Sneak Peek: Chapter Three - Metalcore Minx

Hiya Peeps!

So I had originally planned on only giving sneak peeks to the first two chapters, but then I realized Nasty, Sadie's love interest in Metalcore Minx, got his big introduction in Ch. 3. What better reason to give you more of a taste? I'll be back tomorrow or Wednesday with more about the overall book. Until then, enjoy this third taste of Metalcore Minx!
Click here for Ch.1
Click here for Ch.2

CHAPTER THREE

Sadie and Heidi stood by the edge of the second stage at the Metal Montana Festival not too far out of Madrid in central Spain and watched the band Wicked Man’s Blues rock the crowd. It was a warm summer afternoon, but the backstage area sat under a huge tarp, and a nice breeze kept the temperature down. Their own set wasn’t for another couple hours on the main stage so they could watch in the comfort of no heavy makeup and costumes. Since soundchecks didn’t happen until right before the set at most festivals, today’s included, it meant she had plenty of time to relax.

She’d never seen Wicked Man’s Blues live, but she had a few of their albums, and they were good. More hard rock than heavy metal, but she found nothing wrong with that. Heidi met the lead guitar player at a photo shoot for a guitar mag earlier in the year, and she said he was a cool guy. He certainly had the skills, and, Sadie had to admit, was a hot piece of ass.

He wore skinny jeans which showed off his hot ass to perfection. His tight shirt proved he spent some time in the gym, or at least brought along some weights on the road, and his toned arms held plenty of tattoos with hints of more beneath said shirt. She’d love to trace her fingers over them and ask what each one meant to him.

Shit, snap out of it, girl. Her self-reprimand didn’t work well, though, as she continued to check him out. He wore his dark hair shaggy but short and showed off a few more tats on his thick and sexy neck. Seriously, Sadie, what the fuck? With her perfect damn timing, she waited until they reached the end of the song to hiss out a breath so Heidi could hear.

“Which one are you checking out, Mistress?” she asked with a huge smirk firmly planted on her lips. Heidi only called her Mistress when she felt it necessary to tease her. “And won’t Owen get jealous?”

“Shut up.” Too late, though, as she knew a mega-blush had overtaken her. Heidi, of course, noticed.

“It’s Nasty, right? The lead guitar player?”

Heidi told her earlier his name was Ignacio, but instead of going by Nacho or something, everyone called him Nasty. She had no idea why, as it hadn’t come up at the photo shoot. Sadie wouldn’t mind hanging out with him and asking about his name, either, and she tried to tell herself it was out of simple curiosity, but the thoughts of infatuation played in her mind, too. Fuck.

“I take it by your silence I’m right,” Heidi said, her smirk not going anywhere.

At that moment, they took off on their next song, so Sadie figured she could get away with rolling her eyes at her best friend. She saw more than heard Heidi bust out in laughter, as she knew Sadie too well. Shit, she couldn’t remember having thoughts about any guy since Owen, and Kyle didn’t count; she didn’t want to fuck him but watch him skewer hot groupies.

Her phone vibrated in her pocket. A text from Owen. “Hey, baby, just woke up, and am thinking of you. Miss and love you.”

Guilt smacked her across the face. Had her handsome hubby somehow sensed her drooling over a strange guy? Silly, but it sure felt like it. As she sent her own text back, “Miss and love you, too!” Sadie did the math in her head. It was a nine-hour time difference between LA and here, so it wasn’t quite 6 am for him. Early, but not unheard of him getting up at the crack of dawn. He might be headed out for a run before it got too hot. From what she’d heard, a heat-wave had overtaken Southern California, making the warm early summer even hotter.

“Hope everything’s going great. Busy day for me. Talk soon.”

That was code for he wouldn’t be very attentive to his texts if she sent any. She figured he was knee-deep in a new production. They hadn’t talked much since she’d come over to Europe for the tour, but it went even further, a month or so before when he was in Vancouver. This was by far the longest they’d gone in their five-year marriage without seeing each other. In fact, most of their correspondences happened via text rather than phone calls. She hadn’t heard his voice in almost a week, so unlike how it used to be when he went on every tour with her. Something in the back of her mind told her this was their new reality, but she did what she could to shake it loose.

“How’s Mr. Hollywood?” Heidi asked, using her nickname for Owen. She’d never been a big fan of Sadie’s husband but always tried to play nice.

“Sounds like he’s hard at work on a new blockbuster. He says he’s busy, anyway.”

“Hmm,” Heidi said, and turned back to the stage.

What was that supposed to mean? She nudged her. “What are you talking about?”

“Nothing. I just find it strange he’s not more interested in what you’re doing over here. He’s always been so protective before.”

“He’s not protective. He can work from the road is all, so he might as well come.”

Heidi looked like she wanted to say more but instead shrugged. “You’re right. Forget I said anything.” She turned back to the stage and Wicked Man’s Blues.

Sadie wouldn’t forget it, but now wasn’t the time to pursue the conversation, not with the music blaring. Her attention returned to Nasty, who blasted out a guitar solo. He threw everything into it and gyrated his hips, shoulders, and everything else, and though she didn’t want to admit it, Sadie couldn’t tear her eyes away. What was it about this guy? She saw plenty of hot dudes on the road, but none of them ever got her mind reeling like Nasty, and she hadn’t even met him yet. It had to be her body reacting and rebelling to not getting laid in so long, right?

He ended with a flourish, and the crowd erupted in cheers. She and Heidi also gave him a round of applause, while some others backstage gave their own hoots of approval. Nasty didn’t acknowledge anyone but kept rocking out to the song, now in the chorus. When the song ended, though, he waved to the crowd, and they yelled out their raucous appreciation.

The band ended their set with their most popular single from their debut album, along with a bit more of a guitar hero act from Nasty. Sadie managed to glance away from him to check out Heidi. She found her best friend’s eyes plastered on the hot guitarist, too, but she could tell it was more out of pure mutual respect rather than his smoking hot good looks. So many metal experts considered Heidi one of the best in the business, so she knew good when she saw it. Maybe Sadie could fool her own brain enough to say she watched him with nothing more than professional admiration, too. She didn’t play guitar on the road, saving it for songwriting sessions, but it was something that could fly, right?

Before she could convince herself, the set ended, and she and Heidi headed away from the second stage back towards the buses parked closer to the main stage. They’d be in full costume next time they watched a band. As they went, Sadie couldn’t be sure if she was happy or disappointed she didn’t get the chance to meet Nasty.

Sneak Peek: Chapter 2 - Metalcore Minx

Hiya Peeps!

I promised yesterday you'd get a couple of chapters of Metalcore Minx, so here I am fulfilling that promise. This is Ch. 2 where the sex begins, though not with Sadie, our lead and POV character. Or, I suppose, it is with her, but in a passive way. Tell you what, why don't you just go ahead and give it a read to see what I mean. It's a pretty darn sexy scene, if I do say so myself. If you missed the first sneak peek, click here for Chapter 1. I'll be back later in the week with more on Metalcore Minx, so enjoy Chapter 2!

