Chapter Six, Play
Posted by DiF on Saturday, August 13, 2011
Title: Midnight Shift: Chapter Six, Play
Rating: NC-17 [language, alcohol and drug use, and sex]
Summary: With love confessions muttered, how does their relationship change?
Never before had those words meant so very much to him. People had said them to him before, even meant them, but they had not stirred the depths of his soul like Summer muttering them did. Hell even when his wife said it, it did not mean a fraction of what it did coming from Summer’s soft lips. No words could aptly frame her confession to him in the language of his heart and soul. And he wasn’t certain how to duly express that to her. Rather than mutter something inadequate, his arms circled her and he kissed her gently.
Slowly Summer laid back in bed, bringing Robert down with her. Their kisses did not deepen and his hands did not stray to incite pleasureful fires in her body. Instead Robert shifted so that he lay beside her, breaking the kiss to rest his head upon her chest. With his ear pressed to her heart, he sighed, his fingers reaching to intertwine with hers. As they laid there, saying nothing, Robert knew this was true and right. Summer was unlike anyone he had ever known. He really didn’t give a fuck about her age nor the fact they hadn’t known each other long. When it was right, it was right. And oh how it was right.
“Robert?” she asked softly, her fingers lazily playing with his crunchy curls.
“Mmmmhmmmm?”
“Does this change us?”
“Well... I guess. Saying I love you and meaning it always changes things,” he answered, pivoting up to kiss her throat. “But not in a bad way.”
“Have you said it before?”
“Well.... yeah,” Robert answered. “But I’ve never meant it as much as I do right now.”
“I haven’t. Really to anyone. I don’t think I’ve even said it to my parents,” she claimed.
“Why not?”
She shrugged slightly, “I don’t know. Don’t really have that kind of relationship with them. Hell I don’t even know if Jerry is really my father.”
Robert smirked, “You really do live on a commune?”
“Yeahhhh,” she responded. “I know. It’s weird.”
“No no. I think it’s... adorable isn’t quite the word I’m looking for. Admirable is certainly closer,” he proclaimed. “Tell me about your life.”
“Um... my parents met in Greenwich Village, or so that’s what I’ve been told. He was with someone else and I think the whole reason my mom was in New York is another man. But eventually she convinced Jerry to return to California with her. And I was born less than six months later,” Summer stated. “I don’t really know what to tell you. I’ve lived on the farm ever since I was born. We grow all our own food, make most everything else we need. There’s a few with jobs outside of the farm. It’s not like we’re completely sequestered. I mean, after all I do have all your records and that would be pretty difficult without ever leaving the farm.”
“So you’re a vegetarian? I could have sworn you’ve been eating meat...”
“No one is a strict vegetarian there. We have a few milk cows and a whole flock of chickens. And the lake and nearby river have lots of fish,” she explained. “I’ve just never eaten cow or pig or anything else.”
“What about schooling?”
Summer’s fingers played with his hair for a silent moment, “There’s a few teachers amongst the families. We don’t attend a structured school or anything, but we all learn the basics at a young age. And then the rest of our education is more or less up to us. Kids get paired with adults according to their interests. Kinda like an apprenticeship, I guess.”
“Who did you get paired with?”
“Well at first they couldn’t get me to leave my mother. So I did everything she did. Which meant I helped grow flowers, weave cloth, and bake breads. I was never any good at weaving though. After I got bored of that, I learned painting and jewelry making from Jerry and it was all right. I picked up animal husbandry from Evan, who I think is really my father but no one will confirm that, as well as some mediocre carpentry skills. But then finally I clicked with Liv and she taught me poetry and literature and music. We went through a couple of different instruments before Jerry handed over his guitar to me. And that was it,” she claimed. “So for the past year I’ve been reading lots of books and poems while learning the guitar and playing anything on my record player I could get my hands on.”
He captured the hand playing with his hair and pulled it down to his mouth, kissing her palm before releasing it again, “What about housing? Do you live in tents or teepees?”
Summer laughed, “We don’t. There’s a few clustered buildings on the farm. About three families live in each one. I shared a bedroom with five other girls, one of whom is my sister. Across the hall the boys sleep. And the adults share rooms too. This having a room with just you is weird to me, even less a house.”
“How many siblings do you have?”
“A younger sister named June. And two older brothers,” she answered, yawning. “Forest and Talan.”
“Oh, Summer, I have a million things I want to ask you!” he exclaimed. “But you’re tired and it is late.”
“Mmmm, someday I could take you there, Robert,” she offered. “Then you can see for yourself.”
“Really?”
“If you want,” Summer nodded.
“Oh yes definitely.”
“Then we’ll go,” she yawned again.
Robert stretched up and kissed her, “I love you, Summer. Sleep well, my princess.”
Laying on his side, Robert watched the princess sleeping beside him. He tucked his stiff hair behind his ears, wondering how it was that he was so lucky to have her in his life. She was sweet, sexy, sensitive, and oh so many other superlatives. There was simply not a single thing wrong with her. She was perfect. From the way her nose crinkled when she was thinking something over to the way her lips twitched in her sleep, everything about her intoxicated him, but on a far deeper level than he ever thought possible. Something about her completed him. Something about the sparkle in her sapphire eyes and skip in her step lit his entire soul. Oh how had he gotten so lucky to find this precious gem standing in the vacant hallway that night?
The sun filtering through the curtains cast warm shadows across Summer’s body. Able to gaze at her in peace, Robert let his eyes wander her frame. His gaze started at her toes, focusing on her small feet for a few moments. Her toes were long and slender, her toenails short but perfectly rounded. He wondered how long she spent filing her nails, could not really imagine her slipping into a salon ever for a pedicure. Part of him wanted to slip to the bottom of the bed, look at how dirty her feet were. While he had suggested the sandals at the store the day before, Robert would never deny feeling grateful that Bonzo had stolen them almost immediately. His hippie princess should never wear shoes.
As his eyes shifted up to her legs, she shifted in bed, rolling towards him. For a moment his breath caught, thinking she would wake and stop his investigation. But her eyes remained closed, her face completely relaxed. Gaze returning to her legs, he smiled upon noticing a thin white scar marking the front of her right shin. Instantly he conjured images of her running freely in the forest, perhaps accidentally tripping on a branch she should have jumped over. When she rolled onto her side, the shirt she wore revealed her milky thighs all the way to her belly. Her legs were slightly crossed, concealing her hairless flower from his sight, but that was likely for the best as he didn’t want to be overcome with desire and rouse her. His eyes however settled on another scar, this one marking the pink flesh of her left hip. Concern wrinkled his brow as he stared at the scar. It was darker than the one on her shin, almost appeared to be a knife scar. Why would his baby have a knife scar? Who would do such a thing to her?
Forcing himself to not stare at her hip any longer or else become angry with someone he could not know, Robert continued his visual journey up her body. His eyes grazed over her flat abdomen, her right hand limply draping across it. Focusing her her small hand, he smiled. As expected her nails were unvarnished, cut short. Dirt did not cling under the white crescent moons, but that he accounted more for the fact she hadn’t been working the farm for at least a few days. Instantly he pictured her squatting in a vegetable garden, frowning as she pulled carrots out of the ground. He nearly reached up to brush the imagined dirt from her brow for her, before realizing he was just snagged by a daydream. With a silent smirk to himself, Robert returned to her belly, staring at her navel for a few moments, before moving up. His tee shirt covered her budding breasts which made him frown. While he could perfectly make out her small mounds, he ached to look at her rosy nipples. Groaning softly he realized his thoughts had turned sexual and forced himself to look away from her gentle breasts.
With Summer turned towards him, the sun warming her face from behind him, Robert was afforded the opportunity to gaze at her visage at will. Her chin was small and rounded, perfectly smooth; her cheekbones high, the hint of dimples as her lips twitched in dreams. While not thin, her cupid bowed lips certainly did not look bee stung either, just perfectly kissable, their rosy hue temping him. Her nose was slightly pointed, with an elegant sweep towards her forehead. Her eyebrows were not the perfectly sculptured, feather-thin brows of the LA Queens, but naturally shaped. He found it peculiar they were the deep color of chestnut, especially as a warm golden curl fell across her face. Without the hint of any other body hair to compare, Robert wondered if she really was a blond. But did it even matter? She was beautiful no matter.
Having spent at least twenty minutes admiring her, Robert could contain himself no more. With little thought, he shifted closer to her, brushed the errant strand of hair from her face, and kissed her cupid lips gently. Her mouth moved under his, curving into a soft smile. The hand hanging limply across her body rose, resting upon his hip. Her lips parted, her warm tongue teasing his.
Kissing her for a few moments, Robert felt his passion awaken and pulled away, muttering softly, “Good morning, princess.”
She grinned, her eyes remaining closed, “Good afternoon, my prince.”
He kissed her quickly once more, “Did you sleep well?”
“Mmmmhmmmm. You?”
“Surprisingly so.”
“Oh?” her eyes fluttered open at that.
“With a goddess like you beside me, it is a wonder I can sleep at all.”
Summer chuckled, “I am so certain that is the case.”
His hand ran down her side, resting on her hip, “It’s true.”
“Of course. Have you been awake long?”
“Long enough to know how beautiful you are.”
She flushed at that, rolling onto her back and away from him, “Hardly.”
“Absolutely true,” he proclaimed, moving down to kiss her navel. “May I ask you something?”
“Sure.”
His hand ran over her hairless mound, “Are you hairless because—”
“I wax,” she interrupted.
“At such a young age?”
“The earlier you start, the less you have to do it,” she explained. “Why? Do you not like it?”
His palm cupped her mound, his middle finger gently slipping between her petals to find her bud, “I love everything about you.”
Summer’s eyes went to his, “I don’t.. I don’t know if I’m ready for you.”
He kissed her, his finger lightly tracing around the swelling bud, “I would be content to merely please you, princess.”
She groaned softly, her thighs falling open, “Robert, please...”
Withdrawing his hand, Robert pushed up. Seated beside her, his hands slipped under her, easing her up into a seated position as well. His hand slipped behind her head, his fingers weaving in her long tresses as he pulled her in to a kiss. Deeply kissing her for a few moments, his hand released its hold on her head and moved down to the hem of her shirt. Pulling out of the kiss, Robert quickly pulled it off. Finally able to look at her perky breasts, Robert leaned back, letting the afternoon sun warm her skin. Her small breasts were perfect, not that he had found a flaw in her yet. Quarter-sized rosy areolas begged to be licked, swirling to her tiny, swelling nipples. Not one to ignore such a silent command, Robert leaned forward, his tongue darting out to trace the circle around her nipple.
Her hand went to his head, her fingers weaving in his thick hair. Soft moans left her lips as she clung to him in order to not collapse backwards. Reading the signs, his arms slipped around her back as he switched to the other breast. Feeling her fingers tighten in his hair, Robert smiled and pulled his mouth away from her flesh. Eyes meeting hers, he gently laid her back down and kissed her again. His lips left hers and made a serpentine path down to her navel, slipping between her already ravished breasts. Tongue swirling around her belly button, his hand slid between her thighs. Cupping her sex for a long moment, he gently squeezed, applying soft pressure to her swelling body. His finger dipped between her petals again, but avoided her love bud. Instead he dipped into her dewy heat, tracing spirals inside the young girl.
“Oh, god,” she groaned, her hips arching instinctively.
With a smile, he left her navel, his lips kissing her mound. As Robert slid a second finger into her taut body, his tongue wiggled between her petals. This time he lavished attention on her bud, his tongue circling around it slowly as he continued to press his fingers into her. As her throaty moans begged for more, his lips fastened about her bud and sucked gently, a third finger sliding into her with the next thrust. He ached to remove his hand and unite with her, but the time hadn’t yet come. Not until she did.
“Oh god. Oh god. Robert. Oh god,” she muttered, her body beginning to tense.
Sucking with a bit more force, he felt her body suddenly suck his fingers into her, holding them tightly. His lips moved away from the pulsating bud and slowly he pulled his hand away from her sex. Lapping her honey for a few moments until her honey pot no longer oozed, Robert finally ventured to look up at her face.
