Chapter 25
Gitar - Guitar
Rhys
‘You can’t make our front door blue, Luce.’
I peel her fingers off the pile of bricks and pop the door off its hinges. Its white replacement sits at the top of the bucket of Lego. I slot it into place. Perfect. Not gonna have anyone accusing me of being a Cardiff City supporter, thank you very much.
Around us, children dig for their own makes – chatting away, building monsters and rocket ships. We might look out of place, squished onto rainbow-covered stools, towering over the brightly covered worktable, but I don’t give a fuck. I’m having fun.
The whole month and a half has been fucking fun.
Six weeks of tour. Six weeks of dating her.
Since the dodgy text messages, Cai’s stalker has stayed away.
No hint of a taunting email or any more unwanted visitors.
Every time I check in on the house security system, there’s nothing suspicious.
So me and Luce’ve been venturing further afield.
In Edinburgh, we snuck into the city for a Hugh Grant movie marathon.
Her idea, but it was the best thing ever.
Notting Hill, Four Weddings, all four Bridget Jones movies.
We got in well after midnight, arguing whether Mr Walliker or Daniel was better suited for Bridget – no Mark Darcy love in this household.
A big superstar chef invited Cai to J?RO Restaurant in Sheffield, but since he’s on indefinite house arrest, we took his spot and enjoyed the first-class treatment, for once.
Then me and Luce almost broke up over a heated game of crazy golf in Nottingham.
Hard to play, with a broken wrist, though she wouldn’t listen to me.
But I let her win the second time around and we kissed and made up. A lot.
And now here we are, building our first house together.
Lego Luce and Rhys watch our progress. We don’t have much longer.
Human Luce has told me again and again we have to get the next tube to make it to the O2 in time for show number two.
The big door debate is me dragging our morning date out for longer.
I’m a fucking goner.
She pulls the roof off our house. ‘Well, if we can’t settle on a front door colour, we might have to postpone buying the house.’
‘We have all the time in the world to choose.’ I kiss her temple and nab our mini figures. ‘I’m gonna pay, then we can leave. Gethin’ll blow his nut if we’re late to the arena again.’
Managed to nab enough time alone with her and get her to my room yesterday. Rare when we’re constantly surrounded by people. We got a little distracted and missed our call time. Only by five minutes. But Gethin and Cai acted like we didn’t show up at all. Chumps.
It’s not like I left him unprotected. Bryn and Alina were there, as well as the hundreds of other people I’ve got to look after him. And if he needed a drink or something to eat, Gethin could’ve got off his backside and sorted it for once.
I return to her side as she plops the last brick in the tub. ‘Back to Cardiff tomorrow. Excited?’
‘Yeah, I am. It’ll be good to see my flat.’
‘Me too. Wonder how many of my plants have died cos Aled forgot to water them.’
I take her hand and pull her out of the shop and towards the tube.
Being back in Cardiff means returning to something more normal.
Well, as normal as you can fucking get when you work for Cai.
There’ll be some time off when the tour’s done.
P’raps I’ll take Luce on holiday if I can persuade her to take a real break.
Find a beach where we can live out one of my more favourite fantasies – me and her, barely any clothes on, an unlimited supply of cocktails.
‘Come on, Dolly Daydream.’ She tugs at my hand, pulling me out of my brooding. ‘We’ll miss the next tube if you dawdle.’
All my guards are in place. I’ve finished my pre-concert checks. Walkies on. Security briefed. A last minute walk around the venue, just in case.
It’s been non-stop since we got here – on time, despite Transport for London’s best attempts to hold us up.
We reached the green room, and Cai greeted us with a massive list of shit he wanted doing.
Menial stuff, like making sure his costumes were ironed and swapping out his carrot sticks for peppers.
Apparently it all needed doing right away.
Meant Luce hurried off with Bryn to get it all done.
Fucking diva. Damn shame I love the guy.
Alina arrives to swap with me, finally giving me a break. Green room watch’s the dullest of my jobs, and I’m desperate for a rest from the same four walls.
‘Grabbing ten,’ I say into my walkie-talkie. ‘Drop me a text if you need something,’
I turn it down before anyone finds something for me to do and leave the building, skirting around the edge to find a quiet spot, away from the crowds already pouring in.
The bright sun pokes between skyscrapers, and I turn my face towards the light, closing my eyes.
Lego Luce’s in my pocket, and I slide a hand inside to rub my thumb over her.
