"I want to go home," Mary said from my side. "That is my home. Steve Parnell is not going to stop me from living my life."
"Do you think it's wise to go back," I asked. "Maybe we should just go to L.A. for a few days; stay at my place."
"Ash, I have work to do here this week. I cannot just up and leave Phoenix. There is a contract with the Diamondbacks." Shit. I forgot about her work. Why wouldn't she just let me wrap her up in a damn cocoon and take care of her?
"Okay," was all I could say to that, for now.
Back at her house, everything was calm. The police (minus one) were all gone. David and Eric were back in the house, making phone calls to Mary's P.I.
When we walked in the house, I went to follow her, but she held up a hand and said, "I'm going to shower, then bed. I'm tired Ash. Just let me be."
The last thing I wanted to do was to leave her alone. I needed her just as much as she needed me. I loved her. Yes, I can say it now.
I.
Love.
Her.
Reed, Gabe and Liana came in the house, dropping a bag on the floor. I held my arms out for her and she fell onto my chest, "Hey, you okay?" I asked her and kissed the top of her raven hair.
"Yes," she smiled up at me. "This shit is so crazy!"
"Well, we are going to get it resolved, but until then, you girls have to take precautions."
"She's going to have security with her everywhere she goes," Reed growled beside me. I looked up at my bassist and I saw pure fury in his eyes. My gentle giant of a best friend never got angry.
"No," Liana argued. "It's not me the guy wants, it's Mary."
Reed pinched the bridge of his nose and said, "Li, if he knows where you live, he could come after you too."
She folded her arms across her chest. Reed stepped up to her and she immediately pushed him back, "No."
"Please," he whispered. "I'll worry."
"But you're never here," she scowled. "I have to take care of me, Reed. You being gone all the time doesn't work for me. It doesn't work for us."
At that point I knew this had nothing to do with the package. I pushed them toward Reed's room and said, "You need to work things out, alone."
I left them alone and told Gabe to do the same.
Slipping into Mary's room, I found her fast asleep, with her back to me. Her hair was still wet and fanned out across the pillow. She was naked in the bed looking like the angel she was. I used that excuse to undress myself and slip in behind her.
She stirred when my erection pressed into the back of her thigh. She rolled over in my arms and smiled so sweetly up at me, "Hey, baby."
"Angel, go back to sleep." She sighed softly and closed her eyes.
"Sing to me," she whispered.
And I did as I was asked, until she fell asleep. Tomorrow would start a new day. When the sun came up, things would go back to normal. She had to work on her photos and Glory Days were due back in the studio.
Kissing her head I whispered, "Sleep well, Mary. I...I love you."
Chapter 13
Mary
My life was closing in on me again, but it wouldn't stop me this time. I was in control. Burying myself into work this week was refreshing. The baseball players were totally ruthless. Just as bad as some rock stars I know. I'd been kissed on the cheek and asked out at least twenty times. Of course, all of them knew who I was and were mostly teasing. I was offered season tickets for all of the home games. I took them out of curtsey, but honestly, I wasn't really a baseball fan. I'd find someone who could use them.
The calls had stopped after the package came to both Liana and I. My private investigator said that there were no packages sent from the jail that Steve Parnell was rotting away in, because he has been on restriction for months, due to a fight with another inmate. He'd placed no calls; he wasn't receiving mail or visitors either.
Carrie Parnell was sedated beyond any recognition. So, she too was out. Even if she'd had any contact with an outside source, the person would've been turned away. Back at square one, the police in Memphis and Phoenix were working together to try and solve the mystery package and phone calls.
Glory Days had finished writing their self-titled album, and were excited to get into the studio today to start recording. We'd be here for a couple of months until they got everything done.