“Oh baby,” she breathed, meeting his amorous eyes. “Let me... I need... oh god, I need you way down inside of me.”
He smiled crookedly at her words and moved up her body, meeting her eyes, “Are you sure you’re ready?”
“Oh yes.”
She had barely finished her short word before he was shaking his nightclothes off. Nestling himself above her once more, Robert kissed her mouth deeply, his hands stroking her body again. Soon she was purring and mewling under his touch, reacting to his wandering mouth as he suckled on her soft skin. His hand left her breast, moving to wrap around his cock. Eyes meeting hers, he rubbed the tip of his love into her petals, tracing around her bud. Her eyes rolled into the back of her head before closing, a moan passing her lips again.
“Are you sure?” he asked huskily, poised to press into her.
“Oh yes, please. Please, Robert.”
Both groaned as his slid slowly into her, stretching her body once more. His hand left his cock as it disappeared into her body, moving to cup her hips. Pushing in as deeply as possible, Robert remained motionless, allowing her to adjust to the invasion once more. His eyes remained on hers, looking for any sign of discomfort. All he saw was passion and.... and love. Leaning down he kissed her once more as he withdrew. Her hips instantly moved up, trying to keep him from pulling away.
Keeping the pace slow, Robert worked her to the precipice, his hands wandering her body, his lips nipping her skin. And then abruptly stopped. Her eyes opened, confusion filling her sapphire eyes. Smirking he kissed her mouth, keeping their bodies connected but unmoving.
“Roooobbbbberttt,” she moaned. “Please.”
“Look at me. I want to see your eyes went you cum,” he declared.
Summer nodded, keeping her eyes open. He slowly withdrew from her body, allowing his cock to pop out. Both instantly felt incomplete, as if a part of themselves had been severed. Rubbing his cock along her slippery crack a few times, he smiled as she moaned and called out his name. Her hands moved between them, her fingers circling his cock. Stopping what he was doing, though he was so close to returning to her heat and bringing them to the edge, Robert watched her actions. Her fingers danced over his glistening shaft a few times, squeezing the base to keep him from cumming right then. Summer guided him back to her entrance, released her grip, wrapped her legs around his waist, and pulled him quickly into her body. Robert pulled partially out and slammed back in. With a guttural groan, both shivered in ecstasy, their bodies pulsing in unison.
Remaining within her as he kissed her mouth hungrily, Robert regretfully pulled out of her body and rolled to her side. It surprised him little that he remained aroused. All she would need to do is kiss him, touch him, and he would be completely ready to go again. But only if she was. He did not wish to hurt her again.
Her eyes looked over his glistening body, stopping on his mostly turgid erection, “Robert, didn’t you....?”
He smiled, “I did.”
“But you’re still...”
“Baby, with you I could ball all day,” Robert declared.
She looked into his eyes, “Well let’s go take the shower we should have taken before sleeping and see what the day has in store for us.”
Not that she had doubted his words before their shower, but Summer certainly would not be able to ‘ball all day.’ Not because of lack of desire or even because she was sore, for she wasn’t any more. But it had everything to do with the fact she was starving and there was nothing to eat in the bungalow. Oh they were well stocked with all kinds of liquid refreshment, but whomever was in charge of the arrangements clearly had not expected Robert to remain there to eat. Which meant they could not stay sequestered in the small beach house and play naked games. Summer’s growling stomach was not about to allow it.
While waiting for the car to come and take them away, Robert tried to initiate sex once again. Not about to be pulling down her jeans when they hadn’t much time at all, all of his flirtations were instantly rebuked. Her explanation did little to dissuade him, especially since he countered with ‘the car will wait.’ She was nearly about to give into oral sex when a knock sounded at the door. Triumph filled her eyes as she followed him to answer the door. The driver smiled, asking if they were ready. Before Robert answered, the young girl was skipping down the walkway towards the car. It was only three in the afternoon; it was going to be a long day.
“Summer?” Robert asked
She turned towards him as she plaited her hair from her face in two braids. For a few long moments, he merely stared into her eyes, letting her finish her task. She reached for his hand, wrapping his fingers around her braid while she pulled her bag into her lap and dug through it. Tying of the braid with a thin piece leather, her fingers plucked his from that braid, lifting his hand to her mouth and kissing it before moving to tie off the other braid. Only then did she shift in the seat, sitting Indian-style, to face him.
“What’s up?”
He grinned at her, “You are bloody adorable, you know that, right?”
“No.”
His grin instantly disappeared, “That’s the second time you’ve responded like that.”
“Oh, sorry.”
“No no. Why don’t you believe you’re adorable?”
“There’s plenty of girls prettier than me,” she declared, keeping his gaze.
“Bollocks,” Robert declared. “You’re ten times prettier, sexier, better than the other girls.”
“Uh huh.”
“You are. And you know why?”
She shook her head.
“Because you’re you. You’re not trying to be anyone else. You’re just naturally you.”
“That doesn’t make me any prettier than anyone else.”
“Yes it does. It makes you loads prettier than anyone else,” Robert proclaimed. “I never question anything about you. What you say, how you look at me, what you do. There’s nothing fake about you.”
“Except my hair.”
He stared at her, blinking. Her words seemed completely foreign to him, though did answer his unspoken question from earlier that day. Was she really not blond?
“Huh?” he finally managed to mutter.
Summer smiled crookedly, “I’m not a beautiful blond like you, Robert.”
“Your hair is colored?”
“Eh... kinda, but not really. Just a lemon juice rinse before going outside to do work,” she explained.
“Oh.”
“It wasn’t supposed to lighten it. I was just trying to get paint out of my hair,” Summer explained. “And then it turned this gold color. Took me over a week to get used to it.”
Robert smirked, “See, even that is endearing. It wasn’t like you set out to bleach your hair to get my attention or anything. It’s just something that naturally happened.”
“True. But I still don’t think I’m anything special,” she countered.
His eyes flicked to the window, noticing they were nearing the hotel. He motioned for her to move into his lap. Confused she climbed over into his lap, straddling him so she faced him. His hand went to her chin, turning her face to look out the window. He leaned forward, brushed her braid out of the way, and kissed her ear.
“See all those girls? Do you think any one of them looks like that when they get up in the morning? Do you think any of them would be seen without their five inch platforms on? Do you think any of them are really going by their real names?” he spoke softly, pointing at all of the squealing girls lining the sidewalk. “Do you think there’s anythingreal about them?”
“Well of course there is. They aren’t completely plastic.”
“But they’re fake. I’m so tired of being surrounded by fake people, Summer. And then you walked into my life and were like a breath of fresh air. With you around I can breathe again. You make all of this worth it,” he proclaimed, kissing her again.
She closed her eyes, letting his breath dance on her skin for a moment, “All I know is that what I feel for you is real. And if that makes your life better, I... I...”
“I love you,” he turned her face back to his and kissed her gently.
Summer flushed, “I love you too.”
As Robert attempted to deepen the kiss, Summer pulled back with a giggle. Her finger went to his lips and she shook her head. He instantly pouted. Rolling her eyes, Summer reached for the door handle and pushed the door open. Pivoting out of his lap, she exited the car, before turning to grab her bag before he could even move. With a quick kiss to his lips, Summer turned and headed towards the hotel without him. She glanced over her shoulder when the car door closed, smiling as he trotted to catch up with her. His arm circled her waist, stopping her from reaching for the door. Without pause at all, Robert spun her towards him and kissed her, much to the chagrin of the squealing fans. This time she allowed him to deepen the kiss briefly, before wiggling away to enter the hotel.
“I’m hungry, Robert,” she declared, ducking into the hotel.
“So am I, baby,” he responded huskily, his hands going to her hips, pulling her back to his chest as he kissed her throat.
“Yes well, you don’t get any until I’m fed,” Summer proclaimed, peeling his fingers off of her.
“Awwwww baaaaabyyy,” he whined, following her into the elevator with a grin on his face.
Reaching the rooftop terrace, Robert’s hand instantly folded over Summer’s, almost as if to protect her from being swept away and dropped in the pool again. He purposefully positioned himself between her and the doors that led out to the pool, ushering her to the large ballroom that had been converted into their mess hall. Finding that rather endearing, Summer stopped before he turned to head into the mess hall. Pressing up onto her toes, she kissed his confused mouth sweetly, pulled her hand free, and skipped into the room.
Just as Robert entered the ballroom, Bonzo ran towards Summer. He skid to a stop a couple of feet from her, suddenly cautioned by the previous night’s activities. The girl quickly opened her arms, pushing her bag to her back. Grinning Bonzo completed the last couple of steps and embraced her, spinning her around until she giggled. Setting her down, his hands remained about her waist, making certain she could stand on her own.
“We okay?” he asked.
“Of course,” Summer smiled and kissed his cheek. “And guess what?”
“What?”
She stepped out of his arms, “You’re IT!”
With a quick spin, Summer took off. A moment later Bonzo was in quick pursuit, a happy grin on his face. The young girl weaved in and out of tables and people standing around with drinks or plates of food. At first Robert was concerned, but when she lead Bonzo pass him, he did not stop the drummer. It seemed fairly innocent and he would let the two be for the moment and focus instead on trying to figure out what on the table spread Summer would eat.
While Robert was chatting with roadies while filling up a plate, Summer ran around and around the ballroom. No one reached out to stop Bonzo nor the girl, more because they were afraid of Bonzo than anything. A few did remember the activities from the night before and warily stood in front of the door, hoping to dissuade the two from venturing out near the pool. Neither of the two actually knew what would happen if the drummer caught the girl. Presumably it would flip and she would chase him, but neither really expected that to actually happen. Besides the girl was half the size of Bonzo and could quickly re-tag him.
Apparently tired of the chase, Summer jumped over a chair and ducked behind the band’s bassist. Bonzo stopped in front of the chair, huffing and staring the girl down. With a grin, she peeked over John Paul’s shoulder, her hands resting comfortably on each shoulder.
“Hi,” Summer chirped.
“Uh, hello,” John Paul pivoted a bit to glance at her. “Should I get out of the way?”
“No, please don’t. I think I’m rather done playing with Bonzo for the now. I did come up here to eat, not get hungrier,” she commented.
He looked at the drummer who was still staring down the young girl as if she were his prey, “Hey, Bonzo, why don’t you give it a rest and let Summer eat?”
The drummer’s eyes flicked from the bassist to the girl and back again. Slowly he relaxed, laughed loudly, and nodded. Winking at Summer, Bonzo turned away to find some more mischief to cause. Hugging John Paul from behind, Summer thanked him softly. Glancing at Robert and noticing he was engrossed in some animated conversation with a man she didn’t recognize, Summer frowned.
“Hey, Jonesy?” she stepped around him.
“Yeah?”
She glanced at the chair he had been about to sit in, “Can I join you? Robert seems kinda busy and I don’t know anyone here.”
“Sure,” he smiled.
“Fabulous! I’ll be right back,” Summer flashed him a grin before skipping over to the food tables.
Not recognizing half of the items on the tables but feeling awkward about asking those around her what they were, Summer hesitated. Part of her just wanted to dish up what she did know, though really the vegetables and fruits had probably seen much better days. But as she was apparently staying with Robert indefinitely, she might as well get used to the kinds of foods he ate. Biting the inside of her cheek, she mimicked what others did, though she did scoop up some of the tired looking fruits and vegetables as well. Accepting a cup at the end of the table, she made her way over to the bartender who quickly demanded what she wanted. Once more feeling out of place, she requested water, watched him carefully, and thanked the man before turning to head back to join John Paul. Her eyes glanced at Robert, noting he was still deep in conversation, so her destination remained the same.
Sitting down beside the bassist, she realized she hadn’t grabbed any flatware. With a crooked smile she jumped up, skipped back over to the line, and ducked in to grab flatware and napkins. Plopping back down in the chair next to John Paul a moment later, she pulled her bag off and dug through it. He watched as she pulled out a small plastic oval and popped it open. Nodding slightly with understanding, John Paul looked away as she swallowed the tiny birth control pill and dropped the case back into her bag before dropping the bag on the floor as well.
