Blush (14 page)

I raise my hand above heart level to help
with the swelling of my fingers that still look like plump, red
sausages only now they are so freaking fat and swollen, the skin
itches.

Jesse comes back with a bottled water and a
fresh ice pack.

“I called your parents and let them know you
were alright and resting,“ he tells me.

“Thanks. I'm sure they were worried.“

“Mhmm. I called earlier when I woke up. Your
mom said to listen to me and follow the doctor's instructions.“

He gives me a knowing look when I snort.

“Jesse,“ I whine. “I've got snausage
fingers.“ He laughs. “Snausages? Aren't those dog treats?“

“I think so but it sounds cuter than
big-fat-swollen-sausage-looking-fingers.“

“That's true,“ he agrees, handing me two pain
pills. “The instructions from the doc said you can alternate with
ibuprofen so we'll do that in a couple hours—get you on that
schedule.“

I nod. “Good. I'm so glad we don't have a
show today.“

“Yeah, not sure how you'd be able to make it
through. Honestly, I'm not sure how you'll make it through
tomorrow.“

“I have to sing, not do manual labor. I can
hold my mic in my left hand and I'll just wave my cast around in
the air to keep it elevated above my heart.“

“You do that anyway.“

“See? It'll be easy then.“

“You're likely going to be stoned from these
pain meds. Be sure you don't wear high heels. I can talk to Spenser
for you.“

I murmur my agreement. “What bus is he
on?“

“Roadies again. I think he's got a thing for
Alex,“ Jesse says, shifting uncomfortably.

“Well, that'll take his attention off of
you.“

He perks up. “Yeah, it will.“

I snort. “You sounded like Joey from
F.R.I.E.N.D.S. just then.
Yeah
, it will.“ He gives me a
look.

“I'm not even Italian.“

“It's okay, babe. I won't hold it against
you.“

“Thanks,“ Jesse murmurs dryly.

I shrug. Facts are facts. Not being Italian
is going to be a huge strike against Jesse when he comes
face-to-face with my grandpa.

“We're going to be stopping soon. Everyone
decided we'd stop when you woke up and I sent a text out when I
went to get your water.“ Jesse takes a seat next to me and brushes
some of my hair off of my face. “Are you hungry?“

I shrug. “I could eat. I hope we stop at a
truck stop. They have the best food. Seriously.“

“How do you know that?“

I roll my eyes. “I didn't fly everywhere I
had to film, you know, and even when I did I made a point to go to
the truck stops. Always the best burgers, fries, and shakes.“

He nodded. “We can do that.“ He sends a text
and less than a minute later he gets one in return. “Done
deal.“

“Good.“ I try to sit up and nearly use my
right hand. That would be a nightmare. Jesse helps me. I sigh.

“What's wrong?“

I hate this. I close my eyes. “I'm going to
need you to help me get dressed.“

“Well that'll be a departure from the norm,
won't it?“ Xander says from the doorway.

I snort. “What's up?“

“Just checking on you.“

“The pain is a bitch but in a few minutes the
meds should kick in and I'll be happy again,“ I tell him with a
shrug.

Jesse picks through my clothing and finds a
pair of my yoga pants, a Blush tank, and a Falling Down sweatshirt.
My husband is awesome. He knows without being told I want comfort
over fashion.

“Socks?“

I nod.

He finds a pair and digs out a pair of black
Chucks.

“Um, not those shoes. Those white canvas ones
over there,“ I tell him pointing.

“These?“ he asks, picking up the wrong
pair.

“Next one over. Yep, those.“

“Okay. Xander get the fuck out. You're not
seeing my wife naked.“

“Well, fuck. Here I thought you'd be too
distracted to notice I was still here,“ Xander pouts.

“Not likely. My woman. Beat it.“

“Rude, man. Rude,“ Xander murmurs, giving me
a wink before Jesse shut the door in his face.

“I'll give him rude.“

“Only if it's gentle and loving up the ass,“
Xander shouts through the door.

“Xander!“ I scold.

“What?“

“Stop trying to peek through the crack and
let me get dressed.“

“God damn. I can't get away with anything
this morning. Good thing I have my tunes to make me feel
better.“

I snort. A few seconds later we hear him
sing, “I hopped off the plane at LAX…“

“No!“ I say to Jesse in disbelief.

