Simon: Rockstar Romance (The ProVokaTiv Series Book 3)

by Nelson, Cara

  Chapter Twenty-Three:

  Giving Back

  What I’d just done with, maybe to, Simon was bold—something I’d never done before. I couldn’t even explain what had come over me, but I’d had to have him. And now there I was, in his arms, his body pressed against mine and it was amazingly empowering. I had and just taken what I wanted. It made me understand Trinity’s confidence just a bit more. Heck, even Brynn was bolder than me. Well, however it came to be, I was in the here and now and loving it.

  Simon played with a tendril of my hair, both of us still quiet. I traced the lines of his chest and abs, his skin flesh so warm on my fingertips. It was another perfect moment—a bonus.

  “What are you smiling at?” Simon asked, looking at me through lowered lashes. I hadn’t even realized I was smiling, but there it was.

  “I’m pretty sure you have an idea,” I said, laughing now.

  “That was pretty cool, pretty surprising, Jessie Martineau.”

  “I agree,” I said. Then I teased, “Sorry that I threw an unexpected plan into the itinerary.”

  “Yeah, I’m going to have to rearrange a few things,” he said, “but before I do…”

  His words stopped flowing and in an instant, his body started doing the talking. “Time to show you how delightfully maddening it is to just accept temptation without touching.”

  “Oh no,” I mumbled, but in my mind I was shouting, oh, yes!

  Simon kissing my hand all over, nibbling my fingers and sliding them in and out of his mouth, making an electric current go straight through my center—kid you not. I’d never felt anything like it and from my recent orgasm, my body was on hyper alert. Everything was so slow, almost methodical, but intensely passionate and spontaneous, too. All things regarding this scrumptious mystery known as Simon Jefferson was a contradiction.

  I could not take my eyes off him as his lips explored my body, starting at my head and ending…who knew yet? I’d just enjoy the ride.

  He took my hand and, his own hand atop mine, slowly lowered it over my breasts, my belly, and pressed onto my wet pussy, watching me keenly as he helped me pleasure myself. Interesting and completely different…completely hot, too. Then it escalated. He started kissing and sucking on my other hand while this was taking place and that same electricity came back to me and I found that together, our hands were moving more quickly and my hips were thrusting and I was getting close to having another orgasm. I loved the unexpected surprise of it all and bit my lip, an “oh” escaping unbidden.

  “That’s so good, so beautiful,” Simon said. He released both my hands and started to travel my body with his lips, letting me recover from that sizzling orgasm and enjoy the attention he paid to my breasts and my stomach. As he inched down, his hard-on pressed against my leg. I was already burning with anticipation for when he got to my sweet spot. It was craving him so badly and I was in complete agreement. What would I get? That was the question.

  Whoa! I got fingers sliding in and out of me and a tongue pressing against the outer rims of my pussy, adding to the sensation. I cried out when he stopped, his lips moving away. But then he blew on me, making me shiver from head to toe in a most delightful way. The perfect temp of the room and the chilly blast from what he did was magnificent for me. The man had skills and creativity. An artist of the body, as well as music.

  I couldn’t take it anymore. “I want you in me,” I stated.

  “As you wish,” he replied. Two seconds later, he was plunging into me again and I wrapped my legs around his waistline and tilted my pelvis up and welcomed him. His hands were under my ass and he was almost kneeling as we kept going back and forth. I’d look and then my eyes would shut as the thrust of his cock touched me in hard to reach places, making my body tremble and slow eruptions of volcanic orgasms start to flow. One after the other, rapid fire. Go. Go. Go.

  My voice yelled out and I had no idea how loud it was and I didn’t care. It was like I was the wolf howling at the moon. I needed it and he’d brought out the animal in me.

  Then Simon’s body froze, his hips jutted out, and I looked at him, watching him orgasm. The veins in his temples were pulsing and I couldn’t resist tracing the intensity of his masculine jaw line with my finger. Then his hands released from my ass and he rested on calves, staring at me and breathing heavy. “Geez, Jessie, that was…out of this world.”

