The Bad Boys of Summer Anthology(231)

“You have a list? What are the others?” I tempted. After I asked, I wasn’t so sure I wanted the answer, but it was the alcohol speaking. The blabbering mouth belonged to the Eliza who had vodka coursing through her veins.

“I’m sure if I were to mention the others, we wouldn’t be sitting here right now. In fact, a bed and handcuffs would most likely be involved.”

“Handcuffs?” I laughed and he shook his head.

“You find that humorous?”

“Very.”

“Don’t tempt me, Ellie. All I need is your word and those handcuffs will be put to use one day.” He reached a hand up to tuck a lock of hair behind my ear. His other hand came down to run across my thigh. “All I need is for you to say yes, and I swear you won’t forget how good I made you feel.”

His fingers slipped between my legs. I tensed, the feeling unusual, but I didn’t push him away like I should have. He was extremely close to my womanhood—closer than anyone else had ever been, yet I didn’t feel bothered by it.

As I bit my bottom lip, Gage leaned forward and his hot breath trickled across my shoulders. I kept my gaze down, and he brought his free hand up to tilt my chin. We stared into one another’s eyes, and right then I wanted to jump on top of him and have him carry me to a damn bedroom, with handcuffs, for all I cared.

“The only thing is…” he whispered against my lips. They were close. Extremely close. What would it be like to place my lips against his? Would it live up to my expectations? I was sure it would. I’d imagined those lips against mine for a long time. “…I’m not sure if a virgin would be able to handle me.”

I finally blinked and he pulled his hand away. The moisture had built up within my panties and I didn’t even realize it. I was getting turned on for and by Gage. “How do you know I’m a virgin?” I asked quickly, putting all hormones aside.

“It’s obvious. You don’t drink. You’ve never danced on a dance floor before tonight. Signs of a virgin right there.”

“I could just be an undercover freak. I could’ve been lying just to get you stick around.”

He bellowed with laughter and I couldn’t help but laugh myself. I couldn’t believe I said that. “You’re funny, Ellie. Adorable. It’s part of the reason I shouldn’t mess around with you too much.”

My eyes narrowed. “Why shouldn’t you?”

He tilted his head, his lips sealed. The glass door opened and in came Montana and Roy. Roy stared at me longer than expected and then frowned. “Gage, you’re missing it. Chicks are revealing tits and shit out there, man!” Montana yelled, reaching for a glass of Jack Daniels. Roy grabbed a glass of water, which I found kind of odd. Montana downed his drink and as he slammed down his glass, his face pinched a little. “Good shit.” He sighed. “Come on, Gage. I need a wingman. Roy’s acting all bummed out and shit.”

Gage looked from Montana, who was making his way toward the door, to me again. “You’ll be okay in here, right?”

I wanted to shake my head. I didn’t want him to leave me alone with Roy, but just as Roy came to mind, he placed his glass down and stepped past Montana to get out of the VIP room. “Uh, yeah,” I said quickly. I couldn’t stop someone like Gage from doing what he normally did. I couldn’t even understand why he was asking if I was going to be okay. It’s not like he cared. “I think I’m just going to call Ben and tell him to call a ride for me or something. I’m kinda tired.”

Standing, Gage nodded and walked backward toward the door. “Great idea.”

“Come on, Gage! The ladies are getting antsy!”

With a wink at me, Gage turned around quickly and dashed out the door. I didn’t blink until he was completely out of sight. Sighing, I stood and took my phone out of my bra, dialed Ben’s number, and told him I was ready to go.

My ride arrived ten minutes later.

As I stepped out of the VIP room to get to the exit, I saw Montana and Gage on the middle of the dance floor with two girls who had to be drunk out of their minds dancing all up on them. The girl dancing with Gage turned around and, out of nowhere, kissed him a little too fiercely. I frowned as he hooked his arm around her waist and pulled her in closer. I was certain he didn’t even know the girl, but he was kissing her back? What about Penelope? Was he really that disrespectful? I expected it from someone like Montana since he was single and had a careless demeanor about everything, but Gage? I guess I should have known.

