Fully Automatic (Bullet)

by Jamison, Jade C.

  All three bands met at Village Inn a few days before the tour started to iron out the last few final details, and Ethan made a huge display. He was obviously on something, and he was all over Val. She let him, but his friend was acting possessive and alpha for no good reason. It was ridiculous and embarrassing. All Brad could figure was it was because Ethan was trying to send a signal to all the guys on tour that Val was his. Brad could halfway understand it. Val was beautiful and hot, and she was the only woman in their baker’s dozen. Ethan felt the need to let the other men know she was his and they’d better not lay a finger on her.

  Still…he could have been more subtle about it. Instead, when they continued talking out in the parking lot, Ethan pushed Val up against the van and let her have it full on. Jesus. It was awkward and uncomfortable. If he started feeling her up or some shit, Brad was going to have to step in. Ethan stopped just short of it. And instead of saying anything, Brad took a deep breath and continued talking to the other people in their group, trying to ignore Ethan’s territorial display.

  Once they got on the road, though, he grew excited. New audiences, more fans, new sights. Brad planned to do all the driving for his band. They would only be driving during the day and, other than the first day, it didn’t seem like they’d be on the road more than six hours at a time, so he knew he could do it. When it came to the van, he was a bit of a control freak. Hell, he was a control freak about everything, because he felt like he could ultimately only trust himself. It had paid off thus far. He didn’t think it bothered any of his bandmates for the most part—sure, some of them bitched once in a while (like when he organized duties at their apartment), but they got over it. He decided if he got super tired, he’d ask Val if she wanted to drive, but she was the only one he’d trust to do it.

  It was just two days into the tour, and Brad sensed a weird shift in the dynamics of the group. He wasn’t sure exactly what was going on, but he knew something huge was happening between Ethan and Val. Neither of them said a word, but by day three, they weren’t talking to or looking at each other—and yet Val looked like she was having a hard time not smiling.

  Maybe that meant that she’d finally told Ethan goodbye for good. But the last time she’d done it, she’d been miserable until they’d gotten back together. Something serious and heavy was going on, but he didn’t want to get in the middle of it, so he wasn’t going to ask. As long as the band was functioning okay, he’d keep his nose out of everyone else’s business. And, if he knew Ethan and Val as well as he thought he did, he’d find out soon enough.

  Turned out he was right. Ethan was angrier than usual but didn’t say a word. He knew it was because, when it came to Val, the guy didn’t trust Brad. Maybe he’d had every reason not to a year earlier, but in the present, he had nothing to worry about. Brad had made a promise, and he wasn’t about to break it.

  He started putting two and two together, though. First, Ethan started sleeping in the room with the other three guys, confirming the split. But then Brad noticed that Val and Jet were hanging together—a lot. And when Jet draped his arm over Val’s shoulder after one of the shows and whispered in her ear, Brad thought he’d figured it out.

  It was a little disheartening. Brad was glad Val had managed to escape the toxic hold Ethan had over her, but she’d jumped right into another relationship. He knew Jet might just be rebound guy, but it bothered him. Still…he and Jet had always gotten along. Jet was a good guy. A bit of a party animal, but he respected the hell out of the guy, and if Val kept smiling like she was, he guessed he’d find a way to live with it.

  Val confirmed his suspicions not long after he’d figured it out. One night, they were loading up their equipment after another great but exhausting show, and she pulled him aside when they’d finished. Whatever it was, it was making her nervous, so he tried to look calm. “We’re spending money on an extra room, but I’m not using it. Well…I’m using it to put on makeup and get dressed, but that’s it.”

  He didn’t want to jump to conclusions, even though he was pretty sure he knew what she was saying. “Why? What’s wrong with it?”

  She blinked and said, “Nothing. I’ve just…been spending the night in someone else’s room. And I figured we were wasting money. You can either just not get it, or one of you guys can share it with me.”

