Rock Star Ex Read online

  Everything about her showed that she loved him back then. He’d seen it in her smile, in the tone of her voice, in the way her body leaned towards him when they were together. There’d been a million different signs and now, it was gone. He hadn’t known how special it was until it was too late. He’d thought he would never have the chance again, and then she’d shown up at the Staples Center…

  He would give anything to have his Eve back again.

  There was a rap at the door and a roadie stuck his head in. “You guys are up.”

  The images in his mind continued to click as he walked to the stage. When he’d first figured out that she was messing with him he’d been offended and then amused. He certainly hadn’t seen it coming. And then during the video shoot it had become a competition, which he’d found hot beyond all reason. But he’d discovered something during that. He’d discovered that her body still responded to him. It remembered, even if she didn’t. That had to mean she still felt something for him deep down. Even if it was just lust, he would take it. At least it would be a start of some kind.

  ****

  Eve snuggled into the darkness of her bunk and pulled the privacy curtain closed. The concert hadn’t finished yet but she’d ducked out of it early, worn out from the events of the day. She and Kate had been on the floor for this concert, front row again, so they could get pictures and video of the band from the fans’ perspective. They got shots of the fans as well, for the Web site. Now that they’d gotten the most important links caught up they could spend more time on some of the less important stuff, like fan pictures.

  Devon had been magnificent tonight. He was powerfully magnetic and the fans responded accordingly. Every note of the words he sang had reached out and grabbed them, pulling forth a medley of emotions. Their eyes had followed him, entranced, as he moved up and down the stage and they howled when he writhed to the music.

  When the notes to Can’t Sleep had started up, Devon’s eyes had honed in on her in the crowd. All the feelings from just a few hours ago had surged up within her.

  “This one is for a very special girl I used to know,” he said.

  His eyes didn’t leave her as he sang and it felt like they were in their own world. Although it was Eve’s third time hearing the song, it wasn’t until tonight that she really heard all the words and realized that the song was definitely about her. In general the song was about heartbreak, but she knew absolutely that the lyrics were describing the first time they’d made love. She had stood rooted to the spot, memories flooding her mind, ones she thought she had locked securely away.

  He had surprised her that day with red tulips, her favorite flower. It hadn’t been an anniversary or anything special, as they’d barely been going out for three months. The most perfect three months of her life. He’d just felt like getting them for her. They’d hung out in her room, talking and listening to music that lazy Sunday afternoon. And then slowly and softly they’d started to kiss. And then clothes had come off…

  Kate hadn’t blinked an eye when Eve had cried exhaustion and headed to the bus early. It wasn’t until she slipped beneath the covers of her bunk that she realized how truly tired she was. It wasn’t just from the change of schedule, but the stress. Not only from taking on a big job but the stress of fighting all the emotions from being near Devon and having to process everything all over again. Thing she didn’t want to process but that naturally came forth for her mind to turn over. There were parts of her that had liked his attempts to talk to her, to reach out, and then there were other parts that were angry he hadn’t tried long ago. It was impossible to shut him out and hate him when she had to continue working with him, especially for the video. She didn’t even want to think about that right now.

  She barely heard the others when they clambered aboard and settled in after the concert. When the bus’ engine started up the steady vibrations eased her back over the edge into a deep sleep.

  It was several hours later, and still very early morning, when her ears caught a very light clicking sound. The soft emergency light of the bus shone onto her face and she realized someone had drawn back the curtain to her bunk.

  “Eve?” came the soft whisper. “Eve, are you awake?”

  She flickered her eyes the tiniest bit open and realized Devon’s head was hanging down from the upper bunk. “Wha…?” Before she was completely aware of what was happening his large frame was slipping in beside her on the mattress, crowding her towards the wall, and then he quietly slid the curtain shut behind him, blocking out all the light again. Her eyes shot open as he turned toward her and put his hand on her waist.

  “Shhh,” he breathed very quietly, “or the others will hear.”

