Vote Then Read: Volume I

by Carly Phillips

  “Yeah we did, but we had great foster parents so no worries.”

  From the expression on his face I knew he was done discussing the topic of his childhood. So much for digging deeper.

  “That’s great. How’d the sound check go? Did you get to meet the new band?”

  “Sound check was great, the acoustics rock in the arena. The show’s going to be fuckin’ awesome. The new band’s cool too, they have a great sound and the guys seem pretty cool.”

  “Yay. I can’t wait to hear them tonight,” I said and when I saw the look on his face I knew I stepped in it again. “And you too, baby, but I already know you fuckin’ rock.”

  He nodded and stared at me like he was trying to analyze a problem. “Are you feeling better?”

  “Oh yeah, much. I guess the French toast didn’t agree with me.”

  “Maybe. Joe had some interesting news after the sound check. Apparently news of Cynda and Chaos’ engagement was leaked. It was on a twitter post by someone called Rock Stars Revealed, then it got picked up by TMZ and just about every other news outlet.”

  “Shit, really.” I hoped my face didn’t give me away. I was never good at lying. I never figured this job would mean I had to bend so many of my values. Wait, he said Rock Stars Revealed? Why wasn’t it Rolling Stone? Was Roy not who he said he was? It didn’t even make sense. Maybe I had a little more investigation to do myself.

  “We don’t know who the leak is but we’ll find out and it won’t be fuckin’ pretty when we do.”

  I knew he suspected me but they couldn’t prove anything, and it could have been a bunch of people. I needed to be calm. It wasn’t that big a deal, it was happy news and good for them. “Do you have any ideas?”

  “Yeah a few but Joe said he’d take care of it. It’s his job, ours is to make the music.”

  I nodded. “Sounds like a plan. I hope it doesn’t cause any problems.”

  “Me too.” It was weird, we were so distant, especially after this morning. He’d been on fire for me and now I wasn’t sure if he even wanted me around. My heart cracked a little at the cold expression on his face.

  “You must be hungry. How about some room service?”

  “Works for me,” I said and the rumble in my stomach was loud enough for him to hear. I couldn’t have timed it better if I tried, the look on his face was priceless then he cracked up.

  Still laughing he reached for my hand. “Yeah I’d say you’re fuckin’ hungry. Let’s feed you.”

  The crack remained but at least the chill covering my body faded when we touched. It hit me just how damn hard it was going to be to leave him. To walk away and pretend like I’d never cared. The crush had been bad enough, but I didn’t think I’d ever get over this heartbreak.

  Wrath…

  At least I know she wasn’t lying about her mother, but why doesn’t she want me to know where she lives? What’s the big fuckin’ deal? Why the fuck would it matter to me where she lives? She looked better than she had when I left earlier but something wasn’t right, besides her being sick. I needed her to open up to me.

  I pulled the menu off the coffee table. “Here, take a look and let me know what you’d like. You can order anything you want.”

  “What are you going to have?”

  “I don’t know. I’ll look after you’re done.”

  She nodded and concentrated on the menu, which gave me a chance to concentrate on her. She hadn’t reapplied her make-up and without it she looked younger, less hard, and more familiar. I couldn’t get it out of my fuckin’ head. I’d seen her before, but where?

  She looked up from the menu to catch me staring at her. Blushing she passed it over. “I’ll have the Reuben and a lemonade.”

  “That’s all you want? No dessert or anything?

  “Nope, I’m good.”

  “I know you’re fuckin’ good, but that’s not what I asked.” I had to tease her, I should still be mad or suspicious or something, but looking into her baby blue eyes I was lost. Fuckin’ Rage was right, I was whipped. God help me.

  I dialed room service and ordered, then headed out to the balcony to smoke. There were only a couple of hours before the show and I needed to get into my calm mode. All my energy had to go to the performance, there was no fuckin’ room for anything else.

  I didn’t realize she’d followed me until her arms slipped around my waist.

  “I’m sorry, baby, I don’t know what I did to piss you off but I’m really sorry.”

