“Ughh. Go away,” she jested, handing him a tissue from her bag.
Instead of taking it, he put a hand to his eye. “Arghh,” he groaned.
“What’s wrong?” She moved towards him, concerned.
“I’ve got something in my eye. Can you see anything?”
She closed in to look in his blinking eye, just spotting the wicked smile growing on his face before he grabbed the back of her head and pushed her onto his full greasy lips. Slipping his tongue inside her mouth.
“Oh gross!” She pulled away, wiping her lips hurriedly with the back of her hand before giving him a light hearted slap on the chest.
Still chuckling, he lead her away from the main market to one of the record shops, down in a basement below a skate shop. CD’s were becoming more popular but Jonny still loved vinyl records. The sleeve art in particular. The walls and counters covered in colourful images.
As always, he worked his way alphabetically around the racks to the section marked “K”, to check out the stock of the Karma Life catalogue. Satisfied, he approached the assistant stood behind the counter.
About the same age as Jonny, his hair was parted in the middle, swinging just above his bottom jaw line in time to the beat of Oasis on the turntable. Curtains. That was the name of this hair style that had tidal waved over England in the mid-nineties. It was rare for men to have a trend to emulate and this one captured most in their teens and early twenties, whether they suited it or not.
That was the problem with fashion for Jonny. It worked for some people; everyone else just looked like sheep. Following the trend to be part of a tribe.
This guy pulled it off though. His open fronted checked shirt, half masking a Stone Roses’ t-shirt branded him one of the new Brit-pop fans.
Jonny wondered if Curtains knew anything about what he was about to ask for. He decided to go for it anyway. Having checked the display himself, he already knew it wasn’t out on the shop floor.
“Don’t s’pose you’ve got Nirvana’s “Bleach” LP have ya? The Ninety-Two remastered version.”
Curtains looked up, jutting out his jaw, a habitual movement to probably stop his hair getting stuck in his teeth when he spoke. “Don’t think so, but I’ll go check the stock out the back.”
He disappeared into the store room. Leaving Jonny to scan through the tracks on the LP that was reverberating throughout the basement.
“What you asking about?” Eliza enquired.
“That Nirvana album I’ve been after.”
“Oh. Kurt Cobain. Such a shame.”
Curtains reappeared. “No, sorry mate, just got the original release.”
“Yeah, got that already. Thanks anyway.” Jonny now drumming his fingers on the counter to “Cigarettes and Alcohol.”
A long finger protruded from Curtains unbuttoned shirt sleeves. Jabbing at the air in front of them. “Hey, aren’t you two in a band.”
“Might be,” Eliza teased.
“Knew it. Which one?”
“That would be telling.” Eliza wasn’t going to reward him that easily. Working in a record shop, he should know.
As they were climbing up the spiral staircase, Curtains shouted after them. “Karma Life. You’re from Karma Life.”
Jonny saluted back down to him.
“Cool. Banging.”
The start of “Hollow” drifting up the stairs into the skate shop after them.
Eliza paused outside on the granite stone sett street. “I’ve got to go back to meet your mother at the hotel now.”
Jonny checked the time on his watch. “Okay, let’s get a taxi. I’ll walk back to Berwick Street, once I’ve got you safely to the hotel. I’m meeting Joe and Badger there.”
Chapter Seven
He was in his fifth store when Joe and Badger caught up with him. Still no luck with finding the Nirvana album.
“Hey guys.” He exchanged shoulder level hand clasps with them both.
“Like old times, eh Jonny?” reminisced Badger.
“Sure is. How many hours must we have spent in record shops over the years?”
“It’s what Saturdays were made for,” said Joe.
“Yeah, that and then losing your purchases down the Marquee.” Badger laughed.
“Or leaving them on the night bus on the way home,” added Jonny.
“Hey, do ya remember that time we all fell asleep. We must have gone on that circuit three times before the bus driver woke us up.”
They all laughed. Banter came easy to the three of them. As if they had never been parted. The last few years melting away.
