The Songwriter

by Jensen, A. P.

  “Where the hell have you been?” Johnny demanded, hands on his hips.

  She threw her bundle of dirty clothes in his face. “I have a hangover. Do something for me.”

  “Whose shirt is that?”

  “Trey’s.”

  A beat of silence and then, “You slept with him?”

  “No. I was out cold before we reached the lot. He must have put me in his bus to watch over me or something.”

  Barbie and Cassie came on the bus with their tools and paused when they saw her in the shirt.

  “Don’t ask,” Gwen warned. “Johnny, you’re usually hung over. Do something!”

  While Barbie and Cassie chattered about the phone numbers they got last night, Johnny plopped fizzing water in front of Gwen, which she immediately drank. When Johnny set a Bloody Mary down in front of her, she froze and glared up at him.

  “I swear I’m not trying to kill you. It’ll help,” Johnny said and started frying bacon and eggs.

  She ate and drank whatever Johnny put in front of her. An hour and a half later when Angie pounded on Gwen’s bus to call out the time she felt much better. As Barbie and Cassie did her hair and makeup, snippets of the conversation she had with Trey floated back to her. A part of her wanted to ask him what that kiss was all about, but the cowardly part of her told her to forget it. Did she really call him a man whore? God, she was never drinking a mojito again! Had he been drinking too? Maybe last night was all a drunken mistake.

  “So nothing happened with you and Phoenix last night?” Johnny muttered as they walked back stage.

  She could hear Trey singing and just the sound of his masculine voice raised the hairs on her arms. Maybe she didn’t remember much about last night but she remembered enjoying his kiss and his hands on her skin-

  “Gwen!”

  “What?”

  “Did anything happen with you and Trey?”

  “You’re one to talk! He told me you were with some woman.”

  “I was doing research, you know, searching for inspiration for the new album,” Johnny said defensively.

  “I don’t know what happened last night. Did you see him drinking?”

  “I didn’t see him at all and I lost track of you once you started dancing.”

  Gwen tried to remember her conversation with Trey, but it was fuzzy and it didn’t make sense. She called him a man whore and she mentioned Natasha and then she talked about the perfect man…?

  “Trey’s probably going to make a move on you.”

  That jerked her attention back to Johnny. “What makes you say that?”

  “He’s been breathing down my neck ever since I got here. He kept you onstage the other night because he saw me waiting for you. Gabe told me Trey warned him off.”

  Gwen stared at him. “Gabriel Heely?”

  Johnny nodded impatiently. “Trey told Gabe to stay away from you.”

  “But he doesn’t want me!”

  “He wants you alright, he just hasn’t made a move.”

  “That’s crazy!”

  “What you and Trey have onstage, is it real or fake?”

  Gwen squirmed. “A mixture of both.”

  “I hate to say this, but I don’t think anyone but Trey would be able to bring out the singer in you. You and Trey have always been close and the way he watches you… He wants you alright.”

  Gwen sputtered and Angie gave the two minute signal. Johnny ushered her onto the platform. She could hear Trey playing his guitar for all he was worth and her mouth watered at the sound of his voice.

  “I know you want him but the question is can you handle him?”

  “I know what kind of guy he is.”

  “But you still want him?” She nodded and he sighed. “Well, shit. I hope you know what you’re doing Gwen.”

  “I do,” she said and the platform began to move.

  This time when she hit the stage, she didn’t need a moment to calm herself. She looked out over the arena gravely as she began The Better Man then looked straight at Trey and the air sizzled between them. This time there were no jitters or nerves. Her blood bubbled in her veins as he made his way towards her. When they walked down the steps to the main stage and her cowboy boots peeked out from under her gown, the crowd went wild. Trey had his guitar strapped on so she reached out and ran her hand down his arm during Touch Me and even pulled his head down for a moment so their lips were a breath apart. His eyes were bluer than ever. The crowd hooted and yelled for them to kiss. She had to take a deep breath as she pulled away and walked offstage to change. Johnny stood on the side, shaking his head.

