Chapter 14
Fourteen
STONE
Hazel.
Hazel.
Hazel.
She’s all I can think about tonight. My body feels like an ant farm, as if there are bugs crawling around beneath my skin. I had to stop answering questions during the interviews we did earlier because my dark side was emerging. The part of me with zero tolerance for any kind of bullshit.
I’m sure it’s not healthy. Xander and Tobias had my back though, sliding in to answer questions I wasn’t in the place to answer. I’m sure there will be mention of my surly attitude in the press tomorrow. Can’t say that I particularly care, though, as long as the band doesn’t take a hit for it.
My eyes stray to the bone dry mini bar. I know what would soothe this restlessness in me. Thank fuck I don’t have access to it. Instead I pick up the phone and text Adam to see if he wants to go on a run with me. It’s the only thing I can think of to ease myself out of this downward spiral.
He texts back immediately that he’s down, and we plan to meet at the elevator in ten minutes.
I change into running shorts and a compression t-shirt before slipping my shoes on.
The sound of women laughing comes from Tobias’s room as I pass by.
He’s probably got two or three in there with him as we speak.
I don’t miss that, oddly enough. The never ending rotation of women into and out of my bed was never truly fulfilling.
That was one of my breakthroughs in rehab.
The women, the drugs, the booze, it all just filled a void inside me.
Running fills that void in a similar way, but at least it’s a healthy habit.
Adam falls into step beside me as we begin our run.
The summer air is thick with humidity as we run down streetlight lit streets.
My shirt clings to my sweat-drenched skin, and I bow my head, hiding behind the bill of my baseball cap when we pass a line of people waiting to enter a nightclub.
The last thing I want is to be recognized tonight.
I don’t know how long or far we run, but all the restless itchiness has left me as soon as I step foot back into the hotel lobby.
The chill of the air conditioning is a welcome reprieve to my burning skin as we turn down the corridor to the elevator.
But it’s nothing compared to the sight of Hazel in a light gray dress that looks like it was painted on her lush body.
Sierra glances over her shoulder as she hears us approaching.
I’ll give her credit, she doesn’t react in the normal way when she notices me, instead she nudges Hazel and whispers something quietly in her ear before leaving Hazel and walking back toward the lobby.
She gives me a wink as she passes us, and my lips lift in a small grin.
Was that a wink of approval? Does she want me to pursue Hazel?
Not that it matters one way or another, I’m going to pursue her regardless of anyone’s opinion.
I meet Adam’s gaze and look pointedly at her. He nods and breaks away from us, stopping in the alcove by the stairs to give us privacy.
“How was your signing?” I ask quietly as I step up behind her.
She gasps, her body jumping the slightest bit at the sound of my voice. “Jesus, you scared me.” Her hand circles her heart, and I’ve never wished to be someone else’s body part until right now.
“Sorry.” I smile down at her.
“No you’re not.”
My grin widens, dimple popping because she’s right. I’m not sorry. That startled gasp sounded a lot like the one she made into my mouth the other night. I want more. I want all her gasps.
“You’re right, I’m not. How was the signing?” I ask again because I really do care.
“It was great. Thanks for loaning Dan to me.”
“Why? Did the paparazzi follow you?” I straighten because I might love seeing her caught off guard, but I don’t want her caught up in our circus.
“No, but some of your fans found out about the signing and showed up hoping to catch you. The crowd outside the bookstore got a little intense.”
“I am sorry about that.” I hope this doesn’t mean she won’t want me to go along with her in the future. I did love seeing her in her element.
She waves me off. “It’s fine. It was a small enough crowd that Dan was able to corral them all off to one side. They mostly left when they realized it was just me.”
The elevator opens, and we step inside.
“How were your interviews?” she asks once the doors close.
“Could have been better.” I shrug and look down at her, noticing the hickey is gone. “Where’d my mark go?” My fingers brush her braid over her shoulder as I cup her neck.
“It’s still there, just covered by an expert makeup job.” Her voice takes on a husky tone as her eyes meet mine.
She takes a small step away from my looming presence. Fortunately for me, her back hits the wall. I reach out and press the emergency stop button. My hand moves to her nape, gently guiding her head to tilt upward toward mine.
“I don’t like that,” I whisper, my lips just barely brushing hers.
“Good thing I don’t live to please you,” she whispers back.
I smile as my lips meet hers. She moans as my body presses hers against the wall. I take advantage of her parted lips and slip my tongue inside her mouth. She tastes like champagne and moonlight. My cock instantly hardens between us, the thin fabric of my shorts doing nothing to camouflage it.
My other hand grips her full hip, kneading the skin there through the fabric of her dress.
I growl in annoyance feeling the shapewear she always seems to wear under everything.
It’s impossible to get a handful of her when she’s wearing them, and all I want is to be surrounded by her.
To sink into her and drown in the heady attraction between us.
I drink from her lips in greedy gulps. Consuming her moans is my new favorite drug. She’s the best high I’ve ever had. Her hands find their way under my shirt, moving up my back slowly.
A loud buzz startles us, breaking us apart. Then a voice comes over the speaker asking if we’re okay. We share guilty smiles and assure them we’re fine. The moment is over as the elevator starts moving again.
I’m just about to pull her against me again when the elevator doors slide open, and she darts through them like a startled rabbit. That’s okay, if she wants to run I’m happy to chase.
