she was exactly the kinda girl he liked. Tiny, curvy, sexy in an alternative way, and dressed like she was looking to get fucked, and hard. The hair alone he was thinking about grabbing fistfuls of and taking her to task, but ooh would that be a bad idea.
He walked past the entrance to the stage area and towards his own dressing room and pulled his phone out. He scrolled through his contacts and then hit send, hoping he wasn’t calling at a bad time.
“What is it Rhys?” Xxieda said by way of greeting.
“Are you trying to tempt me?” He asked and closed the door behind him.
She sighed. “What the hell are you talking about?”
“Saffron? Did it escape your notice that she’s blazing hot?”
At that Xxieda chuckled. “Ooh poor little Rhys. You think your going to have problems keeping it in your pants? Trust me you won’t. Saffron Richards is professional through and through. Your illicit fantasies will have to stay that way, she doesn’t shit where she eats, which is why we hired her.”
Rhys highly doubted that he couldn’t get the girl to give it up. She was into him, he could see it, feel it when he looked into her gorgeous eyes. “So you just decided to torture me then?”
“So all of a sudden it’s all about you? Please Rhys. I needed someone who would get the job done. The fact that she’s hot is a bonus in my book. She will work for you guys much better that way.”
“How so Eddy?” he said to Xxieda, calling her by his little nickname for her. “Giving me, Winter, Chandler and Tosh blue balls? And just so you know, I think Nyx might start playing for the other team, she had one hell of a hug on with the girl.”
“Yeah, file that one down into your wank file then Rhys. So not going to happen.” She said, her voice laced with sarcasm.
He groaned in frustration. “So what do you want me to do?”
“Same thing you do every night pinky…” she said with a laugh. “Find a willing fan to fall into and leave Saffron alone. She is persona non grata to you.”
“You really hate me don’t you? And after all I have done for you and that Cro-Magnon man your screwing.”
“Yes well, let’s call this pay back for a job well done. Have a good show Rhys.”
She hung up, leaving him frowning into the mirror in front of him. Son of a bitch. This was payback. Well fuck that. He was letting things go by the natural order of things. She wanted him, she would have him. And vice versa. He wasn’t above a good seduction, and hadn’t tested his skills in some time. Saffron was just the thing to get him back in the swing.
***
Saffron stood in front of the promoter and gave him a saccharine sweet smile. The little pisher was trying to tell her how things were in Vegas? Please.
“Yes I understand your concern David, but by contract the band and staff are required to have both a catered meal and the top ten things listed on the rider. Seeing as I don’t see food anywhere set up and nothing on the rider has been procured, I’m talking directly to the one who signed the contract. Now if you don’t come up with the agreed upon items, we can just pack up and go.”
“I spoke to Randy a week ago and he said…”
“Yes, well Randy isn’t in charge anymore, of anything.” She gave him another smile. “So you’re dealing with me. This is Vegas, the land of dreams right? So get the meal out there and their rider fulfilled or we walk. You wouldn’t wanna disappoint the patrons right?”
David, not liking being told what to do by a female went red, then purple. “Listen you little…”
Saffron scoffed walked closer and grabbed him by his balls. “Listen to me you dipshit. I’m not the one with whom to fuck with. Everything will be done in the next thirty minutes or we will have a severe problem, and so will you. Pissing off the head of the next big record company isn’t good for your job or this venue. So don’t low-ball me, and don’t try to fuck with Shades. Do we have an understanding?”
The guy squeaked and nodded, gasping for air. She let go and moved away, her smile back in place. “Great! Have them set up the meal in the great room, and send the Rider items to the stage. Thanks David!” she said in a sunny tone and walked back towards where Nyx was standing in complete awe.
“Holy shit Saff, that was…”
“My job. So everything’s now taken care of?”
“Well yeah, except payment.”
Saffron gave her a smirk. “Oh after that little display there will be no problem there I can assure you. Now who is doing Merch?”