  “Baby, you’re playing with fire.”

  “Johnny, I’ve always been the responsible, careful one and just once, I want to do what I want.”

  “You can do whatever you want. I just hope you don’t regret it.”

  She glanced onstage at Trey. “How can I?”

  When Gwen went on for her second set, Trey was waiting for her. There was more touching, more smoldering looks and she shimmied and stomped across the stage. She felt invincible, alive and unbelievably hot. Trey Phoenix watched her with eyes that blazed with desire and she reveled in it. She sashayed off the stage and when Trey followed, it wasn’t an act. His eyes made fervent promises as he turned back to his fans.

  Giddy as a schoolgirl, Gwen rushed to her bus and showered and changed… all with Johnny hovering like an anxious father. For the first time, Gwen decided to watch the show and edged her way to the stage where hoards of women jumped up and down and sang along with Trey. None of the screaming fans realized the woman in street clothes standing among them was the same elegant lady who’d been on stage twenty minutes ago. Trey noticed her immediately and her body flooded with need as their eyes met. Despite the fact that he stood on a stage ten feet away and she was surrounded by hundreds of people down on the arena floor, she felt as though he were stripping her bare and kissing a line down her throat.

  I can give you what you need

  Give me one night that’ll last forever

  You knew this was inevitable

  Don’t make me wait

  Trey’s voice filled the stadium and he stared right at her, demanding a confirmation she knew she couldn’t put off any longer. She was tired of denying what was between them, tired of being so careful. She hadn’t dated since the disastrous end to her engagement. She spent most of her time in her apartment with her instruments, putting her soul on paper so she could get Zach out of her system and move on. She had to stop worrying about the repercussions and just live for today. As she watched Trey, she knew she would rather have him for one night than not at all. Whatever the price, she would pay it.

  She nodded and although it should have been impossible for him to see her with the lights blazing in his eyes, he punched a fist into the air in response. The girls went wild as he came to the edge of the stage and reached out to her. Arms shot out on either side of Gwen, straining towards him just to feel the brush of his hands. His eyes glinted in the light as Gwen crossed her arms over her chest, refusing to play into his hands in front of thousands of people. Yes, she’d agreed to sleep with him but she wasn’t about to show the world another fallen woman.

  “Where’s Gwen?” Trey demanded.

  “I don’t know,” Angie said distractedly.

  Trey planted his feet when she tried to urge him towards a reporter. “Find her.”

  Angie blinked. “She’s probably in her bus. Why-”

  “No. She was in the crowd. I’m doing one interview and then I’m done for the night.”

  He wasn’t about to let her renege on their deal. She said yes. He wasn’t sure what happened between last night when she called him a man whore and when she woke up this afternoon and he didn’t care. If need be, he’d find a cameraman who caught that tiny nod she’d given him. He had witnesses damn it and he was done waiting. He wanted her. Now.

  Halfway through his interview, he saw Angie approach with Gwen and he relaxed a little. Both women t
alked easily and he wrapped up the interview before Gwen could disappear. Gwen was dressed casually in a tight jean skirt and a bomber jacket. He didn’t care if he was about to ruin their friendship. He’d never waited this long for anyone and he was done being the gentleman.

  He held out his hand to her. She paused for a moment and the tips of his fingers tingled with the need to reach out, take her hand and seal their deal but he held himself back. He wouldn’t force her. He wanted her to want this as much as he did. They stared at one another. Her face was unreadable and he felt his gut sink. Just when he was about to drop his hand, she took it. They walked backstage and he ignored Angie’s perplexed expression.

  Neither said a word as they emerged from the building and he led them straight to his bus. He locked the doors and pulled her into the bedroom. When he shut the door, he turned to her.

  “You said yes.”

  He felt the need to confirm so there were no misunderstandings. Gwen smiled and everything in him relaxed.