“Come on, let’s get a beer,” Jonny suggested.
They walked to the corner of the street and elbowed their way through the patrons of the busy pub to the bar. It didn’t seem to matter what time of the day or night it was, the pubs were always busy in London. Suited men having lunchtime pints vaguely disguised as a business meeting; tourists resting their weary feet after pounding the hard London pavements and shoppers drowning their overspend sorrows.
Time of day didn’t count in a pub. Music blaring from a juke box. Lack of natural light. Conversations to be had. Alcohol fusing it all together. It was easy to lose a full afternoon in a pub.
“Anyway, cheers lads.” Jonny raised his glass to theirs and they all simultaneously drank the first third of their pints. Unanimous customary sighs and “ah’s”, followed by “I needed that” type comments.
“Let’s grab a table.” Jonny nodded towards a group of shoppers that were scooping up their bags, ready to vacate.
They sat down on the impossibly small, chenille upholstered stools. Joe offered Jonny a cigarette. Out of habit Jonny nearly took one, before retracting his hand and shaking his head.
“No thanks. So Simon not with you?” Jonny asked rhetorically, with more than a hint of sarcasm. He never expected Simon to come along. Not after the reception he received last week.
“Huh.” Badger snorted. Not having to explain the meaning of the dismissive noise he just made.
“So how’s it going?”
“Same old, same old,” Joe sang.
Jonny raised his eyebrows. “Thought it was all happening for you guys again? With you being at the awards in Amsterdam, and all?”
“Well it is, sort of. It’s just tough you know. We’ve not had many breaks and have had to go back to day jobs. But then that’s not really working either, ‘cos we have to take so much time off. Have to keep on top of the rent, you know. So bit skint really.” Joe explained.
“The label has been quite supportive though. Getting plenty of exposure and promoting our third album. So you never know, we might be on the brink of it all again. Just such a bummer having to start again after we were nearly there before with…” Badger tailed off.
“You,” was the word he didn’t say, but the one they all heard.
Jonny nodded. “It’ll come. Probably when you least expect it.”
“What about you? See you and Eliza are still an item.”
“Yeah everything’s sweet. We’re looking at houses in London. Thinking about living here permanently.”
“Hey that’s great. We’ll have to hang out a bit more often then.”
Jonny nodded. Eyeing up the cigarette Joe was dragging on and sitting on his hands to suppress the temptation. “You got any gigs booked then? It would cool to check you guys out.”
“Actually, we’re pulling together a tour.” Badger announced, looking nervously at Joe.
“Cool. Where?”
“Well that’s what we’ve been asked to speak to you about.”
Jonny put his pint down and lifted his head, as if to say “go on then, might have known this wasn’t just a catch up for old time’s sake”.
Joe continued with forced enthusiasm. “The label thinks it would be a really good idea if we tagged along with Karma Life on the US tour. We’ve got a few dates in the UK but none of the promotors are interested in the US. They thought if we were one of your support a
cts it could work. You know, as a last minute bonus for the US fans. Bit of a reunion angle to it.”
Jonny sniggered, drained his pint and stood up. “Really good to see you both. Hope it goes well for you.”
Leaving them open mouthed, he walked out of the pub and back towards Claridges. Chastising himself for being so naive. Now he was famous he had to consider everybody’s motives. Nobody was quite what they seemed anymore. It took most of the walk back to the hotel for him to lift his head from the pavement and remember how lucky he was. A blip like that was rare and he shouldn’t let his judgement cloud because of it.
Back at the hotel he stopped by the dining room. At first the Maître d’ wasn’t going to allow him in. Apparently, he wasn’t dressed appropriately but when Jonny’s family waved him over, the Maître d’ thought better of it. Rather allow him in for the few minutes he asked for, than cause a scene. Jonny took off his cap, ran his fingers through his hair and pushed his sunglasses onto the top of his head.
“You were quick.” Eliza commented, greeting him with a kiss.
“Yeah, I’ll tell you about it later.”
