Chapter 15
Chapter Fifteen
Wynter
The shot of white-hot jealousy that courses through my veins in that moment is unlike anything I’ve ever experienced before. It takes every iota of strength I possess not to throw myself at her, tear her away from Ross, and pound the living crap out of her.
Holy shit, who am I?
I shake my head, trying to clear it, even though my heart is racing and I feel like throwing up.
To his credit, Ross steps away from the woman without hesitation, turning his face. “What the hell?” he demands.
She smirks. “Don’t tell me you haven’t been waiting for that for twenty years!”
“Twenty…” He pauses and then recognition seems to dawn. “Patricia Santori. Jesus fucking Christ. Two decades and nothing changes.”
“Everything changes,” she says, laughing. “You’re single now.”
His brows inch up. “No, actually, I’m not.”
“Seriously?” She throws up her hands. “You come out of hiding, and five minutes later you’re taken?”
“I was never in hiding, but I was taken before this.”
That’s a lie, but I’m certainly not going to point that out.
“That’s not what the tabloids are saying.”
“The tabloids?” he scowls. “I’m helping out while Kingston has laryngitis. It’s literally been twenty-four hours.”
“You put on quite the show last night.” She moves closer to him. “And this time, I’m not letting you out of my sight until I get my shot.”
Ross looks over at Pete. “Pete, can you escort Ms. Santori out and rescind her backstage access?”
“Oh, don’t be that way!” Patricia looks surprised. “I can help your career.”
“I don’t need help,” he says, looking around. “In case you haven’t noticed, I have Onyx Knight backing me.”
“They’re just using you until Kingston is better—then they’ll kick you to the curb.”
Obviously, she isn’t aware that Ross works for them.
“Pete, get her out of here.” Ross walks away and comes toward me apologetically. “Sorry about that, babe.” He wraps his arm around my shoulders and pulls me against his side.
“It’s okay. Though I have to admit, I had a moment of jealous rage.”
He chuckles. “I don’t blame you. I’d be pissed if some random guy walked up and kissed you.”
“You’re the only guy I want kissing me.”
“And you’re the only lady I want kissing me.”
We smile at each other before we head to the dressing room.
He guzzles a bottle of water while listening to the chatter on one of the walkie-talkies.
I think it’s charming and impressive that even though he’s not working as the band’s tour manager now, he still stays on top of everything as much as he can.
It shows his level of commitment to the band as well as an admirable work ethic.
“You already have a groupie!” Z says as he joins us in the dressing room. “Who was she? I didn’t recognize her.”
“Twenty years ago, she worked for my old record label, Antic. Remember them?”
“Oh, yeah.”
“I think she was like a marketing intern or something and she had a hard-on for me. She begged to be allowed to come on the road with the main guy and even paid her own way. She was pissed when she found out that I not only had a fiancée, but that I loved her and was faithful.”
“How’d she get backstage tonight?” Z muses.
“She works for some new music rag,” Devyn says, joining the conversation. “I met her my first week with the band. She interviewed me, but even then, I saw her eyeing King the whole time. So, she’s definitely out to find herself a man.”
Ross shudders. “Jesus. Even if Wynter and I weren’t together, I would’ve lied and made up a girlfriend!”
We all chuckle.
“Well, the press is in heat tonight,” Z says. “You’re going to have to decide how much PR you want, Ross, because this is all about you.”
He groans. “Guys, I don’t want this to be about me…I mean, don’t get me wrong, I’m having the time of my life, but there’s no point in making a big deal out of it. In two weeks, I’m back to living behind the scenes.”
“Not necessarily,” Tommy says, leaning forward. “I mean, people obviously haven’t forgotten Ross and the Rock-its. You could put together some kind of reunion tour, opening for us.”
Ross blinks, like he’s unsure what Tommy means. “What?”
“It’s just a thought,” Tommy says with a shrug. “We haven’t had an opening act so far because we couldn’t find anyone. But this could be fun for you.”
“Not to mention lucrative,” Z adds. “We pay well. And if you hired musicians, as opposed to starting a new band, you’d make the bulk of the money.”
Ross stares at him.
We all stare back.
It’s like no one takes a breath.
And then Ross shakes his head. “I can’t, I mean, Ross & the Rock-its were a specific group of people. I can’t recreate that with strangers.”
“Of course not,” Devyn says smoothly. “You perform as Ross Rockit. Solo act. They’re just hired hands to play live.”
“That wasn’t the deal,” he says, swallowing. “I’m your tour manager. I love being your tour manager. And it’s a good job, with benefits. I can’t give that up to start over. I’m too old for that lifestyle, guys.”
