Chapter Ten, Unwanted Arousal
Posted by DiF on Saturday, August 13, 2011
Title: Midnight Shift: Chapter Ten, Unwanted Arousal
Rating: NC-17 [language, alcohol, and sex]
Summary: Relationships with members of the band becomes more complicated.
Completely exhausted Summer was not looking forward to the after party. All she wanted was to crawl into bed in the hotel room and sleep. However the band was not about to allow that, or at least Robert and Bonzo were not. The moment they bounded off the stage triumphant, the drummer scooped the girl away from the singer. He quickly threw her over his shoulder. Squealing she attempted to wiggle free but he held her tightly. As per normal, no one stopped him, allowing him to take her out to his car. Depositing her within, he circled the car and slid in beside her. Arm circling her waist to keep her from exiting, he shouted to his driver.
“Bonzo,” she wiggled free, eyes going to his, “what is wrong with you?”
“Nothin’ love,” he responded, grinning at her.
“You just kidnapped me.”
“Well I figured you got sexed during my solo,” Bonzo uncapped a beer and handed it to her. “Figured you needed a break. Don’t want you to chafe.”
Flushing she shook her head and took a sip of the beer, “I’m fine, John.”
“Even after birthday sex?” he took a long draught from his own beer.
Her eyes snapped to his, “What do you know?”
He grinned, “Don’t you worry, princess. Percy didn’t tell me much. Either way, I thought you could use a break.”
Summer leaned back, taking another drink, “We’re fine, John.”
“Have you gone a night without?”
“Yes.”
“Uh huh.”
“The day after we first.. you know. I was sore so Robert...”
He grinned, “He’s your first?”
“Yes.”
“And now you’re gonna be with him forever.”
“I don’t know.”
“That wasn’t a question,” Bonzo claimed.
“You think it’s true?”
“Of course. But I think you should stay the night with me.”
“I’m not having sex with you, John.”
“I’m not asking you to. I’ll even pass out on the floor. Just a night away from Percy.”
By the time they reached the Edgewater Hotel, Bonzo had her convinced. He even talked her into jumping on his back, piggy backing up to his room. Dropping on his bed, Summer tried to keep a straight face as Bonzo explained to her that she was not to open the door nor answer the phone in a very stern tone. Nodding vigorously, she asked what she got to sleep in, to which he quickly answered “nothing” before changing his mind and offering her a shirt of his.
While Bonzo disappeared into the bathroom, Summer quickly changed and climbed into bed. When he returned to the bedroom she was already nestled in, her eyes drooping close. Smirking Bonzo sat on the edge of the bed, reaching to tuck her hair behind her ears. She smiled tiredly up at him.
“You’re a good lass, Summer,” he proclaimed, leaning down. “A good lass.”
His lips brushed across her forehead. Saying not another word, he got to his feet and turned out the light. A moment later he departed the suite, making certain the door locked behind him. While he would never deny wishing to spend time with the petite girl, he had a sobering realization on the plane: she bad been swept into a busy lifetime that blossomed when the moon rose. He suspected her recent illness could be attributed to the sudden lifestyle change. And so he would protect her that night, perhaps even the following one. With that decision made, Bonzo dragged a chair from a nearby open room and set it before his door. With a bottle of booze, the drummer stationed himself as sentry.
Heading down the hallways towards Bonzo’s room, Robert slowed his steps. Concern bubbled in his thoughts upon seeing his best friend so stationed. Why would Bonzo keep people from his room? Had he given his girlfriend to one of the roadies? What the fuck? Why would he even imagine that was okay? Who was he to—
“Forget it, Percy,” Bonzo declared. “I’m not letting you in.”
“But—”
“Let her sleep,” he stated.
“But—”
“Let her sleep,” Bonzo repeated and took a drag from his bottle. “You’re not going in, Percy.”
“What the fuck am I supposed to do?”
The drummer looked up at him and smirked, “Go back to your room and bang one out.”
“Fuck you, Bonzo. Fuck you.”
Waking in the hotel bed, sprawled diagonally across it, Summer stretched like a content kitten. She could not recall sleeping so soundly before. While she knew Robert was the direct cause of her current lack of sleep, there was something enormously comforting knowing Bonzo fought for her sleep. Thinking of Robert stirred her from her slumber and she rolled out of the expansive hotel bed. After a quick stop at the toilet, Summer headed to the door to the hall and opened it slightly, peering out. Stationed next to the door, Bonzo slept his chin on his chest. Without much consideration Summer crept out, the borrowed shirt barely covering her ass, bent down and kissed Bonzo’s cheek softly. He reached up and scratched his rough cheek again, certain to linger long enough for Bonzo to know it was a kiss.
His eyes flew open, instantly zeroing in on hers. He did not hesitate to pull her into his lap. For a moment they stared at each other before he boldly kissed her on the mouth. Summer gasped and he quickly leaned out of it.
“Did you feel anything?” he muttered softly.
“Besides shock?” she retorted.
“Yeah. Me neither,” he grinned, his arms circling tightly about her waist before he stood up. “So what are we going to do today?”
“Put me down, John,” she responded with a grin on her face.
“Nah. But you better open the door so I don’t accidentally bruise your arse while attempting to do so myself,” he declared.
Acquiescing to his request, Summer turned the handle and pushed the door open with her foot. Bonzo bounded into the room and deposited her back onto the unmade bed. He plopped down next to her, laying on his side to look at her. Not bothering to re-adjust at all, other than to tuck her arms under her head, Summer watched Bonzo’s eyes glance over her. His dark eyes suddenly widened, his pupils dilating. It took her a moments to realize the shirt had slipped up, exposing her nude flower. Unable to help herself, Summer parted her legs slightly.
“Dammit, Summer!” Bonzo growled and quickly rolled out of bed. “You’re my best mate’s girlfriend! Fuck, you’re like a little sister! You can’t do this to me.”
Pleased with his reaction, she slipped off the bed again. Quickly finding her skirt, Summer pulled it on before approaching Bonzo. Standing behind him for a moment, she noted his reflection in the mirror. The drummer’s eyes were closed, his thoughts clearly focused on his breathing and calming his unexpected and unwanted arousal. Sensing calmness overcome him, Summer finally reached up and touched his shoulder. His eyes shot open, his gaze meeting hers in the mirror. With a smile he reached up and touched her hand.
“How about some breakfast?” he suggested. “We’ll figure out our day there.”
After knocking and then pounding on Bonzo’s door, Robert headed away, concerned, upset, and jealous. His best mate had absconded his girlfriend. He was not happy at all. Where was his Summer? Adjusting her shoulder bag on his shoulder, having brought it with him on the assumption she would want its contents, Robert headed to the lobby. He decided to stop at the desk and give Bonzo a call or find out if the drummer left with the girl. Regardless he would find her. He had to.
Stepping out of the lift, he headed towards the front desk. His eyes flitted over the restaurant and he instantly stopped. His blue eyes focused on Summer seated at a table by the window. Her gaze was focused on the water outside, her lips slightly agape. By the animation of Bonzo’s hands, one of the things that clearly identified him to Robert, he presumed the drummer was explaining something to the petite girl. That hardly concerned him, but maybe it should.
With the discovery of the pair, his initial destination was now unnecessary and he headed into the restaurant. Before he neared the table, his little girl looked away from the window and in his direction. Their eyes met and she instantly smiled. In that simple look he felt all his negative emotions disappear. Everything was all right. She was all right.
“Robert,” she breathed, standing up when he neared.
Without delay his arms circled her, their lips touching, and he muttered, “I could not sleep without you.”
She kissed him again, “With Bonzo guarding my door, I slept better than I have in ages.”
Robert frowned, “But—”
“So I’ll have plenty of energy for today,” she winked before returning to her seat.
Nodding his hello to Bonzo, Robert sat in the chair beside her, “Did you at least dream of me?”
“I must have,” she responded. “Because I woke up very wet.”
Bonzo coughed, nearly choking on his mouthful of eggs.
Glancing across the table at his friend, Robert couldn’t help his smile, “You okay there, Bonzo?”
The drummer nodded, “Just wasn’t expecting that.”
Summer grinned, “I hope you can wait to go on the carousel?”
“Uh... yeah, sure,” he responded.
After Robert placed his breakfast order, Summer bubbled about the sea lion she had seen out the window. With the repeating of Bonzo’s explanation and Robert refuting that sea lions were lions from Africa who just decided to swim over, Summer’s interest in the water outside overshadowed everything else. It took a promise from the singer to visit the piers to get her to look away from the windows. As the waitress placed Robert’s plate in front of him, he remembered the bag on his shoulder and handed it over to Summer.
Having not seen the bag for nearly a week, Summer gasped and once more ignored her food to turn her attention to it. Her hands instantly reached inside. Digging out her brush first, she continued to shuffle around in it. Neither of the men paid her any attention, engrossed in their conversation. Finding the hard circular case, Summer fished it out. Letting the bag fall to the floor unceremoniously, her eyes focused on the case in her hands. Her pulse quickened and her palms sweated. For the life of her, she could not remember the last time she took any of the pills. Opening the case would answer that. Biting her bottom lip, Summer clicked open the pill container. Her eyes quickly went to the last empty space in the container.
It had been four days.
Closing the case as silently as she opened it, Summer set it on the table. Her hand instantly dropped down, her palm pressed to her abdomen. Four days without birth control and a few of those filled with sex very well could me... she could very well be...
Noticing the girl hadn’t touched her food since Robert joined them and the lack of color in her cheeks, Bonzo spoke up, “You okay, darling?”
She shook her head, only meeting his eyes briefly.
Robert reached over and gently touched her left hand, “Baby, what’s wrong?”
“Robert,” she muttered, her left hand moving his to join the hand on her abdomen.
For a moment he was clueless as to why he was touching her stomach. It suddenly dawned on him what she was trying to tell him. His eyes widened and dropped down to their hands. He pulled his hand free and gently rubbed her flat belly. Normally with any other road wife, the very hint of what she was telling him would petrify him. But for some reason, Robert felt his heart fill with hope.
Bonzo did not quite understand what was going on and blurted out as much.
Summer met his eyes, “I’ve missed four days of birth control.”
