by K E Osborn
Why does liking someone have to be so complicated?
My brother is his best friend but doesn’t want me to date him. My friend and father of my child hates him and is constantly comparing his cock size to Brax’s. And then Brax is making it difficult by not sleeping next to me.
Why can’t my relationship with Brax be simple?
After spending the day with Hunter and Charli, I’m now on the bus sitting down ready to head to the next hotel. Brax is sitting next to me smiling happily as he chats about Charli looking even cuter today than ever. I giggle as Mase steps up onto the bus. Looking up at him as he spots me, I tense up immediately. Brax notices and looks from me to Mase, as Mase swallows hard and looks away tensing his jaw. I exhale and Brax looks back at me and raises an eyebrow as Mase continues to walk past us, down the aisle and toward the back of the bus. Trying to hide my discomfort, I nuzzle into Charli but Brax notices and he squishes his eyebrows and tilts his head.
“What’s that about?”
“No, nothing,” I say a little too quickly and defensively.
Brax tenses looking back down the bus at Mase and then back to me. “Amber, talk to me.”
I exhale and look at Brax biting my bottom lip. He’s not going to like this. “Okay, but don’t go off.”
He furrows his brows and purses his lips together shifting closer to me. “You have me worried now. What the hell is going on?”
I slump into the chair almost as if to hide myself from Mase’s view. I don’t want him to know I’m about to tell on him. “In the early hours of this morning, Mason came to my room after a party. He was drunk and wanted to see Charli and me.”
Brax tenses and his eyes squint like he’s already annoyed with where this is heading. “Okay.”
“Well, he was a little out of it and wanted to come in. He tried to kiss me—”
“What?” Brax shouts, aggravation evident in his voice while he glares at me.
My heart starts to race as the redness spreading over Brax’s face is alarming me. “He got a little handsy, but Hunter was there to stop him before he went too—”
Brax’s eyes open wide and his nostrils flare. “Are you fucking kidding me? He tried to force himself on you?”
“Well—”
“I’m going to fucking kill him,” he interrupts and goes to stand.
Grabbing his arm I pull him back down into the chair, his head snaps around to look at me and I’m sure if this were a cartoon there would be smoke billowing from his ears and nostrils.
“Brax stop! He was drunk, he was lonely and he didn’t know what he was doing. Hunter stopped him and everything’s fine. Please don’t cause a scene.”
He huffs and shakes his head. “Amber, he has to know that you’re not available for him to use and abuse. He can’t treat you like that and get away with it,” he demands his face still red.
I bring my free hand up to caress his cheek trying to placate him. “Brax, trust me, he’s kicking himself enough right now. I know he’ll be hating himself for how he acted. He doesn’t need you in his face making things worse. Plus, then he and Hunter would know about us. I’m not ready for that yet,” I state honestly.
His body slumps and I see the tension rolling through his muscles as he stretches his neck from side to side. “I don’t like this Amber.”
“I know, but I’m sure he learned a lesson. Hunter threatened to kick him out of the band and to limit his access to Charli. So trust me, he’s hurting.”
He nods and exhales wrapping his arm around my shoulders pulling me to him. I rest my head on his shoulder as Charli giggles and leans in grabbing Brax’s shirt. He moves his hand in and caresses her face softly.
“Well, I guess threatening not to see this little angel would straighten anyone out. But I swear Amber if he touches you again, and if I see it, I won’t be held responsible for my actions.”
“It’s okay, I have a feeling it won’t happen again,” I say honestly as I cuddle into Charli and Brax on our way to the next hotel.
Mase has been avoiding me. Especially now—because I’m pretty sure he realizes from the death glares Brax has been sending—that Brax knows Mase tried it on with me. But we’re at the venue and I’m nearing the end of the set. The lights are shining down making me hotter than a summer in Dubai. Beads of sweat trickle down my brow as I sing my heart out to the melody of ‘Get What You Want.’ Mase is starting to loosen up and enjoy himself as he walks over and slams on his guitar pressing his back into my side and smiling out to the crowd. I tense up slightly as I look down at Brax and see him looking up at Mase watching him intently. The last thing I want is for Brax to get all macho on me while I’m performing, so I straighten up causing Mase to jolt away from me. He looks back noticing my sudden movement and he furrows his brows as I continue to sing. He leans into me again pressing his arm into mine and leaning his head against my shoulder. I open my eyes wide wondering if he’s drunk. He’s acting weird like he’s trying to indicate to the crowd that we’re together or something.