  “I might’ve gotten a concussion when my head slammed into the stars,” I said playfully.

  “What?” he asked.

  He didn’t get my joke. “I can’t see straight.”

  Then he nodded his head and chuckled and eventually broke out into a loud laugh. He moved back and stood up and walked around to the side of the bed and sat back down, leaning over to me and kissing me on the mouth softly. My hand touched his side softly and then my stomach growled—the wolf was back.

  “I think we’d better order some actual food for the main course,” Simon said laughing.

  It wasn’t like I could help a growling stomach, but my cheeks blazed despite that fact. “Good idea. I’ve exerted more energy than I would have thought.”

  We ate. We showered. We crashed our two physical worlds together again. Then we fell asleep.

  When I woke, I was alone. Simon was sitting in the corner of the room, wearing a pair of shorts, but no shirt. He was checking his tablet and deep in thought. I enjoyed the opportunity to watch him without being caught. The serious look he mostly wore seemed a bit less intimidating now that I knew him better and knew that there was also a thoughtful and aware man behind that intense face, a guy who hoped for things that no one else would ever guess unless they took the time to really find out. How was I going to keep seeing him when this was all done—less than a week away?

  “Hey, you’re awake,” he said, staring at me from the chair.

  “Yeah, I just woke up.”

  He walked over to me, a softer expression coming over his face as he leaned over and kissed me softly on the forehead. Mmm…

  Chapter Twenty-Four:

  A New Day

  “I wouldn’t have taken you for a late sleeper,” I said, looking at Jessie’s tousled morning look, which suited her entirely too well.

  “Late? What time is it?” she asked, looking around for a clock.

  “Nine AM.”

  “Oh my gosh, I can’t believe I was that wiped out,” she said, looking completely surprised. “How long have you been up?”

  “Since six.”

  “You sat there three hours while I slept away? You should have woken me up,” she said, jumping up and instinctually pulling the sheets to cover her breasts. She certainly didn’t need to do that.

  “Hey, no big deal, but I do have to shower and get ready for a Skype.” As soon as the words came out of my mouth, a question spread over her face. She didn’t know what those words meant for her. “Not trying to get rid of you. You’re welcome to join in if you like. It’s details for the show.”

  “Oh no, that’s okay, Simon. I’d actually like to get back to the lab today and see what else I can learn there, maybe do. The concert details are your area of expertise, not mine.”

  “Well, okay then,” I said, smiling at her. “Well, I have to jump in the shower. My call starts in a half hour.”

  “Okay then,” she said.

  I walked away, sensing she felt a bit embarrassed about jumping out of bed and getting dressed in front of me. Women could be really odd that way. For me, once I’d seen it, it really didn’t matter—no need to be shy. I’d walked in on my share of groupies who’d managed to sneak past security and were parading around stark naked hoping that I’d fall to the temptation. I was proud to report that I never did—not once—though I was always happy to refer them to the roadies or whomever.

  When I walked out of the shower, Jessie was gone and a sense of disappointment came over me that only lessened slightly when I found the note she’d left on the small coffee table by the chair. Still, I couldn’t help but smile to rea
d it:

  Simon,

  Thanks for the great day yesterday…and night. It was wonderful learning all those musical notes you made me hit…over and over. I’ll try to connect with you when I’m back at the hotel.

  Best,

  Jessie

  I was hardly overprotective and coddling, but I didn’t like the thought of Jessie being off on her own for an entire day. Hopefully she took someone with her.

  Relax, I thought. Jessie wasn’t stupid. She’d be fine. Where was my concern even coming from?

  I got on with my business and had my Skype, which didn’t go well. One of the bands had to cancel, one of the guys didn’t have a passport and couldn’t get one in time. Who the hell went into the music business without a passport? Someone who didn’t think they’d be able to make it. Perhaps that group wasn’t the right choice for Blaze Line. I’d have to think about it.

