Taming Tempest

by Makenzi Star

  I was so caught up in Storms drama I’d totally forgotten about my own predicament until I finally returned to my cottage and noticed the pill still sitting in the package on the counter. It had been over a week since my encounter, way too late for the pill to be effective, but it would be another few weeks until my cycle, and I had a reason to worry. At least I hadn’t caught anything from my little tryst. I decided not to think about it and tossed the pill in a drawer. Not that I was planning on having unprotected sex with a stranger again, but it might not be a bad idea to have one around just in case.

  ◆◆◆

  “So I know I said I would let you do you but I really think you need to come with me tonight.” Wesley said a few weeks later.

  I was tired and I did not feel like doing anything but the pleading look in his eyes combined with Storm’s begging look made me cave.

  “Fine but only because I don’t want Storm getting mixed up in some shady rebound one nighter.”

  I was less than pleased that Wes took us to another underground club but at least this one wasn’t as shady. I was a much bigger space and there was actually places to sit and hang out. I wasn’t surprised to see Wesley’s girlfriend and her band. We had missed their set but she didn’t seem to mind, instantly latching onto Wesley they slipped into their own world. I rolled my eyes and turned away as they made out like horny teenagers.

  “Don’t act so shy. I know you like to watch.” A familiar voice said, sending a shiver down my spine. I looked up into a pair of dark eyes, highlighted by thick dark eyeliner. A smug smile graced the guy's chiseled face that was framed by long dark hair. The first night it had been bone straight, falling past his slim hips, but today it was a mass of curls falling just past his shoulders. His natural hair texture if I had to guess.

  “Not when it's family,” I said, and he slung an arm over my shoulder.

  “Well, then shall we find another distraction.” He said, leading me away from the others. I followed him outside where he boxed me against a wall and kissed me. I melted into him for a moment before pushing him away.

  “I got away unscathed last time, but I’m not one to play the odds.” I glared at him, and he sighed running a hand over his face.

  “Last time was an exception to my rules. Hell, you’re not even my type but when I saw you getting all hot and bothered watching that couple….”

  “You expect me to believe you don’t fuck anything that rolls your way?”

  “I don’t”

  “It doesn’t matter. Last time was a mistake and as amazing as the sex was, I’m not into random fucks.”

  “If you were a random fuck I wouldn’t be standing here arguing with you right now.”

  “If I weren’t a random fuck you wouldn’t have cut and run as soon as you’d imparted your little gift inside me.”

  “I freaked out alright but you took care of it I’m sure. Girls like you keep contraceptives like candy.”

  “Girls like me! You don’t even know me!”

  “And you don’t know me.” He countered.

  “Then let’s keep it that way.” I said and tried to walk away, but he grabbed me and kissed me.

  My body responded before my brain melting into his embrace. I was lost in him until the flash of a camera brought me back to reality. I turned in time to be greeted by another flash and the guy reacted quickly. Letting go of me, he grabbed the camera away from the paparazzo and held it above his head deleting the two pictures the guy got of us.

  “Now I’m going to be nice and give this back but if I see another flash you won’t be getting this back in one piece.” He growled.

  “Sure thing.” The paparazzo said and the guy handed him back the camera. True to his word no more pictures were taken and I was dragged back into the dark alley with him.

  “Thank you.” I said and in response he kissed me.

  “You wanna show me your thanks, get on your knees.” He said.

  I glared at him.

  “What you know I’m clean.”

  “I know you were clean.”

  “I told you I don’t usually…”

  “and yet here we are again with no protection in sight.”

  “Are you going to thank me or not?” I kissed him and let myself get lost for a moment before pulling away.

  “Not.” I said and walked away.

  He didn’t stop me this time but he did follow. We rejoined the group but they’d been partying it up without us and hadn’t noticed our long absence. The guy hovered around me but made no overt moves turning his attention to several groupies who were pawing at him. I rolled my eyes as he let them touch and kiss all over him but he caught me watching a smiled at me. A flare of lust in his eyes as he watched me watching him being pleasured by groupies. He didn’t need me to thank him when they were happy to do it for nothing.

  I was glad when Wesley and Storm finally decided it was time to leave. Wesley would be going home with his girlfriend and I managed to pry Storm away from the groupie who was extra willing to ease his broken heart. She shot me a dirty look as I pried her hand from Storms arm. He was so drunk he didn’t even care. I got him home safe and then made my way to my cottage. Tonight had been an interesting night. At least now I knew something about my stranger. Not that he was mine in any way.

  For the next few months I avoided all invitations to go out. They were becoming more frequent as Wesley got more serious with Darla. I’d nearly died laughing when I’d found out her name. She looked more like a Morticia or Lolita than a Darla but hey her parents probably hadn’t expected their southern belle to turn into a death metal singer. Instead of going out I focused on my own music.