Her eyes dropped to the plate and confusion once more filled her. She had taken the chance to pick up what everyone else was, but she hadn’t a clue how she was supposed to eat most everything. Her gaze flicked to John Paul’s plate which did contain some of the items she had picked up, but he was currently chewing on a piece of bread. Looking back down at her plate, Summer quickly decided the pink shrimp would be a safe bet. She had never eaten shrimp before, after all it wasn’t like they raised shrimp on the farm, but loads of people liked it so it couldn’t be all that bad. Picking up a smaller one by it’s crunchy tail, she popped the entire crustacean in her mouth. Chewing slowly she found the taste rather pleasant, a hint of lemon perhaps, but the texture not so nice. The body of the shrimp was plump and popped nicely in her mouth, but the tail was an issue. It crunched and she was certain would cut the inside of her cheek if she didn’t chew very carefully.
Deciding the first one may have just been a bad shrimp, Summer picked up a second and plopped the entire thing in her mouth once more. Again it was the same experience. Reaching for her cup of water, she took a big gulp to wash the shrimp down. Maybe she wouldn’t eat the other four on her plate. It didn’t taste good enough to repeat that performance a third time. Glancing over at John Paul she froze, noticing he had frozen mid-chew staring at her. Oh god, what had she done?
Summer leaned closer and whispered, “Did I do something wrong?”
He swallowed whatever was in his mouth and replied softly, “You’re not supposed to eat the tail, Summer.”
A deep flush instantly filled her cheeks, “You’re not?”
John Paul held her eyes, remaining silent for a moment before saying, “You’ve never had shrimp before.”
“No,” she confirmed. “I don’t even know what half of the things on my plate are.”
He glanced down at her array of food items. Dips and sauces ran into pastas, cooked legumes, and fried fish. Nothing really seemed to go together, just mashed onto the plate. His eyes went back to hers and he nodded in understanding, remembering that Robert had mentioned she was from San Francisco.
“You wait here. I’ll be right back,” John Paul declared and stood.
As he swept away her plate, she hadn’t really anything to do while she waited. Her eyes cast about the room while her fingers fiddle with the hem of her crocheted halter top. She watched as Bonzo blustered to Peter Grant about something, her lips curving into a smile at his erratic hand gestures. Turning from him, her eyes focused on Jimmy as he entered the ballroom. He instantly looked at her, their eyes locking. Unable to look away for a long moment, Summer swallowed forcibly before he blinked and continued into the room. Eye contact broken with Jimmy, she looked to Robert. Finally he looked her direction, his words falling silent on his tongue. He muttered a quick excuse and took a few steps towards the young girl. Stopping he turned and picked up a plate from the nearby table before heading back to her.
Both Robert and John Paul reached the table at about the same time, setting their plates in front of her. Looking at both plates, Summer burst out in giggles. They contained nearly the exact same things, though Robert’s plate had strawberries while John Paul’s had grapes.
“Thank you, boys,” she grinned, motioning to the chairs beside her. “Won’t you join me?”
Sitting on either side of her, the men looked at each other for a moment. For perhaps the first time since being introduced to the band, she didn’t feel an jealous tension when sitting between Robert and another of his band mates. As she didn’t know much about John Paul, since he didn’t seem to hang around with everyone pre- or post-concert, she didn’t fully understand why Robert didn’t feel a threat from the bassist. Or maybe the bassist did disappear was precisely why jealousy wasn’t clouding Robert’s aura. She would have to ask another time.
Robert’s eyes dropped to the plate John Paul had brought for Summer, “Seems we both have the same ideas.”
“Ah well,” he looked at the singer, “Summer needed a little help.”
“Oh just admit it, Jonesy,” she stated, “I needed a lot of help.”
“Why?” Robert asked.
“Did you know you’re not supposed to eat the tails of shrimp?” Summer responded without missing a beat. “I didn’t. And the rest of my plate pretty much looked like slop one might feed a pig... if it weren’t a perniciously picky pig.”
A tense silence fell over the table before the young girl burst out laughing, which in turn encouraged the other two as well. For a few moments they laughed until Summer stopped and took a deep breath. Not missing a moment, she leaned over and kissed Robert’s cheek before turning her attention back to the two plates in front of her. She slid the one with grapes on it over to Robert, since he hadn’t a plate of his own, and split her pile of napkins with him as well.
“So I take it everything is okay with you and Bonzo now?” John Paul asked, his attention back to his food.
Summer watched Robert eat for a moment before replying, “Of course it is. There was never any doubt that it would be.”
“He nearly drowned you.”
“But he didn’t,” she mimicked Robert’s actions. “There was no way for him to know I couldn’t swim. I adore him too much to hold it against him. It wouldn’t do any good anyways.”
“And you’re okay with him, Percy?” he glanced around the girl at the singer.
“How can I not? If Summer holds no ill will against him, I cannot. I love her and trust her judgment.”
John Paul froze, “What did you say?”
“I trust her judgment.”
“No, before that.”
Robert grinned and looked away briefly before meeting the bassist’s eyes, “I love her.”
“No offense, Summer,” he glanced at the girl between them briefly, “but you’ve known her for what? Two days?”
“Three nights, four days,” Summer answered.
“I fell in love with her the moment I saw her,” Robert declared, his hand reaching over to cover Summer’s, squeezing it gently.
“Soooo,” John Paul stated awkwardly, “this means Bonzo is not in hot water, right?”
“Of course not. Bonzo is perfectly... Bonzo,” Robert claimed, looking across the room at the drummer. “I think he’s learned his lesson anyways.”
“Which is?”
“Don’t throw girls into pools you don’t know?” Summer offered.
Both men chuckled before Robert declared, “We’ve been trying to teach him that one since the first tour. Somehow I don’t think he’s gotten it quite yet.”
“Then what did he learn?”
“Oi! Bonzo!” Robert shouted, waving the drummer over.
He quickly bounded over, “Yeah, Percy?”
“What did you learn last night?”
“Before or after the pool thing?”
The singer blinked, “Well both.”
“Before: that your girlfriend has a really nice arse. After: that I shouldn’t throw girls into the pool I don’t know.”
With Robert in the hotel and the rest of the band refusing to give interviews, the singer took up residence into a suite with another reporter. Though he asked her to remain, Summer slipped out of the room not too long into the interview. She was pretty certain Robert hadn’t even noticed and to be honest, she was completely bored hearing the same stories she already knew. So venturing out into the hallway seemed a good distraction. The partying was minimal thus far, only a few lingering about drinking or other things. Doors to rooms were mostly closed, the inhabitants likely still sleeping off the partying from the night before. She knew she was nearing Bonzo’s room by the thundering music vibrating through the closed door. Part of her was curious what exactly the man would be doing behind closed doors with such loud music, but not enough to stop and ask.
Her fingers trailed along the walls as she weaved down the corridor. She didn’t really know where she would end up or if upon reaching the end of the hall she would just turn around and walk back. It didn’t really matter. If they hadn’t been at the hotel, she could have gone and sat in the sand and watched the waves. But no matter.
It wasn’t until her fingers bumped into the door frame of Jimmy’s room did she realize where she was. Quickly moving to the other side of the hall, Summer continued on her path. A few steps from Jimmy’s room, his door opened. Keeping her eyes forward, she didn’t even pause until she heard her name.
Turning her eyes met Jimmy’s intense eyes, “Hi.”
“Hi, sweetheart,” he smiled. “I’m lonely. Will you come and sit with me?”
“I’m sure Robert will be done with his interview soon. I should—”
“Just until he’s done of course,” Jimmy interrupted.
Nodding slightly, she agreed, “All right.”
Holding his hand out to her, the guitarist lead her into his room. Without even mentioning it, he left the door to the suite open, wordlessly putting Summer at ease. He left her seated on one of the couches as he headed over to a fridge and pulled it open. Returning to the couch with a glass of juice, Jimmy held it out to Summer before sitting next to her.
“I have a confession,” he declared softly.
She sipped the juice before her large blue eyes went to his, “What’s that?”
“I have never let anyone play my guitar before.”
“I... thank you, Jimmy. But why me?”
“I cannot quite explain it. But I am glad I took the chance. You play very well.”
Summer snorted, “Yeah, those two songs.”
“I”m sure you play everything well.”
“Nope. Just those two songs. And Three Blind Mice,” she proclaimed, before pivoting to set her glass down. “So don’t you embarrass me and ask me to play again, okay?”
Jimmy smiled crookedly, “Would you like to learn more?”
“Oh yes, definitely. Nothing makes me happier than music,” Summer declared, pulling her legs up underneath her.
“I could... I could maybe teach you,” he offered.
Her eyes widened. It was one thing to fall in love with Robert and be loved in return. It was completely a different kind of dream to be taught guitar by Jimmy. She was ever so certain he knew a million more things about the guitar than Liv. Was he serious?
“Oh, Jimmy, I.... I would love that,” she muttered, smiling.
He flashed her a quick grin, “I would love it too. Why.... we can start right now, if you’d like.”
“Oh yes.”
Getting up, Jimmy retrieved his acoustic from it’s stand in the corner. He strummed it softly as he headed back over to the couch. Tuning it quickly, he sat back down. Her eyes flitted from his down to the guitar and back up again. He smiled and nodded, his fingers plucking out a simple song, or at least one he thought simple. Her eyes widened as he leaned back and let the music take him away. There was no way in the world she would ever be able to play anything like that. Ever. He was amazing, she was.... so not.
Suddenly remembering there was a girl on the couch next to him, Jimmy finished his acoustic jamming. His eyes opened and looked directly at Summer. His slight euphoric smile instantly disappeared by the look of awe and despair on Summer’s face. He had gotten lost in the sensation of guitar strings and the music in his soul, completely abandoning her in that moment.
“Oh, Summer, I’m sorry,” he muttered softly and held out the guitar to her. “Play something for me that you’ve been working on.”
“I can’t... I can’t do this, Jimmy,” she declared, pushing his guitar back towards him and getting up. “I’m sorry.”
“No no no,” Jimmy jumped to his feet, leaving the guitar on the couch before hurrying to keep the girl from leaving. “I’m sorry. I am. Please don’t leave.”
She stopped in the doorway, turning to look at him, “Jimmy, you have more talent in your pinkie finger than I do in my entire body. I don’t deserve your attention at all.”
His hand reached for hers, gently tugging back towards the couch, “I saw the light in you when you played for us last night. You have the spark, Summer. Really.”
She twisted her hand free, “I don’t, Jimmy. I don’t.”
His dark eyes held hers, “Do you think I offer this kind of thing to just anyone?”
“I don’t know, Jimmy. I’ve only know you a few days.”
He held her gaze, saying nothing.
“Okay fine. So you don’t offer to teach every girl you meet how to play the guitar. That doesn’t mean anything except—”
“That I see potential in you more than I have in anyone else before? That I trust your musical instincts enough to even allow you to touch my guitar?” he interrupted.
“I’m just a girl.”
“No, sweetheart, you’re more than just a girl,” Jimmy declared. “I wouldn’t have offered to teach you if I thought you were just a girl. You’re certainly—”
“Jimmy? Have you se— oh, there you are, baby,” Robert interrupted. “We’ve got about an hour before we have to load up to head to the venue. Do you want to...”
The guitarist smirked, “Go take care of your flower child, Percy.”
He glanced around the suite quickly, eyes falling on the guitar, “Were you playing again, Summer?”
She turned to him, “Jimmy is going to teach me how to really play.”
“Oh?” jealousy quickly flashed in his eyes.
“Later,” she stressed. “Let’s go... find some place quiet and... private.”
His eyes lit up, “See you in a few, Jimmy.”
Laying with her head in Robert’s lap, Summer sighed happily. His fingers lazily played with her braids, wishing to unfasten them and watch her long hair shimmer down her back in waves. He chased one around her shoulders time and time again. She turned her head over, pulling the braid from his fingers. His eyes dropped down to hers and he smiled. Normally he would have hinted that if her head was going to be in his lap, her mouth might as well be doing something. But as Bonzo had played an even longer ‘Moby Dick’ than the night before, Robert felt sexually satiated still. There was something endearing and adorable about her in the very moment, not that he didn’t think she was adorable most of the time. He nearly wanted to knock on the glass separating them from the limo driver and instruct the man to go to the bungalow instead of the hotel. But he knew that his little angel had already adapted to the late nightlife of the band and didn’t want to subject the rest of the band to Bonzo without Summer’s presence.