  Even though he’d known, the admission felt like a wrecking ball to the chest. He forced air into his lungs and hoped his expression was as neutral as he was aiming for. He tried to sound casual and upbeat. The truth was the rooms were already reserved, so he figured they were stuck with them. “That makes it mine now, and I’m kinda glad. It was hard enough sharing a room with two other guys, and now we’re back to four in a room…well, mostly.” Since she’d broached the subject, he had to know for certain. “So…you and Jet…pretty serious?”

  She blinked again and then shrugged. “For now, I guess.”

  He nodded. “Come here.” He put his arms around her. He needed to hide his face from her. They were close friends, but he loved her. He fucking loved her, and it was hitting him fast and hard. He needed a few seconds to pull his shit together. “You know I’m always here for you, right?”

  “Yeah. Same here.” He had to let her go or she’d figure out things weren’t right with him. So he did and then she asked, “It’s okay if I leave my stuff in your room, right? And if I dress and all that stuff, but the bed’s yours?”

  So…she was sleeping with Jet but leaving her shit in another room? That didn’t make sense. So he wouldn’t be able to just ignore it. He’d be reminded of it constantly. But what the hell else could he say? So he said the only thing he could. “Yeah, we’ll make it work.”

  All their conversation had done, though, was open a wound he thought had healed. No, it had just scabbed over, and Val had ripped it back open. It was raw and painful again, and Brad felt like breathing was an effort. He had to do something to get her off his mind. He wasn’t going to survive if he couldn’t find a way to let her go for good.

  * * *

  A few nights later, several band members were partying together again, and a few fans had joined them. A gorgeous brunette was flirting with him, telling him how much she loved the band, the show, and especially Brad himself. She kept touching him and leaning in to whisper in his ear, and he decided maybe she could get his mind off Valerie.

  He barely saw Val anymore. He saw her during shows and while they drove from one venue to the next, but her free time she was spending with Jet. He couldn’t blame her, he supposed. She was infatuated with the guy. He made her feel loved and wanted, and he suspected that he gave Val everything in him, unlike Ethan. Even when Ethan was faithful with Val, he kept a part of himself closed off. Brad understood why, but that didn’t make it easy for Val to accept.

  Yeah…the girl named Brittany touching his arm. She would be a one-night thing, but it would be a good first step. Awesome sex managed to alter the course of his thoughts enough that he knew it would at least make the whole I love Val revelation a little less fresh. So when she asked, “How many girls ask you for a private concert?” he took that as his opening.

  “I think you’re the first.”

  She bit her bottom lip and then smiled. “Well…?”

  He shrugged. “Come on.” He crushed the empty beer can and tossed it in the trash on his way out. He was glad no one commented on the fact that he was leaving with a girl, but he wasn’t going to act all cute about it. He put his arm around her shoulders. She wanted to feel special for the night with him; he would give that to her.

  He led her out to the van and unlocked the trailer, pulling out his guitar case. She could only see what the parking lot lights illuminated inside, but she could tell it was full. “Holy crap. You guys have a lot of stuff.”

  “I guess people don’t realize what all goes into making music. It’s more than just a guitar.”

  “Yeah, I guess you’re right.”

  They walked up to his room, the one that was o
nly his…and the place where Val stored her luggage. He’d felt a little guilty at first for having an entire room to himself, but he justified it in his mind. He was, for all intents and purposes, not just their guitar player; he was also their manager. He deserved to be spoiled a little once in a while. And, as he led this beautiful girl into that room that was only his, he was glad he’d decided to be selfish. Nick—hell, even Zane and Ethan—might not care if they found a girl who didn’t mind fucking in front of other people, but Brad wanted a little more privacy…and he wanted to be with a girl who didn’t feel the need to be an exhibitionist.

  When they got to his room, Brad invited her to sit on one of the beds. On the other, he laid his guitar case down, opened the snaps, and pulled out his newest baby. He’d bought it for himself for his birthday—a beautiful work of art, tight and cherry-colored, and she had the loveliest tones. He’d fallen in the love with her the first time he played her, and she made playing onstage a treat.

