“Yes! I walked in on them fucking. On the floor. At Dad’s house.”
“Wow. But aren’t you supposed to be happy? I mean, you were little when they divorced, but I remember you took it hard.”
“What? I’m a grown woman now and this isn’t The Parent Trap. It’s a disaster. Don’t you remember how much they hated each other?”
“But they’ve been getting on for years now,” Sioux tried to insert some reason.
“Yeah, they worked it out, but they’ll be fighting like crazy again. They can’t get along on a day-to-day basis. That’s why they divorced in the first place. I think they’ve both gone fucking senile.”
Seeing as how Kwai’s parents were barely in their fifties Sioux doubted they were going senile, but that was beside the point.
“I’m sorry Kwai. Maybe it’s just a fling. You know, a sex thing.”
“Ewww.”
“For God’s sake you of all people are supposed to have an open mind.”
“Ewww. I need brain bleach. You have no idea how awful it was.”
Sioux winced in sympathy. “Yeah, I don’t think anybody ever wants to see their parents doing it.”
Kwai made a gagging sound. “You have no idea. Let’s talk about something pleasant. Why didn’t you tell me you finally nailed Thad?”
“What? I told you, he turned me down. We’re just friends.”
“Yeah? So he makes a habit of beating up the paparazzi for his friends?”
Sioux turned all the way around on the sofa to stare at her friend. “Kwai, what the hell are you talking about?”
“You haven’t seen the video? It’s all over YouTube. Folks starting blowing up my phone about it first thing this morning.”
“What video?” Sioux asked, using every ounce of will she possessed to keep from screaming as her heart filled with dread.
Kwai pulled her phone out of her pocket. After scrolling through some menus, she handed the device to Sioux. Sioux watched the video in ever increasing horror as Thad grabbed the photographer’s camera then slammed it into the other man’s face. That was followed by a very effective punch. Even on the poor quality video the blood splatter was evident. The video went on for nearly a minute only ending after Twist managed to hustle his friend away.
“I can’t believe it, but why do you think it had anything to do with me? Paparazzi are always a pain in the ass. Is there anyone who doesn’t want to punch one? Maybe Thad had just had enough,” Sioux said. Even as she asked the question she knew better. The paparazzi rarely bothered Thad so he’d never had any reason to punch one before.
“Oh, wait a minute,” Kwai said as she adjusted the sound.
Sioux listened. The hateful words were nothing new to her, but Thad was clearly responding to their provocation. Part of her felt a little thrill that he stood up for her, but she didn’t want him getting into trouble because of her problems.
“I still can’t believe it,” Sioux said as she resumed unbraiding her hair. “I haven’t slept with the guy. I don’t know why he’d beat up a photographer for saying nasty things about me.”
“Wish I’d been there, I would have kicked him in the fucking balls. You don’t deserve that bullshit.”
“Comes with the territory,” Sioux said with a shrug. “But why would Thad hit that guy?”
“You know why he did it. For one thing he needed hitting. Had I been there...”
“Right. It makes sense that you would respond that way. You love me. What’s the deal with Thad though? Dude won’t even have sex with me.”
“Well a lot of people are going to be disappointed. They’re calling the two of you Thioux. Isn’t that too cute?”
“Wait, isn’t that what they called me and Trig?” Sioux asked, fascinated by the vagaries of fandom despite herself.
“Nope, that was Trioux.”
Sioux rolled her eyes. “It’s all a bunch of nonsense. There is nothing between us. I swear, in a town full of celebrities screwing up, I have no idea why they’re so fixated on me. You’d think I’d be old news by now.”
Kwai just shook her head and put the phone back in her pocket. Without another word she resumed her work on Sioux’s hair.
Sioux did the same and they worked for a long while with the soft music from Sioux’s stereo the only sound in the room.
“How are you feeling?” Kwai finally asked.
“Well it’s been a week. I feel much better. Breathing is easier.”
“Have you tried singing yet?”
“Just a little bit. I don’t have much range and my breath control is shot to hell, but according to my respiratory therapist that’s to be expected. The doctor might release me by the end of the month.”
“That’s less than a week from now. Where’s the band? Are you going to rejoin the tour?”
“No. They’re headed down to Australia after a few weeks here in L.A. My part is over.”
“Well, you certainly made the most of it.”
“What are you talking about? I got sick and missed more dates than I played,” Sioux said.
“Yeah, but you’re all anyone can talk about.”
“People have been talking about me for years. I don’t want to fill tabloids with stories about my personal life. I want people to listen to my goddamned music!”
“Yeah, but they are talking about your music for a change,” Kwai said, emphasizing each syllable as though talking to someone who was slow-witted. “When your CD drops next year it’ll be hotter than fish grease.”
Sioux smiled and picked up another braid. “I hope so.”
“You know so.”
Sioux looked up when the doorbell rang. “I wonder who that is. I’m not expecting anyone.” She rose from the sofa and walked over to the security screen built into the wall of her den. Thad looked up at the camera, an oversized bouquet of mixed flowers practically covered his entire chest.