It dawned on him in that very moment. Her presence had touched the entire band already. Bonzo was almost like he was when they first started playing together, back in clubs in England, before Led Zeppelin. Yes, he was boisterous and playful, but when Summer was around The Beast did not emerge. Perhaps there was something calming about her aura that he hadn’t immediately picked up. Even Jimmy and Jonesy seemed somehow different around Summer, not anything he could quite explain at all.
“Summer?” he muttered.
“Mmmmhmmm?”
“How do you do it?”
“Do what?” she rolled over on her back, eyes looking up into his.
Robert smiled down at her, “Light up a room with your very presence.”
“I have a flashlight in my back pocket.”
For a moment he looked at her before they both broke into laughter. She sat up as the laughter ended but the smiles remained. Glancing out the window she noticed they were near the hotel, ever glad to be in the caravan instead of transferring off a plane. Turning back to face Robert she tried to find a serious answer to his question. The more she thought on it, the less she could find an answer to it. She didn’t know why she did whatever he claimed she did. She certainly didn’t set out to enter every room and make everyone happy.
“I don’t know,” she finally declared. “It’s not something I’ve ever thought about or set out to do. It just... is, I guess.”
“I have to admit I’ve not seen Bonzo like this in... ages. He’s become quite the unstable one on the road. I think it’s because he hates to be away from his family for so long,” Robert declared softly. “But somehow... somehow you’ve managed to tame The Beast. And I don’t know how you do it.”
“I don’t do anything special,” Summer shrugged.
“Maybe it’s just who you are then,” he leaned forward and kissed her. “I know I haven’t felt so stable in all my life as I do when you’re around. You must just be magical.”
“Oh yes, that’s it. I forgot to tell you: I’m really an elf.”
Robert grinned, “I knew it.”
“That makes you my Aragorn.”
He blinked, “Really?”
“Of course, silly,” she kissed him quickly.
“That makes you my Evenstar.”
She inclined her head slightly in agreement.
Robert pulled her into his lap and kissed her happily once more, noticing the car had come to a halt, indicating they arrived at the hotel. For a long moment he paid little attention to that fact, preferring to bestow his attention and care upon the kiss he shared with Summer. But eventually she wiggled out of his lap and scooted over to the door. The night was young. They had many hours to fill.
Stopping at Bonzo’s room first, Robert leaned on the wall. The drummer’s special red camper, which replaced his limo since Bonzo was not responding to the doctor’s treatment for his rather unpredictable stomach issues, had been the last in the caravan from Long Beach. Summer had yet to explain to him why they needed to see Bonzo first, leaving Robert wondering. Had the young girl not wrapped her arms around his neck and playfully kissed him, Robert may have been unable to think of anything else. Instead his thoughts circled around the tongue in his mouth. His so called satiation was now long gone and oh how he wanted to carry her off through one of the roadies’ open doors. No one would stop him. No one but—
“SUMMER!” Bonzo exclaimed, quickly pulling her out of Robert’s arms and spinning her about.
She giggled loudly, her hands reaching for Robert when the rotation reached him. Thrice Bonzo spun before releasing the young girl into the singer’s arms. His embrace held her tight until her equilibrium returned. Kissing him quickly, Summer wiggled out of his arms and skipped into Bonzo’s now open room. Plopping down on his bed, Summer dug out a small leather pouch. Instantly recognizing it, Robert sat beside her. He accepted a bottle of beer from the drummer who sat on Summer’s other side. Her fingers eagerly accepted his pipe and she deftly filled it.
“Here,” she handed it to Bonzo, before turning to stow her pouch. “You get first hit.”
“Oh no, pretty girl. It’s your st—”
“Take it, Bonzo,” Robert declared. “This is not an argument you will win.”
Shrugging the drummer did just that before passing it along. All three smoked thrice before the pipe was set down. With a giggle the blond girl laid back. A moment later both men laid down as well. They turned on their sides to face her, causing Summer to giggle uncontrollably.
Bonzo tugged on one of her braids, “Where’d you get this stuff?”
“It’s my birthday present,” she proclaimed.
His eyes widened, “IT’S YOUR BIRTHDAY!?”
“Not yet,” Robert spoke up, his fingers lightly caressing down the edge of her halter top. “You’ve not missed jumping out of a cake yet.”
Summer gasped, “You’ll jump out of a cake for me?”
“Or into one. Depends on how wasted he is.”
“Hey!” Bonzo exclaimed. “Whoa. Your eyes are amazing, pretty girl.”
“Mmmmmhmmm,” she nodded, closing her eyes as Robert’s hand slipped under the crocheted fabric of her top.
“Hey, Bonzo,” Robert looked up to the drummer, “do you think maybe we could get some time alone?”
“Uh, s—”
“He can stay,” Summer interrupted, eyes opening and glancing between both men.
Robert looked down at her, his hand stationary on her breast, “Uh, I’m not sure I’m comfortable with that.”
“You’ve never made love with Bonzo around?”
“No. I’ve fucked with him around, but you and I don’t fuck,” he proclaimed.
“You don’t?” Bonzo spoke up.
“No,” he looked to his best friend. “We make love.”
Bonzo grinned, “I can totally go find something to do.”
“You don’t have to,” Summer claimed again, her hand reaching over to cup Robert’s groin. “An audience doesn’t bother me, especially when I’m stoned.”
Bonzo laughed heartily, “If you’re okay with it, I—”
“Go,” Robert instructed, eyes flicking up to his friend as Summer unzipped his tight pants.
“Going, going,” the drummer got up and bounded to the door. “Don’t let him cum until you do, pretty girl.”
Leaving the two lovebirds alone in his room, the drummer headed down the hall. It wasn’t long before he found someone else to bug, to drink with. But his thoughts kept flicking back to Robert and Summer. By the time he burst into Jimmy’s room, he had formed quite the idea already. But it wasn’t one he could enact on his own. He needed an accomplice. He needed Jimmy to be in a good mood.
“Hey, PAGEY!” he exclaimed, caring not that Bebe was half-naked. “I need your help.”
“Not now, Bonzo,” he groaned. “And close the door when you leave.”
“But—”
“Bugger off, Bonzo!” he shouted.
Frowning he backed out of the room, closing the door. It wouldn’t he as much fun if it was just him. But who else? He could get his drum tech involved. Or maybe Cole. Oh yes, Cole. He was almost always up for a little bit of fun.
Pounding on the manager’s door a moment later, Bonzo grinned to find Cole was not caught up in doing anything or anyone. It only took him a minute and two shots of whiskey to convince the manager to assist him. Within twenty minutes of leaving his room, Bonzo and Cole lugged a large bucket of ice water towards it. Figuring Robert would be in the thick of things, the drummer laughed, shifting his grip on the bucket, and fumbled his keys out of his pocket. Without pause the two men stumbled into the room, intent on dumping the bucket of cold water on the couple. Two steps into the room, eyes trained on the bed, Bonzo froze. Neither Robert nor Summer were naked. In fact they were just reclining on the bed, backs pressed against the headboard, Robert smoking a cigarette. Had he missed it? Wasn’t Robert supposed to make love to Summer? Wouldn’t that take longer? He was completely confused.
“Hey, John,” Summer greeted him. “Just in time. Dinner should be here soon.”
His mouth dropped open, “I thought... I thought...”
Robert’s gaze flicked to the tour manager, “Didn’t order enough. Sorry, Dick.”
Bonzo looked at the bucket of water, “No sense in wasting this. I’ll be right back.”
Watching the two men leave, Summer broke into giggles. While Robert had been ready to go, she hadn’t. A little bit of sucking and he was temporarily satisfied, something both decided would be enough, figuring that Bonzo would in fact return sooner than later. That and Summer was hungry again, having not eaten much in the past six hours.
A knock sounded at the door, drawing Robert to it to accept the room service. As he opened the door his attention instantly clicked to the end of the hall. Laughing Bonzo and Cole bolted down the hallway. Second later a naked and very pissed Jimmy followed, shouting obscenities. Smirking, knowing full well what had happened, Robert accepted the tray of food and stood holding the door open for the fleeing drummer.
“Phew!” Bonzo grinned as he entered the room. “That was almost as good as getting you.”
“But?” Robert set down the tray.
“Well I’ve seen Bebe naked almost as much as I’ve seen your arse,” he answered, looking at the plates. “Mate, ribs?”
“Summer’s never had them,” he replied, motioning the girl over. “You’re not going to see Summer naked, Bonzo. It’s just not going to happen.”
“Uh huh,” he replied with a mouthful.
Watching Bonzo chew on the rib for a moment, Summer tentatively reached for one. With Robert’s unspoken encouragement, her fingers plucked one off the plate and she sat in a nearby chair, naturally tucking her feel underneath her. Robert watched as she daintily chewed on the rib. Slipping into the chair beside her, he plucked the bone from her fingers, kissed her messy lips, and deposited the bone on an empty plate. She giggled as he kissed her again before offering her another rib.
“My god,” Bonzo muttered.
“What?” Summer’s eyes went to his as her dark pink tongue darted out to lick a bit of sauce from the corner of her mouth.
“Could you two be any fucking cuter?” he asked.
Robert smiled, “She is adorable.”
“The two of you together are. If anyone ever gets in the way of you two, I’ll fucking punch their faces in,” he declared.
“Aww. If it wasn’t so violent, I’d be touched,” Summer teased.
“Hey, Bonzo, have you—oh, hey, Percy,” John Paul entered the room as the door hadn’t been fully closed. “Hi, Summer. Trying ribs, I see.”
She nodded, saying nothing as she nibbled on the rib. An unspoken invitation was tossed out to John Paul who quickly sat down and joined the other three. Before too long the three men began to pick apart the night’s performance, just like they picked apart the ribs. Midway through the discussion, Bonzo paled and disappeared into the bathroom. Summer watched him in concern though neither of the two men seemed bothered by it at all. Without pause, Summer moved to sit on the arm of Bonzo’s chair as he returned.
“John?” she asked softly.
“Yes, hummingbird?”
“Are you, you know, okay?”
He frowned, “The fucking doctor hasn’t done anything for me. And now they’ve got me going to show in a fucking camper in case it hits me again. It’s fucking ridiculous.”
Summer leaned over and kissed his forehead, “I’m sure something will help you out, John.”
“Fuck that,” he growled, getting up again.
Wordlessly the drummer stalked over to the closet. Pulling it open, he snatched a bottle of vodka out of it. He twisted off the cap and tossed it aside. Summer’s eyes focused on the man as he gulped the alcohol. Neither Robert nor John Paul had taken notice or if they had, they were desensitized to it. And oh how that bothered and concerned Summer.
Leaving her perch on the chair, Summer approached the drummer. Her hand reached out for the vodka bottle. Her fingers wrapped around the neck, gently pulling it out of Bonzo’s hand. Holding his gaze, Summer lifted the bottle to her lips. Though she had never drank much, other than the few sips of Robert’s drinks, Summer sucked on the bottle just as Bonzo had. He gasped as she tilted the bottle back down and handed it back, the clear liquid burning her mouth and throat.
“Mate,” Bonzo muttered, glancing at Robert.
“Yeah?”
“Your girl just swallowed more than me.”
Robert instantly jumped up, “What!?”
“Don’t worry,” Summer declared, though her stomach was already clenching. “I’m... I’m okay. If Bonzo can do it, why can’t... oh god.”
She quickly bolted to the bathroom. The young girl barely managed to hunch over the porcelain toilet before her body completely rejected the vodka. Robert knelt beside her, gently rubbing her back, holding back her braids. John Paul also ventured into the bathroom, a glass of water in hand. He quickly soaked a washcloth and handed it to Robert as Summer finally ceased retching. The young girl slumped against the singer, her eyes squeezed close.
“Baby, why did you—”
“I don’t ever want ribs again, Robert,” she muttered.
He kissed her forehead, holding out the glass of water to her, “We won’t have ribs again then, baby.”
