Chapter 10
It’s hard to think as blood whooshes in my ears when Sully walks off stage and kisses my lips. He’s sweaty from playing under all these hot lights, but I want to kiss him on stage until all those fangirls cry.
Charlotte ties her long hair into a ponytail and takes a drink from her water bottle. She touches my upper arm and smiles. “You like the show the second time around?”
“Yes.” I fiddle with the backstage pass around my neck. “I loved seeing all the behind-the-scenes stuff, and of course, your band was amazing.”
A smile plays on her lips. “Maybe better than last night?” she says, her laugh gentle and low, a warm sound that lingers in the air.
Ben walks over, wiping his face with a white towel.
He grabs Charlotte’s ass and kisses her.
She lets out a soft giggle, and together, they disappear into the room reserved for artists backstage.
Lars walks over biting an apple. “Is backstage everything you thought it would be?”
“There’s more tripping hazards than I thought,” I joke, motioning to all the wires being coiled up by the stagehands.
“We’re about to leave in twenty minutes. I’m sure you and Sully will find something to do,” Lars chuckles and takes another bite from his apple.
The members of Haunted Dreams come by saying their goodbyes and walk out into the night air. I can hear fans outside waiting; they’re talking excitedly.
Sully tugs on the neckline of his new clean blue shirt. “Ready? We can grab dinner unless you’d rather return to the hotel?” His eyes trail along my body slowly as he takes in every curve.
I hook my arms around his neck and kiss his lips. “We have all night. Let’s start with some food and see where it takes us.”
Charlotte, Ben, and Lars join us, all wearing fresh clothes and secret smiles.
“Ready to meet the fans?” Charlotte asks, opening the door.
A group of about forty people swarm in like a flash flood.
The members of Scarlet Failure move effortlessly to meet their fans in smaller groups—Charlotte with her warm, practiced smile, greeting everyone like she’s known them forever. Ben and Lars jump straight into jokes and selfies, already laughing with fans like they’re old friends.
I stand there, frozen for a second, trying to keep up. The noise hits me first—voices, laughter, camera clicks, all layered over one another in a dizzying mess. I don’t know where to look or what to do with my hands.
No one’s looking at me, and yet I feel completely exposed.
I force a smile, hoping it doesn’t look as awkward as it feels. My heart’s pounding, and I’m suddenly hyper-aware of everything—my clothes, my posture, the way I’m breathing. This isn’t just backstage anymore. This is the other side of the glass, and I’m supposed to belong here.
But right now? I’m not so sure I do.
I look over to Sully. He’s reserved, standing still like he’s in pain, and told he’s not allowed to leave. His eyes meet mine and I wander over.
“I can take the picture,” I say to a fan snapping a million selfies with Sully.
“Thanks.” She thrusts the phone into my hand and wraps her arm around Sully’s waist. He doesn’t smile, just stares ahead with his arm extended behind her back, not touching her anywhere.
“Okay,” I say, handing the phone back. “Thanks. Have a good night.”
I motion to the next fan and become Sully’s unofficial photographer/bodyguard, making sure no one stays longer than they need to. Just a quick photo and a signature on one or two things then on to the next fan.
A gentleman wearing black jeans and a pressed red shirt comes out of the venue and motions toward the two black town cars that pulled up. “Alright, everyone. Time for the band to say goodnight. Thanks for coming out.”
The man comes over to Sully and nods toward the second car. “Charlotte told me about your guest. Thought you’d want to take her somewhere nice for dinner.”
Sully pats the man on the shoulder. “Thanks, Mark. This is Veronica.” He smiles at me and turns my insides to goo. “Veronica, this is Mark, the band’s tour manager.”
“Nice to meet you.” He shakes my hand. “With the tour over, I’m going to enjoy myself tonight as well. But don’t have too much fun or Amy will give us all hell.”
Sully winks. “Just enough trouble.”
The car drops us off at the Paris hotel and we ride the elevator up to the top floor where the Eiffel Tower restaurant oversees the Strip. We have an amazing view of all the sparkling lights and the Bellagio fountain.
The food is a little too fancy for my taste, but at least it’s edible. I love watching the fountains dance below and seeing the tiny ant people wandering around the streets. When I glance at Sully, he’s staring at me, taking a sip of his wine.
“What are you looking at?” I ask, wiping my mouth with a fancy white cloth napkin.
“Just you. You’re all I want to look at.”
There’s a flutter in my stomach as my cheeks warm. “You’re being silly.” I take the last bite of my lavishly weird salad. “What do you want to do now?”
