‘I need help Tori, I can’t close my suitcase,’ she cries, standing in her bathrobe, her hair still wet.
‘Don’t worry. Leave it to me,’ I say automatically.
A real struggle ensues, but I overpower her suitcase by sitting on it and pressing down the edges and getting Britney to push down on the locks. She claps her hands in appreciation.
‘Come on, Brit. Dry your hair and get dressed,’ I urge.
‘Yes, mam,’ she says cheekily.
Just as she switches on the hairdryer, the doorbell chimes. I run to the window and see the car parked on the street below.
‘Victor is already outside,’ I shout over the sound of the hairdryer.
‘Your ride’s here. Are you girls ready?’ Cora yells from the bottom of the stairs.
I quickly run to the top of the stairs and scream, ‘Coming,’ and return to rush Britney along. Finally, after her hair is dried and she has flung on some casual clothes, she stands over her suitcase moaning that the case is too heavy to carry. I have a go and even I can barely shift it.
I tell her to wait in the bedroom whilst I quickly take my stuff downstairs to the car and ask the driver if he’d mind carrying Britney’s suitcase from upstairs as it’s too heavy for us. Immediately Victor leaves his seat and goes upstairs.
‘Have a lovely time, won’t you?’ Cora says to me.
‘I’m sure I will,’ I reply as Britney comes down with the driver who looks like he totally underestimated the weight of the case as his face is beetroot red and he’s breathing rather heavily.
‘Thank you so much,’ Britney says as he opens the boot.
I offer to help but, being a man, he refuses and manfully manages on the second clean lift to get it to his chest and into the boot. I wave bye to Cora who’s standing at the door, arms folded and smiling. Britney has already taken her seat inside as the driver goes to the front and I jump in the rear next to Britney.
‘I hope I haven’t forgotten anything?’ she says in a questioning voice.
‘So what if you did?’ I say, turning to her. ‘That would only make our trip into an adventure,’ I say with a grin.
She wrinkles her nose. ‘An adventure? How quaint, but yes, I suppose it could be an adventure.’ She touches my arm. ‘I’m really glad you’re not jaded, Tori. Everybody I know would have made a point of pretending how tedious it all was, but you, you just see everything as if it is an exciting gift.’
‘To be honest I still can’t believe I’m going to Milan on a private jet,’ I say excitedly.
‘Oh, you’ll enjoy it, Tori, it’s really quite the biz. I’ve flown a few times with Cash on his jet and flying commercial simply doesn’t come close after you’ve flown private,’ she says, her voice animated and cheerful.
I grin happily at her. It is wonderful to see how much she has changed, from spoilt and childish to this happy, joyful young lady.
An hour later we arrive at Docklands city airport and our driver pulls up alongside a gleaming silver Embraer Legacy 500 private jet with its door open, a smiling air hostess standing in it. Just like in the movies.
Britney giggles when she sees my gobsmacked reaction. ‘It’s just a plane Tori.’
‘Just a plane?’ I exclaim as Victor opens her door.
‘Close your mouth,’ she says and yanks me out after her.
A man takes our bags and Britney runs up the steps pulling me along as a gust of wind almost blows me off the last one. Inside we are welcomed and shown into the sumptuous cabin. I drop my body into the plush seat and it’s like falling into a luxurious bed. Britney has taken the seat opposite me and she’s laughing at the dazed shock on my face. I laugh at her and then the star treatment starts. Hot towels, followed by pink champagne and a platter of delicious canapés.
‘My God, Britney your brother is a gem. This is just so awesome.’
Britney raises her glass. ‘To us having a fabulous time.’
We clink glasses. ‘To a fabulous time,’ I echo.
‘Yay,’ she yells happily. ‘We’re going to have a brilliant time. I just know it.
I take a sip of the chilled bubbly and lie back. ‘Mmmm.’
Soon the champagne and the fantastic service put me in a relaxed mood. Brit is playing Candy Crush on her mobile and I close my eyes and let my mind wander away to Cash and wonder what he’s doing now. The next thing I know Britney is shaking me enthusiastically. ‘We’re here Tori! We’re here!’
‘What?’ I ask, confused.
‘Look out, we’re above Milan,’ she says.