  My long awaited solo debut was finally being released and I had a lot on my plate. I was super stressed and it was taking its toll on me physically. I ended up passing out in the middle of an interview I had just performed my new single on the talk show and had felt super light headed but hadn’t had time to alert anyone that maybe it was best to do the interview sitting rather than standing. I wasn’t down for long but it was long enough for the paramedics to have been called and there to be IVs in my arm when I came to.

  It was only a few minutes but I refused to be taken to a hospital I stayed and finished the interview. This time in a chair but I went to the hospital after. Thank god the show wasn’t live although it did have a live audience. By the time the show aired there was plenty of buzz and speculation about my fainting spell. “Tempest on drugs.” “Tempest not as strong after the Storm” “Tempest can’t handle the heat” at least the headlines hadn’t guessed the truth. I’d passed out because I was overworked at six months pregnant.

  I hadn’t given thought to that possibility since I’d tossed the morning after pill in my junk drawer. With the drama that followed Storms altercation and getting ready for my album release I hadn’t had a moment to think about my lack of monthly blood flow. Obviously my planned tour was going to be put on hold but since I wasn’t showing I could still do some interviews with carefully chosen wardrobe.

  The speculation about my health and possible drug addiction continued but I just let it be. It was better then them knowing the truth at least for right now. No one on my staff knew about my pregnancy and I didn’t even tell Storm or Wesley until they appeared unannounced to my cottage and saw my big belly.

  “So were you just gonna have this kid in secret.” Storm raged and I cringed.

  “I was going to tell you guys soon. I just needed some time to come to terms with this myself.”

  “Whose the father?” He demanded and I shrugged.

  “Fuck don’t tell me you don’t know.” I sighed.

  “I know who the father is I just don’t know his name exactly.”

  “What!”

  “It was a one night stand. A stupid spur of the moment judgment lapse and no I never got the guys name but trust me when I say its better that I do this on my own. He’s not the responsible type.”

  “So you don’t know the guys
name but you know where to find him.”

  “I do and I’m not going to tell you.”

  “Why not?”

  “Because I don’t want you two messing with him when I don’t want him to know.”

  “Whatever Temp. We’ll find this guy sooner or later.” Storm said angrily.

  I managed to keep my pregnancy a secret even after I had my baby. I’d had a home birth and my twins came out perfect with ten fingers and ten toes. My whole life changed that day like something shifted inside me and suddenly I saw the world differently. The sun no longer the center of the universe, but my children were.

  It wasn’t until they were almost a year old that I decided to go back to music. I worked really hard to get my body back and lucky for me everyone just thought I’d done a stint in rehab and welcomed me back into the spotlight. I didn’t run into my stranger again at least not until we ended up at the same awards show. Darla’s band had garnered enough of a following to break into the mainstream even having a few of their songs featured on popular movie soundtracks. It brought back mixed emotions seeing them play again, and I wasn’t entirely surprised when my stranger cornered me again backstage.

  “Long time no see.” He said, pulling me into a hug. I hugged him back hating that my body responded to him still even after everything.

  “That was on purpose,” I muttered, and he chuckled.

  “I know, but that doesn’t mean I’m not glad to see you again.”

  “Oh, I’m sure you’ve been too busy to worry about little old me.”

  “You would be wrong about that.”

  “I really don’t believe that.” He bent down and kissed me.

  “Believe what you want, but I’m not letting you walk away this time.” He said and kissed me again.

  He didn’t even stop when the flashes started. We were backstage, but that didn’t mean there weren’t reporters. When he finally released me I was so upset, I slapped him and stormed off. I wasn’t surprised that he followed or that he slid into the car behind me. As soon as the door was closed I was all over him, clothes went flying, and soon he was buried deep.

  “You’re such a hypocrite. You can’t be that mad when you obviously had others after me.” He chuckled and I froze. Of course I hadn’t thought about how different I would be down there since having children.

  “There weren’t any other men.” I said and he shook his head.

  “You don’t have to play innocent with me.” I glared at him for a moment before making a decision I knew would change everything.

  “Come home with me.”

  “Darling I planned on it.” He said, and I rolled my eyes before fixing my clothes. The car pulled up to Storm’s mansion, and once it left, I led him to my car.

  “I thought you wanted to do it someplace a bit more comfortable.” He said, getting in. I rolled my eyes and drove off.

  “People think I live with Storm, but I haven’t for years. I like my privacy. You will be the first person that wasn’t family to see where I actually live.” I said, and he smiled. The twins were at my parents for the night, but they would be dropped off in the morning.

  “My name is Sam by the way.”

  “Tempest but I’m sure you already knew that.”

  “So that’s really your name, not a stage name.”

  “Yeah its really my name.”

  “You must have cool parents.”

  “I like to think so.”

  “This place is cute.” He said when we pulled up to the cottage.

  “Not what you expected huh.”

  “Not based on your public persona but I for one know what its like to be completely different then what you portray to others.”

  “Really you seem pretty consistent to me.”

  “Well you bring out my wild side.” He growled and picked me.

  “Which way to the bedroom?”

