by Denise Marie
While he plundered, I moaned, skimming my hands around his shoulders and burying them in his glorious hair. At the slight tug of his raven locks, he smoothed his palms down to cup both ass cheeks. He squeezed, pressing my cunt against the hard ridge of his cock, and slowly rocked his hips. The slight friction sent waves of pleasure to the tiny bundle of nerves nestled there. My juices trickled from my pussy saturating my panties.
Big Lou cleared his throat.
Auro broke the kiss and rested his forehead against mine, his breathing harsh. “Merda, cara. You make me forget myself.”
I licked my lips drawing in his taste. His eyes darkened at the action. He gave my backside one last caress and reluctantly turned to the security guard with instructions to escort me to the VIP seats.
Before I could gather my wits enough to follow, he tucked an errant curl behind my ear then traced my jawline with his thumb. “Know this my tesoro, when the show is over, I will be taking you to the hotel. No parties, no press, just you and I. I am going to make you come three times before we ever hit the bedroom. I can’t wait to see your soft pink mouth slide back and forth over my cock and the ends of that long sable hair pooled around my thighs. Do you understand?”
The intensity of his expression had me nodding in assent. He visibly relaxed, as if he hadn’t been sure I would agree. He grazed his lips over mine one last time and headed back to the dressing room.
I followed Big Lou to a roped off area of seats located on the left wing of the platform. He pointed to a chair on the first row with a clear view of the stage. Positioned in the center of the seat was a small box wrapped in silver. I scooped it up, placing it in my lap as I sat. My heart raced along with my mind, and I rested my head in my hands to ease the pounding.
His apprehension was my fault. The last time we’d been together, I’d called him an overbearing possessive jackass during the huge fight we’d had. Okay, so it wasn’t one of my better days. He’d wanted me to take more time off from my “work” to travel with him and the band.
Owning my own decorators boutique, I found it relatively easy to adjust my schedule. I had just finished a large project for a client so I’d rescheduled my appointments from the prior week.
Reality had come crashing in with a phone call from my customs broker. He informed me the antique mirror commissioned from Paris was being held at U.S. Customs due to improper paperwork. The subsequent calls kept me occupied for over an hour.
Auro had become irritated at my apparent distraction and dismissed my concerns by suggesting I let whoever was in charge handle it. He rambled on to say he would take care of me, and my job, whatever it may be, was no longer necessary.
My temper snapped. I’d been floored by his caveman attitude, considering he’d been unnervingly sensitive to my moods and needs for the preceding days. He had no idea I ran my own business, but his predilection for the Ozzy and Harriet lifestyle was more than I could accept.
We exchanged heated words, but he’d calmed me with promises to be less demanding and acknowledged I could take care of myself. Two days later, I’d packed and left. His disappearance from the hotel room in the early morning hours and failure to show for our planned outing had been all I could take.
The opening strains of Empathy’s most recent number one song filtered through my consciousness, and I forced my attention to the musicians on the main rostrum.
From where I sat, I could see Auro as he prepared to enter the stage. His eyes were closed, his body relaxed. He leaned against the wall, lost in deep meditation.
I greedily took in his exquisite countenance. All harsh angles under golden bronze skin, his dark lashes fanned on high cheekbones, a perfect combination.
Sensing my perusal, his lids raised, and his coffee gaze met mine. I inhaled, and my hard nipples cinched tighter, triggering a spasm low in my belly with the barely leashed lust apparent in his stare.
I shuddered, and his lips quirked, letting me know he’d noticed. He blew me a kiss, settled the sound monitor in his ear, turned, and raced to the edge of the platform. The crowd roared at his entrance, the sound bringing me to my feet.
“He is such a hottie! Don’t you think?”
I ripped my gaze from the stage to take in the young blonde next to me. I couldn’t fault her opinion, considering I had been thinking the same thing, albeit a little more graphically. Playing dumb, I asked. “Which one?”
“Auro, he’s the one out front singing,” she said with an enamored sigh.
