I breathed through it, though, and let Will do the talking.
Until the first question was aimed at me.
“Suli, a few people have posted video of you throwing fans around. Can you tell us what happened?”
“They broke past the barricades and stormed us. I was already floating on adrenaline after the concert, and then it was pretty scary with all those people grabbing at us. Someone hurt Silver, but I think the rest of us are okay.”
“Have you had martial arts training?”
I shook my head. “Nothing formal. I grew up on the Cherokee reservation in North Carolina, so the forest was my teacher.”
“Did the forest teach you to play the guitar?”
“No, my second grade teacher taught me to play the piano, and the next year I taught myself to play the guitar.”
“You’re quite thin. How do you stay in shape?”
Will laughed and answered for me. “She’s on this bizarre diet plan where she eats half her weight in some kind of meat every day — and other than running a few times a week — rarely does any formal exercise.”
I shrugged. “I like steaks. And barbecue. And fried chicken. Oh, and pork chops. Okay, he’s right. I eat a lot of meat.”
“So, you don’t eat carbs?”
“I don’t like sweets, but I don’t avoid carbs on purpose.”
“You had to start over again on Fighting Myself. What happened?”
“It’s the first time I’ve performed it live and it just didn’t start right. You only get one first time and I wanted to do it right.”
She looked to her notes and back up. “Byran told us this isn’t his band. He says the four of you are Mythic Beast, and if he’d just been finding backup musicians he’d have chosen differently. Can you tell us how this works for you?”
“He told me the same thing, but I still assumed he’d be calling the shots. He’s the recognizable talent, but he hasn’t acted that way at all. We vote on things, we decide stuff together. He’s been in a band where everyone was an equal, and it’s what he wanted again. I never expected to be singing a piece with Byran Wilson backing me up, but the rest of the band kind of insisted.”
“You wrote Fighting Myself?”
I nodded and she asked, “Can you tell us what made you write it?”
“I might talk about it someday, but for now I’ll just let the song tell the story.”
She looked to Silver and my heart sank. Will had made it clear to everyone we agreed to talk to, that if they asked anything about Silver’s gender, one of us would ask the interviewer if they liked to take it up the ass, and how old they were the first time they gave or received a blowjob. My wolf has become protective over our bass guitar player, and I hoped everyone minded their manners.
I breathed a little easier when the question was, “Silver, will you be singing your own song at some point?”
“I don’t think so, but we’ve all been a little surprised at what’s come out of our songwriting sessions. Suli’s great at pulling harmonies out of thin air to go with lyrics, and we all seem to come up with lyrics at odd times. Byran did such a good job of pulling us all together. Animal and Suli worked together in Nashville once, and I’ve worked with Animal a few times, but we were still mostly strangers connected by music at first.”
She looked to Will, “Why these three? What made you pick them?”
“I know the cliché of it being lonely at the top is old, but it’s the truth. I travelled with people who were hired to make sure I made it on stage and kept making them money. They didn’t understand the artistry, or why some things had to be just so. I wanted my own people.” He looked at us, grinned, and looked back to the reporter. “We’ve become a little family. It’s our band. I’m not alone anymore.” He shrugged. “I wanted people I liked, who had soul, and who could get lost in the music as much as I do. I interviewed and auditioned a whole lot of people before I found the right musicians, but as soon as I saw each of them, I knew they were the one.”
Chapter 35
Ghost
By the time the bus pulled out and we all got into bed, Hailey was beyond exhausted. It’d been a long-assed day, and none of the band were interested in partying as the bus headed for their next venue.
Their full-blown tour wouldn’t start for another six months, but they were kicking off the album’s release with a dozen concerts as we drove home from California. The band would show up in a few nightclubs for surprise appearances, they’d play at some sporting events, and they were scheduled for several large venues in bigger cities, too.
