Love Defined

by Kelli McCracken

  It was a low dig, but witty nonetheless. I stuttered for a response. When I accomplished nothing more than sputtering like a fool, I released my frustration in a groan, wiggled out of Mia’s grip, and exited the room.

  Quick strides led me to the men’s restroom, but I didn’t go in. I stood outside, lost in my thoughts. Like it or not, Mia was going to be my manager. If I walked away from this opportunity, I’d regret it for the rest of my life. It was my band’s only shot at reaching the spotlight.

  Still, how the hell was I going to spend time with Mia, planning my career? Every time she entered my view, all I wanted was to pound her sweet little pussy until she screamed my name and came.

  Fuck, I was a mess. How could I let a woman get to me this way? None had before now. Nothing made sense.

  “Yo, Darius. Wait up.” Boone called my name as he sprinted toward me.

  Roman and Wyatt were standing near the door to our dressing room just as Mia and Andi walked out. Mia glanced in my direction long enough to meet my gaze. Then she made her way back to the bar.

  Once Boone reached me, he pointed over his shoulder. “Some of the girls are supposed to meet us in a few for drinks at the bar across the street. Then they’re coming back to the hotel suite. You still down?”

  “Fuck yes, I am.” I gave him a high-five. “God, I love groupies.”

  “You and me both, brother.”

  As I followed him down the hall, I was thankful for the reminder he had given me. Surrounded by groupies, I wouldn’t have to worry about working with Mia Brooks. So what if I’d never get the chance to fuck her? I had other women waiting to meet my every desire.

  I’d allow Mia to bring my band fame and fortune. That’s where it would end. I’d rely on my regular girls to provide me with pleasure. Regardless of what was ahead, I’d make this work. I had to.

  2

  ~Mia~

  Bodies were everywhere. Hair. Hips. Breasts. Legs. You name it, I saw it, and it came in multiples I couldn’t calculate. The living room in Rebel Stone’s suite was full of half-naked women. Every sofa, every chair, every inch of the floor was covered by sleeping or possibly intoxicated young women. Some looked very young, and I questioned whether they were old enough to be here. That thought worried me more than the thought of what had gone on inside the suite last night.

  A drunken night of debauchery never ended well when underaged girls were involved. If Rebel Stone’s members had sex with minors, I would not cover for them. Any sponsorship my grandfather gave them would be dissolved, and I would be free to head home.

  Setting the boxes of doughnuts I’d brought with me on the counter, I gripped my purse straps and tiptoed around the women lying on the floor. I made my way to one of the doors, unsure who occupied the room. There was only one way to find out. Besides, it was time to get this crew in shape. What better way than removing toxic habits from their lives?

  The knob turned with ease. I pushed the door ajar, relieved that it didn’t creak. As soon as the door was open, I glanced at the bed.

  Four girls doubled-up on either side of a man who slept in the center, oblivious to my presence. I studied the tats that covered every inch of male skin I could see. It wasn’t until his body shifted and his head turned to the other side that I realized it was Darius.

  It was the perfect scenario. I couldn’t have planned this moment any better if I’d tried.

  Easing my hand inside my purse, I pulled out a can and thumbed over the trigger. I wasn’t able to contain my laughter as I aimed it at the bed and pressed the trigger down.

  A shrill whistle echoed through the suite before I released the air-horn. Screaming commenced. Bodies sprung from the bed, the floor, and from other rooms in the house as women rushed to dress and flee the suite through the main door.

  When I glanced back at Darius, I bit my lip to hide the smile forming. Dazed and confused, he sat on the edge of the bed, clutching the sheet that clung to his hips. It hid my view of anything past his waist. Not that I wanted to see what was there. I’d partially felt it when I grabbed his nuts last night.

  “Rise and shine, sleeping beauty. It’s time to get up. You have a long trip ahead of you, and you still owe me an explanation for what I just witnessed.”

  “What are you talking about?” He rubbed his temple as he waited for me to answer.

  “Which part didn’t you understand—the trip or the explanation?”