I pull back my shutter and the bright sunlight temporarily stuns me before I see that she is right, we are just over Milan.
‘It looks amazing,’ I say as the pilot announces that we’re preparing to descend. Britney reaches over for my hand and holds it tightly in hers. A few minutes later, touchdown. Milano.
Tori
As we are about to disembark, one of the cabin crew comes to talk to us. ‘You have had a message from Mrs. Knowles, Mr. Hunter’s secretary, to let you know that she has arranged for a driver who speaks English. He’ll take you wherever you want to go and will wait for you. Please don’t go anywhere without him.’
‘Cool,’ I say.
We thank the rest of the crew as we exit the plane and step into the glorious sunshine. Even though it is only eleven in the morning it’s already very hot. Our passports are checked then we walk to a black Mercedes idling on the tarmac.
‘Welcome to Milano,’ the driver says as we reach the car. ‘I am Fabio and I will look after you during your stay here.’
‘Ciao, Fabio,’ Britney greets cheerily and slips elegantly into the door he holds open for her. I get in on the other side. He walks over to the front, gets in, and turns around to pass us both cards with his cell number. ‘Telephone me when you wish to go anywhere or if you need me, Signorine,’ he says.
We murmur our thanks, and he puts the car into motion. It’s only then I hear my phone ping and eagerly retrieve it from my bag. My heart races as I read the text.
Hey Wildcat. Been thinking about u nonfuckingstop. My dick’s going wild & I’m feeling cocky. So consider yourself warned. Buy something dead sexy for tonight. C u later. x
Britney sees the wide smile on my face and turns to me with an inquiring look. ‘Someone’s made you happy,’ she says.
‘Yeah,’ I say.
Barely able to contain my happiness, I lie back and watch the sun-drenched countryside pass us by. An hour later we turn into the fabulous pillars that straddle the entrance of the Hotel Principe di Savoia.
‘Wow, it’s breathtaking,’ I gush.
‘I know and I can’t wait to see our rooms.’
The driver drops us off at the main entrance and we go inside the massive foyer with its fabulous centerpiece waterfall. At the reception desk we are welcomed by a sultry Italian brunette and told that we have a suite on the top floor. She also passes a white envelope with both Britney’s and my name on it.
‘OMG! It’ll be so much fun, we have our own suite together,’ Britney squeals as I open the envelope.
‘What’s in the envelope?’ she asks.
‘Our stage passes and … a letter,’ I reply.
‘What does it say?’ she asks peering over my shoulder and reading the letter.
‘For a few seconds there is silence as we read the letter, then Britney is doing a happy dance right there in the posh foyer that positively smells of big money.
‘Ha, ha, ha, I can’t believe it. Cash asked Mrs. Knowles to open accounts for us in Fendi, Prada, Moschino, Gucci and Versace. We can buy whatever we want to,’ she sings.
‘Mrs. Knowles is really efficient,’ I say in a hushed voice. I’ve never been so spoilt in all my life.
‘Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant we’re all organized,’ Britney says as a bellboy approaches us and takes us to the top floor. Our suite is a to-die-for mixture of classical elegance and modern contemporary. Britney claims the bedroom overlooking the str
eet and I take the one overlooking the garden and pool. The bathrooms are stunning with pink marble and Jacuzzi whirlpool baths. I throw myself on the bed and think of Cash. I can’t wait to see him later.
‘What do you want to do now, Brit?’ I shout across the room. ‘We have six hours before we need to leave for the stadium.’
‘Shopping obviously,’ she says appearing at my doorway. ‘What else is there to do in Milan? We’ll hit the shops on Mrs. Knowles’ list.’
I call the driver and we find ourselves in the Quadrilatero d'Oro (Rectangle of Gold). We visit so many shops that I lose count. For the most part I stare in awe at the beauty, the design brilliance, and the incredible choice I see on display in Milan. Bright colors, classic lines.
Britney buys a striped trouser outfit at Fendi and a really cute dress at Moschino. She also finds a luscious snakeskin bag at Gucci and a pair of boots at Prada. I find the perfect buy in Versace. A leopard print, tight, velvet mini-dress with a high collar. The sales assistant, a gay man with very beautiful eyes, then suggests a pair of shoes that I would never have thought of wearing with my print dress. A black Medusa tri-strap platform. I put them on and stand.
