by Opal Carew
But she’d known from the beginning that it wouldn’t last. The very first time they’d been together, he’d told her he wanted a no-strings relationship. And why wouldn’t he? The man could snap his fingers and women would come running. They’d even pull up their tops and expose their luscious breasts to him.
She had.
Even though he’d changed his tune and wanted to be exclusive, that didn’t necessarily mean long-term commitment.
But maybe she could mend things between them. Her heart ached with missing him. She picked up the phone. If she just talked to him …
She stared at the receiver. But what would she say? If he demanded she leave the tour and come home, would she do it?
She shook her head. She couldn’t do that. This was important to her.
So she should call Storm and confirm that it was over between them.
Unless it wasn’t.
Damn, she felt like hammering the phone on the bedside table. She didn’t know what to do.
Maybe she should call Jessica. Ask her advice. But she couldn’t tell Jessica that she wanted to know if it was over with Storm so she could move on … to Jessica’s brother. Anyway, Jessica would tell her to make it work with Storm.
She could call Sue, but Sue would just tell her to ditch Storm and go with the two hot guys on hand.
It’s funny that she knew what everyone else would tell her to do, but she didn’t know herself.
She sighed and put down the phone. In her gut, she knew she shouldn’t be the first one to break the silence between her and Storm. He’d had no right to order her around. And he’d only done that because he didn’t trust her, and that hurt.
A little guilt washed through her, because she really was tempted by Travis, and Diego, and she’d let them kiss her, but the joking way they’d done it …
Damn, she still felt guilty. Probably because she’d wanted so much to drag them in here and let them have their way with her.
But she hadn’t.
And now she was suffering for it. Aching for the touch of a man.
She sighed and turned off the light, then pulled the covers around her. The sexual buzz humming through her made it hard to relax, or to forget about the fact that there were two hot guys ready and willing to relieve her ache at a mere word from her. She sucked in a breath and closed her eyes.
The phone rang. Melanie opened her eyes and reached for the receiver before it made that blaring sound again.
“Hello?” Her voice was hoarse from sleep and she realized she must have dozed off.
“Melanie, where are you?”
Storm’s voice. The familiarity and warmth of it rippled through her.
“I’m in bed.”
“Alone?”
She glanced around uncertainly, gathering her senses.
Then anger flared through her and she slammed the receiver down.
A few moments later, the phone rang again. She stared at it, fuming, but finally picked it up.
“Melanie, please don’t hang up. I’m sorry. I’m being an idiot.”
She pushed herself to a sitting position. “That’s true.”
“What I really meant to ask you is … are you somewhere we can talk?”
She wiped her bleary eyes. “Yes, we can talk.”
“I didn’t want to leave things the way they were. After you told me you were going … we never talked again.”
She nodded and slumped back against the pillows. Where did she begin?
“Well, I want to travel with the band. Learn more about myself and what I want.” She gripped the phone tightly. “I hope you can come to terms with that.”
“If you come back here, we could figure it out together.”
She gripped the phone tighter. “Or you could join us on tour. I already told you I know the guys would love to have you back in the band.”
“And I already told you why I can’t do that.” His words were strung tight. “Staying here and supporting Dane in building Ranier Industries is important. Forging a relationship with my brother is important.”
She steeled herself. “Well, this is important to me. And it’s good for me. I’ve always stayed in a safe, secure little world as my parents trained me to do. With this, I don’t know where I’ll be after the tour, where I’ll earn my income. And the guys are finding ways to help me to connect with other artists. Diego told me about an event in Savannah where a lot of artists are meeting up and he suggested I make connections and discuss how they’re making a career with their art.” She coiled her finger in the spiral telephone cord. “You know what it’s like to want that kind of freedom. You sought it yourself. Please, Storm, I want you to support me in this.”
“But, damn it, Melanie. I want you here with me.”
And she wanted to be with him, but if he really understood, he would be there for her when she returned. She also knew that part of this aching need to return to Philly wasn’t just to save the relationship, but a need to run away from this new challenge she was pushing herself to pursue. She wanted to return to a place where she felt safe and secure.
“Well, that’s not going to happen.”
She hesitated, knowing she had another challenge right now. She had to ask the hard question. She didn’t want to, but it would be better to know the answer rather than be left guessing. Memories of Travis’ insistent, commanding mouth on hers washed through her. Or turning down opportunities to move on out of ignorance.
She steeled herself. “So does this mean you and I are over?”
There was a long silence on the other end. Then Storm asked, “Is it what you want?”
Tears welled in her eyes. “No, of course not. I want to do this, but I hope … I want you and me to have a future.”
“You say that now, but with you there … spending so much time with Travis … Given enough time, I’m sure he’ll eventually steal you away.”
Her back stiffened. “You don’t have a lot of faith in me.”
“No, it’s not that but … he’s tenacious when it comes to stealing women from me. If he turns on the charm full blast … Damn it, Melanie, can you really tell me you are not attracted to him at all?”
