by Wild, Bella
I carefully ripped one side of it. It was a check. I slid it out and flipped it around. It was two million dollars. Made out to me. I looked at it in disbelief, and then back up to Johnny, my heart pounding so hard in my chest I could barely breathe, let alone think.
“What…? Why…?” I couldn’t find the words to ask him for an explanation about this check in my hand.
“I want you with me on this tour, Amanda. No matter what Kevin thinks. I’m giving this to you now because you’re about to take a big risk for me. I want to make sure you don’t feel backed into a corner, having to prove yourself to Kevin over and over again. No matter what happens, you have my commitment.”
“I…I don’t know if I can take this,” I said, my gaze drifting back and forth between Johnny and the check amount.
“You can and you will. Besides, I won’t take it back.”
I looked over at him. “I could just not cash it.”
“True. But you and I know that would be really, really stupid. Besides, don’t let these dull eyes of mine fool you. I saw Kevin’s contract. You added your banking information somewhere in there. If you don’t cash the check, I’ll just do a direct deposit. Read my sexy lips, Amanda. You are taking this money.”
“I…geez…I don’t know what to say…”
“Say ‘okay’. That’s good enough for me. You could also say ‘you’re welcome’. After all, you’re going to follow through and protect me on this tour, right?”
I looked at him and held his gaze. “Yes. Yes, of course. I’ll give this assignment my all, Johnny.”
“Great. That’s all I wanted to hear.”
I should have gone to bed there and then. Somehow, I couldn’t shake the question that had entered my psyche during Johnny’s argument with Kevin earlier. “Can I ask you something?”
“Yes. Anything at all. What do you want to know?”
“You hired me based on my skills, right?”
“Correct.”
“So there’s no other reason you want me here?”
“I’m not sure what you mean.”
I couldn’t think of a good way to say it. “I mean, you didn’t hire me for…because of this…Shit. Look, did you hire me because you’re attracted to me?”
I saw his hesitation before he answered. “What I can say with honesty is I had no idea we’d be attracted to each other before I suggested your name to Kevin.”
I wasn’t sure if that was a direct answer, but I had this two-million-dollar check in my hand, and that blocked out most of my ability to reason.
“And one more thing.”
“Yes?”
“You understand I’m not looking for anything serious, right?”
More hesitation from Johnny. “Sure,” he answered.
“So can you be one hundred percent okay with you and me not going anywhere beyond sleeping together? I know I already said this to you outside, but I’m not looking for anything more. Are you sure you’re fine with that?”
He looked at me with even less certainty, if I could read him well. “Yes.”
“And you’re positive?”
“I’m sure if you’re sure.”
“I’m not looking for a relationship, Johnny.”
“Fine. Whatever you say. Now tell me you’ll accept that check and let’s move on.”
“Okay. Thank you. This means more to me than I can put into words right now.”
“Don’t thank me yet. By the sounds of those threats from my cyber-psycho-stalker-chick, you’ll more than earn it on the road.”
“Good point. And that reminds me. I really need some sleep before this flight.”
I turned and slipped my legs off the side of the bed to get up.
“Where are you going?” He stood up and stepped toward me.
“To sleep.” I got up and threw on my pajama top.
“Stay with me.”
“You and I both know we’re not going to get any sleep if I stay in your bed.” I pressed a hand on his chest and tiptoed to kiss his cheek. “Rest up, Johnny. See you when I get back.”
I pulled away reluctantly and hurried back to my room—holding the check like it was the most delicate paper. He might have been sweet, sexy, thoughtful and generous, but I couldn’t get too attached to him. If I wasn’t careful, it could end up taking some serious effort to keep my feelings in check. And I was not going to fall for Johnny Q Venom.
Chapter Four
Johnny
I sprang out of bed and raced to get ready. I needed to see Amanda before she left for the airport. Her repeated declaration about not doing relationships was still fresh in my mind. I couldn’t voice the affection I had for her. Not yet. It was banging around in my head, begging to be spoken out loud, but as she was so adamant, I couldn’t risk her shutting down on me.