“Winter’s cousin, Rachel. Sweet kid.”
Family was good. You didn’t have to worry about anything with them. “Cool. okay so if everything is taken care of, and look only took me twenty-five minutes, I’m going back up to my room and take a shower before the damn show starts.”
“That’s why you’re the boss Saff.”
She nodded. “I’m in room fifteen twelve. If everything isn’t here in the next thirty minutes call me.” She said as she handed Nyx her card with her cell on it. “I should be back down soon.”
Nyx nodded and Saffron walked back out towards the venue exit, to take another sweep and make sure nothing was amiss. And it had nothing to do with Rhys possibly being there. No, not at all.
She made it through the backstage area doors, grabbing her pass from the side table where Nyx had put them all out for the band, and mused on the sexy lead singer.
He was what late night fantasy were all about; the ones that made you bite your bottom lip alone in the darkness. And he was going to stay in that designation, because she wasn’t stupid. As much as she might be attracted to him, she knew the kinda guy he was, the amount of road ass he got was probably substantially larger then any band she had ever dealt with before. So this could be easy. She could detach herself from her body’s wants, especially once she saw him with some random female. And she would, she had no doubt. All she had to do was wait.
Still, it was going to be tough. But this job was just too important in establishing herself permanently in the business. Rhys was a distraction, albeit a sexy one, but a distraction nonetheless. She was going to have to watch herself.
Chapter 4
I’m just a notch on your bedpost, and you’re just a line in a song-Fall out Boy
Wonder of wonders, the world didn’t end while she was up in her room getting ready. Nyx had called to tell her the spread they set out for the band was amazing and to get her ass down there if she wanted anything. Saffron had told her that she was having some tea and scones in her room and she would be down as soon as she put her makeup on and to enjoy the food. By now she was sure she had a full and happy band relaxing before one of the biggest shows of their career. Like LA, New York, and of course, the soon to become hometown show for the band in New Orleans, Vegas was a fan maker. There were such a concentrated number of fans that congregated in these cities, if they rocked a flawless show they were golden.
She had showered, enjoyed her light repast before making herself presentable for the show down in the theater. She had done her hair, twisting the sides up in a very 30’s fashion, the two tone of it put on display. She did her makeup sparsely, except for the black eyeliner, and the dewy gloss she favored. It wouldn’t always be like this, Odds were they would roll into town for future dates and she would have about Ten minutes to get a shower and dress before she had to get her ass to work, so she took the girly pretty time when she could. Nothing like starting out on the right foot, and if she wanted to make a certain lead singer drool over what he couldn’t have… all the better.
In keeping with her lead with the right foot motif she wore a black mini skirt, three belts hanging on her hips in different increments, and a fitted t-shirt with the words “not for sale” written across her breasts. It was one of her favorite bands, and one of the first she had toured with. It was only fitting that she wore it for her first night of work on a major tour. She slipped her thigh high sock covered legs into her knee high boots,
and then affixed the socks to her clip garters, assuring she wouldn’t have slippage during the night. She was slipping her bracelets on when she heard the knock at her door.
She rolled her eyes when she opened the door and Rhys was leaning there against the door frame, looking her over like she was a piece of candy.
“Why are you here?”
“I’m right across the way from you. I figured I would see if you were ready to go. I would say you are, though I’m not sure where you’re going looking like a present for me.”
She laughed. “Cute. And this is my regular attire. I see you haven’t changed since this afternoon.”
Rhys looked down at himself and then back up. “Ah, not so perceptive Saffy dear. Different jeans, different shirt, same hoodie,belt, and sneakers. I showered.”
“Well bully for you.” She knew that, she was indeed perceptive when it came to what clothed his frame, but she wasn’t going to let him know that. She turned to grab her work belt, a modified carpenter’s belt and fit it around her hips, then turned back to him as she did up the buckle. “Saffron, will suffice Rhys.”