At least I can have her by my side, though she doesn’t beat the real thing.
My quiet lasts all of thirty-seconds. Footsteps beat over the concrete, growing louder.
It could be someone from the crew, looking for their own spot for a break.
I’m nowhere near lucky enough for Luce to be free at the same time as me.
A tiny bead of hope lights up in the deepest part of my brain anyway.
Would be nice to see her, slide our fingers together to feel her pulse against my skin.
I keep my face neutral, just in case. Don’t want Bryn to find me way too over-excited to see him – he’ll think he’s my new best friend.
I peel one eyelid open enough to catch a glimpse of a flowery blouse, then I shut the eye again pretty quick, fighting the smile on my face.
A waft of vanilla with the tiniest hint of caramel greets me as she approaches.
Not the fancy shit Cai pours over himself.
Baccarat Rouge. Sounds more like a bottle of wine.
It’s not the stomach-churning Lynx Africa stink of Bryn either.
No, this smell doesn’t make me feel sick. In fact, it turns me on a little.
Soft fingers slide between the last buttons at the bottom of my shirt, parting the material to dive against the waistband of my jeans.
I open my eyes immediately to see the wicked smile spread.
Only seeing her is enough to send a prickle of electricity over my body, and I fight the urge to wrap my arms around her.
PDA’s not her thing, especially at work.
She’s gotta take the lead on shit like this.
‘I was hoping it was you,’ I say.
‘I couldn’t resist coming to find you. Another busy day, hey?’
At some point she abandoned the blue jumper she was wearing on our date.
The venue’s been a greenhouse all day, so I don’t blame her.
But she’s standing in front of me now in only a thin blouse and a pair of tight jeans.
A light sheen of sweat lingers on her chest and arms, and the front of her curls are plastered to her forehead.
I could eat her up. I’d kill to slip my fingers under her clothes – one hand under her top and the other into her bottoms – and find other ways to make her sweat.
Fucking hell. I’m so horny. I bite my lip to stop the groan from escaping and work out how I can get her to my room once everyone’s asleep.
‘Far too busy,’ I choke out. ‘Can’t believe Gethin ruined our little lunch moment earlier.’
‘He didn’t ruin it. He’s our boss and welcome to sit with us. It’s not like we could send him away.’
‘You wouldn’t. You're the teacher's pet.’
‘Oi!’ She pokes me in the belly. ‘You’re just mad he stopped you from playing footsie with me.’
‘Only cos I was too scared of getting him instead of you.’
‘He might have thought you were trying to be the teacher’s pet.’
‘You know I’d do anything to keep in his good books, Luce. Worked with you, didn’t it?’
She wraps both arms around my waist but stops a hair’s breadth away from kissing me. ‘It’s interesting you’re not above doing sexual favours to keep your job. Should I be worried?’
I pull her flush to me but don’t give in to the urge to taste her. Not yet. ‘Never,’ I bite back, fighting my grin. ‘Gethin’s not my type.’
‘Am I your type?’
As if she has to ask. I’ve spent the past six weeks showing her how into her I am. ‘You have no idea.’
‘Oh, I think I do.’ She pushes her hips against mine. Only once, but it’s enough for my cock to betray me. Is that a drumstick in my pocket, or am I glad to see you? ‘Have you had a nice day despite all the busyness?’
Professional Lucy over here can apparently maintain small talk while our bodies simmer where we touch.
I’m off-track, the sensation tugging my mind to sex with her.
It’s a struggle to form a basic sentence when my body’s telling me to thrust against her.
What’s a little dry hump between colleagues?
I’ll take the risk if it scratches the itch.
Wouldn’t be the first time she’s made me come in my pants.
‘Better now you’re here,’ I manage to grumble before pulling my brain out of the gutter.
Or at least try to. It’s the hardest thing I’ve ever done, but I place both hands on her hips and arch her away from me to create space between us.
My dick needs to breathe or he’ll do something I might regret.
‘You know… I was thinking perhaps, if we don’t get back too late tomorrow, you’d maybe want to come and stay at mine? ’
‘In Cardiff?’
‘Yeah, it’s where we live, Luce. We literally talked about it earlier.’ She must need some air too if she’s getting forgetful. Not like her. Or maybe she’s too horny to form proper thoughts, too. The arch of her spine presses her tits against my chest. Fuck, I’m done for.
‘We did,’ she breathes out. She’s so dazed. ‘We won’t all be staying in the same house anymore. It will be nice to have a break from everyone.’