I’m really confused, and as I sing the last few lyrics of the song I step back from the microphone to tell Mase to back off. He leans in as I glare at him and I can smell the beer on his breath—he’s been drinking!
Opening my eyes wide as my heart starts to race, I move to back up noticing the gleam in his eyes. I know that look, I’ve seen it all too often. He leans in and before I have a chance to back off he moves in pressing his lips to mine. There’s no sparks, there’s no electricity, only a churning in my stomach and a thunderous roar from the crowd as my heart leaps into my throat. I pull back glaring at Mase as he grins at me like he’s won the lottery. I want to slap him so hard, but before I have a chance to think, strong, warm arms wrap around me and drag me off the stage. I’m utterly shocked by the force of the pull that I’m disorientated slightly as I’m dragged through the crowd of screaming people into the back room. My back pressed hard against the front of a strong and chiselled chest leaves me guessing I’m in the arms of one mightily pissed off man. My heart’s beating fast as the crowd is a mixture of cheering and booing. We still had another song to play and I’m being dragged off and into the back room by a mad man. The hum in my ears from my blood pressure rising is making it hard for me to think as the door slams behind me. I’m finally stationary, and the arms let me go and spin me around. My eyes lock with Brax’s and my heart drops out of my chest and slams on the floor.
His nostrils are flaring and his face has turned a bright shade of crimson as my hands start to tremble with annoyance.
“What the fuck was that?” I ask.
His eyes open wide and he scoffs. “Seriously? You’re asking me that? Why the fuck was he kissing you?” His hands fly out into the air in frustration.
“I didn’t know he was going to do that.”
“Well, did you want him to?” he asks his nostrils flaring.
“What?” I ask, dumbfounded. “Of course not, Brax. He forced himself on me, surely you could see that,” I yell and he relaxes his stature slightly and exhales.
“Do you love him?” he asks a little calmer.
I sigh and walk up to him and place my hand on his cheek. “As a friend and the father of my child, yes. But as anything else, definitely not. I care too much about someone else,” I admit and he looks in my eyes and swallows hard.
The door flings open and I drop my hand from Brax’s face to see Hunter storming in.
“What the actual fuck, dude?” Hunter yells at Brax.
“I over reacted. I thought Amber was uncomfortable, and my job is to protect her. So I—”
“Pulled her off stage right near the end of a concert? She had one song left to sing, man. That’s bad form,” Hunter says walking over to us interrupting our moment.
“Sorry, I just wanted her to feel safe. Not having Mason throw himself at her on stage in front of a crowd of people and her having to fend him off again.”
Hunter looks at me. “You told him about this morning?” he asks and I fur
row my brows.
“Yeah, why wouldn’t I?”
Hunter exhales rubbing his forehead. “I guess he’s your bodyguard, he needs to know these things, right?” Hunter asks and I nod and so does Brax. “Just don’t pull her off stage again during a performance. It looks bad for the band,” Hunter says and Brax scoffs.
“And Mase throwing himself at Amber and her rejecting him on stage doesn’t?” Brax asks while I tense up.
“Are you saying I can’t control my band?” Hunter asks stepping up to Brax.
I step in between them and place my hand on Hunter’s chest. “Hunter, take a breath. I know you’re angry. Brax did the wrong thing, but he was only doing what he thought was best for me. He was only looking out for me. Mase is losing it. Can’t you sort him out?”
Hunter slumps his body and nods running his hand through his short brown hair.
“Yeah, he’s not coping with having Brax around. He thinks you two are going to ride off into the sunset and Charli is going to grow up thinking Brax is her dad, and he’s going to be left out,” Hunter says and I look at Brax, who now looks mighty uncomfortable.
“Look, that won’t happen. Mason is Charli’s father. He always will be, I’d never stop him from seeing her. He should know me better than that.” Slumping down on the green suede lounge suite and sinking into the plush cushions wishing they would swallow me whole, I sigh.
