“I know, baby,” Chad replied softly as he touched my hair. “But he didn’t. I stopped him. Now he’ll never touch you again. I wish I could make the hurting stop, my baby girl.” He held me for a long time and shed some tears with me.
Once I was calm, Giovanni came in the room. “Crystal, let’s go home.” He got down on the floor next to us and pulled me from Chad. “You need to process all this.”
I just looked at Giovanni as he held me, tears still streaming down my face. He kissed my lips. Then I lay my head on his chest. Chad put his hand on my back when I started to sob again.
Soon enough, Giovanni carried me home. When we got upstairs, he lay down with me as I continued to cry. I cried in his arms until I had no more tears left. Then I just laid my body against his and closed my eyes. I listened for my lover’s heart and let its rhythm soothe me to sleep.
I woke up about an hour later, feeling much better. As soon as I stirred, Giovanni pulled me up on top of him. I lifted my head and looked at him.
He kissed me. “How do you feel now?”
I smiled. “A lot better. Thanks for letting Chad hold me.”
“I knew you needed him, not me. That’s why you went to his room. You needed to feel safe. He’s the one who saved you.”
He pulled me up a bit more and kissed me again. Then he rolled us to our sides and kissed me with more passion. He put his fingers through my hair. “I love you so much.”
He slowly moved a hand under my shirt, opened my bra and gently brushed his fingers over my nipple. I felt his stiff cock through his pants when he pressed his hips against me. Under the circumstances, you would think it was the last thing I needed, but I was not most women. His love was what wanted, in every way. With the difficult day gone, my desire grew like a wildfire.
I grabbed his hair and pulled when his hand slid into my panties, wanting his fingers deep within. I opened my legs to give him better access, desperate for him. When his fingers thrust into my pussy, I cried out, squeezing them tightly. Then I reached up, kissing and biting his neck as my need for him grew.
He sighed. “Crystal…”
I opened his pants and reached inside, just caressing his hard shaft at first. Then I grabbed hold of it.
“Tighter,” Giovanni whispered.
I complied. He moaned when I started to slide my hand over his long shaft. As I continued, he pulled my pants and panties off. Then his fingers moved more swiftly. I closed my eyes. His thumb stroked my clit as two other fingers curled inside to access my sweet spot, rubbing it relentlessly. It was almost maddening.
“How does it feel, my love? You’re so quiet.”
I didn’t realize I was silent. I was too lost in pleasure. “Giovanni… Oh… You’re like… the god… of… finger-fucking. That… feels… so incredible…” Then I cried out, “Oh God, Giovanni!” I bit his neck hard as my body trembled with such force, tears streamed down my cheeks.
“I can’t wait anymore.” Giovanni yanked his pants off and quickly got on top of me.
“Condom.”
He groaned. “Please. I want you to have my baby.”
“Not yet.”
He reluctantly reached out and opened his nightstand drawer to get one. Then when it was on, he sighed as he pushed his engorged cock into me. “Damn, you feel good.”
He moved his hips slowly, and I savored every bit of it. I was able to feel every inch of his cock as he gently drove into me while I brought my hips up to meet his. It was so different. I could feel his love as he kissed my mouth and neck along with his easy movements.
When he tilted his head back and gasped, I reached up and kissed his neck and throat. He continued at that pace for a long while. I liked it more than I thought I would. I felt so loved and connected to him. My eyes were closed, and I let out soft moans once in a while.
The newness of it seemed to wear off though. I had the need for more. I was dying to cum. It seemed only Chad was able to please me with slow strokes. Then I pushed him from my mind quickly.
“Giovanni, fuck me harder. Please!” When he didn’t respond right away, I lifted my hips faster and pushed hard.
He sighed and held my hips down with his. “I wanna make love, not fuck.”
“I’m not gonna cum, though.”
He closed his eyes and soon we were quickly moving as one. Within seconds, I pulled Giovanni’s hair and cried out, writhing beneath him in ecstasy. After that, his hips slammed into me over and over, his pace intense and fast. I was constantly moaning as I tried to keep up, but it wasn’t easy.
