Page 38 of Loved Out Loud
“To make sure you weren’t getting high or drunk.”
Hazel slides out from her spot between me and the wall. Her cheeks are flushed a crimson red, and she won’t pick her gaze up from the floor. “I’ll, uh, see you later.”
She’s gone before I can say anything, darting past Darren, who doesn’t move from his place against the door he swung open to make it easier for her. I loathe the way he smirks at her while she passes him.
“Don’t,” I warn him as I adjust my aching cock, pushing it down.
“I didn’t say a word.” He holds his hands up. “But I am glad you’re taking my advice. This is perfect.”
“I’m not taking your advice.” I move toward him. “My attraction to her is real.”
“Right.” He keeps that same damn smirk on his face. “Which is why you had her against the wall like a groupie. I’m kind of bummed you didn’t give me an invite to join in.”
I release a feral growl and advance toward him. Adam steps into the room, placing himself between us. Darren might be our manager, but I’m not afraid to punch him in his smug ass face.
“Relax.” He steps back into the hall. “I’m just fucking with you. Glad to see you weren’t getting high or drinking. I’ll see you on the bus.”
“You good?” Adam asks as Darren closes the door behind him.
“Yeah.” I turn around and head for the small bathroom. “I’m going to shower.”
Everyone who sees me as I walk toward the bus gives me a wide berth. The scowl on my face might as well be etched in stone as my thoughts stay locked on Darren interrupting what Hazel and I were doing.
How far would that have gone?
I know the answer for me. I would have fucked her right against the wall. Over and over until we were both left in an exhausted heap of skin and bone. If just her kisses taste so good, what will her pussy be like?
One thing is for damn sure, I will find out.
I climb up the steps onto the bus and find my bandmates sprawled on the couch. Tobias’s eyes are glazed as he inhales a bowl of pho. Xander is glaring at the back of Jade’s head. Good to see they’re still pissed at each other. The curtain swings open, and Darren steps out wearing a pair of basketball shorts, a crewneck sweatshirt, and a shit-eating grin.
He approaches me. “Looks like you wore her out. She’s passed out on her bunk,” he says quietly.
I shove him out of my way and walk back to the rows of bunks. Her bunk’s curtain is pulled closed, but I don’t let that stop me from peeking inside. She’s turned toward the wall, but her body rises and falls steadily with each breath.
Damn.
I wanted to check in with her after the moment we shared. Make sure she’s okay and not freaking out about anything. Maybe even do some more of it.
But I don’t want to wake her if she’s sleeping. Sighing, I pull the curtain closed quietly. While I’m back by the bunks, I plug my phone in and grab my notebook. Maybe I can use what happened earlier for inspiration.
I wonder if she might do the same. I tried to get a peek at what she was writing last night, but she was pretty protective of her work. I get it, so I didn’t push, even though I wanted to.
None of what I’ve told her about enjoying her book was bullshit. I truly can’t wait to read more of her work. Her style of writing is refreshing and bold. The more I get to know her, the more I hear her voice in what she writes. And yes, I only read her book once, but there are lines, paragraphs, that stand out to me.
I walk out into the front of the bus to join everyone else. Jade scoots over on the bench seat and pats the spot she made for me. I sit and look over her shoulder at the video she’s editing for social media. It’s several clips, each of us the focus of one, that she’s putting to one of our songs.
“Is that for the gratitude carousel?” I ask.
“Yes.” She hands the iPad over. “Check it out and let me know what you think.”
I swipe through the photos she’s selected. They’re perfect, as usual. I stop on a photo of Hazel and I on the bus from a couple days ago. We’re working side by side, each of us focused on our work.
“You’re putting this in there?”
“Yeah. The whole idea of this combined tour is Blue Sunday and Hazel Archer helping bring inspiration to each other. I figure putting her in city gratitude posts is the smart thing to do.”
“Yeah.” I nod and push the device back to her. “I agree.”