Mason, Jayce and Cooper walk in and we all look over at the door. Mase looks at me and then to Brax.
“Stupid move, dickwad. We still had another song to play,” Mason says walking up to Brax, who straightens his stature in defence.
My feet making quick work, I rise and walk over to the two men who are now standing off.
“Well, I wouldn’t have had to pull her off stage if you weren’t making her uncomfortable,” Brax defends and Mase pushes Brax hard in the chest. Brax stumbles back, but quickly rights himself and looks at Mase as I bite my bottom lip.
“Mason, stop being a dick.” Hunter slaps him on the back.
“See he can’t even stand up for himself. He’s such a weak-as-piss human being,” Mason says and Brax inches closer.
“Leave it Brax, he’s trying to stir you up,” I say and step closer to the two men in my life that are causing me the most grief.
Brax doesn’t say anything as he continues to stare down Mason, who starts to laugh and throws his hands in the air. “See. You getting your woman to talk for you. She has you whipped just like she whipped me. She’s fully into that BDSM shit. Just so you know, she loves a bit of pain and torture,” Mason says shocking me. My mouth drops open and Brax moves so quickly I hardly have time to notice before he’s behind Mase grabbing his arm and pulling it up high behind his back forcing Mason to fall to his knees crying out in pain. The thud of his knees hitting the cold tiled floor makes me jump slightly. My hand shoots to my mouth as I gasp at the visible military man coming out in Brax as he pulls Mase’s hair forcing his head up to look at me and he cries out in pain.
“Oww man. Fuck!” Mason yells as the rest of us watch in shock.
“Say you’re sorry,” Brax says tugging on Mason’s hair harder.
“What? No!” Mase says and Brax pulls his arm up higher and tugs his hair back making him wince out in pain again. My heart is racing watching Brax take charge of the situation.
“Say. You’re. Sorry. Torture is not something to joke about Mason. She’s the mother of your child. Stop being an arrogant arsehole and apologise before I break your arm and end this tour,” Brax says. I can see by the flaring of Brax’s nostrils, the redness in his face, the tightness in his jaw and the veins popping out in his neck that he’s deadly serious. “Say it!” he yells tugging on Mase once more causing more pain-filled moans.
“Fine! Fucking hell! I’m sorry, Amber. I’m a dick.”
Brax lets him go then pushes him forward so he falls face first onto the floor. Mase stays on the floor and doesn’t move as a deathly silence floods the room. I swallow hard as Brax walks away from Mason and moves to stand over by the back door, he opens it and walks out to the night time air. The dull hues of the pale moonlight filter in and the darkness swallows Brax as he exits. Everyone looks around at everyone else and Hunter looks at me and raises an eyebrow. I nod letting him know I’m okay as Jayce helps Mason from the floor.
“Fucker’s got a mean grip on him,” Mason says turning to look at me. “I am sorry, Amber. I didn’t mean what I said. I’m just hurting. I don’t want to lose you and Charli,” he says, finally saying something honest for a change.
“You will never lose us, Mason. But if you keep acting like a spoiled brat then I’ll need to reassess. So stop being weird. You’re freaking me the hell out.”
He exhales and nods rubbing his shoulder.
“You okay?” Hunter asks Mason and he nods then looks at me. “Are you all right?” he then asks me and I nod, then he walks from the green room and out the back to follow after Brax.
“Mason, I know you want more from me, and I know you want us to be together. I also know that Brax being here is making you jealous, but please stop acting out. It’s not good for you, or me, or the band, or Charli. Think of your daughter when you go acting all stupid like this.”
He cracks his neck from side to side. “It’s hard to just stop loving someone, Amber,” he says and I nod knowing that all too well. I had the same problem with Aston, I think I still love him in some small way, but I need to move on and if that’s with Brax, I can’t let Hunter or Mason stand in my way.
“How about we all load the instruments and head back to the hotel for a quiet one?” Jayce says being sensible for once.
I nod and move back into the pub to collect my gear.
