It might have been cute if it were someone else’s personal life being shared across the World Wide Web.
Crystal released my hand and rubbed her’s on her jean-clad thighs nervously. “Okay, okay,” she raised her hands as if she were surrendering. “She wrote a good article. She didn’t actually call anybody out. She simply stated known facts, right?” She looked in my direction. I nodded in approval.
She looked at Anita. “What kind of comments have the article incited?”
I could see the look of concern on Crystal’s beautiful face. I hated that all this shit had to be stirred up. Unfortunately, we knew it was inevitable when we decided to go public.
Anita looked at Theo then back at us. “You have to realize that there will always be negative people out there trying to rain on everyone’s parade, but I would have to say that at least ninety percent of the comments are encouraging.” She handed Crystal her tablet. “See for yourselves.”
Crystal and I read a few of the comments. Some were the general sappy ‘what a cute couple.’ Others were bolder, ‘lucky bitch, wish that was me’ and ‘lucky bastard, I’d grovel for forgiveness for someone like that.’ There were a lot of congratulations, and of course a few, ‘it won’t last,’ and ‘publicity stunt.’
All comments were directly specifically about Crystal and my relationship. There was not a mention of Christmas Davies or Cover Me Grey. If this was any indication of what was to come, the resurfacing of the scandal that Crystal was worried about was not going to happen.
A few choice words by a credible source put an end to any gossip or innuendo.
Was it too much to wish that this would be the end of it?
Chapter 36
Crystal
Rehearsals, packing, saying goodbye to loved ones. The days flew by in a blur. What I didn’t have to worry about was hiding behind disguises or bushes to get away from unscrupulous paparazzi.
I put more emphasis on the situation with my past than was necessary. At the time I was shunned and ostracized for daring to speak badly against Cover Me Grey, Steve or the label, I kept a low profile and refused to read anything published on the subject.
I was more than happy to move forward with my life, which included Baden, without waiting for the other shoe to drop.
Three weeks into the tour, and this was our first hotel stay. We were scheduled for two sold-out performances. The tour had begun with great success. Venues were already inquiring about the possibility of squeezing in a second appearance.
My limited experience had not prepared me for the vigorous pace of a full-fledged tour with a high profile label.
True to his word, Baden had not pressured me to allow him to spend his nights on the Divine Chrysalis bus. That meant we had to be creative in where and when we required sexy fun times. I enjoyed being creative. However, I had to admit to myself that I was going to enjoy spending the night in Baden’s arms.
Exhaustion set in by the time we arrived at our latest destination. I tossed my overnight bag across the room to the chair sitting in the corner.
“I want to take a long hot bath,” I sighed. Quick washes in the minuscule shower on the bus served to keep us clean, but nothing beats a hot soak in a big-ass tub. I made my way to the bathroom. I shrieked when I walked inside.
“What, do you need me to kill a spider or something?” Baden laughed.
“No.” I pointed to the sunken Jacuzzi tub large enough to fit four. It was sure to cost him a pretty penny to have a bath the size of a hot tub. Bouncing on the balls of my feet in excitement, I demanded, “We need to get naked. Now.”
Baden pulled me to his side. “How long do you think it’s going to take to fill that thing? We don’t want the hotel to run out of hot water,” he snickered.
I slapped his chest and shrugged. “Don’t care.” I proceeded to turn on the taps and gauge the water temperature.
I stripped out of my clothes and put on the terry robe provided by the hotel. Waiting for the tub to fill I went in search of where Baden had wandered off to. I took a peek in the other room, curious what was keeping Baden from joining me. He was sifting through a gift basket. Huh, funny how I didn’t notice that sitting on the dresser when we arrived. Of course, at the time, my only concern was to find a big-ass tub.
Mission completed.
Now to complete the task of getting my boyfriend naked.
I stood in the doorway. “Why are you still dressed?” I purred in my best come-fuck-me seductive tone.
Baden turned to face me and threw a loofah my way. Then he tipped the basket to reveal various bath products.
He waggled his eyebrows. “Do you want to read the labels to see if any of these are going to cause a reaction to your sensitive skin?”
Swoon.
He had told me he had gone online and read about my albinism. Not many had bothered to do anything more than tease me about my pale skin, snowy white hair and colorless eyes. Baden had taken the time to research the condition. These small gestures had me falling for him a little more each day.
I walked over and took a look at the basket. I didn’t need to read the labels to know it would be a risk if I decided to use any of the heavily perfumed concoctions.
I plucked out the scented candles. "These will help make the room romantic.” I kissed the tip of his nose and turned away. I looked over my shoulder and winked at Baden before I dropped the robe and swayed into the bathroom naked.
As the tub continued to fill, I lit the candles and placed them on the vanity. They created a warm, calming glow once I turned off the lights.
I sank low into the tub, relishing the hot water that had surrounded my body, and closed my eyes. My height has always been an issue with baths. I imagined Baden being six-two would have the same problem. That was why the Jacuzzi tub excited me. I knew it would be long enough for me to stretch out my legs with ease. I made a mental note to thank whoever booked us this room. And request a hot tub size Jacuzzi in every hotel room we had going forward. I’d volunteer to have the extra cost come out of my royalties.