She drew in a deep breath, remembering the devastatingly sexy kiss she’d shared with Travis less than an hour ago.
“I don’t just fall into bed with someone because I’m attracted to them. Not if I’m in a relationship with someone else.”
“So you are attracted to him.”
She sighed. Obviously, that’s all he’d gotten from what she’d said.
“Storm, do you really think I’d let Travis steal me away to punish you for hurting his sister?”
“Fuck!”
She could just imagine him raking his fingers through his wavy hair.
“All I can say is …” Storm began, “if he steals you from me, he really will be punishing me. He’ll hurt me every bit as much as I hurt Jessica when I left.” Pain filled his words. “More. Melanie, I don’t want to lose you.”
His heartfelt words reached into her and plucked at her heart.
“Okay, then trust me,” she murmured. “It’s you I want to be with.”
***
When Melanie finally hung up the phone, she felt much better. Storm wasn’t happy that she was traveling with the band, but he seemed to understand. And he seemed willing to wait for her.
Right now, lying in bed alone, she wished he wasn’t so far away. She ached for him. She wanted his arms around her. She wanted to feel his touch.
After tossing and turning for a half hour, she finally got out of bed and went to the desk, then pulled out her pencil and an ATC. An hour later, she tossed two more cards into the desk drawer, both drawings of Storm. Big, sexy, handsome Storm. Totally naked. Yeah, these ones would have to be part of her private collection.
Morning came too soon. She glared at the numbers on the clock. Then she pushed the covers back and trundled to the shower.
Over the next few days, Diego asked h
er about her ATCs, reminding her of the artist trading card swap meet in Savannah. She didn’t want to admit that she’d only been drawing pictures of Storm, most of them X-rated, so once she finished breakfast, she pulled out one of the cards and sketched Diego over coffee. The next morning, she drew a picture of Travis. She started sketching the band members on the bus on the way to Raleigh, North Carolina. After setting up for the show, she would sketch the guys while they rehearsed. She’d intended to sketch fantasy characters, which she loved doing, but the allure of the sexy musicians was too much.
But at night, in her room, she only sketched Storm. She seemed obsessed with doing it. And finally she decided it was okay to just give in to the obsession. It helped her feel closer to him, as if a part of him was there with her. And with all the practice, her technique seemed to be getting better.
The last night in Raleigh, she was working on a sketch while the band played. A woman who came to the table to buy a CD noticed her sketch and asked to buy it. Melanie was going to refuse, then realized this was exactly what she wanted. To sell her art. Another woman saw it and asked if she had any more. Melanie brought out her stack of sketches—the G-rated ones—and they were snapped up by the starry-eyed women who were so totally taken by the sexy band members. She laughed to herself when she imagined how they’d react to her sketches of Storm au natural. She could probably make a fortune.
After the show, they all went to a local pub. Jimmy and Dan played some darts with a couple of women and soon disappeared. Travis asked her questions about her art and smiled at her enthusiastic responses. An hour or two faded by as she and Travis and Diego talked and she couldn’t help feeling close to them given the warm interest they showed in her and her art.
Finally, they headed back to the hotel, walking along the quiet streets in the warmth of the summer evening. As they strolled along, chatting and laughing, it almost felt like a date. Except she was with two men. Two hot, hunky men who played in a rock band. And who, right now, seemed to find her the most fascinating woman on the planet.
They reached the hotel and Diego held the door open for her. They stepped onto the elevator and rode it up in silence, Melanie intensely aware of their big, masculine bodies so close in the confined space. The doors whooshed open and she stepped out.
“You know, speaking of artwork, I’d still really like to see that tattoo you designed,” Travis said as they walked down the hall toward her room.
“Is that so?” she said, arching her eyebrow.
“Absolutely.” His gaze dropped to her breast and the nipple hardened under his not-so-subtle scrutiny.
She reached into her jeans pocket for her keycard. “I don’t think it’s the tattoo you want to see.”
He gazed at her, his blue-green eyes simmering. “I know you’re a talented artist and I really would like to see it.”
Heat washed through her. “Well, I guess I can show you if you’d really like,” she said, feeling a little wicked.
Travis’ smile widened, then he gazed at Diego, who grinned.
“What about me?” Diego asked.
She’d almost forgotten he was there.
“Sure. You can both see it if you want.” She smiled, knowing she shouldn’t be so mischievous.
She reached her door and slipped her keycard into the slot. “Want to come in?”
“Fuck, yeah,” Travis replied with a broad smile.
She pushed open the door and led them inside, then unzipped her leather jacket and slipped it off slowly. As she was draping it over the back of a chair, both men gazed at her with twinkling eyes, focused on her chest. She felt a little guilty toying with them like this, but she knew she’d never hear the end of their request to see her tattoo. And she had to admit it was fun.
She smiled, her fingers teasing the bottom of her black camisole top. The men almost seemed to hold their breath. Then she turned and walked to the mini fridge and pulled out a bottle of water she’d stashed in there earlier that day.
