“Fuck… Pipes…”
Before I could pull his briefs down, he stepped back and looked around the room. I stayed there kneeling on the ground, confused. I hadn't thought anything would make him move from that spot. Within a few beats, he was across the room and back with a pillow in his hands.
"The tile…" His voice was still laced with restrained want. He placed the pillow in front of my knees, and I moved forward onto the cushion.
“I could have handled it.” I pulled him back into his previous position.
“I don’t want you to handle it." His hands pushed my hair from my face, and I gripped the top of his dark grey briefs. "And I sure as hell don't want the fucking paps to take pictures of your bruised knees and create some story." I kissed along the skin near the elastic band as I slowly tugged it down. “Even if it is true…" He smirked, but the moment I freed his cock, that smirk was gone.
“How thoughtful of you,” I said. Then I pulled him fully into my mouth until he hit the back of my throat. My mouth created a wet suction around his velvety skin. Anyone outside my dressing room door could have easily heard his groans.
That wouldn’t stop me, though.
— TWENTY —
A month later, we were so close to finishing up the album. We had recorded most of the songs and only a few were left. Rhett and I couldn’t get the lyrics of one of our favorite songs exactly right. Only a few tweaks were needed here and there. I was on cloud nine. We all were. The high was unbelievable.
Fans were demanding tickets for a tour even though the album hadn’t been released. The dates had all been announced, and soon they would go on sale. We were trying to keep the tour as short as possible. I already knew that if the tickets sold in mere seconds, the label would try to force additional nights and more cities on us. For Rhett's sake, I would fight to keep it like it was.
A tour would be bittersweet for Rhett. I knew it was something he had always dreamed of, but at the same time, the idea of leaving his dad for long periods of time would be excruciating. Eighteen cities was an acceptable tour length, enough for everyone to make their money and then let us get back to making more music.
I was amped to get out there and perform our new music for everyone, but I also had this tingling inside of me to get back to writing the next album. There was so much more inside of me. So much I never knew I was capable of until Rhett pushed me out of my comfort zone.
In the meantime, there was, of course, no shortage of pre-album release promotional events scheduled. Today I was booked at the infamous table on the hit morning talk show, Live with Jess and Jackson. “Infamous” because the hosts tended to hound their guests about any recent drama or gossip. They had millions of dedicated viewers every morning and a live audience that watched Jess and Jackson joke around and sometimes read the daily news.
The talk show typically had one extra seat at their table for guests. Initially, they had requested that Rhett come too, but he declined if the rest of the band wouldn't be attending. I guess they felt four special guests would be too many. I didn't fight Rhett on it because I used to date Jackson of Live with Jess and Jackson. It hadn’t been a good time in my life.
Jackson was the reason everyone at the label—including Lola and Rose— still looked at me funny if I was even a little bit off. It had been years, but I knew that, even now, it rubbed them the wrong way to think back to that time.
Jackson was the one who introduced me to the crazier side of being a celebrity. I had never partied harder than I did with him, although I hardly remembered what happened during that short period. Maybe that was a good thing—or maybe it wasn't. As much as everyone else worried about my experimenting with drugs stage, I never planned on returning to it. I hadn’t been happy with Jackson. Everyone thought he was a nice guy, but he used that ‘nice guy’ persona to persuade others into uncomfortable situations.
Like me.
I was young and stupid, wanting to experience everything this life had to offer. Jackson always appeared to be the life of the party. His mega-watt smile was always on display, and I just wanted an ounce of that energy and ecstasy. Turned out it was a façade covering a massive drug problem. Don’t get me wrong, there were probably times I was having the time of my life. But the blacking out, waking up places with no recollection of how’d I’d gotten there, and the constant craving for more… it was scary as hell. Fortunately, Lola and Rose jumped in just in time and got me the help I needed.