There were also plans to do some sightseeing and hit a few amusement parks, and I’d made sure Hailey and I could get away to run on the full moon. Thankfully, it’d worked for us to be in a city with an RTMC chapter, so we’d be running with them on the third night. Hailey feels the moon when it’s full, but isn’t ruled by it as most wolves. I still need to run though, and she’s more than happy to run with me.
I’d been seriously worried about Hailey living in such close quarters with humans, but she’d managed fine on the trip out. Luckily, these humans all like to run several times a week, so she’d been able to run through parks and around urban centers to work out some energy. The bus had two treadmills embedded in the floor at the back of the bus, in case someone wanted to run while the bus was moving, or when it was raining, or when security said it wasn’t safe to go out. They also had every video game console, and a huge library of video games.
The bus behind us was basically just a sleeper car with six three-high bunks (for a total of eighteen beds), a few sofas and a bunch of chairs up front, and a tiny sink, refrigerator, and microwave. It housed a variety of managers, directors, engineers, and techs, as well as the merchandise people, security, and the off-duty bus drivers. Of course, the bus drivers double as security, techs, or sound people. Actually, several people do double duty.
I train with the security people but I won’t let Will pay me. I’m here for Hailey as her boyfriend who happens to have skills in protection. If it makes them feel better for me to be familiar with security protocols and part of the grand design, that’s fine, but I answer to myself and Hailey. So far, it’s worked okay. The head of security’s good with it, though a few of the grunts aren’t. Sucks to be them.
I closed the curtain around our bed, turned Hailey so she faced me, and moved her face to my neck. She wouldn’t ask me for it, but I could feel her hunger.
She kissed and licked, sighed, and pulled her head away to meet my gaze.
She mouthed, “You sure?”
I nodded, kissed her forehead, and aimed my head to the side to give her easy access.
She didn’t ask again, though she moved slow as if she were giving me a chance to change my mind. I stayed relaxed as her teeth touched my skin, and groaned as they sank into the soft tissue and I felt her pulling and sucking.
She took more than she usually does, but not enough to weaken me, and I groaned again as she licked the wounds to be sure they healed. I turned her back around so she was spooned into me, and we both fell asleep.
* * *
The final concert of this trip was at Philips Arena in Atlanta, and Hailey got enough tickets for the entire MC and their ol’ladies, as well as most of the other influential supernaturals in Chattanooga.
The band played three encores, and the group hug at the end showed just how much these four had bonded in the short time they’ve been together.
Will always smells more Fae after he’s performed — it’s doubtful he knows he’s about a twelfth (or less) Fae, but it’s likely one of the reasons people are so drawn to him. Animal is crazy as fuck and I like him, but I doubt the boy could fight his way out of a garbage bag. He’s tall and strong and looks bad-ass, but just the thought of physical confrontation makes him smell like he wants to run.
And Silver. What can I say about Silver? One night the band got drunk together and Hailey said, “Silver, you don’t have to tell us anything personal,
just tell us what fucking pronouns you want us to use!”
Silver had answered, “Don’t give a flying fuck. If I feel female to you, call me a she. If I feel male, call me a he. You don’t even have to use the same pronouns all the time. If it feels right, use it.”
“Serious talk,” Will had said, “that works when it’s just us, but what about when we’re talking to media?”
“I don’t know. Either don’t use any pronouns, or maybe work it out ahead of time so one of you refers to me as male and another refers to me as female? I’ve managed to be neither and both most of my teenage and adult life, and I intend to keep doing it.”
Somehow, he’d managed. Silver has the waistline of a thin emo-boy, but in the right clothes it looks like a woman’s waist. She has small boobs, but also a teeny bit of an Adam’s apple. Her hands and feet aren’t obviously male or female, and at times he walks feminine while other times she walks like a teenaged boy.
Will was clear from the beginning that he didn’t want the band members to be with each other romantically, and it seemed everyone was keeping to it. Will and Animal had both taken advantage of the sweet-butts and hang-arounds at a few of our RTMC parties, but Silver hadn’t. She seemed to talk to Knife more than the other brothers, but I didn’t think anything was up with them.