She had to have a reason, or maybe several reasons why she didn’t want to be in a relationship. And although I desperately wanted to find out what they were, I was not about to back her into a corner by bringing it up so soon. I’d find a way to get her to tell me herself, instead of trying to uncover it. Otherwise, I would probably be too brash and scare her off. For now, I just wanted to see her.
I hurried from my bedroom and stepped across the hall. Amanda didn’t answer when I knocked. I turned the handle of her door and looked inside. Her bed was made. There was no trace of her. I hurried downstairs, hoping to catch her before the driver left. Kevin’s car was in the driveway, but Amanda was gone. Shit. It was disappointing. I returned inside, thinking at least I got to help make things right with that check. Kevin had gone off the deep end earlier. My blood boiled all over again whenever I replayed it in my head. I wasn’t known for being violent, but it would take me some extra effort not to punch him in the face if he even dared to show up at the house today.
I circled back to the kitchen to pour myself a coffee. I had just sat at the table when my phone started buzzing in my pocket. I pulled it out, hoping to see Amanda’s number lit up on the screen. It was a number I didn’t recognize. I pressed the ignore button and turned it off before shoving it back into my pocket. I never answered unknown numbers.
Moments later, the doorbell rang. It couldn’t be Kevin. He had a key, and wouldn’t bat an eye to barge in whenever he felt like it, just like last night. And his car had been outside when I checked before. It turned out to be Agent Carlson and his team of FBI agents. My mind had been too absorbed with Amanda and what we did last night. I barely remembered they would be here today. I let them all inside, and Agent Carlson introduced each of them to me. After the pleasantries, I showed them to the large spare office they could use while they were here at the house.
Kevin emerged from his office after Agent Carlson and his team had settled in. No one could mistake the animosity we had for each other today. It would be best if we didn’t have to interact at all, except the FBI insisted on a morning briefing with us both—every day for the duration of the investigation. After that was finished, we made a point of staying out of each other’s way. When we did happen to cross paths, the only expression I could muster was a resentful scowl. He had really crossed the line this time.
Because we were scheduled to kick off our travel the next day, my schedule was wide open. I spent most of the morning packing and speaking with the FBI. After lunch, I returned to my room and continued working on two song ideas I had been kicking around for a couple of weeks. I was just minutes in when Amanda was on my mind again. I couldn’t stop thinking about her. At one point I thought she might call and back out of the job completely. In a way, I couldn’t blame her if she did. She had been through a lot, and we were asking for her to move mountains for this assignment; not to mention having to put up with my fixation on her.
Along those obsessive lines, I scanned her social media pages. There was no activity. All I could do was wait. But waiting was not enough anymore. The last three years was enough waiting. I pulled my phone from my pocket, and bit the bullet.
*****
Amanda
“Hello?” I answered.
I loosened the towel wrapped around my wet hair, trying to get the phone up closer to my ear.
“Hey. It’s Johnny.”
“Hi. What’s up?”
“Not much. Are you at home?”
“Yes. I got in about half-hour ago.”
“I just wanted to call…to see how your flight went…and make sure you’re okay.”
“Yes. All good here. About to start packing. I’m just relaxing for a little bit before I get to it.”
“Cool. So it’s still a go.”
“Of course. Why? Did something happen?”
“No, no. Everything is just as it was before you flew out.”
“Very good.”
“So where are you right now? Are you in bed, or lounging in a sofa?”
“Um…sofa. Why? And what’s with the sexy voice in the middle of the day?”
“I was thinking about you. About last night…or this morning. You know what I mean.”
“Yes. Okay…” I didn’t know what to say. “What about it?”
“How would you like it if I were with you right now, kneeling between your legs, eating your sweet pussy?” His voice groaned it out in a deep, torrid tone.