The tabloids caught wind of “rumors” of my drug use, but they never had any legit evidence. I got lucky—so damn lucky. Ever since then, I wouldn't even enter a room if I heard of anything harder than liquor inside.
Jackson knew he had pushed me too far into a place I was no longer comfortable with. Our split was cordial though, and we were both professionals when put into situations where we had to work together. Thankfully, it wasn't often. Jackson hosted a lot of red carpet interviews at award shows, plus his morning talk show. I heard he was doing a radio show as well. Everyone wondered how he was able to work so much. I knew what kept him going.
I hadn't told Rhett that I’d dated Jackson. I felt a pit in my stomach at the lie of omission, but I didn't want him to come along just because an ex of mine would be around. One, because we were still supposed to be lying low, and two, because I knew he planned on seeing his dad this morning.
Lola, Rose and I were in the back of the Range Rover as Beau and Mark drove us to the television studio near the Upper West Side. My phone buzzed in my hand.
Rhett: We’re all here and ready to watch you, Pipes. Good Luck!
Me: Who’s we? Where are you?
Rhett: Everyone. Alex, Nix, Jared, Sienna, even Dad and Beth. She saved us the media room so I could be here with Dad and all of my friends. Gage had to work, but he promised he'd watch from his office.
When I didn’t reply fast enough, he continued.
Rhett: Did I just make you nervous?
Me: I don’t get nervous.
Rhett: The Unshakable Ever James. That’s my girl.
The problem was, he had no idea that I really was nervous. Stuff like this didn’t usually shake me up. I could do interviews in my sleep. The stage was my home, singing or not. But I wasn’t ready to get out there and make nice with my ex-boyfriend on live TV in front of my new boyfriend.
Me: Meet back @ my place when this is over?
Rhett: I’ll beat you there.
He never ceased to make me smile. Every time I looked down at my phone and saw his name, I knew everyone around me could guess who was on the other end of the line. The thing was, with him I wasn't just smiling like I always did. It wasn’t my practiced, camera-ready smile. It was genuine and goofy—and terrifying.
We walked through the crazy crowd of screaming fans on the sidewalk and straight into the building. Beau parked the car as Mark escorted the girls and I inside. Mark had been allowed to stay on my detail, and there hadn’t been any incidents while Beau was out of town. Granted, Rhett and I barely went out while he was gone; we chose to stay in either the apartment or the studio. This was partly due to the fact that Rhett said he didn’t trust Mark, and partly because I wanted Beau to enjoy his time with his mom, stress-free. Oh, and we had an album to finish.
I hated to say it, but I was starting to agree with Rhett that Mark wasn't the best at his job. I needed him to start taking it a bit more seriously. I hadn't felt as safe walking into that building as I would have with Beau. Mark allowed the screaming fans to get way too close for comfort, and I even had to pull my clothes back into place after making it through. I would have to talk to Beau when the time was right.
Rhett: You okay?
I looked down at the incoming message as we stepped onto the elevator.
Rhett: Why didn’t Beau walk you in?
Shit… had he seen that? How?
Me: Are you here?
I looked through the horde of people following us but didn’t see his
sexy self anywhere. I could spot him in a crowd of millions.
Rhett: The station just played you walking in. I guess to hype up your appearance. That douche let them get way too fucking close, Ever.
Me: I know. I’m fine though, I promise.
Lola and Rose pushed into the small elevator. Rose gave me a strained look that said, ‘That almost got out of control.’ I nodded in agreement. Lola bumped my shoulder with hers and showed me her phone.
Rhett: That was fucked. Watch out for my girl, please. She kind of means a lot to me.
Well, hell. That was cute. Now I had this dumb smile on my face that wouldn't go away for who knew how long. Lola grinned from ear to ear, and Rose rolled her eyes at us.
Rhett and I’s relationship had been heavy and way too serious in the beginning. We started off in all the wrong ways— one being the fact that I hadn’t made sure Noah was completely out of the picture. Lessons learned. But ever since then, we had kept it light and fun. He was letting us happen naturally, just like I’d asked—okay, basically demanded.