  “Yes. I did.”

  “You called me a man whore last night.”

  She grinned. “I vaguely remember that.”

  “What changed your mind?”

  Gwen came towards him, rested her hand on one side of his face and kissed him. Her kiss was confident and bold. He groaned into her mouth and felt her smile against his lips. His heart rate went into overdrive as she pulled away.

  “Johnny told me you warned Gabe off.”

  It took several moments to process that and then, “Gabe’s a gossip.”

  “Is it true?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Then I’m glad he’s a gossip.”

  Trey maneuvered her over to the bed and unzipped her bomber jacket and trembled when he realized she wasn’t wearing anything beneath it.

  “Are you trying to kill me?” he murmured.

  “I want to stand out,” she teased.

  “You already do.”

  Gwen went down easily as Trey pushed her onto the bed. He held open the jacket and examined her breasts with a dreamy smile on his face. She felt as if she had three more mojitos. She was giddy with excitement and lust and she laughed. He grinned as he leaned over her and took her breast in his mouth. Her laughter faded and she squirmed as his tongue did wonderful things to her.

  She wasn’t aware when Trey got rid of her skirt, so she jerked when his mouth left her breast and licked his way down her abdomen to her core. He draped her legs over his shoulders and she screamed. Zach never went down on her and she thanked God she hadn’t married him because she wouldn’t be doing this now. She clutched Trey’s mouth to her with quivering thighs and fingers twined in his hair. She swore she felt his mouth curve into a smile. She writhed against him and screamed his name as she came.

  When she could think again Trey was inside of her and kissing her breathless. She could taste herself on him and he was throbbing inside of her as he thrust. His breath was harsh as he raised himself and looked down at her.

  “Can you take it hard?”

  She smiled. “As hard as you can give it.”

  “Thank God,” he groaned. “I can’t wait.”

  He sat up, gripped her by the shoulders and pounded into her. Gwen watched him hungrily. Seeing him like this as he thrust into her, eyes glazed with need for her, Gwen soared over the edge again. He shouted as he felt her contract around him and he climaxed with her. He slumped over her and they stayed that way for several minutes.

  She stretched beneath him and couldn’t stop the smile on her face. God, everyone woman in the world should have sex like this. She frowned. Not with Trey but a man like him. She waited for the mental lashing from her conscience but there was nothing. Even her conscience had been sated by Trey. What a concept. She just had sex with Trey Phoenix- country superstar, friend and now lover.

  “I knew you’d be good,” Trey said against her neck.

  She stroked back his hair. “You were amazing.”

  She felt him twitch to life in her. She moved against him, heard him groan and knew this was going to be a night to remember. If she was going to ruin their friendship, she had to make it worth it, right?

  He nibbled on her neck and got up with effort. He sat up and looked her over with heavy eyes. She looked at him too and wished she could take a picture so years from now she could peek at it and say, ‘Once upon a time he was mine.’

  “Let’s take a shower.”

  Trey pulled her out of bed and into his tiny shower stall. Trey used the tiny space well and by the time he flopped with her on his bed again, they were both quivering with aftershocks. Although he should have been exhausted, he spread her out on his bed and investigated every inch of her as if he’d never had a woman before. Gwen let him explore and didn’t feel an ounce of shame with his eyes so heated for her. His energy filled the room and it was that same adrenaline rush they experienced onstage, but he had it directed solely on her. He was revved up and she lost track of time. Trey seemed insatiable and when he finally relaxed, she lost track of how many orgasms she’d experienced. More than she had in the past two years…

  Gwen waited for Trey to get up and move away from her. She wasn’t sure what his bed protocol was, but she was pretty sure Trey didn’t sleep with his women. Most men in his position didn’t. She was exhausted and drowsy and she wanted nothing more than to wrap herself around him and sleep, but… She wasn’t sure exactly what they were doing. She didn’t want it to be awkward in the morning, waking up beside him if this was a one-night stand.