Ash finally finished my song, "Angel Mine". Even the producer thought it would be their best hit yet. I finally agreed to star in the video. Ash's vision was beautiful. We would be in a dark room, with me on a stool, playing the guitar (It's been a long time since I played and he spent a few days teaching me the song). Ash would walk around me singing the song. The camera would zoom on my eyes, lips, temple, hands, etc. When needed, I was to bite my lip, close my eyes in ecstasy, or when necessary, they would spray water on me to look like I was perspiring. The illusion was to be me getting hot and bothered by the song up close, but when the camera was panned out wide, I'd be normal, just playing the guitar.
Our voice lessons had progressed to me actually singing. Ash was right, I did sound good. He made me come in to the studio early one morning to record me singing a Glory Days ballad from a few years ago. "People Like Us" wasn't one of my favorites (yes, I have some that I'm not that crazy about), but I sang it anyway. When I heard the playback of the song, I cried. Ash compared me to some sultry female singers that I won't repeat, because I don't think that I deserve to be compared to them.
Kane wanted me to sing some backup on the album and today I had agreed. I didn't do much, other than singing with Ash on the chorus of some songs. The guys liked the addition of the female part, and the guy in the booth was grinning ear to ear. He'd jump up and clapped when we ended a song.
"Great...Great job, guys. Mary, dear, you are amazing!" He wanted to go with another song that I was to be singing back-up in. His name was Rage, which I'm sure was a nickname, but I didn't ask.
They started setting up and I held up my hand, "Um, can I take a break? Can you guys do another song without me?"
Ash looked up from the amp he was plugging into, his eyes narrowed and he dropped his guitar on the stand next to his feet. I raised my hands immediately trying to halt his concern, "I'm fine, just tired." My voice was fine but my throat still got tired, and today I think we may have pushed it a little. I regressed back into my non-speech mode and clamped my lips shut, but he'd want me to talk so he could hear me. Ash had a way of knowing when my voice needed rest just by the sound.
He came out of the booth and pulled me into his arms, his hand automatically going to my throat, "Does it hurt?"
I pulled his hand away and kissed him on the corner of the mouth, "No baby, just a little tired. I don't want to push it. I love your concern, but I'm fine."
"Well, I love you. I don't want you to be hurting. Do you want me to take you home? We can go to bed early."
Ash kept looking at my face and probing my throat for any problems....Wait! What?
"Say that again?" He looked up at me, that sexy smirk on his face. Time seemed to slow, my head spun and I had to shake my head to clear out any cobwebs, because I wanted to hear this.
"I love you," he whispered. I gasped and covered my mouth. Did I just hear that right? He was waiting on an answer.
"I love you too, Ash Martin." He slammed his lips on mine and picked me up by my hips slamming my body into the wall behind me. My tongue traced his bottom lip and he opened for me. One knee held me up while he squeezed by hips. Ash moaned into my mouth and I almost came just from the sound.
Applause erupted from behind him. I squeaked and jumped down totally embarrassed that I was up against the wall, like a tramp, in front of the guys.
"It's about fucking time!" Gabe grabbed us into a hug bear hug, and then we were attacked by Reed and Kane as well.
Kane grabbed me in a bear hug and licked the side of my face. "Ewww, Kane!" He had a tongue ring in today and it felt hot against my face.
Ash punched him in the gut. "Go get your own girl," he laug
hed and I knew that he wasn't really that angry with his drummer.
"She's family now," he winked. "I can lick her whenever I want!" He danced a little jig then stuck his long ass tongue out, the silver ball shining bright against the overhead lights. After he did his Gene Simmons impression, I waited until he was not paying attention then walked over and repeated the same. I licked him from chin to hair line.
Then I ran like hell and hid behind Ash, laughing uncontrollably the whole time. Kane was on his feet and lunged to his right to grab my arm, which I pulled away at the very last second. He lunged left and caught my wrist, but Ash was there to knock his hand away, laughing the whole time.
Finally, I threw up my hands and said, "I surrender!"
Ash got everyone calmed down and said he would be back after taking me home. I stopped him, "You need to finish up here. I'll have D take me home then whenever you are done, I'll make dinner."
"You sure," he asked. On my nod, he said, "Ok, we do have a lot to do. We'll work on your stuff tomorrow if you're up to it."