He suddenly pushed my hips down. “Stop. Let me do this.”
His perfect, rapid rhythm made me think of him pounding on his bass drums, double time. Bang, bang, bang, bang, hit after hit. It was masterful; so different from Chad. The beat he was creating with his hips sent me into a pleasure-filled frenzy, spurring multiple orgasms.
It didn’t take long for me to scream at the top of my lungs. “Giovanni, oh, God… Ah… Oh… I can’t take it!”
My whole body shook out of control. I screamed again, unable to stop the constant quivering within. I clutched him, digging my nails into his flesh while his pace forced the spasms to continue.
“Giovanni, please…” I begged him. “Oh God… Not again… No more… Please.” I was weakening with each powerful thrust.
“Almost, my love. I promise.” Just a few more strokes and he cried out, “Crystal… Damn… Oh!” Then he finally buried himself deep inside me. “Fuck!” he shouted as he came, his cock pulsating and throbbing intensely.
Then he dropped onto me, obviously as spent as I was. He didn’t pull away like he usually did. It didn’t seem like he could move.
“I love you,” he mumbled.
I stroked his hair. “I love you, too.”
It soon became apparent that he had fallen asleep. I played with his hair and caressed his back. It made me understand why he watched me sleep. He looked so handsome and peaceful.
Chapter 31
“Crystal, what am I supposed to wear to this thing?” Giovanni called to me from the doorway of the extra bedroom.
“Wear your suit,” I replied with a smirk.
He glared at me. “I only wear that for dead people.”
I laughed. “Let me think about it. OK?”
It was the second Monday of December. We were getting ready for a party at Jon’s house to celebrate the release of our CD. When Giovanni left the room, I took out the clothes I had bought, with Chris’s help, from the closet. I couldn’t let him go to the party in jeans. I put my dress on the bed, and then walked to his room with the rest. He was holding a T-shirt.
“Uh-uh, you ain’t wearing that tonight,” I scolded him.
He looked up at me. “You should’ve told me that before today. I got nothing else to wear, and you know it.” Then he looked at me strangely. “What’s that?”
“You’ll see.”
I put the shoebox on his bed and opened it. He smiled a little, obviously not hating the black loafers. Then I took the dark plastic off two black dress shirts and slacks.
“You really got that for me?” His grin widened. “No girl ever bought me clothes, especially ones I’d wear.”
I put one shirt against his chest. “You’re gonna look amazing tonight, even more so than usual.”
He hugged me. Right then, I was glad I took the time to pamper him. I have to remember to thank Chris again for helping me. I handed him the clothes and left him to change.
Giovanni came into the room as I was putting my shoes on and automatically zipped my dress. Then I lifted my hair so he could tie the black, halter-style dress’ straps.
When I turned around, he whistled. “Damn, girl, that dress is incredible. You look so hot.” Then he ran a hand up the rear seam of my thigh-high stockings. “Mmmm, nice touch; no wonder you don’t want me wearing jeans.”
I smiled; glad he reacted the way I expected. “I got it in your favorite color.”
“I see. Thanks
.” He kissed my lips gently. “I can just imagine how beautiful you’d look in a wedding dress.”
I laughed. “Yeah, imagine me in one of those.” Although I had dreamed of a white gown and a lot of fanfare, I didn’t think I was ready for it yet.
“I guess we’re not taking the bike today, huh?”
I smiled. “Why not? I can hike the dress up.”
“In December?”
“I got stockings on, and we’re not going far. Right?”
“No. Only you would ride on a motorcycle dressed to kill.” He shook his head. “Yet another reason why I love you.” Then he looked into my eyes, and a finger lifted my chin. “But it’s dangerous. You have to at least wear your boots for the ride, or you’ll get burned.”
Then I looked him over. The outfit fit him perfectly. I touched his collar and then the front of the shirt. “You look so handsome.” I ran my fingers through the hair in his ponytail. He had slicked his hair back nicely. “Don’t you let all the girls hit on you tonight. You’re mine.”
