by E. M. Abel
“I needed you, too.”
Leaning down, I pecked her on the lips and smiled. “Well, now, you have me.”
SKY
Streetlights flashed across Dillon’s face as we sat in the back of a cab, on our way to Blakely’s. As much as I’d tried, I couldn’t take my eyes off him. The past two days had felt so much like a dream that I was afraid I might wake up, and he’d be gone. Just in case, I was going to enjoy every second of it. I would make sure every moment was etched so deep into my memory that I’d never forget how good his love felt.
Dillon was too focused to notice my creepy stare. He was most likely going over the set and music in his head before his show. I grinned when his lips started moving, and his hand began tapping a beat on his leg.
“What song are you leading off with?”
Dillon’s hand stopped, and he turned to face me. “You’ll see.” He gave me a crooked grin.
I narrowed my eyes at him. “You aren’t going to tell me?”
“Nope.”
I was about to give him a hard time when his phone started to ring in his pocket.
He pulled it out and glanced at the screen. “It’s Matteo.” He answered it. “What’s up? Okay, why? Are you serious?”
Dillon craned his neck to look out the windshield, and I did the same to figure out what he was trying to see.
“What?” I asked, not noticing anything.
We were still a couple of blocks from the bar.
Dillon hung up with Matteo, and his expression held a combination of disbelief and surprise.
“Hey, would you mind going around the building and pulling up to the side entrance? My friend said there’s a way in on Twenty-Third.”
The cab driver nodded. “Yeah, no problem.”
“Hold on. Why are you going in the side entrance?” I asked, still trying to see Blakely’s through the windows.
“Matteo said there’s a line of people down the street. They’re all waiting to get in.”
“What?” I shouted, scaring the cab driver.
He muttered, “Jesus,” and put his hand over his heart.
Covering my mouth with my hands, I tried to contain my excitement. “Oh my God, Dillon,” I half-whispered and half-shouted as I grabbed his arm and shook it. “There’s a line!”
His smile was so bright that I made sure to memorize every inch of it and file it away.
We both stared out the windshield as the bar got closer, and the line came into view. My jaw dropped. Matteo wasn’t exaggerating. The line went almost to the end of the block. There was no way all those people were going to fit.
“This is crazy,” Dillon said, staring at the people lined up on the sidewalk to hear him sing.
I couldn’t even imagine what that must feel like for him. I hoped it made the struggle seem worth it. I moved closer to his side, and we watched out his window as the cab passed by the crowd. Dillon put his arm around my shoulders, and I looked up at him with a giddy smile. I was so excited for him, I could burst.
Dillon chuckled when he saw my expression and leaned down to kiss my lips. “I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
“You know, none of this would be happening if it wasn’t for you.”
I pursed my lips, ready to argue, but he didn’t let me.
“All those nights you dragged me to open mic nights at O’Brien’s. All the time you spent listening to my songs and posting my videos.” Dillon studied my face as he swept his thumb across my bottom lip. “I couldn’t do any of this without you.”
Who knew Dillon was such a romantic?
If he kept this up, I’d be a puddle on the floor.
When the cab pulled to a stop beside a dark alley, Dillon reached into his back pocket for his wallet and paid the driver. We got out of the car, and Dillon held his hand out for me as Matteo came jogging toward us.
“Good, you’re here.”
Once I was out of the cab, Dillon took his guitar out of the backseat and pulled the strap over his shoulder. We held hands and followed Matteo into the side entrance of Blakely’s. We walked inside, and the silence of the alley was quickly replaced with loud music and even louder chatter. The bar sounded like it was packed full of people, and the energy in the building was palpable. We’d been going to Blakely’s for years and I’d never heard it so loud.
“Holy shit! Is the bar already full?” I asked Matteo as he led us down a hall and toward the back of the stage.
“Yeah, it’s been full for over an hour already. Greg said he had to shut the door at eight before they exceeded the fire code.”
“So, all those people on the sidewalk are standing there even if they can’t get in?”
Matteo stopped once we reached our destination. “People are still out there? I figured they’d be gone by now.”
“Nah, they’re still lined up,” Dillon told him as he took his guitar out of its case.
“Wow.”
“What do you think happened?” I asked Matteo.
Dillon started checking his guitar and tuning the strings.
“What do you mean?”
“Did another video go viral or something? I mean, this can’t all be buzz from his performance at The Phoenix, can it?”
Matteo shrugged. “It could be a combination of everything. I don’t know.” He looked at Dillon. “Hey, man. Make sure you mention something about the crowdfunding when you’re onstage, okay? We’ve got to take advantage of this. I also think you should try sticking around a little longer after the show. A lot of these people have been waiting for hours to see you, and I’m sure it would go a long way.”
Dillon nodded and went back to preparing. Matteo was right. Dillon could use a crowd this size to his advantage. If all of them donated money, he’d reach his goal in no time.
“Sky, I need your help with handing shit out during the show. TJ already has all the fliers at the table.”
“Yeah, sure.”
Dillon was humming and doing his voice exercises behind us.
Matteo looked at him. “You ready?”
