by Ema Bancroft
I jumped to run to the bathroom. I knew what was waiting for him behind these lips... and I must say it wasn't pretty.
"It'll only take a second,"I said, sneaking out of him and still holding my hand over my mouth. I heard Elijah laughing behind me as he ran to the bathroom.
I was speechless when I looked in the mirror. It was worse than I imagined.
His hair was pointed, his eyes red, his skin pasty and a dry line of slime from the side of his mouth to his chin.
Brutal.
I quickly brushed my teeth and brushed my face, pinching my cheeks a little to give them some color. I brushed my hair short, but the cowboys didn't want to cooperate. Shrugging my shoulders, I realized that nothing would help until I could get in the shower.
I left the bathroom, to find Elias relaxed in my bed. I was lying on a pillowcase against the headboard, and flipping channels on my TV. He looked so comfortably sexy lying in my bed that I got a little dizzy and leaned against the door jamb.
"Are you all right? " Elijah asked, worrying about wrinkling his forehead.
I smiled weakly and nodded. "Good."
He took the TV out and came up to me, extending a hand to caress my cheek. "Are you sure?"
"Yes."
He bowed slightly. "Can I kiss you now?"
I laughed laughing. "Yes."
Elijah put his long fingers in my hair, his thumbs brushing against my cheeks. He leaned my face toward him slightly as my eyelids closed fluttering. I felt his breath a second before the soft touch of his lips brushing against mine. His kiss was soft, but firm, and in a moment I felt his tongue tear my lips apart before slowly dipping into my mouth.
I was so bewildered by the sensations that I ran through my body that all I could do was stand there, my hands on the sides, my knees almost bending.
After a moment, Elijah drew back, planting a softer kiss on my lips, then my nose. I opened my eyes to find him smiling.
"It's definitely worth waiting for,"he said.
I smiled back. "Yes."
He chuckled. "So, we have to start,"he said in a business tone.
"Started doing what? " I asked, still a little dazed.
Elijah wouldn't listen to me. I was looking at the top of my head with a frown.
"Elijah? I asked, feeling to try to smooth my crazy hair.
Elijah blinked. "I'm sorry... it's just..." His eyes looked at my hair again.
I turned my eyes. "I know. It looks like yours."
H laughed. "Yes. Something like that. Especially when everything is held like this. His own hands were raised to run through his scrambled mess.
I walked to look in the mirror. Elijah moved to stand right behind me. Yep. Same haircut.
"My friend Mabel did it,"I explained. "I was trying to help and I was so excited I couldn't say anything. I didn't want to hurt her feelings.
Elijah's hands surrounded my waist from behind as he looked at me in the mirror.
"I like it,"he said, shrugging him shoulders. He bowed to rub his sloppy chin slightly over my neck. "Don't think about adding the stubble, though."
I laughed. "I think you're safe there. " He kissed my neck and I said,"Start doing what?"
"Hmmm? " I'd pat my neck and wonder if we were going to leave my room.
Not that I was complaining, by the way.
"You said we needed to start,"I pointed out.
Elijah straightened. "Oh, yeah. I'm sorry... I was distracted,"he said with a happy smile.
"I told you I'd help you get all this out,"he continued walking to lean against the wall next to the mirror so we could look at each other. "And I thought there was no time like the present."
"What did you have in mind? " I asked, a little nervous.
"Tim Caldwell,"he replied, picking up a baseball cap and hitting my head. "School is in session."
E. C.
"Okay, now you remember what I told you, right? " I looked at Daisy expectantly.
"Right."
"We'll go to the restaurant, straight through the back door. The car will be waiting,"I reminded her.
"Got it."
"If there's any sign of paparazzi, we'll try again later."
Daisy snorted. "Elijah, we've been over this a hundred times. I got it."
He knew Daisy and he couldn't do what we needed in the house. The boys were out in the morning - Hell, I didn't think Ethan had come back since he left to take Terri home - but I knew they could come back any minute. Daisy and I didn't have much time, so we needed to go to work if she was going to be a convincing guy.