“It’s Thad,” she said and her breathlessness had nothing to do with any chest ailment. For a moment she considered not answering the door, but couldn’t come up with a rational reason not to. Sure he’d acted like an ass, but he was being sweet now. And beating up that photographer…
“Is this a private party or can anyone join in?” he asked after giving her a brief hug. Sioux took the enormous bouquet and placed it on the coffee table.
Kwai gave him a hug. “Oh God, we were just talking about you.”
He looked wary now. “Oh? What did I do? I’ve already blown my flower budget for the month.”
“I know when to get out of a situation,” Kwai said heading toward the door. “I’ll see you later. Sioux, come by the rehearsals, okay. I want to see what you think about what we’re doing. We don’t want to do a Honeychile show, but we don’t want too much of a departure. You know what I mean?”
“Sure thing. How about day after tomorrow?” She waited until her friend left before she turned on Thad. “Have you ever done braids before?”
“Uh, no.”
“Time for you to learn.” She resumed her seat and handed him a comb. After explaining the process to him, she returned to unbraiding her hair. Thad started working as well, and when he didn’t pull her hair or start swearing she assumed he knew what he was doing.
“Why did you do it, Thad?”
He didn’t pretend not to know what she was talking about. Instead he walked around her and squatted until their eyes were level. “You’re kidding, right? You did see the video?”
“Of course I saw it. Apparently there are Inuits in the Artic Circle who’ve seen the damned thing. I expect text messages from Borneo at any moment.”
“You heard what they said. Did you really expect me to let them talk about you that way?”
Sioux closed her eyes in frustration. “Thad, my Dad had to put a million dollar bounty on my head. Do you really think coke whore is the worst thing I’ve been called?”
Thad joined her on the sofa. “Damn, I’d forgotten about that.”
“Well, trust m
e, no one else has.”
“What the hell did you do?”
“Ran away from rehab. They couldn’t find me. So he called a press conference and offered a million dollars to bring me in.”
Thad let out a short whistle. “Wow. Where were you?
“Belgium. I thought I could go to ground there. But they turned me in in less than twelve hours.”
“Amazing.”
“Yeah, my dad also called out my judge for going too easy on me. And warned the world’s drug dealers that selling to me meant they had a death wish.”
“Damn, how did you feel about that?” Thad asked.
“At the time? Mad as hell. It’s amazing how fast people will sell you out for a million dollars. I was so high I don’t even know who did it. Now I’m just so grateful I want to thank him every time I see him. Compared to being a hunted woman, the paparazzi are no big deal.”
Thad rose to his feet and began working on her hair again. “They were a big enough deal you went onstage when you had no business performing just to keep them quiet.”
“That was because of the band. I didn’t want to bring any grief to you guys.”
“Either way. Anyone calling you a bitch or a whore in front of me will get dealt with, period.”
“That’s going to get expensive.”
“I couldn’t give one. They called you a crack whore.”
“I could have been one. Well not crack. Even at my worst, I didn’t want to hurt my voice. But when I ran, my folks cut off my credit cards. I figured they would do that and got all the cash I could before I ran, but if I had run out I was desperate enough to go there.”
“Well thank God for your dad.”
“Yeah.”
Thad ran his fingers through her hair and gave her a bemused look. “What is up with your hair?”
“It’s time to get it braided again, but I have to take it down first.”
“I had no idea you had so much hair. I always assumed it was all add-in.” He said, fluffing the cottony mass, which reached well past her shoulders.
“I like weaves, especially for braids, it’s easier, but I like to mix up my styles, so I wear my own hair quite a bit, too.”
“Isn’t this a bad time to be doing this? You were so sick...”
“I’m almost done. My mama did most of it.
Without invitation he began massaging her scalp once the last braid was released. It was all she could do not to purr under the magic that was his hands.
“Did you miss me?” she asked, though at first she thought it was just for something to say, but once the words were out she realized she really wanted to know.
“What?”
“Did. You. Miss. Me?” she asked again, carefully enunciating the words.
“It’s only been a week,” he said with a dismissive grunt. He was still massaging her scalp or she would’ve smacked him for that remark. Before she could reconsider he continued. “Yeah, I missed you.”
Much as it pained her to do so she stopped the massage so she could put her hair up before it became irredeemably tangled. He watched with a wonder usually reserved for double rainbows or some other act of nature.
“What?” she asked. He’d better not say anything stupid about her hair.
“It’s just amazing to me the way you can put all that hair into four little braids.”
“Well, I’ve had decades of experience.”
“I suppose so.”
She finished and smiled up at him. “Thought you would miss me. Now kiss me.”
He chuckled low in his throat. “I thought you’d never ask.”
He sought her lips like a man trying to Braille their curves with his own. He smoothed his mouth over hers again and then again as though he needed to relearn the familiar territory.
Sioux gasped when his lips finally parted over hers, the sweet glide of his tongue met hers. At first hesitantly as though unsure of its welcome. Though how that could be she had no idea. Then more forcefully as though compelled, he opened his mouth wider as she did the same. His guttural groan against her mouth matched the one working its way up from the very depths of her. Somehow, and she would never recall how, they were lying side by side on the sofa. The crisp texture of the linen only added an extra dimension of sensuality to the kiss that went on endlessly. Lying there with only their lips touching she watched as his pupils dilated, the deep brown obliterating the golds and greens always intrigued her. Now they smoldered, burning with an intensity she’d never seen before.