  At the concert venue I met with every crew member involved in the project, including security, lighting, sound, backstage coordinator, etc. I wanted to say I had complete confidence in them doing their job. They’d all worked with me before, but I couldn’t let it go. Plus, I needed to stay busy. It threw me off completely that I was worried about Jessie…okay, missing Jessie. It must have showed.

  “You okay?” Dominic asked. “You seem edgy, man.”

  “Just tired, I guess,” I retorted.

  “Feeling okay?” he continued pressing.

  “I feel fine,” I said, trying to be composed. What the hell was up with all the questions?

  “Make sure you’re careful about what you eat. These different spices can mess with your stomach,” he continued.

  “Are we talking about you or me? Because I’m fine, Dominic.”

  “Okay then. Hey, where’s Jessie? I wanted to go over a few things with her.”

  “She’s at the lab today. We can go over there if you want.”

  “Nah, that’s okay. I’ll just try to catch her at the hotel tonight.”

  “You sure?” I said, folding my arms and looking at him. Inside I was begging him to go for the lab visit.

  “I was, but if you want to go, let’s do it, man.”

  “No, I’m not much help in the lab. She’s there doing her—” I waved my hands in the air, “—thing.”

  “Okay, well, I have to make a call and connect with the local media crew that can do a behind the scenes tour. Remember, you’re slated to do that at 2:00.”

  “I remember. Anything else I can do before then?”

  “No, not really,” Dominic said. “Just go relax, do whatever.”

  I walked away. The guy didn’t understand me, clearly. Damn it, I really was tense. I was even driving myself crazy. An image of Jessie doing that thing she did to me yesterday flashed in my mind. It made me smile and calm me down a bit, but physically, it got a part of me too excited. I turned around and walked away.

  Chapter Twenty-Five:

  Adventuring Out

  Fifteen minutes after I arrived at the lab, I was hopping in a Jeep Wrangler that was headed toward Liberia to go into the rainforest that was part of its border. The ride was bumpy and the day was bright and warm. A few of the ruts were so bad that I thought my teeth were going to shatter as they clacked together in rhythm to the poor roads. I vowed to never complain about a pothole again. They were nothing compared to this.

  On an unrelated note, I looked down at my thighs and how they jiggled. Disgusting! I suddenly felt that I should have had on more than shorts, a t-shirt, and tennis shoes. I’d asked Barika about it before leaving. She’d said, “You fine.” Hmph. I didn’t think so, not anymore, but it was too late to change.

  Everyone I was with I’d met in the lab yesterday, but Barika was the only one I’d spoken with a bit more in depth.

  “How far is it?” I asked.

  Louis turned around from the front and in his French accent he said, “About two hours.”

  That was a long way in this rickety rig.

  It was so loud that it was tough to talk, really. No roof combined with American rap music made it impossible to have a conversation. I wished it would have been tribal music, more authentic experience. So, I just looked around, taking occasional pictures with my phone. What an interesting transition it was from flat, more desert-like land to the rainforest. But no towns! Where were the towns? Slowly and gradually everything became more full and green until I could see thick foliage up ahead.

  “Is that it?” I shouted, pointing up ahead.

  Barika just nodded at me and Louis turned back around and nodded. The nod was to me, I think, but he sure wasn’t paying attention to me like he was Barika. Every time he turned around to glance at her, I noticed her smile widen and she’d let out a soft giggle. Catching those little intimate moments made me think of Simon, not that we had that type of thing going on, but the way he looked at me sometimes…wow.

  The Jeep halted in a small clearing along a path that looked too narrow for it to even pass through if we wanted to. We all got out and from the back of the Jeep everyone started to pull out small burlap sacks and a few empty containers. They knew right where they were going, but I had no idea.

  “Who should I tag along with?” I asked. They all had a plan in place before I’d even gotten to the lab that morning, which was fine. I just wanted to do everything that I could to help and learn.

  “You go with Louis, Jessie,” Barika said, drawing out the last syllable of my name.

  “Are you sure?” I asked.