He chuckles. “Yep.“

“Get the fuck out! Is he serious right now?
Miley?“

“Cupcake, you're going to find out that
Xander's music on his phone is…let's just call it
different
.“ Jesse motions for me to lift my arms up and I
do, carefully.

“So I see.“ I know my eyes are wide but I
can't believe it.

“What is it?“ Jesse asks, lifting my top
off.

“I'm just seeing an entirely different side
of Xander. One I never would have thought existed.“

He nods, reaching for my bras. “Which?“ he
asks, holding up a black lace and white sports bra.

“White. It's all about comfort if I don't
have to wear anything else.“

He nods and helps me into the rest of my
clothes. He's tying my shoes when the bus slows, taking the ramp
off the highway.

“Can you put my hair up in a ponytail?“

“Uh,“ he eyes me skeptically. “I can
try.“

“It's really pretty easy. Just grab that
brush there and brush out my hair. Make a ponytail in your hand,
then wrap this elastic around it a few times until it's tight.“

He shrugs. “Seems simple enough.“

I grin. His words say one thing the
expression on his face tells me something completely different.

“Like a virgin,“ Xander sings from the other
side of the door.

I lift a brow at Jesse who just shakes his
head. He does a decent job on the ponytail. I point at the hat
sitting on the shelf.

“Just tuck the pony in the hole,“ I tell him,
then giggle.

“And she's feeling better,“ Jesse says
aloud.

I snort. “It sounded dirty.“

He grins. “It did. You're really fucking sexy
when you talk dirty.“

I suck in a breath as I meet his molten gaze.
An aroused Jesse is temptation I love giving in to.

“No time.“

I groan and pout at his statement.

“Cupcake, you're not really up for it right
now anyway. The minute you exert yourself at all, the blood is
going to get flowing and your hand is going to start throbbing.“ He
kisses my nose.

I sigh. “Maybe. I could just lay there and
you could do all the work.“

He grins wryly. “Uh-huh. We tried that once.
You don't do passive in bed, baby.“

“I could try.“

He stares into my eyes, looking deep and I
wonder what he sees.

“We still need to talk, Luce.“

I nod. “I know. Just not right now,
okay?“

He nods. “But today. I don't want to have
anything bad hanging over us. It'll only get worse if we ignore
it.“

I lean into his chest and wrap my arm around
him. “When did you get so smart?“

He shrugs. “I guess you must be rubbing off
on me.“

I giggle and snort and he chuckles.

“Such a naughty girl,“ he laughs and spanks
my ass. I gasp and my gaze flies up to meet his.

“No fair. You're going to make me wet.“

It's his turn to suck in a breath. “Baby, if
I make you wet and worked up, you know I'll take care of you.
You'll come at least twice.“

“Jesse,“ I whisper.

He slides a hand between us, down the front
of my pants, beneath my panties, and delves a finger into my slick
folds. He slips it further back toward my entrance and groans
softly when he finds me already wet.

I reach down with my good hand and find him
already hard.

“After we eat, we're going to fuck. You're
going to let me do all the work so you don't hurt yourself and I'm
going to make you come on my tongue and on my cock.“

I suck in a breath as does someone behind me.
I turn to find Sera standing there, her eyes wide, mouth open.

“Well then. I know I'll be riding on the
other bus later or having Xander turn the music up.“

I snort, noticing Jesse's hand is still in my
pants.

“We're ready,“ Sera tells us.

I nod. “Okies. I'm hungry.“

She nods and leaves the room. Jesse pulls his
hand from between my thighs and licks his fingers. Jesus. He's so
damn sexy I can't help but get wetter just watching him.

He leans down, his mouth hovering over my
ear. “I'm going to fuck you so good, baby.“

“I have no doubt.“

He nods then picks me up. I wrap my legs
around his waist, arms around his neck and give him a look of
confusion. He shrugs.

“These pills say they can make you dizzy so
it's better to be safe than sorry.“

I put my hands, well, hand and cast on either
side of his face and kiss him softly.

“We better go.“

I nod. My stomach growls and I grin.

“Greasy cheeseburger with fries and a
chocolate malt. Heaven for my tummy,“ I tell Jesse as we head
through the bus to meet the rest of the crew.

“Anything you want, babe.“

“Yeah?“ I ask.

He nods.

