Backstage Pass (8 page)

“Here, let me get your crutches.” He shifted me so I was leaning on Kerri’s car. If he didn’t have to carry me, this was going to be a tougher sell. I sagged down the fender.

“Sasha!” He dropped the crutches, my bag slipped, and his hand gripped my upper arm. Leaning awkwardly to keep from dropping the rest, he pressed me against the car and shut the door. I almost felt bad.

But then his fingers brushed the curve of my breast and his breath fanned my face. Butterflies erupted in my stomach and I couldn’t believe I’d wasted so much time on a stupid rule. My lids lowered and I looked at him from beneath the fan of my lashes.

He mumbled something incoherent and stuck his other arm through my backpack. Clearly, he wasn’t buying it just yet, but I knew I could convince him once we were inside.

The heavy books shifted, tugging him backward. “How much shit do you have in here?”

Readjusting the weight and leaning my crutches against the car, he scooped me up.

I sighed and linked my arms around his neck. He jerked when my nails scratched gently against his skin. I tried not to giggle. This was the first time I’d ever played the flirt to this extreme. Even with the drugs, I was having fun. Before he saw me and thought I was teasing, I tucked my head beneath his chin.

He grunted and shifted me. My fingertips slid higher until his rapid pulse pounded beneath my fingertips. While he might not be saying much, his body was answering. I unclasped my hands and twisted the knob. Carefully, he bent us around the door, easing me into the living room. Leaning one shoulder against the wall, he inched his shoulders out of my backpack and let it slide to the floor.

“You need more books.” He shrugged his shoulders and lifted me higher.

He kicked the door shut with his heel and headed toward the couch. I was running out of time. Our last sofa time had gone well enough, but I didn’t want those memories messing up tonight. I yawned. “Put me down here and I’ll walk to my room.”

He tightened his grip. Rolling waves of heat shot up my thighs and I bit my lip. He stared straight ahead, face impassive. If he didn’t have a death-grip on my thighs, I’d think I was nothing more than a guitar bag.

“Wait!” I spread my hands along the hallway.

He stopped and looked down. Frustration and anger and lust mingled together on his face. This experiment of mine was either going to go horribly wrong, or horribly right.

“I need my iPod. It’s in the side pocket of my backpack.”

He craned his neck and glared at the bag. “Are you sure?”

I waited for him to turn back to me. My gaze roamed his face. I’d never noticed his crooked five o’clock shadow. One side curled almost to the edge of his nostril, but the other was low around the corner of his lip. I traced the curve of his lower lip with my eyes, then upward. Most of the anger had burned out, leaving only smoldering lust.

“You could always sing to me.”

He blinked and his Adam’s apple bobbed in his throat.

Turning slowly, he marched us back to my bag. Then he took a deep breath and squatted, keeping me pressed tightly against his chest.

I fumbled with the bag and pulled my iPod free. “Got it.” I tried not to be hurt by his overt rejection. I’d done it to him more than once. Nothing about tonight was going to be easy, and I knew it.

He grunted and stood, rocking up on his tiptoes. I pressed my fingertips into the door to level us out. We retreated back to my room, and he paused on the threshold. My room was pretty subdued compared to the rest of the apartment. Bed, nightstand, single picture of my mom. Survey complete, he stepped inside and stopped.

Afraid he’d bolt once he put me down, I kept my fingers linked around his neck. “Can you set me on the bed. My ankle’s really killing me tonight.”

“Sure.” The strain in his voice was nearly comical. I think if he could’ve guaranteed a landing, he’d have tossed me from the door. Thankfully, I’d made my bed this morning in some strange karmic preamble, and there weren’t any random pairs of panties scattered around the floor like usual.

He lowered me to my handmade quilt and my hips dipped into the over-soft mattress. With one tug, I rolled and pulled him down beside me. He arched his hips and braced his arms like I was in a full-body cast. Luckily, I’d been planning my sneak attack since the door, so my cast was well out of the way of his flailing body parts.

“Sasha, what are you—”

I pressed our bodies together and kissed him again. This time I didn’t ease into it. I nipped his lower lip and swiped my tongue across his lips, asking him not nearly as patiently as he’d done.

One hand brushed my cheek and he lowered himself to the mattress. His hands swept into my hair and he cradled my face, tipping me and responding. Our tongues swirled together and he drew mine deep into his mouth. I moaned and he skimmed my neck with his fingers. Mine dipped beneath the hem of his shirt and his abs jumped when I touched them. I wanted to make up for all our lost time.

He kissed my cheeks, and my eyes, nibbled my ear and scored my neck lightly with his teeth. “Sasha,” he whispered, tasting my ear.

I moaned and arched against him. His hand found my breast, circling and kneading gently. His head dropped to my cleavage, kissing me through my shirt. I wiggled it upward and in seconds he had us both nearly naked from the waist up. Karma blessed me again with a clean sexy bra instead of my Grannie one that I have to use because I hate laundry. He fingered the blue lace and traced the pink ribbon along the top. “This is nice.”

