Charlotte turned up and I could see she meant business when she pulled that ugly blue leather bound organizer out of that oversized Louis Vuitton bag of hers. “Evening, Gibson, I have a few things I need you to sign off on and there are radio competition prize winners and VIP ticket holders to meet.”
Again, I was pulled in the opposite direction from Chloe and for about half an hour I wasn’t even able to be in the same room as her. I should have been attentive, talking to the fans and asking them questions to put them at their ease, but all I could think about was Chloe in a room full of women that I’d boned and the thought of what might be going on scared me half to death. What if they started challenging her like Tori had? Would Chloe have the stomach for it?
“I told Zandra to tell the others to stay clear of Chloe.” As usual Len had my back. Those words made most of my muscles from my shoulders to my knees sag in relief. Len clapped a hand on my shoulder in support because I never had to voice my worries to him, he was just always really perceptive to what I needed to hear. I knew there was going to be some bad shit happening at some point, but I would rather Chloe and I have the time to work some things out before that occurred.
“Johnny had an update on the ‘fuckwad’ that Chloe was with. I told him it could wait until tomorrow now. That particular issue needs to be handled in the right way, Gib. Promise me you won’t lay a hand on him.” Len was staring at me looking all concerned and shit, and I’d never fought with anyone, my smart mouth always whipped their asses before they even tried to throw a punch.
I’ll admit to violent thoughts at the mention of Kace’s name and my jaw ticked when I ground my teeth. Feeling it and doing something about it was different. I wasn’t stupid enough to touch him because doing time for someone like him would only hurt Chloe more.
“Jeez, there you go again. Is there anyone in this world that believes that I can take care of things in a way that is palatable to everyone? Len, make no mistake, I will deal with this guy, and when I’m done with him his balls will be hangin’ out to dry. That doesn’t mean I’m gonna lay a finger on him. Watch me—I have better things planned for that fucker.”
Len snickered and let the subject drop and we started shaking hands, signing t-shirts, posters and CD covers, then bid our fans goodnight before heading back to the hospitality room. My eyes roamed the room, searching for Chloe before the door was fully open. Spotting her over by the table in the other room where she had been eating earlier, I began to walk towards her.
I knew Tori hadn’t been a problem for Chloe, because she had been with us. But Erica was a devious bitch and she was deep in conversation with Chloe. Erica had conned her way into my bed more than once with her wily charm and manipulative ways and she was a slut.
All that said— she was a very pretty looking woman with sleek dark brown hair cut in long layers, olive colored skin and huge brown eyes. Flaunting her sexuality and a real head turner, with her long slim frame dressed immaculately in rock chick style, fishnet stockings and six inch black patent stiletto shoes, she was most men’s fantasy girl. Everyone liked Erica. Despite her manipulative ways she did have a great personality.
When Erica’s eyes met mine, she smirked wickedly and instantly my heart sank to my feet. She’d been standing with one knee on a chair showing a hint of lacy garter and as soon as she noticed me, she slid her leg down off the chair, smoothed her pencil skirt down and sashayed toward me. Scowling darkly, I knew there was nothing I could do but react to whatever she said in a way that let Chloe know that I was not that guy anymore.
Reaching me, Erica invaded my body space by slapping her hands firmly on my ass and tugging me against her, so I took her by the shoulders and shoved her back at arms’ length.
“What the fuck do you think you’re doing, girl? Don’t ever touch me like that again.” My voice sounded aggressive and with hindsight my reaction only confirmed that I had something to hide, so I decided to be honest about it. “Chloe is my girl and you will do well to respect that. Whatever life was like backstage before she came on board is over, understand?”
Chloe looked hurt because my reaction told her that she had been one of my ‘many’. Pushing past Erica, I began to make my way over to her but she turned and walked quickly leaving the room. I felt sick to my stomach that Erica was even there and Chloe felt humiliated because of who I was in the past. The one thing I was relieved about was that Emma had gone directly after Chloe, so I knew she had some support and Emma would be in constant contact with Jerry, so Chloe was covered.