His eyes widened, “You mean you could be....?”
She nodded.
“What are you going to do, Percy?”
“Exactly what I should do: love and support her.”
“Um, well good. I suppose congratulations are in order?” Bonzo asked.
“It’s not... it’s not a guarantee, John,” she muttered softly. “Just a possibility.”
Robert lifted his hand to his mouth and kissed it, “I love you, Summer. Come what may.”
Leaning out of the window, Robert took a deep drag on the cigarette. While Summer showered alone, he attempted to collect his thoughts. Just the very thought of her being pregnant with his child filled him with more joy than he believed possible. He knew without a doubt their child would be perfect, would be beautiful. How could it not? But on the other hand, it frightened him too. He knew people would talk about it, claim she only got pregnant for his money, never mind her age. And what would he tell his wife? While he had already decided to leave Maureen, now doing so was far more pressing. Maureen had been pregnant before they married so he was not counting on marrying Summer before their child was born. However he knew she would need the assurance that he would be there for her every step of the way.
He needed to call his wife.
Grinding out his cigarette on the window sill and then flicking it into the bay, Robert headed over to the bed. Sitting down, he picked up the phone and waited for the front desk to answer. Not even thinking about the time difference Robert counted the seconds between rings.
“Hello?” a groggy voice answered.
“Oh, Maureen, did I wake you?” guilt instantly tempered his courage.
“Robert?”
“Hello, darling,” he stated.
“What are you... why are you calling so late? The children are already asleep and so was I,” she declared.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t think of the time. Go back to bed. I’ll ring you another time,” he responded.
“Nonsense. It has been a week since we spoke last. I will not give up this opportunity to speak with my husband.”
“How have the children been?” he asked.
“Well yesterday Carmen...”
Standing nude in front of the mirror, Summer turned side-to-side. While she knew it was much to early to know if she was pregnant, now that the idea had touched her thoughts she couldn’t think of anything else. Pushing her stomach out as much as possible, she tried to imagine the swell of a baby growing. Her hands cupped her small breasts, imagining how much larger they would become as they fill with milk.
It had never been her intention to get pregnant, at least not for a few years. But then again she had not expected to fall in love with Robert. Had she planned pregnancy, she would have never bothered with the pills now in the trash. But she truly believed things happened for a reason, when they were meant to. She and Robert were meant to be and this child – should she be pregnant – was proof of such.
Braiding her hair back from her face, Summer dressed in the crocheted white halter top and patchwork denim skirt Robert packed for her. A part of her felt guilty for possibly needing a whole new set of clothes soon. Perhaps she could make something to sell in order to earn her own money. In the very least, she wished to make Robert something.
As she was finally fully dressed, having been in the bathroom for nearly an hour, Summer opened the door and stepped out. Robert’s back was to her, the curl of a phone cord barely visible. Remaining quiet and where she was Summer paused to figure out whether or not to interrupt his conversation.
“You know I love you. I always have, always will. It’s torture to be on the road so long without you,” Robert stated.
Her heart seized up in her chest. His words shattered her very soul. Less than two hours before he professed his love to her, promised her they would always be together. But now... now he was saying the same to another. He was... he was... fuck him.
Tears streaking her face, Summer quickly picked up her shoulder bag. Her bleary eyes noticed her guitar case and quickly her fingers snapped it up, accidentally slamming its head into the wall. She heard Robert mutter something, but cared not about his words. Instead she flung open the door as he scrambled to hung up the phone. Letting the door slam behind her, Summer headed blindly down the hallway, the opposite direction from Bonzo’s room. Three steps away from Robert’s room, she ran into Jimmy. He quickly noticed the crystalline tears in her eyes and the guitar in her hand. Without a word, he grabbed her empty hand and quickly pulled her to his room. As his door closed, Robert’s opened; the singer missing his girlfriend by seconds.
Pulling the guitar from her clutches as well as her handmade bag, Jimmy lead Summer to his bed. After guiding her to sit, he filled a glass with water, checked the lock on his door, and fetched a box of tissues. Sitting beside her, he offered the glass of water before the tissues. As her crying had already lead to hiccups, Summer accepted the glass and drained it. Jimmy set it on the nearby nightstand and then offered her tissues.
Once her tears and sobs slowed, he spoke, “What did Percy do to hurt you, sweetheart?”
Her teary eyes went to his, “On... on the ph-phone... he t-told... h-her... h-he...”
Jimmy’s arms circled the young woman, his lips grazing her forehead before she buried her face on his shoulder. He presumed Robert had been on the phone with his wife and Summer’s reaction alone convinced him the singer probably hadn’t been serious a few nights before when claiming he would leave Maureen. A part of him wanted to beat Robert for making Summer cry, but he knew Bonzo would take care of that should Jimmy ask. Instead he would lavish his attention on the girl in his arms. It was the perfect opportunity he had been awaiting.
“Do not cry, sweetheart,” Jimmy claimed. “Percy is not worthy of your tears at all.”
“But... J-jimmy,” she sobbed, her fingers bunching up his shirt. “He... he...”
Pulling back, Jimmy’s thumbs caught her tears as they snaked down her cheeks. Her reddened eyes looked into his, waiting for him to say something, anything to make it better. Though she had no reason to trust Jimmy to do that, after all she only knew him fleetingly, he was the magician of the group. He could do anything. She was certain of it. Jimmy could make everything okay. With her wide, expectant eyes on him, Jimmy shifted a bit uncomfortably. He could tell she wanted something of him, even though he didn’t know her that well. Summer certainly was not veiling her emotions like so many others did. And in that moment, he truly understood her appeal to Robert. It wasn’t just that she was a sexy little thing and clearly wanting to please the singer. It wasn’t just that she made everyone smile when she was around. It wasn’t just this odd aura about her that lightened the load of life. She was real and true and natural. And for a moment, all of his erotic desires for making the little girl his disappeared, but not entirely. Her bottom lip quivered ever so slightly, causing his eyes to snap to it. His libido quickly responded to the curve of her lips and he momentarily forgot why he was sheltering the young woman in his room. Without consideration, Jimmy hands slid from her cheeks, his finger framing her face, and he leaned forward. Her eyes fluttered close as she prepared for his kiss. A touch surprised that she was so receptive and far more pleased about it than he expected, Jimmy’s lips neared Summer’s. Part of him thought himself crazy to be doing this to his mate’s girlfriend but the the part that was attracted to her screamed so much louder. A breath away from touching his lips to hers, Jimmy stopped, a pounding at the door.
Summer’s eyes went wide and she instantly recovered. Scowling at the interruption, Jimmy got to his feet and stalked over to the door. Anger alight in his eyes, he wrenched the door open. Anyone else would have backed away in fear of the dark lord’s wrath. Robert was not just anyone and that complicated matters even more.
“What?” Jimmy fumed.
“Have you seen Summer? She—”
“Leave her be,” the guitarist interrupted.
“So you’ve seen her?”
“Whatever you did makes you unworthy of her presence. Leave her be.”
“Where did she go?” Robert pressed.
Sighing Summer got to her feet and approached the door. Her hand gently touched Jimmy’s shoulder, the one that was out of Robert’s view. The guitarist quickly looked to her. Anger was still apparent in his eyes. Kissing her fingertips, Summer touched his mouth. That garnered Robert’s attention, his hand flat on the door pressing. Jimmy’s knuckles turned white as he attempted to bar the singer’s entry. Summer’s hand covered his and she gently pulled his away from the door.
“Summer, what’s—”
“You don’t get to ask that,” she declared boldly.
“What—”
“No, Robert,” Summer interrupted, still standing behind Jimmy, looking over his shoulder. “You gave up that privilege when you told another you loved them. I’m not—”
“Dammit, Summer,” he interjected angrily, “I was talking to my daughter. Are you bloody saying I can’t tell my daughter I love her?”
Summer blinked but did not relax her stance, “And what did you tell your wife?”
Had he been in the middle of anyone else’s argument, Jimmy would have stepped aside and let the two of them figure it out on their own. For whatever reason though, he felt this unyielding desire to stay where he was, to protect her. She certainly wasn’t like any other groupie he had known.
Robert sighed, “The whole reason I called was to start the dialogue of divorce. So that I could bloody be with you.”
“You were going to break up with her on the phone?” her eyes narrowed. “Asshole.”
Jimmy smirked but remained quiet.
Robert noticed it though, his eyes flicking briefly to the guitarist, “Summer, just come with me so we can talk about this.”
“I don’t think so. I’m not going anywhere with you.”
“Right because Jimmy loves you half as much as me.”
“Jimmy isn’t married.”
“You didn’t seem to care about that a week ago.”
Her mouth dropped open. Even Jimmy shifted as if he was going to punch Robert.
Robert threw his hands up in the air, “I give up! What the hell do you want from me?”
“I gave you my life, Robert. The least you could do is give me some fucking consideration,” she retorted.
“Did you not hear me? I’m leaving Maureen for you,” he declared. “I’m breaking up my home for you. I’m leaving everything for you.”
“Why should I believe you?”
“Oh I don’t know. Maybe because I love you?”
“That’s what you told her on the phone.”
“That’s what I told my daughter on the phone.”
“Uh huh.”
“You know what? Fine. I give up. I give up,” he claimed and turned away. “Do what you want.”
Before the singer began to walk away, Jimmy closed the door. While he didn’t really think that Summer really wanted him over Robert suddenly, he knew closing the door made her that much more his. With the door closed, he turned to face her once more. Her large eyes were once more filled with tears. He hated that haunted tint of her sapphire eyes and he hated Robert for putting it there. He would have a number of choice words for the singer at another time.
Pulling her into his arms once more, Jimmy kissed her forehead before muttering, “You did the right thing, sweetheart.”
“Then why does it hurt so much?”
He was livid. While he understood Summer’s feelings, did not have any issues with said feelings, Robert was still ready to punch someone’s face in. And that someone was a rather smug guitarist. The very gall of Jimmy to stand there, protecting Summer. Why the fuck did Summer need protection? Robert wasn’t going to hurt her; he would never hurt her. What the fuck was Jimmy’s problem?