He gave his mother a hug before turning to his grandma. “I didn’t expect to see you today.”
“Jonny, when are you going to stop growing?” his grandmother joked.
He didn’t want to say, “it’s you getting smaller”, but that’s what he thought. She looked fragile and much older than he remembered. Her perfectly powdered face felt like soft velvet when he kissed her cheek, her blue eyes pale had not even a hint of a sparkle to them. He relaxed his grip on her when he gave her a hug, worried he might fracture one of the many bones that he could feel protruding through her finely knitted cardigan.
“Why don’t you pull up a chair and join us Jonny?” his mother suggested.
He glanced around at the Maître d’. “I would mum, but I only said I would be a second. I don’t think they want me in here dressed like this. Anyway, I don’t want to spoil your fun. I’ll come and see you tomorrow. Catch up with dad and grandad too.”
“I’ve got some houses lined up for you and Eliza to see, so I’ll definitely see you tomorrow.”
“Great. I look forward to that.”
Putting a hand on Eliza’s shoulder and giving it a gentle massaging squeeze. He then leaned in to give them all another hug and kiss; walking out of the tea room with a heart that felt unusually heavy. His mood a little sombre.
Just before he got in the lift his mobile phone rang. Joe. He let the lift doors shut. The signal to his phone dropped, cutting off the call. He didn’t need any bullshit excuse or another angle on the plea Joe had made earlier.
Letting himself into their suite he walked straight out onto the roof terrace. The elevated calmness soothed him as he looked out over the London skyline. It was beautiful and he was looking forward to spending some time there with Eliza tonight. Just the two of them in this city he called home. He rang down to Room Service to place an order for later that night.
When Eliza returned to the suite Jonny was still on the terrace, she could hear him strumming his guitar and singing.
It was unusual for him to sing. It wasn’t that he was bad, far from it, it’s just singing was her thing and strumming his.
She halted just inside the door, pushing it shut quietly behind her. Tiptoeing across the lounge area towards the roof terrace, she hovered behind a large potted aspidistra placed on a tall ceramic stand near the doors leading out onto the terrace.
There he was. Her man. Playing an enchanting melody and singing some amazing lyrics. Her heart fluttered.
The secret show was short lived. He felt her presence, as he always did, almost the minute her eyes were upon him.
“Angel? You startled me.” Getting up from the padded teak chair, he balanced his guitar against the table leg and walked towards her.
“That’s beautiful. What is it?” She crossed the threshold, draping her arms around his neck.
“Just something I’ve been working on.”
“Well make sure you write it down, so we can record it at the studio.”
“Write it down? Ha. Not likely. But don’t worry I won’t forget it. So how’s my mum and grandma?”
“Fine. Your mum’s got a few estate agents on the case and we’ve got some viewings lined up for tomorrow morning.”
“Cool. Whereabouts?” He padded into the bedroom and picked his phone up from the bedside table.
She followed him to the door of the bedroom. “Primrose Hill, Bellsize Park, Blackheath and Holland Park.” Pleased with herself that she had remembered all four areas.
“Excellent.” Jonny frowned. His facial expression not matching his comment as he studied the screen on his phone.
She picked up on it and paused, cocking her head to one side. “What’s up Jonny?”
“Not sure. Just got a bunch of missed calls from Joe and a few voicemails.”
“Oh yeah? How did it go with Joe and Badger?”
“Not that well really.”
Eliza entered the bedroom and sat on the bed. She unlaced and kicked off her sandals and laid her head back on one of the huge pillows.
“Come on then tell me what happened.” Patting the bed next to her.
He laid down on his side, resting his head up on his hand. “Not a lot really, they just wanted to tag along with us on the US tour. Support act or something.”
“What did you say to that?”
“No, of course. Well actually, I just walked out. Thought they wanted to meet up to chew the fat.”
“Chew the fat?”
“Yeah talk about shit. Just hang out. When really they just wanted a piece of me. Of us.”
“Do you think Simon put them up to it?”
“Yeah probably.”