After a round of goodbyes, David showed up to take me home.
We rode in silence for a while and I couldn't take the quiet anymore. "Have you heard anything about the Parnell's?"
"No," he shook his head. "Mary, honestly, I don't think they are behind this. Things have been quiet, so let's hope whoever did this realized you have too much security behind you and they gave up."
"My life's never been that easy, D." We fell back into silence and finished the ride home.
The desert was warming up and summer would soon be here. Ash is taking me to Los Angeles in a few months and I could use the break. Plus, with my voice going to be on this album, Ash wanted to make sure I got paid for it. We'd already approached the label and they were all on board.
As I crawled up in the bed, I had to say my thanks for Ash, because anyone else would've pushed me to go right back into singing. He gave me a choice and after tons and tons of encouragement from the whole band, I caved, said I'd sing a little back up but that's it.
I didn't want to tell Ash that my body was as tired as it was. I don't know if it was from all the coming and going to the studio, or my late nights finishing up the player photos, but recently I'd been about ready to drop as soon as my head hit the pillow.
Just like it was doing now. I'd rest and be back at full strength tomorrow.
Yeah, tomorrow.
Ash
She was still asleep when we got back to the house. I crawled up onto the bed and slid my hands up over her hips. She'd changed into a pair of my boxer briefs and rolled them down low on her hips. And she was wearing the t-shirt I had on yesterday. Fuck! She was sexy as hell. She wore my clothes with such ease, like they were her own. Whenever we'd be out late, I'd come in to find her in one of my used shirts, and how could I not love her for that?
"Angel," I kissed her neck. She groaned and wiggled away from me. I was having none of that. "Alright, love. If you don't wake up, I'm going to have to punish you."
I heard her muffled giggle since she was face down in the pillow, "How are you going to do that?" That was muffled too, but I had no problem hearing the challenge in her voice.
"Well, I'm going to start by taking back my clothes," I bit her ear lobe and tugged down the boxers she'd taken from me. Mary squealed and jumped out of the way. I had her by the waist and back on the bed, under me before she could blink. She was so tiny. Pulling my shirt off her body, I sank down and kissed her soft belly. She wasn't wearing a bra or panties, and the thought of her wet sex against my boxers caused my cock to flare with a hunger I'd never felt before.
Pushing her legs apart, I started kissing my way down her body. She squirmed when I stopped at her belly button then raised her hips before I even touched her sweet pussy.
"So impatient," I whispered. "I've got to taste you now. Can you lay still?" She groaned loudly and I pressed a kiss to her sex. It was soaked and I used my tongue to bath her. Once I took her clit into my mouth she exploded. Tiny fingers grabbed my hair and pulled my face closer to her sweet heaven.
I licked and sucked and fucked her with my tongue until she finally settled. Crawling up her body like I was stalking my prey, she sighed and said, "I love you, Ash."
"I love you too, angel mine." I slipped my tongue inside her mouth the same time my cock found its rightful place in her heat. Pulling both of her hands above her head, I held her wrists in one hand, and twisted by body to take one of her rose colored nipples into my mouth. I let my sucking mimic my thrust.
"Ash, please," she begged. "I'm going to come, you have to fuck me." Mary's hips were rising on their own accord and I plunged deeper and harder. She took every inch of me. Her little body adjusted perfect to mine.
I've never loved anyone like I love Mary Montclair. She's my everything, my life. From this moment on, she will be mine to love, to spoil, to protect.
My balls tightened up when I felt her sex clamp down on my cock. Closing my eyes, I rested my forehead against hers, "Eyes on me, Mary. Always, eyes on me." The second those blue eyes hit mine, I was lost.
We watched each other orgasm and I felt the connection between us strengthen.
"Mine, angel. You are mine."
She smiled and kissed my lips with all that she had.
.
A little while later she said, "I guess I should get up and make something to eat. You guys must be starving."
I frowned. She must've thought it was earlier than it was. "Angel, it's really late. We ate at the studio. Do you even know what time it is?"