His text to Lola was the most heartfelt thing he had said about me since our tumultuous start. I knew he had it in him because I had seen the words we’d written together. He was terribly romantic, but I knew he was trying not to scare me off.
I decided to give him a little more of me.
Me: You kind of mean a lot to me too.
Rhett: Can I get down on one knee now?
Me: Cool it, buddy…
I couldn’t help but laugh at his silliness. I gave an inch, and leave it to Rhett to take a mile.
We all stepped out of the elevator and found the dressing room with my name on it.
Rhett: I’ll make you my old ball and chain one of these days, Everly Scarlett James.
Me: Watch out, or you'll lose your rock star image with that marriage talk.
Rhett: I prefer the image of you permanently naked and underneath me.
Me: No one can be permanently naked.
Rhett: Wanna try it out?
Me: So should I start now?
Rhett: Well, that backfired. Keep your clothes on, hot stuff, until I have you behind a locked door.
“Ugh,” Lola interrupted. “Why are you two so cute and yet also so annoying?”
She was one to talk. Last week, Lola finally ditched the tinted tips for what she called “mermaid hair”—her entire hair dyed in various shades of blue, silver, pink and purple. Gage had practically drooled all over himself before tossing her over his shoulder and walking right out my apartment door.
“You know, I’m sure you and Gage are annoyingly cute as well. I just don’t get to pry into your personal life like you do mine.”
“Perks of the job, babe.” She had begun the arduous process of detangling my curly mess of hair. I noticed she completely ignored my Gage comment, though.
“Let me see that text again,” I asked as she twisted a few locks around her fingers to get the curls tighter. I didn’t know why because she was just going to comb them back out with her fingers. It was some kind of weird hair sorcery she did.
“Why?” She eyed me with suspicion.
I sighed. “I want to screenshot it and send it to myself.”
I heard a gagging noise coming from across the room. Rose quickly turned her back to us and busied her hands with paperwork.
Before Lola could make a comment on how far down the rabbit hole I had fallen for Rhett, her phone vibrated in my hand.
Panda: You doing okay, jellybean? Watched you navigate that madness.
Panda: PS. You know what it does to me when your hair is all pinned up like that…
My jaw hit the damn tiled floor. “Panda? Jellybean?”
Lola’s fingers yanked out of my hair with force. “What?” she shrieked.
“You have pet names? Horribly embarrassing pet names?” I laughed so hard my abs clenched tightly.
Her hand snatched the phone from my fingers. "It goes to your grave." Her eyes bore into mine, and I could see the blush on her cheeks.
“Scout’s honor,” I said, raising the three-finger salute.
Her eyes rolled, and she began digging through her supply bag. "It's just an inside joke. Gage started it…"
“You don’t have to explain yourself, Lolz. I know you like him.”
“I do.” It was all I would get from her… for now. I tried to conceal my smile.
After my hair had been tousled, straightened, re-curled and tousled some more, Lola prepared my outfit.
“Sienna sent this with me,” she said as she laid out a few garments. “She also sent some hot as hell lingerie, but I’m guessing that’s for later. I’m going to have to get me some of this.”
"Gage likes lingerie?" I asked as casually as possible.
“Loves it,” she almost purred. I quickly received an evil glare when she caught on.
She held up what looked like a bunch of black strings.
“What is that?” I asked, trying to figure out which was the top and which was the bottom. Hell, which part was the front?
"The lingerie. It's some up-and-coming designer. You know Sienna and her love of indie stylists." Lola fingered the strings and began pulling them apart. "This is bomb, though."
"Sienna has a thing for bondage-style bras, I think. Don't get me wrong, I like them. But I swear every time I'm trying on a bra she got me, it takes at least two people to put it on."