With Chloe out of the room I could let my guard down with Erica, so I turned my attention to her and I didn’t care who else was there. I thought I might as well address all of them at the same time and get it over with.
“Right. What the fuck was that?” Pointing at Erica. “You…don’t come back. Anyone else want to out me for fucking them?” Holding my hands out, I could see the others drop their heads because they were smart enough to know that I meant business. Pointing at the door I stated, “That girl is my life. Whatever I did in the past is in the past. She’s everything to me. If you saw the way I laid it out during the gig out there earlier, you’d fucking know that by now.
“Anyone fucks with my chances with her, I will end them, you all get me? As for you Tori, I saw the stunt you tried to pull earlier, and I nearly pissed my pants at how it backfired on you. Just because Chloe’s quiet doesn’t mean she’s a pushover. M3rCy has eleven gigs left and I’m clarifying for everyone in the room here. Tori, I have never fucked you and never will, understand? So drop the spurned chick routine, you were never in the running. To be frank, I’m at the point where I’m ready to change the set and push your sorry ass out the door. You want to stay? Then I want no more of your bitching around Chloe. I mean it— one more word and you’ll find my boot in your ass and the exit door slamming shut.”
Just as I was finishing my rant, Chloe pushed the door open and strode over to me and for a moment I thought she was going to slap me, but she pushed me down on the black leather sofa and straddled me, taking my head in her hands and started speaking to the women in the room but looking at me.
“So what Gibson said? All of you better believe it, because I intend to keep this man happy for a long time to come.” Bending forward, Chloe grinned naughtily, then ran her tongue sensually along the seam of my mouth and I instantly put my hand on the back of her head to take her in a hungry kiss.
With my kiss Chloe got bolder and from the heated look in her eyes, I could see what was happening was empowering her sexually. Breaking the kiss, she grinned and wiggled her crotch back and forward on my hard dick, but when my hands ran up her sides she was shaking slightly, the only sign that she was nervous about what she was doing. She was giving them a clear message, who was I to put a damper on that?
Sliding my hands under her ass, I edged forward and stood up with her, her knees next to my chest as I headed towards the door. “Excuse us but we have a plane to catch, enjoy your party, Len…see you and the guys in Seattle tomorrow at the gig.”
Chloe clung to me with her face buried in my neck as I began walking down the dim blood- red painted corridor toward the exit. Emma pushed open the exit door and gave me the thumbs-up signal and Jerry was waiting immediately outside in the car.
Placing Chloe on her feet, I still held her close with my arm wrapped around her lower back. Chloe stared up at me and I sensed she had a multitude of feelings running through her head because her face was kinda registering partial expressions that morphed into other ones. I felt she was trying to shut out feelings Erica and Tori had caused her, just because I had chosen her to be with. Before I let her go, I had to say what was on my mind.
“Chloe, I’m sorry, that must have been so fucking hard for you to deal with. If I had known this day would come I’d have never been with any of those women. The last thing I ever want is to humiliate you. I love you, and I feel fiercely protective of you, but I’m sorry to say that this won’t be the last time
something like that happens. You just gotta look at it like all those women were practicing runs for the time when I got to be with you.” I smirked after I said it because it sounded conceited.
Chloe stared intensely at me and worked a swallow, biting her lip for a second then she took a deep breath, “It’s not your fault, Gibson. What you did before we were together isn’t up for debate any more, I just need to toughen up and deal with the negative side of loving you.”
My heart stopped, then beat wildly in my chest at the word ‘love’ escaping that sweet mouth of hers. With wide eyes I asked, “You think you can do that, Chloe? Love me?” Chloe’s hand tightened on my t-shirt and she twisted it in her fist, looking down at what she was doing before looking back up at me, her eyes brimming with tears. Working another swallow she was overcome with emotion and I just stood there holding her, while she struggled to compose herself enough to speak.
Clearing her throat she swallowed noisily again, then let go of my t-shirt and spoke softly, her voice cracking with emotion.