Walking onto the bus, I see Brax sitting down looking out the window. I casually move over to him and sit down placing my hand on his knee. A tingle shoots straight through my hand and as if he felt it too he looks straight at me with sad eyes. We don’t say anything as I make myself comfortable in the seat, he merely interlaces our fingers and I lean my head down on his shoulder. The bus shudders and hisses, while the door closes tightly with a thud and Hunter drives us away from tonight’s venue and toward the hotel. Unlike any other night, the bus isn’t filled with the raucous laughter and noise from the guys. Instead, a deathly silence where only the whirring of the bus’s engine and the hum of the tires on the bitumen can be heard. It’s a little unnerving.
I gaze up at Brax and turn my body to face him. “Are you okay?” I ask, assessing his tight jaw and the stern look on his face.
His jaw relaxes as he looks at me and his hard eyes soften. “I’m fine. I’m sorry if I embarrassed you.”
I half smile and clench his hand tighter. “I was actually kind of in awe of you to be honest. Those moves you put on Mase were really quite…sexy,” I admit feeling my cheeks heat.
He smiles brightly and looks in my eyes. “Really?”
“Really.”
He looks away from me smiling and tilting his head. “The lady thinks I’m sexy,” he repeats cockily making me laugh, so I gently slap his chest.
“Don’t let that go to your head now, mister. Wouldn’t want you to become an arrogant bastard, now would we?”
He looks back at me and shakes his head. “No ma’am.” He leans in with a smirk pressing his forehead to mine.
I tense up slightly knowing Mason could probably see us, but in all honesty, I just want to be near Brax. So I lean in and quickly peck him on the lips. He pulls back slightly looking back down to the back of the bus.
“I think we got away with that one. Mase is playing on his phone.”
I glance back to see him with his head down looking at his screen. My shoulders slump and my body relaxes into the seat. “Great! Would hate for anything to start up again on the way back to the hotel,” I murmur and Brax nods swivelling and wrapping his arm around my shoulders for the rest of the journey.
Once we’re back at the hotel and settled into my room
, I change into my pyjamas and Brax pulls off his jeans and shirt and climbs into the bed with me. We snuggle down under the covers and I cuddle into his side. His cologne is invading my senses calming me, even though I’m still a little on edge from what happened tonight at the show with Mase.
Brax moves a strand of hair from my face and I look up at him placing my hand on his chest feeling his heart steadily thump under my palm.
“Stay,” I simply whisper.
He exhales looking deep into my eyes and furrowing his brows. “Baby you know I can’t, we’ve been over this so many times.”
I lick my lips as my heart races so fast I feel like it might explode. “Brax, I’ve had a horrible night. I need comfort, in your arms, all night.”
He looks away from me frowning and his body sags as he swallows hard. “Amber, I’ll stay till you fall asleep like always. I promise I’ll make sure you’re fast asleep before I go,” he says with a sternness in his voice that lets me know he won’t waver in his decision.
Even though the disappointment flowing through me is monumental, I hide it by leaning up and pressing my lips to his. I know there’s no sex for us tonight, but passionate kissing is a must. I move over him and deepen the kiss letting my tongue dance with his. The spark igniting inside of me sends a shiver down my spine. Kissing Brax always feels right. This will have to get me through the night.
We make out like teenagers for a long while until his stubble is rubbing so aggressively against my skin that I can’t stand it any longer. I lean my head back against his chest and cuddle into him as much as I can. The gentle rise and fall of his chest is lulling me into a quick sleep and my eyes close before I know it.
“Goodnight Amber, sleep well,” Brax says kissing my hair and wrapping his arms around me tightly. Being wrapped in his warmth gives me a sense of comfort I’ve been needing. I feel calm and at peace as I drift into unconsciousness easily.
My eyes open wide as I’m tossed aside to the other side of the bed forcefully. I’m still half asleep as I open and close my eyes trying to focus them in the dim light of the room. Groans and pain-filled moans echo through the bedroom and I swallow hard attempting to gain my bearings. Opening my eyes wider as the bed moves and bounces with the force of the movements, I look to see Brax thrashing about. His body dripping in sweat and bright red. I pull back the covers to stop him from overheating and watch his back arch off the mattress as his face contorts and tightens so tightly I worry about the pain he must be in. He’s obviously having one of his night terrors, so I figure I’ll try and wake him up. I move back over to him on my knees and shake his shoulder.