CHAPTER TWO

The after-party was in full swing in the dirt and grass-filled field around the various busses. The big acts for the festival took over the backstage areas with their huge entourages, while the rest of them partied outside. Of course, no one minded; they could exercise their vices out here every bit as well. Besides, more than enough beautiful ladies and handsome men milled around with the bands. Not that Sadie partook in any of it, but she did enjoy watching. As everyone around her drained beers and shots and passed around joints—though she occasionally puffed on those, as a little bit felt great on her throat—she sipped on her hot tea with honey. None of the fun around her, especially after a few hits of pot, bothered her except for those starting to pair off for sex. It reminded her that her husband, Owen, was more than 5000 miles away in Los Angeles. What she wouldn’t give to get his dick on a regular basis, but they hadn’t had a chance to hook up in well over two months, both with this tour and his work schedule as a screenwriter. Before she and the band took off for Europe, Owen had been in Vancouver overseeing a movie based on one of his scripts. He often hit the road with her since all he needed was his laptop to get most of his work done, but it hadn’t been possible this time. Which sucked because it meant she needed to make due with her fingers and vibrators. She could get off, but…yeah, wasn’t the same.

A young guy, no older than 20 or 21, sat next to her and held out a joint. She shook her head; if she imbibed anymore tonight, she might forget her promise to herself to skip the hard stuff, and though she was a rock star, she also prided herself on self-control. She could get fucked up after the tour when she didn’t need to sing for a few weeks.

He smiled, took a puff, and then said, in perfect English but with a heavy French accent, “You’re amazing. I knew you sang the melodic parts of the songs, but I always figured one of the dudes handled the heavy singing.” He waved his hand to show he was searching for the correct word. “The growling and grunting.”

“Thanks. Yeah, nope, it’s all me.” She held out her teacup. “Which is why I stick to this after shows.”

He laughed, and his hand dropped to her knee. She didn’t stiffen, as it happened too often, though she did roll her eyes. Yeah, nice try, buddy. Even if she was single and on the prowl, it would take more than this quote-unquote banter to get her going. She checked over to Heidi to see if she might be interested, but she entertained an audience of five or six guys and a few more females.

She patted his hand. “I’m married, and won’t cheat. So no Mistress of Death conquest for you.”

The kid pretended to act affronted, and it took all her willpower to not throw him another eye roll. Yeah, like that wasn’t your plan, junior. And, yes, she had every right to call him a kid since she was the ripe old age of 32. No, not old, even by rock star standards, but she was compared to him.

“Look, you’re a good-looking guy, so why don’t you go find a single lady? I’m sure you’ll get some action tonight.”

He smiled, and she realized how right she was in calling him good-looking. Okay, so maybe it wouldn’t have taken much banter for him to bed her. If things were different.

“I see. You’re playing hard to get. It’s okay. I like that.”

Before she could so much as let out a sigh and tell him to get lost, Kyle came up behind him and placed one of his meaty hands on the kid’s shoulder. “The Mistress is off limits, boy. But if you’d like, I can take you into our bus and play a little game we Yanks call Cornhole. And if you know anything about it, understand I’m not talking the bean bag version.”

Sadie let out a snort, and the kid’s eyes went wide as he looked up into Kyle’s face. “No, sorry, Mr. Executioner. I don’t wish to play your game.” He didn’t even look at her as he ran away.

“I didn’t need the saving, Kyle, but thank you.”

He tipped an imaginary cap. “Anytime, darlin’.”

“What would you have done if he’d taken you up on your offer to play?” She tried hard to keep a straight face but had a feeling she failed miserably. 

He shrugged. “Normally I’d have called his bluff, but I already have a French filly lined up for the night, so I would have knocked his ass out. You’d have backed me up on how disrespectful he was, right?”

Kyle wouldn’t have hit him, so she played along. “I mean, the mouth on that kid. What other choice did you have?”

They both laughed, and he then leaned down and whispered in her ear. “It’s my turn in the bus tonight, and, as I said, I picked out a pretty one.” He pointed over to a small group talking and smoking, and she figured he meant the brunette with big boobs and a round ass. She was definitely Kyle’s type. “You want to head in to watch? You know the drill.”

Sadie thought about it for a second and then shrugged. “Shit, why not? I could use a good cum. I hate being away from Owen for so long.”

Kyle chuckled. “I figured as much. Go on. We’ll be there in five minutes, maybe less.”

She stood and headed for the bus, her teacup in hand, the perfect cover. The drill, as Kyle said, was for her to climb into her bunk, which had a good view of his bed. As long as she stayed hidden and quiet, he’d keep a light on for her to better see. And she loved watching Kyle fuck because his cock matched his frame—huge. It was a bit weird, as he was her brother. No, not by blood, but by band, as they made the decision even before they’d recorded their first demo there would be no hanky-panky, and they’d each stuck to it through all the years. And, yes, she did view them all as family now. But because of the gigantic size of Kyle’s cock and the fact he knew how to use it, she had no problem using him and his pretty partner—no, she wasn’t into girls other than she liked to look—as porn. And live porn was so much better than Internet smut.

She placed her teacup in the sink and hopped into her bunk above Heidi’s. Brandon and Race’s were across from their’s, but they all had curtains, so it still felt private when they wanted it to. Kyle, because of his size, got a bed in the back of the bus, and she had a great view and could pull her curtains shut so the girl would never know the Mistress of Death spied on her while she fucked and sucked The Executioner.

Sadie yanked off her jeans and panties and grabbed her vibrator from between her mattress and the wall. No, she wouldn’t turn it on, but it was still seven inches long; she could at least use it as a dildo and penetrate herself. She already felt the heat emanating from her horny slit. God, it had been far too long since she’d been fucked. This would have to do for tonight, but when she got home, Owen might end up in the hospital with dehydration from how much she planned to screw him. She rubbed her clean shaven slit to spread the wet around, and then rubbed her clit. She could already tell her first orgasm floated right there on the brink. Maybe she could coax it out before Kyle and tonight’s lady friend even appeared in the bus. She was multi-orgasmic, especially when masturbating, so she didn’t see any problem with it. Before she could get into it, though, the door to the bus opened, and Kyle and the girl stumbled in.

She pulled her curtain all the way closed and kept still so the girl would have no idea she was there. She’d been caught peeping one time before, but instead of freaking that night’s conquest out, the girl tried to pull Sadie into a threesome with them. It had taken all her self-control to turn her down, even if she told herself she could concentrate on the girl. It still felt too weird to do with Kyle, as if watching was so much different, and it also felt as if it might be a break from her marital vows. The girl looked disappointed, while Kyle howled out laughter as Sadie pulled on her pants and sprinted out of the bus. She made sure she kept much quieter and careful the few times she’d done this since.

Once they passed and hit Kyle’s bed, she peeked out. It was the same girl she figured. The girl looked puny next to him, but who didn’t? Her boobs, though, looked like they’d be a nice handful even for his oversized paws. Sadie couldn’t wait to see those unholstered. In fact, anticipation proved too much, and her fingers again dipped into her wet folds. She bit back the moan threatening to spill out of her mouth.

