Chapter 15

Brian watched Myrna button her shirt, hiding her sexy, lace bra from his appreciative gaze. The woman should be required to stay naked and in his bed at all times. Covering that body was an abomination. His sleep-muddled thoughts began to clear. Had she really just asked him to call a band meeting?

"Band meeting?" Brian asked.

"Yeah. I have something important to discuss with all of you," she said. "Do you think we can get everyone together for a few minutes? It won't take long. I promise."

He sat up and dangled his legs over the edge of the bed. He rubbed his face vigorously. "What time is it?"

"Seven-ish, I think."

"Seven-ish? As in seven a.m.?" He lay back down and covered himself with the comforter. "Come back to bed, Myrna. I haven't seen seven a.m. in over three years."

"Is it too early?"

"Uh, yeah. It's waaaay too early."

"Go back to sleep then. What time do you all usually wake up?"

"Ten-ish. Or in Jace's case, noon-ish."

"Most of the day will be gone by then." She fastened her skirt and crossed the room to sit on the bed beside him. "I thought we were going to spend today together."

He grinned at her sleepily. "So why are you out of bed and dressed?"

"I was planning on taking you to breakfast, since I'm starving. I was also hoping to pick up a toothbrush and maybe a change of clothes. I'm feeling kind of helpless, trapped here with no provisions."

"Ah, I'm being an insensitive prick. Gotcha."

"I didn't say that."

"I'm up!" He tossed his covers aside and climbed out of bed. He hunted the floor for clothing. He found his boxers under the edge of the bed. He slid into them and stood at the foot of the bed, slapping his face with both palms to wake himself up.

Myrna's arms circled his waist from behind. She pressed her cheek against his back and then sucked a gentle trail of kisses over his skin from one shoulder blade to the other. He paused. Affectionate in the morning? Good to know.

When her hands flattened over his belly, he stiffened, instantly alert. Her kisses trailed down his spine and back up. She then rested her cheek against his back and sighed.

"If you're trying to get me in the mood," he said, "it's working."

"No, I'm not trying to seduce you. Are you awake now?"

"So that was your intention?"

"I'm sorry to have ulterior motives, Brian, but I'm starving." Her stomach rumbled loudly. "All I had for dinner yesterday was a mint on the airplane."

"I invite you here and don't even feed you dinner. I wonder if the roadies stocked the refrigerator with anything but beer."

He tugged her toward the door and out into the corridor. Quiet snores came from the curtained bunks on the left side of the bus. Brian punched Trey in the arm on his way past his bunk. Trey slapped at Brian's head, but missed, and immediately fell into snores again.

"I've known Trey since fifth grade. It's required that I fuck with him on a regular basis."

She rolled her eyes at him, shaking her head slightly.

He couldn't take his eyes off her. She had a well-fucked look about her. He wondered how she'd talked him into leaving bed. Shouldn't he get the chance to bask in the accomplishment of putting that look on her face?

He forced his attention from her face and opened the small refrigerator. Some leftover take-out containers from God-only-knew when. Cans of beer. Bottles of beer. A half-gallon of no-longer-liquid milk. He closed the refrigerator. "This isn't looking good." He opened a cabinet. An empty box of cereal to go with the solid milk. Cherry suckers. A sock. He closed the cabinet and glanced at her over his shoulder. "Wanna go out to eat?"

"If I want to survive the experience, I think that's probably the best idea."

He hugged her and kissed her temple. "We'll borrow Jace's bike again."

She grinned. "I wonder if Eric is still wearing your lucky hat."

"He probably slept in it. Assuming Jace didn't tell him what was in it. Let's find you some warm clothes. As much as I enjoyed warming you up last night, I'd feel guilty if I made you ride on the back of a bike in a skirt again."

She followed him back to the bedroom and he offered her a pair of Jace's jeans and one of his own band-logo T-shirts. The jeans were loose around her waist but snug on her hips and clung to her ass in a most beguiling fashion.

She slipped into her high-heeled shoes. "I look ridiculous."

"You look gorgeous, as always." He drew her against him and kissed her passionately.

She went limp in his arms, totally submissive to his eager mouth and seeking tongue. He eyed the bed, but decided feeding her breakfast was for the best and drew away. "Let's go before I toss you back into bed."

"I wouldn't protest much," she murmured huskily.

Her stomach rumbled. Her eyes widened and she covered her belly with one hand.

"But your stomach would."

He took her hand and they made their way to the front of the bus. He handed her Jace's leather jacket and put on his own before retrieving the spare set of keys from the glove compartment.