Jesus. Phone sex? “I just got in, Johnny. And I got almost no sleep last night, thanks to you.”
“Wasn’t it worth it?”
“I’m still debating that,” I told him, but his voice already had me aroused. I just hoped he would let it go so I could get some things done.
“I can just imagine the look you’d have on your face if I were there right now, Amanda. Tell me, what are you wearing?”
I tried to answer in the flattest, most matter-of-fact tone possible. “I don’t have much time right now. You know my flight back is tomorrow.” He was silent on the other end of the line, so I said, “A robe. I had a shower as soon as I got in.”
He groaned. “I’d have that robe of yours hiked up past your hips. I’d spread your legs wide, and lick you until you scream for me…Are you wet, baby?”
I was already wet when he mentioned spreading my legs and eating me out, but I didn’t admit it. “Phone sex? Seriously, Johnny? I never would have guessed that about you in a million years.”
“Come on. You miss me. Admit it, because I can’t stop thinking about you. I’m hard as a rock just remembering last night.”
My need betrayed me as I pictured his massive cock entering me, and I let out a soft moan.
“Are you touching yourself?” He continued. “I don’t mind if you think about me when you’re pleasuring yourself, Amanda; especially if you keep moaning like that for me.”
“I’m not…I…don’t…” I tried to ignore him, but I couldn’t remember what I was going to say. Shit. He had me craving his touch in less than a minute.
“Trust me, Amanda. I’ll make you come over this phone, if you let me.”
“I…I have to go now.”
I hung up on him, but it was already too late. Damn him. I was wet, and my clit throbbed for him. God, what the hell did I get myself into? I put the phone down and turn on the TV to distract myself. His voice was still at the back of my mind, telling me what he would do to me. I was infected with a primal need. My free hand moved down my stomach and under the robe. Minutes later my phone buzzed again. He sent me a text, asking if I was touching myself yet.
I was about to put the phone on mute when he called again. I couldn’t even speak when I pressed the Call Answer button.
He didn’t wait for me to say a word. “Tell me the truth, Amanda. Your fingers are working your clit right now, aren’t they?” he asked.
I didn’t answer, but my clit tingled under my touch as he spoke.
He growled through the phone. “Tell me.”
“Yes,” I managed to whisper.
“Fuck,” he moaned. “How wet are you?”
“Mmmm.” I instantly felt a heat spreading out from my core. “Very.”
“What would you want me to do if I were there?”
“Oh God.” I was so close to coming. “I…I can’t do this, Johnny.”
“Keep touching it, baby. It’s my tongue licking you, making your hips move…”
It was no use. I turned on the speakerphone. I spread my legs and undid the belt of my robe. My thumb flicked my clit wildly, and I sank three fingers into my soaking wet pussy.
“I wish you were here,” I whimpered, almost regretting the confession.
“Me too. I’m in my bed, stroking my thick cock. It’s hard for you, baby. I can picture you sinking that tight pussy down hard on it.”
“Fuck.”
“I’d undo your robe and bury my head in between your gorgeous breasts. I’d lick and tease those firm nipples one by one. You’ll be riding my cock and begging me to go deeper.”
“Oh fuck, Johnny.” My hips jerked on my probing fingers as I felt the wave of a climax approaching.
“My hands are tight around your waist now. I’m pulling you down on my shaft, baby. Can you feel my cock slamming into your tight pussy until you come? Come for me, Amanda.”
“Yes baby…Oh God…”
I cried out my orgasm and let the pleasure spread throughout my trembling body. He ground out a guttural moan. I could tell he had come too.
“God, baby,” he said afterward, panting for air. “I love it when you come for me. That was so good. I can’t wait until you get back here.”
I had to cut this off. “I’ve got to go now. I’ll speak to you later, okay? Bye.”