  Fuck. No stress remember? Deep breaths. “No problem. I was worried about you that’s all. We can talk about it later, after the show. This is my Zen time, alright?”

  “Yeah, sorry. I’m not trying to push your buttons.”

  She had no fuckin’ clue. She pushed every button, including the one connected to my cock and the other one connected to my heart—the one button no one had touched in a long fuckin’ time. I put my hand over hers and pulled her around in front of me.

  Tilting her head so I could see into her eyes, I saw a mist of tears she’d tried to hide. What the fuck was going on? “What’s wrong, Blue?”

  “I’m sorry. I know this isn’t the time, but when you came back you were so distant. I got the feeling you wanted me gone.”

  “Nah. I was just pissed over the leak. Calm down okay?”

  She nodded and one single tear rolled down her cheek. I caught it with my finger and held it up to the setting sun. The light reflected in the purity of that single tear. I stamped out my cigarette and took her in my arms. My lips took hers in a soft kiss, at least I intended for it to be gentle. As soon as her arms wrapped around my neck the fire ignited and I pulled her against me, sucking, nibbling, and kissing her lips. I slid my tongue between her lips and groaned into her mouth. She tasted like sunshine and smelled like lavender and vanilla, and I couldn’t get close enough.

  I lifted her off the ground and she wrapped her legs around my hips. I rubbed against her, my cock straining at the fly of my jeans. I needed to be buried deep in her pussy and I thought about taking her on the balcony. Just as I was about to say fuck it and take her, there was a knock at the door.

  “Fuck me running. Timing is everything.”

  She giggled, I’m not sure if she thought it was funny or if it was nerves. I’d never been with anyone who could match my passion like Sapphire. It’s like she was made for me.

  More knocking told me they weren’t going away. “Room Service.”

  “Shit, I forgot we ordered food.”

  She looked at the bulge in my jeans and her eyes sparkled. “I’m glad I was a distraction, but with the monster in your pants do you want me to let him in?”

  She had a point. “Yeah, just bring me the bill and I’ll sign for it.”

  I listened to her talk to the bellman when she told him where to leave the food and made small talk as she waited for him to give her the bill.

  “Shit, Wrath. Fifteen ninety-five for a Reuben? Did they make it with gold plated corned beef?”

  I laughed, I was getting used to these prices but I agreed with her, it was crazy. “Probably.” I added the tip and signed the receipt, following her back into the room now that my dick was able to breathe in my pants.

  The aroma of corned beef filled the room. I was fucking starving and not just for Blue. I hoped we’d have time for a quickie before the show but that might be cutting it close. I’d be relaxed though, nothing like getting off to drain the stress.

  13

  Wrath…

  Devastating Reality put on an amazing set and the crowds were on fire. The noise in the arena was fuckin’ overwhelming. Fitz and Chaos were talking and we were just waiting for the signal to go on. I was tense, but not too bad. There hadn’t been time for a quick fuck and I definitely would have liked a scotch or two.

  Sapphire took my hand and squeezed it. She was back in full groupie mode, a black leather vest laced up the front and a matching black leather skirt so short it barely covered her ass. She had more make-up
on than Sweets or Candy and they were performing. It was amazing how much it changed her appearance, and I noticed Paddy watching her. He’d better not get any fuckin’ ideas or I’d tear him a new one.

  Finally they announced us and I stole a quick kiss before I ran out on stage. A fuckin’ packed house meant at least twenty thousand screaming fans. Talk about a fuckin’ rush. We all took our places and I grabbed “V.” Rage counted us in and we opened with Hell On Wheels, our number one hit.

  The crowd tossed beach balls, G-strings, bras, and teddy bears onto the stage. I’d never seen so much shit in my life. But the fucking coolest thing of all was that they knew the lyrics. They sang along with Chaos, and at times he let them sing while we played.

  Two sets and three encores, and they were still screaming for more. The house lights went up before they quit. What a fuckin’ rush. I should be exhausted but I could have played for another hour. Of course as soon as the adrenaline died off I’d be fucking dead.

