Stripped (18 page)

He opened the door without a word and even went as far as to avoid looking at her.

Once in the hallway, all Emily could do was guess.  Maybe knock on some doors.  Maybe get lucky.  Then again, how odd would it be for a plus size woman like her to knock on a hotel and ask,
“Is Gunnar from Down Silent here?”

Yeah, right. 

The floor was built into a ‘L’ shape.  The end of the first hall was a large window with a chair beneath it.  At the end of the other hall... was a door.  A door with no number on it.  That drew Emily’s attention.  She rushed to the door and found a few small holes where number plates had once been attached. 

It had to be Gunnar’s room.

He took the numbers off so nobody could find him.

More seclusion.

Emily knocked and took a step back.

The silence bothered her and then she heard him. 

Moving.  Walking.

Talking.

“Who is it?”

“Ex,” Emily called out.

“Ex...”

The door opened and Gunnar stood shirtless, his tone frame almost glistening against the sunlight pouring in from the large hotel windows in his room.  He looked beautiful but he looked like a hidden mess.  His eyes were clear and potent, telling Emily he hadn’t been drinking nor indulging in drugs.

“Do you have a tape recorder?” Gunnar asked.

“Nope.”

“I’m going to check.”

“That’s fine.”

Emily stepped into the hotel room and Gunnar let the door shut.  He reached beyond Emily, purposely letting his body touch hers as he locked the door.  Emily closed her eyes and took a deep breath, savoring his scent, tasting it, memorizing it.

“Now, come with me.”

Gunnar touched Emily’s wrist.  He watched as she winced, then smiled.  His fingers opened and found comfort interlocked with Emily’s fingers.  It was such an odd and romantic way to hold hands, especially with Gunnar. 

He led the way through the massive hotel room, meeting all of Emily’s expectations.  She tried to not let it get to her, but the awe and fantasy started to build inside her.  She thought about the women down on the street, feeling elated just by being in the same area as Gunnar.  They had their minds to play out what could possibly happen.

And Emily was the one moving towards a bedroom.

Gunnar left the door open as he pulled at Emily, forcing her to step faster, almost falling.  He had intense strength and Emily put her hands out as she moved towards the bed.  Her hands touched the sheets and she moaned.

She didn’t mean to moan, but being in a room with Gunnar couldn’t produce anything less.

“Spread your arms on the bed,” Gunnar said. 

He stepped behind Emily, making sure his lower half touched her.  The bulge was already there or maybe it was just his flaccid size.  Thick and always ready.

Gunnar touched Emily’s legs and came around so his fingers were at her inner thighs.

“I don’t have any pockets there,” Emily said.

“I just like touching you,” Gunnar said.  “Don’t move an inch.”

Emily had no reason to move. 

Gunnar’s hands came up and back around, cupping her backside.  His fingers dug into her heavy skin over her jeans and then he was at her hips.  His fingers were excited for her curves, moving in any direction they could, savoring every second he had with her body.  As his hands became flat against her back, Emily moved down more.  She pushed her backside towards Gunnar, feeling a gentle rub against him.  She had to bite her lip to keep from screaming.

He climbed up her back and then both hands took Emily’s thick hair and tossed it to one side.  Gunnar leaned forward, placing his body against Emily’s, and got close enough that Emily could feel him breathing on the back of her neck.

“Gunnar...”

“Ex... I want you to come with me.  To show you the power.”

“The power?”

“My limo is waiting out back.”

“I was just there...”

“It’s waiting.  Now.”

Gunnar’s hands left Emily’s body for a moment and then reappeared at her pockets.  His hands moved into her pockets, actually checking for a tape recorder.  Emily couldn’t be sure if she should be offended by the lack of trust or not.

When his hands left her pockets, he walked to the closet and retrieved a shirt.  Dressed and ready, Gunnar sent a message through his cell phone and slipped the phone into his pocket.  He found a hooded sweatshirt to wear, one similar to the one he wore the first night they met.  After sliding it over his head, he smiled at Emily.  She tried to piece things together but had no choice but to wait.

They left the hotel room hand in hand and walked to the elevators.  Emily hesitated, thinking about the people waiting for their chance to see Gunnar.  They rode in silence to the second floor and when the doors opened, the two bodyguards Emily had to get past to see Gunnar were waiting.  They ushered Gunnar and Emily down the hall to the steps and then out of the hotel and into the limo.  It all happened too fast and so smoothly.  Gunnar stared at the ground while it all happened and didn’t show an ounce of emotion until he was in the comfort of the limo.

“We’re going to the show, aren’t we?” Emily asked.

“Of course.  I always go to the venues before the show.”

“You came to D while another show was happening.”