Or rather, a more convincing guy.
Sure, she was doing a good job, but once in a while something would slip... nothing notorious... but enough to raise suspicions if the wrong person was looking...
And starting in a couple of days, the whole world would be watching.
When I asked her if she knew any place we could go, she suggested her friend Mabel's apartment. Mabel was apparently aware of Daisy's little charade - and responsible for the haircut that made us look almost like brothers.
Well, when Daisy's girls weren't playing, that's it.
God, her boobs were fucking amazing.
But I digress.
My first lesson was to help Daisy avoid the paparazzi... a necessary skill if we were to get to Mabel's apartment undetected...
Sure, it wasn't unusual for us to leave the house together... but going to a strange girl's apartment together could pose some questions. I could almost see the photos on Twitter... both in baseball caps and sunglasses coming into the lobby. It would only take a few bribes to find out that we'd both gone to Mabel's apartment.
I knew it would be a matter of minutes before my agent emailed me the link to a blog saying Tim, Mabel and I were having a threesome or something.
In general, it was better to avoid photographers.
Especially when I wasn't always in complete control of myself when it came to Daisy.
I don't know what happened to her. Like I said before, I've had my share of girls... but no one has ever made me as unstable as Daisy.
I mean, when did she get on my lap in her room? I would have done what that girl asked me to do. She could have told me to climb Everest and I would have accepted, just for a chance to put my hands in her panties.
Fuck. My hands in her panties.
Distracted again. Do you see what I mean?
When we were eating nachos and she said she liked her meat at the bottom, my mind went straight to the sewer and little Enrique sat down and took note. Then she had to go and lick the cheese from the corner of her mouth, that sweet tongue that squirted and made it harder for me than the bloody Rock of Gibralter.
Yeah. Absolutely no control.
But what was really weird was that I didn't want to fuck her.
Well, I actually wanted to fuck her. A lot. God, I'm only human and she's incredibly sexy.
But that night, I didn't want to sleep with her. For some strange reason, he felt... turned off. So I kissed her and said good night.
And the next morning, I just walked in to make sure she was okay and talked to her about how she could help prepare for the press conference, interviews and shit for next week. I really didn't plan on kissing her.
But she sat there, grumpy, muttered, radiant and beautiful, and I could not resist.
Yeah. I had it pretty bad.
"Elijah? Shall we go now? " Daisy asked, with more than a slight irritation. I forgot the memories that made my jeans feel a little tight and tried to concentrate on the task at hand.
And not Daisy's ass, she bowed to me as she prepared to get out of the car.
I was looking through the stained glass windows from side to side.
"I see photographers... maybe half a dozen of them,"she said, grabbing the handle of the door and looking over her shoulder.
Fuck me. Daisy bowed, looking down at me over her shoulder. Little Henry was going to burn spontaneously.
"All right,"croé, half for
her, half for me. "Ignore what they say and keep walking. They'll try to get a reaction from you. He sells paintings."
Daisy prepared for the door, looking over her shoulder again. "Are you ready? " she asked.
You have no fucking idea.
I forced myself to swallow, clenched my teeth and nodded firmly. Daisy shot me a little confused look and opened the door.
We both went out, and tried to seem casual and indifferent... even boring. Daisy did a great job, ignoring the jokes and clicks on the cameras?
"E. C. any comment on rumors that you're dating Paris and Nikki Hilton?"
Where'd you get this shit?
"Hey Lynch, is it true you were in Belize with Jill last weekend?"
Jill Cox was a model I had dated for a while... well, actually, we hooked up a weekend ago a year ago.
Still, the parents have a picture of her coming out of my hotel, and they'd never let her go.
It could have had something to do with the fact that I was wearing my favorite Beastie Boys shirt, a pair of fucking heels, and nothing more.
I had to admit, Jill could do it. Even though I was furious as hell, she stole that shirt.
"Tim, do you think joining the band was just a publicity stunt?"