He considered a disguise. "Do you think anyone will recognize me?"

Myrna ran her fingers through his hair, looking him over carefully. "You're a mess, Brian. I don't even recognize you."

He glanced into the rearview mirror, stretching the skin on his cheek with his fingers. "Seriously? Did I sleep on my face again?"

She chuckled. "I'm kidding. You are instantly identifiable. Let's just go through the first fast food drive-thru we encounter. We can come back here to eat and avoid your rabid fans altogether."

"Only if I can use your naked belly as my plate and drip my ketchup into your belly button."

She looked at him through half-lowered eyelids. "Let me tell you what I'd rather you drip into my belly button."

His thoughts shifted through various fluids he could introduce to her navel.

He covered her mouth with his hand. "Woman, don't say things like that." Taking her by the arm, he tugged her off the bus. She stumbled on her high-heels and he scooped her up into his arms. She laughed, hugging him around the neck as he spun around. She looked spectacular in the early morning sunshine—definitely worth missing three of hours sleep. He deposited her on the back of Jace's motorcycle and started the engine. He handed her a helmet and put on the spare.

Myrna leaned against his back, her arms circling his waist. He covered one of her hands with his and smiled. As much as this woman turned him on, he truly treasured her occasional bouts of tenderness. Her free hand slid down his belly and clutched his belt buckle. His smile broadened. So her bouts of tenderness were extremely occasional. So what?

He drove the bike out of the parking lot and turned left in front of the expo center, sticking to the main road.

When they drove past a super store, Myrna shouted, "Stop here!"

He pulled into the parking lot. "Why here?"

"I can get everything I need here. Drop me off at the door."

"What about breakfast?"

"You can go get breakfast while I pick up a few necessities. It shouldn't take me long."

He pulled to a stop in front of the store's main entrance. "I'll come with you."

"It will be faster if we split up."

"Are you always in such a rush?" he asked.

"I want to get back to the bus and play with ketchup."

That convinced him. Myrna held onto his arm as she climbed from the bike. She lifted her helmet's visor and then ran her hands over her pockets. "Crap, I forgot my purse."

Brian reached for his wallet. "Here."

He pulled out a chunk of cash and tried handing it to her. She shook her head. "I can't take your money."

"Why not?"

"I just can't. You already bought me a plane ticket and…"

She got that "I feel like a whore" look on her face that plagued her on occasion.

"Pay me back later if it will make you feel better, but honestly, Myr, it's not a big deal. I've got plenty."

She snatched the bills out of his hand. "I'll pay you back." She glanced at the money in her hand. "There's over a thousand dollars here! Why do you carry so much cash?"

He shrugged. "I guess when you survive on a hundred bucks a month for several years, you make sure it never happens again."

She started stuffing bills back into his hand. "I don't need this much."

"Take it. Buy anything you want. But hurry up about it. I'll be back with extra ketchup packets in less than half an hour."

She shoved the cash into the pocket of Jace's jeans and lifted the visor on Brian's helmet. Their helmets cracked against each other as they sought each other's mouths. She laughed, kissed her fingertips and pressed them to his lips.

"I'll hurry," she promised.

She dashed into the store like a woman on a mission. Brian watched her until she was safely inside and then headed for the fast food restaurant down the street. He ordered a lot of food, not sure who would be awake when they returned.

"Can I get some extra ketchup?" he asked the young woman at the window, grateful that the motorcycle visor concealed his face.

"Sure. Like how much?"

"A couple of handfuls."

She fulfilled his request and handed several bags of food out to him. He shifted back on the bike seat to store the food in the compartment beneath it.

After returning to the super store, he parked the bike near the entrance and waited for Myrna to come outside. People eyed him warily as they passed. Brian cracked his knuckles, amused by the wide berth they took around his threatening presence. About ten minutes later, Myrna emerged, carrying two large sacks.

"Have you been waiting long?" she asked breathlessly. "I tried to hurry."

"I just got here." He'd have waited an eternity.

She climbed onto the bike behind him, settling her purchases between their bodies.

As they headed back to the bus, he came to loathe the shopping bags keeping Myrna's body from pressing against his. Once inside the bus, Myrna sped toward the bedroom. Brian tossed a bag of food into Trey's bunk and a second bag into Jace's.

"Too early for this bullshit," Jace grumbled.

Brian thumped him on the head. "I think you mean, thank you for thinking of my bottomless stomach, Brian."

By the time he made it to the back bedroom, Myrna was devouring a sausage and biscuit.