Cocooned in his rage, Robert saw no one, nothing, as he stalked down the hallway. Because of such he hadn’t presence of mind to avoid running into John Paul. The bassist instinctively reached out to balance the singer. Robert instantly snapped back his arm, his blue eyes flashing to John Paul. He barely managed to not take a swing at the man, though he had done nothing wrong at all.
“Whoa! What’s wrong, mate?” he asked.
Scowling Robert replied, “Jimmy.”
Unable to conceal his sigh, John Paul nodded and motioned him to follow. With some reluctance, he trailed behind the other man, following into his room. Silently plopping down in a small chair, Robert watched as John Paul pulled out a beer for him. After making certain Robert would drink, he sat down to roll a joint.
Once Robert had drunk half of his beer and smoked a few puffs of the joint, John Paul asked what Jimmy had done. Remaining silent through a couple more tokes, he turned the story over in his mind. He understood Robert was certainly being protective of Summer, even thought he must have done something for the girl to flee to Jimmy. But he did think the singer was overreacting, or at least he hoped as much.
“You need to talk with Summer. I’m sure that she will tel you that you have nothing to worry about,” John Paul stated.
“But she kissed him!”
The bassist’s mouth dropped open, “What?”
“Right in front of me too!”
John Paul shook his head, “I don’t believe it. She loves you. She gave up California for you. No, it couldn’t have happened.”
“It did. I bet they’re shagging right now,” he scowled and finished his beer.
“Poppycock. Give your woman more credit than that.”
“She kissed him in front of me!”
“Robert, tell me what happened, beginning to end. Starting with this morning.”
Maybe if she hadn’t been so upset she wouldn’t have accepted the glass of whiskey from Jimmy. It had burned down her throat and tingled in her belly, but she welcomed it at the moment. It could not be as bad as the pain in her heart. He told someone else he loved her. There was absolutely no reason for him to believe that he was talking to his daughter. After all she was a disposable fuck. She was a groupie. The fact he walked away confirmed it.
Her blue eyes went to Jimmy. He slipped the high ball glass from her fingers and set it upon the nearby nightstand. Reaching for her now empty hand, he lifted it to his mouth and kissed her fingers.
“You have perfect fingers, Summer,” he claimed. “No wonder you are at ease with a guitar.”
Unable to hold his intense gaze, she looked away, pulling her hand free, “He doesn’t...”
“Of course he loves you,” he responded, cringing slightly as he spoke.
“That’s what he told her on the phone.”
“He could have been talking to his daughter.”
Her eyes went back to his, “Who is Carmen?”
Oh how he wanted to lie to her, to malign Robert in her heart. But as her large innocent eyes looked into his, he could not. No girl, nah, woman had ever bewitched him so much. And while normally that would be cause for concern, it wasn’t with Summer. And he didn’t know why.
“Carmen is his little girl. She’s six now I think,” Jimmy answered. “Karac is his son.”
Her eyes widened slightly, “Carmen is really his daughter?”
“Yes.”
“Oh, Jimmy, what am I going to do?”
He grabbed her hand to keep her from getting up and regretfully said, “Stay here for a bit and calm down. We’ll play guitar for awhile. Then you can go apologize.”
Having heard the entire story now, John Paul got to his feet and headed over to the window. Looking out across the bay, he attempted to pull all his thoughts together. None of them had impregnated girls before – to his knowledge – and he knew he would have to speak to Summer about responsible sex, though seemingly it was too late for that. But then again none of them had fallen in love with any of the girls either. Jimmy was often smitten but quickly fell out once they fulfilled whatever it was he wanted. Bonzo rarely touched the same girl twice, his guilt so strong the following morning to swear girls off. John Paul himself rarely dallied in the pleasures of flesh. And Robert seemed fairly pragmatic, holding onto some for periods of time, but never attached like he was with Summer. Understanding she was different than other girls did not explain why she had a golden glow. Maybe it was the fact she embodied the life they gave up, he didn’t know. But he did know Robert loved her.
And she clearly loved him too.
“I do not believe she is having sex with Jimmy,” he slowly proclaimed. “And her kiss was practically platonic. She’s terrified that she gave up everything for you and that you won’t return her love for you. And let’s face it, if she is pregnant she will definitely need more assurances. She walked out on a conversation that sounded like her fear manifest. It doesn’t matter that it really wasn’t. She heard you mutter those sacred words to another.”
“My daughter.”
John Paul turned to face Robert, “That doesn’t matter in the scheme of things.”
“It was enough to drive her to Jimmy.”
“Whose room is just three down from yours,” the bassist pointed out. “He was likely just in the corridor when she was fleeing you. Nothing more. It could have been any of us.”
“But it was Jimmy.”
“Luckily it wasn’t Cole.”
Robert looked down at the carpet, “What should I do?”
“Have another beer and I’ll go scout for you,” he offered. “I’ll bring her to you.”
Smiling Jimmy watched Summer pluck the strings on her guitar. He truly meant his compliment: her fingers were long and agile, dancing over the strings. Though she played no song, just played, he knew teaching her would not only be easy but a pleasure. She had an ear for it and he sensed a talent. Plus there was the added benefit of any teaching time being special time between the two of them.
“Good,” he stated once she stopped. “Can you hear her personality?”
“I think so,” Summer replied.
“Let’s teach you a new song, yes?” Jimmy shifted closer to her, one arm snaking around behind her, his hand covering hers.
With his fingers on hers, he positioned hers for the first note. His lips nearly touching her ear, Jimmy instructed her to close her eyes and strum slowly. Ever so gently he guided her fingers, his breath dancing on her neck. Jimmy stopped guiding her fingers as soon as he noticed she seemed to have it. Summer continued to play the melody for a few more moments. Eyes focused on her face, Jimmy’s lips twitched into a smile. She was a quick learner, a natural, her fingers skilled. Naturally his brain jumped to what other things her fingers were talented at; there had to be a reason Robert was so enamoured. Brushing aside the thought of the singer with the pretty guitarist practically in his arms at the moment, he focused more on the song she played. His gaze focused on her pouty lips as they curved slowly into a smile. Resistance he had not and he gently kissed her ear.
Smiling a bit more but not losing a not of the song her fingers quickly memorized, Summer chose to add her voice to her playing, “I don’t know how I’m gonna tell you/I can’t play with you no more...”
Eyes going to his, Summer was uncertain about the emotions he revealed as she played and sang until she was uncertain of the guitar part, but he soon cleared that up. Jimmy gently lifted the guitar free from her hands and set it on the bed on his other side. He turned back to her, his hand cupping her cheek. Again before his lips could touch hers and light the smoldering fire within, a knock sounded at the door. Softer than Robert’s attack earlier, Jimmy ignored it and finished his action. The moment their lips touched, he felt his entire body center in that kiss. She did not relax into the caress but did not retract either – until the same soft knock repeated.
“Jimmy,” she muttered, pulling back, “you need to—”
“They can come back later, princess,” he muttered, leaning in to kiss her again.
“Jimmy, please,” Summer stated. “Please.”
Sighing he nodded and got up to answer the door as a third knock , louder this time, sounded. He blinked twice, surprised to find John Paul in the hotel much less standing at his door.
“Jonesy.”
“Pagey,” he nodded, glancing in the room. “I’d like to speak with Summer if I may.”
Shrugging Jimmy pushed the door open fully before stepping out of the way, “If she wishes.”
She stood as the bassist stepped into the room. He glanced at the bed first, pleased to find it unmessed. His sight landed on the girl’s guitar next. That explained the delay in the answering of the door as well as why she had lingered with Jimmy. John Paul felt slightly vindicated and was certain he would tell Robert exactly what he found.
“Would you care to go on a walk with me?” he asked.
Her eyes went to Jimmy who did not even glance in her direction as he dug in a drawer for something. Looking back to John Paul, she nodded. He held his hand out to her, but before she accepted she muttered about the need to take care of her guitar first. Jimmy interjected that he would do it, she could return for it later. Nodding her hand slipped into John Paul’s and she followed him towards the door. Pausing in the doorway, her eyes went to Jimmy. Though she said nothing, he nodded nonetheless. Neither really knew what the other was thinking but that would come later, Jimmy was sure of it, when she returned for her guitar and bag.
Not wanting the distraction of anyone or anything, John Paul lead her not only down the hall but down to the ground level. Neither spoke as they passed through the lobby, stepping out into the city of Seattle. Aware of her lack of footwear as per normal, John Paul stayed on the sidewalk, leading her safely to a bench facing the water. They sat silently for a few moments, Summer’s eyes searching the water for life.
“I spoke with Robert,” John Paul stated.
Looking to him, Summer nodded, “I figured as much.”
“Do you really think you’re pregnant?”
“I don’t know. But I could me. It’s been five days since I last took a pill. And Robert and I have.... you know. And I’m not bleeding yet, so it’s possible,” she responded softly, looking down at her hands.
“Summer, if you’re going to be having sex, you need to be responsible about it,” John Paul stated.
“But I was!” she quickly defended. “I didn’t want to get sick!”
His brows furrowed, “What do you mean?”
“When I was sick a few days ago,” she reminded him, “the last time I took a pill was before then.”
“Regardless, you should have been more careful.”
Summer frowned, “And he has no responsibility in this?”
“Of course he does. But did he not think you were on the Pill?”
“Don’t you dare blame this all on me, John Paul Jones,” she snapped. “Don’t you dare.”
“Fine. But as soon as we return to LA, I’m taking you to a doctor.”
“But – wait. Why would you do that?”
“I promised to always take care of you,” he replied.
Summer looked at him blankly before looking back at the water, “You probably think I’m some money-grubbing whore now, who was just trying to ensnare me a rock star.”
He patted her leg assuredly, “No, sweetie, I don’t. There were a couple of mistakes made by all parties. I still think you’re a sweet, loving, natural woman.”
“Robert doesn’t. I’m sure he thinks I’m fucking Jimmy now.”
“Are you?”
Her eyes flashed to his, “No. Only Robert do I touch so.”
He nodded, “He loves you, you know.”
Summer sighed, “He shouldn’t. I doubted him.”
“Summer, you merely jumped to conclusions. It was wrong but not unsurprising,” he stated.