I felt Baden’s hot breath on my neck before I registered his hands cupping my breasts. “Scoot your cute butt up and let me slide in behind you,” his low husky voice vibrated against my ear.
I did as he asked as he maneuvered his body to fit perfectly behind mine. I melted against his warm skin.
“I miss this,” I confessed.
“This?” he chuckled as he pushed his hard cock against my ass.
“Not that; I can have that any time I want,” I chastised him. “I missed being with you without having to rush to get off trying not to get caught,” I clarified. “Sex with you is always amazing, but here, laying in your arms with all the time in the world, that is what I miss.”
He turned my head and consumed my mouth. He kissed the way he fucked, thoroughly, without leaving any part untouched. It was the kind of kiss that left me mindless. Everything washed away, and the only thing surrounding our universe was us.
He stole the moan that escaped my lips. I pushed my ass against his hard protruding cock. His hand found its way to my clit. The long lazy circles didn’t provide enough friction to satisfy my aching core.
“More, Baden, I need more,” I whined as I attempted to grip his cock in my hand.
Baden reached forward and hit the button to activate the jets in the tub. He then pushed my butt forward with his knees and positioned my clit directly in front of the jets.
Holy mother fucker, now that was what I was talking about. The steady stream of the jet stimulated my clit much the same way my mini bullet did. When I thought it couldn’t get much better, Baden slid a finger into my pussy. And damn, if that didn’t have me on the verge of an orgasm.
Working me into a frenzy of need, Baden added a second finger and began to pump vigorously.
“Oh god, Baden, that feels amazing. Please tell me we don’t have to be anywhere else but here,” I begged.
His voice was wrought with need. “We h
ave six hours before sound check. There are no appearances or interviews. Theo wanted us to have some downtime today. We’ve been non-stop from day one, and we all needed a little time away for ourselves.”
I was boneless. Between the hot water relaxing my muscles and the building orgasm burning through my body, I was grateful Baden was here with me. Otherwise, I may have drowned from not being able to hold myself in a sitting position.
“I want one of these at the house,” I moaned.
“Sweetheart,” Baden trailed kisses behind my ear, down my neck, and across my collar bone, “if you had one of these, I’d never get you out of the house. Or out of the tub, I should say.”
Baden’s talented fingers continued to draw out my pleasure. I owned my sexuality a long time ago. I was not one of his submissive innocents. However, with all my experiences, I had never been as sexually satisfied as I was with Baden.
“Come for me, Crystal,” his deep husky growl sent a ripple down my spine and targeted my pussy. I spasmed around his fingers and thanked God we were in the tub. This was not the first time Baden’s demand was met with the gush of my orgasm.
I couldn’t stop the smile that spread across my face. Maybe there was something to his dominant behavior I loved after all. Not that I would ever give him the satisfaction of knowing.
As I allowed myself to lean against Baden’s hard, muscular chest, I sunk deeper into the tub. “What do you want to do next?” I knew what I wanted to do. That was to hide out in this room and take advantage of the California king bed. I had a sneaky suspicion that Baden and not Bentley Records was paying for this room.
“We don’t have another layover for three more weeks. If this is the last time I get to make love to you in a bed until then, I am not going to waste it.” His cocky grin and smoldering eyes spoke of everything I had hoped to have happened.
I was the one who pushed the issue of having bonding time with our respective band members. As much as I had missed the intimacy that having Baden all to myself provided, I had to stay true to my conscience.
It wasn’t as if we didn’t see each other every day. It was getting harder to steal quiet moments alone as the tour progressed and new demands were being thrown our way. An increase in requests was coming in for interviews from local radio stations, talk shows and thousands of music bloggers.
Then there was the VIP meet and greets, fan club meet and greets, and the ever-present paparazzi hoping to cash in on that once in a lifetime picture. All of it accumulated to less private time for Baden and me.
At least there was a Baden and me. Poor Maddox had to resort to sexting and video chats with his girlfriend Kitt. Even Jade and Kestrel had slowed things down.
As the new kids, our priority was to soak in as much experience as we could squeeze out of this opportunity. By the time we finished our long grueling days, dropping ass was all the reserves I had left in me.
I promised Baden banishment would be enforced for the first three months of the tour. What I had not expected was the appreciation I would develop for my bunk on the bus. A space that belonged solely to me. Sanctuary when there was so little of it to be had. It was my private space where I could fire up my Kindle and get lost in one of my favorite authors. Nothing released the stress of the day like getting lost in a good book. Well, almost nothing.
Would it be selfish of me if I decided to keep this small space reserved strictly for myself?
Chapter 37
Baden
Thirty-six concerts in forty-two days. The newbies were starting to feel the burnout, and it had only been six weeks. Theo warned us the first half of this tour was going to be grueling. He promised the European schedule was less hectic. There would be five shows a week instead of the six we were currently performing. Everyone wanted to live the rock and roll lifestyle, up until they had to live it. It was not all trashed hotel rooms, booze, drugs, and groupies.
