Tattoos & Tears (Complete Collection)

by Amiee Louise

  6

  Peyton

  I am jolted back to the present by Callum’s voice.

  “Peyton, please, it’s not like that, she is nothing to me, and it was just one night a long time ago. We were both drunk; it was a stupid mistake, I swear. You have to believe me. It’s always been you, baby cakes, I’ve never loved anyone the way I love you.”

  He strokes my hair and puts his hands on either side of my head, trapping me. He is so close I can feel his breath on my cheek and the smell of his aftershave. He leans in and kisses me on the lips. I push against him, but he is so strong. I slap him around the face and go to duck under his arm, but he grabs my wrist and pulls me back.

  “The spark’s still there, baby cakes.”

  I hear heavy footsteps coming up the stairs.

  “Take your hand off her and get the fuck away from her, Kennedy. Now.” Sam’s voice is harsh and commanding. He grabs Callum and punches him in the face hard, Callum’s nose is bleeding. The third time in as many days that he has got into some dispute because of me.

  “If you know what’s good for you, you’ll make your excuses and fuck off.” His stance is loose and predatory. Callum is about to speak, and Sam stops him. “I don’t want to hear your fucking bullshit excuses. I just want you to leave my girl alone. She was done with you a long time ago,” he spits out.

  Callum smirks and holds his hands up in surrender. Sam lunges at him and pins him to the wall by his throat.

  “Don’t get fucking smart with me, you smug little bastard. I saw you try to kiss her; if I ever catch you near her again, if you even look at her, I swear to God, I will fucking end you.” Sam’s voice is so low and threatening, it makes my blood run cold. He tightens his grip, and I can see Callum struggling to breathe. He punches him hard in the ribs, and I touch Sam’s arm gently.

  “Sam, baby, stop now, you’ve made your point,” I say softly. He complies and lets go of Callum’s throat. Callum is coughing and spluttering. He looks back at me.

  “Baby cakes, this is far from over.”

  Sam goes for him again, but I grab his corded wrist tight. Callum makes his exit down the staircase.

  “What the fuck was that?” I raise my voice. “You can’t keep behaving like some fucking Neanderthal, throwing your fists around left, right, and centre. I was handling it!”

  Sam looks at me and backs me against the wall. He strokes my face with the back of his hand.

  “I was watching. He kissed you, and he had his fucking filthy hands on you. Him even breathing the same air as you makes me … murderous. I have never felt this protective over a woman before, and it’s scaring the shit out of me. I don’t know how to deal with these kind of emotions, I didn’t feel anything before you, and I couldn’t care about anyone or anything, because I just didn’t give a fuck. You’ve awakened something in me, Peyton. I saw red as soon as I saw him within an inch of you. You make me feel exposed. I fucking hate feeling that way.”

  I find myself softening towards him. Him truly opening up to me is a rarity, and I love seeing his vulnerable side. It makes me love him that bit more with every titbit and every snippet of himself he decides to share with me.

  “Every part of me, every inch is yours, Sam, when are you going to get that into that beautiful fucked up head of yours?” I touch his temple with my finger gently. He scoops up my hand and brings my fingers to his lips.

  “I’m trying, angel, I’m trying so hard not to push you away. I fuck it up every time, and for that, I’m truly sorry. I’ll spend my life trying to be enough for you, to be the man you deserve.”

  “You’re everything to me, Sam. I love you so much, hold onto that.”

  I press my lips to his and kiss him gently. He smiles that heart-stopping smile.

  “Let’s go back and join the party.”

  I clasp Sam’s hand in mine, and we go back downstairs to re-join the party. The conversation is in full swing, and there is soft jazz music playing in the background.

  “There you both are. We were wondering where you got to. Callum and Savannah had to leave.”

  “I was just giving Peyton the tour of the upstairs.”

  Milo, Seth, and Marlowe all laugh aloud at the same time.

  “Is that what you kids are calling it these days?” Seth raises his eyebrows suggestively, and I feel my face flush. Sam kisses my forehead.

  “Don’t sweat it, angel, they’re just winding you up because they’re not getting any hot loving at home!” Sam chuckles and they all laugh.

  “Can I get you both another drink, sweetie?” Lori cuts in, and I am glad of her intervention. I smile gratefully, and Sam jumps in.

  “Actually, mum, we were going to head home.”

  “OK sweetie, it was so good to see you, and it was fabulous to finally meet you, Peyton. You should definitely come over again soon.”

  I nod. “Yeah, of course, I’ve had a really nice night; it was so great to meet you all at last.”

  Lori hugs Sam tight. “Call me soon, darling.” She hugs me and kisses me on both cheeks. “Don’t be a stranger, Peyton, and remember what I said?”

  She winks and pulls away. We say our goodbyes to everyone, and we step outside into the cool night air. Cole is in the driveway waiting by the car.

  “Sam, Peyton.”

  He nods to us both and opens the door of the Porsche. We both get in, and I lean on Sam’s shoulder. We make the journey back to Sam’s place in just over an hour. The night-time traffic is light, and I am glad to sit watching the world go by in a blur wrapped in Sam’s safe arms.