“He hates me, doesn’t he?”
“Not at all. He’s hurting right now. That much I know. But Percy loves you. You know he does. That’s why you left California behind. You know he loves you.”
“I... Jonesy, I’ve hurt him. How can he...”
“You’ll go apologize to him then. I’m sure he will understand,” he offered.
“What do I... say?”
“Start with ‘I love you’ and go from there.”
John Paul stopped at Jimmy’s room to collect Summer’s belongings before continuing down the hall to Robert’s room. Leaving the young woman there rather than bring her to his room, he headed to retrieve the singer. His brief visit with Summer once more supported his read on her. Despite her naivete, John Paul knew she was hiding so much more inside of her. Whatever it was that was the source of her wariness of Robert, though he himself had cautioned her. The singer inexplicably loved her and John Paul could say nothing to change that. Nor did he want to. If it was truly love, which it very well could be, then he would not stand in their way. But neither would he abandon Summer.
Opening the door to his room he was unsurprised to find Robert occupied himself in his absence. Luckily he had turned to other follies than sex with a groupie. Looking to John Paul, Robert wiped his nose with the back of his hand, a small mirror on the table in front of him.
“Where’s Jane?” John Paul asked not seeing the coke lady around.
“Cole was with her,” Robert answered. “I sent both away.”
He nodded, “Summer’s waiting for you.”
“She is?” he perked up. “Where?”
“Your room,” the bassist answered.
“Thank you, Jonesy,” he quickly stood up.
“Remember: she loves you,” he stated as the singer rushed to the door.
Hurrying down the hallway not nearly quickly enough, Robert burst into his room. Summer practically jumped, not expecting such an entrance. For a moment they stood in tense repose, neither certain what the next move was.
“I love you,” she breathed. “I’m sorry.”
“Oh baby,” he muttered and closed the space between to embrace her. “I love you too. I’m so sorry to make you doubt me. I’m promise that we’re going to—”
Summer cut off his words by kissing him, “I’m sorry, Robert. So sorry.”
“I forgive you, baby,” he muttered and kissed her again.
“I shouldn’t have doubted you. It was wrong of me. I—”
“I understand how it probably sounded to you, Summer. I hadn’t expected to talk to my kids, just Maureen. But the phone ringing woke up Carmen too. I couldn’t not talk to her,” he explained. “But I know it must have been nerve-wracking and confusing to walk out on. I’m sorry you had to feel that way.”
“Robert, I...”
“I know,” he kissed her nose. “I’m leaving Maureen. I’m going to be at your side always, Summer.”
“But...”
His hand touched her abdomen, “I’m already united with you here. We will never part.”
“She is the mother of your children. Does it mean less with her?”
Robert paused, “Yes. While I will always have affection for her, have a connection with her, because of the children, its you that I love, you that I’m in love with.”
Her hand covered his crotch, “And it’s not just little Robert Anthony who says that?”
Peeling her hand off, hoping she didn’t feel his instant thickening at her touch, he placed her palm on his chest, “It’s my heart that says so.”
Summer sighed, “I want to believe you, Robert. I do.”
“But?”
Pulling away from him she paced away and sat on the bed, “I’m just a groupie you might have knocked up.”
He instantly frowned, “Summer, how many times do we have to got through this? You’re not a groupie. You’ve never been a groupie. Fuck, Summer, you’ve met them. They’re just two bit whores who just fuck to touch fame. We know that. You know that. And you’re nothing like them at all.”
“If they’re just two bit whores, why do you keep them around? Why did you fuck them?”
Robert sat on the bed beside her, reaching for her left hand, his fingers focusing on the ring, “Do you really want to know that?”
“If I’m so different than them, then yes, I need to know your motivation in sleeping with them opposed to me.”
“Hormones. Raging libido. Loneliness,” he responded. “Because I could.”
And me? I wasn’t just another tick mark in some ledger?”
“No. I know from outside appearances you would think that, especially since we made love the very first night and most nights since. And certainly a big part of our frequent lovemaking is some of the same reasons as me fucking the groupies. To be honest before you it wasn’t real. I felt like a sex machine. Until I touched you and everything changed. My libido, my desire for you is fueled by my love of you. With the groupies it didn’t matter who they were. But now I am all consumed by you,” Robert confessed. “I need you like I need music, food, and breath. Those girls were just some place to bury my prick.”
Carefully considering his words, Summer slowly found herself believing him. Perhaps it was easier to believe because she was completely entrenched in the world of Led Zeppelin, shielded in a way. The only groupie she knew was Lori and she was now banned because of her threats on Summer. In a way it was not unlike the commune. Again she was sheltered from the rest of the world, cocooned within a small enclave of society. She really had nothing to compare Robert’s words with, no reason to doubt him. Eyes rising to meet his, Summer released her doubts. He loved her. She was no groupie.
Seeing the moment of realization flash in her eyes, Robert released an unknown held breath. His arms quickly circled her waist, pulling her into his lap as her arms slipped around his neck. Their lips met passionately, as if they were sealing their relationship with that kiss. Pulling out of it, Summer adjusted her position in his lap, straddling his lap with some difficulty because of her denim skirt. Better situated Summer’s hands framed his face, her lips touching his again. He smiled in the innocent kiss, his arms tightening about her waist. Looking into her eyes, Robert pivoted, placing Summer on her back. He kissed her deeply, his right hand cupping her breast.
Though he wanted so much to make love to her right then, something in the back of his mind declared he would prove more by not getting naked and spreading her legs. With some difficulty he pulled away from her. Taking a deep breath in part to silence his pounding blood, in part to prepare himself for her reaction, Robert looked down at his little girl. Her eyes fluttered open, meeting his. Confusion filled her glittering orbs, but soon she smiled up at him. Her fingers reached up and caressed his cheek lovingly.
“Take me out to dinner?” she requested softly.
Grinning he dipped down for a quick kiss, “Absolutely.”
It was absolutely unfair, without a doubt. While he knew she was Robert’s first, Jimmy knew he had been onto something. Just five more minutes and he knew she would be as enchanted as he was. He felt it in her kiss. That simple forbidden pleasure had been divine. He understood Robert’s infatuation. The girl just had it. And the bloody bassist came and took her away from him. While Jimmy had wanted to keep Summer to himself, he was aware that doing so to John Paul would make it appear as if he cared more than should. The only one who needed to know of his affection was Summer and even that was dubious. Falling for anyone on the road was wrong as Robert was proving. Jimmy still found it all unfair.
Pacing his room, his mind raced about his next course of action. He would love to stomp down the hall and pound on Robert’s door, as he had done earlier on Jimmy’s. But again that fought against his clear decision to be very discreet about his actions, especially in regards to Summer. So clearly that was out. Besides did he want her with the taste of Robert all over her? Fuck, he wanted her anyway he could have her. He was just certain her lithe body would curve and fit his perf—no. He needed to not think of the prize at the end of the game. He needed to focus on his strategy to get such.
Clearly the guitar lessons was his in. No one would deny them that. The girl did have talent. And he was an able body to teach her to harness it. He would use their connection to his advantage, get her to practice twice a day, perhaps even spend time with his guitar tech at shows, thusly taking her from contact with Robert. He would use music to seduce her; it did work on other girls after all.
However plotting to ensnare Summer did little for his mood that night, nor his slight erection from thinking about her in his bed. Until he could have her, he would have to pretend he already did. But why masturbate when many a nubile groupie would play to all his desires? He didn’t want just any groupie though, not at all. While none would even compare to Summer, she would need to at least complement the Californian. But to find one in Seattle?
Throwing his door open, Jimmy stalked down the hallway. Halting in front of Cole’s door, he knocked loudly. The sound of a girlish squeal passed through the door, inciting Jimmy to knock even louder. This time he was certain he had been heard; the door opened to confirm such. The tour manager was completely naked, two girls squirming on the bed behind him, not that Jimmy looked down to confirm the state of Cole’s pants. He didn’t need nor want to see that.
“Hey, Jimmy,” Cole grinned. “Come to have a little fun?”
Looking at the two girls who were likely more into each other than Cole, he shook his head, “No, but I need you to get me something.”
“Anything, Pagey.”
“A blonde. To my room,” he declared, turned and headed back to prepare.
Finding his zippo lighter, Jimmy lit the various candles around the room and clicked off the single lamo he had on since Summer’s visit. Pausing with that thought, he frowned, wishing it was her he prepared for. It would be soon; he was sure of it. Jimmy considered changing his clothing but quickly discarded it. He had no need to impress anyone, least of all the groupie Cole would deliver him soon.
A soft knock at the door indicated his request had arrived. He did not move from the armchair he sait in, sipping whisky from a glass. The door slowly opened, a young woman stepping in, a gruff voice instructing her from behind. She squeaked slightly when the door slammed behind her.
“Good evening,” Jimmy muttered very softly.
The girl turned to face him. Dark gray eyes inspected her like a predator of its prey. Her hair appeared the color of straw in the candlelight, severely lacking the golden glow of Summer’s. Her face was unremarkable, plainly oval without any striking features at all, no matter how she attempted to emphasize her eyes with the thick eyeshadow. Her breasts were larger than Summer’s, but she seemed heavier and perhaps taller anyways. In fact she was nothing at all like Summer, but she was blond just as he requested. It mattered not; she would fulfill his need.
“Come,” he held out his hand, his fingers beckoning her.
She slowly approached the guitarist, slipping her hand into his. Guiding her into his lap, Jimmy lifted his glass to her lips. Her mouth opened to speak after her drink. Not caring for speech, he shook his head to pre-emptively silence her. His hand reached up and fondled her breast, mentally comparing it to how he was certain Summer’s would feel in his hand. Finding the girl in his lap so lacking in so many ways, he made no attempt to hide his disgust.
His hand dropped away from her breast, “Take your clothes off.”
Getting out of his lap, she smiled at him somewhat seductively, baring teeth that looked as crooked as the whores back in England. Looking away from her face as it drew such a stark contrast to Summer’s pretty visage, Jimmy watched the groupie peel her clothes off. Smirking as he did not find her gyrations at all sexy, he shifted slightly in his seat. If he squinted his eyes enough, he could almost pretend she was Summer, could almost imagine she had fluid rhythm in her body. Maybe he needed to finish his bottle of Jack first. Focusing on gulping down the whisky, Jimmy closed his eyes, not caring for her horrible strip tease. Pretending the feminine scent in the room belonged to Summer hardly made the image of the girl in front of him disappear. He needed Summer, not this whore.