“I’ll always be yours. Forever,” he promised me. “No matter what happens.”
I wasn’t sure what he meant by that, but I was afraid to ask.
* * *
Jon’s house was huge and set on the top of a hill overlooking the river. There were so many cars in his long driveway that I got nervous. Jon had invited a lot of people. Giovanni seemed to be nervous as well. We walked into the house, hand in hand. After handing off our jackets, we followed the noise to the living room.
Tommy came right to us and kissed my cheek. “Holy shit! That dress is so hot.”
“That’s what I said,” Giovanni told him.
Tommy looked me up and down again. “Can we do that thing again tonight? No one’ll be upstairs.”
“Tonight it’s just me and her. Sorry, man.”
“How the hell did she get you to dress up?” Chad appeared behind Tommy. “Damn, baby! You look hotter than ever.” He kissed my cheek also.
Chris came to us as well. “They all like it. Don’t they?” he asked with a huge smile on his face.
“Hey guys, there’s a few people here I want you to meet,” Jon called to us from a few feet away. When we had followed him almost to the kitchen, he put his hand out. “You remember Wicked End, right?”
“Oh, yes.” My smile revealed how much I remembered from that night.
Jake, Brandon, Scott, Austin and Chico were standing close together. We had opened for a free show at a military training center that Gasoline had done with them. Before the show, Chad and I talked to most them while the other guys worked with Jon. Jake was the only one I had not met. After the concert, the party was crazy, but what happened later in the night was even better.
Chris’ eyes opened wide. “You guys are awesome.” They were his favorite band. The night we met them, he couldn’t say a word. It was the first time I saw him star-struck.
“Thanks.” Brandon offered his hand. “You guys are, too.”
We all shook hands. Chico was my favorite member, but Brandon winked at me. The night Giovanni and I spent with him and his friend Mackenzie was unforgettable. If I had the chance that night, I would have invited Chico to join the fun, but he was busy. We were all surprised by how it turned out.
Wicked End was a talented bunch. They were a heavy metal band who was big with the underground crowd before finally signing to a major label. They never faltered from their heavy guitars, deep bass and fast beat. They were a rare breed, not giving into the masses and softening their music.
“So, what do you let them do to you?” Jake came close to me and looked at the rest of my band. Then he lifted my chin. “I can give them a run for their money.”
Brandon grabbed Jake. “She’s not a piece of meat. She’s one of us.”
“She’s a chick.” Jake scowled at him.
Giovanni put his arm around my shoulders. “Yeah, and she’s my chick, dude.” He grinned at Brandon.
“So there is inbreeding.” Jake smirked. “Just what I thought with all those naked pictures you guys shot for the CD.”
Scott frowned. “You’re such a dick, man.”
“He’ll learn one day,” Austin added.
Chico laughed. “No, he won’t.”
“Wicked End’ll be on the tour, also,” Jon interrupted. “Their summer tour ended in October. They’re on the road a lot.”
“Yeah,” Austin whined. “When we gonna take a vacation?”
Scott rolled his eyes. “We were home for two months.”
“How about we go to Florida and see Tink again?” Jake made a growling sound, and his eyebrows went up and down. “I’d like to get my—”
Brandon shoved him. “Fuck off, man! No way!”
I backed away from them, worried it would turn into a fistfight.
“Come on. We got more people to meet,” Jon insisted, and we again let him lead the way. “I’m trying to get Silverblade on the tour, too, but they’re still looking for a bassist.”
Silverblade had almost met a tragic end when their bassist, Troy died. They had refused to make music again until his wife encouraged them to move on to honor him. Shane, their lead singer, had turned down every bassist available so far. If I weren't already in a band, I’d audition.
After we had met a few more bands going on tour with us, Chad and I got our jackets, and then walked down the driveway. I almost picked up his hand, but I stopped myself in time. When we were alone, he took my hands in his.
“Baby.” He sounded upset. “You look so beautiful tonight. What made you buy this amazing dress?”