I turned in the direction she indicated and watched him sway to the beat of the ballad he sang. Each movement he made was a sensuous tribute to the creator of man. His skintight russet-colored pants showed the contraction of each muscle in his thighs when he shifted his weight from one leg to the other.
The soft leather affectionately cupped his perfectly rounded ass like a lover. Sheer turquoise-silk stirred with the motion of his torso, and the shirt gave flirty glimpses of his rock-hard abs.
He stepped to the edge of the stage serenading the front row. As the song ended, he threw his head back and belted out the closing refrain. The exertion to reach and hold the final note had him raising the microphone high, his spine arched, his long ebony locks brushing that luscious ass.
The tail of his shirt lifted, showing the trail of hair running from his navel into the low-slung waistband of his pants. The vision before my eyes, coupled with the memory of licking my way down the luscious path… He was sin personified.
“Definitely a hottie.” I dropped into the chair behind me, thankful for the support.
Empathy cruised into their next song. Overheated, I brushed my sweaty bangs from my eyes and realized I still held the gift-wrapped package. Auro had a penchant for surprises.
With shaky fingers, I tugged the bow and gently ripped away the shiny paper. The box inside was beautiful. Hand-carved, dark cherry wood with a mother of pearl inlay in the form of a pair of wings graced the lid. Angel wings. I gasped at Auro’s symbolic choice. Major brownie points.
“Oh, how pretty! What’s inside?”
I blinked back the tears that threatened to fall and looked up at the girl. I swallowed past the lump in my throat and finally managed to croak, “I’m not sure. I haven’t opened it yet.”
“What are you waiting for?” Her youth was apparent by her impatient statement, and in the way she bounced up and down with excitement for me.
I lifted the top of the tiny ornamental chest. Inside, nestled in sapphire velvet sat an old-fashioned skeleton key. Made of pewter, the bow in the shape of a heart, the patina suggested it was very old. The smooth texture of the ornament hinted that the previous owner lovingly wore it close to the skin.
With closer examination, a long luminescent silver chain spilled out. The necklace threaded through the center, dainty yet secure. I ran a finger along the delicate links then slid it over my head. After adjusting my hair, the pendant rested in the cleavage of my breasts.
“Wow, very nice. It reminds me of Empathy’s song Salvation. There is a verse that mentions how every person will find, if they search hard enough, another soul who holds the key to their salvation.”
“I don’t remember that one.” Through a shimmer of tears, I fumbled with my clutch purse and wrenched it open to store the box inside.
“Auro wrote the song and the band released it about two years ago.”
“I’ve only been listening to them for about a year. I guess I should check out their older stuff.” In reality, I hadn’t made the time. With my comment and a feeble smile, I returned my attention to the show.
Auro strutted across the platform. I admired his lithe form while I pondered the thoughtfulness of his gift. What could I do for him in return? The idea of pampering him for his kindness struck me as an excellent place to start.
I motioned Big Lou over. “Are the reservations for tonight’s suites the same as last time?”
He deliberated for a moment, and then nodded. “You’ll have to ask Cameron for the k
eycard.”
I rolled my eyes at the mention of the band’s manager. He’d been polite to me last time but made it very clear he considered me one of the masses. “Which way?”
Big Lou jerked the walkie-talkie from his hip and spoke into the mic. He located Cameron and sent me off to search for the office at the back of the stage.
I weaved in and out of the roadies and other technical staff. The amount of people it took to run a show of this size was astronomical. I slowed my pace, entering the back hallway. Big Lou had directed me to the last entryway before the exit.
I hesitated before knocking. Since Big Lou had called to locate him, he knew I was coming, but with Cameron’s prior dismissal of me, I wasn’t sure he’d welcome the interruption. Squaring my shoulders, I shook off the apprehension and pounded on the thin metal, hoping to be heard above the roar of the music.