“Summer,” he breathed into his whisky bottle, before tilting it back again.
As the last drops of alcohol worked its way into the last sober cells in his body, Jimmy smiled more. His eyes opened, the booze blurring his vison well enough he could easily transpose Summer’s loveliness upon the nudity before him. Stumbling to his feet, his cock growing with each thought of touching Robert’s little blond, Jimmy dropped the bottle of Jack on the floor, the empty glass rolling away from their feet. Briefly his eyes touched hers, glanced at her face, recognized she was not his Summer.
“Lay down,” he pointed at the bed.
The naked girl headed towards the bed, thinking her hips were swaying seductively. Jimmy paid little attention to her, his eyes blurring her outline with the slighter curves of the girl in his mind. He knew he would not be able to keep the illusion up indefinitely. Something would break his perfect idealization of the groupie into an angel. He could not allow that.
“On your stomach,” he declared, his eyes briefly focusing on the mass of dark curls covering her sex.
As the girl complied, Jimmy stripped off his jeans and discarded his shirt. His fingers trailed up the back of her leg to her spine as he walked towards the nightstand. She made some sort of sound, but he that he completely tuned out; her voice was not at all comparable to Summer’s, had not musicality to it at all. His fingers left her soft skin, snagging a frail, overprocessed strand. Shaking it off like a sticky cobweb, he pulled open the drawer of his nightstand as her head pivoted to see what he was doing. Without pause he tied a satin scarf over her eyes, more to conceal her lifeless brown eyes than to keep her from seeing what he was doing, and moved to bind her wrists and ankles as well.
Kneeling on the bed between her parted legs, Jimmy’s eyes dropped down to her well-exposed sex. He could see the slight quivering moisture of her arousal. He could do anything to this groupie he wanted, without question – except the one thing he really wanted to do: turn her into someone else. His eyes racked over her back, settling on the slight rise before her arse. A smile suddenly lit his visage. The night of her birthday, Summer’s dress had dipped down her back, nearly exposing her crack. While the sight and now the thought of such aroused Jimmy greatly, that was not the immediate focus of his thoughts at the moment. She had a freckle just to the right of her spine – and so did the girl laying naked under him, though a little higher than Summer’s. And that thought was enough for him to blur the lines of whom he was bedding and whom he wished to be.
After kissing the freckle, Jimmy pulled abruptly away, making the girl whimper. A sadistic smile graced his face. He was going to punish her for loving Robert, for not being with him always. He would make her cry out for him. She was his.
Reaching into the drawer once more, Jimmy pulled out a cat o’nine tails. Turning to the girl, he dragged the multi-tailed whip gently over the curve of her ass, letting a few strings slip down to tickle her labia. She moaned and wiggled some, pulling on her satin restraints. Jimmy cared little. Her pain would be his pleasure.
Rating: NC-17 [language, alcohol, and sex]
Summary: Relationships with members of the band becomes more complicated.
Completely exhausted Summer was not looking forward to the after party. All she wanted was to crawl into bed in the hotel room and sleep. However the band was not about to allow that, or at least Robert and Bonzo were not. The moment they bounded off the stage triumphant, the drummer scooped the girl away from the singer. He quickly threw her over his shoulder. Squealing she attempted to wiggle free but he held her tightly. As per normal, no one stopped him, allowing him to take her out to his car. Depositing her within, he circled the car and slid in beside her. Arm circling her waist to keep her from exiting, he shouted to his driver.
“Bonzo,” she wiggled free, eyes going to his, “what is wrong with you?”
“Nothin’ love,” he responded, grinning at her.
“You just kidnapped me.”
“Well I figured you got sexed during my solo,” Bonzo uncapped a beer and handed it to her. “Figured you needed a break. Don’t want you to chafe.”
Flushing she shook her head and took a sip of the beer, “I’m fine, John.”
“Even after birthday sex?” he took a long draught from his own beer.
Her eyes snapped to his, “What do you know?”
He grinned, “Don’t you worry, princess. Percy didn’t tell me much. Either way, I thought you could use a break.”
Summer leaned back, taking another drink, “We’re fine, John.”
“Have you gone a night without?”
“Yes.”
“Uh huh.”
“The day after we first.. you know. I was sore so Robert...”
He grinned, “He’s your first?”
“Yes.”
“And now you’re gonna be with him forever.”
“I don’t know.”
“That wasn’t a question,” Bonzo claimed.
“You think it’s true?”
“Of course. But I think you should stay the night with me.”
“I’m not having sex with you, John.”
“I’m not asking you to. I’ll even pass out on the floor. Just a night away from Percy.”
By the time they reached the Edgewater Hotel, Bonzo had her convinced. He even talked her into jumping on his back, piggy backing up to his room. Dropping on his bed, Summer tried to keep a straight face as Bonzo explained to her that she was not to open the door nor answer the phone in a very stern tone. Nodding vigorously, she asked what she got to sleep in, to which he quickly answered “nothing” before changing his mind and offering her a shirt of his.
While Bonzo disappeared into the bathroom, Summer quickly changed and climbed into bed. When he returned to the bedroom she was already nestled in, her eyes drooping close. Smirking Bonzo sat on the edge of the bed, reaching to tuck her hair behind her ears. She smiled tiredly up at him.
“You’re a good lass, Summer,” he proclaimed, leaning down. “A good lass.”
His lips brushed across her forehead. Saying not another word, he got to his feet and turned out the light. A moment later he departed the suite, making certain the door locked behind him. While he would never deny wishing to spend time with the petite girl, he had a sobering realization on the plane: she bad been swept into a busy lifetime that blossomed when the moon rose. He suspected her recent illness could be attributed to the sudden lifestyle change. And so he would protect her that night, perhaps even the following one. With that decision made, Bonzo dragged a chair from a nearby open room and set it before his door. With a bottle of booze, the drummer stationed himself as sentry.
Heading down the hallways towards Bonzo’s room, Robert slowed his steps. Concern bubbled in his thoughts upon seeing his best friend so stationed. Why would Bonzo keep people from his room? Had he given his girlfriend to one of the roadies? What the fuck? Why would he even imagine that was okay? Who was he to—
“Forget it, Percy,” Bonzo declared. “I’m not letting you in.”
“But—”
“Let her sleep,” he stated.
“But—”
“Let her sleep,” Bonzo repeated and took a drag from his bottle. “You’re not going in, Percy.”
“What the fuck am I supposed to do?”
The drummer looked up at him and smirked, “Go back to your room and bang one out.”
“Fuck you, Bonzo. Fuck you.”
Waking in the hotel bed, sprawled diagonally across it, Summer stretched like a content kitten. She could not recall sleeping so soundly before. While she knew Robert was the direct cause of her current lack of sleep, there was something enormously comforting knowing Bonzo fought for her sleep. Thinking of Robert stirred her from her slumber and she rolled out of the expansive hotel bed. After a quick stop at the toilet, Summer headed to the door to the hall and opened it slightly, peering out. Stationed next to the door, Bonzo slept his chin on his chest. Without much consideration Summer crept out, the borrowed shirt barely covering her ass, bent down and kissed Bonzo’s cheek softly. He reached up and scratched his rough cheek again, certain to linger long enough for Bonzo to know it was a kiss.
His eyes flew open, instantly zeroing in on hers. He did not hesitate to pull her into his lap. For a moment they stared at each other before he boldly kissed her on the mouth. Summer gasped and he quickly leaned out of it.
“Did you feel anything?” he muttered softly.
“Besides shock?” she retorted.
“Yeah. Me neither,” he grinned, his arms circling tightly about her waist before he stood up. “So what are we going to do today?”
“Put me down, John,” she responded with a grin on her face.
“Nah. But you better open the door so I don’t accidentally bruise your arse while attempting to do so myself,” he declared.
Acquiescing to his request, Summer turned the handle and pushed the door open with her foot. Bonzo bounded into the room and deposited her back onto the unmade bed. He plopped down next to her, laying on his side to look at her. Not bothering to re-adjust at all, other than to tuck her arms under her head, Summer watched Bonzo’s eyes glance over her. His dark eyes suddenly widened, his pupils dilating. It took her a moments to realize the shirt had slipped up, exposing her nude flower. Unable to help herself, Summer parted her legs slightly.
“Dammit, Summer!” Bonzo growled and quickly rolled out of bed. “You’re my best mate’s girlfriend! Fuck, you’re like a little sister! You can’t do this to me.”
Pleased with his reaction, she slipped off the bed again. Quickly finding her skirt, Summer pulled it on before approaching Bonzo. Standing behind him for a moment, she noted his reflection in the mirror. The drummer’s eyes were closed, his thoughts clearly focused on his breathing and calming his unexpected and unwanted arousal. Sensing calmness overcome him, Summer finally reached up and touched his shoulder. His eyes shot open, his gaze meeting hers in the mirror. With a smile he reached up and touched her hand.
“How about some breakfast?” he suggested. “We’ll figure out our day there.”
After knocking and then pounding on Bonzo’s door, Robert headed away, concerned, upset, and jealous. His best mate had absconded his girlfriend. He was not happy at all. Where was his Summer? Adjusting her shoulder bag on his shoulder, having brought it with him on the assumption she would want its contents, Robert headed to the lobby. He decided to stop at the desk and give Bonzo a call or find out if the drummer left with the girl. Regardless he would find her. He had to.
Stepping out of the lift, he headed towards the front desk. His eyes flitted over the restaurant and he instantly stopped. His blue eyes focused on Summer seated at a table by the window. Her gaze was focused on the water outside, her lips slightly agape. By the animation of Bonzo’s hands, one of the things that clearly identified him to Robert, he presumed the drummer was explaining something to the petite girl. That hardly concerned him, but maybe it should.