Chapter Five
Johnny
Friday morning finally arrived. By then I was more than eager to see Amanda. Kevin had already arranged to have the driver pick her up. I was not going to let that opportunity to spend one-on-one time with her slip through my fingers—not when we were about to board a plane with Kevin, the FBI and possibly a few others in my entourage. Going on tour meant spending an insane about of time with little to no privacy.
“Johnny, I need you to focus on what I’m asking you,” Kevin said.
He sat at the dining room table, all of his tour paperwork spread out around his laptop. He was finalizing a timeline for the agents to keep on hand during the first leg of the tour. This was probably going to be one of the more complex timelines. It involved the flight to Greece, helicopters to the private island, a ferry for all the equipment, and ground transportation to drive to the concert location. I still didn’t understand why Kevin had agreed to this particular stop on the tour. We rarely did private events anymore. This one was a performance to some princess for her twenty-first birthday party on her family’s private island.
All morning, Kevin’s phone had been ringing non-stop. Tour preparations were coming to a head. His assistant handled most of the logistics, but Kevin was the decision-maker. Each time I heard his ringtone, I perked up. I was waiting for one particular call on my own phone.
I sat at the table and glanced over his paperwork, not focusing on anything specific. “What’s the question?”
“Do we need to talk about this?” Kevin asked, setting his phone down and looking up at me.
“Talk about what?”
“Don’t bullshit me, Johnny. You know full well what I’m talking about.”
“Oh, I know,” I replied, unable to mask the sarcasm in my voice, now that the frustration rose back to the surface. “You’re referring to the fact that you not only tell me what to eat, when to sleep, what to sing, and where to sing it; you now also want to start telling me who I can and cannot be interested in.”
“Stop being a child. Johnny, you’re a grown man, it’s time to start acting it.”
I jumped up out of my chair. “I’ve been an adult for years. This is the first time you seemed to notice. Why the hell do you think you still get to tell me how to do anything? This is my life. Mine! You still don’t seem to realize that.”
“I know. I’m not trying to control you, Johnny. I’m trying to help you. Do you remember when
you first came to me, and told Lady you wanted to play music and be in a band?” Kevin paused, as if waiting for me to conjure up the memory. “I told you, if you committed yourself, Lady and I would make it happen. You said you would commit, so we got you the best vocal coaches, the best music lessons, we found you mentors, agents, publicity, everything you needed!”
“Is that what this is about? Some commitment I made years ago? Kevin, I was a teenager!” I threw my arms in the air, exasperated by how he seemed to live in the past. “Take an honest look at me, Kevin. Tell me why you’re still trying to hold me to some standard you set for me when I was a child. An orphan with dead parents and no reason to live!”
The room went silent. I braced myself on the back on one of the dining chairs and stared down at the tabletop. I could feel Kevin’s gaze on me, but would not look up to meet his eyes. The pain was too raw at even the most remote mention of my parents’ death.
“I’m sorry, Lorne,” Kevin finally said.
He rarely used my legal name. Coming from him, it sounded foreign to me. I had become Johnny Q Venom around sixteen. At the time, when Kevin had first suggested it, I latched on right away. It was my alter ego, a facade I could put on and wear like a new skin. I could trash hotel rooms, chase women, do crazy shit, and drink too much. And none of it was really me; it was Johnny.
Over time, the line between the two had blurred. And in the past few years, I had found myself itching to get out of that skin. I just wasn’t sure it was possible. Something about meeting Amanda made me sure I could pull it off. She would understand. I was positive she would like Lorne.
Kevin continued. “You might have started this path as a way to disconnect from your turmoil. But you have to admit that in the process, you found the thing you were born to do. You were made to do this, Johnny. Making music and entertaining is your gift. Lady and I both saw it from an early age, long before your parents…a long time before they passed. You would copy Lady and her band members when they practiced, and you could enchant every person in the room. You’re a performer. It’s not an easy road to follow, and that’s why I’ve pushed you so hard. I know you can handle the demands, and it’s clear when you’re out there on stage. That’s where you come alive.”