  He knew too that girls got off on guys playing their guitars. He couldn’t quite understand why, but he wasn’t going to question it, especially not now. He sat next to her on the other bed and started strumming a song no one else had ever heard. Without an amp, he couldn’t really give her the “concert” she was wanting, but the song he was playing—one he’d written about Val—was one that sounded better on an acoustic, and an unplugged electric mimicked (although poorly) the sounds of an acoustic. Still, it didn’t do the song justice.

  That didn’t matter, though. He looked up at her and he thought his jaw would hit the floor. She really was getting turned on by it. She was rubbing the back of her neck and fluttering her eyes, acting hot and bothered. He wanted to throw the guitar down and start fucking her, but he wasn’t going to. He was going to keep playing until she either asked him to stop or he couldn’t take it anymore. It was definitely a turn on.

  He could have sung to the song too, but he didn’t want to break the mood. Even if the song hadn’t been mournful and sappy (and probably what Valerie would describe as generic), the words would have pushed her away. They were about his pining for another woman. He doubted that would keep her aroused.

  When the song was almost over, she said, “Kiss me.” That was all he needed to hear. He slid the guitar off his lap and onto the bed and placed his hands on her cheeks. Oh, she tasted sweet, and Brad didn’t know if it was because he’d once again waited too long. She raked her hands down his chest but then he realized her hands were no longer on him. She was unbuttoning her blouse.

  Holy fuck, it was gonna happen fast. Yeah, that was what he needed. A girl who wanted to call the shots. He decided he’d kiss her until she was ready for him to take over.

  Only it never happened. She took her bra off next and, before Brad could even touch her, she was feeling herself, moaning into his mouth. Okay…still a turn on, but he wondered when he’d be able to step in. Then she stood, leaving Brad sitting on the bed with his cock straining against his jeans, and she kicked her shoes off. Next she peeled her tight little red vinyl pants off, followed by tiny little thong panties. She flashed a seductive smile at Brad and crawled up on the bed, but she did it beside the guitar. He turned more on the bed to look at her. She brushed the headstock with her hand and then slid her palm underneath, lifting the guitar up at an angle, its body resting on the bed. She lifted the headstock close to her face and then started licking a tuning peg. Goddamn. He had no idea why he was finding this so hot, but he was. This chick was fucking making out with his guitar, and it was insane the way his body was reacting.

  She wasn’t done, though, and Brad wasn’t sure if she wanted him to take over or just watch. He was mesmerized. Brittany slid the guitar further down the bed and then lay down, her head resting on one of the pillows. She lifted a leg so that the shaft of the guitar was between her thighs, and she rested a foot on the body. Part of him wanted to tell her to stop, because he was afraid she might hurt his guitar, but he was frozen. He was wired too, so close to losing his load, it wasn’t even funny.

  She wrapped one hand around the fretboard, lifted her foot off the guitar body, and brought the headstock to her pussy. Her legs were spread wide, and she bent her knees and tilted her pelvis to meet the very top of the headstock with its smooth, curved, polished wood, and she rubbed it against herself. She moaned and then shoved a finger in her mouth, biting down. She kept rubbing his guitar up and down her slit, and she got louder as she did it. She slid her hand down her neck and chest to play with a nipple and Brad was entranced. He couldn’t move. All he could register was that he was more aroused than he’d been in ages and it was almost painful. She rubbed one more time and gasped again, then lay the guitar down and let her fingers take over. She cried in ecstasy while Brad sat there and watched in agony.

  Could he jump in now? Would she even let him? He wasn’t sure what move he should make.

  Fuck it. His cock told him to try. Unlike Brittany, though, he felt his guitar was precious, and he gently lifted it off the bed and laid it on the other one. Then he pulled off his shirt and lay next to her. Her eyes were closed and she looked peaceful, and he almost didn’t want to disturb her. He rested a hand on one of her breasts and brought his lips to hers, giving her a soft kiss.