He didn’t seem to hear her. “Hey can you turn around again, and bend over. I wanna see what those garters are attached to.”
She gave him a smirk. So he was going to be a crude bastard? Well let’s see how he likes walking with a hard on. She turned like he asked and bent over, the little skirt leaving the fact that she was wearing a g-string wide open. He choked and she stood straight and turned back to him. “Happy?” she asked as she grabbed her room key and pushed past him and closed the door.
Rhys sputtered and then gave a deep breath as she walked down the hall. “You did that on purpose.” He said.
“Yep. So don’t ask unless you wanna know. I’m not a normal chick Rhys, most would have just giggled and called you a cad or something, but I see it as no problem with showing you something you can never have, if you insist.”
“So sure I won’t have it are ya?” he asked as he fell in step next to her.
“I would say it’s a safe bet. I’ll give you a little hint Rhys, I’m not into being a notch on anyone’s belt, and something tells me you got more miles ridden on you then my dad’s old Gremlin.”
Rhys smirked. “Well you know what they say about practice…” they had stopped at the elevator and pressed the button.
“Makes you a whore?” she said as the doors opened and they both walked in.
Rhys laughed. “Possibly. But that doesn’t change the fact that you’re dressed like a punk rock present.”
“I already told you, this is how I normally dress.”
The doors closed on them and she hit the floor of the theater and the car started to descend.
“Then you’re a tease.”
“Why because you seem to be all sexed up looking at me? Rhys I dress for comfort and my happiness, not anyone else’s.” Okay that was a total lie, but she wasn’t telling him that his being affected by her state of dress was giving her a major ego boost. This was a guy women drooled over, and he was here drooling over her. Nothing wrong with that. Except the fact that she was his support staff.
“Yeah and the queen isn’t several thousand years old!”
She looked at him with undisguised amusement. “Doesn’t matter what you think Rhys, I’m your tour manager. Not your fuck toy.”
“Not yet.”
“Not ever.”
“We will see.”
The car stopped and the door opened and three girls were there, clearly on their way down to the show. The walked in and smiled at Rhys, one of them going to him and hugging him.
“Hey Renatta! I didn’t expect to see you here tonight.” He said into her shoulder.
“Well what can I say, I’m a sucker for Shades.”
Saffron rolled her eyes. Sucker for Rhys was more like it.
“So who is this?” Renatta said with undisguised venom. Oh yeah Saff got it right, the girl was all about Rhys.
“My tour manager Saffron. Saff, this is Renatta and…” he looked over at the others, “her friends. Ren is a long time fan.”
Saffron smiled at her as she hung off Rhys. “Pleasure.”
Renatta smirked and then leaned in and whispered in his ear. His eyes went huge and then he laughed. “Yeah I got it, though I don’t have AA, settle for VIP?”
She pouted and then nodded. “See Rache at the Merch booth she will make sure you got three cool?”
Renatta nodded and smiled and her two nameless friends thanked him with hugs. Hugs all around.
The doors opened they piled out, Renatta still holding on to Rhys, playing with his All Access pass. “So I’ll see you later? You going to do Morning After tonight?”
Rhys spoke to her as Saffron pushed past them towards the backstage area and chuckled to herself. Another scene like that and she would be in no danger of slipping her resolve. Rhys was proving right away why he was never going to get it, no matter how hard he tried.
“Ah now don’t go away mad…” she heard him over her shoulder and rolled her eyes. It was something she was coming to realize she was going to do a lot where he was concerned.
“Far be it from me to damage your fragile ego, but I do have a job to do, and it doesn’t include making sure you don’t get the Hiv from some barely legal groupie.”
“Graphic. And ease up on her, she’s a sweet kid.”
“Kid being the operative word. Rhys you’re what, twenty-five? Careful. I’m not authorized to bail you outta the clink for stach.”
“So you’ll just have to keep me occupied then wont you?”
Saffron got to the backstage door and showed her badge and the security guard let them both through.