Neither said anything, and Kyle leaned down and kissed the French girl hard. She pushed into him and wasn’t shy with her hand, which moved to his crotch. The little squeal out of the back of her throat sang she approved of the log she found in his pants. As she let her hand squeeze and stroke over his jeans, he pulled her top off, and then unhooked the bra to spill her melons out. God, even with being only interested in men, Sadie wanted to take her nipples in her mouth. Kyle, as was the point of this spy session, did it for her, getting the girl to gasp out her pleasure, and Sadie to rub her clit with more ferocity. When the girl purred out, in her deep French accent, “Show me your trouser monster,” the orgasm building in Sadie broke through. She rolled onto her tummy and bit her pillow to keep from screaming out her pleasure. She wanted to get back to the action but instead kept flicking on her nub and let it continue to roll over her.

When she caught her breath and peeked back out, she found the girl had released his cock and was in the process of worshiping it. And who could blame her? It was almost a foot long and thicker than her forearm. She couldn’t get much more than his head into her mouth, so she spent most of her time licking up and down the shaft while stroking it. Kyle sat back on his bed and kept brushing her hair aside and tucking it behind her ears, and it brought the rumblings of another orgasm into Sadie’s core. She couldn’t help but think about how Owen did that for her when she blew him, and it never failed to get her all tingly inside during the act.

When the girl realized a proper blowjob was out of the question, she brought her inflated titties into play. She had enough saliva on his shaft so he slid easily between her tits. He whispered, “Fuck,” which got her giggling, and she kissed or licked his head with every upstroke. Kyle also made sure he subtly maneuvered them so Sadie still enjoyed a great view. She realized she should pay back his mindfulness with a bottle of more expensive whiskey when she and Heidi went out shopping in Paris tomorrow afternoon before the bus moved on to the next location, a festival in the south of France.
The girl squeezed her tits together tighter, and Kyle moaned. Sadie worked hard to hold one back, too. Her fingers blurred over her clit, and she wondered if she soaked her sheets through yet. She also teetered close to cum number two. She imagined Kyle’s dick to be Owen’s, and the French girl’s titties to be hers. Neither were anywhere near as big as what sat in front of her on Kyle’s bed, but the proportions were close enough for her imagination. She whispered Owen’s name and brought her other hand up to play with her own breasts, and that did it. Her second orgasm exploded through her, and she again rolled over to keep from alerting everyone in and around the festival grounds of her excitement.

This time when she managed to catch her breath and roll back around so she could continue watching, she found the girl nude on her back, while Kyle, also naked, rolled an oversized condom on his hard cock. He set his dick on top of her, and it ran from her sex to her ribcage. She let out a low moan, and though Sadie felt sure she heard a bit of apprehension in the sound, pure lust still proved to be the girl’s primary emotion. While Kyle leaned down and took first one nipple, and then the other, between his lips, Sadie took the opportunity to grab her vibrator, though she made sure her thumb didn’t flick the switch.

As Kyle positioned the tip of his cock at the girl’s opening, he drawled, “Now you tell me when it gets to be too much, okay, darlin’?” 

The girl responded with, “Please, Executioner, plug me. Fill me with your huge cock.”

“Shoulda worn my robe and hood with you, eh?” He turned his head towards Sadie and winked. He couldn’t see her, but she rolled her eyes at him anyway. As soon as he turned his attention back to the girl beneath him and pushed his oversized head into her, eliciting a deep groan from both of them, Sadie pushed her vibrator into her own pussy. Her first two orgasms did nothing but ready her for a third, and she pushed the plastic phallus in deeper.

Kyle worked his dick about halfway into the girl with little problem, and then couldn’t seem to jam it in any further. Instead of forcing anything, he drew back and gave her a proper fucking. The girl let out a steady stream of squeals, and Sadie matched Kyle’s strokes with her vibrator turned dildo. She fought to hold on to wait for them to finish, as she knew her next orgasm would wreck her for the rest of the night. As if he sensed her distress, Kyle’s strokes got a little labored, and he mumbled, “Gonna cum, pretty lady.”

“Coat me, Executioner,” the girl moaned. “Coat me with your hot sex.”

He chuckled, pulled his cock out of her box, and yanked off the condom. As he stroked his cock, ready to explode, Sadie pushed her vibrator as deep as she could get it into her juiced-up pussy and frigged her clit. The first blast of semen shot between the girl’s oversized breasts, followed by a second splat all the way up on her forehead, bringing a surprised laugh from her. The third and fourth also reached her face, coating her nose and then her chin, while his next few died down considerably, with the final salvo trickling into her belly button. That did it for Sadie, and this third orgasm gutted her. How she didn’t scream out mystified her, but she somehow managed. In her throes, she tossed her vibrator down to the foot of her bunk, figuring she could clean it in the morning. She fell back against her pillow and her triple orgasmic time caught up with her. She passed out until late the next morning.

Click here to read the sneak peek of Chapter Three

Chapter Five: His Hard Rockin' Princess

Read Ch. 4 by clicking here

Chapter 5

Elle sat on her bed, her laptop open in front of her. It was now almost two in the afternoon, and Mandy dropped her off a few minutes ago. They’d gotten back to Rich and Mandy’s house in Villa Park about three in the morning, and after a hot shower to wipe off the grime from the weekend, she slept like a corpse in their guest room until noon. When she managed to pull herself out of bed, in need of some breakfast or lunch or whatever, she found Mandy lounged in front of the TV in the living room.

“Hungry?” Mandy asked.

“Yeah.”

“Want to help me whip up some pancakes and eggs? All I’ve had so far today is a small slice of melon when Rich left for work.”

“I thought he wasn’t going in today. And he didn’t need you?” Mandy was Rich’s assistant at Sullivan Advertising, much like Mom was Dad’s. This way they got to see each other that much more, and Dad and Rich had valued assistants they trusted more than anyone. Dad often quipped that Mom, and now Mandy, knew more about the company than he and Rich put together, and ran it better. Mom had originally been Grandpa George’s assistant, and that’s how they met, back when Mom had been married to Elle’s real father, the one she knew nothing about, and had never inquired. The way Mom’s face screwed up in anger or hate or whatever when she mentioned him proved she was lucky to have never met the man who had donated his sperm to make her. Anyway, Mom married Matt, her real dad as far as she was concerned, when she was four.

“He went in late and is leaving early. There’s a project coming up he wants to check in on. I told him I wasn’t going in today, and if he insisted, I’d take a sick day.”

“You go, girl. Don’t let the man push you around.”

“And the fact that ‘the man’ is my husband who I have wrapped around my little finger makes it all the easier to not let him push me around.”

They both laughed, and Mandy pulled the ingredients for their mini-feast out onto the counter. “Do you want to take care of the pancakes or go on scrambled egg duty?”

“Eggs,” Elle said. “Do you have any hot sauce? I saw one of the chef’s on the food channel do it, and I want to try.”

“Practice for when Tim keeps you over for breakfast?” Elle heard the grin in Mandy’s voice when she said it.

“Oh my god, shut up! Besides, don’t jinx anything.”

