Blush (7 page)

“Did Jesse already head on in?“ I ask.

A simple “Yep,“ is Ben's response.

“Damn you's a sexy bitch,“ Xander sings to
me. He's grinning and grinding his hips against me and I burst out
laughing.

“What song is that?“ I ask.

He pulls out one of his earbuds and puts it
in my ear.

“Oh! I know this song!“

We start singing and grinding. Ben and Ethan
are laughing and watching us in amusement. Jace, Sera, and Meggie
walk onto the bus and announce it's time for sound check. Xander
starts walking in front of me.

When we get off the bus, Xander stops and
unplugs the earbuds so the music is blasting from his phone.
My
Humps
from The Black Eyed Peas starts and I start laughing. I
slide my finger through his belt loop, Jace steps up behind me and
loops his finger, then Sera, then Ben, then Meggie, then Ethan, and
we start the Xander version of a conga line. Right foot step, hip
thrust, left foot step, hip thrust. Step, step, step, step. Repeat.
We do this all the way through the building until we reach the
stage where Jesse's standing, arms crossed, lips kicked up in a
smirk while he shakes his head.

When Xander stops, I laugh out loud and run
up to Jesse, jump hug him and kiss him on the lips.

“Babe,“ he whispers.

“Hi,“ I whisper back. God, I love this man.
He looks at me like a starving man looks at a steak. He looks at me
like he can't live without me. He treats me like a queen, as if I
were his greatest treasure. I can only hope I treat him the same.
He deserves so much more. My husband. He's my rock, my best friend.
He makes my heart beat faster. He makes me smile. He makes me want
to be a better person and the best wife and musician I can be.
Jesse Kingston is nothing short of incredible.

“You've got a lot of work to do in the next
couple hours,“ he tells me, kissing my lips softly.

I sigh and pull his face to mine to lengthen
the kiss. “I know. I hope getting set up goes smoothly.“ I continue
pressing small kisses to his lips and Jesse's mouth kicks up in
that one-sided grin that I find incredibly sexy.

“It'll be great,“ Damian interrupts.

Jesse's hands tighten on my ass as he holds
me up. I turn to look at Damian and give him a smile.

“You ready?“ Damian asks.

“Yep!“

I cup Jesse's face in my hands and kiss him
softly one more time.

“I love you, Jesse.“

“I love you too, Lucy.“

He doesn't set me down but rather carries me
on stage, standing me right in front of the mic.

“Holy hell,“ I whisper as I look out at the
empty arena.

Sera stands next to me, Jace on the other
side, and we just stare for a few minutes. Meggie and Trace are
used to this but us—we are a bit in awe and a whole lot
intimidated.

“Well,“ Jace says.

“Yeah,“ Sera nods.

I blow out a breath. “Alrighty then.“

Jesse and the guys sit in the front row.

“You got this,“ Kennedy shouts.

I nod. I'm so damn nervous and we don't even
have a full house yet. I press a hand to my butterfly-ridden
tummy.

Damian claps his hands. “This is Alex. He's
going to set you up.“

The tall blonde man with piercing blue eyes
nods our way. “Nice to finally meet you.“

“You as well. I'd hoped to meet you before we
hopped on the buses but it was a bit chaotic.“

He nods. “No worries. Let's go through a
couple songs so we can get things set.“

“Sounds good.“

Trace sets up behind the drums while Sera,
Meggie, and Jace grab their guitars. Cage walks on the stage, a
gift box in his hands. I lift a brow.
What's he up to?
I
wonder.

He just grins. “I brought you a little
something, Lucy. Everyone deserves to have their own personalized
instrument.“

“Um, okay?“ I have no idea what he's talking
about. The box is no bigger than a shoebox and it's wrapped with
pink metallic paper, a hot pink ribbon and bow. He hands me the box
and I grin huge. I'm excited and apprehensive at the same time. But
it's a present and I love opening presents.