All this to say, Will grabbed me in a bear hug as he came off stage, his emotions running high as he said, “Love you, man. Thanks for being here for all of us.”
I hugged him back, and then got to see my status as a heterosexual male put in doubt all over the entertainment world the next day. Never mind the hundreds of shots of Hailey and I kissing and hugging all over the internet, I guess it drew readers to make it sound as if the three of us were a poly group.
But I wouldn’t know anything about that for hours, because we went from the stage to a small party for those with backstage passes. Hailey had worn ripped white jeans on stage, and by the end of the concert they’d shown more skin than they’d covered. She’d started out in a tight t-shirt but stripped down to sports bra by the end. She’d also started the evening in black hiking boots, but was barefoot by the end. Thankfully, my wolf was okay with her stripping as far as she did on stage, because I’d have had to fight him if he’d had a problem.
I’d once told her she’d never wear just a sports bra in public again, but she managed to pull the look off with class on stage. She’s beautiful, and all I could see was the kick-ass musician who needed to cool off towards the end of the set — not someone stripping for attention.
Thankfully, though, she showered and changed into low-slung jeans and a tight t-shirt for the party. I wasn’t sure where the cowboy boots came from, but they seemed to fit her current mood.
“What’s that smile for,” she asked as she touched up her makeup and brushed her hair again.
“I love you, and I’m proud of you, and so fucking happy you’ve found a way to show off your music the way it should be.”
“Thanks for being so supportive. I know why you felt you had to come on this trip, but you won’t have to be with us all the time when we go on tour for real. It’ll be enough for you to fly to us on our downtime. You have a life in Chattanooga.”
“You’re important, Shortstuff. The club and I’ll figure out how best to fit your schedule into my status. I’m not sure my wolf will be okay with you on the road and us in Chattanooga, but we’ll see how things go.”
After the backstage party, the band and I left the arena on the bus, followed by the RTMC on their bikes as we made our way to the hotel, where Will’s people had booked a huge ballroom to throw a helluva party.
I wasn’t surprised when Dawg had as many girls on his arms as Animal and Lord Byran — and I have to call him by his stage name here because he wasn’t the Will we’re used to seeing. I’m pretty sure the other wolves smelled Fae on him, too, and I noted Gabby took a special interest in him.
I was also a little surprised Pixie had come, and I smiled when I saw her talking shyly to Will later. It was odd, because he switched to Will to talk to her, but was back to Lord Byran again when I saw him dirty dancing with some girls later in one of the little windowed alcoves.
Hailey had to mingle and talk to people, and I’ve never loved my brothers more than this night, when one of them interceded and pulled her away every time someone got too handsy with her. She didn’t have to tell anyone to back off, because a dude in an MC cut stepped in and said, “Mind if I steal the little lady away?”
And who in their right mind would say they minded?
I knew she wanted to introduce Cam to Will, so I reminded her when I saw Cam and his little family arrive. Instead of taking Cam to Will, she grabbed Will’s arm and dragged him to them.
“Will, this is Cam — he’s the dancer I told you about. He floats through the air like he’s figured out how to beat gravity. He’ll be perfect for the idea we have for the video for Visions and Dreams.” She swatted Will’s arm. “Stop looking at him like he’s fresh meat! He’s in his own poly group and I doubt they’re looking for a fifth.”
I kissed the top of her head before I walked across the room, where Gabby was sitting alone, people watching.
I sat in a chair at an angle to hers and observed the room with her a moment before I asked, “Is everything okay with you? It’s been a while since we talked.”
“You put me on your bike and got me out of town, when you didn’t even know who was after me. You just knew I was terrified, and that was enough.”
I nodded, unsure of where she was going, but she was right about me getting her out of town when she’d run into the gun store and hid behind the counter, curled into a ball on the floor.