Adam is standing discreetly at the door to the stairs when I step out into the hall.
I smirk at his raised eyebrow which makes him chuckle silently.
He’s used to my antics, but I’m about to introduce a whole new Stone Tyler.
One who is dedicated not only to the music, but the woman who has already inspired two songs that I’ve yet to play for anyone.
Since Sierra is staying to watch the concert with Hazel tonight, I haven’t had much of a chance to see her. Had I not overheard a heated discussion between Jade and Darren about Hazel’s having to share a room with Sierra, I would have ended up knocking on her door last night.
Alas it was just my demons and me all night. And a long, hot shower during which my mind played out every single dirty fantasy I have about my little Archer.
I don’t remember ever feeling like this about anyone else. The desire is sharper, the yearning deeper. Maybe it’s because I’m sober. Or maybe Hazel just makes everything that much brighter.
My reflection stares back at me in the mirror surrounded by lights in my dressing room. I’m in my usual performance attire of jeans and a black t-shirt that will likely end up getting tossed into the crowd by the end of the night. It was hot as hell during sound check.
“Come in,” I say as I hear a knock at the door.
“Hey,” Jade says as she steps inside. Her eyes look me up and down. “Don’t move and look in the mirror again.” She pulls her phone out and snaps a few photos.
“Do I look good?” I turn and rest my weight against the table.
She snorts and rolls her eyes. “I’m not feeding your ego tonight.”
I smile at her. “Then why are you here?”
“To let you know I’ll be in the VIP tent with Hazel and Sierra. If you need anything, grab Darren.”
The tension I always hold when Hazel is out roaming through the crowd during our shows loosens. “Make the VIP tent as enticing to Hazel as possible. I hate when she’s just out there, and I can’t keep an eye on her.”
She gives me a knowing glance. “You really like her, don’t you?”
“I do.”
“Good. Because from what I can tell, the guy she’s involved with is an absolute piece of shit.”
“Are you giving me the green light?”
“As if you need that.”
She’s not wrong. Although her approval does mean more than I think she knows. Jade is like a sister to me. Her thoughts and opinions matter as much as anyone else’s do.
“Try to find out why she won’t watch the show from backstage.”
“You could just ask her yourself.”
“I have. She won’t tell me anything aside from not wanting to be in the way.”
“Maybe that’s the truth.”
“It’s not. I can feel it.”
She glances down at her phone when it pings with a notification. She slides it inside her pocket and reaches for the doorknob. “That’s her. I’m going to meet them. Have a good show.”
Just as she leaves, Darren enters. “You ready?”
“I am.”
I follow him out into the hall where a small crowd of stage staff, Xander, and Tobias stand waiting for me. I step up to the group, locking arms around shoulders as we manifest a great, safe show.
The moment I step onto the stage, knowing that Hazel is safe in the tent, I let myself loose.
The crowd is next level, currents of electricity coursing through them and lighting the three of us up.
There’s not one fuck up, we hit every note, the stage staff doesn’t miss a cue.
Our third city, and we’ve fully hit our stride.
By the time I’m wishing Cleveland a good night and the stage lights go down, I know I’m going to have to go for a post show run. The adrenaline from performing has lit me up from within. Our next stop is Detroit, and the drive from Cleveland is short, so we won’t leave until tomorrow.
If Sierra wasn’t still here, I’d hunt down Hazel and expel some energy with her. Since that’s not an option, running is all that’s left. Adam meets my eyes and gives me a nod before I can even tell him as I hand off my guitar to a roadie.
Fans scream for us from either side of the barricades lining the walk from the venue to where our SUVs wait for us. The three of us stop to sign everything from posters and shirts to skin. A woman shoves her way to the front carrying a copy of Hazel’s book and calls out her name.
I meet the woman’s gaze with a smile. “It’s a great book, isn’t it?”
“You read it?” Her eyes widen.
“Hell yeah. Finished it in one sitting.” I look over my shoulder as Hazel and Sierra walk out. “I’ll grab her for you.”
I step away from the barricade and cross to Hazel. “We’re not the only ones with fans here.” When she gives me a puzzled look, I point to the woman waiting for her.
Warmth explodes in my chest when I see the two of them make eye contact. Sierra follows her over, pulling a sharpie from her purse and handing it over. I walk back over to sign some more and meet fans but also to listen in to Hazel’s conversation with the woman.
I’m so pathetically obsessed that even witnessing Hazel have these moments makes pride bloom within me. I don’t know nearly enough about her yet, but I do know that she doesn’t give herself enough credit. The woman opens her arms a bit, and Hazel gives her a hug.
A group of drunk guys start trying to chat her up when the woman backs away from the barricade.
I move closer, just as Dan appears at her back.
One of the guys says something that makes both Hazel and Sierra’s eyes narrow.
Dan steps up beside her, ready to toss the drunk away, but Hazel holds a hand up and says something.
I wish I was closer because color drains from the guy’s face, and he walks away.
Sierra and Hazel share a look and leave the crowd of fans, heading back to the line of SUVs waiting to take us back to the hotel.
Fuck, I wish I knew what was said. Dan opens the door for them as they slip inside, Jade jumping in along with them before he climbs in the passenger seat.
I catch Xan watching with a pissed off look on his face as the SUV speeds off.