  “What are you doing?” she whispered back.

  “I couldn’t sleep.”

  “I could.”

  “I wanted to talk to you.” He pulled the covers over himself so that they were together under them. She tried to scoot away and put space between them but there wasn’t any room.

  “About what?” Her grogginess had vanished and was rapidly being replaced by the awareness that he had only boxers and a tank top on. Her hands were resting on his chest where she’d put them to stop him from coming closer. She could feel his heartbeat beneath her hands.

  “Can’t Sleep.”

  “You just said that.”

  “No, the song,” he corrected, moving closer, his legs up against hers now.

  “What about it?”

  “It’s about you.”

  She was silent for a moment and then said softly, “I know.”

  “You do?” He was still, listening.

  “Yes, I just realized tonight. It was the first time I had really listened to the lyrics.” She could hear her own heartbeat now.

  “Oh. I just wanted you to know.”

  He shifted his hand on her waist and the feel of his fingers made her flush. She had felt much safer when they were in front of a camera. Being alone with him, here in the dark, was much different. Her hands relaxed on his chest, the fingers bending naturally. They were both quiet for a moment.

  “Do you remember?” he asked slowly.

  I kept trying to forget, was what she wanted to say, but didn’t. The moment was too peaceful, too familiar. It was almost like they were back in he dorm room, lying on the bed together. So she simply said, “Yes.”

  “Eve, it was one of the first songs I wrote when I was on the road. I wrote it when I was missing you so bad and all I had were memories to keep me going. I’ve thought of that night, I don’t know, hundreds of times.”

  “Oh.” She didn’t know what to say. She hadn’t imagined him giving her so much as a backwards glance in all this time. Knowing that he’d written a song based on a memory of her had been a shock.

  He smoothed the hair back from her face. His fingers ran all the way to the ends of the long strands and he scooted even closer. “Do you ever think of it?” he asked, so softly. If they hadn’t been close, she would have missed it.

  She paused, hearing the many other questions within his question. Their legs were tangled together now and his arm was bringing her close to him, pulling her head to his chest. Her body allowed itself to be pulled along like a helpless rag doll, tired of fighting it.

  “Do you?” he repeated in her ear, the warm breath tickling her skin.

  “Yes,” she breathed, hoping he wouldn’t hear.

  That was all he needed. He crushed his lips to hers and thrust his tongue into her depths, tasting her, possessing her. His hands were under the loose top she wore, kneading the skin of her back.

  Her hand came around his waist and fisted in his shirt as she tried to steady herself against the onslaught of passion. All her pent up desires sprang forth instantly and it was as if they were picking up exactly where they’d left off in the video. She molded her body to his. Upon feeling his erection she couldn’t help her pelvis thrusting itself harder against him. She stifled a groan.

  ****

  H
e ran his lips over her neck and ears, finding the most sensitive spots before moving back to her lips. It felt like a dream. It was what he’d been dreaming about for a long time: to be back with his Eve. He gently cupped her face in one hand and then both, feeling her face in them, and then brought their lips together again.

  ****

  Her hand slipped beneath the band of his boxers to the top of the hard round muscle of his butt, pulling on him, sealing him to her. How good the firmness was. It made Eve want to drool from the inside. Suddenly Devon was pulling at the hem of her top, lifting it free over her head, and she didn’t resist. His mouth and hands claimed her breasts, licking and rubbing until she didn’t think she could take anymore. She lifted frantically at his shirt. He discarded it willingly and then they were skin to skin. Heartbeat to heartbeat. He kissed her again, their tongues slipping against each other in a wild dance.

  ****

  Devon didn’t know how much longer he could last. She was responding to him with a passion she never had before and if he couldn’t have her soon he thought he might explode. He hiked her leg up over his side and then slid his hand along the bottom of it to cup the bare flesh of her buttock under the loose shorts she wore. And then he couldn’t resist anymore. His fingers sought what they’d only had a taste of this afternoon. He suppressed a moan when he felt how wet she was, how swollen and soft. She stiffened at the contact, and he was relieved when she sighed into his mouth. He stroked and rubbed all the folds of her opening, held wide now with her leg over his side, while she squirmed in his arms. He held her tight, wanting to feel all of her against him, every gorgeous inch.

