Assure Her (Assured Distraction Book 1) (17 page)

“Well, you could come on home with me and then we could sleep this way every night,” Krissy purred, pulling his hand over her puckered nipple. “Wouldn’t that be wonderful?”

“Not going to happen, Kitten,” he whispered in response, much to her displeasure.

They arrived in Reno and cars picked them up from the airport and took them to where the buses were waiting in the parking lot of the venue. The group was pumped about hitting the casinos since their time in Vegas had been cut short.

“We don’t have to go out if you don’t want to, Chan,” KeeMac had trapped her between his arms against the kitchen counter while the others stored their gear.

“No, I want to get out and do something, And, I’m actually hungry.”

“That’s a great sign ‘cause I fucking know you like to eat!” He patted her stomach. “We’ve gotta get those few pounds back on you!”

“I don’t know about that. I kinda like the extra pounds gone.”

“NO, you don’t. You were fucking perfect before. I like curves, remember?”

“What makes you think you get to tell me what to do about my own body?” He knew the old Chandler was back when she jumped at the opportunity to defend her independence.

“Like hell I’m trying to tell you what to do. I’m just saying, you’re too damned thin now Chan, and I don’t want you getting sick. Your body has had a hell of a lot of stress, which can also make you sick. So, please try to eat so you can get all of your beautiful curves back. Curves are fucking sexier than sharp angles any day of the week.” He gave her a look that practically melted the panties right off her.

“I’m starving right now, so let me get back to you on that. Tonight I might just pig out!” Maybe she would reconsider the weight since he put it that way.

They took a cab to a kick ass restaurant that Cash recommended close to the venue, since neither of them had ever been to Reno. After getting her fill for the first time in days, Chandler yawned again and he realized they were both exhausted. Tomorrow would be another long day for them but at least they would be doing what they loved.

Arriving back at the bus, she changed in the bathroom and started getting things arranged in her bunk. “I was hoping you would sleep with me again tonight. I like having you next to me, Chan.” Wrapping his arms around her from behind, and she leaned into him inhaling the woodsy scent he always seemed to wear.

“Won’t the others be upset about this thing between us, especially if we start to share a bed now that the tour is back on?”

“Personally, I don’t give a flying fuck what they think. What we do in our private lives is really none of their damn business. As long as it doesn’t affect the band, they have no say. This is between us, and if we’re good with it, they can just deal with it. I want you in my damn bed any way I can have you. We don’t have to do anything. But I realize that I fucked up the last time we got close, and I’m not about to let that happen again. We never had a chance to talk about me be such a dick before. But I wanted to tell you I am so damn sorry for how I acted. I know you won’t believe me but I was trying to do the right thing.”

“The right thing? I don’t understand.” He pulled her to the bedroom and closed the door. She climbed on the bed but didn’t lie down.

“Look Chandler, I totally fucked up. After that smokin’ hot night we shared, I stayed awake half the damn night thinking about it. I didn’t want to push you into shit you weren’t ready to deal with. How many relationships have you had, anyway?”

He thought he knew what the answer would be but wanted to make sure he hadn’t imagined the intensity of her reactions that he had replayed so many times in his mind. Every time he allowed his mind to drift back to that night, he would get instantly aroused. While she might not have any experience, she was so responsive to him that he hadn’t been able to stop himself.

“Well, I had a boyfriend of sorts in high school, but I was busy getting through my classes so I could move on to Juilliard so a real relationship was impossible. Also, my parents never allowed me to actually date. My dad was so protective over who was allowed in our home that I rarely ever had friends over.”

“Yeah, and then you end up in bed with this sorry son of a bitch. Me, Chan, the Tin Man with no heart, the guy who’s fucked any willing girl. I was definitely the typical horny teenage boy, and now I’m just a horny grown man. I never want you to feel like you have to do anything you don’t want to do. I sure as hell don’t think I’m good enough for you, but if you’re willing, we’ll take this slow and see where you want to go with it.”

“The Tin Man, huh? I think you are mistaken there. You’ve got a big heart. Maybe you just haven’t had a reason to show it to anyone yet.” She gave him a brief hug with her comment.