“Would you like some water? I only have one cold one, but one of you could grab some ice.”
“No,” they both almost barked at the same time.
Diego smiled. “We’d just like to see the tattoo.”
She laughed and took a sip of her water, then she put it down and walked to the desk. She grabbed her sketchbook and opened it, then flipped through. When she found the right page, she held it in front of her, over her tattooed breast, and turned around.
“This is it.”
The men stared at her, then at the picture of the bird.
To their credit, they did their best not to look totally disappointed, but they failed miserably.
“You didn’t really think I was going to whip out my breast, did you?”
Diego shrugged. “A guy could hope.”
Her lips curved up in a half grin. “Come on, guys. You’ve know that I’m with Storm and being on the road hasn’t changed that.”
Travis stepped closer, a gleam in his eyes. “But Storm’s a long way away.”
She frowned. “But that doesn’t mean I should cheat on him.”
“Who said anything about cheating? My point is that if you’re here, and he’s back there doing whatever it is he considers more important, then maybe you two aren’t meant to be together.” He stepped close and glided his hands along her bare arms, sending tremors through her. “If you weren’t attached to Storm …” A devilish smile crossed his lips. “Diego and I could show you some things that you’d never forget.” He stepped closer, his face mere inches from hers. “We could bring to life fantasies you never even knew you had, but will wonder how you ever lived without.”
Desire shot through her and her pulse pounded with the heat of the images he evoked. Like her sandwiched between the two men, their bodies in intimate contact. Travis’ strong arms around her. Their hard cocks inside her.
She sucked in a breath, needing air desperately. Then Travis’ mouth dropped to hers and his tongue glided into her mouth. Without thinking, she melted against him. She could feel his hard cock pressing against her belly.
Oh, God, she shouldn’t be doing this.
The phone rang and she jerked back with a small gasp, then raced to the bedside table and snatched up the phone.
“Hello?” she said.
“Melanie, it’s Storm. What’s wrong? You sound out of breath.”
“Oh, nothing.” Her gaze slipped to Travis and Diego, her cheeks hot. “I … just got in and had to race to the phone.” Well, it was mostly true.
Diego grabbed Travis’ arm and nodded toward the door. Travis gave her a long, hard look, then finally turned and followed Diego. When the door closed quietly behind them, she felt some of the tension drain from her.
“Are you sure there’s nothing wrong?” Storm asked. “You seem distracted.”
She sat down on the bed, stroking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “To tell you the truth, Diego and Travis were here. They just left.”
“They were in your room?”
Her fingers tightened around the receiver. “Yes …”
She felt a surge of guilt at what had just happened, and wondered if she should tell him.
No, not now.
He’d freak out and torture himself for the rest of the tour. She would just have to make sure it never happened again. She could admit her mistake after she got home, but in the meantime, she didn’t want to create any more strain between them.
“They wanted to see my tattoo.”
“And you showed it to them?” he asked in a tight voice.
“Yes.” She paused, waiting to see if he would blow up. When he said nothing, she continued. “I have a picture of it in my sketchbook.”
To her total surprise, he chuckled. “I bet they were pretty disappointed when you whipped out your sketchbook instead of your breast.”
She couldn’t help laughing, too. Especially since he’d phrased it the same way she had.
“I’m glad you’re being so calm ab
out it.”
“Calm might not be quite the right word, but I know I have to trust you, or this won’t work.”
She smiled. “Good. I’m glad.” She leaned back against the pillow and stroked her hand over her breast. “So, speaking of my tattoo …”
“Yes?”
“I’m touching it right now.”
“Really?”
“Well, my top’s in the way, but I could take it off.”
“Definitely take it off,” he said, his deep voice rumbling over the phone line.
“I think you should take off your shirt, too.”
“That’s a little inappropriate, since I’m in the office.”
She smiled. “But having phone sex isn’t?”
“If someone walks in on me talking on the phone, that’s one thing, but if I’m sitting at my desk naked …”
“Naked, at your desk. I like that image.”
“So what are you doing about it?”
She pulled off her top and tossed it aside, then drew the lace cup down and outlined the tattoo with her fingertip.
“I’ve taken off my top and I’m touching the tattoo now.”
“Have you taken off your bra?”
“No, I’ve pushed the cup down. Do you want me to take it off?”
“Oh, yeah.”
She laughed and put down the phone while she reached behind and unfastened her bra, then tossed it aside. She wiggled out of her jeans before she picked up the phone again. “I’m practically naked now. I’m just wearing a tiny pair of panties.”
“Damn. I wish I could see you. We could Skype?” he suggested hopefully.
She glanced at her laptop on the desk, yearning to see Storm’s naked body, too. “I don’t have it installed right now,” she said with regret. “Oh, but just a second.”
She grabbed her phone and took a picture of herself, her hand cupped under the tattooed breast, then she e-mailed it to him. “I just sent you something.”
She heard the click of keys, then he whistled.
“God damn, you’re beautiful. You’ve got me so hard.”