She moved restlessly until her body was pressed against his, desperate for his touch but not wanting to spoil the moment. Finally, unable to resist the urge any longer, she raised a hand to stroke it over the firm muscle revealed by the sleeve of his t-shirt. As though a spell had been broken he followed her lead shoving up the bottom of her loose fitting blouse to spread one large palm over the lines of her back. Again and again they explored the hills and planes of one another’s bodies with their hands and with their lips as well as though the brief separation had removed the memories.
Sioux gasped again when he pushed her shirt up to reveal her bare breasts. At this point she had rolled over until she was on her back and she arched her back reveling in his heated gaze. With a harsh groan he leaned down to take one of her nipples into his mouth. The soft wetness of his mouth and the strong suction as he nuzzled there was almost more than she could stand. She pressed her thighs together and then his hand was between her legs caressing the source of the spiraling heat. She parted her legs to give him greater access then sighed in delight when he slipped his hand under the waistband of her pants and into her low-slung panties.
He stroked her clit again and again gently but with increasing firmness. The motions of his fingers were timed with the suction on her breast pushing her closer and closer to ecstasy. Then, damn him, he stopped.
“I want to make love with you. Do you want to make love with me?” he asked, his words whispered across her heated flesh.
Sioux stared at him in disbelief. Did he really have to ask? She nodded, too caught up to make words at the moment.
“I need the words, Sioux.”
“Yes, Thad, I want to make love with you,” she managed to get out.
He rose from the couch and with no hesitancy at all lifted her from the sofa and into his arms. She waved him toward the bedroom and he carried her as though she weighed nothing. He placed her on the oversized bed.
“Where the hell did you get this thing?” he asked studying its immense size.
“You have to remember that until recently I always slept with at least two other people.”
He groaned out loud. “Don’t remind me.” He followed her down on the bed and almost immediately began kissing the side of her neck. Sioux thought she would die from the way his mouth all but sizzled on her skin. She turned her face into his neck to return the favor when he stopped again.
“Are you up to this? I mean physically?”
“I swear to God Thad if you don’t make love to me now I will fucking shank you.”
He laughed. “I take that is a yes. Please tell me you have condoms,” he said as he quickly removed his clothes. Sioux followed suit.
She gestured toward the bedside table then watched, amazed at his ability to maneuver the condom onto his cock even though his hands shook with excitement. The he was there and he surprised her again. Instead of sliding inside her as she’d anticipated, he paused, his body hovering over hers as he rested on his elbows. He placed a soft kiss on her forehead and another on her lips. “I’m going to take my time. I hope you don’t have a problem with that,” he said before slowly joining their bodies together. He rocked above her, his hips placed in such a way that his pubic bone was pressing directly on her clit. The motion wasn’t forceful as she expected. Just a slow steady grind. Just enough to drive her out of her mind and make her cry out as another and then another orgasm wracked through her body.
He paused, his face pressed into the curve of h
er neck before he began moving again. Sioux knew if she had another orgasm she would absolutely die. The man’s stamina was unbelievable.
“Oh no, you’re not doing that to me again,” she said. She flexed her hips again and again, before reaching between his legs to stroke his sensitive taint area. He tried to pull away, but she was relentless and before long he cried out his own completion.
He collapsed beside her on the bed, their breaths the only sound in the room.
“What on earth were you trying to do? Kill me?” she asked.
“No. No, it just felt so good, and each time you came I just wanted to do it again. Your face was…amazing. Like an angel.”
“An angel?” she had to laugh at that. “Considering our recent activity isn’t that a bit blasphemous?”
“Yeah probably, but it is what it is,” he said as he rose from the bed. He walked over to the adjoining bathroom. He came back with a wet washcloth. Sioux parted her legs and he wiped off the evidence of their lovemaking. Then he climbed back into the bed with her.
“What are you doing tomorrow?” he asked as she snuggled against his side in the bed.
“I’ve got no plans. What did you have in mind?”
“How about coming to meet my mother?” he asked casually. Too casually.
Her deep breath set off a sudden spate of coughing. Fortunately her chest didn’t hurt so badly anymore, but it was still somewhat painful. “What? Why on earth would I want to do that?”
“That’s an interesting reaction. Just thought you might enjoy meeting her. I want to hang out with you, but I promised to visit her before the band heads down to Australia. She lives in Santa Barbara. It’ll be a beautiful drive.”
Sioux forced herself to relax. He wanted to hang out with her, meeting his mother wasn’t really a big deal. “Sure Thad that sounds really cool.”
Sioux was surprised that Thad’s mother was even smaller than she was. She wore her snow-white hair in a short bob that was very flattering to her patrician features. The resemblance to her son was striking.
“Good evening Mrs. Hollister. Pleased to meet you,” Sioux said as the other woman led them into her home.
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