  We get back to Sam’s apartment, and as soon as he closes the door, he pins me against the wall.

  “I promised you I’d take care of you, angel, I’m making sure I keep my promise,” he says huskily as he pushes the straps of my dress down my shoulders. He kisses a trail from my neck to my shoulder. I am burning for him; no man has ever made love to me the way Sam does. He takes his time, he is gentle yet commanding, and every time he touches me, every nerve in my body stands to complete attention. He takes off my dress, and it pools at my feet.

  “Fuck me, you’re beautiful.”

  I kick off my shoes, and he lifts me off the floor.

  “Wrap those delicious legs around me, angel.”

  I wrap my legs around his waist, and he claims my mouth hungrily. I am vaguely aware of my surroundings, as he carries me through his apartment, his lips never leaving mine. He kicks the door open, and we are in his recording studio. He doesn’t let me go; he just sits down on the large leather office chair with me in my bra straddling his lap. He leans back and looks me in the eyes.

  “God, how did I get so lucky?” he whispers, and I smile.

  “This is highly unfair; I’m the only one who’s naked,” I pout, and he chuckles softly. He holds his hands out to the side.

  “I’m all yours, angel.”

  I get up, unbuckle his belt and unzip his trousers. He lifts his hips off the chair, and I maneuver them down his legs. I throw them across the room, and his cock is straining against the material of his boxer briefs. He shrugs off his jacket and strips off his vest in one lithe move until he is gloriously naked. I lick my lips; I will never get tired of seeing him naked.

  “Better?” He smirks, and I nod.

  “Much.”

  I smile with satisfaction. He stands up, and his tall frame towers over me.

  “You’re still wearing your bra, baby, that’s highly unacceptable,” he tuts. He unclasps my bra with one hand, looks cockily at me, and smirks.

  “Years of practise, my lovely!” He winks and hangs my bra on the microphone stand near the desk. “Let’s call that a souvenir! Every time I come in here, I’ll think of you. I won’t be able to hide my erection, seeing your beautiful pussy spread out for me.” He moves me over to the desk. “Lean down on the desk and grip it tight. Don’t let go unless I tell you, angel.”

  I do as he says and lean down on the smooth wooden desk. I grip it, and he runs his
fingers down my spine, causing my body to shiver and goosebump at his touch.

  “I’m going to take you from behind, baby.”

  He runs his fingers down my soaking wet folds and pushes two fingers into my pussy. I mewl softly.

  “You’re always so wet and ready for me, angel.”

  He removes his fingers and replaces them with his erect cock. He pushes roughly into me, and I shriek at the force.

  “Oh, fuck, baby,” he growls. He plunges in and out at a fast pace driving me towards the release I have been desperately craving since he teased me earlier.

  “Mmm, Sam!” I let out a scream. He increases his momentum, and we both detonate at the same time with strangled cries of pure sexual bliss. He grips my waist and collapses on top of me. We are both left panting and breathless on the desk.

  “I never get tired of being inside you, baby. You’re so beautiful, I love you so much,” he whispers in my ear and pulls out of me. He lifts me off the desk and sits me on the edge. He nudges himself between my legs and wraps his arms around me.

  “I love you, Sam, so much.”

  I nuzzle into his chest, and he holds me tightly.

  “Move in with me, angel, I want to wake up next to you every single morning and go to sleep with you every night for as long as I’m breathing.”

  “Maybe after the tour? I need some time to think, baby.”

  He seems to understand and nods. He lifts me off the desk and carries me down the corridor into his bedroom, deposits me on the bed, and lies down next to me. We say goodnight, and I fall into a restful sleep.

  We spend the whole of Sunday being a normal couple. We have breakfast in bed, pack, and prepare for the tour. We go out after for farewell drinks at a local bar with Seb and Ruby; we have a good time drinking, chatting, laughing and hanging out with our friends. We get back to Sam’s apartment, make slow passionate love on the sofa, and for the first time in a long time, I am so blissfully happy I don’t ever want this feeling to end.

  Before we know it, Monday morning has rolled around, and today is the day I go on a tour bus with a bunch of rockers. I am nervous and apprehensive as to what I am letting myself in for, but I am also excited. Cole drives us to the tour bus, and when we get out of the car, I am stunned to see the tour bus in front of me. It is a black and silver, sleek, double-deck bus, with tinted windows, and the band’s logo down the side. It is very large and impressive from the outside.

  “This is our home for the next three months, angel,” Sam tells me.

  He smiles his dazzling smile, and I am temporarily disarmed. I love his smile—it is one of my favourite features of his. The other guys arrive a few minutes after us, and Jax comes bounding over to me.

  “Peyton!”

  I love his child-like manner; it never fails to make me smile. He picks me up and spins me around.

  “We’ll look after you, love, I promise.”

  He winks and puts me down. Brody salutes coolly, and Lucas gives me a one-armed hug. J.D. is talking to a tall, muscular, middle-aged man with a dark-haired buzz cut. The guys make their way up the stairs of the bus, and Sam swats my bum playfully as I walk up in front of him. We all get onto the bus, and I am again amazed by the interior. I walk around to get acquainted with my new home on wheels.

