Sometimes I wonder how he got here. Notherehere, but the bassist for a punk band. He has this nerdy look to him thatsuggests he spends his free time in a library reading for fun. Bleh.
I can’t imagine a younger Tanner doing anything other than reading books and making checklists on his trusty clipboard. I don’t know what prompted him to pick up a bass.
He looks confused. I shake my head, not bothering to explain it to him. He’s smart, he’ll figure it out.
Calvin comes into the room, passes us each a bottle of water, and places a fifth of vodka on the table. “Gift from the venue,” he says as if it’s not obvious, then he waves behind him at the doorway where two girls stand. He looks right at me when he says, “Gift from the universe.”
I stare at him. He’s like a puppy wanting a bone. I flick my eyes toward the girls, two brunettes with big, hopeful smiles. My eyes drop to the fresh vodka in front of me, and I sigh to myself. Fuck it.
I unscrew the cap and take a long pull. My throat screams in protest. I haven’t been easy on it. I’m supposed to take breaks from talking too much and drinking shit like this when I’m overworking my vocal cords, but do I ever listen? No.
The guys scurry from the room as soon as the girls step inside. They frown, but they aren’t too deterred. They plop down on either side of me, smiling. I toss my arms behind them and offer them a drink from the vodka bottle, which they greedily accept. This is what I need. To relax and forget about the marketing manager on tour with us.
I’m making meaningless conversation with whatever their names are when Ellie steps into the room. She jolts back, clearly taken off guard, but she recovers quickly. “Oh, I was just coming to see if you guys needed anything before I left.”
“Everyone else is already gone, but I’m good.”
She nods. “I see that.”
My eyes narrow, detecting a bit of attitude in her tone. Her attention falls to my lap, where the girls have their hands resting on my thighs. She straightens just as fast, and plasterson a smile. “I’ll let you get back to it.” She spins on her spikey high heel and struts out the door.
I watch her hips sway as she leaves, and once she’s gone, the girls move in, pressing their lips to my neck at the same time. Their hands slide across my thighs, inching closer to my dick. I shut my eyes, leaning into it, but as soon as my lids close, I see Ellie. Her gorgeous face blissed out in pleasure, body trembling as she comes.
I jerk, eyes flying open. I shake my head, trying to rid myself of the picture that’s been burned in my mind since I watched her finger fuck herself in that hotel bed. It’s not like I don’t have plenty of spank bank material. Especially of Ellie. That is some of my best material, but I need some new shit. Preferably of someone that’s not Ellie. I’m not supposed to be seeing her like that anymore. I’ve tried to erase those images, it’s easier that way. I’m less tempted if I’m not thinking about it and remembering how good it was.
One of the girls rubs my dick over my jeans while the other sucks hard on my neck, but all I can think about is Ellie now. How her ass was squeezed into those pants, how her nipples looked with those bars shoved through them, her face when she made herself come at the same time as me. Dammit.
I jump up and the girls fall forward, almost slamming their heads together. “What the hell?!” one cries out.
“Sorry, gotta go,” I say, grabbing the vodka and rushing from the room.
Since we can’t pick up the bus until tomorrow, we sprung for a hotel tonight. I slip out the side exit and head down the street with one destination in mind. When I reach Ellie’s room, I pull out the keycard I bagged earlier after she checked in. I didn’t plan on using it, but I think it’s nice for one of us to have in case of an emergency, and by one of us, I mean me.
I knock first. I’m not stupid. She can’t kick my ass, I’mmuch bigger than her, but she would put up a hell of a fight. She’s scrappy and something tells me she’d fight dirty, too.
When I hear the lock unlatching, I slide the card back into my pocket just as the door opens. She’s already in her silky pjs, her hair pulled up, and makeup off. I rarely see her without makeup. She’s so naturally pretty with her golden complexion and bright eyes. I don’t know why she even bothers with that shit.
She places her hand on her hip as it pops out. “What are you doing here?”
I hold up the alcohol, and she shakes her head vehemently.
“Come on,” I say. “Let’s celebrate.”
“Celebrate what?”
“How good we played tonight.”
“No.”
My mouth drops open in horror. “You don’t think we played well? I sounded great! Were you listening from the greenroom? Sometimes that distorts the sound.”
She fights a smile. “I was listening backstage. You were fine.”
“Fine? Ouch.” I press into the room, but she uses her hip to keep me out.
“Travis.”
“Ellie.”