Reaching for her phone, Mary gasped when she saw that it was after ten at night. "Fuck, I was tired." She yawned again and fell back on the bed. "Still am."
"Go back to bed. You must've overdone it today." I pulled the covers back over her naked body and kissed her head.
"Probably," she said groggily.
I'd called the house around six to let her know that we were going to stay late, but David answered and said she was still asleep. So, we stayed until we got down another song. There were still some things we needed to finish up tomorrow, but finally after being there over fifteen hours, I called it a day and we all came home.
"You hungry," I asked.
"No, not really," she replied, her eyes still closed. "Ash, just let me sleep." I chuckled and kissed her shoulder before heading out to the living room. My angel liked her sleep and didn't want to be disturbed.
Chapter 14
Ash
We finished our session at the studio early and David took us over to the warehouse Mary had rented out for our photo shoot. It was in downtown Phoenix, and the place was secluded. The red stone building was only two stories tall, and when we walked in you could see all the way up to the top windows. Along the back of the warehouse there was a huge gray sheet hanging from the wall that folded to run along the floor. We were to do numerous poses on that spot, some with instruments and some without.
The crew, with the instruments, was still setting up. Mary pointed and directed where things should be. Her cameras were set up and she'd move lights and stands to get whatever idea she had in her head out for the shoot.
She hadn't heard us come in. So, I snuck up behind her and rubbed my hand over her luscious ass, and she spun around on her heel, gasping, fist raised and one hell of a scared look on her face. I jumped back, raised my hands, and said, "Hey! Whoa, angel. It's just me."
Sighing, she placed her hands on her heart, "Damnit Ash! I wasn't expecting you this early." Her reaction was wrong. I stared into her eyes and could see true fear in them. This had nothing to do with me sneaking up on her.
"Hey, sexy," Kane said coming up and hugging her. I scowled at them both. Mary for keeping shit from me and Kane for being, well, Kane.
Before we could be alone, everyone came in to get things started.
"Alright, we are going to start with your stuff," she laughed and slapped my ass. "Go pretend to be rock stars for me."
"Ha ha, very f
unny," Gabe said as he walked by and ruffled her hair.
Mary was working to finish her prepping as we helped set up the drum set for Kane, who was flirting with some brunette on the crew. As I worked, my eyes were always on my girl. She was smiling and cutting up with some of the people that worked for her.
We were finishing up on the drums when her phone rang; she reached into the back pocket of her jeans, still smiling at the lady in front of her. When she looked at the screen, she paled.
It was her caller.
Immediately, she hit the top button and slipped it back in her pocket, she took about two seconds and composed herself. Looking up at us, she said, "Alright guys, I'm ready."
We took our places and she moved behind the camera, leaning down to check the image. She placed an iPod on a dock and hit play. Our music started and we did what she asked. I grabbed the microphone and leaned forward so that you could see Kane behind me. I moved left and then right.
"Good, that's really good, Ash." She walked around and moved lights and would take more photos. Eventually, she called a break.
When everyone went to get something to drink, I followed her over to the monitor where the proofs were being loaded on the screen. She looked up and said, "Hey baby."
"You okay," I asked. "I saw you get that phone call." I reached for her and pulled her into my arms, she was still holding a small camera. She placed it on the table and kissed the side of my mouth. She smelled so good today.
"Yeah, but today is a happy day and I'm not going to let that get to me. We have work to do." She walked away after grabbing her camera. I was a little hurt, but I understood where she was coming from.
.
After the area was clear of instruments, we posed every which way but Sunday. I'm sure she took over a hundred pictures. After checking the monitor of the proofs, Mary came around to us and said, "Looks good, baby. We're done."
"May I see them?" I asked as I kissed her cheek. Mary leaned over the counter and closed some folders on the screen. Opening a folder labeled, Glory Days, Mary stepped back and let me scroll through all of the photos in the folder.
Sing To Me: A Glory Days Production Page 12