“I'll hold you to that.“

“You do that,“ he tells me with a wink.

“Xan my man,“ I sing-song.

“Luce my goose.“

“That's fucked. I want a nickname,“ Meggie
complains.

“Meggie beggie.“ I snort.

“I don't think so,“ she tells me.

“Meggie… Meggie… uh. I'll think on it,“
Xander says stumped. I shrug. No clue.

“Serafina has a weinah,“ Jace chants which
gets him a punch in the arm.

“Jace often gets sprayed with mace,“ Sera
snickers.

“Likely true,“ Trace adds.

“Uh,“ Sera begins, “you know that Trace,
Jace, and mace all rhyme, right?“

“Sugar, no one maces Trace. And my rhyme
would be something like Styx brings you to heaven with his
licks.“

“Please,“ Meggie rolls her eyes and Trace
chuckles.

“Are we back in grade school?“ Ben asks.

“You want to be my teacher?“ Sera wiggles her
eyebrows, rubbing up against Ben seductively.

Instead of playing like they always do, he
pulls her up to his chest and stops moving. He leans forward, his
lips nearly touching hers but not quite. Sera's gasp is
audible.

“I'll teach you anything you want, darlin'.
Anytime you're ready.“

I know my mouth is hanging open when Jesse
reaches up with one finger to lift my jaw closed.

“That was so fucking hot,“ Meggie sighs. “I'm
a little wet.“

I laugh out loud.

“From just that?“ Trace tsks. “Megs, I think
me and you need some alone time. I'll help you with your
wetness.“

“Mmm, you're the whole package, aren't ya,
Trace? Tall, good looking, eyes the color of emeralds, sweet, sexy,
and I think we'll have to meet up later to see if the rest of the
‘package' is as good as I think it is.“

“Holy fuck,“ Xander murmurs.

“What is going on here?“ I ask no one in
particular.

“You just worry about yourself there, Little
Bit,“ Kennedy tells me. “Seems to me you've got enough to
handle.“

Lord knows he's right. I certainly do. So I
just let out a really pathetic grunt.

“Speaking of,“ Celeste interrupts. “We should
talk about this Blush campaign. I know you want Jake Ingrassia,
that good-looking kid—“

“
Very talented
, good-looking kid who
worked in
Mad City
with the ever magnificent Milo
Ventimiglia.“

“I never heard of
Mad City
,“ Jace
tells me as we enter the café.

“That's because it's not out yet.“

“Then how do you know about it?“

“Um,“ I say, looking down at Jesse's shirt,
picking off a nonexistent piece of lint, “I saw on Twitter while
they were filming, Milo posted updates. One day he had one about
people not falling asleep on the set and it had Jake's picture.
Obviously the kid's good if he's working with Milo, so I reached
out to him. Congratulated him, let him know he's awesome, you
know.“ I shrug. “Every now and again I'll tweet him. He's a good
kid with a good head on his shoulders.“

“Huh. So all this came about through your
everyday stalking of Milo?“ Jace asks.

“I
don't
stalk him. I merely follow
his Twitter posts. That is not stalking. If I were to show up at
his house one day and take a shower just because I think I'm
entitled like that weird chick did to Keanu Reeves,
then
you
could call me a stalker. But reading his tweets and responding and
retweeting once in a while? Not stalking,“ I sing-song.

“Whatever you say,“ Jace replies.

“You want to know about stalking?“ I ask and
ask Jesse for his phone. He hands it to me and I hesitate. I can't
help but remember the last time I asked to use his phone and got a
very unpleasant surprise. I raise my eyes to his, his full of
remorse. He reaches up a finger and trails it down my cheek.

“I should check to see what's being said
about last night,“ I murmur.

We're seated in a larger area in the back and
when Jesse slides into the booth, he pulls me after him. He rests
his back against the wall and stretches a leg across the seat. I
rest my back against his chest. Everyone piles in at the tables and
booths around us.

“I checked, Lucy,“ Celeste says. “Amazingly
they're all positive.“

“Get out.“

She nods. “Seriously.“

I sit back in disbelief. “Huh.“

“I was checking around, Luce,“ Ethan begins,
“the videos of you punching that bitch in the face are being very
well received, the views are in the millions and there are at least
a dozen different ones.“

I grin. “Yeah?“

“Hell yeah, Rocky,“ Jace cheers.