He taps his finger on his glass. “Whatever you want.”
Thirty minutes later, we’re on the casino floor. We passed by the slots and went right for the blackjack table. At first, Sully sat beside me, but after one round, he discovered he doesn’t know how to play very well.
On my fifth hand, I’m doing good. I’ve made at least five hundred dollars off my hundred-dollar chips.
Sully stands behind me with his hands resting on my shoulders. “Why are you so great at this?” His lips brush my ear, sending goosebumps all over my body.
“My dad likes playing cards on the weekend. He taught me everything I know.”
“Here I thought you were just lucky, Engel.” His fingers trail over my shoulder blades and press into my lower back. Suddenly this game is the last thing on my mind.
I win the next round and cash out. As we walk to the cashier, Sully’s arm wraps around my hips. “Do you want dessert?”
“You read my mind.”
We stop by an ice cream shop before walking out onto the Strip. We lick our treat and cross the street to watch the fountains up close.
The water dances to the music perfectly. I sigh dreamily, watching the show. “Last time I was in Vegas I got a fountain view room just so I could sit by the window all night.”
He chuckles and kisses the tender spot below my ear. “That’s all you did in your room?” His voice is hot, scorching my blood.
I turn around in his arms and brush my nose against his. “It was a work trip. Alice was there too, but she was at the club. I checked in early. But sadly, they do turn the fountains off.”
“Bummer.” He cups my chin and kisses me deeply. Our tongues tangle, fighting for dominance. The back of my legs hit the little wall as the mist from the water sprays across my skin.
He pauses, watching people wander by. “Do you want a picture?” He nods to the fountain.
“Only if you’re in it too.” I grab my phone and smush my face into his chest. He smiles, and it makes my knees weak.
“Do you want me to take a photo of you two?” An older gentleman asks.
“Please.” I hand over my phone.
He takes a few shots and hands the phone back. “Thanks,” I say as the stranger strolls away toward the Bellagio’s entrance.
“They have a seasonal garden inside. It’s gorgeous.”
Sully plants his hands on my hips, pulling me closer. “I’d rather return to the room,” he says, his voice low.
The way he looks at me—like I’m the only woman he’s ever wanted—makes my breath hitch. His gaze doesn’t waver, intense and hungry, as if he's already imagining exactly what he’ll do once we’re alone.
“I’ll call the town car to pick us up.” Sully nods and grabs his phone.
As we walk toward the pick-up area, a girl squeals and runs over to us, dragging her friend along. The friend trips on the curb and almost drops her three-foot-long drink. She glares at me like it’s my fault.
The strange girl gawks at Sully, touching his upper arm. “You’re Sully from Scarlet Failure, right?”
“Unfortunately.” His voice is flat and his face turns to stone.
“I love you! Saw your show tonight. It was amazing, of course!” She waves her angry friend closer. “This is the bass player in the band we saw tonight.”
Her friend nods, sipping her drink, unfazed by her near fall.
“Can we help you with something?” I dare to ask, crossing my arms over my chest.
The girl frowns, realizing I’m with Sully and not just someone walking by.
“Oh…yeah…” She grabs her phone and shoves it into my chest. “Can you take our picture?” The girl says in a rush. She tries and fails to snake her arm through Sully’s. He has his arms pinned to his sides with the meanest look on his face.
“Sure. One photo.” I open her camera and snap a single shot.
She’s all smiles, beaming like she’s just met her idol. But Sully—he’s still. His face is tight, jaw clenched, eyes slightly narrowed like he’s bracing for something. He doesn’t even fake a smile.
He almost looks like he’s in pain, like just being there costs him something he doesn’t want to explain.
“Bye now.” I toss her phone back and she catches it with a wild look in her eyes like she can’t believe I did that. I can’t either, but she’s annoying me.
The girls rush off, whispering to each other. Sully sighs and rests his arm along my shoulders. “Let’s go before anyone else comes.”
I laugh despite myself. “No wonder people say you’re colder than a fish. Your face in that photo was terrible.”
“I don’t like pictures. Fans are cool, but not when they’re all in my face. I like my space.”
“What about me?” I kiss his cheek. His scruff scrapes against my lips. What I want that scruff to rub against tonight sends my stomach into cartwheels.
“You’re different. When I saw you at the base of the stage, I knew you weren’t like the others. It was almost…I don’t want to say it. You’ll laugh.”
“Come on.” I bump my hip against his. “Promise I won’t.”