  She giggled and then walked away with a few of the containers.

  I turned around and Louis was holding a burlap sack. “We find coconuts and seeds,” he said.

  “Okay, sounds good. Which direction?”

  Louis pointed. I had no idea if it was north, south, east, or west. The canopy of the rainforest made it hard to see the sun and when you were from a place that could get pretty cold, anything south of it was warmer. Hence, I always associated warmth and south with each other.

  It was beautiful and a bit eerie in the rainforest. I could hear birds and other interesting sounds calling out, some from above us and some from off in the distance. Then there’d be complete silence, like they’d shrieked out a warning that invaders were there.

  “Do you ever run into animals in here, Louis?” I asked.

  “No, not so very often,” he said in his thick French accent.

  “Have you ever?” I continued. He wasn’t the type of guy to just offer up information, it seemed.

  “Oui.”

  “Like what?”

  “Snakes and spiders,” he said.

  I clamped my mouth shut. I should have done that before I asked. Now Louis started to talk, though, apparently excited about it.

  “Last time, I was reach for the coconut and I feel tickle at my leg. I think it was edge of sack because was at my side, but I lift the sack up. There was a tickle again.”

  He paused, making me ask, “What was it?”

  “Baby snake.”

  “Oh, thank goodness it was a baby, right?”

  “No, where baby is, mother is. That bad.”

  I’d never heard that before, but he still had my attention. “What happened, Louis?”

  “It bit me and I run so fast I smack into a tree. Fell right over.”

  “That’s awful,” I said, raising my hands up to my face.

  Then he burst out into laughter. “Just kidding. I love to joke to new ones.”

  “I’m happy, but I also wish that snake would have bit you,” I said spiritedly, which made him laugh at me all the more.

  An hour of picking coconuts and seeds passed before we knew it and it was time to head back to the Jeep to meet the others.

  “Thanks, this was fun,” I said, lugging a heavy bag with our goods. All the seeds were completely unfamiliar to me, which had me very interested. Louis had said the names, but I couldn’t quite understand him. I’d have to take a second look when they labeled them back at the lab.

  We a
ll piled into the Jeep and the driver, Jahi, turned the key and put the Jeep into reverse, trying to turn around and head back out the way we came in. The entire vehicle began to lurch, but not from the terrible road this time. We went only a few feet and the Jeep ground to a stop, a hissing sound came.

  Jahi jumped out and undid the latches to open the Jeep’s hood. I was quiet and so was Barika, but the other two in the Jeep were shouting questions to Jahi. Then they got out.

  Okay, this wasn’t on my list for the adventure and I wasn’t thrilled about being caught in the rainforest with no real way of communication and in a t-shirt and shorts. None of it seemed good, instantly deflating my adventure.

  Stay calm, I thought. It’ll probably start up and we’ll be on our way.

  “Well, we going nowhere,” Jahi shouted over the hood no sooner than I allowed myself to believe the thought.

  “What?” Barika said, sounding a bit more unsettled about it than me.

  “It broke, radiator has crack and gears stuck,” Jahi said.

  “How will someone know where to find us? Should we start walking?” I asked. I remembered that we didn’t see any towns on the way here. It was so isolated.

  “We best to stay here tonight; walk in the morning,” Jahi said.

  “I can’t. My mama kill me,” Barika said.

  I looked at her and felt so bad for her. “It’s okay,” I said. “She knows you’re responsible, right?”

  “I only eighteen.”

  That caught me off guard. She was a graduate school. Some kind of genius, I guess.

  It was already getting chilly as the day darkened into evening. All we had to eat were the nuts we’d already collected, and Jahi and Louis were digging a small fire pit, like we were in some Survivor episode. Already I missed the warmth of Simon’s body next to mine. But rather than complain, I decided to take on a more motherly role. That was something I was used to, as I’d had to do it more than once with Brynn and Trinity over the years. I smiled at Barika and said, “Oh, well, we’ll make it through.” I hoped I was right.