Nodding her head, she sipped the water, “And tell John that drinking is fucking bad.”
Rating: NC-17 [language, alcohol and drug use, and sex]
Summary: With love confessions muttered, how does their relationship change?
Never before had those words meant so very much to him. People had said them to him before, even meant them, but they had not stirred the depths of his soul like Summer muttering them did. Hell even when his wife said it, it did not mean a fraction of what it did coming from Summer’s soft lips. No words could aptly frame her confession to him in the language of his heart and soul. And he wasn’t certain how to duly express that to her. Rather than mutter something inadequate, his arms circled her and he kissed her gently.
Slowly Summer laid back in bed, bringing Robert down with her. Their kisses did not deepen and his hands did not stray to incite pleasureful fires in her body. Instead Robert shifted so that he lay beside her, breaking the kiss to rest his head upon her chest. With his ear pressed to her heart, he sighed, his fingers reaching to intertwine with hers. As they laid there, saying nothing, Robert knew this was true and right. Summer was unlike anyone he had ever known. He really didn’t give a fuck about her age nor the fact they hadn’t known each other long. When it was right, it was right. And oh how it was right.
“Robert?” she asked softly, her fingers lazily playing with his crunchy curls.
“Mmmmhmmmm?”
“Does this change us?”
“Well... I guess. Saying I love you and meaning it always changes things,” he answered, pivoting up to kiss her throat. “But not in a bad way.”
“Have you said it before?”
“Well.... yeah,” Robert answered. “But I’ve never meant it as much as I do right now.”
“I haven’t. Really to anyone. I don’t think I’ve even said it to my parents,” she claimed.
“Why not?”
She shrugged slightly, “I don’t know. Don’t really have that kind of relationship with them. Hell I don’t even know if Jerry is really my father.”
Robert smirked, “You really do live on a commune?”
“Yeahhhh,” she responded. “I know. It’s weird.”
“No no. I think it’s... adorable isn’t quite the word I’m looking for. Admirable is certainly closer,” he proclaimed. “Tell me about your life.”
“Um... my parents met in Greenwich Village, or so that’s what I’ve been told. He was with someone else and I think the whole reason my mom was in New York is another man. But eventually she convinced Jerry to return to California with her. And I was born less than six months later,” Summer stated. “I don’t really know what to tell you. I’ve lived on the farm ever since I was born. We grow all our own food, make most everything else we need. There’s a few with jobs outside of the farm. It’s not like we’re completely sequestered. I mean, after all I do have all your records and that would be pretty difficult without ever leaving the farm.”
“So you’re a vegetarian? I could have sworn you’ve been eating meat...”
“No one is a strict vegetarian there. We have a few milk cows and a whole flock of chickens. And the lake and nearby river have lots of fish,” she explained. “I’ve just never eaten cow or pig or anything else.”
“What about schooling?”
Summer’s fingers played with his hair for a silent moment, “There’s a few teachers amongst the families. We don’t attend a structured school or anything, but we all learn the basics at a young age. And then the rest of our education is more or less up to us. Kids get paired with adults according to their interests. Kinda like an apprenticeship, I guess.”
“Who did you get paired with?”
“Well at first they couldn’t get me to leave my mother. So I did everything she did. Which meant I helped grow flowers, weave cloth, and bake breads. I was never any good at weaving though. After I got bored of that, I learned painting and jewelry making from Jerry and it was all right. I picked up animal husbandry from Evan, who I think is really my father but no one will confirm that, as well as some mediocre carpentry skills. But then finally I clicked with Liv and she taught me poetry and literature and music. We went through a couple of different instruments before Jerry handed over his guitar to me. And that was it,” she claimed. “So for the past year I’ve been reading lots of books and poems while learning the guitar and playing anything on my record player I could get my hands on.”
He captured the hand playing with his hair and pulled it down to his mouth, kissing her palm before releasing it again, “What about housing? Do you live in tents or teepees?”
Summer laughed, “We don’t. There’s a few clustered buildings on the farm. About three families live in each one. I shared a bedroom with five other girls, one of whom is my sister. Across the hall the boys sleep. And the adults share rooms too. This having a room with just you is weird to me, even less a house.”
“How many siblings do you have?”
“A younger sister named June. And two older brothers,” she answered, yawning. “Forest and Talan.”
“Oh, Summer, I have a million things I want to ask you!” he exclaimed. “But you’re tired and it is late.”
“Mmmm, someday I could take you there, Robert,” she offered. “Then you can see for yourself.”
“Really?”
“If you want,” Summer nodded.
“Oh yes definitely.”
“Then we’ll go,” she yawned again.
Robert stretched up and kissed her, “I love you, Summer. Sleep well, my princess.”
Laying on his side, Robert watched the princess sleeping beside him. He tucked his stiff hair behind his ears, wondering how it was that he was so lucky to have her in his life. She was sweet, sexy, sensitive, and oh so many other superlatives. There was simply not a single thing wrong with her. She was perfect. From the way her nose crinkled when she was thinking something over to the way her lips twitched in her sleep, everything about her intoxicated him, but on a far deeper level than he ever thought possible. Something about her completed him. Something about the sparkle in her sapphire eyes and skip in her step lit his entire soul. Oh how had he gotten so lucky to find this precious gem standing in the vacant hallway that night?
The sun filtering through the curtains cast warm shadows across Summer’s body. Able to gaze at her in peace, Robert let his eyes wander her frame. His gaze started at her toes, focusing on her small feet for a few moments. Her toes were long and slender, her toenails short but perfectly rounded. He wondered how long she spent filing her nails, could not really imagine her slipping into a salon ever for a pedicure. Part of him wanted to slip to the bottom of the bed, look at how dirty her feet were. While he had suggested the sandals at the store the day before, Robert would never deny feeling grateful that Bonzo had stolen them almost immediately. His hippie princess should never wear shoes.
As his eyes shifted up to her legs, she shifted in bed, rolling towards him. For a moment his breath caught, thinking she would wake and stop his investigation. But her eyes remained closed, her face completely relaxed. Gaze returning to her legs, he smiled upon noticing a thin white scar marking the front of her right shin. Instantly he conjured images of her running freely in the forest, perhaps accidentally tripping on a branch she should have jumped over. When she rolled onto her side, the shirt she wore revealed her milky thighs all the way to her belly. Her legs were slightly crossed, concealing her hairless flower from his sight, but that was likely for the best as he didn’t want to be overcome with desire and rouse her. His eyes however settled on another scar, this one marking the pink flesh of her left hip. Concern wrinkled his brow as he stared at the scar. It was darker than the one on her shin, almost appeared to be a knife scar. Why would his baby have a knife scar? Who would do such a thing to her?
Forcing himself to not stare at her hip any longer or else become angry with someone he could not know, Robert continued his visual journey up her body. His eyes grazed over her flat abdomen, her right hand limply draping across it. Focusing her her small hand, he smiled. As expected her nails were unvarnished, cut short. Dirt did not cling under the white crescent moons, but that he accounted more for the fact she hadn’t been working the farm for at least a few days. Instantly he pictured her squatting in a vegetable garden, frowning as she pulled carrots out of the ground. He nearly reached up to brush the imagined dirt from her brow for her, before realizing he was just snagged by a daydream. With a silent smirk to himself, Robert returned to her belly, staring at her navel for a few moments, before moving up. His tee shirt covered her budding breasts which made him frown. While he could perfectly make out her small mounds, he ached to look at her rosy nipples. Groaning softly he realized his thoughts had turned sexual and forced himself to look away from her gentle breasts.
With Summer turned towards him, the sun warming her face from behind him, Robert was afforded the opportunity to gaze at her visage at will. Her chin was small and rounded, perfectly smooth; her cheekbones high, the hint of dimples as her lips twitched in dreams. While not thin, her cupid bowed lips certainly did not look bee stung either, just perfectly kissable, their rosy hue temping him. Her nose was slightly pointed, with an elegant sweep towards her forehead. Her eyebrows were not the perfectly sculptured, feather-thin brows of the LA Queens, but naturally shaped. He found it peculiar they were the deep color of chestnut, especially as a warm golden curl fell across her face. Without the hint of any other body hair to compare, Robert wondered if she really was a blond. But did it even matter? She was beautiful no matter.
Having spent at least twenty minutes admiring her, Robert could contain himself no more. With little thought, he shifted closer to her, brushed the errant strand of hair from her face, and kissed her cupid lips gently. Her mouth moved under his, curving into a soft smile. The hand hanging limply across her body rose, resting upon his hip. Her lips parted, her warm tongue teasing his.
Kissing her for a few moments, Robert felt his passion awaken and pulled away, muttering softly, “Good morning, princess.”
She grinned, her eyes remaining closed, “Good afternoon, my prince.”
He kissed her quickly once more, “Did you sleep well?”
“Mmmmhmmmm. You?”
“Surprisingly so.”
“Oh?” her eyes fluttered open at that.
“With a goddess like you beside me, it is a wonder I can sleep at all.”
Summer chuckled, “I am so certain that is the case.”
His hand ran down her side, resting on her hip, “It’s true.”
“Of course. Have you been awake long?”
“Long enough to know how beautiful you are.”
She flushed at that, rolling onto her back and away from him, “Hardly.”
“Absolutely true,” he proclaimed, moving down to kiss her navel. “May I ask you something?”
“Sure.”
His hand ran over her hairless mound, “Are you hairless because—”
“I wax,” she interrupted.
“At such a young age?”
“The earlier you start, the less you have to do it,” she explained. “Why? Do you not like it?”
His palm cupped her mound, his middle finger gently slipping between her petals to find her bud, “I love everything about you.”
Summer’s eyes went to his, “I don’t.. I don’t know if I’m ready for you.”
He kissed her, his finger lightly tracing around the swelling bud, “I would be content to merely please you, princess.”
She groaned softly, her thighs falling open, “Robert, please...”
Withdrawing his hand, Robert pushed up. Seated beside her, his hands slipped under her, easing her up into a seated position as well. His hand slipped behind her head, his fingers weaving in her long tresses as he pulled her in to a kiss. Deeply kissing her for a few moments, his hand released its hold on her head and moved down to the hem of her shirt. Pulling out of the kiss, Robert quickly pulled it off. Finally able to look at her perky breasts, Robert leaned back, letting the afternoon sun warm her skin. Her small breasts were perfect, not that he had found a flaw in her yet. Quarter-sized rosy areolas begged to be licked, swirling to her tiny, swelling nipples. Not one to ignore such a silent command, Robert leaned forward, his tongue darting out to trace the circle around her nipple.
Her hand went to his head, her fingers weaving in his thick hair. Soft moans left her lips as she clung to him in order to not collapse backwards. Reading the signs, his arms slipped around her back as he switched to the other breast. Feeling her fingers tighten in his hair, Robert smiled and pulled his mouth away from her flesh. Eyes meeting hers, he gently laid her back down and kissed her again. His lips left hers and made a serpentine path down to her navel, slipping between her already ravished breasts. Tongue swirling around her belly button, his hand slid between her thighs. Cupping her sex for a long moment, he gently squeezed, applying soft pressure to her swelling body. His finger dipped between her petals again, but avoided her love bud. Instead he dipped into her dewy heat, tracing spirals inside the young girl.
“Oh, god,” she groaned, her hips arching instinctively.
With a smile, he left her navel, his lips kissing her mound. As Robert slid a second finger into her taut body, his tongue wiggled between her petals. This time he lavished attention on her bud, his tongue circling around it slowly as he continued to press his fingers into her. As her throaty moans begged for more, his lips fastened about her bud and sucked gently, a third finger sliding into her with the next thrust. He ached to remove his hand and unite with her, but the time hadn’t yet come. Not until she did.
“Oh god. Oh god. Robert. Oh god,” she muttered, her body beginning to tense.
Sucking with a bit more force, he felt her body suddenly suck his fingers into her, holding them tightly. His lips moved away from the pulsating bud and slowly he pulled his hand away from her sex. Lapping her honey for a few moments until her honey pot no longer oozed, Robert finally ventured to look up at her face.
“Oh baby,” she breathed, meeting his amorous eyes. “Let me... I need... oh god, I need you way down inside of me.”