He glances down at me and caresses my cheek with his thumb. “Magic. Seeing you was like magic.”
My heart turns to slush. What the hell is with this man? He’s like a romance character fresh out of the pages of a book.
But it won’t last. We’re from different parts of the world and our jobs don’t align. There’s that dark voice, ruining my mood again.
Sully takes my hand and points to the black car pulling into the parking lot. “Here’s our ride.” He wraps an arm around my waist and leads me to our town car. His hot breath lingers on my neck, quickening my pulse and killing any negative thoughts.
As soon as we’re behind the closed door of our hotel room, Sully kisses my lips hungrily and presses himself against me, pinning my back against the wall. “You have no idea how long I’ve been dying to do this.”
He picks me up and I wrap my legs around his waist. I can already feel how swollen he is and it makes everything low in me clench. “Only you can drive me this crazy,” he growls in my ear, dropping me onto the bed.
His tongue thrusts into my mouth, desperate to tangle with mine.
His kiss is deep and then his hands whisk my shirt over my head.
His hungry mouth meets mine again as his fingers unhook my bra and toss it aside.
My breasts pulse and ache when he cups them.
I feel him smile wickedly against my mouth before his lips trail down to my breasts.
He teases my left nipple, pinching the bud until it painfully puckers.
He sucks on the other until it’s a desperate peak of need.
His tongue strokes it in punishment and I moan.
Sully pulls away and my body aches in his absence. “I need to grab a condom—”
I lock my legs around his waist, keeping him pinned. The desire to have Sully buried deep inside me ignites my blood. I can’t allow him to leave for a second. “I’m on the pill.”
He smirks and his warmth ensnares me again. “Good. I want to feel all of you.” He nips at my left breast then the right. “This is all I want,” he says, pulling my pants and underwear down over my thighs.
“What about what I want?” I ask, tugging on the collar of his shirt.
Sully rips off his clothes and grasps my bare ass, holding me closer. Our lower bodies instinctively grind together.
My hands glide into his thick hair, and our eyes lock. “You’re mine, Engel,” he breathes, rotating his hips until his shaft bumps against my clit, sending a shock of pleasure sizzling through my veins.
Words escape me as my hands move along his neck and shoulders to explore the hard plains of his chest. I kiss his left pec and nip at it. He groans and hooks a finger under my chin.
As we kiss, he slides into me, slow but deep. I moan against his mouth, and he swallows the sound, his fingers finding my clit and rubbing just right, sending pleasure surging through me.
“I’m close,” I gasp.
“Schatz,” he murmurs, lips trailing down my neck. The way he touches me—his voice, his mouth, his accent—it’s too much.
“Fuck…” My vision swims. It’s intense, overwhelming. Sully knows exactly how to break me apart.
“Be a good girl and come for me.”
His fingers move faster, and my body shudders as everything crashes down. I come hard, clinging to him. A second later, his body jerks, and he spills into me, breathing ragged against my skin.
I lie on his chest as we both catch our breaths. The bed groans underneath us. I think we broke a few of its springs.
When we settle back to Earth, Sully leads me to the shower.
I never knew it could be so erotic. As the water rains down from two showerheads, Sully presses me against the wall and forces my legs apart with his hand.
His fingers enter me first, rubbing the perfect spot, sending my eyes fluttering closed.
“How sweet do you taste, Schatz?”
His hot mouth covers me, and when his tongue replaces his fingers, I moan his name. As his tongue strokes inside me, everything comes loose. I’m putty in his hands. My body trembles, and my hips rock against his mouth, needing more.
Sully chuckles. “You make it hard not to fuck you again.”
When he stands at his full height, I grab his dick, rubbing my thumb over its tip. He’s already swollen.
“My turn,” I say, kneeling in front of him.
I haven’t given a guy a blow job in a while. My first boyfriend said I did it wrong, and my last ex didn’t like them.
At first, I’m nervous, but as he fills my mouth and I look up to meet his lustful gaze, I feel empowered. My hand gently squeezes his balls as I swallow him deeper. My tongue knows where to stroke, and Sully groans, fisting my hair.
“Shit. I’m going to come and I won’t do it in your mouth. Not yet.”
His hands hook under my armpits, and within a second, I’m pinned against the wall again.
His mouth devours mine as water pours over us.
He gingerly shoves himself into me. Our hips rock in rhythm.
My heels dig into his lower back, allowing him a better angle.
He slides in deeper. I want to stay in this room with Sully forever.