Dillon cleared his throat and swallowed. I could see his nerves kicking in, but I wasn’t worried. It was the rush of adrenaline and anxiety that helped him get in the zone.
“I’m ready.”
Matteo lifted his chin. “I’ll let them know.”
When he left, I walked over to Dillon and put my hand on his arm. “I’m going to go find TJ. Do you need anything else before I go?”
“A kiss.”
He leaned down, and I reached over his guitar to hold his head in my hands as I pressed my lips tightly against his.
When I pulled away, I said, “Go show them what you’re made of, Dillon Frazier.”
He grinned down at me and winked as I wiped my lipstick off his full lips. I couldn’t wait to kiss them again.
“How’s everyone doing tonight?” Greg said into the microphone.
My eyes widened, and I quickly snuck off the stage, whispering, “Good luck! I love you!” before I found the stairs to the main floor.
It was nearly impossible to find TJ, and when I did, it took a lot of maneuvering to get to her. I’d never seen Blakely’s so full before. I sat down and hugged her just as Greg announced Dillon, and the bar erupted into applause. TJ and I smiled at each other as we stood up and started whistling and clapping.
Dillon walked out, and the energy in the room intensified. He smiled and lifted his hand, seeming surprised by the size of the crowd. He went in front of the microphone and raised the stand, so it’d reach his mouth.
“Thank you,” he said, his deep timbre vibrating through the speakers and right between my legs.
Damn, he’s so hot.
Glancing around the room, I quickly realized that I wasn’t the only woman who thought so. Groups of them were everywhere, dressed in tight clothes and staring up at him like he was a piece of meat. I could have been jealous, but I knew where Dillon’s heart was. Instead, I was happy for him. I knew his
sex appeal would help propel his career whether he liked to admit it or not.
As always, Dillon’s eyes scanned the crowd until they found mine, and I waved at him.
He smiled and said into the microphone, “This first one is for mi Cielo.”
A wave of emotions washed over me, and I covered my mouth with my hand.
“Who?” TJ asked.
“Mi Cielo. My Sky.”
I heard TJ suck in a breath beside me, but I couldn’t stop staring at Dillon as he lowered his head and played his guitar. The room grew quiet as he started to strum a familiar tune. I searched my memory, trying to place the song but I couldn’t.
Not until he began to sing.
Oh my God.
Dillon was singing his own rendition of Janet Jackson’s “That’s the Way Love Goes.” It was one of my favorites, and the way he was singing it had the entire room completely captivated. The sensual words mixed with his raspy voice and the bluesy undertones had every woman in the room swooning.
When he sang the lyrics about reaching out and feeling his body, women actually screamed, making him grin against the microphone. I started bobbing my head with the beat, quietly singing the lyrics along with him, when his eyes met mine again. I could feel his stare like a physical touch moving through me and warming my heart. He sang the last of the song only to me, and it was so good, I wasn’t sure if I should cry or tackle him to the ground and fuck him onstage. I wanted to do both.
When he finished, women were fanning themselves, screaming, and clapping.
TJ turned to me and said one word, “Damn.”
About halfway through Dillon’s set, TJ and I started walking through the crowd, passing out the fliers Matteo had made. We got so many questions about autographs, future shows, and places to buy Dillon’s music. It was unbelievable. People were eager for more, but I didn’t have many answers for them. I told them about the crowdfunding and his YouTube channel and promised they’d hear more once we knew something.
TJ and I went on a mission to find out where all the buzz about Dillon had started. After asking a few questions and doing some eavesdropping, we figured out that Anthony Banner, a very famous Grammy-award-winning singer had mentioned Dillon on a video he posted to Instagram. I assumed people must have gone to Dillon’s YouTube channel and heard him mention his gig at Blakely’s tonight. It would explain the massive crowd.
After Dillon’s last song, the room went wild. The audience’s reaction was even stronger than it had been at The Phoenix.
I couldn’t really explain it, but I knew that things were changing. Dillon was on the verge of something larger than he could have ever imagined. His music was taking on a life of its own, and he was about to go along for the ride.
“Thank you so much for coming out,” Dillon said as sweat dripped down the side of his face. He smiled at some people in the audience. “I see a lot of familiar faces out here.”
A group of women shrieked when he pointed toward them, and he chuckled into the microphone.
“I want you guys to know that I’m working hard on my first album.”
That got more cheers from the crowd.
“You should’ve seen two beautiful ladies passing out flyers during the show. On it, you’ll find information on how you can help. We’re raising money for studio time, so all your donations will go toward my music and help bring me closer to my dream. From the bottom of my heart, I thank you for all your support. It means the world to me. Good night.”
Dillon took a step back, and the cheers became deafening as he waved at everyone and started to walk offstage. I was a little worried about his well-being in this crowd, but luckily, he was a big guy, and our table wasn’t too far from the stairs.
When he finally made it to us, a sea of people asking for pictures and autographs followed him. He stood beside the table for almost an hour, posing for pictures and signing flyers. I snuck off to the bar and bought us a round of beers, handing him one while he met with his fans.
“This is fucking nuts, dude,” TJ said as she took one of the beers.
“Right?”
Matteo took the empty seat next to TJ and kissed her on the cheek, his eyes bright with elation.