  “Let me show you the upstairs,” Sam says, raising his eyebrows suggestively.

  Men and their filthy minds!

  I follow him up to the upper deck. It is equally as impressive as the lower deck. Sam swings the door to the bedroom open. It is decorated in masculine black, turquoise, and silver tones. However, it is cosy, and I instantly feel at home.

  “You like?” Sam looks at me.

  “It’s cosy.”

  He smiles at my reaction and says, “The first gig is tonight up in Glasgow. It takes around seven hours to get to Glasgow from London depending on traffic, but we’ll have a few stops along the way. Come on, I’ll introduce you to our tour bus driver, Lex.”

  He takes my hand, and we go back downstairs to the lower deck. The other guys have settled in—Brody is lounging on the sofa with his headphones on reading a rock magazine; Lucas and Jax are having some sort of Xbox duel on Grand Theft Auto 5, their faces full of concentration. I smile at the sight. Boys and their toys.

  “There’s someone I want you to meet, babe.” Sam pulls me towards the driver’s cab. “Lex.”

  He turns around and smiles a crooked smile. He looks to be in his mid-forties, has a dark buzz cut, dark, steel-blue eyes, and stubble across his square jaw. Lex shakes hands with Sam.

  “Good to see you, Sam.”

  Sam smiles and says, “You too, mate. Lex, this is my girlfriend, Peyton; she is coming on tour with us for a few weeks. Peyton this is our driver, Lex.”

  I smile, and Lex shakes my hand.

  “I hope you know what you’re letting yourself in for, darlin’. These boys can be a handful. Lucky for me, I know their tricks so I can handle them just fine. Stick with me, kid, I’ll show you the tricks.”

  “Let’s not scare her to death, man.”

  Lex laughs. I instantly like him; he seems like a really nice person with his humorous personality, and he seems like a sort of father figure.

  “I’m just joking, darlin’, but if you ever need to get away from the boys for a bit, you can always come and chill with me up here, anytime.”

  I smile at the sentiment and nod, saying, “Thank you, Lex, I appreciate that. I’ll definitely bear it in mind.”

  “We’re going to get on the road in the next ten minutes, if you need me to pull over at any time for rest stops just give me a shout.”

  “Nice to meet you, Lex.”

  Sam and I go into the living area of the bus. We settle down on the sofa, and I can’t believe I am on a tour bus with a rock band—it’s all so surreal. Let the madness of Rancid Vengeance commence!

  7

  Peyton

  It feels like we have been on the road for ages. I have been alternating between listening to my iPod, reading my Kindle, and surfing the internet on my laptop to pass the time. I have no idea where we are but figure that we must be in Glasgow by now. Sam is taking a shower, and Lucas and Brody are playing Xbox. The bus suddenly pulls to a halt, but the engine is still running. Jax gets up and looks through the bus window. He strides to the driver’s cab.

  “Lex, we’re in the middle of bum fuck nowhere! It’s a fair assumption to say we’re bloody lost!”

  Brody and Lucas put their Xbox controllers down on the table. They are on the sofa laughing hysterically at Jax’s sudden outburst at Lex.

  “And just because the sat-nav is a bird doesn’t mean you have to ignore her and argue with her, because frankly, mate, it’s really fucking weird!”

  Lex cuts the engine on the bus and storms down the bus aisle.

  “I’ve been awake for thirty-six fucking hours, so I’m sorry that we’re bloody lost. I’m knackered, and I need to get some sleep, so one of you ungrateful motherfuckers are going to have to drive the god damn bus!”

  Lex throws the keys at Jax and stomps off the bus, bumping into Sam as he leaves. Sam has just stepped out of the shower, and he has a towel wrapped around his lean waist. He looks gorgeous and glorious with beads of water running down his tattooed torso. I lick my lips as I catch sight of him and his dazzling smile turns to a puzzled look.

  “What’s up with Lex? Have you been winding him up again, Jax?”

  Jax holds his hands up innocently. “We’re in the middle of fucking nowhere because of him, it’s like the beginning of a bad horror movie out there. I’m too young and pretty to die. I’ve seen Deliverance, and that shit ain’t happening to me, dude!”

  Sam rolls his eyes and laughs. “You need to go and apologise to Lex, man.”

  Jax folds his arms and pouts, “I’m not apologising, it’s his fault we’re lost! Why should I be the one to say sorry?”

  Sam shakes his head, exasperated. “Because he’s going through a rough time at the
moment. He’s going through a divorce. He has worked for us for years, he doesn’t have to drive for us, but he does because he’s a good bloke. You treating him like shit and being a total arse isn’t helping things, Jax. Lost or not, who else is going to drive the bus?”

  Jax rolls his eyes. “For fuck’s sake!”

  Jax sounds like a stroppy teenager, and we all burst out laughing. Maybe being on a tour bus with a bunch of rockers won’t be so bad after all. Sam goes up to the top deck.