“Mmm.” So was the side of his neck. I rubbed my cheek against the stubble and followed with my tongue.

His head dipped low and he took one nipple in his mouth. I grabbed handfuls of his hair. Fingers traced my ribcage and I squirmed. His warm tongue tasted my other nipple and his thumb slipped beneath the lace, rubbing my hard peak.

I rolled closer and brushed the smooth planes of his chest, dipping my finger into the crevice between them and tracing the lines of his abs. He sucked air through his teeth and his mouth froze on my nipple.

“You feel so good,” I murmured, letting my hands travel northward again.

He slid a finger beneath my bra strap and tugged it over my shoulder, then unclipped it and tossed it over his head. “Oh Sasha.” He cradled both my breasts in his hands and I arched my back. He rolled me onto my back and eased between my thighs. While he caressed and suckled me, I closed my eyes and threaded my fingers through his hair and along his jaw. He hummed that song I could never get out of my head, and the vibrations tickled.

His mouth traveled lower but he never stopped humming. By the time his fingers slipped behind my knees and he situated them over his shoulders, I’d never be able to listen to that song without getting wet.

I made him stop before we had sex, and only because it was four in the morning and my eyes were dropping closed. I didn’t want all my hard work dashed when I fell asleep in the middle. A complete gentlemen in bed, like everywhere else, he didn’t press me, but cradled me against his chest and pulled the blanket over us.

Then he sang me to sleep. I didn’t recognize the song at first, then I realized it was a Journey cover that he’d tweaked. I liked it.

“I think you should sing that at the concert.”

“I’d rather sing it to you every night in bed.”

I smiled and cuddled closer, sliding my good leg over his thigh. “But it’s good.”

“And my other stuff?”

I felt him tense beneath my cheek. My answer was important to him. I tried not to think of when I’d been here before. Luckily, this time the answer was easy—and true. “It’s good.” I tilted my head so he could see my eyes. “I’m serious. You’re incredibly talented. And I should know.”

He smiled and brushed the hair off my forehead, then kissed the top of my head. “That means a lot.”

We cuddled and he stroked my hair. “I should go. Kerri’s going to kill me for not bringing her car back.”

I reached across him and swiped my phone. Three texts. “Oops.” I twisted and snugged my butt into his side and texted her back, then doused the lamp and plugged my phone in. He curled against me and tucked his arm around my waist. My pink cast was a giant lump under the covers, but he gently eased himself around it.

We slept spooned together until my alarm bleeped at six. I nudged him awake with kisses. “Hey.”

He nuzzled my neck. “Good morning.”

“I have to go to class. Since you have Ker’s car, will you drop me?”

“Is she pissed?”

I fumbled for my phone again and checked. “No. But we have to grab her before class.”

His hand found my breast and he pulled me tight against him. “Last night was–”

I sighed. “Amazing.”

“Please tell me it wasn’t a dream. I’m warning you though, I can’t go back. Not now.”

I rolled over and cupped his face between my hands. “Only forward.”

He kissed me slow and deep, stealing the promise from my body. My snooze broke us apart and I grimaced. “I could stay like this all day but we have that lit test.”

“And I have a ton of stuff before the concert. What time will I see you?”

“Kerri and I will be there at three.”

He kissed me again. “Perfect.”

We showered and dressed, then grabbed Kerri. It was the longest day of my entire life. I swear a few times the clock went in reverse.

Kerri met me outside of the English building and I raced across the sidewalk, finally getting the hang of my three-legged hobble. I climbed in and Kerri’s grin was infectious.

She grabbed my crutches and angled them into the back seat. “Well?”

I leaned my head back. “Ohmigosh, Ker. You were right.” I squeezed her hand. “You’re always right. Forgive me?”

She kissed the back of my hand, squealed, and catapulted herself into my seat, squishing me in a giant hug. “I’m so happy for you guys!”

I hugged her back and spit out a mouthful of her hair. “Okay, okay. Let’s go so I can see him.”

She jerked and popped back into her seat, jamming the car into drive. “Right. I’ve got stuff with me, so let’s go to your place.”

I could barely sit still. Kerri did my hair and makeup while I fidgeted with how to make pants work over my cast. I settled on a way-too-short skirt and lace top over a red tank. I had
groupie
written all over me. And I loved it.

We giggled and carried on with ridiculous glee, then sprinted to the arena as fast as I could get there. Jesse met us at Will Call with tickets, backstage passes, and an embarrassingly thorough hey-there kiss. I straightened and fixed my mussed hair. My lips were already swollen from the kiss and I actually blushed. People flowed around us, some of them grumbling, and a few of the girls made heaving sighing noises. Dating a musician had its perks.

“Okay, do you guys want to watch us from backstage, or out front?”

Kerri and I traded glances. She fidgeted and tapped one of my crutches. “These would be badass in a moshpit, but I’m not sure it’s the best idea.”