The bra was just as fantastic as Lola had promised. The fringed lace cupped my breasts with black strings stretching across the top swells, creating a "caged" look. The G-string was pretty much the same jumble of strings circling my hips and covering very little. There was absolutely no function to this set; it was purely for fun. Rhett’s fun.
"Take a picture of me. Let's rile Rhett up a little bit." I handed her my phone. Everyone else had cleared out of the room, allowing me to change in peace, but that wouldn’t last long.
"Lay on your back on the couch. Arms above your head." Lola directed me into position. Apparently, she had been on one too many of my photo shoots because she was pretty good at this. "Twist your body and tilt your hips forward, so he gets a good view of your ass."
“We have a weird relationship, you know.” I laughed. “If anyone walked in…”
"The guys would have heart failure if they walked in on us right now. This is like a dream come true for them. Except Nix—his would be a real heart attack." She giggled. "Oh, I have an idea... stay in that position." She grabbed some of my hair and draped it across my eyes so only my nose and lips were visible. It almost appeared as if I were blindfolded.
Rhett was going to combust.
I heard a few clicks of my camera phone, and then a few oohs and ahhs from Lola. I peeked at the screen and beamed. She was a genius!
“He’ll be here before the show’s over if you send that now,” she said with a sly grin.
I couldn’t stop myself from torturing the poor guy. I hit send and added: Almost ready. Lola tried something different with my hair. You like?
“You’re so mean!” Lola cried. Her laughter had probably been heard down the hall.
“Ms. James,” a man’s voice called from outside the door, “five minutes!”
“She’ll be there!” Lola shouted back.
I was pulling my black suede Dree Cuissard boots over my thighs when my phone started going crazy.
Rhett: Fuck
Rhett: Fuck!
Rhett: Fucking fuck
Rhett: On a scale of 1 to coming up there and beating everyone’s ass who has a dick, how prepared do I need to be for whatever you’re wearing?
Rhett: Whenever you have a sexy ass bra like that, it’s because it’s going to be seen.
Rhett: Fuck, Pipes. What are you doing to me?
His fingers must have been going a mile a minute. I could barely finish reading one line before another text came through.
“Let me guess,” Lola said. “
Rhett got the picture?”
“Oh yeah. He got the picture.” I chuckled.
Me: This is actually just for you. My outfit is tame today.
Rhett: You don’t know the definition of tame.
I laughed out loud when he sent me a gif of Sheldon Cooper from The Big Bang Theory fainting dramatically.
Rhett: I’m only seven blocks away. How much time do you have?
Rhett: I think I could make it soon if I left now.
Ever: Sorry, I’m walking out now. Xoxo
Rhett: I just want you to know that I’m so fucking hard right now that I can’t stand up or everyone will get an eyeful.
Ever: I look forward to my mouthful later ;-)
Rhett: Pipes…
I could practically hear the suggestive warning in his voice. He only used it when my teasing had gone a little too far. Usually he just snatched me up by the waist, and, like a caveman, he would carry me to my bedroom. He never cared if our friends were there to witness our madness.
Playtime was over, though. A man with a headset and an iPad escorted me to the area where I would wait before walking out on stage. Jess and Jackson had already been live for the first quarter of the show. They liked to chitchat with each other before bringing out their guests.
I watched the screens behind the set and waited for my cue to walk out.
Jess shuffled papers on the desk in front of her and smiled. “I think it’s finally time.”
“You know I’ve been waiting for this,” Jackson responded, adjusting his tie and sitting up straighter. What did that mean?
“We’ve been hearing her name nonstop lately,” Jess said. “And her fans are currently wrapped around the outside of our building…”
Jackson scooted away from the desk, stood from his chair and made a wide gesture with his hand toward me. "The beautiful... the talented… the unforgettable… Ever James!"
I plastered on my perfected camera-ready smile and walked out. The audience danced as I came out, and the ones in the front row could high-five me but nothing more than that.
Ever Lonely (Ever James Band Book 1) Page 28