‘Very sexy,’ he says in his thick Italian accent.
‘They’re perfect. Get them,’ Britney says very firmly.
I walk up and down the shop. He wants wild cat. He’s got wild cat.
‘Okay,’ I say.
It is nearly two o’clock and we are very hungry so we stop for lunch at Caffè Baglioni across the street. Between us we polish off plates of eggs and truffle, steak tartare, smoked salmon, and wash it all down with a bottle of champagne.
We arrive back at the hotel quite merry, a teeny bit tipsy, and with about two hours to go before we leave for the stadium. Already the adrenaline is flowing in my blood. I can’t wait to see Cash. It’s as if we haven’t been parted for just a few hours, but weeks.
Britney is in her room with the music at dance level decibels and is busy trying on various outfits for later, so I decide to avail myself of the Jacuzzi. I lie back and close my eyes. As the lovely sensation of jets of water gently blast my body, an image of Cash the first time he cheekily came into my bathroom with his mouthwatering wares on display comes into my head.
I remember his manly smell, his tanned muscular torso, his large hands as they spread my legs, and instantly my body starts aching for his brand of pleasure. My hands move of their own accord and start squeezing my breasts and caressing my nipples, anticipating how it will feel to be taken and fucked hard by Cash again.
It seems an impossible dream that I will stand in the audience watching the hero of so many of my teenage wet dreams, and I will not scream or cry his name, but will go home with the real thing, Cash Hunter.
I stand in front of the mirror, my hair loose and shining down my back, my eyes alive with excitement, my skin pink with all the blood rushing madly around my body, and with only one way to describe my dress: sexy, sexy, sexy.
I just hope to God that Cash doesn’t think it’s too slutty.
I go into Britney’s room. She is zipping herself up into a long sleeved shift dress with an A-line skirt, complete with black lace trim. I sit on the bed and tell her she looks amazing, but she takes it off and tries on two more outfits before I look at my watch pointedly, telling her if she carries on in this way much longer we will miss the concert.
‘Right. Be a devil and open the champagne bottle and I promise I’ll be ready in fifteen minutes.’
I open the bottle that has been sitting on ice since we came in and grab two glasses, then return to her room. I pour the champagne and offer her a glass.
‘To a fabulous time tonight,’ Britney says.
‘To a fabulous time,’ I toast.
‘I’m so happy I am with you, Tori,’ Britney giggles.
‘And I’m so happy, Britney, to see you happy,’ I say. I almost can’t believe how the girl is changing. I barely recognize this good-hearted, warm girl.
Fifteen minutes later she is all dolled up to the nines in the black and pink Moschino dress we bought earlier and we’re ready to roll.
I call Fabio who says he’s already downstairs.
She jumps to her feet. ‘Will I do?’ she asks doing a quick and slightly unsteady twirl.
‘I’ll have a hard time keeping the guys away from you tonight,’ I tell her.
‘Don’t you bloody dare,’ she warns and bursts out laughing.
We leave the suite and go downstairs. In the foyer a group of young Italian guys blow kisses and call out, ‘Bella, bella.’
We smile and keep moving. Fabio is right outside the entrance, smoking a cigarette, looking cool and relaxed.
‘Mediolanum Forum, Assago?’ he asks.
‘Si,’ I confirm.
As we exit the hotel’s forecourt, I realize that I can barely wait to get there, but I dampen my enthusiasm next to Britney.
‘Vaffanculo,’ Fabio yells furiously as he slams on the brakes.
Both Britney and I jump and brace ourselves on the seats in front of us.
He meets our eyes in the rear view mirror. ‘Sorry. Every time big concert, very bad traffic,’ he says.
‘Will we make it in time?’ Britney asks in a panicked voice.
‘Don’t worry, Signorina. I know all the side roads. We beat the other cars.’
Tori
In the end it takes only half an hour before we are driving along a tree lined boulevard and catch sight of huge billboards advertising Alkaline on either side of the road. The band looks fabulous in the billboard photo, but my eyes are drawn to the larger-than-life image of Cash. He looks awesome. Fabio avoids the huge crowd that’s queued as far as my eyes can see and drops us off at the VIP entrance.