With the discovery of the pair, his initial destination was now unnecessary and he headed into the restaurant. Before he neared the table, his little girl looked away from the window and in his direction. Their eyes met and she instantly smiled. In that simple look he felt all his negative emotions disappear. Everything was all right. She was all right.
“Robert,” she breathed, standing up when he neared.
Without delay his arms circled her, their lips touching, and he muttered, “I could not sleep without you.”
She kissed him again, “With Bonzo guarding my door, I slept better than I have in ages.”
Robert frowned, “But—”
“So I’ll have plenty of energy for today,” she winked before returning to her seat.
Nodding his hello to Bonzo, Robert sat in the chair beside her, “Did you at least dream of me?”
“I must have,” she responded. “Because I woke up very wet.”
Bonzo coughed, nearly choking on his mouthful of eggs.
Glancing across the table at his friend, Robert couldn’t help his smile, “You okay there, Bonzo?”
The drummer nodded, “Just wasn’t expecting that.”
Summer grinned, “I hope you can wait to go on the carousel?”
“Uh... yeah, sure,” he responded.
After Robert placed his breakfast order, Summer bubbled about the sea lion she had seen out the window. With the repeating of Bonzo’s explanation and Robert refuting that sea lions were lions from Africa who just decided to swim over, Summer’s interest in the water outside overshadowed everything else. It took a promise from the singer to visit the piers to get her to look away from the windows. As the waitress placed Robert’s plate in front of him, he remembered the bag on his shoulder and handed it over to Summer.
Having not seen the bag for nearly a week, Summer gasped and once more ignored her food to turn her attention to it. Her hands instantly reached inside. Digging out her brush first, she continued to shuffle around in it. Neither of the men paid her any attention, engrossed in their conversation. Finding the hard circular case, Summer fished it out. Letting the bag fall to the floor unceremoniously, her eyes focused on the case in her hands. Her pulse quickened and her palms sweated. For the life of her, she could not remember the last time she took any of the pills. Opening the case would answer that. Biting her bottom lip, Summer clicked open the pill container. Her eyes quickly went to the last empty space in the container.
It had been four days.
Closing the case as silently as she opened it, Summer set it on the table. Her hand instantly dropped down, her palm pressed to her abdomen. Four days without birth control and a few of those filled with sex very well could me... she could very well be...
Noticing the girl hadn’t touched her food since Robert joined them and the lack of color in her cheeks, Bonzo spoke up, “You okay, darling?”
She shook her head, only meeting his eyes briefly.
Robert reached over and gently touched her left hand, “Baby, what’s wrong?”
“Robert,” she muttered, her left hand moving his to join the hand on her abdomen.
For a moment he was clueless as to why he was touching her stomach. It suddenly dawned on him what she was trying to tell him. His eyes widened and dropped down to their hands. He pulled his hand free and gently rubbed her flat belly. Normally with any other road wife, the very hint of what she was telling him would petrify him. But for some reason, Robert felt his heart fill with hope.
Bonzo did not quite understand what was going on and blurted out as much.
Summer met his eyes, “I’ve missed four days of birth control.”
His eyes widened, “You mean you could be....?”
She nodded.
“What are you going to do, Percy?”
“Exactly what I should do: love and support her.”
“Um, well good. I suppose congratulations are in order?” Bonzo asked.
“It’s not... it’s not a guarantee, John,” she muttered softly. “Just a possibility.”
Robert lifted his hand to his mouth and kissed it, “I love you, Summer. Come what may.”
Leaning out of the window, Robert took a deep drag on the cigarette. While Summer showered alone, he attempted to collect his thoughts. Just the very thought of her being pregnant with his child filled him with more joy than he believed possible. He knew without a doubt their child would be perfect, would be beautiful. How could it not? But on the other hand, it frightened him too. He knew people would talk about it, claim she only got pregnant for his money, never mind her age. And what would he tell his wife? While he had already decided to leave Maureen, now doing so was far more pressing. Maureen had been pregnant before they married so he was not counting on marrying Summer before their child was born. However he knew she would need the assurance that he would be there for her every step of the way.
He needed to call his wife.
Grinding out his cigarette on the window sill and then flicking it into the bay, Robert headed over to the bed. Sitting down, he picked up the phone and waited for the front desk to answer. Not even thinking about the time difference Robert counted the seconds between rings.
“Hello?” a groggy voice answered.
“Oh, Maureen, did I wake you?” guilt instantly tempered his courage.
“Robert?”
“Hello, darling,” he stated.
“What are you... why are you calling so late? The children are already asleep and so was I,” she declared.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t think of the time. Go back to bed. I’ll ring you another time,” he responded.
“Nonsense. It has been a week since we spoke last. I will not give up this opportunity to speak with my husband.”
“How have the children been?” he asked.
“Well yesterday Carmen...”
Standing nude in front of the mirror, Summer turned side-to-side. While she knew it was much to early to know if she was pregnant, now that the idea had touched her thoughts she couldn’t think of anything else. Pushing her stomach out as much as possible, she tried to imagine the swell of a baby growing. Her hands cupped her small breasts, imagining how much larger they would become as they fill with milk.
It had never been her intention to get pregnant, at least not for a few years. But then again she had not expected to fall in love with Robert. Had she planned pregnancy, she would have never bothered with the pills now in the trash. But she truly believed things happened for a reason, when they were meant to. She and Robert were meant to be and this child – should she be pregnant – was proof of such.
Braiding her hair back from her face, Summer dressed in the crocheted white halter top and patchwork denim skirt Robert packed for her. A part of her felt guilty for possibly needing a whole new set of clothes soon. Perhaps she could make something to sell in order to earn her own money. In the very least, she wished to make Robert something.
As she was finally fully dressed, having been in the bathroom for nearly an hour, Summer opened the door and stepped out. Robert’s back was to her, the curl of a phone cord barely visible. Remaining quiet and where she was Summer paused to figure out whether or not to interrupt his conversation.
“You know I love you. I always have, always will. It’s torture to be on the road so long without you,” Robert stated.
Her heart seized up in her chest. His words shattered her very soul. Less than two hours before he professed his love to her, promised her they would always be together. But now... now he was saying the same to another. He was... he was... fuck him.
Tears streaking her face, Summer quickly picked up her shoulder bag. Her bleary eyes noticed her guitar case and quickly her fingers snapped it up, accidentally slamming its head into the wall. She heard Robert mutter something, but cared not about his words. Instead she flung open the door as he scrambled to hung up the phone. Letting the door slam behind her, Summer headed blindly down the hallway, the opposite direction from Bonzo’s room. Three steps away from Robert’s room, she ran into Jimmy. He quickly noticed the crystalline tears in her eyes and the guitar in her hand. Without a word, he grabbed her empty hand and quickly pulled her to his room. As his door closed, Robert’s opened; the singer missing his girlfriend by seconds.
Pulling the guitar from her clutches as well as her handmade bag, Jimmy lead Summer to his bed. After guiding her to sit, he filled a glass with water, checked the lock on his door, and fetched a box of tissues. Sitting beside her, he offered the glass of water before the tissues. As her crying had already lead to hiccups, Summer accepted the glass and drained it. Jimmy set it on the nearby nightstand and then offered her tissues.
Once her tears and sobs slowed, he spoke, “What did Percy do to hurt you, sweetheart?”
Her teary eyes went to his, “On... on the ph-phone... he t-told... h-her... h-he...”
Jimmy’s arms circled the young woman, his lips grazing her forehead before she buried her face on his shoulder. He presumed Robert had been on the phone with his wife and Summer’s reaction alone convinced him the singer probably hadn’t been serious a few nights before when claiming he would leave Maureen. A part of him wanted to beat Robert for making Summer cry, but he knew Bonzo would take care of that should Jimmy ask. Instead he would lavish his attention on the girl in his arms. It was the perfect opportunity he had been awaiting.
“Do not cry, sweetheart,” Jimmy claimed. “Percy is not worthy of your tears at all.”
“But... J-jimmy,” she sobbed, her fingers bunching up his shirt. “He... he...”
Pulling back, Jimmy’s thumbs caught her tears as they snaked down her cheeks. Her reddened eyes looked into his, waiting for him to say something, anything to make it better. Though she had no reason to trust Jimmy to do that, after all she only knew him fleetingly, he was the magician of the group. He could do anything. She was certain of it. Jimmy could make everything okay. With her wide, expectant eyes on him, Jimmy shifted a bit uncomfortably. He could tell she wanted something of him, even though he didn’t know her that well. Summer certainly was not veiling her emotions like so many others did. And in that moment, he truly understood her appeal to Robert. It wasn’t just that she was a sexy little thing and clearly wanting to please the singer. It wasn’t just that she made everyone smile when she was around. It wasn’t just this odd aura about her that lightened the load of life. She was real and true and natural. And for a moment, all of his erotic desires for making the little girl his disappeared, but not entirely. Her bottom lip quivered ever so slightly, causing his eyes to snap to it. His libido quickly responded to the curve of her lips and he momentarily forgot why he was sheltering the young woman in his room. Without consideration, Jimmy hands slid from her cheeks, his finger framing her face, and he leaned forward. Her eyes fluttered close as she prepared for his kiss. A touch surprised that she was so receptive and far more pleased about it than he expected, Jimmy’s lips neared Summer’s. Part of him thought himself crazy to be doing this to his mate’s girlfriend but the the part that was attracted to her screamed so much louder. A breath away from touching his lips to hers, Jimmy stopped, a pounding at the door.
Summer’s eyes went wide and she instantly recovered. Scowling at the interruption, Jimmy got to his feet and stalked over to the door. Anger alight in his eyes, he wrenched the door open. Anyone else would have backed away in fear of the dark lord’s wrath. Robert was not just anyone and that complicated matters even more.
“What?” Jimmy fumed.
“Have you seen Summer? She—”
“Leave her be,” the guitarist interrupted.
“So you’ve seen her?”
“Whatever you did makes you unworthy of her presence. Leave her be.”
“Where did she go?” Robert pressed.
Sighing Summer got to her feet and approached the door. Her hand gently touched Jimmy’s shoulder, the one that was out of Robert’s view. The guitarist quickly looked to her. Anger was still apparent in his eyes. Kissing her fingertips, Summer touched his mouth. That garnered Robert’s attention, his hand flat on the door pressing. Jimmy’s knuckles turned white as he attempted to bar the singer’s entry. Summer’s hand covered his and she gently pulled his away from the door.