"I couldn't wait any longer," she explained, her mouth full as she talked. "And what's with all the ketchup?' She pointed at the open sack sitting on the long dresser.

He grinned at her crookedly. "I can't eat hash browns without ketchup. Before I get naked, do you want a beer?"

She pointed at her sacks of purchases. "I bought some juice."

Brian would have liked to have a beer, but she didn't drink and it was still pretty early for that indulgence. "Great."

He searched through her purchases and found several bottles of juice and a huge bottle of chocolate syrup.

He held the chocolate syrup out to her, his head cocked to one side. "I don't think that milk in the fridge is drinkable."

She was adorable when she blushed. "I wasn't planning on using it to make chocolate milk."

He grinned. "Ketchup isn't good enough for you?"

She lowered her eyes. He wondered about her sudden shyness. "I prefer chocolate."

"I think you'll like ketchup, too."

He handed her a bottle of juice and searched the take-out bag for a breakfast sandwich. "Why are you still dressed?" he asked. "I thought you were going to be my plate."

She held up one finger, stuffing the last bite of her sausage and biscuit into her mouth, and then opened her juice to take a long drink.

She fished the money he'd given her out of her pocket and handed it to him. "I owe you a hundred and twenty bucks," she said. He tossed the money onto the dresser.

"Myr, you really don't have to pay me back."

"Why not? You don't think I can afford to?"

He'd never seen her angry before. He liked the way her eyes narrowed and her nostrils flared.

"I don't know," he teased. "You're a teacher. You don't make much money, do you?"

Her mouth fell open in disbelief. "I can't believe you just said that."

"Are you going to hit me?" he asked hopefully.

"You'd like that, wouldn't you, naughty boy."

His eyes dropped to her waist. "Will you use your belt?"

"I thought Jace was the one with the masochism fetish."

He glanced up at her, surprised. "How do you know that?"

"Groupies talk."

"Do they? And what do they say about me?"

She chuckled. "That you're a boring, one-woman man."

He winced.

"I only agree with that second part," she added.

"So I'm not boring?"

"I'm not sure. I've always been the skeptical type and I can be hard to convince without lots of evidence."

He raised an eyebrow at her. "I see. So I need to prove I'm exciting."

"I think that would be for the best."

He looked down at the sandwich in his hand. "Can I eat first?"

"Please do." She took another long drink of her juice and set it down on the dresser.

She removed her shoes and belt. Jace's jeans slid down low on her hips. She unbuttoned the fly and let them fall to the floor. She tugged off Brian's borrowed T-shirt. He should wear that one on stage tonight to keep her close.

"Do I need to be completely naked to be your plate?" she asked.

He realized he was holding his sandwich in front of his open mouth, but hadn't taken a bite.

"Yeah. I've never seen a plate in underwear before."

She unfastened her bra and tossed it aside. She pushed her breasts up with her hands. "You know these things used to be perkier." She looked down at the twin globes of flesh spilling from her palms.

He didn't understand why, but by not trying to act seductive, she was actually turning him on more. "They're perfect."

Her panties joined her jeans on the floor. She glanced over her shoulder, straining her neck to try to see her butt. "I think my ass used to be perkier, too."

Brian bit into his sandwich, chewing slowly.

"Gravity is a woman's worst enemy." She looked up at him uncertainly.

He swallowed. "You're beautiful, Myrna."

"Does it bother you that I'm older than you are?"

"Yeah, like, what, six months older?"

"I'm thirty-five."

He hadn't expected her to be seven years older than him, but frankly, he didn't care how old she was. She was the sexiest woman he'd ever met. "You're in your sexual prime, Myrna. And trust me, that doesn't bother me at all."

"You could have any hot young woman you want—"

"Where's this coming from?"

"Oh my God! Oh my God! It's Master Sinclair!" Myrna squealed and trembled from head to foot with excitement. "Oh my God! Will you sign my tits? Please. Please. You're soooo hot!"

He tossed his sandwich aside, grabbed a handful of ketchup packets from the take-out bag, and tackled her to the bed. He straddled her hips to hold her down.

"Certainly, I'll sign your tits, miss. Anything for a fan." He opened a ketchup packet with his teeth. She laughed uncontrollably, squirming beneath him. "Hold still."

She stopped squirming and looked up at him, her hazel eyes wide. He began to write across her chest in ketchup.

"P-R," he spelled aloud. "O-P." He tossed the empty packet on the floor and reached for another.

"Prop?"

"I'm not finished."