  ****

  Eve struggled not to make a sound as Devon touched her and it was hard as hell. He found trigger point after trigger point on her body, driving her higher and higher. His fingers were circling, slipping madly down there and she latched her teeth to his shoulder to stop from crying out. And then…oh! He was inside her, probing her depths with one and then two fingers. Feeling her, stretching her, getting her ready. Her hand moved from the back of his shorts to the front and she grasped his throbbing shaft. He stopped for a moment and buried his face in her hair as she firmly stroked his full length.

  She couldn’t wait any more. The desperation was eating at her so ferociously. He must have had the same thought because he ripped her shorts down and off her body and then made short work of his own. He eased himself over her and settled himself between her legs, and she knew she was way past the point of return and then the warnings and worries went away as the head of his penis buried itself in her entrance. She ran her hands down to his buttocks and pulled and he responded with more drive, inserting his full length into her.

  ****

  God, how he wanted to cry out, but he didn’t. Instead he engaged Eve in another kiss to stifle them both. She was so tight, so soft. Her heat surrounded him and he was helpless to stop himself as he drove in and out, in and out. There wasn’t much room so they were small, slow movements. After time he buried his full length into her and gave a final shove, wanting to be deep, deep within her. Ah, Eve. Finally, finally he was with her again. Everything that was happening in his life was so much more than he could have hoped for.

  ****

  The pressure was building within her, a slow raging fire that wanted to get out. He was on top of her, his full weight covering her deliciously. He drove deep inside her over and over again firmly and she didn’t think she could ever get enough of him. Her hands roamed his body frantically. Feeling every lean muscle, firm muscle. Her breasts felt wonderful pressed up against him and his tongue did wicked things to her neck. She panted with pleasure.

  He rolled to the side and slipped out of her. For a brief moment she wondered if something was wrong. But he pulled up on her shoulder so she was facing away from him and slipped his penis into her from behind, making her gasp. He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her against him. One hand kneaded a breast and the other massaged her clitoris. She came on barely his fourth thrust into her, and when he felt her waves of constriction, he increased his rhythm to match until finally they were coming together.

  Chapter Six

  They arrived at the Pepsi Center in Denver at a little after three in the afternoon. They would be sleeping on the bus tonight, since they had gotten in late and were leaving after the concert tomorrow night. Devon had returned to his bunk before the others stirred but he and Eve had stayed in each other’s arms as they slept for several hours. When he’d gone she hadn’t been able to really sleep again. The bunk had felt too empty.

  Eve did not know what had possessed her to do what she’d done. How had she let herself fall prey to him again? He’s only going to hurt you again, she told herself. You have to be more careful.

  She used the neat little shower on the bus after she got up, around ten. When she’d come back into the front lounge or ‘living room’ as she had come to think of it, he was sitting there with the others on the couch, picking at his guitar. It looked like they were getting ready to practice. Shane had his drum kit out and Tommy and Drew had their guitars.

  “Morning, Eve,” they’d said cheerfully.

  “Good morning,” she’d mumbled back.

  “Coffee?” Devon had asked, motioning casually to the steaming cup of dark coffee, already made, on the counter. He looked down at his guitar and then up at her with a shy grin. Her heart melted. He must have made it for her while she was finishing up in the bathroom. She mentally slapped herself. This was how it happened. This is how it had happened, she reminded herself. She stirred cream and sugar into the cup and frowned at the countertop. After that she’d escaped into the back lounge to work for the rest of the trip.