When she pulled back and looked at him, he said, “You’ll have all of the damn power, Chandler. Of course, some of those hot looks you give me makes me want to push you up against the nearest wall and fuck you until neither of us can remember our names, but that’s sure as hell not going to happen unless that’s what you want. You have to know holding off on sex is uncharted territory for me but I promise not to be a dick and push you on this.”

Chandler was shocked by his admissions, but was happy he was willing to try going at a pace she set. “I’m so tired tonight. Could we just sleep on it and not worry about any of this right now?” she said, and he laughed out loud.

“Abso-fucking-lutely. I’m just glad you are willing to let me get close to you at all at this point. I wasn’t sure you would give me another chance.” When she lay down, he pulled her back and spooned up close to her body, burying his nose in the beautiful scent of lavender in her hair, and the feel of her soft skin on her stomach. “This feels so right.” She simply nodded her head in agreement unable to fight off the bone-deep exhaustion she’d carried with her for days.

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T
he whole group was more than ready to rock the show the following night in Reno and they were more than pumped to get back on stage before Frission. Chandler let Peri choose her stage clothes and she knew she looked lusciously hot walking out on stage in a black leather bustier dress that felt like it barely covered her ass and a pair of four-inch over-the-knee-boots with rhinestone-encrusted heels. Camille had changed her makeup to complement the clothes and added a lot of silver and black leather wrap bracelets. Around her neck hung a large natural aquamarine stone the color of Chandler’s eyes made in a Kendra Scott design. It looked amazing on her. When she exited her dressing room and headed toward the stage, the guys from Frission were coming down the hallway to prepare for their set.

“My, my, my! Who do we have here, boys? Honey, please tell me they let your sweet little ass backstage early to have some fun before we go on stage. ‘Cause if so, I want you signed on for the rest of the tour,” said the lead singer.

Before a stunned Chandler could respond, all the members of AD stepped out of their dressing room just as he backed her up against the wall, and placed his hands on either side of her shoulders, and leaned in barely running his nose up her skin, sniffing from her shoulder to her neck and then her ear, trapping her as Chandler’s eyes went wide in complete terror.

KeeMac was on them in two seconds and put his arm between the front man and Chandler and ducked his face in and yelled, “What the fuck, man? She’s our keyboard player! So back the fuck off.”

He looked at KeeMac and threw his hands up and backing away with an immediate apology, “Sorry man, I didn’t know she was spoken for.” Turning to Chandler, he apologized. “I’m not really a prick all the time. I had no idea you were with the band. Please accept my apologies.” The rest of Frission was full out laughing. It was unlike their lead singer to grovel to a woman.

“Uh, well. You didn’t know. I guess I haven’t met any of you guys yet.” While KeeMac looked like he was ready to start a beat down on this bunch, Chandler was quick to forgive the terror he stirred within her. He looked at her like she was crazy, and made a mental note to lecture her on some safety rules while on the road when they got back to the bus later.

“Let me introduce you then,” he gave her a big smile, stiffly pointing out each member of the band by name. KeeMac still maintained his glare while Chandler seemed in awe of them. The guys were not a lot older than the members of AD but Frission was already the headliner for this huge tour. She prayed that AD was able to rise to their level of stardom in as short of time.

“It was great to meet you all. I’m sure we’ll see each other again. But we’re up next, so we better get going,” Chandler took steps toward the stage.

“Sweetness, you failed to tell us your name,” the singer called after her.

“Oh, I’m Chandler Chatam. And, next time, you might give a woman a chance to answer first, invite the advance before you just descend like a wolf on prey. Not that just about any girl wouldn’t be thrilled to have your attention, but you wouldn’t want a knee to the balls an hour before you have to hit the high notes, would ya?” She smiled and winked at him, and took off for the steps leading onstage hoping she made her point without seeming too harsh. When the front man’s eyebrows shot up and he gave her a knowing smirk and a salute, she was sure he got the message.

When they reached the wings, KeeMac grabbed her elbow and swung her around, “What the fuck, Chandler?”