I smiled. “This is a big deal. Our dreams are coming true, mine and yours. I had to dress for it.”
“You look like an angel, you know.” He had tears forming.
I wished I could read his mind. All I felt was pain emanating from him. It was stronger than ever. I reached up and touched his cheek. “I love you, Chad. I always will.”
“I know, but you’re not in love with me.” He lifted up my hand and kissed it. “I just miss you, my baby girl.”
I looked up at him. “But you see me all the time.”
“You know what I mean. I lost you, and it hurts so bad.” He turned away from me. “I don’t know if I can take it.”
I moved so I could see him. His tears had started to fall. “Please believe me, if I could change how I felt about both of you, I would. I hate doing this to you.”
He hugged me. “I was really hoping you were pregnant, you know. Then we’d be connected by our kid, too. When you told me you weren’t, I drank a whole bottle of Jack and tried to fuck a chick Chris wanted me to hang out with. But I couldn’t even get it up. You have my heart and my balls, baby.”
“I’m sorry.” I pulled him down and kissed his lips. Then I put my hands around his face. “Maybe on the tour, Giovanni will change his mind about letting you join us for a night. Would that make you feel better?”
“I don’t know.”
He held me as I thought about the ways he tried to get over me. He had started drinking more and got into a few video games. The worst, though, was his obsession with a porn star that looked so much like me it was scary. He carried his laptop around and snuck off to masturbate to her whenever he walked in on Giovanni and I kissing. At least buying his house distracted him somewhat.
Suddenly, Giovanni called to us, “Hey, Jon wants us to meet someone else.” Then Chad wiped his tears away, and we went back to the party.
* * *
After a few hours, Jon gathered everyone together in the living room. He pulled the four of us very near to him while glasses of champagne went around the room.
Jon got up on a chair. “Hey, I want everyone’s attention.” He waited for quiet, and then continued, “I invited you all here to meet my newest success, Triple Threat. Their CD, Trapped in the Middle, hits stores tomorrow, and I have faith it’s going to be a huge success. The title track hit the top five on the first day and was the number one download within a week.
The video is so popular, it might win an award next year. Besides that, “Leatherneck” is on the soundtrack of the next Call of Duty game. How’s that for a debut CD?”
He waited again as everyone clapped. Then he added, “I want to wish them all the luck in the world. But don’t drink yet.”
Suddenly, Giovanni got down on one knee, with a small box in his hand. “Crystal, for just about two years, I’ve been head over heels in love with you. I wanna be with you forever. Will you marry me?”
My hand flew to my mouth as I stared at the diamond ring, shocked. Everyone was watching me, but I wasn’t sure I was ready. Then I surprised even myself when I shouted, “Yes!”
He put the ring on my finger, and then stood up and kissed me. “I love you.”
“To Triple Threat’s success and Crystal and Giovanni’s future!” Jon shouted.
Everyone cheered and raised their glasses to us.
I started to cry, overwhelmed. “I love you, too.”
I looked at the ring. Giovanni had busted his ass for it. I had spent a lot of time with Chris while he did “emergency” jobs. It finally made sense why he was working more often.
Chad gave me a short hug when Giovanni let me go. “He asked me if it was all right first, so don’t worry. I’m happy you’re happy, my baby girl.”
The look of sadness in his eyes was unmistakable. I understood what our little talk was about. He knew about the proposal. I felt his pain in my heart again, as I always did, and longed to see the sparkle in his eyes one more time. He couldn’t even fake a smile.
I wanted to tell him he’d get over me. That he would find someone else one day. But how could I do that when I couldn’t stand to see him with someone else? I still wanted to fix his broken heart. The only way I knew how was to be with him. I wished there was a way to be with them both.
While he walked away, he looked back at me and tears were falling. I almost let Giovanni go and ran to him, but forced myself not to. A few tears of my own fell as his pain overwhelmed me. He left, not saying a word to anyone.
Rubbed Raw (Triple Threat Book 2) Page 29