Okay, maybe the last three were still staples, but not on our tour bus. This time around, Maddox was in a relationship. His girlfriend, Kitt, joined us and would be with us for the remainder of our North American tour.
The PDA Crystal and I flaunted left no question that I was off the market.
Adam made a commitment to remain sober and try to put the past behind him. That left Bash to pick up the slack.
Except for a one time incident at the studio where Bash mistook Anita for a groupie, he’d kept a low profile. He profusely apologized, and everyone hugged it out. Which was suitable for all of us because Shelby offered Anita the position of our road manager.
How Shelby managed to persuade Theo to allow his little sister to work with rowdy rock stars was beyond me. And how did Shelby manage to cajole Anita away from her job as Jackson Naile’s personal assistant? It wasn’t that I believed Anita wasn’t qualified: quite the opposite. It was most likely the work she had done as the liaison between Jackson’s firm and Bentley Records that had Shelby making the offer. It was just for years Theo sheltered his little sister from his wild rock and roll days.
Anita was no longer an impressionable young teenager. Theo saw her as the capable young woman she had become. Maddox, Adam and I had matured considerably in the past year, and that would have alleviated Theo’s fear of us corrupting his baby sister.
With the incident between Anita and Bash behind them, we were all looking forward to what Anita’s unique style will bring to the table. Time would tell if Shelby made the right call.
This was our second layover. I was looking forward to spending some quality time alone with Crystal. She had pulled back slightly after our last overnight stop. I had hoped being on tour would bring us closer together. The long days on the road and the even longer nights when I had to say goodbye hadn’t helped.
Crystal had continued to be resistant to me joining her on the Divine Chrysalis bus. I had hoped with Kitt’s arrival, I could get Crystal to change her mind. Her resolve, however, had not waived. Much to my dismay.
The last overnight stop we sequestered ourselves in the hotel room. This time I made reservations for an early dinner at a popular restaurant that was known for hosting celebrities. We didn’t have to worry about being interrupted for pictures or autographs during our meal.
It was imperative that Crystal understands my feelings for her went beyond our chemistry in the bedroom. We had been creative in when and where we had sex. I thought we had christened every locker room from New York to Chicago.
However, I missed our conversations and the way she would wrap her entire body around me as we slept. I even missed our arguments in the studio. Those were the things that made us, us.
Now it was quick fucks in locker rooms and closets.
It was easy to fall into a monotonous pattern. As it was, we sat on a bus for half the day. Once we arrived at the venue, it was all about getting this large group of people organized. There was equipment to be set up, sound checks to complete, and somewhere in there, we had to ensure we took care of our bodies and fueled them with nutritional food.
I know, I know, as I said, it wasn’t all booze, drugs, and groupies.
Those benefits came after the performance.
However, after a while, those perks seemed more like an obligation to our fans than entertainment.
Crystal was on point about using this time to bond with our respective bandmates. In the past, Maddox and I had left the writing and creativity to Theo and Adam. My time in the studio gave me insight into how the creative process developed. I now had a new appreciation for all the work Theo and Adam had accomplished.
This time around the entire band was going to be included in the process, each of us having a say and input as to what direction we wanted to go in regards to our sound and overall perception. If we kept at the pace we were going, we would have enough material for a second album by the end of this tour.
As part of her job with Bentley Records, Kitt was going to be spending her days on the Divine Chrysalis bus. She was assisting Ashley and Amber in completing
their GED. She would switch buses at each venue and spend her night on our bus with Maddox.
I attempted to convince Crystal to take this opportunity for us to re-open the discussion of our sleeping arrangement. She could get her bonding time during the long haul from one city to the other. Then her nights would be free to spend wrapped in my arms.
Hence the romantic dinner. I would be my witty, charming self and remind her why she agreed to a relationship. It was difficult to connect on an intellectual and spiritual level when all our schedules allowed for was quickies in between stops.
We did not have much personal space on the buses, so clothing consisted of the basics. Jeans, t-shirts, and underwear. Which was why I was pleased to see the shops in the lobby of the hotel when we arrived. I had the ladies boutique send up the standard little black dress to our room as a surprise for Crystal. I assumed it was something that Amber could repurpose and add to the girls’ stage outfits.
Years of experience had taught me always to have at least one button-down shirt, a pair of dress pants, and my Van de Graff’s dress shoes tucked away for special occasions. I considered this date one of those occasions.
Crystal and I needed to have a heart to heart. I didn’t want to put any more pressure on her than she already had. This lifestyle took some getting used to, and I knew there would be growing pains.
I had to find out if that was all that was going on. One minute Crystal was all in with the PDA, and the next she would close herself off. She had to know she could talk to me if something was bothering her. Even if it meant her feelings towards me had changed and she no longer was interested in a long term relationship.
I sat on the edge of the bed anxiously, fiddling with my Squier, Bertha. She was my first guitar, and I have never been without her from day one. She didn’t come on stage with me anymore; I used my Fender Deluxe Special for performances.
Rock Gods: Baden Page 19