I pull the bow and drape the ribbon around my
neck, wiggling my eyebrows at Jesse, who chuckles. I pull off the
paper to reveal a plain white box. No tell.
No fair
, I
think. No hints.

I lift the lid on the box and inside is a
pink metallic microphone with my name on one side and Blush on the
other. Tears pool in my eyes as I look up at Cage.

“Oh my God. This is…“ I shake my head. I step
forward and hug Cage as a tear rolls down my cheek. “Thank you so
much.“

“You deserve the best, Lucy. You need to
start believing that. You also need to remember, you're the lead
singer for Blush. You've got the talent, the voice, and you need to
pull in that confidence I see in you every day.“

I open my mouth to say something and he
presses a finger to my lips.

“Not the fake confidence you use when you
act. The Lucy confidence you use when you are doing something you
truly love with people you admire and adore. This, right here,
pretend you're sitting in the studio with the band. Forget what's
out there. Just be you.“

I nod. “Okay.“ I rub my sweaty hands on my
jeans. “Is this ready to go?“ I ask, motioning to the mic and Cage
nods.

“It's all set. Let's hear what you've got
Blush.“

“Lick,“ Trace says and we all get set. He
counts it off and we start in.

Lick me, stick me, suck me, fuck me
I want it hard
I want it deep
I want to know the secrets that you keep

You say you want me
You say you need me
You say you'd do anything to please me
If you mean what you say, then…

Lick me, stick me, suck me, fuck me
Give it to me hard
Give it to me deep
Whisper in my ear all the secrets that you keep

Bend me over
Stand me up
Prop me against the wall
While we kiss and fuck

Keep on going, I'm not done yet
I want more, as deep as you can get
Harder and faster, fuck me ‘til I shatter
If you want me, then…

Lick me, stick me, suck me, fuck me
Make me scream, make me swear
Make me feel like you really care
Take me how you want me, but I need your secrets

Tell me your secrets
I've just given you mine.

“I'm hard right now,“ Xander moans loudly.
“That was fucking hot.“

I burst out laughing. It's not the first time
he's heard the song written by the one and only Trace Styx, but
it's the first time he's seen us perform it… me grinding up on
Jace, then Meggie, and Sera. I walked around to Trace, slipped
under his arm and onto his lap—all rehearsed, of course. Jesse
didn't seem too pleased about that but he knows it's all for show.
While Trace is hot, he's not Jesse. Jesse is it for me. The one.
And that's why Jesse didn't overreact to our antics. He knows he's
all I want and need.

I slide off Trace's lap and he smacks my ass.
I just laugh and send Jesse a wink. He just shakes his head with
that half grin—you know, the one that makes me want to sigh and
jump him at the same time.

We go through another song and another all
while Alex is tweaking things to get everything set just right.
Feedback in the middle of a concert where you're opening for one of
the biggest rock bands around would be horrifying.

They turn the lighting on and I look out to
the empty seats.

“Can't really see much out there with the
lights on,“ I tell Sera.

“I see that,“ she responds.

“Baby, you have to know that it's going to be
different when this place is packed full of fans. They're going to
have their phones on and lit up, lighters, and whatever else they
can smuggle in,“ Jesse tells me.

“Again, why can't you just bullshit me? Just
once.“

“Because I won't lie to you,
wife
, no
matter how brutal the truth is.“

“Aww,“ Meggie coos.

I roll my eyes but he really is sweet.

“You know,
husband
. I love how you
over use the ‘wife' thing. It gets me hot.“ I smile and wink at
him.

Jesse smirks. “Yeah, we'll find out how hot
as soon as you're done up there.“

Kennedy groans. “More fucking?“

“Hey!“ I interject. “I was quiet. You
wouldn't have known we were having sex if Ben and Ethan hadn't told
you.“

He scratches his chin. “I suppose that's
true, but there's no way you're always going to be able to be that
quiet and restrained.“

I cross my arms over my chest. “We'll
see.“

“I wanna see,“ Xander chimes in.

“Me too,“ agrees Jace.

“Well, if we're watching…“ Trace says.