  She poked him. “Are you sleeping?”

  “I don’t know,” he groaned and nuzzled her temple.

  He was good in bed and a snuggler? She pushed him away so she didn’t ask him to marry her. Trey didn’t budge.

  “You need to go to the bathroom?”

  She liked that he sounded drugged and exhausted. “No. I need to go to my bus.”

  “What for?”

  “You know… for clothes and sleep.”

  Trey raised his head and looked at her through one eye as if that was all the effort he could put into the act. “What’s up?”

  “I don’t want to crowd you,” she said.

  Trey snorted and lay boneless over her again. “I don’t think I’m the one that needs space. You have major trust issues we need to talk about when I can think again.”

  She thumped his shoulder. “What trust issues?”

  “Not now,” he moaned. “Let me get some sleep and you should get used to this.”

  “Why?”

  “Because this is how I want you.”

  Gwen woke alone in Trey’s bed. She sat up and ran a hand through her tangled hair and listened. She smelled breakfast and the bus was moving so they were on the road again. She couldn’t remember what city they were heading to. She took a deep breath. No matter what happened this morning, last night was amazing and it was worth it. For almost two years now, Zach was a black cloud that hovered around her, casting doubt and guilt over her. Last night, however, she exorcised him countless times.

  She untangled herself from the bed sheets and was surprised to see a bag with a change of clothes for her and some toiletries. She saw her cell on top of the clothes and saw the messages from Johnny on the screen. I hope it was worth it. She texted him back, Better than you! Johnny’s message came back almost instantly. Bitch.

  Gwen snorted, stood and stretched. She hadn’t had a night like that ever. She refused to worry about how Trey would be this morning. She couldn’t control it. She wanted to replay the events of last night in her mind and just savor the memory. She knew what kind of guy Trey was. She’d always known.

  Dressed, refreshed and determined to face Trey without nerves, she walked out of the bedroom just as Trey set eggs, hash browns and bacon on the table. He saw her standing there and came towards her. He was dressed in a pair of sweats and nothing else. He cupped her face in his hands and kissed her slow and easy. Gwen grasped his wrists and leaned into him.

  “Break
fast and we need to talk,” he said.

  Talk? She sat when he pushed her into a seat and plunked a glass of orange juice in front of her. He sat across from her, said grace over the meal and began to eat. She eyed him like a hissing viper as she began to eat. She was starved but his ‘we need to talk’ made her stomach dip. Was he going to tell her not to get attached or ‘last night was great but I think we need to keep this professional?’ Her leg bounced beneath the table as she examined his upper torso. On the inside of his left bicep he had a line of lyrics from his first solo hit and on his wrist was a tattoo of army dog tags in honor of a brother he lost ten years ago.

  Trey finished his breakfast and drained his glass of orange juice and looked at her. Gwen fought the blush that wanted to creep over her face. She was thirty one not eighteen and she wasn’t a virgin, which he now experienced for himself. She had her own moves and-

  “The other night you told me you were engaged.”

  All sexy thoughts flew out of her head and she blanched. “When did I tell you that?”

  “You were telling me you found the perfect man.”

  She groaned. “I must have been out of my mind.”

  “In all the times we talked and you flew around to meet me, you never mentioned this perfect guy.”

  There was something in his voice that made her look up. His blue eyes were bright and hypnotic. She cleared her throat and began to shred her napkin. “I keep my personal life separate-”

  “I’m your friend,” he interrupted.

  She bit her lip. “Yeah, but when I met you, we were always talking about songs and the tour and it wasn’t about me.”

  From the hardening of his face, he didn’t like her answer. “That’s going to change. You didn’t tell me you were engaged. Would you have gotten married without telling me? Damn, Gwen!”

  She crossed her arms defensively. “I probably would’ve had a small ceremony in White Mist. You were on tour and… Okay, no. I probably wouldn’t have.”

  “What happened with the perfect guy?”