“Gibson, it’s been no time at all, yet you already own my heart. Every waking thought I have you are in it or a consideration in it. You made me love you, how could I not? I’m scared Gibson, but I know that you control how my heart beats. It beats wildly when you are near and aches when you’re not. When you are happy, I am happy. When you feel, I feel. Trust is hard for me and I’m trying with that, but I can’t deny the feelings I have for you that are overwhelming me. You make me feel safe. You make me feel fearless to deal with the negative vibes that people give me just for being with you.
“I can accept your past Gibson, because it is what it is. You never did any of that to hurt anyone, but I think you ended up hurting yourself because you want to commit to me now and everything that’s happened before continues to follow you. I love you so much it hurts, but I’m scared of what that means for me in the long term.”
Chloe admitting her feelings and how vulnerable it made her suddenly became a huge responsibility for me. I prayed to God that I didn’t fuck this up with her after she disclosed that she loved me. Telling me wasn’t done in a romantic setting or during a time when something spontaneous might have fallen out of her mouth, but to me it was the best way possible, because of what she’d just witnessed and the shit she’d dealt with during the day. So for me she’d given me the normality I’d been desperately seeking and in my line of work that was a rarity.
CHAPTER 17 - PEP TALK
Chloe
Tired of condescending remarks from beautiful-on-the-outside-ugly-on-the-inside women, I couldn’t wait until it was time for us to leave M3rCy’s after party. Tori had been a bitch but the final straw for me was when a groupie called Erica made a play for Gibson right in front of me. Gibson’s guilty look told me she was someone that may give something away he didn’t want to have to admit to. From how he reacted to her come-on it was blatantly obvious that he’d slept with her and was embarrassed about it. Either that, or he was worried that it would embarrass me. It did.
Everything that happened today suddenly caught up with me and I felt like I was suffocating again and when I saw the pained pitying look he was giving me, it all became too much. I just had to get out of there so I stupidly ran.
“Chloe, wait.” Emma was running behind me and caught me by my arm just as I was hitting the exit bar on the door leading out to an alleyway. Jerry began to step forward and the car was waiting, but Emma put her hand up in an I-got-this motion and Jerry turned and walked slowly to the front of the car, giving me the space and privacy I needed at that moment.
“Well, Chloe? What are you doing? You are just gonna hand the hottest piece of man candy I’ve ever seen to a whore? Because if that’s your fight girl— I’d hate to see what you’re like when you roll over.” Emma’s words incited fury in my belly like I’ve never felt before and I almost tore her off a strip for implying that I was weak. Especially in light of how hard I was fighting all those kind of feelings after how Kace had treated me, but that’s exactly what had just happened.
“You don’t know me yet, Chloe but trust me you got to go back in there because if you don’t, every groupie in every town will do what Erica did. Want to know what I saw in there?” Emma’s eyes searched my face waiting for me to give her the go ahead but whether I’d agreed or not, I knew she’d give me her opinion anyway.
“Gibson was mortified at her approach, Chloe. I read remorse on his face as plain as day. You know what I saw in her? Erica was someone desperate to rock the boat, but someone who was inconsequential to the man that loves you, Chloe. And, as I’ve stuck my neck out I may as well finish, if you don’t get back in there and claim him, you’ll humiliate him. As far as I can see that guy is completely knocked out by you, but is somehow still standing. You may not be aware of this, but he can’t take his eyes off you. I’d give my life for a guy who looked at me like that. Gibson has this…hypervigilance around you, and a constant need to check that you are still there.”
Emma was giving me a great piece of advice, even if I wasn’t feeling it. I knew she was right. I had to show Gibson and those women my intentions toward him if we were going to get a smooth run at this.
So I walked back in there with renewed determination and shoved him down on the sofa, climbed over to straddle him and Gibson seemed delighted I had come back. Shortly after that, Gibson lifted me and carried me out of the room with my arms wrapped around his neck, him cradling my ass in his hands. We’d just given everyone in the room a public display of affection, but it was more than that. All those groupies knew that Gibson was mine and that I was willing to fight for him.