“Summer, what’s—”
“You don’t get to ask that,” she declared boldly.
“What—”
“No, Robert,” Summer interrupted, still standing behind Jimmy, looking over his shoulder. “You gave up that privilege when you told another you loved them. I’m not—”
“Dammit, Summer,” he interjected angrily, “I was talking to my daughter. Are you bloody saying I can’t tell my daughter I love her?”
Summer blinked but did not relax her stance, “And what did you tell your wife?”
Had he been in the middle of anyone else’s argument, Jimmy would have stepped aside and let the two of them figure it out on their own. For whatever reason though, he felt this unyielding desire to stay where he was, to protect her. She certainly wasn’t like any other groupie he had known.
Robert sighed, “The whole reason I called was to start the dialogue of divorce. So that I could bloody be with you.”
“You were going to break up with her on the phone?” her eyes narrowed. “Asshole.”
Jimmy smirked but remained quiet.
Robert noticed it though, his eyes flicking briefly to the guitarist, “Summer, just come with me so we can talk about this.”
“I don’t think so. I’m not going anywhere with you.”
“Right because Jimmy loves you half as much as me.”
“Jimmy isn’t married.”
“You didn’t seem to care about that a week ago.”
Her mouth dropped open. Even Jimmy shifted as if he was going to punch Robert.
Robert threw his hands up in the air, “I give up! What the hell do you want from me?”
“I gave you my life, Robert. The least you could do is give me some fucking consideration,” she retorted.
“Did you not hear me? I’m leaving Maureen for you,” he declared. “I’m breaking up my home for you. I’m leaving everything for you.”
“Why should I believe you?”
“Oh I don’t know. Maybe because I love you?”
“That’s what you told her on the phone.”
“That’s what I told my daughter on the phone.”
“Uh huh.”
“You know what? Fine. I give up. I give up,” he claimed and turned away. “Do what you want.”
Before the singer began to walk away, Jimmy closed the door. While he didn’t really think that Summer really wanted him over Robert suddenly, he knew closing the door made her that much more his. With the door closed, he turned to face her once more. Her large eyes were once more filled with tears. He hated that haunted tint of her sapphire eyes and he hated Robert for putting it there. He would have a number of choice words for the singer at another time.
Pulling her into his arms once more, Jimmy kissed her forehead before muttering, “You did the right thing, sweetheart.”
“Then why does it hurt so much?”
He was livid. While he understood Summer’s feelings, did not have any issues with said feelings, Robert was still ready to punch someone’s face in. And that someone was a rather smug guitarist. The very gall of Jimmy to stand there, protecting Summer. Why the fuck did Summer need protection? Robert wasn’t going to hurt her; he would never hurt her. What the fuck was Jimmy’s problem?
Cocooned in his rage, Robert saw no one, nothing, as he stalked down the hallway. Because of such he hadn’t presence of mind to avoid running into John Paul. The bassist instinctively reached out to balance the singer. Robert instantly snapped back his arm, his blue eyes flashing to John Paul. He barely managed to not take a swing at the man, though he had done nothing wrong at all.
“Whoa! What’s wrong, mate?” he asked.
Scowling Robert replied, “Jimmy.”
Unable to conceal his sigh, John Paul nodded and motioned him to follow. With some reluctance, he trailed behind the other man, following into his room. Silently plopping down in a small chair, Robert watched as John Paul pulled out a beer for him. After making certain Robert would drink, he sat down to roll a joint.
Once Robert had drunk half of his beer and smoked a few puffs of the joint, John Paul asked what Jimmy had done. Remaining silent through a couple more tokes, he turned the story over in his mind. He understood Robert was certainly being protective of Summer, even thought he must have done something for the girl to flee to Jimmy. But he did think the singer was overreacting, or at least he hoped as much.
“You need to talk with Summer. I’m sure that she will tel you that you have nothing to worry about,” John Paul stated.
“But she kissed him!”
The bassist’s mouth dropped open, “What?”
“Right in front of me too!”
John Paul shook his head, “I don’t believe it. She loves you. She gave up California for you. No, it couldn’t have happened.”
“It did. I bet they’re shagging right now,” he scowled and finished his beer.
“Poppycock. Give your woman more credit than that.”
“She kissed him in front of me!”
“Robert, tell me what happened, beginning to end. Starting with this morning.”
Maybe if she hadn’t been so upset she wouldn’t have accepted the glass of whiskey from Jimmy. It had burned down her throat and tingled in her belly, but she welcomed it at the moment. It could not be as bad as the pain in her heart. He told someone else he loved her. There was absolutely no reason for him to believe that he was talking to his daughter. After all she was a disposable fuck. She was a groupie. The fact he walked away confirmed it.
Her blue eyes went to Jimmy. He slipped the high ball glass from her fingers and set it upon the nearby nightstand. Reaching for her now empty hand, he lifted it to his mouth and kissed her fingers.
“You have perfect fingers, Summer,” he claimed. “No wonder you are at ease with a guitar.”
Unable to hold his intense gaze, she looked away, pulling her hand free, “He doesn’t...”
“Of course he loves you,” he responded, cringing slightly as he spoke.
“That’s what he told her on the phone.”
“He could have been talking to his daughter.”
Her eyes went back to his, “Who is Carmen?”
Oh how he wanted to lie to her, to malign Robert in her heart. But as her large innocent eyes looked into his, he could not. No girl, nah, woman had ever bewitched him so much. And while normally that would be cause for concern, it wasn’t with Summer. And he didn’t know why.
“Carmen is his little girl. She’s six now I think,” Jimmy answered. “Karac is his son.”
Her eyes widened slightly, “Carmen is really his daughter?”
“Yes.”
“Oh, Jimmy, what am I going to do?”
He grabbed her hand to keep her from getting up and regretfully said, “Stay here for a bit and calm down. We’ll play guitar for awhile. Then you can go apologize.”
Having heard the entire story now, John Paul got to his feet and headed over to the window. Looking out across the bay, he attempted to pull all his thoughts together. None of them had impregnated girls before – to his knowledge – and he knew he would have to speak to Summer about responsible sex, though seemingly it was too late for that. But then again none of them had fallen in love with any of the girls either. Jimmy was often smitten but quickly fell out once they fulfilled whatever it was he wanted. Bonzo rarely touched the same girl twice, his guilt so strong the following morning to swear girls off. John Paul himself rarely dallied in the pleasures of flesh. And Robert seemed fairly pragmatic, holding onto some for periods of time, but never attached like he was with Summer. Understanding she was different than other girls did not explain why she had a golden glow. Maybe it was the fact she embodied the life they gave up, he didn’t know. But he did know Robert loved her.
And she clearly loved him too.
“I do not believe she is having sex with Jimmy,” he slowly proclaimed. “And her kiss was practically platonic. She’s terrified that she gave up everything for you and that you won’t return her love for you. And let’s face it, if she is pregnant she will definitely need more assurances. She walked out on a conversation that sounded like her fear manifest. It doesn’t matter that it really wasn’t. She heard you mutter those sacred words to another.”
“My daughter.”
John Paul turned to face Robert, “That doesn’t matter in the scheme of things.”
“It was enough to drive her to Jimmy.”
“Whose room is just three down from yours,” the bassist pointed out. “He was likely just in the corridor when she was fleeing you. Nothing more. It could have been any of us.”
“But it was Jimmy.”
“Luckily it wasn’t Cole.”
Robert looked down at the carpet, “What should I do?”
“Have another beer and I’ll go scout for you,” he offered. “I’ll bring her to you.”
Smiling Jimmy watched Summer pluck the strings on her guitar. He truly meant his compliment: her fingers were long and agile, dancing over the strings. Though she played no song, just played, he knew teaching her would not only be easy but a pleasure. She had an ear for it and he sensed a talent. Plus there was the added benefit of any teaching time being special time between the two of them.
“Good,” he stated once she stopped. “Can you hear her personality?”
“I think so,” Summer replied.
“Let’s teach you a new song, yes?” Jimmy shifted closer to her, one arm snaking around behind her, his hand covering hers.
With his fingers on hers, he positioned hers for the first note. His lips nearly touching her ear, Jimmy instructed her to close her eyes and strum slowly. Ever so gently he guided her fingers, his breath dancing on her neck. Jimmy stopped guiding her fingers as soon as he noticed she seemed to have it. Summer continued to play the melody for a few more moments. Eyes focused on her face, Jimmy’s lips twitched into a smile. She was a quick learner, a natural, her fingers skilled. Naturally his brain jumped to what other things her fingers were talented at; there had to be a reason Robert was so enamoured. Brushing aside the thought of the singer with the pretty guitarist practically in his arms at the moment, he focused more on the song she played. His gaze focused on her pouty lips as they curved slowly into a smile. Resistance he had not and he gently kissed her ear.
Smiling a bit more but not losing a not of the song her fingers quickly memorized, Summer chose to add her voice to her playing, “I don’t know how I’m gonna tell you/I can’t play with you no more...”
Eyes going to his, Summer was uncertain about the emotions he revealed as she played and sang until she was uncertain of the guitar part, but he soon cleared that up. Jimmy gently lifted the guitar free from her hands and set it on the bed on his other side. He turned back to her, his hand cupping her cheek. Again before his lips could touch hers and light the smoldering fire within, a knock sounded at the door. Softer than Robert’s attack earlier, Jimmy ignored it and finished his action. The moment their lips touched, he felt his entire body center in that kiss. She did not relax into the caress but did not retract either – until the same soft knock repeated.
“Jimmy,” she muttered, pulling back, “you need to—”
“They can come back later, princess,” he muttered, leaning in to kiss her again.
“Jimmy, please,” Summer stated. “Please.”
Sighing he nodded and got up to answer the door as a third knock , louder this time, sounded. He blinked twice, surprised to find John Paul in the hotel much less standing at his door.
“Jonesy.”
“Pagey,” he nodded, glancing in the room. “I’d like to speak with Summer if I may.”
Shrugging Jimmy pushed the door open fully before stepping out of the way, “If she wishes.”