“By the way you two eye-fucked each other all weekend, and made out last night while we packed, I’d say there’s no need to worry about any jinx.”

Elle felt her face explode. “Seriously, shut up!”

Mandy came up behind her and gave her a hug. “Teasing, not teasing. But do you want to talk about it? Might be best now when Rich isn’t around. You know how he gets.”

“No. I sort of want to work it all through my head first. I’m not sure what happened.” She felt her face flush again. God, when did I become such a blusher? “Except I’m aching to see him again.”

“I’d be shocked if you weren’t. Anyway, there’s hot sauce in the fridge. And if you do want to talk, now or anytime in the future, I’m here for you.”

“Thanks. I might, but not yet. Besides, what are Mom and Dad going to say? He’s way older than me.”

Mandy snorted. “Might be hypocritical of them to say anything.” Dad was eleven years older than Mom, while Tim had ten years on her. “Besides, I got nothing but total good guy vibes from him all weekend. And you seemed to react to him better than with anyone else. Ever.”

Elle groaned. “Seriously, I’m not ready to talk about this. I don’t even know what’s going on in my own mind.”

“Best reason to talk it through, but I’ll respect your wishes. Now get started on those eggs, I’m starving.”

The conversation moved to more comfortable territory, though he never left her thoughts. That was both annoying and the best thing ever. Well, the best thing ever would have been if he was here, but it was a close second. Mandy drove her home not long after they finished their brunch, and now she sat in front of her laptop. She should hit the university website to click on her classes and see what she missed today, but she couldn’t. Not yet. Everything Tim dominated her brain.

She could text him, or better yet, call. Her excuse would be wanting to make sure he made it home safe. No, she needed to wait. Don’t come on too greedy, too strong, girl, she scolded herself. Let him make the first move. Or at least give him the chance to. If he didn’t get in touch in the next hour or two, she’d text him. He had, after all, extended to her a free invitation to do so at any time, right?

Before she knew it, YouTube sat open on her laptop’s browser, and her fingers took over, typing “Moth Man Wade” into the search bar. A host of videos popped up, most previews for lessons for his online Moth Man Shred School. She wanted to watch some of those, not because she cared about the lessons, but so she could see him, hear his voice. Instead, a bunch of videos of his guitar solos from his Splitting Braincells days caught her attention. She found a 30-minute compilation and clicked on it.

Okay, she liked heavy metal and hard rock before, but this weekend gave her a new appreciation. She found she enjoyed most of the bands, both Saturday and Sunday, even the super heavy ones where the lead singer growled more than sang. She hadn’t paid much attention to the Friday bands, and now wished she had; everything had been sensory overload at that point. Splitting Braincells had been her favorite, aside, of course, from Crushed Edges. Tim explained so much during Splitting Braincells’ set, pointing out songs he had originally performed and helped write. She loved that part. Now, as she watched him shirtless on stage, wailing away on his guitar, her age, maybe a year older, the music went straight to her girlie parts. She moved her hand under her sweats and panties to pet her kitty.

She gasped, and it wasn’t from the touch of her fingertips against her sex. When did she ever do this? Yes, she had rubbed herself before, but it had always been simple stress relief or a sleep aid. As she moaned at her fingertips moving through her folds and pausing on top of her little pearl, the video continued in front of her. She imagined Tim rubbing in time with his blistering solo, moving his fingers lightning quick against her kitty, and then backing off a bit, rubbing different areas of her girlie parts. She also admonished herself. He was a grown man, mature. Her saying girlie parts or kitty for her vagina wouldn’t amuse him. Would it? Maybe he’d find it cute. With that thought, a sharp orgasm, bigger than anything she’d ever felt before, even when she had actual sex with Harris, washed over her. She screwed her eyes shut tight and let Tim’s beautiful licks and chords engulf her senses, heighten her feelings. She let out a cry, thankful Mom and Dad were at work, though she wouldn’t be doing this if they were home. Maybe. Her door did have a lock, after all.

A lightheadedness washed over her. She rubbed her slit and pearl a couple more times, and then dragged her hand out of her pants. Oh, shit, despite the 8 hours of sleep she got this morning, she felt bashed. She hugged herself, a sudden wish that Tim could be here to wrap his arms around her, a wish that he’d been the one to give her the blistering orgasm, either with his hands or his thing…his cock. Another delightful convulsion shuddered through her at the thought of him, his male organ. She felt it push at her through his jeans last night when he hugged her tight, kissed her.

She avoided any sort of relationship after Harris. Their relationship, or should-have-been break-up, soured the last couple months of high school. In March of their senior year—St. Patrick’s Day after they shared a green beer—a condom broke inside her. She’d been on edge for a couple of weeks, and when her period came late, her life went into a tail-spin. Honestly, though, that wasn’t so unusual back then. Until she went on birth control, her cycle had never been anything close to regular. Everyone noticed her changed mood, but how could they not? Rich said it best. She loved his description of her, how he called her bratty with a side of bitch ever since she was 10 years old, but in that dark time, she became bitchy with extra bitch. Yeah, she couldn’t deny it. It wasn’t until Mom burst into her room while she sobbed into her pillow that it came out she knew she was pregnant. She’d taken a drug store pregnancy test and though the result was hard to read, it looked like it pointed towards positive. Mom held her as she spilled the whole story, and, of course, like always, she made her feel better. Pregnancy tests weren’t always accurate, to say nothing of the fact that this one hadn’t been clear in the first place; her periods often proved unpredictable, with this one only being a couple of days late; and her body didn’t feel any different other than from the severe stress she’d put herself through thinking about it. There was a better than average chance she wasn’t pregnant, but if she was, she, Dad, Rich, and Mandy, who’d been engaged to Rich then, would be there for her. That got Elle to cry her hardest tears of those couple of weeks, but they were of gratitude, not fear. The released stress must've nudged her hormones along, as her period started during the night. Bitchy with extra bitch took a backseat to happy with a side of ecstatic for a few days until life shifted back to normal.

Anyway, Harris didn't speak to her through the entire ordeal, though most of it, she supposed, could be blamed on her after she almost tore his head off near the beginning of the scare. Even afterward, when they reconciled, nothing had been the same. Neither would pull the plug, afraid to leave the comfortable sameness, even if it no longer held any comfort. And though sex hadn’t been an every weekend thing by any stretch of the imagination, their one time—the night after graduation—in those final few months could still be considered a dry spell. It had proved there was no longer any love between them, if there had ever been any in the first place. Thank god he chose to attend Stanford rather than a local school like her.

Now she avoided any sort of relationship. It didn’t help—or hurt, she supposed, went more in line with her point of view—that most guys at school were kind of douchey. Okay, yes, that might be unfair, as she took that vantage point from the guys who hit on her. She was sure, as Bri told her more than once, she could find a good guy if she looked for one. But therein lied the problem; she didn’t want to. When she did meet someone who held her same interests, she never felt a spark, not even enough to go on a simple coffee date to the campus Starbucks between classes. It wasn’t until…

“Tim,” she whispered into her empty room. Somewhere in the back of her mind, she noticed the video still playing. He really had been exquisite. Part of her wanted to feel sad that he loved playing the guitar so much but couldn’t do it anymore, at least like in this video. Her lust, her jubilation over her orgasmic high, though, pushed the thought away. For now she needed him, and this, his video, her fingers, would be as close as she could get until Saturday. Her hand rested on her stomach and inched down. This would be a record; she’d never masturbated twice in one day before. Maybe never more than once in an entire month.