  “No, no,” she said, pushing against him with her hand. “That was perfect.”

  How’d he manage to pick them? She kept shoving him hard, though, and then she forced him down on the bed. By the time he felt her hands on the waistband of his jeans, he was sure he was going to explode. He didn’t, though. Then she pulled his underwear down and spat on her hand, taking his cock in her fist and massaging it vigorously. If he hadn’t been so aroused and so close to the edge, he would have had trouble, because she was aggressive—too aggressive. But it wasn’t even a minute and he let it go, a burst of pleasure exploding in his mind and making him forget everything else—five glorious seconds of nothing but happiness, and he was going to ride that wave.

  Chapter Forty

  AFTER BRITTANY FELL asleep, Brad cleaned his guitar with a damp washcloth. He had no problems with bodily fluids, but he did know that guitars had to be treated with respect and love and had to be kept clean, something he did with his religiously. He knew the oils and grime from his fingers weren’t good for the finish, so he figured it was better to not take a chance with anything else. He’d never say a word to her about it.

  That had to be one of the most bizarre sexual encounters he had ever experienced. Uh, yeah, he got off and so did she, but could it even be considered sex, considering his cock got nowhere near her female parts? Hell, all he’d had to do for her was play his guitar. Weird.

  So he lay next to her on the bed and had a hell of a time falling asleep. She hadn’t rocked his world like he’d hoped. He needed someone to drive the image of Val out of his mind for good, and he had yet to find the right woman for the job.

  He managed to doze off, but he didn’t sleep well. He finally got up around seven and turned the TV on. He flipped through channels, finding nothing that grabbed his attention, but he was passing the time. He wanted to sleep but knew it wasn’t going to happen.

  He started drifting off, though, and that was when he heard his phone go off. He got a text. He picked the phone up off the nightstand and read it. It was Val. She’d been coming over every morning to shower and dress after spending the night with Jet, and she wanted to again. He mulled it over for a few minutes, trying to figure out how to tell her nicely that he didn’t want her there.

  He decided not to text her back, because he’d taken too long thinking about it. She’d be knocking on the door any minute. So he jumped out of bed and threw on his jeans that were on the floor beside the bed. Then he grabbed the t-shirt he’d thrown on the other bed. He snatched the card key and stepped out the door. Sure enough, Val was already there.

  She had a big grin on her face. “Look at you.” He frowned, not sure how to ask what he needed to. No matter what hadn’t happened between him and Brittany
the night before, he wasn’t going to have Val traipsing through the room until Brittany was gone. “What?”

  He took a deep breath. There was no easy way to say it. “Would it be too big an imposition to ask you to come back in a while?”

  She considered it and said, “I’ll do you one better. Can you just bring me my suitcase? I think I have everything else I need.”

  That was cool and had wound up being easier than he’d expected. “Be right back.”

  He went in the room, closing the door behind him. Her luggage was next to the dresser, so he picked it up. Jesus. It was heavier than it had a right to be. He stepped back out into the hallway. “What the hell do you have in here, Valerie? Lead?” She laughed. “Seriously…you need me to carry it?”

  “No. I’ve got it. It has an extending handle and wheels.”

  “Okay.” He had to find a way to let her know he appreciated her attitude. “And, uh…thanks.”

  She grinned again. “So what’s gotten into you, Brad?”

  He smiled back. Truth—always the truth. “I got needs, Val, just like any other guy.”

  “I know. Just givin’ you shit. You know I respect the hell out of you, right?”

  Well, hell. No, he didn’t know that. She might have even said it once or twice, but it had never sunk in. He and Val had a solid friendship, but he had never thought of respect before. He was pretty sure the other three guys in their band didn’t feel the same way. So he said, “I think that’s the nicest thing anyone’s ever said to me.”

  She pulled the handle out of her suitcase and started wheeling it down the hall, away from him. “Well, don’t let it get to your head. Get back to your lady friend.”