Daisy hesitated a bit at the last one, but recovered quickly and walked into the dimly lit restaurant. We walked straight up and I gave 50 to the manager.
"Thank you, my friend,"I said, shaking his hand.
"No problem, E. C. ", he said with a smile. "I hope you'll come back and stay for a while next time."
I just nodded and we walked through the kitchen to the back door. As expected, the second car was waiting and there were no photographers in sight. Once we got in the car, Daisy turned to me with a smile.
"We did it! " She hit me, but I shook my head a little bit, pointing at the driver with my eyes. Daisy nodded, getting the message.
"She began quietly, leaning slightly down on the seat. I bit my lip so I wouldn't laugh. "What are you gonna wear to the press conference?"
I opened her eyes. The kids weren't talking about what they were gonna wear. Her eyes widened as she shrugged. We'd have to talk about that later.
"I don't know,"I said casually. "Something comfortable, I suppose."
Daisy nodded. "How about those Rangers?"
I choked on a laugh. "I don't really follow hockey."
She stared at me. I guess she was irritated because I wasn't going along with it. I really didn't like hockey.
"I've been working on a new song,"I offered her, trying to calm her down. "We thought we could do it together and be able to do it on tour."
"Yes? " she asked, scratching her crotch, then her nose.
Jesus. I rolled my eyes and she smiled with a smile.
"Do you want to hear it? " I asked, a little nervous, but I wanted her honest reaction.
"Sure."
I closed my eyes and started singing.
"Ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo.... " I sang.
Her mouth was hot and sweet.
The lips fit perfectly with mine.
Her mouth, her cheeks, her face.
I needed more after one drink.
I started playing a rhythm with my hands on my thighs as I sang the choir.
No chocolate or lollipops required
No need for mint or lemon sweets
Sweet tarts aren't sweet enough
Red Hots isn't hot enough.
Ooooooo... to satisfy me?
No need for caramel or licorice candies
I don't need gum balls or fairy sticks.
"It's really built here,"I told Daisy, before we go any further, a little higher.
The kisses I want aren't Hershey type.
The sugar on my lips is what I think
My voice softened as I sang the last words.
'Cuz… ooooo…. My girl's all I need.
It is soft and sweet...
I danced a little bit in my seat to emphasize "soft" and "sweet", already imagining the video in my head.
.... like sweet caramel candy
I opened my eyes and turned to find Daisy staring at me, tears overflowing in her tears.
"Elijah,"she whispered,"that was..." She looked at the driver quickly and reached over her eyes.
"S' cool,"she said, shrugging her shoulders, leaning even more into the seat.
I couldn't resist.
With a sneaky look at the driver to make sure he wasn't looking, I approached and took Daisy's hand, gently squeezing it.
She turned back.
Daisy
E. C. Lynch was a fucking musical genius.
When he sang that song to me in the car, that's all I could do not to cry. I mean, I fought that, but I still felt a little slippery.
I couldn't help it.
He closed his eyes and... that voice... and those amazing lyrics?
I could almost imagine he was singing it to me.
And then I knew I was in trouble.
Because despite the fact that Elijah obviously liked to kiss me, touch me and hang out with me. I knew he was a player.
Shit, there were literally millions of girls who'd kill to be with him. It wasn't an exaggeration. He was voted for nothing as the world's sexiest living man, Us Weekly's Dishiest Dish Dishiest, and Teen Beat's Hot Stud of the decade. I used to date models, actresses and singers... the most beautiful women in the world, including that bitch Jill Cox?
Well, to be honest, I didn't really know if she was a bitch or not, but she was pretty and had slept with Elijah, so I hated her anyway.
So, I knew in my head that getting too involved with him would be a mistake. Eventually, someone better would come and leave me in the dust.
In my head, I knew it.
The problem was that my heart was already falling in love with him.
