Benefit to Love – By Kelly Violet
BENEFIT TO LOVE
BY KELLY VIOLET
RAFE
“Um, I guess I have to be the one to say it. Have we lost our fucking minds signing on for this benefit concert, mano?”
Leave it to Berto to speak his mind with absolutely zero filter. This time, though, I wasn’t too annoyed with him.
“Not now, Berto. There’s no time for regrets. Let’s finish up practice.” Colt, our frontman and all-around leader urged, but he, too, was looking a little rough around the edges about our next gig.
We were fresh off of a U.S. tour as the opening act for Devil’s Tea and riding a surreal sort of high that I wasn’t likely to come down from for several weeks.
And then the unthinkable happened. News of wildfires in Los Angeles broke, and it felt like the world held a collective breath for weeks as we watched the spreading devastation.
When Dillon called us about the benefit concert happening at the Hollywood Bowl, it seemed like a no-brainer to sign on at the time. But God, were we operating on fumes.
With the concert in a week, we had a ton of logistics to handle. Plus traveling to California. Shit, it was enough to give me a stress headache.
“We’ve already committed, Berto. No backing out now,” Doug stated, being the other voice of reason. This time, at least.
“But–”
“Enough! Let’s get this done since we leave in three days. The quicker we wrap up practice, the quicker we can rest.”
“Okay, okay. I’ll shut my trap, but y’all know this is crazy, right?”
“Oh, we know,” I finally chimed in, affirming his thoughts. “But like Doug said, we’ve already committed and so we’ll do our part for a good cause. Now, let’s get to fucking work.”
Instead of being a nuisance, Berto got a determined look on his face, lifted his sticks above his head, and tapped them three times to count us in. Then, we were focused on the music again. And the other noise in my head took a back seat for the time being.
To my complete surprise, Wyn waited for me when I got home at midnight. Although we had exchanged keys months ago, it still put a goofy grin on my face and an extra pep in my step when she used the key without checking in with me first.
“Rafe?” She looked adorably sleepy and rumpled perched at the edge of my futon mattress.
“Hey, sweetheart. You really know how to brighten my day, huh?”
Her lips slowly pulled into a soft smile, and my heart melted for her all over again. I was well and truly head over heels for this woman, and there was no turning back for me.
“How did practice go?” she asked at the tail-end of a yawn. As I placed the case that held my bass guitar against the wall, she lifted her chin slightly, and I bent down to lay the kiss of all kisses on her.
Pulling away after a minute, I responded with, “It was great, but we’re all feeling the pressure now.”
“I can’t even imagine. Are you nervous about the benefit concert?”
“A bit,” I said, not wanting or needing to hide the worries from my girl. She wouldn’t think less of me or anything, so there was little reason to keep the truth from her.
“Y’all got this, okay? Blue is gonna rock the stage, along with every other act on the roster. And you’ll be doing it while supporting an amazing cause.”
I braced my hands on the mattress on either side of her hips, watching her face closely at the impassioned pep talk. “You know you’re my greatest motivation these days, right?”
“Huh? I am?”
“Most definitely.” I laid a quick peck on her lips before straightening up. The dreamy look taking over her face didn’t escape my notice, but nature called. And I desperately needed a shower before getting into bed.
At first, the only image running through my mind was falling head-first onto the mattress as soon as I walked through the door and dropped my things.
But Wyn’s presence completely put a stop to that.
And there was zero chance I’d complain about it either.
Getting to hold her in my arms while sleeping seemed like an undeserved reward, but I wasn’t stupid enough to screw up this chance.
My brain had been just as tired as my body at the end of a long practice day, especially after several months of touring and traveling across the country. Still, Wyn always injected a fresh dose of energy whenever she was nearby.
“I’mma hop in the shower, sweetheart. Feeling a bit grungy. You don’t have to wait for me to lay down.”
“Okay,” she murmured, already scooting her butt further across the bed.
Wyn looked more than ready for shut-eye with the T-shirt and basketball shorts she wore.
She probably figured the sleep clothes were cute and simple, but all I saw was temptation.
Instead of pinning her to the mattress and having my wicked way, I forced my overcharged libido to calm down and strode toward the bathroom, peeling clothes off as I went.
“You’re not hungry or anything, Rafe?” Her question stopped me right at the threshold to the bathroom. Not for food , I mused.