"That tickles." She giggled.

"E-R-T-Y."

"What are you writing?"

He opened another packet and wrote in the middle of her belly. "O-F." He moved to her lower belly. "B-R."

"Property of brrrrrrr?"

"Yeah, property of brrrrr. Exactly." He opened another packet of ketchup and finished his name on her belly. "Perfect. Property of Brian. I just need to dot this i ."

He dabbed a dot of ketchup in the center of her nipple. "Damn, I missed."

He lowered his head and licked the misplaced ketchup off. She laughed, her fingers stealing into his hair.

"Let me try that again." He dripped ketchup on her other nipple. "Damn my terrible aim."

He sucked the tangy ketchup from her nipple, loving the way the rosy peak hardened against his tongue. He stroked the bud vigorously with the center of his tongue until she shuddered and made that maddeningly sexy sound in the back of her throat. His cock hardened instantly.

He was done for. Again.

He lifted his head and dribbled ketchup on her lower lip. Her tongue darted out between her lips.

"Hold it. It's my mess. Only fair that I clean it up." He leaned over her and kissed her deeply.

Her lips tasted spicy, like sausage. Which reminded him. He hadn't finished his breakfast. He broke away from her hungry kiss and looked down at her. "Do you want some hash browns?"

She chuckled. "You know what I want, Brian."

"Hash browns." He climbed from the bed and retrieved the bag of food from the surface of the dresser.

"I think maybe you are boring," she teased, watching him from the bed.

He glanced at her, liking the way "Property of Brian" looked written across her body. He wondered if he could talk her into getting a tattoo to make his claim permanent. Climbing back onto the bed with her, he covered the ketchup with chains of small potato rounds. When he had them spread to his satisfaction, he lowered his head and licked one off her body.

"Yeah, hash browns are definitely boring," he said.

She grinned at him. "I think I like being your plate."

He chewed and swallowed his ketchup-coated hash brown. "You don't mind the mess?"

"I assume you're going to clean up after yourself."

"You have a lot of faith in my self-control."

She traced the angle of his jaw with her finger. "I do. I bet you can resist making love to me for at least ten minutes."

He licked another hash brown off her chest. "You have a lot more faith in me than I do." He plucked a hash brown from her chest and popped it in her mouth before slurping several more into his mouth. Ten minutes? He wished he was buried inside her right now. He fed her several hash browns in quick succession and made a pig of himself by eating as fast as he could. Eagerness had gotten the better of him.

She giggled as he licked the food off her belly. "I guess you are hungry."

"Starving!"

After they finished the hash browns, Brian lapped the remaining ketchup from her silky skin with broad strokes of his tongue. She shuddered beneath him and tugged at his hair.

"You're driving me crazy," she gasped, her head tossed back, her back arched.

Encouraged, his tongue moved to her breast, up her shoulder, along her neck to her ear.

He traced the outer edge of her ear with his tongue. She groaned, her fingers tangling in his hair. He settled his body on top of hers, cursing the inventor of clothes, and suckled her earlobe, nibbled it, sucked it again. Her thighs spread for him and he sank between her long, shapely legs. His mouth moved to the pulse point under her ear near her delicate jaw. She shuddered. He brushed his hands along her arms and shoulders, delighting in the feel of her soft breasts pressed against his chest and the heat of her sex permeating the fabric of his jeans.

He kissed his way along her jaw to her chin and finally her mouth. She sucked at his lips, her tongue eager against them. His cock throbbed. He leaned his hips away from hers slightly and unfastened his pants. The Beast, as she called it, sprang free, craving her moist heat. He knew he should take his time with her, work her into a frenzy, make her beg him to possess her, but he could only concentrate on the memory of how it felt to be buried inside her without a rubber.

He took his cock in his hand and probed the hot, moist entrance to heaven. She relaxed beneath him with a sigh. He looked into her eyes as he entered her—languidly filling her with one achingly slow thrust. Her back arched with pleasure, but she didn't look away. They stared at each other, relishing the connection between them. He slid in and out of her slowly, not wanting to find release, just wanting to experience her. To become a physical part of her. To feel her. To know her.

"Myrna," he whispered.

"Brian."

Yeah, Brian. Not Master Sinclair. Brian.

He had everything he wanted. He needed. Right here. This woman. He knew she wouldn't appreciate his sentimental thoughts. She didn't want to hear that he loved her, no matter how clearly he felt it. So he just stared into her eyes while their bodies came together, apart, together, and swallowed his words where they settled as a lump in his throat.