“So what is Joe ringing you for then?”
“No idea.” He turned over, picked up his phone and proceeded to delete the voicemails in an act of indifference. “Anyway, changing the subject, seen as we’ve got a full on day tomorrow, I thought we could maybe spend some time here tonight. On the terrace. Chilling and…”
He leant across and started unfurling the bow on the white leather lace that kept the bodice of her dress together. He became totally lost in the act. Loosening the strap and slipping his hand into the front of it, softly caressing one of her breasts. Circling the pad of his thumb around and around her nipple, watching it intently as it hardened. He loved the way her body responded to his touch and her nipples were definitely one of her most erogenous areas.
“Chilling and fucking.” He finished the sentence, emphasising the second syllable of each verb.
He leant in to lick the end of her nose and tweak the, now erect, nipple.
Her back arched in response to the mixed sensation of pain and delight. She emitted the slightest of moans.
He moved his hand across to the other breast fondling it gently before pulling at that nipple too. Putting his lips lightly on to hers, so the sensation of being there, but only just, awakened the nerve endings. Blood rushing to their lips as if to plump them up and make them touch, melt into each other. He delicately licked and then tugged on her top lip, pulling it into his mouth. Fuck. How he loved that lip. He sucked and nibbled at it before raiding her mouth with his tongue. The exchange of pheromones driving them both on.
He pushed himself up and straddled her waist, the weight taken by his strong thighs.
Her breasts exposed. He sat for a delicious moment drinking in the sight. Coppery golden hair spread out against the stark white bedspread. Grey and green flecked eyes lustful with desire. The creamy flesh of her breasts rising and falling.
He reached behind his head and pulled off his t-shirt with one hand. Raking his fingers back through his hair.
She lifted her hands to his waist and traced her fingertips with the slightest of pressure up his abs. Then dragged her fingernails across his chest. His nipples hardened to the touch.
Cock twitching, strained in his jeans. He t
ook one of her hands and pressed her on to it. She boldly rubbed the outline. The force of the strain against the denim becoming unbearable.
She popped open the buttons on his jeans and it sprang out. Proud and within licking distance. The cool air conditioned room tingled on the shaft and, as she held it and pulled down the skin, the tingle spread to the soft silky inner tip. She raised up, her breasts soft to his hardness, rolling it between them with her hand before lowering her head and generously lathing it with her tongue.
He let out a low growl. His head falling backwards.
She circled her tongue around and around and then plunged her hot moist mouth onto it. Drawing her teeth gently back up.
His bottom jaw dropped open and he quickly bit down on his lower lip to keep himself alert. He wanted to be aware of every sensation. Every slight touch. Every tingle.
His hips started pushing gently back and forth.
He put his hand on the back of her head, grabbing a handful of her hair in his fist.
Hips moving faster, holding her head onto him. She sucked harder. Slightly more and it would have been painful. Slightly less and he would be there all night.
He forced his eyes open and looked down at her. She returned the gaze, through hooded lids. Her eyes lustful. God she was beautiful and right now she was making him feel like a king.
The sight of her pushed him over the edge.
“Fucking hell Eliza. I’m…” His hips stilled. Pulsing into her mouth. He let out a stifled groan.
He sat back down and passed her his t-shirt to wipe her mouth, before tumbling down beside her.
Lifting her head up onto his chest, he wrapped his arm around her.
“You are so beautiful Angel.” He kissed the top of her head, then lifted it up with his finger so he could look into her eyes. “It’s your turn next and after that performance I promise I’m gonna make sure you come all night long.”
She smiled wryly. “We best have a nap then, so you’ve got plenty of stamina.”
She slipped out of her dress and under the duvet; immediately falling asleep.
Jonny was jealous of Eliza’s ability to sleep pretty much anywhere, anytime. Insomnia was never a problem for her, unlike him. Laying for a while stroking her hair, his mind was ticking over too much to sleep, he decided to get up and change into his running gear.
Loving his ANGEL_A Rock Star Romance Page 5