  As I crossed my arms over my chest, he pinched the bridge of his nose.

  “Both,” he said. “Let’s start with the explanation you think I owe you.”

  “Were any of those women underage? Don’t you dare lie to me either.”

  “Fuck no.” Darius scowled at me. “I’d never do something like that.”

  “Did you check IDs?”

  “I didn’t, but Jason did.”

  Jason was head of his security team. I didn’t know much about him or any of the other security personnel, but I’d definitely find Jason and verify Darius's story.

  “You better hope like hell you’re not lying to me. Screw all the women you want, but it better be consensual and they better be legal. I won’t cover anyone’s ass. Got it?”

  He winced and shook his head. “Glad to know you think so little of me.”

  His words stung, but I couldn’t take any chances on what he was telling me. Trust was earned, and from what I’d witnessed so far, he didn’t deserve any.

  “So what about the trip you mentioned?” Darius asked after a moment of silence.

  “You have a show in Nashville this evening. We have five hours to get there, get you in the next hotel, and then to the arena for the show.”

  “Mitch never said anything about this.”

  Less than twenty-four hours into my new role, my authority was questioned again. If I were a man, Darius wouldn’t question anything I told him. It angered me to know he was intentionally ignoring my directions because I was a woman. Damn men and their sexist mindset.

  “Listen, you may not like the fact that I’m your new manager,” I said, “but facts are facts. Be grateful my grandfather decided to help your sorry ass. It’s time you listen to what I say and not give me any shit about it. You following me?”

  He still wouldn’t acknowledge me.

  As I fisted my hand, footsteps sounded behind me. I glanced toward the living room when I spotted Boone, Roman, and Wyatt leaving their rooms. At least they had on pants, except Boone, who was standing in front of his door staring at me and wearing nothing but a wide-eyed expression.

  “What’s going on?” he asked as Roman and Wyatt observed him.

  I should have turned around, but I wasn’t about to show any sign of weakness. Besides, this wasn’t the first time I’d seen a man’s junk hanging around like an uninvited guest.

  Instead of averting my gaze, I looked Boone in the eye. “I don’t know what Mitch has shared with you guys, but you have a performance in Nashville this evening. I sent him a list of additional shows I scheduled for your band before I made the trip. He was supposed to discuss it with you guys.”

  “Mitch is an okay agent, but he’s not top-notch,” Boone explained. “He doesn’t always share things with us. It’s one of the many reasons why our last manager quit.”

  I didn’t miss the way Wyatt shook his head. “Dude, the fact that you’re not wearing clothes right now is one of the reasons why no one can handle us.”

  “Piss off.” Boone flipped his middle finger at Wyatt. “I thought that damn air-horn was a siren and the hotel was on fire.”

  “Sorry for the rude awakening, Boone, but I didn’t think knocking on your door would suffice.” I shifted my eyes from Boone, ignoring the fact that he made no attempt to hide his package from anyone in the room.

  I focused on his bandmate instead. “Despite what you think, Wyatt, you’re wrong. I can handle you.” I hesitated when Wyatt’s laughter faded and his emerald eyes focused on me. “If you want to find success with this band, every singl
e one of you must get on board with what I say and do. If you have any issues with that, you can find another band. We don’t need any dead weight to carry.”

  I didn’t like being a bitch, but I refused to let any of these grown men treat me like a child. Yes, maybe I was younger than them, but my knowledge of this business went beyond anything they could comprehend. If they were serious about their careers, they had to prove it. I wasn’t giving them a free ride to the top.

  “You’re spunky.” A smile crept over Wyatt’s face before he glanced at Roman. “I like her. We need someone to kick us in the ass.”

  “Don’t encourage her,” Darius grumbled from his bed. When I looked his way, he stood, letting the sheet fall back to the mattress. I saw the curve of his ass and forced myself to face the living room again. Why did I think he wouldn’t be naked? He’d had four women in his bed. He sure as hell hadn’t been cuddling them all night.

  “What are you griping about, Big D?” Roman chuckled as he and Wyatt came into the living room. Boone went back to his room, hopefully for pants.