  Around five o’clock Clayton had popped in to announce that he’d hired a taxi van and they were going out on the town to have some fun. Everyone cheered, and Kate looked especially bright as Clayton led her to the waiting car. It was cooler in Denver than it had been at their last stops and Eve was glad she’d brought a jacket with her. Somehow Devon ended up sitting next to her and she couldn’t help flushing at the contact between their sides on the short drive to 16th street.

  It felt good to walk along the red-and-gray granite, tree-lined promenade. It was lined with outdoor cafes, renovated historic office buildings and shops. Nobody bothered them as they strolled. The reconnection with the world was refreshing after the chaos of the past few days. The men joked with each other as they walked, passing some fountains and plazas, and Eve couldn’t help the feeling that they were a family already.

  Clayton casually draped his arm around Kate’s shoulders as they walked at the front of the group.

  “We going to eat somewhere around here, boss?” Drew asked.

  “Follow me,” Clayton said. “I know a place.”

  In a few more blocks he turned them left down Market Street. Soon they were in front of an avocado-green brick building with a black canopy that said 1515 Restaurant. They went inside the red doors to the luxurious environment within. Apparently Clayton had reserved a table, because they were led right away to a private dining room. The walls were red brick, the linens were crisp white and the chairs were a combination of dark wood and chocolate brown leather.

  Devon pulled a chair out for her and she sat. He eased himself next to her and slung his arm across the top of the chair. Although she liked the easy familiarity of it, it bothered her that it was sending a signal to the rest of the group. She wasn’t ready to send signals. Right away Clayton ordered a bottle of expensive wine. As soon as the wine was poured, he lightly clanged his knife against his wine glass and stood.

  “I just want to toast to our social media crew,” he said, holding his glass high. “As of three o’clock Denver time, I checked the video on YouTube of you guys playing Midnight Angel on the bus and it already has over fifty thousand views.”

  They all started to clap but Clayton held out his hand to pause them. “That’s not all. Our followers on Facebook have tripled in the short
time they’ve been with us, not to mention the tens of thousands of hits on the Arsenal Web page and the multiple likes, comments and shares on the pictures and videos they’ve posted as well.”

  The band started to whoop and clap but Clayton again held out his hands to stop them. “Hold on, there’s more.”

  They went quiet once again. Clayton stopped to capture every single one of them in his gaze. “As of today,” he said in a low voice, “every single venue you are playing at, starting tomorrow, is completely sold out.” A broad smile lit his face but they continued to stare at him in silence. “Okay, now you can clap,” he said.

  Everyone whooped and clapped at once. Eve high-fived Kate across the table, broad smiles across their faces. And then the round of hugging began. They all hugged each other and kissed Eve and Kate on their cheeks, saying, “Great job, ladies.”

  When it came Devon’s turn to hug Eve her eyes dilated. She tried to hug him politely but he lifted her off her feet and crushed him against her. “Wait until that video comes out. That should get us to ten million followers in no time,” he said, making her blush harder.

  ****

  The rest of the dinner was certainly celebratory but Devon was confused. Sweet Eve had disappeared and Ice Eve was back and he didn’t know why, especially after how close they had been last night. What had happened to make her disappear? He was doing what he could to show her how he felt about her, but she’d been aloof all day. He’d been truly proud of her success with the promotion of Arsenal but she’d stiffened when he picked her up to hug her and it made no sense. So he bided his time until they could talk.

  After dinner Clayton led them to the LoDo District where they sampled beer at several microbreweries, growing merrier and merrier with each stop. Devon probably drank a bit more than he should have, but Eve was drinking too and that seemed to loosen her up. She gave Devon a couple of real smiles while they all conversed and even held his hand one time during the walk between breweries. By the time they were done, they were all more than a little smashed, but he felt more hopeful about Eve during the cab ride back to the Pepsi Center. He wished he could be with her again in her bunk but could tell she was working things out and with Eve patience was the key. He’d rather not push his luck. He retired to his bunk and passed out, telling himself that she would eventually come around. They both could use some real sleep tonight.