As soon as her hand reached the waistband of her sweats, her phone’s text message alert chimed, getting her to jump. She sat up and reached for it, as it lay next to her laptop. A smile took over when she saw it was Tim, and also felt her face flush. Had he known she planned to touch her girlie parts again thinking about him? No, she was being silly. How could he? But they did feel so connected…

His text instead had a bland but happy message. He made it home safe, and had already unpacked the RV. He also hoped she made it home okay. Her smile threatened to split her face. He’s thinking about me! How awesome is that?

Her thumbs flew across the digital keyboard on her phone. “Glad you are safe. I slept at Rich and Mandy’s. Home now and playing on laptop. Need to homework soon.”

There. Would he say anything more? If so, would it be in a way that engaged further conversation? Her eyes didn’t leave her iPhone’s screen, and he rewarded her seconds later.

“Glad to hear. Did you miss much in your classes today? I’m already pining for Saturday, by the way.”

“Oh my god,” she squealed, and her thumbs again moved in a blur.

“ME, TOO!!! ALREADY HUNGRY!!!” She giggled, as she didn’t mean for food. How would he reply? Would he pick up on her subtext?

He played it safe, though his reply still got a smile from of her.

“Saturday is a long ways away. Hope you plan to eat something in between.”

She sent first a winking smiley, and then said, “Don’t know about missed school yet. Haven’t logged onto website. Got distracted by Moth Man YouTube vids.”

“Haha. That young guy could shred, that’s for sure.”

“Do you miss it?” They hadn’t discussed his past other than in superficial ways, so she had no clue. He had to, didn’t he? He wouldn’t have been there watching the Splitting Braincells’ set if he didn’t. Or could he watch because he was over it? Really, though, she hoped her text hadn’t ruined their conversation. Ugh, Elle, even your thumbs have no filter.

His text came not long after. “Yes and no. A better conversation/explanation in person than through text. Will answer on Saturday during breakfast. Promise.”

She put her hands to her mouth and squealed. Oh, he was good. It was a better answer than she could have hoped for. “Will hold you to that.” Then, before he replied, inspiration struck. “Parents going to fundraiser Wednesday night. I hate eating alone. Join me?” She held her breath waiting for a reply, and when she saw it, her entire world deflated.

“Will get back to you later in the week about time and place for Saturday.” Seconds later, though, her head shot back into the stratosphere. “Sorry, got your Wednesday text as I sent the weekend one. Yes, I’d love to have dinner with you Wednesday.”

“Great! I can’t wait!” And she meant it with all her heart.

“Me, too!” He also added both the smiling face wearing sunglasses and the winking one. Oh my god, that’s too cute!

Her hand flew to her lips, as the memory of their kiss last night hit her. Would they do that again? A lot? Oh, goodness, she hoped so. In fact, she’d do everything in her powers to make it happen.

His next text brought a small pang of sadness, but also got her to grin. “Need to head into work for a little bit, so dropping out of our convo for now. Not ignoring you on purpose, promise.”

She texted him a sad face, but followed it with a winking one with the words, “Text when you finish?”

“Try and stop me. Until then, my princess.”

Holy fuck! She reached behind for her pillow and mashed it to her face as she screamed her exuberant joy. She was his princess. YES!

Chapter Four: His Hard Rockin' Princess

Read Ch. 3 by clicking here

Chapter 4

Tim walked next to Rich and Mandy, his new friends, on the way back to the campground Sunday night after the festival ended. Elle, his other new friend, danced a few feet ahead, humming songs from Blackest the Night, the night’s headliner. He took her to the pit down front to watch, as he’d done with a few of the bands, including Crushed Edges, her favorite band, last night. They made sure to stay clear of the actual mosh pits that broke out closer to the middle, so they had a great time in the mass of excited humanity. He also introduced her to the guys of Crushed Edges, which earned him even more points, though, for whatever reason, he didn’t need to score bonus points to impress her. What was it about this girl?

He loved how she enjoyed most of the bands today, and he meant all day, not just the main stage. The four of them, six, counting his RV neighbors, enjoyed breakfast together before hitting the festival grounds for 12 more hours of head-banging. And plenty of Elle’s sexy dancing, it turned out. He gave a quick head-shake to clear that thought out of his mind. He had a hard enough time concentrating on his conversation with Rich and Mandy while watching Elle skip ahead of them, kicking rocks, sticks, and leaves in time with the beats in her head.

“You three want to have a few drinks at my RV before turning in?” he asked. “I have plenty of caffeine-free sodas, and I’m brewing some decaf.” He didn’t add there would be no booze, as they’d had a long discussion about alcohol earlier, and how he hadn’t consumed any since his drunk driving accident.

“Sounds great,” Rich said. “I’d also love to hear some of those demos you bragged about earlier if you don’t mind.” Tim told him how he’d converted all his old demos from Splitting Braincells, as well as some he recorded of him noodling on his guitars, into mp3 files. He had them on digital recorders, but mp3s made playback much easier.

“Not a brag, but a fact,” he said, and it got all three laughing. Elle turned her head to see what was funny, and kicked a rock a bit too hard, almost clipping someone ahead of them.

“Elle!” he snapped, “be careful what you’re doing. You could hurt someone.”

“Sorry,” she said, and trotted over to his side, her head bowed, chastised.

Shit, he hadn’t meant to overstep his bounds; he didn’t want her to hurt someone with one of those rocks. Had she been abused at some point in her life? The way she scurried to his side without meeting his eyes proved that might be the case. As she clutched his arm, he glanced over to Rich and Mandy to see what they had to say about the scene, but both wore looks of confusion, and he had the distinct feeling it had to do with her reaction, not his tone.

“I won’t do it again, I promise,” she said, apprehension in her voice.

“No, it’s fine. I just wanted you to be careful with those rocks. How would you like it if someone hit you while you minded your own business?”

“I wouldn’t,” she whispered, and then looked up at him, an expression of pleading on her face. What the fuck? Had his tone been so clipped? What had she gone through in her life to react that way?

He took his arm back so he could wrap it around her shoulders. “I didn’t mean to sound so stern. I’m sorry.”

She grinned up at him and leaned deeper into his body. Holy shit, yeah, this feels right. What the hell was it with this girl?

He looked back over to Rich and Mandy to see if they said anything now, but they had their heads together in a private conversation. He could swear he heard Rich mutter, “Is that my sister? When has she ever acted like this?”

So this wasn’t normal behavior. He took a deep breath and felt her shudder a bit. “Are you cold?”

“A little.” She smiled, and it took every bit of willpower not to lean down and plant a kiss on her lips. Instead, he nudged her in front of him.

“Here, let’s keep in step, and I’ll rub the warmth back into your arms.”