  Running off stage I stopped dead when I saw Paddy and Sapphire laughing and joking around. What the fuck? He better think twice about moving in on my girl.

  “Hey, Blue. How’d you like the show?”

  She turned and smiled at me, her blue eyes shining in the dim light. “It was fuckin’ incredible, baby. You guys rocked it tonight. I think it was your best show so far.”

  “Yeah? How about you, Paddy? Learn anything besides her fucking cleavage?”

  “What the fuck is up your ass, bro?”

  “Just saying, you’d better not be making any moves on her.”

  “I didn’t see your name tattooed on her.”

  “Well consider it fuckin' there.”

  “Hey, cut it out. Lower the freakin’ testosterone will ya? I don’t belong to anyone but myself. Wrath, he was just asking me how I got my blue to stay so bright. Nothing’s going on, so chill out will you?”

  I wanted to punch him. She might not have realized it but he was trying to pick her up. Or maybe she did know? Maybe she was ready to move on? “What the fuck ever. As long as he keeps away from you.”

  Paddy looked like he was going to punch me but lucky for him Joe stepped between us. “Is there a problem?”

  Paddy looked from me to Joe and backed up a bit. “Nope, no problem. I’ll catch you later, Sapphire.”

  “Sure.”

  “Over my fuckin’ dead body,” I growled under my breath.

  “Wrath, what the fuck is wrong with you?”

  “Nothing.”

  Joe shook his head. “You need to calm down, son. We don’t need any trouble. Remember our discussion earlier. There are too many people around for any of this crap.”

  Sighing I realized he was right. Taking a deep breath I forced myself to relax. “Sorry. It won’t happen again.”

  “I sure hope not. Now go relax and have some fun,” Joe said as he smacked me on the back and blended in with the crowd. Backstage was packed with people. Our crew, Devastating Reality’s crew, the contest winners and God only knew who the fuck else. It was a fuckin’ circus.

  I grabbed Sapphire’s hand and dragged her out the back door and into the cool fall air. I needed space, and a smoke and I wasn’t going to leave her alone for Paddy to have another shot at her.

  Sapphire…

  “What the hell is going on now?”

  “What?”

  “You went all caveman in there. There’s nothing going on. Umm, can’t you tell how into you I am? I mean seriously, dude.” He really was the moodiest guy I’d ever met. No I didn’t have a lot to compare him to, but still. He was way over the top.

  “He was hitting on you.”

  “So what if he was? Don’t you think I could handle it?”

  “Can you? Or maybe you wanted to fuck him? Getting tired of my cock?”

  “You’ve lost it. Holy shit, what the fuck is wrong with you?”

  Maybe it finally sank in how pissed off I was because he shut up. He lit a cigarette and took a long drag. The smoke twisted up in a curl and blew away in the light breeze. Autumn was in the air, the scent of the damp leaves falling to the ground and fresh air. Winter was coming, but hopefully not for at least another month. I planned on being back home before the first snow…at least I hoped. With any luck I’d get all I needed and be out of here after the Chicago tour dates.

  “Why do you do that?”

  “Do what?”

  “Rub the stone on your necklace.”

  Looking down I realized I was. “I don’t know.”

  “You do it every time you’re stressed. At least that’s what it seems like.”

  “Huh. I guess I don’t realize I’m doing it. My mom made it for me. She said the stone reminded her of my eyes. I think she’s full of shit.”

  He stepped closer and tilted my head so the parking lot lights lit my face. “Yeah she’s right. It’s almost an exact match. Is that what she does for a living? Your mother I mean…make jewelry?”

  We were getting in to dangerous territory. The less he knew the better. “Yeah kind of. She makes lots of stuff, jewelry is just some of it.”

  He nodded and took another long drag. He was finally chilling out. Too bad I was wound tighter than a yo-yo. I swear to God I wanted to sack punch him when he started up with Paddy. If Joe hadn’t come over when he did, I might have.

  “Look I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to say you were a slut or anything. I know you try to play groupie, but you’re not nearly skanky enough. Sorry to disappoint you. I don’t know what your story is, but I really hope one day you’ll tell me.”