Just before we got into the car, Gibson and I had a moment and I admitted I needed to toughen up, then told him that his past is the negative side of loving him. Immediately Gibson jumped on this and asked if I thought I’d learn to love him. It wasn’t the way I wanted to tell him but I couldn’t hold it back any more, so I told him.
Staring wide eyed with a stunned look on his face, Gibson froze for a moment, then he looked thrilled at my admission, his face brightening as soon as he’d gotten over the shock of my declaration. When I slid toward him along the back seat of the car, he squeezed up close beside me and kissed me so passionately, I was worried he was going to try to get me naked for a couple of minutes.
The flight from Chicago to Seattle took about four hours and we slept for most of it. Slowly, I was beginning to know the man behind the rock star. True to his word, he passed out after being on stage and slept like a baby almost all of the way there.
Every time Gibson told me I was beautiful or called me darlin’, my heart skipped a beat. Every time he held my hand, my heart swelled in my chest, and every time he told me he loved me it felt like I was going to burst. Everything Gibson had said and done since we’d first spoken on the phone had made me fall in love with him.
The transfer took no time and we had the now customary kitchen back door welcome on the way to the penthouse. Since we got in the car, I had been feeling queasy, but I thought it was because it was 5.30am and I was just overtired. The previous twenty hours had been packed with some big emotional events.
Gibson became very attentive helping me undress, giving me water and something to settle my stomach and it was as much as I could manage just to get myself into bed. Snuggling up behind me he was very careful not to put pressure on my belly and just laid his hand on my thigh. Kissing the back of my neck he whispered, “You don’t think you could be pregnant do you?”
Stiffening instantly, I wondered what was going through his mind with his thought. Was he horrified? Did he even want children? That particular subject hadn’t even been a distant consideration in everything between us. I was feeling too sick to panic about that, but knew that I had already made sure that I’d never have a child by Kace, by having a Depo-Provera shot. My last one had been only seven weeks ago and I normally had it every three months, so I knew I should have the birth control aspect covered. “No.” I didn’t
have the energy to explain, because I was fighting the nauseous feelings inside.
Kissing the back of my neck, Gibson leaned forward and murmured to me. “Darlin’, whatever it is, know I love you, know that I never want you to be sick and know that I am with you for the long haul if you’ll have me.”
Squeezing my thigh for effect at the same time as I felt his hot breath hit the back of my neck, I felt reassured that if there were an unexpected pregnancy, he wouldn’t be staying with me for the sake of the child. The normal reaction to something that profound would have been for me to turn and face him but I was too exhausted and felt so sick, I was scared to move.
Somehow, I managed to drift off to sleep, only to wake two hours later with the overwhelming feeling that I was going to vomit. Gibson was startled awake by me tearing out of bed and trying to make it the bathroom before I vomited everywhere so violently it made my head swim.
Gibson came rushing into the bathroom after me, grabbed a wash cloth and ran it under the tap. My body convulsed as I heaved, spewing the contents of my guts while Gibson placed the cold flannel cloth at the back of my neck and scooped my hair out of the way and held it. “I got you, Chloe.” His soothing tone did nothing to stop the continuous retching and I wasn’t even embarrassed about him seeing me that way.
After twenty minutes, Gibson turned the faucet on in the bath and steam filled the bathroom. I had stopped vomiting but my stomach ached and my guts growled sensitively, like there may be more to come. Already naked, Gibson placed me into the bath and he began wiping my face, stopping periodically to kiss the top of my head. “Damn, Chloe. That was like the vomiting scene from “The Exorcist.”
Barely raising a half smile as Gibson helped me out of the bath. I was feeling so unwell I wasn’t sure I was going to make it back into bed. Gibson wrapped me in a towel, then swiped his phone off the nightstand and called the hotel reception. “We need a doctor and our bathroom cleaned.” Throwing the phone on the bed, he came over and began to rub me dry. “Come on darlin’, let’s get you back into bed, you look terrible.”
Trusting Gibson (Last Score Book 2) Page 15