“Oh boy,“ is all I can think to say.

Damian walks on stage and the lights go off.
“We need to run through a couple more times and we should be good.
You guys sound fucking amazing.“

“Thanks,“ Sera tells him.

He sends me a wink and I wink back. He's such
a flirty fucker. I swear he only does that to get a rise out of
Jesse and by the looks of things, it's working. Mr. Kingston's
nostrils are flaring and his signature smirk is nowhere to be
found.

“Aww,“ Meggie coos again. “Your hubbie's
jealous. That's so sweet.“

“In a way, yes. He knows he has nothing to be
jealous of,“ I say pointedly, looking at Jesse.

“You can't blame him for fuming up a little
bit when another dude is flirting up his wife,“ Ethan comments.

“Really? Why do I get the ‘stare' when I'm
not doing anything wrong?“ I ask, my temper starting to simmer.

“Baby, it's not you I'm—“ he cuts off and
sighs. Jesse runs his hands through his hair in frustration.

I hold up my left hand and the gorgeousness
of my wedding rings sparkle and flash in the light. “See this
here?“ I say loudly. “This means I'm yours and your ring means
you're mine. I won't allow anything inappropriate, babe. You have
to trust that.“

He just nods.

“Your wife is standing up here thinking about
licking you all over and you just had wild monkey sex. Get over it
Kingston. She doesn't
see
anyone but you. Blushers, let's
sing some songs,“ Meggie bounces.

“I THINK I'M going to puke,“ I tell no one in
particular. My stomach churning with nausea, my mouth gathering
with excess saliva—you know, how it does just before you're going
to vomit. I take deep calming breaths trying to stave off the urge
to blow chunks all over the floor where Spenser just finished
styling my hair. It doesn't really matter that it's styled, I know
I'm going to be caked in sweat and look like a drowned rat before
long.

“Luciana Russo if you throw up in this room,
I'm going to end up throwing up right along with you and I can't
promise mine won't be directed toward you,“ Spenser chides.

“Damn, Spense. Have some sympathy.“

“Lucy. You're going to be performing live in
front of thousands of people, living your dream. You want sympathy
for that? No way, doll. If you want sympathy you should look
between shit and syphilis in the dictionary.“

Simone blinks while Carmen holds an outfit
close to her chest, wide-eyed.

“Harsh much? Shit. I'm nervous. I'm going to
love every second of it, but I'm a nervous wreck. Be nice to me
damn it!“ I curse. “Where's Sera and Meggie?“

“They're long done and are likely doing a
couple shots to calm their nerves.“

“Well why the hell am I last?“

Spenser directs Carmen forward with what I'm
guessing is my outfit for the night.

“Because,“ he tells me, “you always take the
longest and you're a light weight. I knew if I let you near the
alcohol too early you'd be a hot mess.“

I shrug. “Valid point.“

“Here's your outfit, Lucy,“ Carmen says as
she lays it out on the sofa for me.

“And shoes,“ Simone adds, setting them
down.

“Okay,“ I reply, standing up and pressing a
hand to my stomach. “Thanks you guys.“

Spenser nods. “See you out there.“

I nod back.

As Spenser and the girls exit, Jesse
enters.

“Babe, you're looking a little green,“ he
tells me, tilting my head up to look at him.

“My nerves are crazy, Jesse.“

“You're going to be great.“

I take a deep breath, breathing in his scent.
Sandalwood, ocean, and yum. That's when I notice what he's wearing.
Holy effing hell. My husband is
hot
. He's got on jeans and a
tight sleeveless Blush t-shirt. I swear you can see the definition
of his abs through the shirt which, I'm sure, is strategically done
so the women in the crowd swoon. He's wearing black boots and has a
pair of black sunglasses hanging on the neckline of his shirt.

“Damn, you are hot,“ I tell him, licking my
lips.

“Yeah?“ he asks with a grin.

“Oh yeah.“

“How hot? Hot enough that you're wet?“ he
asks.

I look at him through my eyelashes.
“Maybe.“