“What? What’s wrong with you?” she glared at him.

“Could you have flirted with those guys anymore?”

“What? You’re crazy.”

“Yeah, in that porn star outfit, too. What the fuck? You didn’t think anyone would hit on you walking around backstage looking like that?”

“You are being a ridiculous ass, Keeton. This is not the time for this! We have a show,” she threw at him then stormed her way onto the stage.

KeeMac was always last onstage. She never glanced his way when he came running out calling to the crowd.

“HELLLLO RENO! ARE Y’ALL READY TO FUCKING ROCK THIS SHOW?”

For the next hour, they set the stage on fire, playing their best so far on the tour. It seemed each time they took the stage, their music got tighter and their confidence in front of the audience got more outrageous, fueling the fans into a total frenzy, which is right where Frission wanted them by the time their act followed.

“THAT was fucking awesome, dude!” Carter called to KeeMac as they made their way to the room prepared backstage for the after show festivities. They each downed several bottled waters as some of the ladies from the audience who had been pointed out by Gunner and Carter to come backstage made their way in the room.

“Ladies, ladies, come right in,” Gunner greeted them with intimate hugs wrapping his hands around their asses and grinded his pelvis into them. He wasted no time picking out the girls he wanted to start the evening with, and he and Carter entertained the ladies while KeeMac fended off a few advances from women with very clear intentions, and was sitting alone when Chandler entered the room, obviously waiting for her. He made his way to her before she could cross the room.

“I’m sorry. I know I shouldn’t have jumped on them like that but when I saw how that asshole had you backed up against the wall, I fucking lost it.”

“Yeah, I noticed that. I will admit, I was scared until y’all walked out. He was so big and there were several of them, and it all happened so fast. I didn’t have time to think before he had me pinned. So, thank you for that. But, we are going to have to talk about your other comments later.” He was a little puzzled when she wrapped her arms around him and hugged him, glad she didn’t react the way he thought she would. He believed he must be making some progress on winning her back and was damn glad about it. Now he had to learn not to be overbearing but he wanted her to know how much he did care about her. He couldn’t stand the thought of some other guy laying their hands on her. That was not going to happen and he needed her to understand that. He’d never really had his boundaries tested, but one thing was sure: he wouldn’t share her with anyone.

They joined the rest of group for drinks while Frission finished their set. KeeMac and Chandler laughed at the antics the ladies used with Carter and Gunner to win their attention. When Frission entered the room, an entourage of groupies poured in offering a fresh selection for the two available AD guys. These women’s complete lack of inhibitions was an utter shock to Chandler.

The guys retreated to intimate corners in pairs, or in threesomes, while everyone mingled talking as if what was going on around them was a normal part of any conversation. Chandler discreetly watched as the groupies were more than willing to wrap their lips around the guys’ dicks in plain view of everyone in the room. She was relieved when she finally spotted Peri talking to the drummer from Frission and made her way over to them with KeeMac hot on her heels.

“Hey, Peri,” Chandler greeted her with a hug while taking in an eyeful of the smokin’ hot drummer as he smiled back at her.

“Oh, hey! Have you both had a chance to meet the guys from Frission?” unaware of the earlier encounter.

“So, Chandler,” the bearded guy acknowledged her with a look that would melt panties off an Eskimo. “I’m really sorry we all came off like such jackasses earlier.”

Peri turned to the gorgeous man, frowning, “I didn’t realize y’all had all met.”

“Oh yeah, Peri. I got a little up-close and personal with their lead singer before the show tonight.” Chandler gave the drummer a brief smirk and a wink, hinting at her slight joke. KeeMac’s nostrils flared behind her, apparently not all that happy to recount the earlier run-in with the headliners.

Turning to the drummer, Peri eyed him with a questioning glare, placing a hand on her trim hip. “Did y’all introduce yourselves, Chayman?”

“Well, we did, but things were fucking hectic, so she probably doesn’t remember our names too well,” Chayman added.

Their conversation was interrupted by increasing obvious sounds of the activities going on behind them. Chandler could not stop her cheeks from turning a bright shade of red.