I grimaced. She was totally right but I wanted to experience Jesse tonight like I had that first night—bombarded by his lyrics and music. Backstage was for pantiless groupies, and I really wanted to watch him sing.

“You’ve got seats, so there might be less bumping and ramming. They’re not great seats though.” His face fell. I think he thought he’d let us down.

I squeezed against him. “It’s all good. Is there a spot backstage where I can watch you?”

His face exploded in a huge grin. “Absolutely.” He turned me around and slipped a lanyard over my head, then lifted my hair over the string. When his fingers brushed my skin, a streak of heat raced down my spine.

Kerri put hers on and winked at me, then we made our way through the crowd and into the VIP section. Security gave me grief about my crutches, but a supervisor finally let us through. Jesse was stressing about the time.

I tugged him to a stop. “It’s going to take me a minute to get through these bodies. Go and we’ll be there before your set starts. I promise.”

Conflicted emotions warred on his face. I knew his chivalry wouldn’t let me battle this alone.

“I have Kerri.”

She flared her elbows and set her face in her best bouncer-face. “I got this.”

He laughed and hugged us both. “I’m so glad you’re here.” His hands lingered on my face, then he bolted.

I jerked my chin toward the crowd. “Part the seas.”

“Excuse me! Cripple, coming through.”

We laughed the entire way. Nothing could ruin tonight for me. Nothing.

It took some finagling and flirting, but we finally made our way past security and to stage left. I waved and Jesse rushed over. “We’re almost on.” He kissed me.

“Break a leg.”

He grinned and yelled at the security guard. “Get her a stool, will ya?”

The guy scowled, then saw my cast.

“She’ll let you sign it,” Kerri said in her best sing song voice.

His face softened and he disappeared, reappearing in a few seconds with two stools. Kerri and I scooted as close as we could to the stage as the drummer tapped out their intro. My heart swelled as Jesse’s syrup-smooth voice wrapped around me. Now that I’d let my past go, I could finally enjoy his music and talent without bias. He’d been good before, but I’d viewed him through tainted lenses. Tonight, nothing stood between my appreciation for pure talent.

Maybe my past wouldn’t be such a hindrance. I did have an awful lot of contacts that could help a guy like Jesse. But they still had to get rid of that bass player. My head jerked up when Jesse pointed at me.

“If you guys don’t mind, I’d like to bring someone special out for this next number.”

“Oh no, he didn’t,” Kerri whispered.

I think he did
. I was still too stunned to speak as he walked across the stage to thunderous applause. I shook my head. “I don’t want to go out there,” I hissed.

He grinned and took my hand, then scooped me up. “Grab the stool,” he shouted over his shoulder to the security guard.

The applause increased and people whistled and I think someone shouted my name. Jesse settled me on the stool and I shot Kerri a pleading look. She held up her hands and shrugged.

“Everybody, this is Sasha.”

“Hi Sasha!” The entire arena shouted.

“I wasn’t going to sing this next song, but Sasha here convinced me I should.” He strummed his guitar. “I hope you guys like it.”

He grabbed another stool from in front of the drum set and sat at an angle to me and the crowd.

My
eyes teared and I swallowed as he sang the first notes of last night’s ballad. Everyone else fell away, and it was the two of us, sitting alone on that stage. Every lyric embedded itself on my heart.

The song ended and he kissed me to another wild round of applause, then took a bow and carried me off the stage.

Kerri stood and applauded the loudest.

We gathered my crutches and moved into the hallway behind the stage filled with bands and bodies. I couldn’t stop grinning. Jesse set me down and helped me balance. The crowd grew and swarmed. One of the bigger bands must have been headed our way. If we didn’t get out of there quickly, it was going to be tough. I wasn’t
that
good on crutches yet.

“I told the guys I’d pack if they tore down, so we could go around to our seats and watch the other bands.”

I kissed him. “Tonight was amazing.”

“Better than last night?”

“Two hundred percent.”

He grinned and spun me around, whispering against my ear. “Wait until I sing the rest of tonight’s songs.”

I blushed and looked up to navigate my way. The crowd parted for the next band headed onstage.

I doubled over like someone punched me.

Before me stood the only man I’d ever loved. The one who’d crushed my heart and never looked back. The
reason I hated musicians for all time.

He grinned and reached for me. “Hey, princess.”

“Hi, dad.”

About the Author

Elizabeth wrote her first romance novel at age fifteen when she discovered writing about boys was way easier than actually talking to them. Since then, her flirting skills and relationship techniques have helped hundreds of others find their mojo. After earning a master’s degree in secondary education from UNC, she worked abroad teaching English, bar-tended at late night clubs in Chicago, and continues various philanthropy projects that focus on empowering women. But she always returned to writing. Though she’ll forever be a free-spirit at heart, she now lives in Los Angeles with her two dogs. If she’s not working on her latest sexy story, you can find her reading, watching reality television, or indulging in her unhealthy addiction to rock concerts.

Thanks to katz

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