  “Last door straight ahead.” I said and he quickly carried me down the hall to my room. I was suddenly grateful I had cleaned before the awards show. We spent all night learning each others bodies and in the morning I was glad to find him still cuddled up with me in bed.

  “Good morning beautiful.” He said and kissed me. Apparently he hadn’t still been sleeping. “We need to talk.” I said sitting up and he rolled his eyes.

  “I think we can learn from our past mistakes and keep things physical.” He said grinding his hips against me. I shook my head.

  “I’m serious, Sam.”

  “So am I Tempest.”

  “So that’s all you want from me? My body?” He groaned and got out of bed.

  “I like more than your body Tempest but I’m going to tell it to you straight I’m not into labels. Labels make things complicated. Dating, in a relationship, boyfriend and girlfriend. All those things put a strain on the possibilities.”

  “Possibilities for you to fuck whoever you want when you want.” I snapped and he rolled his eyes.

  “That’s not what I’m saying. All I’m saying is I’d like to explore what we have without the burden and expectations of labels.”

  “This was such a bad idea. I shouldn’t have let you in again.” I said and he frowned.

  “So because I don’t want to be labeled your boyfriend, you want to give up on us.”

  “What us Sam? From the beginning this has always been about you. You getting your rocks off and me dealing with all the consequences on my own.”

  “Consequences? What consequences. You having amazing sex.” Just then I heard the front door open and close.

  “Sweetheart we’re back!” My mother’s chipper voice rang out.

  “Shit she’s early.” I said and grabbed my robe.

  “Is that your parents?” He said a grin spread across his face before he walked out of my room in nothing but his boxers.

  “Sam!” I said in a panicked whisper but he was already out the door. I had no choice but to follow.

  “Oh dear! Tempest you could have warned your mother you had company. I would have gladly kept the twins a bit longer.” My mother chastised as soon as I entered the room.

  Sam stood stunned at the sight of the twins tucked snugly in their carriers sound asleep.

  “It’s fine, Mom this is Sam the twins father.” I said and she smiled and nodded.

  “It’s nice to finally meet you. I’m surprised my stubborn daughter even told you about the twins. She barely told us until they were already being pushed out of that tiny body of hers.” My mom said cheerily and Sam just glared at me.

  “What game are you playing here Tempest.” He practically growled at me and I rolled my eyes.

  “Oh dear. I think I should get going.” My mother said and left as Sam continued to stare me down.

  “It’s not a game Sam. I got pregnant from our first encounter and trust me when I say it was a surprise to me as well. I was six months when I found out and by then we still weren’t talking. I didn’t think you would want the burden of this so I hid it not just from you but from everyone.” I said and he just started pacing.

  “And I’m just supposed to believe that they are mine?”

  “Believe me or not but these are your kids.”He crossed the room to me and kissed me hard.

  “We are getting married right now.” He said and I rolled my eyes.

  “You were just saying you didn’t want to label this and now you’re demanding I marry you.”

  “You having my kids changes things.”

  “That doesn’t mean we have to get married. I won’t keep you from your children if you want to be a part of their lives but I won’t force myself on you. Not like this.”

  “This isn’t up for debate. Now go get dressed.” He said and pushed me towards the bedroom. I shot him one last glare before grabbing the twins and taking them to their room. Once they were in their cribs I showered and changed.

  “Everything is set up for us to have the wedding here.” Sam said when I came out from getting dressed.

  “You are out of you
r mind if you think I’m going through with this. And how dare you just invite people over to my house.” I walked into the kitchen and made myself a cup of tea.

  Sam didn’t have time to reply as there was a knock at the door. He went to answer it and I was surprised to see a young priest standing there with a quirky little smile.

  “So you want to tell me why I’m rushing to see you with a marriage license?”

  “I’m getting married.” Sam said matter of factly and I rolled my eyes and snorted.

  “Not to me you aren’t.” I called and the priest frowned. Sam turned to scowl at me before grabbing the priests arm and dragging him inside. Sam placed the papers in front of me and I sighed.

  “Give me one reason why you think this is a good idea.”

  “There’s two sleeping down the hall.” He countered.

  “I told you that having kids together is not a good enough reason.” I wasn’t prepared for what he did next. He pulled me roughly against him and kissed me. Lifting me out of my seat he placed me on the counter and I was lost in him. Completely forgetting about our guest as he slipped his hand into my pants to fondle me. I whimpered and clung to him as he pulled away.

  “Because the heat between us has ruined me for any other woman.” He whispered in my ear and I felt him press the pen into my right hand.

  “Don’t make me regret this.” I said and signed the papers. He smiled and kissed me again.

  “Unbelievable.” The priest said bringing me back to reality. I blushed and hopped down from the counter.

  “Sorry, I’m Tempest.” I said extending my hand and he shook it.

  “Marco, nice to meet you Tempest.”

  “Marco and I grew up together, he’s the reason I’m not a career criminal.”

  “Not that you’re current status is much of an improvement.” Marco said and I laughed.