He smiled crookedly at her words and moved up her body, meeting her eyes, “Are you sure you’re ready?”
“Oh yes.”
She had barely finished her short word before he was shaking his nightclothes off. Nestling himself above her once more, Robert kissed her mouth deeply, his hands stroking her body again. Soon she was purring and mewling under his touch, reacting to his wandering mouth as he suckled on her soft skin. His hand left her breast, moving to wrap around his cock. Eyes meeting hers, he rubbed the tip of his love into her petals, tracing around her bud. Her eyes rolled into the back of her head before closing, a moan passing her lips again.
“Are you sure?” he asked huskily, poised to press into her.
“Oh yes, please. Please, Robert.”
Both groaned as his slid slowly into her, stretching her body once more. His hand left his cock as it disappeared into her body, moving to cup her hips. Pushing in as deeply as possible, Robert remained motionless, allowing her to adjust to the invasion once more. His eyes remained on hers, looking for any sign of discomfort. All he saw was passion and.... and love. Leaning down he kissed her once more as he withdrew. Her hips instantly moved up, trying to keep him from pulling away.
Keeping the pace slow, Robert worked her to the precipice, his hands wandering her body, his lips nipping her skin. And then abruptly stopped. Her eyes opened, confusion filling her sapphire eyes. Smirking he kissed her mouth, keeping their bodies connected but unmoving.
“Roooobbbbberttt,” she moaned. “Please.”
“Look at me. I want to see your eyes went you cum,” he declared.
Summer nodded, keeping her eyes open. He slowly withdrew from her body, allowing his cock to pop out. Both instantly felt incomplete, as if a part of themselves had been severed. Rubbing his cock along her slippery crack a few times, he smiled as she moaned and called out his name. Her hands moved between them, her fingers circling his cock. Stopping what he was doing, though he was so close to returning to her heat and bringing them to the edge, Robert watched her actions. Her fingers danced over his glistening shaft a few times, squeezing the base to keep him from cumming right then. Summer guided him back to her entrance, released her grip, wrapped her legs around his waist, and pulled him quickly into her body. Robert pulled partially out and slammed back in. With a guttural groan, both shivered in ecstasy, their bodies pulsing in unison.
Remaining within her as he kissed her mouth hungrily, Robert regretfully pulled out of her body and rolled to her side. It surprised him little that he remained aroused. All she would need to do is kiss him, touch him, and he would be completely ready to go again. But only if she was. He did not wish to hurt her again.
Her eyes looked over his glistening body, stopping on his mostly turgid erection, “Robert, didn’t you....?”
He smiled, “I did.”
“But you’re still...”
“Baby, with you I could ball all day,” Robert declared.
She looked into his eyes, “Well let’s go take the shower we should have taken before sleeping and see what the day has in store for us.”
Not that she had doubted his words before their shower, but Summer certainly would not be able to ‘ball all day.’ Not because of lack of desire or even because she was sore, for she wasn’t any more. But it had everything to do with the fact she was starving and there was nothing to eat in the bungalow. Oh they were well stocked with all kinds of liquid refreshment, but whomever was in charge of the arrangements clearly had not expected Robert to remain there to eat. Which meant they could not stay sequestered in the small beach house and play naked games. Summer’s growling stomach was not about to allow it.
While waiting for the car to come and take them away, Robert tried to initiate sex once again. Not about to be pulling down her jeans when they hadn’t much time at all, all of his flirtations were instantly rebuked. Her explanation did little to dissuade him, especially since he countered with ‘the car will wait.’ She was nearly about to give into oral sex when a knock sounded at the door. Triumph filled her eyes as she followed him to answer the door. The driver smiled, asking if they were ready. Before Robert answered, the young girl was skipping down the walkway towards the car. It was only three in the afternoon; it was going to be a long day.
“Summer?” Robert asked
She turned towards him as she plaited her hair from her face in two braids. For a few long moments, he merely stared into her eyes, letting her finish her task. She reached for his hand, wrapping his fingers around her braid while she pulled her bag into her lap and dug through it. Tying of the braid with a thin piece leather, her fingers plucked his from that braid, lifting his hand to her mouth and kissing it before moving to tie off the other braid. Only then did she shift in the seat, sitting Indian-style, to face him.
“What’s up?”
He grinned at her, “You are bloody adorable, you know that, right?”
“No.”
His grin instantly disappeared, “That’s the second time you’ve responded like that.”
“Oh, sorry.”
“No no. Why don’t you believe you’re adorable?”
“There’s plenty of girls prettier than me,” she declared, keeping his gaze.
“Bollocks,” Robert declared. “You’re ten times prettier, sexier, better than the other girls.”
“Uh huh.”
“You are. And you know why?”
She shook her head.
“Because you’re you. You’re not trying to be anyone else. You’re just naturally you.”
“That doesn’t make me any prettier than anyone else.”
“Yes it does. It makes you loads prettier than anyone else,” Robert proclaimed. “I never question anything about you. What you say, how you look at me, what you do. There’s nothing fake about you.”
“Except my hair.”
He stared at her, blinking. Her words seemed completely foreign to him, though did answer his unspoken question from earlier that day. Was she really not blond?
“Huh?” he finally managed to mutter.
Summer smiled crookedly, “I’m not a beautiful blond like you, Robert.”
“Your hair is colored?”
“Eh... kinda, but not really. Just a lemon juice rinse before going outside to do work,” she explained.
“Oh.”
“It wasn’t supposed to lighten it. I was just trying to get paint out of my hair,” Summer explained. “And then it turned this gold color. Took me over a week to get used to it.”
Robert smirked, “See, even that is endearing. It wasn’t like you set out to bleach your hair to get my attention or anything. It’s just something that naturally happened.”
“True. But I still don’t think I’m anything special,” she countered.
His eyes flicked to the window, noticing they were nearing the hotel. He motioned for her to move into his lap. Confused she climbed over into his lap, straddling him so she faced him. His hand went to her chin, turning her face to look out the window. He leaned forward, brushed her braid out of the way, and kissed her ear.
“See all those girls? Do you think any one of them looks like that when they get up in the morning? Do you think any of them would be seen without their five inch platforms on? Do you think any of them are really going by their real names?” he spoke softly, pointing at all of the squealing girls lining the sidewalk. “Do you think there’s anythingreal about them?”
“Well of course there is. They aren’t completely plastic.”
“But they’re fake. I’m so tired of being surrounded by fake people, Summer. And then you walked into my life and were like a breath of fresh air. With you around I can breathe again. You make all of this worth it,” he proclaimed, kissing her again.
She closed her eyes, letting his breath dance on her skin for a moment, “All I know is that what I feel for you is real. And if that makes your life better, I... I...”
“I love you,” he turned her face back to his and kissed her gently.
Summer flushed, “I love you too.”
As Robert attempted to deepen the kiss, Summer pulled back with a giggle. Her finger went to his lips and she shook her head. He instantly pouted. Rolling her eyes, Summer reached for the door handle and pushed the door open. Pivoting out of his lap, she exited the car, before turning to grab her bag before he could even move. With a quick kiss to his lips, Summer turned and headed towards the hotel without him. She glanced over her shoulder when the car door closed, smiling as he trotted to catch up with her. His arm circled her waist, stopping her from reaching for the door. Without pause at all, Robert spun her towards him and kissed her, much to the chagrin of the squealing fans. This time she allowed him to deepen the kiss briefly, before wiggling away to enter the hotel.
“I’m hungry, Robert,” she declared, ducking into the hotel.
“So am I, baby,” he responded huskily, his hands going to her hips, pulling her back to his chest as he kissed her throat.
“Yes well, you don’t get any until I’m fed,” Summer proclaimed, peeling his fingers off of her.
“Awwwww baaaaabyyy,” he whined, following her into the elevator with a grin on his face.
Reaching the rooftop terrace, Robert’s hand instantly folded over Summer’s, almost as if to protect her from being swept away and dropped in the pool again. He purposefully positioned himself between her and the doors that led out to the pool, ushering her to the large ballroom that had been converted into their mess hall. Finding that rather endearing, Summer stopped before he turned to head into the mess hall. Pressing up onto her toes, she kissed his confused mouth sweetly, pulled her hand free, and skipped into the room.
Just as Robert entered the ballroom, Bonzo ran towards Summer. He skid to a stop a couple of feet from her, suddenly cautioned by the previous night’s activities. The girl quickly opened her arms, pushing her bag to her back. Grinning Bonzo completed the last couple of steps and embraced her, spinning her around until she giggled. Setting her down, his hands remained about her waist, making certain she could stand on her own.
“We okay?” he asked.
“Of course,” Summer smiled and kissed his cheek. “And guess what?”
“What?”
She stepped out of his arms, “You’re IT!”
With a quick spin, Summer took off. A moment later Bonzo was in quick pursuit, a happy grin on his face. The young girl weaved in and out of tables and people standing around with drinks or plates of food. At first Robert was concerned, but when she lead Bonzo pass him, he did not stop the drummer. It seemed fairly innocent and he would let the two be for the moment and focus instead on trying to figure out what on the table spread Summer would eat.
While Robert was chatting with roadies while filling up a plate, Summer ran around and around the ballroom. No one reached out to stop Bonzo nor the girl, more because they were afraid of Bonzo than anything. A few did remember the activities from the night before and warily stood in front of the door, hoping to dissuade the two from venturing out near the pool. Neither of the two actually knew what would happen if the drummer caught the girl. Presumably it would flip and she would chase him, but neither really expected that to actually happen. Besides the girl was half the size of Bonzo and could quickly re-tag him.
Apparently tired of the chase, Summer jumped over a chair and ducked behind the band’s bassist. Bonzo stopped in front of the chair, huffing and staring the girl down. With a grin, she peeked over John Paul’s shoulder, her hands resting comfortably on each shoulder.
“Hi,” Summer chirped.
“Uh, hello,” John Paul pivoted a bit to glance at her. “Should I get out of the way?”
“No, please don’t. I think I’m rather done playing with Bonzo for the now. I did come up here to eat, not get hungrier,” she commented.
He looked at the drummer who was still staring down the young girl as if she were his prey, “Hey, Bonzo, why don’t you give it a rest and let Summer eat?”
The drummer’s eyes flicked from the bassist to the girl and back again. Slowly he relaxed, laughed loudly, and nodded. Winking at Summer, Bonzo turned away to find some more mischief to cause. Hugging John Paul from behind, Summer thanked him softly. Glancing at Robert and noticing he was engrossed in some animated conversation with a man she didn’t recognize, Summer frowned.
“Hey, Jonesy?” she stepped around him.
“Yeah?”
She glanced at the chair he had been about to sit in, “Can I join you? Robert seems kinda busy and I don’t know anyone here.”
“Sure,” he smiled.
“Fabulous! I’ll be right back,” Summer flashed him a grin before skipping over to the food tables.
Not recognizing half of the items on the tables but feeling awkward about asking those around her what they were, Summer hesitated. Part of her just wanted to dish up what she did know, though really the vegetables and fruits had probably seen much better days. But as she was apparently staying with Robert indefinitely, she might as well get used to the kinds of foods he ate. Biting the inside of her cheek, she mimicked what others did, though she did scoop up some of the tired looking fruits and vegetables as well. Accepting a cup at the end of the table, she made her way over to the bartender who quickly demanded what she wanted. Once more feeling out of place, she requested water, watched him carefully, and thanked the man before turning to head back to join John Paul. Her eyes glanced at Robert, noting he was still deep in conversation, so her destination remained the same.
Sitting down beside the bassist, she realized she hadn’t grabbed any flatware. With a crooked smile she jumped up, skipped back over to the line, and ducked in to grab flatware and napkins. Plopping back down in the chair next to John Paul a moment later, she pulled her bag off and dug through it. He watched as she pulled out a small plastic oval and popped it open. Nodding slightly with understanding, John Paul looked away as she swallowed the tiny birth control pill and dropped the case back into her bag before dropping the bag on the floor as well.