  “Give me a second,” Darius yelled back. He moved around the room behind me with heavy footsteps. Within a minute, he was walking past me, into the living room. At least he had on his jeans. Good. I wasn’t ready to see his ass again, or anything else.

  Darius dropped onto the sofa. He removed a bra from underneath him and tossed it onto the floor before easing back.

  “As I was saying, don’t encourage this one.” When he motioned to me with his head, his bandmates looked my way. He gave me a quick glance, then shook his head. “You’re way too chipper, and it’s way too early. I hate mornings.”

  “Well, you know what they say, Big D,” I used the nickname Roman called him as I leaned on the arm of the couch where he sat. “The early bird gets the worm, and that doesn’t count the little thing in your pants.”

  Laughter erupted from his friends as they pointed at him and yelled, “Burn.”

  It was obvious now. I would be working with children. Dear God, what had I gotten myself into?

  ~Darius~

  I slammed my clothes into my suitcase and zipped up the opening. Hopefully, I’d remembered to grab everything. If not, I’d blame Mia. She was the one who had us up early, packing our shit for another show we had no clue she’d scheduled.

  I’d be sure to give Mitch a piece of my mind when I saw him too. His skills as an agent were okay, but communication-wise, they sucked. I blamed him for my current bad mood.

  My suitcase thumped against the ground after I tossed it to the floor. The handle rested in my palm as I rolled it behind me. Roman, Wyatt, and Boone were already finished packing. They were downing a box of doughnuts and discussing a topic that made me cringe. Mia. Looked like she’d brought us breakfast when she came to wake us this morning.

  I glanced over the living room in the suite and cracked my neck. This place sure as hell beat the last hotel room we’d stayed in, back in Detroit. I owed Mia a thank you, but she wouldn’t hear those words from me this morning. All I wanted was to get on the tour bus, find my favorite seat in the back, and sleep until we reached our destination.

  “Big D,” Roman called to me. “Come grab a doughnut before we leave. They’re delicious.”

  Leave it to Roman to think with his stomach. That man could eat a twenty-inch pizza by himself and still have room for dessert. I swore he had a hollow leg.

  “I’m good, man.” I patted my belly. “It's too early. My stomach is still asleep.”

  Roman shrugged and grabbed another doughnut. “You’re missing out. Mia picked these up from a local bakery. Rick never did shit like this for us.”

  Gritting my teeth, I thought about our former manager. Roman was right. Rick never brought us food, he booked shitty motels, and he’d done a piss poor job of finding gigs. Our agent, Mitch, was the reason the guys and I were still chasing this dream.

  Rebel Stone wasn’t an unknown band in the industry. Our albums and concerts sold thanks to tours we had ten years ago, but we had yet to hit a bestselling chart. Financially, we did okay, but I knew it could be better. I saw bands who’d come on the scene two years after we did and they were making bank. Our music was just as good as theirs, so why the hell weren’t we earning more money?

  It had to be our manager. Asshole. For all we knew, he’d been pocketing money we didn’t know was owed to us. We were too busy having a good time to see what was happening behind our backs. As long as there was booze, women, and an occasional meal, we were happy.

  Those things still made us happy, but we needed stability. We couldn’t perform forever. Now was the time to build a nest egg so one day, we could live a comfy life.

  I wasn’t sure Mia could get us these things. She was cute and all, but it took more than perky tits and tight ass to get us where we wanted to go in this business.

  Still, I wouldn’t mind taking her body for a test drive. I’d get so much satisfaction hearing her say my name as her pussy clenched around my cock.

  “Dude.” Boone slapped my shoulder with his hand. “You deep in thought, or are you still drunk from last night?”

  “Maybe a little of both.”

  “I feel you, bro. The little tornado with tits and lips wreaked havoc on my head this morning.” He glanced away a moment and chuckled. “You like how I greeted her from my doorway, butt naked?”

  “Yeah, man. I couldn’t see her face. Did she freak?”