“Sometimes I go during a show, sometimes I don’t.”

Gunnar looked at Emily and without speaking a word she could understand he had no interest in talking while they drove.

The Cress Center of Arts was only a ten minute drive away.  It brought in fans from hundreds of miles away and as the limo took a wide turn to a private entrance for employees and artists only.  Emily could almost hear and see the crowd of people that would be there in twenty four hours.  The people ready for their night with Gunnar and Down Silent.  The people who needed music.  The people who needed life.  Emily had a basic understanding of that feeling.  Being an author didn't allow her to know many readers and behind the cloak of pen names, she was quite literally invisible.  Her craft was expressed in success through royalty spreadsheets and automated deposits.  Sure, Gunnar probably had the same thing but he got to see his product come to life each time he took the stage.

When the limo stopped, Gunnar reached across Emily's body and opened the door.

"Here we are," he said.

"Your next show?" Emily asked.

"I need to feel it."

They walked with their fingers interlocked towards the building, finding the front door open.  The woman who greeted them became star struck and it made her blush and act giddy.  Emily saw the annoyance in Gunnar's face and he ordered for security to escort them to the floor. 

"All yours," the security guard said.  "I'm Jason and just call if you need me."

"Thank you," Gunnar said.

Emily and Gunnar stopped walking at the middle of the large floor, at Gunnar's command.  They stood in silence, Gunnar’s face intent and his eyes beautiful and blazing their blue color.  He was focused on the stage.  It was empty but had so much potential.  He released Emily's hand and took a few steps forward, losing himself in a trance.

Emily saw an opportunity, a chance to get at Gunnar with some of his guard down.

"What are you feeling?" she asked.

"I'm feeling....," Gunnar started.  He took two more steps.  "I'm feeling the people, right here.  They're far enough from me but never too far.  I need to reach them.  To help them.  To guide them.  But they're the easy ones."

"How so?"

"Compared to..." Gunnar turned and pointed.  His attention was at the furthest corner of the venue.  "How can I reach them?  How can I make it real for them?  I want them on the stage with me.  Feeling it.  Experiencing what I have to say."

"Is that why you won't do a stadium tour?"

Gunnar looked at Emily.  "I see the interview has started."

"I'm just talking," Emily said, knowing that it was partially a lie.

"I want to connect with everyone.  One on one.  You can't do that with twenty thousand people separating you and the last person.  And you can't do that through a magazine article."

"Then I guess it's good I don't write for magazines," Emily said.

Gunnar walked again, towards the stage, stopping at the black metal gate that left a small path between the crowd and the stage.  It's where security would stand during the show and was used for emergencies. 

He looked at the stage that stood just a few feet higher in the air.  That’s where Gunnar would stand and bare himself.  Emily pictured it and it made her shiver.  She didn’t understand how he could do it.

“How do you do it?” she asked. 

“What do you mean?” Gunnar replied.

“All those people, all for you.”

Gunnar nodded.  He looked over his shoulder and smiled.  “I try to keep my true focus on just one person.”

Emily wasn’t sure what the comment meant.  But she couldn’t stop asking questions now.  The interview didn’t even matter to her.  She wanted to know more about Gunnar.  About Bryce Gunnar, the man hidden within the rockstar.

“Can you tell me what you want?” she asked.

“Want out of what?”

“Life.”

“I want love.”

The answer was so sudden and serious that it made Emily’s heart jump.

“What kind of love?”

“I only want the greatest kind.  The kind that teeters on obsession.  The kind that crushes your heart and puts it back together piece by piece, day after day.  That’s the kind of love that matters.”

“Why?” Emily asked.

“Because it’s the kind that can and will last forever.  It can battle any situation and battle any emotion.”

“Have you ever felt that kind of love?”

“Sometimes I feel that kind of love every single night.”

Gunnar looked back and smiled again, knowing the comment would hit Emily hard.  Even in a tender moment, Gunnar found control.

“What about right now?” Emily asked.

“Right now... I’m feeling...”  Gunnar opened his arms.  “I’m feeling alive.”

Emily slowly walked towards him.  She touched his sides first, pausing for a few seconds, and then put her arms around Gunnar.  One hand slid along his chest, the other along his stomach. She turned her head and rested it against Gunnar’s back.

“Why are you hidden?” Emily whispered.  “I want to know.”

“It’s not going to solve your problems,” Gunnar said.  “You’re hidden too.”

Emily shuddered. 

Silence fell.

She now understood the power of silence.  Of what it meant to be in a quiet venue that was meant to be alive.  This was why Gunnar did it.  To feel the calm but yet feel the aura of the empty venue.  To know what it will become.