We show our VIP passes to two burly security guards.
‘You’re with the band?’ one of the men asks.
Britney cuts in before I can answer. ‘Where are the dressing rooms for the band? My brother’s the lead singer.’
‘The dressing rooms are on the other side of the Arena,’ the guy says with a shrug. ‘We’re on the South section and they are on the North.’
Both of us look at each other in dismay. After what seems an awfully long way we finally reach the North side. We then have to climb a large flight of steps up another floor. My heart beats as hard from exhaustion as it is from the thought of seeing Cash.
At the top of the stairs more security awaits us and more showing of our passes. It’s an absolute hub of activity now with people running around speaking into walkie-talkies. We stop outside a door that says: Band Dressing Room - Private - Do Not Enter. On a cardboard underneath the sign it reads: Cash Hunter. I feel my breath hitch suddenly and I tug at the hem of my tight dress. Britney raps on the door and shouts, ‘Are you decent? We’re coming in.’
Cash calls, ‘Come in,’ and Britney turns the handle.
Inside, Cash and Gavin are shirtless and sitting on chairs next to each other strumming their guitars. A number of empty beer bottles stand on the floor. They both look up and their eyes run down my body in my very revealing dress.
‘Hey,’ Cash says, smiling slowly.
‘Hey,’ Gavin echoes.
Cash puts his guitar down and stands up. Strangely Brittany doesn’t run to him or throw herself at him. Instead, she bites her lip and says, ‘Sorry, I didn’t realize you weren’t alone.’
‘As if that’s ever stopped you before,’ Cash says, and beckons her with his hand. She goes to him and formally presses her lips against his cheek.
‘What’s come over you? Have you finally grown up?’ he asks, surprised and amused by the restraint she is showing.
‘Stop embarrassing me,’ she hisses.
Cash flashes me a wickedly sexy smile and I suddenly feel very awkward with both Britany and Gavin around. I don’t want either of them to sense anything, but every primal instinct screams to me to run to him and jump into his arms.
‘Want a beer, Tori?’ he offers, his ey
es alive with sexual lust.
‘No thanks. We drank the champagne that was in the suite. It said compliments of the house,’ I say.
He laughs.
Gavin turns towards Britney. ‘How was your trip and hotel?’ he asks conversationally.
‘Everything was perfect,’ she says.
‘That’s great.’
‘And for you, Tori?’ Cash asks softly.
‘I’ve never been so spoilt in my life,’ I reply truthfully.
‘Yeah?’
I look deep into his eyes. Sexual chemistry throbs between us. ‘Yeah.’
‘Where are the rest of the band?’ Britney asks.
‘In their dressing rooms further along,’ Gavin replies.
‘And when do you go on stage?’
Cash drops his eyes to his watch and shrugs his shoulder. ‘Less than forty-five minutes.’
He fixes his green eyes on me again and comes across the room, and with his hands in the front pockets of his jeans, leans his muscular frame against the wall. What a gorgeous hunk he is. He is so close I smell his skin. ‘First time you’ll be seeing me perform live, eh? Are you excited?’
I feel my face blush at the lie I am living. I will tell him the truth. Soon. ‘Very,’ I reply as coolly as possible.
‘How are you feeling?’ I ask, shifting the focus.
He grins and leans a little forward. ‘Fantastic. Bring on the bright lights.’
‘No nerves?’ I ask, my skin tingling with his nearness.
‘We drank those away earlier,’ Gavin says.
My eyes move to the empty bottles. He doesn’t seem drunk, but there is a kind of tension in him.
‘Anyhow, you girls have a great front row seat with your own balcony right above the stage. Sean, my roadie, will take you there just before we come on,’ he says as he walks back to his chair.
There is a rap on the door and then Octavia walks in. She takes in the scene in a glance and her mouth tightens. Cash casually reaches for his guitar and strums some chords.
‘Let’s move it guys. It’s time for your make-up and wardrobe check. You’re on in thirty minutes.’ She turns to Gavin. ‘Gav, isn’t it time you were back in your own dressing room?’ Her stern voice turns the chilled, sexually charged atmosphere, into one of turbulence and activity. A girl carrying two black make-up cases walks quickly into the room and starts opening them.
Kissing Booth Page 49