With no immediate answer, I turned the knob and opened it to an interesting sight—Cameron seated in the chair behind his desk and a curvy blonde on her knees with his cock buried deep in her throat. Her head bobbed as she licked and sucked her way up and down his swollen shaft. Before I could react and retreat from this private scene, Cameron threw his head back and shouted his release.
I stumbled out and quietly closed the door. I leaned against the frame, praying I hadn’t been noticed. Wow, way too much in the way of visuals. Collecting myself, I settled on the speaker case propped against the wall.
About five minutes later, the office opened, and the voluptuous woman walked out, tugging her dress back into place. She glanced in my direction with a smirk, then turned and walked away. So much for not being noticed. She obviously knew she’d had an audience but wasn’t in any way concerned about her performance.
Well, maybe Cameron would still be basking in the afterglow. I jumped to my feet and entered the room, this time without knocking.
He stood at a small bar, pouring dark liquor over ice in a glass. At my entrance, he turned my direction. “What can I do for you, sugar? You know you could have joined us. Nadine wouldn’t have minded.”
His lewd tone sent my temper soaring. He assumed I was an easy mark because I’d slept with Auro. My first instinct was to tell him to go screw himself, but I decided to let it slide in order to get what I needed.
“Thanks, but sharing is something I only do with my lover. You guys had it all under control without my help.”
“Guess so, but if you change your mind…”
“Believe me, I’ll take it under advisement.” I shook my head at his arrogance and got straight to the point. “I’m going to surprise Auro with a little pampering. I need the keycard for the penthouse suite in order to get things set up before he finishes the show.”
His calculating expression had my instincts on alert. If there was any way the man could turn this situation to his advantage, he would find it. My skin literally crawled while he looked me over. “Sure, but it will cost you a kiss,” he said as he leered at my breasts.
“I am very particular about who I give kisses to,” I said flippantly, trying to diffuse the situation. This guy was crazy if he imagined I’d ever willingly touch him. Feigning a haughty demeanor, I held out my hand and demanded, “The key Cameron. You know Auro will be upset if you spoil my surprise.”
He studied my face for a fraction of a second before he crossed to pick up a large manila envelope. Assuming I had won this round, I relaxed while he sorted through the contents. He extracted a card and held it out for me to take.
I’d grasped the corner when he seized my wrist and jerked, dragging me forward, flush against his frame.
Pain radiated the length of my arm from his vice-like grip. He snaked his other arm around my waist, drawing me in tight. The ridge of his arousal pressed into my belly, and it took everything I had not to cringe in disgust. His bourbon soaked breath filled my nostrils, and I leaned back staring into his hooded gaze.
****
Auro
“How is everyone here in Houston, Texas tonight? Twisted Talons rocked the start of our night here with you. Are you ready for Empathy’s ass kickin’ finish?” The wave of excitement and euphoria from the crowd hit me full force while I sang the opening line of our first number one hit. A fan favorite, we saved the tune for later in the set to bring the crowd’s enthusiasm back to a fever pitch. With my mind’s eye, I drew the energy in and allowed it to boost my jubilant mood.
On autopilot, I let the words of the song flow from my mouth while my mind drifted. Angel Eyes. She is really here.
The vision of her standing with hands on her hips, yanking Big Lou’s chain, had me hard in three seconds flat. I observed her playful teasing as I drank in her appearance. If possible, she looked more beautiful than she had six months ago.
Dressed to kill and wearing a pair of heels that made her legs go on for days, I had to tamp down my desire to grab hold, and fuck her against the wall.
Long sable hair flowed down her back almost touching her succulent ass. She smirked, her soft pink lips etched in a perfect bow, then bowed her head and allowed her gorgeous tresses to hide her face. A wave of mischief brushed across my senses. Her playful ploy to mess with the stoic security guard brought home how much I’d missed her.
A single curl snuck over her shoulder and wound around the curve of her breast. My mouth watered at the sight, and even when I sensed her slight hesitation at my appearance, I had been unable to stop from wrapping myself around her soft curves.
