Blessed Tragedy(16)

Colton laughed but the way he tugged at his long blond hair told me he was on the verge of his own freak out. “Look, this is your deal. I've already said my peace, you know what I want. Of course, this kinda changes things, doesn't it?”

“Why would it change anything?”

“Oh, I don't know...maybe because the very thing you worried about is happening now and we're not even a f*cking couple. It's like I'm getting all of the bullshit that goes along with a relationship without the satisfaction.”

“What the hell does that mean?” I had a feeling I knew, but if Colton was going to throw shit around, he'd better be willing to say what he meant, not dance around it like a ballerina.

“Seriously, it doesn't matter who we hook up with. If it's anyone more than just a quick lay, there's always going to be some * taking pictures, twisting situations around to their benefit. Well, we have that right here. At least if we were in a relationship there'd be something other than sleeping going on in the bedroom.”

“Is that what this is about to you?” I was livid he was thinking about the sex he was missing out on.

“No, dammit. You know it's not.” Colton looked hurt. “You know I want the whole package. But let's be real, other than incredible sex, would anything really change between us if we were together that way?”

He was right. We had everything couples had. We really were the old married couple; we cared for one another, enjoyed each other's company, spent most of our time together, and slept in the same bed every night without anything happening. I shrugged because it was the only answer I could come up with.

“Okay, so why not end this silly ass game you're playing and say you'll give us a shot? Because you know I'm right, the sex would be epic. Mind blowing. We'll make the crew on the other bus blush.” I laughed at Colton wiggling his eyebrows and shook my head.

“You really think pretty highly of yourself, don't you?” I still hadn't answered him, mostly because it felt like the words didn't need to be said at that point. He was right, we'd been living as a couple and there was no way to shut up the gossip rags, especially when they were essentially telling the truth. The funny thing was they had no clue they were reporting accurate information for once in their miserable existence.

“I do. And you know I'm right.” Colton moved to my side of the table and wrapped his arms around me. “So, does that mean you're done fighting me about this?”

“You know, you really make me sound like a bitch when you put it that way.”

“No, I'm pretty sure you're the one who called yourself a psycho bitch after the last time I brought up the subject. I'm just asking if you're conceding.”

I rolled my eyes at him. “No, I'm not conceding. That makes it sounds like I'm defeated, and that somehow seems the opposite of how you should feel going into a new relationship.”

Colton practically jumped out of the bench seating pulling me with him. The next thing I knew, he was spinning me around in the aisle and his lips were crushing mine repeatedly. “Thank you,” he said without pulling his lips from mine.

The way we stood there with our faces smashed together, you'd think a tube of super glue was involved. “Jon's gonna be pissed,” I said. “He stopped me in the hall and told me about the article.”

“He'll be fine,” Colton assured me. “If anything, he'll be happy to hear I finally pulled the trigger.”

Jon's comment about Colton falling in love with me the first night he saw me echoed in my head and I laughed. “Yeah, but we'll never be able to fight. Shit, you should have seen the artery in his neck throbbing over this crap. If we ever actually have problems, I'm pretty sure his carotid will rupture.”

“Yeah right, you and me never fighting. Maybe we'd better just find a new drummer now,” Colton laughed as I ducked under his arm. I needed to grab my outfit and get inside to get ready since we had a special event where fans were invited to hang out in our lounge before the show.

I reached into the closet trying to find the top I wanted to wear tonight, the one that would be certain to drive Colton crazy from the moment he saw me until he could tear it off in this very room. Now that we'd agreed to take the next step, I was trying to think of little things I could do to mess with his mind in front of thousands of fans. Nothing lewd that would cause him to make major mistakes, but I fully intended on having fun with this.

My mind was so absorbed in plotting that I didn't hear Colton walk into the room. Just as I reached for the hanger, I was lifted off my feet and tossed onto the bed.

“You have no clue how long I've waited to do this,” Colton said, his voice husky and low. He lowered himself on top of me, his eyes burning with desire. Just as I opened my mouth to protest, his lips brushed against mine so gently it made my body ache for more.

The citrus undertones of his cologne combined with worn leather and Colton's body was not a new scent to me but never before had it filled my senses lighting a fire deep within my body. My lips parted, giving his tongue access to push deep within my mouth. I'd never been a fan of the black licorice Colton was addicted to, but when the flavor was invading my mouth, delivered by his tongue; it became one of my favorite things in the world. That boy can kiss.

I pulled the leather tie out of Colton's hair, needing to weave my fingers through the blond locks pulling him closer to me. My hips bucked, no longer caring what we were supposed to be doing. I wanted him. I needed him. And I'd put up with Jon's wrath if it meant quenching that need right now.

Just as quickly as he had overtaken me, he stood to leave the room. “Time to put on a show, my little cloud.” I sat there trying to catch my breath, pressing my thighs together to ease the pulsing ache that threatened to buckle my knees if I stood.



I had completely caved to Colton. At one time, that would have pissed me off. I'd spent years doing exactly what I wanted to do without regard for what anyone else thought. Maybe it still would have upset me if not for the fact that Colton was right, it changed nothing other than the fact that we didn't have to go to sleep as soon as we went to bed. And if that kiss was a hint of what was to come when we did slide between the sheets, he was also right when he said the sex would be epic.

It quickly became apparent that it was also going to take longer to get ready for shows. Shortly after I made my way to my dressing room, there was a knock on the door and Colton let himself in. Apparently, boyfriends don't need to wait to be given permission and he only knocked to warn me that the door was going to open.

Even that didn't upset me. I tried not to laugh while I sat in front of the mirror carefully applying my makeup. Colton set down his bag next to mine and started doing his hair standing behind me.

“Don't put on your lipstick yet,” Colton said as he finished applying his eyeliner. They might call it guy liner, but seriously, there is no 'guy liner' display at the store. It's eyeliner. I was slightly jealous of how effortless it was for him to line his eyes while I struggled to keep my hands from shaking when I did mine.

“No lipstick, huh?” I raised an eyebrow towards the mirror.

“Nope.”

“And why would that be?”

“Because I don't need to go on stage with fire engine red lips and I plan on kissing the hell out of you once we're ready for the show.” He threw his arms over my shoulders, trailing kisses along the side of my neck. “Is that okay with you?”

I purposely ignored his question as I reached for the curling iron. He might have won but I wasn't going to let any part of this victory come easy. I shrugged. “If you must,” I said trying to hide any trace of excitement in my voice.

It's a good thing I didn't have the curling iron in my hands when I said that because Colton spun me around in the chair and leaned over me. “Oh, I must. But now I'm not sure I can wait.”

Colton pulled me to my feet pressing his body into mine. The kiss was heated and desperate, his tongue begging entrance to my mouth. Once my lips parted, the urgency of the kiss receded as he casually moved his tongue around mine as if trying to learn the shape and feel of my mouth. A Disney movie princess once proclaimed she wanted her first kiss to be a foot-popper. At the time, I laughed at the cheesy script; I wasn't laughing as I lifted my foot off the ground. When any kiss is as good as the one Colton gave me, it's nearly impossible to retain control of your body.

“And you expect me to go on stage after that?” I asked breathlessly. There were a lot of things I wanted to do and none of them included sixty-five hundred of our closest friends.

It didn't seem possible, but Colton's smile grew even wider. “Rule number one: always leave her wanting more.” He laughed as I glared at him.

“And which manual is that out of?”

“The Bradford Guide to Women,” he deadpanned. “You may not have heard of it, it had a very limited release.”