Her eyes dropped to the plate and confusion once more filled her. She had taken the chance to pick up what everyone else was, but she hadn’t a clue how she was supposed to eat most everything. Her gaze flicked to John Paul’s plate which did contain some of the items she had picked up, but he was currently chewing on a piece of bread. Looking back down at her plate, Summer quickly decided the pink shrimp would be a safe bet. She had never eaten shrimp before, after all it wasn’t like they raised shrimp on the farm, but loads of people liked it so it couldn’t be all that bad. Picking up a smaller one by it’s crunchy tail, she popped the entire crustacean in her mouth. Chewing slowly she found the taste rather pleasant, a hint of lemon perhaps, but the texture not so nice. The body of the shrimp was plump and popped nicely in her mouth, but the tail was an issue. It crunched and she was certain would cut the inside of her cheek if she didn’t chew very carefully.
Deciding the first one may have just been a bad shrimp, Summer picked up a second and plopped the entire thing in her mouth once more. Again it was the same experience. Reaching for her cup of water, she took a big gulp to wash the shrimp down. Maybe she wouldn’t eat the other four on her plate. It didn’t taste good enough to repeat that performance a third time. Glancing over at John Paul she froze, noticing he had frozen mid-chew staring at her. Oh god, what had she done?
Summer leaned closer and whispered, “Did I do something wrong?”
He swallowed whatever was in his mouth and replied softly, “You’re not supposed to eat the tail, Summer.”
A deep flush instantly filled her cheeks, “You’re not?”
John Paul held her eyes, remaining silent for a moment before saying, “You’ve never had shrimp before.”
“No,” she confirmed. “I don’t even know what half of the things on my plate are.”
He glanced down at her array of food items. Dips and sauces ran into pastas, cooked legumes, and fried fish. Nothing really seemed to go together, just mashed onto the plate. His eyes went back to hers and he nodded in understanding, remembering that Robert had mentioned she was from San Francisco.
“You wait here. I’ll be right back,” John Paul declared and stood.
As he swept away her plate, she hadn’t really anything to do while she waited. Her eyes cast about the room while her fingers fiddle with the hem of her crocheted halter top. She watched as Bonzo blustered to Peter Grant about something, her lips curving into a smile at his erratic hand gestures. Turning from him, her eyes focused on Jimmy as he entered the ballroom. He instantly looked at her, their eyes locking. Unable to look away for a long moment, Summer swallowed forcibly before he blinked and continued into the room. Eye contact broken with Jimmy, she looked to Robert. Finally he looked her direction, his words falling silent on his tongue. He muttered a quick excuse and took a few steps towards the young girl. Stopping he turned and picked up a plate from the nearby table before heading back to her.
Both Robert and John Paul reached the table at about the same time, setting their plates in front of her. Looking at both plates, Summer burst out in giggles. They contained nearly the exact same things, though Robert’s plate had strawberries while John Paul’s had grapes.
“Thank you, boys,” she grinned, motioning to the chairs beside her. “Won’t you join me?”
Sitting on either side of her, the men looked at each other for a moment. For perhaps the first time since being introduced to the band, she didn’t feel an jealous tension when sitting between Robert and another of his band mates. As she didn’t know much about John Paul, since he didn’t seem to hang around with everyone pre- or post-concert, she didn’t fully understand why Robert didn’t feel a threat from the bassist. Or maybe the bassist did disappear was precisely why jealousy wasn’t clouding Robert’s aura. She would have to ask another time.
Robert’s eyes dropped to the plate John Paul had brought for Summer, “Seems we both have the same ideas.”
“Ah well,” he looked at the singer, “Summer needed a little help.”
“Oh just admit it, Jonesy,” she stated, “I needed a lot of help.”
“Why?” Robert asked.
“Did you know you’re not supposed to eat the tails of shrimp?” Summer responded without missing a beat. “I didn’t. And the rest of my plate pretty much looked like slop one might feed a pig... if it weren’t a perniciously picky pig.”
A tense silence fell over the table before the young girl burst out laughing, which in turn encouraged the other two as well. For a few moments they laughed until Summer stopped and took a deep breath. Not missing a moment, she leaned over and kissed Robert’s cheek before turning her attention back to the two plates in front of her. She slid the one with grapes on it over to Robert, since he hadn’t a plate of his own, and split her pile of napkins with him as well.
“So I take it everything is okay with you and Bonzo now?” John Paul asked, his attention back to his food.
Summer watched Robert eat for a moment before replying, “Of course it is. There was never any doubt that it would be.”
“He nearly drowned you.”
“But he didn’t,” she mimicked Robert’s actions. “There was no way for him to know I couldn’t swim. I adore him too much to hold it against him. It wouldn’t do any good anyways.”
“And you’re okay with him, Percy?” he glanced around the girl at the singer.
“How can I not? If Summer holds no ill will against him, I cannot. I love her and trust her judgment.”
John Paul froze, “What did you say?”
“I trust her judgment.”
“No, before that.”
Robert grinned and looked away briefly before meeting the bassist’s eyes, “I love her.”
“No offense, Summer,” he glanced at the girl between them briefly, “but you’ve known her for what? Two days?”
“Three nights, four days,” Summer answered.
“I fell in love with her the moment I saw her,” Robert declared, his hand reaching over to cover Summer’s, squeezing it gently.
“Soooo,” John Paul stated awkwardly, “this means Bonzo is not in hot water, right?”
“Of course not. Bonzo is perfectly... Bonzo,” Robert claimed, looking across the room at the drummer. “I think he’s learned his lesson anyways.”
“Which is?”
“Don’t throw girls into pools you don’t know?” Summer offered.
Both men chuckled before Robert declared, “We’ve been trying to teach him that one since the first tour. Somehow I don’t think he’s gotten it quite yet.”
“Then what did he learn?”
“Oi! Bonzo!” Robert shouted, waving the drummer over.
He quickly bounded over, “Yeah, Percy?”
“What did you learn last night?”
“Before or after the pool thing?”
The singer blinked, “Well both.”
“Before: that your girlfriend has a really nice arse. After: that I shouldn’t throw girls into the pool I don’t know.”
With Robert in the hotel and the rest of the band refusing to give interviews, the singer took up residence into a suite with another reporter. Though he asked her to remain, Summer slipped out of the room not too long into the interview. She was pretty certain Robert hadn’t even noticed and to be honest, she was completely bored hearing the same stories she already knew. So venturing out into the hallway seemed a good distraction. The partying was minimal thus far, only a few lingering about drinking or other things. Doors to rooms were mostly closed, the inhabitants likely still sleeping off the partying from the night before. She knew she was nearing Bonzo’s room by the thundering music vibrating through the closed door. Part of her was curious what exactly the man would be doing behind closed doors with such loud music, but not enough to stop and ask.
Her fingers trailed along the walls as she weaved down the corridor. She didn’t really know where she would end up or if upon reaching the end of the hall she would just turn around and walk back. It didn’t really matter. If they hadn’t been at the hotel, she could have gone and sat in the sand and watched the waves. But no matter.
It wasn’t until her fingers bumped into the door frame of Jimmy’s room did she realize where she was. Quickly moving to the other side of the hall, Summer continued on her path. A few steps from Jimmy’s room, his door opened. Keeping her eyes forward, she didn’t even pause until she heard her name.
Turning her eyes met Jimmy’s intense eyes, “Hi.”
“Hi, sweetheart,” he smiled. “I’m lonely. Will you come and sit with me?”
“I’m sure Robert will be done with his interview soon. I should—”
“Just until he’s done of course,” Jimmy interrupted.
Nodding slightly, she agreed, “All right.”
Holding his hand out to her, the guitarist lead her into his room. Without even mentioning it, he left the door to the suite open, wordlessly putting Summer at ease. He left her seated on one of the couches as he headed over to a fridge and pulled it open. Returning to the couch with a glass of juice, Jimmy held it out to Summer before sitting next to her.
“I have a confession,” he declared softly.
She sipped the juice before her large blue eyes went to his, “What’s that?”
“I have never let anyone play my guitar before.”
“I... thank you, Jimmy. But why me?”
“I cannot quite explain it. But I am glad I took the chance. You play very well.”
Summer snorted, “Yeah, those two songs.”
“I”m sure you play everything well.”
“Nope. Just those two songs. And Three Blind Mice,” she proclaimed, before pivoting to set her glass down. “So don’t you embarrass me and ask me to play again, okay?”
Jimmy smiled crookedly, “Would you like to learn more?”
“Oh yes, definitely. Nothing makes me happier than music,” Summer declared, pulling her legs up underneath her.
“I could... I could maybe teach you,” he offered.
Her eyes widened. It was one thing to fall in love with Robert and be loved in return. It was completely a different kind of dream to be taught guitar by Jimmy. She was ever so certain he knew a million more things about the guitar than Liv. Was he serious?
“Oh, Jimmy, I.... I would love that,” she muttered, smiling.
He flashed her a quick grin, “I would love it too. Why.... we can start right now, if you’d like.”
“Oh yes.”
Getting up, Jimmy retrieved his acoustic from it’s stand in the corner. He strummed it softly as he headed back over to the couch. Tuning it quickly, he sat back down. Her eyes flitted from his down to the guitar and back up again. He smiled and nodded, his fingers plucking out a simple song, or at least one he thought simple. Her eyes widened as he leaned back and let the music take him away. There was no way in the world she would ever be able to play anything like that. Ever. He was amazing, she was.... so not.
Suddenly remembering there was a girl on the couch next to him, Jimmy finished his acoustic jamming. His eyes opened and looked directly at Summer. His slight euphoric smile instantly disappeared by the look of awe and despair on Summer’s face. He had gotten lost in the sensation of guitar strings and the music in his soul, completely abandoning her in that moment.
“Oh, Summer, I’m sorry,” he muttered softly and held out the guitar to her. “Play something for me that you’ve been working on.”
“I can’t... I can’t do this, Jimmy,” she declared, pushing his guitar back towards him and getting up. “I’m sorry.”
“No no no,” Jimmy jumped to his feet, leaving the guitar on the couch before hurrying to keep the girl from leaving. “I’m sorry. I am. Please don’t leave.”
She stopped in the doorway, turning to look at him, “Jimmy, you have more talent in your pinkie finger than I do in my entire body. I don’t deserve your attention at all.”
His hand reached for hers, gently tugging back towards the couch, “I saw the light in you when you played for us last night. You have the spark, Summer. Really.”
She twisted her hand free, “I don’t, Jimmy. I don’t.”
His dark eyes held hers, “Do you think I offer this kind of thing to just anyone?”
“I don’t know, Jimmy. I’ve only know you a few days.”
He held her gaze, saying nothing.
“Okay fine. So you don’t offer to teach every girl you meet how to play the guitar. That doesn’t mean anything except—”
“That I see potential in you more than I have in anyone else before? That I trust your musical instincts enough to even allow you to touch my guitar?” he interrupted.
“I’m just a girl.”
“No, sweetheart, you’re more than just a girl,” Jimmy declared. “I wouldn’t have offered to teach you if I thought you were just a girl. You’re certainly—”
“Jimmy? Have you se— oh, there you are, baby,” Robert interrupted. “We’ve got about an hour before we have to load up to head to the venue. Do you want to...”
The guitarist smirked, “Go take care of your flower child, Percy.”
He glanced around the suite quickly, eyes falling on the guitar, “Were you playing again, Summer?”
She turned to him, “Jimmy is going to teach me how to really play.”
“Oh?” jealousy quickly flashed in his eyes.
“Later,” she stressed. “Let’s go... find some place quiet and... private.”
His eyes lit up, “See you in a few, Jimmy.”
Laying with her head in Robert’s lap, Summer sighed happily. His fingers lazily played with her braids, wishing to unfasten them and watch her long hair shimmer down her back in waves. He chased one around her shoulders time and time again. She turned her head over, pulling the braid from his fingers. His eyes dropped down to hers and he smiled. Normally he would have hinted that if her head was going to be in his lap, her mouth might as well be doing something. But as Bonzo had played an even longer ‘Moby Dick’ than the night before, Robert felt sexually satiated still. There was something endearing and adorable about her in the very moment, not that he didn’t think she was adorable most of the time. He nearly wanted to knock on the glass separating them from the limo driver and instruct the man to go to the bungalow instead of the hotel. But he knew that his little angel had already adapted to the late nightlife of the band and didn’t want to subject the rest of the band to Bonzo without Summer’s presence.