A flicker of pain slipped past my mental guard and jerked me back to reality. I tamped down my desire and attempted to focus on the sea of faces below the stage.
Nothing. Everyone appeared to be enjoying the show. I stepped to the side and grabbed a towel to wipe my face. Behind the cover of the terrycloth, I reached out with my gift and concentrated on the separate energies.
Features faded to points of light. Shades of blue and green sparkled in my field of vision. I panned the arena and spotted a tiny flicker of red at the back.
My target in sight, I strode to the end of the catwalk and entertained the mass of fans who had the less expensive seats.
As I sang, I covertly studied the youth huddled next to the merchandise booth. I reached out to his energy and lowered my mental shields. Hurt and rage swamped my senses. This young man teetered on the edge between lashing out and giving up.
Damn, I hated to have to deal with this tonight of all nights, but emotions were fragile things, and tomorrow might be too late. I prayed Angel…no, Gabriella would forgive my delay.
Years of family conditioning kicked in. My empathic abilities were a gift passed down from my Romani heritage, and I had been raised to believe I was duty-bound to help.
I motioned to my guitar player to lead off with a solo while I danced to the back of the stage. Once out of sight, I used the monitor in my ear to signal the sound and lights guy. “Chad, hey bud, you copy?”
“Loud and clear, bossman. What’s up?”
“Do you see the kid leaning against the back of the T-shirt shack?” I grabbed a bottle of water and downed it.
“Black hoodie, blond, heavy on the attitude?”
“Yes, that is him. Send someone over with a pass.” I tossed away the empty and turned back to the crowd.
“You got it. Consider it done.”
I glanced back at the guy while I made my way back to the front of the stage. Attitude aside, he would receive a coveted invitation to the after party.
I drew a sigh of relief when we finished the second set and strode to the hallway behind the stage to relax and catch my breath before the encore. Resting against the wall, I closed my eyes. A jolt of fear and pain slapped across my senses, and I jumped forward. “Big Lou!”
The massive bodyguard hurried over with a questioning look. “Auro?”
I met his gaze. “Where is Angel?”
He shrugged. “She might not want you to know. I think she is planning a surprise.”
I brushed past him and headed for the bac
k rooms. “Something is going on, and it is not good.”
He stepped in front of me and blocked my exit. “You have a concert to finish. I’ll go find her and…handle it.”
I dragged my hand down my face. “If I do not hear from you via com in five minutes…to hell with the encore.
****
Gabriella
“Release me this instant.”
“Not on your life, sweet cakes. I’ve wanted to get my hands on your sexy ass since that first night.”
Now what? No one would hear me if I screamed. The bass beat of the concert filtered through the walls, causing a vibration beneath my feet. He was only of medium stature, but his strength was still superior to mine and I didn’t think I could fight him and win. I needed to stall for time, and come up with a way out of this mess.
Contrary to my screaming instincts, I compelled my muscles to relax into his hold and melt against his frame. With a coyness I didn’t feel, I fluttered my lashes and met his lascivious gaze. “Cam, you know I appreciate you’re a strong virile man, but at least pour a lady a drink before getting up close and personal.” I laughed, trying to make light of the circumstances, but it came out flat, even to my ears. I stood, not moving a muscle, waiting to see how he would respond.
Indecision crossed his expression. I could tell he didn’t want to relinquish control but worried about the fallout with Auro.
“Sure thing, doll.” He released me and stepped toward the bar.
I waited until he crossed the room before I backed to the door. With his attention diverted, I cracked it open. I should have left but refused to let him ruin my surprise.
My resignation didn’t slow the wild beating of my heart against my ribs or stop the salty sheen of sweat I licked from my upper lip. I suppressed a shudder and eased back toward the center of the room.
Tremors from the music made the lamp on the desk shake. The vibration caused eerie shadows to fall on Cameron’s already disturbing mug. I recognized one of Empathy’s most popular numbers pounding through the walls. They were getting close to the end of the encore.