Chapter 3
Chapter 3 - "I need to have now"
Daisy
"No... no, Daisy, you have to loosen it up,"E. C. said frustrated, running his hand through his hair. "Looser! " he emphasized, pounding his palms on his thighs, as if that made me understand what "looser" hell meant.
We had arrived at Mabel's apartment without incident - well, apart from the fact that Mabel fainted when she saw E. C. Lynch standing at her front door. But Elijah took it easy, and managed to catch her before she hit the ground.
I thought he'd been through a lot.
He took her to the couch while I was having a glass of water from the kitchen. I was about to throw it in her face, but Elijah frowned at me.
"Give her a second,"he said. "She'll change her mind."
After a moment, she moaned and her eyes widened with agitation. When they focused on Elijah, they widened and she cried out in a shrill voice.
I clapped my hands for her mouth. "Jesus, Mabel! " I exclaimed. "Neighbors are gonna think you're being raped!"
She nodded her head as she controlled herself, and I took my hand off. "You're from E. C. Lynch,"she screamed, and kept looking at Elijah with crazy eyes as she sat on the couch.
Elijah shot her with that melted half smile of his. "And you're Mabel."
"Do you know me? " She turned to me in a daze. "E. C. Lynch knows my name."
I patted her on the shoulder. "All right, Mabel,"I muttered.
"He. He knows. My. Name,"she said to me again, as if she didn't fully understand it the first time.
Then she rose abruptly. "Wait here! " She ordered, running out of the room.
Elijah shot me with a confused look, but I shrugged in response.
Mabel returned a moment later, her arms full of posters, CDs, magazines and a book that I recognized as the unauthorized biography of 5Point.
"Mabel... no..." I groaned?
"E. C. will not mind,"she argued, turning quickly to Elijah. "You don't mind, do you? " She threw a poster and a Sharpie at him. "Just one autograph or two? Please? " Her voice of supplication was frantically stirred and I was about to suffer a mental br
eakdown.
Obviously, Elijah had the same fear, because he looked at Mabel as you looked at a rabid dog.
"Sure,"he replied. "No problem."
Half an hour later, Elijah had signed everything Mabel had collected in her 5Point devotion years. I was a little upset because she didn't ask for my autograph. I mean, I was in the band, too. But whatever it is. At least she seemed to have overcome her shock that Elijah was home. She chatted with him like they were old friends.
"So, are you going to help Daisy? " she asked, her eyes gliding toward me briefly.
"I'm going to try,"Elijah said, muttering absent-mindedly as he tidied up the biography. He frowned as he read a page. "Where do they get this shit? " he muttered, turning his eyes.
Mabel put aside a stack of recently signed CDs. "In general, I think she's doing well."
Elijah left the book and nodded to Mabel. "When she gets distracted, we have a problem,"he said. "It has to be something natural."
I snorted, raising a hand. "Hello? I'm right here. In the room..."
Mabel went on as if she hadn't heard me. "That's what I said! " She smiled smiling at Elijah, striking the couch beside him and squeezing his arm. "We'll get her in shape,"she said confidently.
Elijah just smiled at me, raising an eyebrow.
That's why - after pushing furniture from the living room against the walls - we were running through the choreography because I needed to have already' for the millionth time... and Elijah was telling me again, that I needed to be looser...
Whatever that means.
He got up, coming to stand beside me. "Look, like this,"he said, demonstrating as he sang.
"Ooooooooohhhhhhhhh... baby, I need to have you"... Step, cross and turn slowly... now pop! "His hands snapped sideways. "Elijah moved through Mabel's living room. "…and freeze! "He stopped abruptly, his legs spread open and his right hand stretched out as if calling the audience. "Baby, I need to have you... and let go of your hand slowly. "His hand fell to his side as he continued to sing. "Come back to me, baby... don't walk out that door... and step, step, kick and spin. "Elijah stopped?
"See?"
Mabel applauded wildly. "That was amazing! " she exclaimed, her eyes dazed.
Elijah smiled, turning that E. C. with all its charm. "Thank you,"he said, and I swore Mabel was whining.