“I think you can keep your damn self occupied with someone at least of drinking age tonight Rhys.” She walked back to the backstage area and into the dressing rooms. Nyx, Tosh, Chandler and Winter were all sitting about, Winter with a amused smirk on his face as they walked in together. She shook her head and then sighed.
“Ok, So I didn’t say hi before. I’m Saffron, and I’ll be kicking ass for you for the remainder of the tour. Nyx has my cell, if you need anything. Set times are good, and doors open,” she looked down at her cell, “Now. Whispers is on first right? So have a good show guys. Ooh and I was told there’s an after party for you guys at Glitter so after the set take the party to the club.”
“When are we set for breakdown?”
Saffron pulled out her pda and scrolled down. “By 6am. I suggest we get it done tonight before the partying, so the crew can load out to the bus. We leave Saturday at noon, LA show Saturday night, load in and sound check at 6.”
“Thank god we got the day to recover. These kids get wild after a show.” Chandler said and shook his head.
Saffron nodded. “That’s the party line. So enjoy and kick ass tonight.”
They broke up and Rhys stood next to her still. She turned to him with a question on her lips but didn’t have the chance to ask it. He leaned in and kissed her square on her lips, quick, but the intent was there. He was proving he could do it.
She moved back and frowned. “Lemme guess, you kiss all your tour managers like that? For luck?”
Rhys smirked. “Randy didn’t do it for me, so no. But I usually have someone about that welcomes it, just like now.” He winked and turned on his heel and left her sputtering. Son of a bitch. She growled to herself, and swore that it wasn’t from the feel of his lips on hers, but the cheek of him just assuming. He was seriously going to be trouble.
***
The music pounded through the speakers as she watched from stage left. She watched as Rhys worked the crowed, as they got thrashed. The women were rapt, the crowd sang along. The music went from driving and heavy to slower and melodic, changing from one song to the other. The crowd got quiet, and then began singing along with Rhys. He was on his knees singing, his gaze and voice angled to the ceiling, as if he was singing to an angel. She supposed he was. It was one of the songs h
e wrote for his ex, and everyone knew the story behind it. It was really all for her, his torment, his misery, and his talent. His true love, the one everyone else paled next to, and she was gone.
It was a testament to his love for her, how he endured, and while he wasn’t a monk, no one got past the façade of Rhys the rocker. She didn’t think anyone ever would. The boy was content to wallow in his unrequited emotion, and screw everything that moved. She knew all of this, so why was her heart fluttering listening to him.
Because all women wanted a man as fine as Rhys Bellamy to pine for them till the end of time, wanted a man to be so devoted that no one would ever touch his heart again…and she was no different. But it wasn’t him she wanted, like so many in the crowd. No she knew it was the idea of what his performance promised, what he, his songs and his voice represented, true, blinding and insane love.
The women screamed for him, sang, felt his pain. As the song ended, the anguish he felt slipped back behind his carefully crafted persona, and the strains of “Anything, Anything” by Dramarama, the only cover they did, started. In a second the crowd went from morose to excited. These kids were too young to actually know the real version of the song, so it was all new to them. But she did know the song, and had to admit Shades did it pretty damn well. Rhys’s sexy ass voice was much better speaking the words and screaming the Anything, Anything part. He led them through the song, and then the lights went out. She checked her watch. Right on time. They all came running off the stage and grabbed towels and water, courtesy of their rider being fulfilled, and Saffron stood back, letting them do their thing.
She grinned at Nyx. “Kicking ass.” She said to them all and looked down at her watch. Chandler was first to back, starting the drum beat, followed by Nyx and then Tosh and Winter, leaving Rhys alone with Saffron.
“First time seeing us?” he asked with a smirk. “I noticed the shell shocked look on your face before.”
She scoffed. “Yes, first time, but don’t believe your own hype Rhys, your good, even do a decent cover of Dramarama, but… I have seen better.”