She matched his stride and whispered, “‘K”

As he rubbed her arms, he heard Mandy snicker. He looked over with a questioning look. She shook her head, and mouthed, “Later.” He nodded and smiled.

Once they reached his RV, he unlocked it and hopped inside to turn on some lights, and then motioned them up. “I thought we’d sit outside, but as Elle mentioned, it’s a little chilly. Besides, Rich, I’m sure you’ll hear the tunes in here better than out there. I’m not going to blast them at this time of night, despite everyone in the campground still being awake.”

“Sounds good to me,” he said.

He motioned them to sit on the couch or one of the mounted swivel chairs, and then took drink orders. “Like I said, I’m brewing a pot of decaf, but I also have cans of soda, both caffeinated and not, and plenty of bottled water.”

“If you’re making coffee, that’s my choice,” Mandy said.

“Me, too,” Rich said.

When Elle didn’t chime in, he said, “Soda and water in the fridge. Help yourself. Let me know if you want a glass.”

“No, I’ll have coffee, too.”

Mandy let out a snort, while Rich said, “I don’t think he has enough cream and sugar for you to have coffee.”

She stuck her tongue out at both of them, and he held in a laugh. “I have plenty of both, I assure you. Now sit, everyone. The beauty of an RV is the kitchen is right here, so you can get comfortable and we can talk.”

Rich and Mandy plopped onto the couch, and though there was plenty of room next to them, Elle hesitated and looked at him.

“Where are you sitting?” she asked.

Before he could answer, Mandy whispered, “Oh my god, pick a spot, you little hussy.”

He tried everything in his power to pretend he didn’t hear, but when Elle’s eyes went wide, and she fired back, “Oh my god, shut up,” in a whisper of her own, he couldn’t help but stifle a laugh. She shot him a look, horrified embarrassment written all over her.

“I’m sitting in a swivel chair. Why don’t you choose one. They’re comfortable.”

She sat, and he turned around to get the coffee started, hiding his grin. It went wider when he heard Rich say, “What’s gotten into you tonight?”

Elle didn’t say anything, but Mandy whispered, “Leave her alone. She’s…” She then giggled.

“I said shut up!” Elle whisper-shouted.

Tim couldn’t help himself. He turned his head, caught Elle’s gaze, and winked. She gasped, turned bright red, but a goofy smile formed on her lips.

That’s when the situation hit Rich, as he mumbled, “Oh, fuck,” and then turned to Tim, gave him a slight head-shake, and mouthed, “Your funeral, pal.”

Neither Elle nor Mandy caught it, so he couldn’t help smiling. It wasn’t a threat from an overprotective brother, but a warning about Elle’s personality, which Rich described earlier as “bratty with a side of bitch.” He saw some of it on display today, and had to admit he found it endearing.

As he turned back to his little kitchen area, a spider climbed along the bottom of the sink. It wasn’t too big, and wouldn’t hurt anything, but he didn’t want it in here. It would be easy enough to grab a paper towel and squash it, but he couldn’t bring himself to kill the thing. It hadn’t done anything wrong. Ever since his accident those 8 years ago, the thought of hurting anything, even something as little as this spider, churned his stomach. He grabbed a plastic cup next to the sink, placed it over the thing, and slid it around. The spider took the bait and climbed onto the side. He tore off a paper towel and placed it over the opening. Seconds later, he had the thing out the door and back out in the wilds where it could catch bugs to its hearts content. He found no irony in it; that was nature, not the barbarism he would have committed by squishing it. Rich and Mandy chuckled at his actions, but he could see the small smile on Elle’s lips. She approved, and though he hadn’t done it for her, his heart sung.

Talk then turned to the festival, and they discussed both the music and meeting so many of the bands backstage. Rich gushed again about how cool it had been for Tim to introduce him to the guys of Splitting Braincells last night, and he said he was glad to. Especially since Rich had made sure to mention Moth Man was still his favorite member. The guys laughed, though Julian, the guitarist who’d replaced him, put on a fake pout and said he’d been with the band longer than Moth Man, and had been on more records. That brought out more laughter from everyone. Tim couldn’t imagine a better guy than Julian replacing him as lead shredder. They had then signed Elle’s notebook, posed for a few pictures, and hit the stage. And, of course, like always, they killed it.

Once the coffee finished brewing, filling the RV with the sweet and bitter scents, Tim poured four mugs. Both Rich and Mandy took theirs black, like his. Before he poured Elle’s, he said, “Why don’t you come over here and supervise so I know how much room to leave for cream and sugar.”

She hesitated for a second, and then said, “I’ll take mine black, too.”

“Elle, it’s rude to accept coffee only to dump it out,” Rich said.

“I won’t,” she said, exasperation in her voice.

He passed two to Rich so he could hand Mandy hers, and then hand-delivered Elle’s. As he did, he whispered, “If you change your mind about cream and sugar, feel free. And if you decide you’d rather have something else, I won’t be offended. I’ll even drink yours so they don’t yell at you again about wasting it. Okay?”

She gave a slight nod and smile, and bit her bottom lip. He didn’t know if she did it on purpose, but either way, he had to fight every instinct inside him to not kiss her. Hard. And, lord almighty, he might have if her brother and sister-in-law weren’t sitting a few feet away. He also could tell without a doubt she would welcome his advance. Somehow he managed to find his own seat without spilling any of his own hot decaffeinated brew.

Talk about the festival resumed, and soon 2 am snuck up on them. He, Rich, and Mandy all had refills, and while Elle didn’t drink her coffee fast, she did finish it. He had a feeling it was to spite her brother, as she admitted it wasn’t great.

As they stood to head back to their tent, Tim said, “Shit, Rich, I’m sorry. I forgot to put on those demos for you.”

“I wouldn’t worry about it,” Mandy said. “I have a feeling you guys will be seeing each other again.” She motioned towards Elle, who gave her sister-in-law a blank look.

Tim chuckled, and said, “Yeah, you’re right.” He exchanged phone numbers with each of them this morning—or yesterday morning, as it was well past midnight—in case they got separated, and he knew he wanted to use Elle’s once he got home. She lived maybe a half-hour away from him, closer if traffic behaved.

That’s when the meaning of the comment dawned on Elle, and she gasped, her eyes wide and cheeks pink. “Yes,” she said in a harsh, throaty whisper.

Mandy let out a laugh, while Rich mumbled, “Christ.” He then patted Tim on the shoulder as he headed for the door. “Like I said, your funeral,” but he chuckled this time. Mandy swatted Rich’s shoulder and told him to knock it off, but Elle didn’t hear.

Once they all stepped outside, it seemed most of the campground had gone to bed, so they talked in whispers. “Breakfast again tomorrow?” he asked. “Or are you guys pulling out early?” The campground rules stated everyone had until 10 am to vacate. He planned on using that entire time.

“Actually,” Rich said, “If the ladies don’t mind, we might head out now. I’m still a bit wired, and we can be home in half an hour, while it’ll take well over an hour in the morning.”

“Sounds good to me,” Mandy said. “I could use a shower.”

“No,” Elle said, tears in her eyes. “I want to stay for breakfast.”