“You wouldn’t be giving up anything. You’d still be on the payroll. We’d just adjust your pay as our opening act.”
Ross’s mouth opens and then snaps shut.
“I have to give this some thought,” he says finally. “Serious thought.”
“Of course.” Tommy nods. “We can have management come up with numbers, see how it shakes out. If it’s not the right fit, nothing changes.”
They talk for a few more minutes but I’m studying Ross’s body language. He’s nervous. Excited. Unsure of himself. I’ve never seen this side of him before, and I have to admit I’m equal parts nervous and excited myself.
If he were to reinvent himself as “Ross Rockit” solo, that would change everything.
Right?
I’m not sure how I feel about him going back to that world.
It’s one thing for him to be Onyx Knight’s tour manager.
It’s something else entirely for him to go back to being Ross Rockit.
While my teenage heart is excited, the thirty-three-year-old woman I’ve become is a lot more uncertain about living that lifestyle.
Especially with me being stuck back in L.A.
I keep my thoughts to myself, though, as we head back to the hotel and he gets in the shower. I’m leaving tomorrow so I take a few minutes to pack and try to get organized for both my trip and going back to work.
Ugh.
The more time I spend away from work, the more I realize how much I don’t want to go back.
I’m going to have to think long and hard about another career change.
“All packed and ready to go?” Ross asks, coming out of the bathroom in nothing but a towel wrapped low on his hips.
I’m momentarily spellbound by the sight of his bare torso and I blink at him. “Um, what?”
He chuckles. “Somebody needs an orgasm.”
“Just one?”
“I think I’m good for at least two.” He lets the towel drop. “But you’re wearing way too many clothes.”
I pull off my top and wiggle out of my denim skirt.
“Can there be a rule that you never wear a bra when we’re alone?” he murmurs, reaching out to slide his hands beneath the one I’m wearing.
“I don’t know about a rule, but we can definitely discuss it.” I smile as he reaches back to unsnap the hooks and the bra falls free.
“Ah. Perfect.” He dips his head and suckles one nipple.
Standing in the middle of the room wearing nothing but a pair of thong panties, it feels like the most natural thing in the world for Ross to be touching me like this. We have so many things to talk about but none of them matter when we’re intimate.
He backs me toward the bed and pushes me over. I expect him to lie on top of me but he just smiles and kneels at the edge. He reaches out and tugs my panties down, gently pushing my legs apart.
“Nothing better than a late-night snack after a show,” he murmurs, running a trail of kisses along the inside of my thigh.
My legs fall open as he uses his hands and mouth to drive me wild.
His sensual kisses along the crease of my thigh have me lifting my hips anxiously, but he’s in no hurry, moving to the other side and leaving a line of goosebumps in his wake.
A soft sigh escapes me as I wait for him to get where I really want him, and finally, he trails his tongue along my slit.
“Mm.” His low hum sends vibrations through my folds and my heart races with excitement.
Warm lips suckle my lower lips and he’s still taking his time, which I both love and hate. Part of me never wants this to end while the rest of me is desperate for him to get me off.
“Ross…” I dig my fingers into his long hair, loving the feel of the damp locks between my fingers. I love his hair, which is dark and shoulder length, with a few strands of gray streaked through it. It’s so incredibly sexy on him.
His tongue slides into me and I arch into his face.
He pauses to look up at me as I peer down at him.
I don’t know what passes between us in that moment but it’s sensual and intense and…
intimate. Intimacy has so many meanings and none more so than what we’re sharing now.
It’s physical but also emotional. And part of it is even intellectual because there’s so much more to this man that meets the eye.
He dives back in, eliminating any ability to think—all I can do now is feel. His tongue on my tender lips. His lips on my clit. Two thick fingers sliding into me.
“Oh, fuck, Ross… yes!” I pant out his name a few more times, and then everything starts to twist and spiral. The coiling deep in my belly turns electric, and I make sounds I can’t stop.
I feel his rumble of laughter as my legs close and I nearly strangle him with my thighs.
“Damn, woman, you got some muscle in there.” He lifts his head playfully.
“Sorry about that.” I chuckle. “Orgasm number one was mind-bending.”
“Just wait for what I have planned for number two.”
He crawls onto the bed and pulls me close. His lips seek out mine and my mouth opens without hesitation. I taste myself on him and it’s different but not unpleasant. I don’t think anyone has ever kissed me after going down on me, and for some reason, it just adds to the intimacy of the moment.
“I love kissing you,” I whisper.
“I love kissing you.” He smiles at me. “And I plan to spend the rest of the night doing it. Among other things.”