Benefit to Love – By Kelly Violet #3
His face turned away from me, glancing down the road for the van.
Hefting the extra weight on my shoulders, I rose up on my tiptoes and laid a kiss on the only spot I could manage to reach.
Times like these I wanted to curse my short height.
My lips grazed his neck, and I got a good whiff of his cologne.
A scent that I memorized, closely associating it with him.
Clean, warm, and so so good . Still, though, I had been aiming for his cheek.
With my heels flat on the ground again, Rafe’s gaze slowly fell to me.
“What was that for, sweetheart?”
“Just because,” I said, shrugging slightly.
“Oh!” The next moment, a gasp escaped as Rafe’s hands were on my waist and yanking me into his chest. His lips pressed against mine before my next breath, and I was more than okay with it.
He traced the seam of my lips with his tongue, requesting access that I readily gave him.
At the moment, our surroundings slipped away, and it was just the two of us.
My walls dropped around this man. Same with my inhibitions.
None of my fears stood a chance around Rafe.
Not anymore. So, when his tongue dipped into my mouth, I made sure to meet him halfway, giving as good as I was getting.
A deep groan rumbled which caused my knees to weaken.
His kisses were a threat to all of my common sense and decency.
There was no escaping the facts. I leaned into him, happy to make out until our lips were good and bruised, but the universe had other ideas.
A wolf whistle pierced through the air, and as soon as my brain registered the sound, my body froze.
“Y’all need another few minutes before we head out, Tapiro?
We could circle the block if you want.” Rafe slowed the kiss and then pulled back completely right as Berto finished his sarcastic suggestion.
My skin flushed with a wave of embarrassment as Rafe shielded me with a hand against my head.
Feeling every movement, I knew exactly when he turned his head to glare at being interrupted.
“Shove it, asshole. Help us get our stuff in the van so we can hit the road.”
“You were the one sucking Wyn’s soul outta her body in broad daylight, but I’m an asshole. Okay, mano,” he chuckled.
“Quick teasing them, Berto.” Colt’s decisive command stopped their back and forth.
I turned my head, peeking one eye open to see the scene.
Berto had the passenger side window down while throwing his barbs out.
Colt and Darcy now stood on the sidewalk.
My bestie wore a knowing smirk on her face, saying everything and nothing at all.
She lifted both hands to give me two thumbs up before my head started shaking from another wave of humiliation.
I couldn’t believe they caught us like this. While the teasing was more than I could handle, I knew we couldn’t dawdle any longer. We had a schedule to keep and a benefit concert to get to.
Taking a fortifying breath, I squeezed Rafe’s side quickly. Then stepped out of his comforting embrace. “Let’s get this show on the road, shall we? I didn’t bust my butt on y’all’s itinerary to screw it all up on day one.”
“You could never screw up a damned thing, even if you tried, sweetheart.” With that statement seeping into my system, Rafe bent down to pick up one of the items at his feet and strode to the back of the van.
Colt walked up to lend a hand, and Berto hopped out of the passenger seat to do the same.
Rafe returned to steal the bags from my shoulders while also laying a peck on my lips.
Before my brain could even register that he was gone, Darcy came up to grab my attention.
My bestie tugged my still-dazed behind by the arm and led me to the van’s side door.
Without a word, we got settled in the last row.
A few miscellaneous items were on the floor at our feet, but neither of us would complain, especially since we were so short.
It was more than roomy enough with just the two of us.
Minutes later, the guys loaded into the van and then we were off.
“That sure looked like a real juicy kiss, Wyn.”
“Hush, Dar!” My lips still tingled, but the last thing I needed was my bestie teasing me for the next few hours.
Her boisterous giggle cut through the cab, and whatever conversation the guys were having stopped.
“What’s got you two giggling back there?” Doug asked from the driver’s seat.
“Nothing!” I damn near tripped over my tongue to answer.
“Yeah, nothing.” Darcy’s impression of a sassy parrot did us no favors, but their conversation started back up after a pregnant pause. Once we got on the highway heading west, we put our heads together and kept our voices low as we chatted happily until the first rest stop.