“Elle…” Rich started, but Tim cut him off.

“Why don’t you two go get packed, and I’ll bring Elle over in a few minutes.”

Mandy and Rich headed off, and he motioned Elle to him. She exploded into his arms, and continued sniffling, trying, he could tell, not to cry harder. He held her, not saying anything for a moment. After a minute or two, she pulled back a little and said, “Sorry.”

He wiped a stray tear from her cheek. “Nothing to be sorry about. I’m guessing the fact that you’re tired played a major part. I’m exhausted, and I have an actual bed in here.” He tapped the wall of the RV.

She giggled. “Yeah. But…it’s more.” She looked up at him, and he gasped at her absolute beauty. He’d been with her all day, marveled at it whenever he so much as glanced at her, but it still took him by surprise each time. He fought every instinct inside to not lean down and kiss her, but again managed.

“How about we call it a rain-check and I take you out to breakfast next weekend, Saturday or Sunday. Your choice. Whatever day works best for you.”

“Both days,” she said in a breathy whisper, and that did it. He couldn’t keep himself in check any longer. He placed a soft kiss on her lips, pulled away a few inches, and then dove back in, harder. She moaned and kissed back. Their lips parted, and their tongues danced together, both fighting for dominance, and then playing a game of give and take. He’d never been so captivated by anyone. She felt like she belonged in his arms, on his lips. He had to wield every bit of self-control to keep from picking her up and carrying her into the RV. If her brother and sister-in-law wouldn’t be looking for her soon, he might have done it. He didn’t know what they’d say about this display itself, but didn’t care enough to stop. He couldn’t stop. Elle felt too perfect, too lovely, too…his.

“Elle, it’s time to go,” Mandy’s voice rang out behind them, though she sounded amused rather than angry. They jumped and pulled apart.

“Give us a few more minutes,” Elle said.

“Rich has the car started.”

“One more minute and I’ll be there.”

“Elle,” Mandy said, exasperation in her voice.

“C’mon, get out of here and don’t be so argumentative,” he said. “I’ll see you next weekend, and we have each other’s phone numbers. Call or text me any time. Okay?”

“Okay,” she said, reached up for one more kiss, and then ran off towards their camp and waiting car.

Mandy gave him a quick hug. “Thanks. I’m not sure what sort of hold you have over her, but please don’t stop. You’re good for her.”

He chuckled. “I have no clue, either, but I can guarantee she has a hold over me, too. Safe travels, and tell Rich I owe him a listening party.”

“He’ll love that. Thanks for everything this weekend. We all enjoyed meeting and hanging out with you. And as I said earlier, I’m sure we’ll see plenty of each other from now on.”

“Yeah, I hope so.”

He must have worn a wistful look while he said it because she laughed, and then waved bye. He  hopped into the RV and headed back to the minuscule bedroom to try to get at least a few hours of sleep. If it would be possible after that day and that kiss.

Read Ch. 5 by clicking here

Chapter Three: His Hard Rockin' Princess

Read Ch. 2 by clicking here

Chapter 3

Elle bounced all the way to the gate that led them backstage. This was so cool! She also couldn’t help but laugh at her brother, as he might have been more excited. Mandy joked earlier she’d have to keep a firm grip on his arm to keep him from floating away, but now it looked as if she did have him tight. Elle clutched the laminated pass on her lanyard as they approached the security guards. She remembered all the times through high school, and even some in college, when people talked about trying to sneak backstage, saying confidence was key. She didn’t need to worry about confidence tonight, as these passes were genuine. Rich, with some help from Dad, secured them at work, Sullivan Advertising. Dad owned it, while Rich was his second-in-command and someday successor. They tried to get her into the family business, too, but she had no interest. Maybe after college if she still didn’t know what she wanted to be when she grew up, but not yet.

The security team waved them through, and she and Rich grinned at each other so big she thought her face might crack. Bring on the rock stars! She had autographs to get. Along with the CD cover for Crushed Edges’ latest album, their best yet, she also carried a small notebook for anyone else famous. Maybe even some of the bands from earlier would be back here. She hadn’t known most of them, but enjoyed so many of the sounds. Rich would point out anyone of interest to get signatures. No doubt she’d end up having to share the notebook with him, but she didn’t mind. Mandy, for her part, got drafted into picture duty with her phone.

The first band, Coiled Recognition, would start in about fifteen minutes, so commotion surrounded the stage as the roadies moved everything into position and made sure the instruments sounded right. Despite not being media, their passes allowed them in the standing section to the left of the stage. Rich didn’t see anyone he recognized, so they checked out their vantage point. She couldn’t wait to watch from here. Sure, it would be a better pure view from the front row of the amphitheater, but this was so much cooler. None of her friends could say they’d seen a big concert like this.

While they stood waiting, a guy in his mid-20s or so, with a faux-hawk haircut and wearing a buttoned-up striped shirt and skinny jeans, stepped up next to her. He gave her an appraising look that made her want to punch him in the teeth, and said, “Crushed Edges fan, eh?”

She gave him a sappy sweet smile. “No, my brother let me borrow the shirt for this weekend. He said it would make me stand out less than my Katy Perry one.”

He smirked. “It’s nice you can be here anyway. I’m sure your brother will enjoy the show.”

“Yeah, he will. Not me, though. I won’t know to cheer when the opening riff of ‘Big Chugger’ starts, meaning the boys are about to take the stage. I also won’t get the significance of ‘Jagged Lines’ because I have no idea Boyd Henderson’s older brother died from cutting himself too deep with a razor blade. I also won’t know to get excited when Jason starts the opening riff of ‘Not a Party Machine.’ It’s too bad because it all sounds like a kick-ass set.” She threw a smirk of her own at the guy, who looked bemused and backed away, telling her to enjoy the show.

Mandy snorted and gave her a nudge. “You could have told him you were a fan instead of making him feel so small. Not that I didn’t enjoy watching it.”

She waited for Rich to call her bratty with a side of bitch, his favorite phrase when she did something like that, but instead he said, “Oh, shit.”

What? Had the guy gone to get someone to kick her out? Was he a true VIP who didn’t like to feel belittled? She didn’t care about making him feel stupid, as she hated the way he blatantly checked her out. It would be plenty petty of him to do so, but she’d met enough famous people through Dad’s company who thought too much of themselves to not be surprised. Instead, she found Rich staring in awe at…

…him. Her mystery older guy, the one who made her feel tingly both this morning and afternoon. And he did it again now, even if he wasn’t looking at her. Oh, god, what was it about him? She realized she couldn’t breathe.

“What?” Mandy asked. Elle thought she said it to her for a second, but instead she directed the query at Rich.

“That’s Moth Man. Moth Man Wade, the original lead guitarist for Splitting Braincells. Holy hell, I worshiped him back in high school.”

“Go introduce yourself,” she said, nudging him. “Elle can get his autograph, and I’ll snap a picture. This is why we’re backstage, remember?”

“I can’t. He’s Moth Man. I don’t think I’ll be able to say anything.”