  Shit. Fuck. Damn. The blood drained out of my head and for a few seconds I thought I was going to pass out. Where had I blown it? I thought I’d pulled it off. “I don’t know what you mean.”

  “Cut it out, Blue. If you don’t want to tell me, fine—for now anyway. But I will find out.”

  That was it, right there. I knew I didn’t have much time left before he’d figure it all out or someone would. Either way, I was fucked. I needed to get all the info I could and get the hell out of there.

  “Whatever. Why should I tell you jack? It’s not like you’re the sharing type.”

  “What do you want to know?”

  Really? Was he actually going to make it easy for me after all? Start slow, build trust. “Okay, how did you guys pick the name Raining Chaos?”

  “You could have asked me anything and you fuckin’ want to know how we named the band?”

  “Yeah for starters.”

  “We’d been trying to think of names for weeks, and Rage said we should look up chaos in the dictionary because it’s what we were like, and Chaos said, nope that’s it—Chaos is perfect. He’d just finished saying it when lightning flashed across the sky and it started pouring. We figured it was a hint from the big guy so we added raining to the name.”

  “That’s cool. A great story.”

  “If you say so.” He stubbed out his cigarette and took my hand. “Are you up for the party? I’d rather go fuck. We never finished what we started on the fucking balcony.”

  “No indecision there, huh?” I laughed, my anger vanishing when he pulled me close and ran his hand between my legs. With one touch and a lick of his lips, I was wet. Oh yeah, we needed to be naked. “Hotel it is.”

  14

  Sapphire…

  I didn’t think we’d make it to the room. As soon as the elevator doors closed, Wrath was all over me. He pushed me against the wall and slowly slid me up his body, lifting my mini-skirt and rubbing the huge bulge in his pants against my lace covered pussy. As he ground his hard cock against me, he never took his eyes from mine. His taste, scent, and touch called to me like a magnet, and my heart raced waiting for his next move. Would he take me in the elevator? I was beyond caring. He’d started a fire only he could satisfy. His lips touched mine, possessing my mouth and kissing me like his life depended on it.

  Maybe it did, all I knew was I wanted him—needed him. Whether it was because I knew I wouldn’t have much
more time with him or the adrenaline from the earlier anger I didn’t know.

  He never put me down, when the doors opened he carried me to the room, slid his key card in the slot and shoved open the door. I thought he might do me on the floor of the suite, but he carried me into the bedroom and tossed me on the bed climbing on after me.

  Melting at the look of pure hunger on his face, I slid out of my G-string and pulled up the leather skirt to give him access. Growling, he just about ripped open his fly releasing his huge dick. One thrust and he was buried balls deep inside me.

  Rubbing against my swollen clit with each thrust, he’d played my body like he played his guitar. The tension built and I knew I wouldn’t be able to hold off for long. I closed my eyes and tried to hold back the sensations as my muscles constricted around his thick cock.

  “Open your eyes and look at me,” he gritted from between clenched teeth. “I want to watch you come.”

  Surprised by the gruffness in his voice, I did as he asked. “Oh God. I can’t…I’m going to come.”

  “Good. Come for me, Blue, scream my fucking name. You’re my fucking bitch and only mine.”

  Instead of his words being a turn off, they pushed me over the edge. Arching up against him as he thrust hard and deep, I screamed his name, my nails digging into his back and I held on as the orgasm washed over me.

  The sound of my scream had barely faded when his teeth closed over the skin of my neck and I could feel him sucking it into his mouth as he thrust one more time. His entire body shook against me as he came. I held on to him riding out his orgasm and my aftershocks.

  There had been nothing soft, passionate, or loving about what we’d just done. It was pure fucking—hard and fast—we both needed to exorcise the demons we’d been carrying with us. It wasn’t until he pulled out that I realized he hadn’t worn a condom. I probably would have freaked but he didn’t give me a chance.

  Rolling on to his back, he lifted me, impaling me on his hard cock, sliding in, our combined fluids dripping out of me.