DARCY
After sixteen hours and several quick stops for food, gas, and to stretch our legs, we were finally staying overnight at a hotel. Tomorrow, we’d get back on the road to start the second half of our trip.
So far, all of the guys had taken turns driving while Wyn and I sat like princesses in the back—when we weren’t chatting or keeping our guys company.
Sitting up front and hanging out with Colt during his turn at the wheel was a highlight for me.
Although he’d suggested several times that I get some rest, my stubborn streak would not be broken.
I was dedicated to making sure he stayed awake, alert, and had everything he needed.
And I got a mini concert for my efforts. Colt’s husky tenor had drifted over me as he sang along to almost every song playing on the radio. My heart nearly burst with happiness.
This was it. This was the long-ago dream I’d had the first time I got to see the band perform live.
I’d fallen in love with Colton Strong years ago, partly because of his voice.
Sometimes, I also wondered about the broken parts of him I saw and heard through the music, and it felt like they mirrored my own.
Like we weren’t so different in the grand scheme of things.
Now, we were both on a journey of healing.
Same with Wyn and Rafe. It took a while, but I’d finally realized that nobody’s life was perfect, or as perfect as they made it out to be on social media, and that was something I had to keep in mind.
But moments could be perfect. That’s what mattered most to me. Filling my life with perfect moments with the ones I loved and who loved me right back.
“Babe?” Colt laid a hand on my shoulder, and I turned toward him, realizing it likely wasn’t the first time he called me.
“Yeah.”
“Everything all right?”
“Everything is perfect.” We stood in our hotel room. Colt had grabbed our overnight bags out of the van and checked us all in. We’d secured three rooms for the one-night stay. Being in the van hadn’t been unbearable, but I was ready to stretch out and get a solid night’s rest in a big bed.
“Wanna take a nap or go out for a walk around town?”
“What do you want to do?” I threw the question back at him.
“Be with you,” was his rapid-fire response, and my heart literally fluttered.
We’d stopped an hour or so past the halfway point in our road trip.
Since we arrived at the hotel in Amarillo right before check-in started, it was still light outside.
I was sure everyone was exhausted from the drive, and we’d more than likely make it an early night after dinner, so I thought a walk sounded lovely.
“Let’s take a stroll around town before it gets dark.”
“Lead the way, babe.”
I grabbed my small crossbody bag as we left the room.
The weather this year had been somewhat mild in Indiana, and that seemed to be the case in other parts of the country.
But there were still random days of inclement weather that could lead to disaster.
My mind immediately turned to the devastating fires in SoCal; the reason why we were even on this epic road trip in the first place.
Colt and I spent an hour walking around the surrounding area of the hotel holding hands, talking, and window shopping at the mom-and-pop shops that lined the main drag.
We didn’t often get to go out like this back home.
With my job and his gigs, the two of us stayed busy almost nonstop.
I had no complaints, though. We were both following our dreams and passions.
The fact that we could find moments like this made them extra special.
“Ready to head back, Darcy?”
“Mm,” I nodded. “I’m suddenly feeling a bit peckish, actually.”
“Well, I think it’s past time I get my girl some supper.”
Colt squeezed the hand he held, and we turned around to head back to our hotel.
By silent agreement, we decided to eat at the hotel’s restaurant since it had fairly good reviews online.
Wyn made sure to check during her planning.
Nothing got past my bestie when she was in work mode.
And hunting for food after driving for sixteen hours wasn’t an activity anyone wanted to do.
Although the walk and fresh air had been exactly what I needed, I was more than ready to get back for some food. Showering and then decompressing in the hotel room were the other items high on my to-do list.
Snuggling in bed with Colt sounded perfect as well.
As a whole, we had made exceptional time.
There was no need to hurry or feel rushed.
The guys had been in good spirits during the long drive.
Getting a behind-the-scenes glimpse at one of my favorite bands was every fangirl’s ultimate fantasy.
But never did I think we’d end up here. Not by a long shot.