Mandy’s voice held exasperation, but Elle heard the humor in it, too. “You’ve met plenty of celebrities at work. He’s no different. Go say hi, tell him you’re a fan, and I’ll get a picture. Elle, drag your brother over there and get an autograph.”

She didn’t answer. She’d followed the conversation, but her eyes had never left the guy, this Moth Man. What kind of name was that? A nickname, but why? She wanted to walk over and ask him, but her feet wouldn’t move. When was she ever like this?

“Elle?” Mandy prompted, followed by, “Oh my god!”

That snapped her out of it. “What?” She didn’t like the smirk on Mandy’s face.

“Are you star-struck like your brother, or crushing? He’s pretty hot, but maybe a little too old for you.”

“No! Oh my god. I was…” How could she finish that sentence? She also knew she had a nuclear-level blush going. Don’t look, don’t look, don’t look, she willed towards him, which, of course, brought the opposite effect. His eyes wandered over to them before stopping on her. Her heart, thanks to Mandy’s teasing, had managed to work its way into her chest from her throat, but now it shot back up. Oh, his eyes…

“Look, he sees us,” Mandy said. “Now it’ll be more rude if you don’t go over and talk to him.” Elle’s gaze didn’t leave Moth Man’s, but she heard the near-laughter in Mandy’s voice. “Come on, you two.”

And just like that, they headed towards him. In any other situation, she would have been giddy at how much fun she could have picking on Rich for being star-struck. He never batted an eye when they met a celebrity. They didn't affect her, either, but that changed big-time tonight. Only Mandy held it together as she pushed and prodded them to meet this beautiful, beautiful Moth Man.

He watched them approach, his eyes not leaving hers, but growing bigger and bigger as they drew closer. Was she doing the same? She both hoped not and didn’t care. She was going to meet him; oh, god, she was going to meet him. Could she say hi? Would her voice even work?

“Moth Man,” Mandy said, a bright smile in her voice. “Hope you don’t mind, but you have two huge fans here who would love to meet you.”

Mandy stretched out her hand to shake his, which broke the spell between him and Elle. She blinked hard a few times and let out a gasp she hoped wasn’t too loud. He then shook Rich’s hand, and her brother managed to find his voice.

“Hi, Moth Man, uh, Mr. Wade. I know I’m going to make a fool of myself, but I was such a fan back when you were in Splitting Braincells. I had a fake ID in high school so I could get into the 18-and-over-clubs. You were the best I’ve ever seen.”

Moth Man laughed and clapped Rich on the shoulder. “Thanks, I appreciate it. But, please, call me Moth Man or Tim, not Mr. Wade. And feel free to insert a corny, overused joke here about how Mr. Wade is my father.”

Rich and Mandy laughed, and while somewhere in the back of Elle’s mind she found the joke funny, she couldn’t help but blurt out, “Wait, how come you keep saying ‘were’? Why aren’t you still their guitarist? They’re playing tonight.”

She gasped as soon as it left her mouth. Crap, why couldn’t she have a filter? True, she usually didn’t care if she came off as rude, but she did with him. Moth Man. Tim.

He turned towards her, his eyes intense, but the corners of his mouth raised in a smile. It melted her insides, but she managed, through some sort of autopilot, to lift her hand to shake his when offered. When their skin touched, she jumped as if shocked. Plus, her insides poured down in a lumpy puddle at the soles of her feet, and her girlie parts burned in absolute fire. Oh, god, shut up, shut up, shut up!

“I’m Tim,” he whispered, his voice hoarse, husky. Oh, wow, am I affecting him, too? She liked that idea.

“Elle,” she somehow managed to whisper back.

She might have stayed there the rest of the night, holding both his gaze and his hand, but real life had to, of course, rear it’s ugly head in the form of Mandy’s annoying—at least at the moment—snicker. Tim’s smile grew in a knowing way, and then he dropped her hand and turned his attention back to Rich and Mandy. He and Rich discussed music, and though she wanted to listen in, to gain some insight to this wonderful specimen of a man, she couldn’t get her head on straight. She gave a quick glance over to Mandy and winced. Shit! As always, her sister-in-law saw straight through her. Though at the moment the entire back stage area could probably tell what dominated her mind. If she were a boy, everyone would say she was thinking with her other head. Shit-shit-shit! Maybe she could excuse herself to the bathroom and stay there for the rest of the show. She could always peek out when Crushed Edges came on stage.

Don’t be dumb, she scolded herself. You’re an adult. Sort of. Act like it!

She took a deep breath, plastered a smile on her face, ignored Mandy’s penetrating gaze, and did everything in her power to follow the conversation between Tim and Rich. They talked about the bands from earlier in the day. Had she missed the important details, her question about why he wasn’t a guitarist anymore? If so, she could ask Rich later. He’d know all the sordid details. She managed to hold her tongue until a natural pause in the conversation followed, and then blurted out, in her typical inarticulate (stupid!) manner, “Why do they call you Moth Man? It seems a little silly.”

“Elle,” Rich muttered in his defeated, scornful voice he so often used with her.

Yes, big brother, I accept your scorn this time.

Tim turned to her, a smile on his face, and his eyes again devouring her. God, he really could devour her for all she cared. For all she wanted. Feast on, big boy! Come and get it.

Holy hell, she never even felt like this with Harris Tynes, her boyfriend throughout her entire junior and senior years of high school. She liked him enough to let him take her virginity in the summer between the two, and they continued sexing each other up whenever they could almost until the end, but her feelings for him never came close to what she felt for this stranger.

“It was meant to be silly. Meant to make me feel stupid, but I owned it, and it became mine. Back in junior high, some brainiac bully discovered the word ‘moth’ sat in the middle of Timothy, so that’s what he called me. It ticked me off royal at first, but my best friend started saying Moth Man in a cool way, not condescending, and I loved it. I became Moth Man for the rest of junior high and all through high school. It continued with Splitting Braincells until…” He stopped and held up his left hand.

What did he mean? Her face must have been full of confusion, because he continued. “Not long after I turned 21, as soon as we hit the big time, I got into a motorcycle accident. Crushed my fretting hand so bad that I’d never be a touring musician again. I can play for five or ten minutes now, but any more and it starts to ache.”

She gasped and without thinking grasped his hand and stroked it, as if she could cure all that ailed him. He moaned, and it zipped through her, straight to her girlie parts. God, how could she want this man so bad, so soon? She knew nothing about him, not to mention he was at least a decade her senior.

At that moment the first band of the night hit the stage. The lights dimmed around them and the fanfare started, and the mammoth crowd on the other side of the stage roared. That’s when she found Rich and Mandy had left her alone with him. They headed towards the media viewing area.

He leaned in close and said, “I’d love to keep talking to you. Do you want to go watch the band, and then continue our conversation between sets?” He swiped his fingers of his left hand across her cheek, and it was her turn to moan. He smiled, and it looked like he might lean down and kiss her. Yes! Do it! Instead, he stopped short, looked to be going through his own internal monologue—she could sure relate to that!—and shook his head as if clearing it. He then smiled, stepped towards the viewing area, and offered his arm. She grinned and took it.

Read Ch. 4 by clicking here