It dawned on him in that very moment. Her presence had touched the entire band already. Bonzo was almost like he was when they first started playing together, back in clubs in England, before Led Zeppelin. Yes, he was boisterous and playful, but when Summer was around The Beast did not emerge. Perhaps there was something calming about her aura that he hadn’t immediately picked up. Even Jimmy and Jonesy seemed somehow different around Summer, not anything he could quite explain at all.
“Summer?” he muttered.
“Mmmmhmmm?”
“How do you do it?”
“Do what?” she rolled over on her back, eyes looking up into his.
Robert smiled down at her, “Light up a room with your very presence.”
“I have a flashlight in my back pocket.”
For a moment he looked at her before they both broke into laughter. She sat up as the laughter ended but the smiles remained. Glancing out the window she noticed they were near the hotel, ever glad to be in the caravan instead of transferring off a plane. Turning back to face Robert she tried to find a serious answer to his question. The more she thought on it, the less she could find an answer to it. She didn’t know why she did whatever he claimed she did. She certainly didn’t set out to enter every room and make everyone happy.
“I don’t know,” she finally declared. “It’s not something I’ve ever thought about or set out to do. It just... is, I guess.”
“I have to admit I’ve not seen Bonzo like this in... ages. He’s become quite the unstable one on the road. I think it’s because he hates to be away from his family for so long,” Robert declared softly. “But somehow... somehow you’ve managed to tame The Beast. And I don’t know how you do it.”
“I don’t do anything special,” Summer shrugged.
“Maybe it’s just who you are then,” he leaned forward and kissed her. “I know I haven’t felt so stable in all my life as I do when you’re around. You must just be magical.”
“Oh yes, that’s it. I forgot to tell you: I’m really an elf.”
Robert grinned, “I knew it.”
“That makes you my Aragorn.”
He blinked, “Really?”
“Of course, silly,” she kissed him quickly.
“That makes you my Evenstar.”
She inclined her head slightly in agreement.
Robert pulled her into his lap and kissed her happily once more, noticing the car had come to a halt, indicating they arrived at the hotel. For a long moment he paid little attention to that fact, preferring to bestow his attention and care upon the kiss he shared with Summer. But eventually she wiggled out of his lap and scooted over to the door. The night was young. They had many hours to fill.
Stopping at Bonzo’s room first, Robert leaned on the wall. The drummer’s special red camper, which replaced his limo since Bonzo was not responding to the doctor’s treatment for his rather unpredictable stomach issues, had been the last in the caravan from Long Beach. Summer had yet to explain to him why they needed to see Bonzo first, leaving Robert wondering. Had the young girl not wrapped her arms around his neck and playfully kissed him, Robert may have been unable to think of anything else. Instead his thoughts circled around the tongue in his mouth. His so called satiation was now long gone and oh how he wanted to carry her off through one of the roadies’ open doors. No one would stop him. No one but—
“SUMMER!” Bonzo exclaimed, quickly pulling her out of Robert’s arms and spinning her about.
She giggled loudly, her hands reaching for Robert when the rotation reached him. Thrice Bonzo spun before releasing the young girl into the singer’s arms. His embrace held her tight until her equilibrium returned. Kissing him quickly, Summer wiggled out of his arms and skipped into Bonzo’s now open room. Plopping down on his bed, Summer dug out a small leather pouch. Instantly recognizing it, Robert sat beside her. He accepted a bottle of beer from the drummer who sat on Summer’s other side. Her fingers eagerly accepted his pipe and she deftly filled it.
“Here,” she handed it to Bonzo, before turning to stow her pouch. “You get first hit.”
“Oh no, pretty girl. It’s your st—”
“Take it, Bonzo,” Robert declared. “This is not an argument you will win.”
Shrugging the drummer did just that before passing it along. All three smoked thrice before the pipe was set down. With a giggle the blond girl laid back. A moment later both men laid down as well. They turned on their sides to face her, causing Summer to giggle uncontrollably.
Bonzo tugged on one of her braids, “Where’d you get this stuff?”
“It’s my birthday present,” she proclaimed.
His eyes widened, “IT’S YOUR BIRTHDAY!?”
“Not yet,” Robert spoke up, his fingers lightly caressing down the edge of her halter top. “You’ve not missed jumping out of a cake yet.”
Summer gasped, “You’ll jump out of a cake for me?”
“Or into one. Depends on how wasted he is.”
“Hey!” Bonzo exclaimed. “Whoa. Your eyes are amazing, pretty girl.”
“Mmmmmhmmm,” she nodded, closing her eyes as Robert’s hand slipped under the crocheted fabric of her top.
“Hey, Bonzo,” Robert looked up to the drummer, “do you think maybe we could get some time alone?”
“Uh, s—”
“He can stay,” Summer interrupted, eyes opening and glancing between both men.
Robert looked down at her, his hand stationary on her breast, “Uh, I’m not sure I’m comfortable with that.”
“You’ve never made love with Bonzo around?”
“No. I’ve fucked with him around, but you and I don’t fuck,” he proclaimed.
“You don’t?” Bonzo spoke up.
“No,” he looked to his best friend. “We make love.”
Bonzo grinned, “I can totally go find something to do.”
“You don’t have to,” Summer claimed again, her hand reaching over to cup Robert’s groin. “An audience doesn’t bother me, especially when I’m stoned.”
Bonzo laughed heartily, “If you’re okay with it, I—”
“Go,” Robert instructed, eyes flicking up to his friend as Summer unzipped his tight pants.
“Going, going,” the drummer got up and bounded to the door. “Don’t let him cum until you do, pretty girl.”
Leaving the two lovebirds alone in his room, the drummer headed down the hall. It wasn’t long before he found someone else to bug, to drink with. But his thoughts kept flicking back to Robert and Summer. By the time he burst into Jimmy’s room, he had formed quite the idea already. But it wasn’t one he could enact on his own. He needed an accomplice. He needed Jimmy to be in a good mood.
“Hey, PAGEY!” he exclaimed, caring not that Bebe was half-naked. “I need your help.”
“Not now, Bonzo,” he groaned. “And close the door when you leave.”
“But—”
“Bugger off, Bonzo!” he shouted.
Frowning he backed out of the room, closing the door. It wouldn’t he as much fun if it was just him. But who else? He could get his drum tech involved. Or maybe Cole. Oh yes, Cole. He was almost always up for a little bit of fun.
Pounding on the manager’s door a moment later, Bonzo grinned to find Cole was not caught up in doing anything or anyone. It only took him a minute and two shots of whiskey to convince the manager to assist him. Within twenty minutes of leaving his room, Bonzo and Cole lugged a large bucket of ice water towards it. Figuring Robert would be in the thick of things, the drummer laughed, shifting his grip on the bucket, and fumbled his keys out of his pocket. Without pause the two men stumbled into the room, intent on dumping the bucket of cold water on the couple. Two steps into the room, eyes trained on the bed, Bonzo froze. Neither Robert nor Summer were naked. In fact they were just reclining on the bed, backs pressed against the headboard, Robert smoking a cigarette. Had he missed it? Wasn’t Robert supposed to make love to Summer? Wouldn’t that take longer? He was completely confused.
“Hey, John,” Summer greeted him. “Just in time. Dinner should be here soon.”
His mouth dropped open, “I thought... I thought...”
Robert’s gaze flicked to the tour manager, “Didn’t order enough. Sorry, Dick.”
Bonzo looked at the bucket of water, “No sense in wasting this. I’ll be right back.”
Watching the two men leave, Summer broke into giggles. While Robert had been ready to go, she hadn’t. A little bit of sucking and he was temporarily satisfied, something both decided would be enough, figuring that Bonzo would in fact return sooner than later. That and Summer was hungry again, having not eaten much in the past six hours.
A knock sounded at the door, drawing Robert to it to accept the room service. As he opened the door his attention instantly clicked to the end of the hall. Laughing Bonzo and Cole bolted down the hallway. Second later a naked and very pissed Jimmy followed, shouting obscenities. Smirking, knowing full well what had happened, Robert accepted the tray of food and stood holding the door open for the fleeing drummer.
“Phew!” Bonzo grinned as he entered the room. “That was almost as good as getting you.”
“But?” Robert set down the tray.
“Well I’ve seen Bebe naked almost as much as I’ve seen your arse,” he answered, looking at the plates. “Mate, ribs?”
“Summer’s never had them,” he replied, motioning the girl over. “You’re not going to see Summer naked, Bonzo. It’s just not going to happen.”
“Uh huh,” he replied with a mouthful.
Watching Bonzo chew on the rib for a moment, Summer tentatively reached for one. With Robert’s unspoken encouragement, her fingers plucked one off the plate and she sat in a nearby chair, naturally tucking her feel underneath her. Robert watched as she daintily chewed on the rib. Slipping into the chair beside her, he plucked the bone from her fingers, kissed her messy lips, and deposited the bone on an empty plate. She giggled as he kissed her again before offering her another rib.
“My god,” Bonzo muttered.
“What?” Summer’s eyes went to his as her dark pink tongue darted out to lick a bit of sauce from the corner of her mouth.
“Could you two be any fucking cuter?” he asked.
Robert smiled, “She is adorable.”
“The two of you together are. If anyone ever gets in the way of you two, I’ll fucking punch their faces in,” he declared.
“Aww. If it wasn’t so violent, I’d be touched,” Summer teased.
“Hey, Bonzo, have you—oh, hey, Percy,” John Paul entered the room as the door hadn’t been fully closed. “Hi, Summer. Trying ribs, I see.”
She nodded, saying nothing as she nibbled on the rib. An unspoken invitation was tossed out to John Paul who quickly sat down and joined the other three. Before too long the three men began to pick apart the night’s performance, just like they picked apart the ribs. Midway through the discussion, Bonzo paled and disappeared into the bathroom. Summer watched him in concern though neither of the two men seemed bothered by it at all. Without pause, Summer moved to sit on the arm of Bonzo’s chair as he returned.
“John?” she asked softly.
“Yes, hummingbird?”
“Are you, you know, okay?”
He frowned, “The fucking doctor hasn’t done anything for me. And now they’ve got me going to show in a fucking camper in case it hits me again. It’s fucking ridiculous.”
Summer leaned over and kissed his forehead, “I’m sure something will help you out, John.”
“Fuck that,” he growled, getting up again.
Wordlessly the drummer stalked over to the closet. Pulling it open, he snatched a bottle of vodka out of it. He twisted off the cap and tossed it aside. Summer’s eyes focused on the man as he gulped the alcohol. Neither Robert nor John Paul had taken notice or if they had, they were desensitized to it. And oh how that bothered and concerned Summer.
Leaving her perch on the chair, Summer approached the drummer. Her hand reached out for the vodka bottle. Her fingers wrapped around the neck, gently pulling it out of Bonzo’s hand. Holding his gaze, Summer lifted the bottle to her lips. Though she had never drank much, other than the few sips of Robert’s drinks, Summer sucked on the bottle just as Bonzo had. He gasped as she tilted the bottle back down and handed it back, the clear liquid burning her mouth and throat.
“Mate,” Bonzo muttered, glancing at Robert.
“Yeah?”
“Your girl just swallowed more than me.”
Robert instantly jumped up, “What!?”
“Don’t worry,” Summer declared, though her stomach was already clenching. “I’m... I’m okay. If Bonzo can do it, why can’t... oh god.”
She quickly bolted to the bathroom. The young girl barely managed to hunch over the porcelain toilet before her body completely rejected the vodka. Robert knelt beside her, gently rubbing her back, holding back her braids. John Paul also ventured into the bathroom, a glass of water in hand. He quickly soaked a washcloth and handed it to Robert as Summer finally ceased retching. The young girl slumped against the singer, her eyes squeezed close.
“Baby, why did you—”
“I don’t ever want ribs again, Robert,” she muttered.
He kissed her forehead, holding out the glass of water to her, “We won’t have ribs again then, baby.”
Nodding her head, she sipped the water, “And tell John that drinking is fucking bad.”
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