  “Nah, dude. That’s the crazy part.” Boone looked at me again. “She didn’t appear fazed.”

  “I’m surprised she didn’t comment on your size. She likes giving me shit.”

  “Well, there wasn’t much she could say to me. She knows the difference between a worm and a python.”

  My elbow met his ribs. I didn’t do it hard enough to hurt him, even if his comment deserved it. Boone loved to razz me. Our friendship surpassed the one I shared with Wyatt and Roman. We’d grown up together in the same small town in Ohio. He even followed me to Florida when my parents decided to move there when I was a junior, just a year before my mom died. He was the one who got me through it. My father sure as hell hadn’t.

  “You okay, Darius?” he asked.

  I nodded. “My mind is full, and it’s still half asleep, so yeah, I zoned out. Sorry, man.”

  “Come on.” Boone tapped my arm. “Grab your luggage. Let’s go load up. Roman just went to the bathroom and Wyatt’s returning the key to the front desk.”

  “Right behind you.”

  Once he stepped around me, I gripped the handle on my suitcase and followed him into the hall. Within five minutes, we made it to the first floor, through the lobby, and out to the tour bus. Mia wasn’t anywhere in sight. I assumed she drove ahead to secure our rooms at the next hotel.

  Good. I was glad she’d left. She was like a gray cloud hovering over me, mucking up my good time with her gloominess.

  As soon as we stepped onto the bus, I made my way to the back, finding my favorite spot. The blanket my mother had made me years ago was wadded up on the seat, along with my pillow. A few beer cans cluttered the seat beside mine, as did some potato chip bags, a few candy bar wrappers, and half a bottle of aspirin.

  “Home sweet home.” I grinned at the thought.

  “Dude,” Boone began as he tossed his overnight bag into the compartment above his seat, “if I ever get to the point where I’m calling this tour bus home, shoot me. This is not a home.”

  “It is when we’re on it.” I laughed.

  Boone shook his head as he plopped into the seat across the aisle. “A home is a place where everything you love exists. It’s filled with laughter, memories, and the people who love us.”

  “If that’s the case, I’ve been homeless since my mom passed. I don’t have any of those things you mentioned, not even in the house she left me. I sure as hell don’t have that at my dad’s house.”

  Thinking about my mom always left me with this crushing sensation in my chest. I missed her. Eighteen
years hadn’t healed the hole in my heart her death caused. She had been my biggest fan even before I’d formed the band. If she was still alive, she would be so proud…

  Hell. Who was I kidding? She wouldn’t be proud of the person I’d become.

  The tour bus door opened just as Roman and Wyatt entered. They bickered about which one of them the hotel clerk had flirted with most. I thought about razzing them until someone else boarded the bus, and I lost my train of thought.

  “What the hell is she doing here?” I said the words just loud enough for Boone to hear.

  “Who?”

  “Who do you think.” When I frowned at him, he glanced toward the front of the tour bus. I couldn’t help but notice him grin before he refocused on me.

  “This just got interesting.”

  The instant he flashed me a cheesy grin, I gave him the middle finger and looked back at the front of the bus. My focus remained on the woman who’d boarded. Mia.

  Fuck, this would be the longest trip of my life.

  3

  ~Darius~

  I slammed back a celebratory shot of tequila then tapped the glass against the bar, signaling the bartender that the guys and I were ready for round six. He gave me a thumbs-up and finished waiting on another customer. The instant I saw him grab the Patron, I focused on my bandmates.

  Tonight had not only been the best performance we’d given, but it was also the largest crowd. The adrenaline rush I got the second I walked on stage hadn’t faded. That’s why I was downing shots, hoping to unwind.

  Yeah, right. It wasn’t the only reason I was drinking.

  I gazed across the bar and glared at the young woman sitting opposite me. Mia. Her presence irritated me. With all the bars in town, why the hell had she chosen this one?

  A glass sat in front of her with some type of mixed drink. I wondered whether she had drunk any or if she had it sitting there for looks. She appeared to be working as she scribbled something in a notebook, but I swore she was following us like a damn warden.