“I didn’t understand how the MC worked back then, but ya’ll brought me into it by keeping me safe.” She grinned towards Hailey, who was taking a selfie with Will, Cam, Isaac, Frisco, and Cassie. “I’m glad you could go with her and keep her safe, but we’ve missed you. Horse is looking forward to having you back in the store, and the classes you’ll be teaching are filled a month out already.”
I chuckled. “I’ve missed you, too. All of you. It’s nice to have family to come home to.”
Horse came to get Gabby, and I met Hailey at the food table, where we both loaded up on chicken and ham.
We’d checked into the hotel the night before, which had given Hailey and I a night of sex — otherwise there’s no way in hell she’d have stayed until four in the morning, as Charlie wanted them to. The band was hosting the shindig, and he said they needed to stay and party.
I did, however, take her to the little family bathroom for a quickie once or twice. Okay, three times, but who’s counting?
When we could finally leave, I aimed Hailey for the shower as soon as we hit our suite.
“You smell of too many people, and I’m sure I do, too.”
“Want to bite you later, while you’re coming in me.”
My dick throbbed in my jeans, and I ripped her t-shirt off. “If you want to keep the other clothes, I suggest you have them off by the time mine are gone.”
We were both naked and in the shower seconds later, and I groaned as she grabbed the soap and went to work cleaning my cock.
“Rinse the soap and get on your knees. Need to fuck your throat and let off some steam.”
“Want you in my pussy Dare, not my throat.”
“And you’ll get it, but not yet. It’s been a while since I spanked you, but don’t think I won’t still do it.”
“I’m as strong as you now.” Her hand continued stroking my cock, but her eyes were a clear challenge.
Somewhere in my human brain, I knew this could make or break our relationship. If I tried and failed, I wasn’t sure how my wolf would deal with it. If I tried and succeeded, how would her wolf handle it?
One thing was certain, though — I had to accept the challenge. To let it go would be to admit defeat without trying.
I didn’t do anything to acknowledge her challenge. I pulled her
head to me and leaned down to kiss her. Fifteen seconds in I smelled when she let her guard down, and I gently slid her hand off my cock before I grasped her wrist, spun her around, and pulled her hand up her back so I could control her.
I folded her in half, lifted her, and walked us to the huge master bedroom. I could control her like this, but holding her in place while I spanked her would be another story.
I dropped her on the bed and used an MMA move I’d learned from Ethan Levi. Before she could fight me, she was on her back and my arms were wound around her torso and knees so she once again couldn’t get leverage to fight me.
“Challenging the wolf was a bad idea,” I told her, my wolf closer to the surface than I usually let him.
“Fuck you!”
“If you want later, we can certainly do that, but first I’m going to show you I can spank you.” I held her gaze a few seconds, and all I saw was defiance. No submission. “No way out of the spanking, Hailey. I’ll stop when I think I’ve made my point, and if you need to change and heal when I finish, you can. You understand I don’t have to worry about injuring you, right?”
“I don’t want to do this, Dare.” Finally, a touch of submission, though not nearly enough.
“And yet, here we are.”
I let go with one hand long enough to grab a pillow, put it beside her head, and secure her again. I flipped her over so her face was buried in the pillow, lodged my shin into the back of her neck, held her hands where I wanted them, and commenced to giving her the spanking of her life.
I stuck her face in the pillow because she didn’t need to breathe, and I knew her screams would bring security. She tried to scream but couldn’t, and she fought me like a wild cat.
I’ve never spanked anyone as hard as I can before — not even when I’ve spanked other wolves — but on this night I let Hailey have all I could give her.
As she kicked and moved I pummeled her ass, the backs of her thighs, the insides of her thighs, and the sides of her hips. I rained the strikes fast and hard with no mercy until she stopped fighting, and then I rubbed the swollen, bruised, purple mess I’d made.
Ghost: The Rolling Thunder Motorcycle Club, Book 8 Page 24