The girl pulled away, giggling, and he laughed as he turned her around to start dancing with her again, smacking her ass a few times before bending her over to see more of her backside than anything else. Gage looked up and caught my eye as I tried to get through the crowd. I couldn’t figure out why the hell I couldn’t look away. My feet were moving, but my eyes were glued on him. His gaze softened as he watched me for a few moments until finally he winked and I scowled at him, rushing for the door.

I was truly disgusted by what I saw, but I shouldn’t have expected anything less from someone like him—someone who made girls feel like they had no value. I was more than certain that in the morning he would dismiss the girl he was dancing with and make her feel like shit. If I thought whatever was brewing between us in the VIP room was real, I had to slap myself, because it was just him running his game and trying to win me over. He was aiming to score my panties and I admit he was fairly close. Had Montana and Roy not come into the room, I would have most likely given in, virgin or not.

I couldn’t have been more relieved we were interrupted.





WORDS

Ben said we were supposed to be hitting the road in a few minutes the next morning, but those minutes transitioned to an hour. During that time, I decided to get some sketching in. The sketching was different that day. It wasn’t the normal flower nearby or even a perfect drawing of my hand. It was a face… Gage’s face. I wasn’t sure why I drew him. Maybe it was because he haunted my dreams the night before. He kept popping up and I wanted so badly to wake up just to get rid of the thoughts of him.

After what I’d seen last night, I knew I had to stay away from Gage. It was going to be kind of hard to do since I was on the same tour as him and had to go backstage, but I could avoid it for a while. I didn’t have to attend every single show.

A knock came from my door and soon Ben stepped in. There was never a day he wasn’t dressed to impress—tan khakis and a button-up green shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows for a more casual look. His platinum hair was still parted in the middle but was wavier than the norm.

“Glad you’re up, button bottom,” he sighed. There’s been a minor problem with one of the buses.”

“What happened?”

“Well… it’s the FireNine tour bus. Something’s wrong with the engine—it’s why we’re running late,” he said, checking his watch. “The boys will have to stay on our bus until Saturday afternoon, when the new FireNine bus arrives in Florida.”

My eyes stretched as I shook my head. “No—no, Ben, they cannot be on here with us.”

“It’s only temporary,” he said, running a hand through his hair. “I knew you’d react this way.”

“Of course I’m going to react like this. That’s a whole two days, Ben. I’m the only girl on this bus and those boys are—” I shook my head. There was no need to explain myself. The band was a load of animals. “I can’t be around them.”

“Why are you so upset? The boys told me they loved you last night.”

“I… just can’t be around them that long. I need my space.”

Ben frowned, looking me over. I clutched my sketchbook, hoping he wouldn’t realize why I was getting so upset. I wanted to keep my distance from Grendel. I didn’t want him anywhere near me after what happened the night before. It was too close and God only knew what would happen while he was on the same bus with me.

“Eliza, don’t worry. I’ll be here, sweetie. I won’t let them get too crazy.” Someone called Ben’s name from the front door of the bus and he turned around. “We’ll talk later, Liza,” he yelled over his shoulder.

I stood hastily, dropping my sketchbook on the bed and rushing out to see what was going on. Through the window, I saw the hood of the FireNine tour bus open and a few men looking beneath it. Some were scratching their heads and some were bent over working on it.

The door of the FireNine bus was wide open and the first one to step out with two suitcases in hand was Montana, stretching while yawning. After him it was Deed and then came Roy. Gage came out last with two black suitcases in hand and Ben met up with them, flagging his arms and pointing at our bus.

My heart sank as Ben stepped aside, allowing them to make their way toward our bus. I could feel my cheeks draining of color and my fingers getting cold. Gage had on a pair of sunglasses and tight black jeans. He had bedhead, which looked unbelievably hot on him. How the hell was I supposed to wake up without getting turned on at first sight of him?

The boys got closer and I rushed for my room. I slammed the door behind me and sank onto my bed, listening hard as the boys’ heavy footsteps echoed and their weight caused the bus to shake.