“No, me and the guys had take-out earlier.”
“Okay. Go shower then. I may be sleeping by the time you finish,” she admitted softly.
“No worries, sweetheart. I won’t be long.” My plans now consisted of snuggling her lush body against mine until morning, so I’d do whatever it took to make that image a reality as quickly as possible.
Fifteen minutes later, I was out of the shower and towel drying my long hair.
Recently, I’d gotten a trim, but my shoulder-length locks remained intact, as a mild annoyance at the best and worst of times.
Still, I wouldn’t cut it all off because Wyn loved my long hair.
And I loved doing everything within my ability to please her.
Tugging on shorts and a sleeveless T-shirt, I left the bathroom, turned off the light, and entered the almost pitch-black living and sleeping area.
True to her word, my sweetheart appeared to be sleeping soundly.
Trying my best not to wake her, I lifted the covers and slid underneath.
As soon as my back hit the mattress, though, Wyn’s body turned into mine, and I stifled the groan rumbling up from my chest.
Fuck, but my heart was full right now. We’d come a long way since first meeting each other.
My sweetheart’s reticence and unmistakable fear had slowly dissipated until there was little to no trace at all.
And when she unconsciously sought me out in moments like this, I couldn’t control my need for her.
Wyn had changed me. She’d brought new meaning and purpose into my everyday life, making the ordinary better and brighter. And I aimed to do the same for her. And then some.
Me and my bandmates weren’t the only ones working ourselves to the bone.
Besides maintaining a packed schedule with clients she did virtual assistant work for, Wyn also helped Blue on our social media accounts during the latest tour and now for this upcoming trip to Los Angeles.
She’d planned our travel route and itinerary like a pro.
I racked my brain for ways to thank and repay her, but all my ideas fell short.
As she snuggled into me, I turned on my side and wrapped my arms around Wyn, sharing my warmth and hoping that it flowed into her. My girl was a little cuddle bug, and I loved it so damned much.
“Sweet dreams, Wyn.” I suffered from fewer sleepless nights with her in my arms, and I’d do anything to keep it that way.
COLT
I woke up to the smell of bacon and coffee and got hella confused for a moment. I knew someone wouldn’t break in just to fix me breakfast, so I shook the fuzzy cobwebs from my brain and rolled out of bed to investigate.
“Good. You’re up, and you have perfect timing, too.” My girlfriend glanced at me over her shoulder as I shuffled into my kitchen like a zombie.
“Darcy, what are you doing here?” My voice was extra low and croaky this early and after a long day of practice.
“Hm, I figured you needed a little pick-me-up since the band has been burning the candle at both ends lately.”
“Well, you won’t catch me complaining about waking up to you in my home.”
“Oh?” Even that short sound from her was music to my ears. I stepped up to her back, wrapping my arms around her wide hips and bending down to rest my chin on her shoulder.
“My idea of the perfect morning is waking up and starting the day with you.” I kissed her rosy cheek and felt the flush of Darcy’s skin against mine.
Yeah, I could get used to having her here all the time .
“How did you sleep, Colt?” Although her eyes were on the pancakes and eggs currently on the griddle, she asked the question softly.
“I got home a little after midnight and face-planted in bed, if that tells you anything. I was out before I stuck the landing.” I could hear the mirth and exhaustion in my voice.
“Practice is going well?”
“Yeah. We’ve found our stride after the short break, so things are going pretty good.”
“That’s great, Colt.” Hearing the hesitation in Darcy’s voice, I tightened my hold on her for a second and then loosened it.
“What’s going on?” Now sensing that something was up—and that she didn’t show up out of the blue just to cook for me—I dropped my hold altogether and shifted to catch a glimpse of her face.
It had taken a while after chasing her all the way to California, but we were on solid ground now. Our burdens and secrets were out in the open with each other, and the bond between us had become stronger than ever.
“What’s on your mind, babe? Talk to me.”
Long seconds of silence passed before she turned the knob off on the griddle. My patience on a thin line, I watched her carefully dish the pancakes and eggs onto the waiting plates. Then she turned toward me, and my worry grew when I noticed her furrowed brows and pinched lips. “What is it, Darcy?”
“Um,” she started, then stopped, wringing her hands together. I couldn’t help but grab her hands, needing to break the nervous tick. Whatever Darcy had to say—whatever curveball she threw at me—there was no way I’d give her up.