“You’re going to need security soon, Matteo. This is insane!” I told him before taking another swig of beer.
“First things first. We need to make an album, and then we can afford security. And all of this schmoozing is exactly what I need him to do, so we can afford it.”
Dillon took another picture with a different group of women. He was probably dying to get out of here, but all that attention came with the territory. I guessed he’d have to get used to it.
Matteo was tapping away on his phone when Dillon finally got a few seconds to turn around and speak to us. “Am I done yet?”
I gave him a sympathetic smile and looked across the table at Matteo just as his eyebrows shot up, and he got out of his seat.
“What is it?” Dillon asked.
“We’ve got twenty thousand dollars!” he shouted. Then, he quickly sat back down and glanced around the room.
“What?” TJ and I squealed at the same time.
He turned his phone around to show us one of the crowdfunding accounts. The total was now twenty thousand four hundred and fifteen dollars and still climbing.
Dillon sat down and took the phone from Matteo to see for himself. “Holy shit.”
“Holy shit is right, motherfucker! You’re about to make a fucking album!”
Matteo nearly tackled Dillon to the ground with his hug, and TJ and I laughed and hugged each other in our excitement.
Dillon still seemed shocked as his gaze moved between the phone and me. “Is this for real?”
I smiled at him, happy tears blurring my vision, as I nodded. “It’s real.”
Later that night, Dillon and I were back at his apartment, adrenaline still lingering in our veins. We’d sat down on his couch and talked about the show and his new album. I’d told him about Anthony Banner, and we’d looked up the video on Instagram. It was true. He’d not only mentioned Dillon, but he’d also said he wanted to work with him. I’d never seen Dillon more excited in my life. It had taken two hours before he finally calmed down enough to take a shower.
Now, I was in his room, anxiously waiting for him to come out. I’d never wanted anyone as badly as I wanted Dillon, but knowing how much this would mean, I also hoped it’d be perfect. For the first time in my life, I didn’t want to just have sex. I wanted to make love, and the anticipation was wreaking havoc on my nerves.
When I heard the water shut off in the bathroom, I started pacing the bedroom floor, wondering where and how I should sit.
Maybe I should take my shirt off?
No, too desperate.
Should I sit on the bed or stand over here?
I went to his dresser and awkwardly leaned against it before shaking my head and moving to sit on the foot of the bed.
A few seconds later, the bathroom door opened, and steam and the scent of Dillon’s soap poured out into the room. He walked out with a pair of baggy sweatpants sitting low on his hips, and I could see that deep V muscle below his abs. That had to be one of the sexiest parts of a man’s body. I sat there, watching him, as he rubbed a towel over his hair, his abs flexing with his movements. I crossed my legs, hoping to relieve some of the pressure building between them.
When he was done drying his hair, Dillon tossed the towel into his laundry basket and looked down at me. His eyes were glowing with sexual energy, and I bit into my lower lip, fighting to control myself. Coming closer, Dillon stood directly in front of me and got down on his knees. He tucked strands of my hair behind my ear, his eyes exploring my face, as if they were seeing it for the first time.
“Don’t be nervous, Sky. I know you who you are and I love every part of you. That’s all I want. I only want you,” he said, his hand moving to the side of my face.
“I want you, too,” I whispered, all my anxiety fading
with his affection.
I realized I had no reason to be afraid because, no matter what Dillon and I shared, it would always come from a place of love.
As he leaned forward, Dillon and I watched each other while our mouths drew closer, and our breaths came quicker until I dipped my head just enough for our lips to touch. The instant he kissed me, everything else in the room disappeared. The outside world no longer existed, and I would happily stay in limbo with him forever.
His tongue brushed my lips, and I opened them for him, deepening our kiss, as his arms wrapped around me. His fingers dug into my back, and my hands went to his jaw, the stubble rough against my palms. I wrapped my legs around him as he stood and pushed me backward onto the bed.
As he lay on top of me, I moaned when the weight of him settled between my legs. My fingers roamed over his chest and abs, desperate to feel every inch of his skin. His muscles flex under my touch as he gripped my shoulders and pressed his hips forward, providing pressure where I needed it the most.
I broke our kiss, gasping for breath, when it became too much for me to handle.
“God, I love you,” he rasped as he kissed down my neck, pulling the front of my shirt down to expose my bra.
I could hardly think, let alone speak. His mouth was like fire on my skin, igniting my nerves and leaving a trail of need in its path. I wanted to feel that heat all over.
Dillon pulled the cups of my bra down, and his lips wrapped around one of my nipples. I arched my back, my mouth forming an O, as my sensitive nerves reacted to the sharp tug of his teeth and caressing slide of his tongue. His hips kept moving between my legs, his hard cock sliding back and forth, back and forth. I dug my nails into his shoulders, as he focused his attention on my other breast, treating it with the same level of fervor and need. I thought I might spontaneously combust if he didn’t give me some relief, but I could hardly catch my breath to tell him what I wanted.
When he moved to his knees, my eyes roamed over his body—flawless, soft skin stretching over hard ridges of muscles, big hands gripping my thighs, his hard dick stretching the front of his pants—all of it only fueling my craving.