She stood as the bassist stepped into the room. He glanced at the bed first, pleased to find it unmessed. His sight landed on the girl’s guitar next. That explained the delay in the answering of the door as well as why she had lingered with Jimmy. John Paul felt slightly vindicated and was certain he would tell Robert exactly what he found.
“Would you care to go on a walk with me?” he asked.
Her eyes went to Jimmy who did not even glance in her direction as he dug in a drawer for something. Looking back to John Paul, she nodded. He held his hand out to her, but before she accepted she muttered about the need to take care of her guitar first. Jimmy interjected that he would do it, she could return for it later. Nodding her hand slipped into John Paul’s and she followed him towards the door. Pausing in the doorway, her eyes went to Jimmy. Though she said nothing, he nodded nonetheless. Neither really knew what the other was thinking but that would come later, Jimmy was sure of it, when she returned for her guitar and bag.
Not wanting the distraction of anyone or anything, John Paul lead her not only down the hall but down to the ground level. Neither spoke as they passed through the lobby, stepping out into the city of Seattle. Aware of her lack of footwear as per normal, John Paul stayed on the sidewalk, leading her safely to a bench facing the water. They sat silently for a few moments, Summer’s eyes searching the water for life.
“I spoke with Robert,” John Paul stated.
Looking to him, Summer nodded, “I figured as much.”
“Do you really think you’re pregnant?”
“I don’t know. But I could me. It’s been five days since I last took a pill. And Robert and I have.... you know. And I’m not bleeding yet, so it’s possible,” she responded softly, looking down at her hands.
“Summer, if you’re going to be having sex, you need to be responsible about it,” John Paul stated.
“But I was!” she quickly defended. “I didn’t want to get sick!”
His brows furrowed, “What do you mean?”
“When I was sick a few days ago,” she reminded him, “the last time I took a pill was before then.”
“Regardless, you should have been more careful.”
Summer frowned, “And he has no responsibility in this?”
“Of course he does. But did he not think you were on the Pill?”
“Don’t you dare blame this all on me, John Paul Jones,” she snapped. “Don’t you dare.”
“Fine. But as soon as we return to LA, I’m taking you to a doctor.”
“But – wait. Why would you do that?”
“I promised to always take care of you,” he replied.
Summer looked at him blankly before looking back at the water, “You probably think I’m some money-grubbing whore now, who was just trying to ensnare me a rock star.”
He patted her leg assuredly, “No, sweetie, I don’t. There were a couple of mistakes made by all parties. I still think you’re a sweet, loving, natural woman.”
“Robert doesn’t. I’m sure he thinks I’m fucking Jimmy now.”
“Are you?”
Her eyes flashed to his, “No. Only Robert do I touch so.”
He nodded, “He loves you, you know.”
Summer sighed, “He shouldn’t. I doubted him.”
“Summer, you merely jumped to conclusions. It was wrong but not unsurprising,” he stated.
“He hates me, doesn’t he?”
“Not at all. He’s hurting right now. That much I know. But Percy loves you. You know he does. That’s why you left California behind. You know he loves you.”
“I... Jonesy, I’ve hurt him. How can he...”
“You’ll go apologize to him then. I’m sure he will understand,” he offered.
“What do I... say?”
“Start with ‘I love you’ and go from there.”
John Paul stopped at Jimmy’s room to collect Summer’s belongings before continuing down the hall to Robert’s room. Leaving the young woman there rather than bring her to his room, he headed to retrieve the singer. His brief visit with Summer once more supported his read on her. Despite her naivete, John Paul knew she was hiding so much more inside of her. Whatever it was that was the source of her wariness of Robert, though he himself had cautioned her. The singer inexplicably loved her and John Paul could say nothing to change that. Nor did he want to. If it was truly love, which it very well could be, then he would not stand in their way. But neither would he abandon Summer.
Opening the door to his room he was unsurprised to find Robert occupied himself in his absence. Luckily he had turned to other follies than sex with a groupie. Looking to John Paul, Robert wiped his nose with the back of his hand, a small mirror on the table in front of him.
“Where’s Jane?” John Paul asked not seeing the coke lady around.
“Cole was with her,” Robert answered. “I sent both away.”
He nodded, “Summer’s waiting for you.”
“She is?” he perked up. “Where?”
“Your room,” the bassist answered.
“Thank you, Jonesy,” he quickly stood up.
“Remember: she loves you,” he stated as the singer rushed to the door.
Hurrying down the hallway not nearly quickly enough, Robert burst into his room. Summer practically jumped, not expecting such an entrance. For a moment they stood in tense repose, neither certain what the next move was.
“I love you,” she breathed. “I’m sorry.”
“Oh baby,” he muttered and closed the space between to embrace her. “I love you too. I’m so sorry to make you doubt me. I’m promise that we’re going to—”
Summer cut off his words by kissing him, “I’m sorry, Robert. So sorry.”
“I forgive you, baby,” he muttered and kissed her again.
“I shouldn’t have doubted you. It was wrong of me. I—”
“I understand how it probably sounded to you, Summer. I hadn’t expected to talk to my kids, just Maureen. But the phone ringing woke up Carmen too. I couldn’t not talk to her,” he explained. “But I know it must have been nerve-wracking and confusing to walk out on. I’m sorry you had to feel that way.”
“Robert, I...”
“I know,” he kissed her nose. “I’m leaving Maureen. I’m going to be at your side always, Summer.”
“But...”
His hand touched her abdomen, “I’m already united with you here. We will never part.”
“She is the mother of your children. Does it mean less with her?”
Robert paused, “Yes. While I will always have affection for her, have a connection with her, because of the children, its you that I love, you that I’m in love with.”
Her hand covered his crotch, “And it’s not just little Robert Anthony who says that?”
Peeling her hand off, hoping she didn’t feel his instant thickening at her touch, he placed her palm on his chest, “It’s my heart that says so.”
Summer sighed, “I want to believe you, Robert. I do.”
“But?”
Pulling away from him she paced away and sat on the bed, “I’m just a groupie you might have knocked up.”
He instantly frowned, “Summer, how many times do we have to got through this? You’re not a groupie. You’ve never been a groupie. Fuck, Summer, you’ve met them. They’re just two bit whores who just fuck to touch fame. We know that. You know that. And you’re nothing like them at all.”
“If they’re just two bit whores, why do you keep them around? Why did you fuck them?”
Robert sat on the bed beside her, reaching for her left hand, his fingers focusing on the ring, “Do you really want to know that?”
“If I’m so different than them, then yes, I need to know your motivation in sleeping with them opposed to me.”
“Hormones. Raging libido. Loneliness,” he responded. “Because I could.”
And me? I wasn’t just another tick mark in some ledger?”
“No. I know from outside appearances you would think that, especially since we made love the very first night and most nights since. And certainly a big part of our frequent lovemaking is some of the same reasons as me fucking the groupies. To be honest before you it wasn’t real. I felt like a sex machine. Until I touched you and everything changed. My libido, my desire for you is fueled by my love of you. With the groupies it didn’t matter who they were. But now I am all consumed by you,” Robert confessed. “I need you like I need music, food, and breath. Those girls were just some place to bury my prick.”
Carefully considering his words, Summer slowly found herself believing him. Perhaps it was easier to believe because she was completely entrenched in the world of Led Zeppelin, shielded in a way. The only groupie she knew was Lori and she was now banned because of her threats on Summer. In a way it was not unlike the commune. Again she was sheltered from the rest of the world, cocooned within a small enclave of society. She really had nothing to compare Robert’s words with, no reason to doubt him. Eyes rising to meet his, Summer released her doubts. He loved her. She was no groupie.
Seeing the moment of realization flash in her eyes, Robert released an unknown held breath. His arms quickly circled her waist, pulling her into his lap as her arms slipped around his neck. Their lips met passionately, as if they were sealing their relationship with that kiss. Pulling out of it, Summer adjusted her position in his lap, straddling his lap with some difficulty because of her denim skirt. Better situated Summer’s hands framed his face, her lips touching his again. He smiled in the innocent kiss, his arms tightening about her waist. Looking into her eyes, Robert pivoted, placing Summer on her back. He kissed her deeply, his right hand cupping her breast.
Though he wanted so much to make love to her right then, something in the back of his mind declared he would prove more by not getting naked and spreading her legs. With some difficulty he pulled away from her. Taking a deep breath in part to silence his pounding blood, in part to prepare himself for her reaction, Robert looked down at his little girl. Her eyes fluttered open, meeting his. Confusion filled her glittering orbs, but soon she smiled up at him. Her fingers reached up and caressed his cheek lovingly.
“Take me out to dinner?” she requested softly.
Grinning he dipped down for a quick kiss, “Absolutely.”
It was absolutely unfair, without a doubt. While he knew she was Robert’s first, Jimmy knew he had been onto something. Just five more minutes and he knew she would be as enchanted as he was. He felt it in her kiss. That simple forbidden pleasure had been divine. He understood Robert’s infatuation. The girl just had it. And the bloody bassist came and took her away from him. While Jimmy had wanted to keep Summer to himself, he was aware that doing so to John Paul would make it appear as if he cared more than should. The only one who needed to know of his affection was Summer and even that was dubious. Falling for anyone on the road was wrong as Robert was proving. Jimmy still found it all unfair.
Pacing his room, his mind raced about his next course of action. He would love to stomp down the hall and pound on Robert’s door, as he had done earlier on Jimmy’s. But again that fought against his clear decision to be very discreet about his actions, especially in regards to Summer. So clearly that was out. Besides did he want her with the taste of Robert all over her? Fuck, he wanted her anyway he could have her. He was just certain her lithe body would curve and fit his perf—no. He needed to not think of the prize at the end of the game. He needed to focus on his strategy to get such.
Clearly the guitar lessons was his in. No one would deny them that. The girl did have talent. And he was an able body to teach her to harness it. He would use their connection to his advantage, get her to practice twice a day, perhaps even spend time with his guitar tech at shows, thusly taking her from contact with Robert. He would use music to seduce her; it did work on other girls after all.
However plotting to ensnare Summer did little for his mood that night, nor his slight erection from thinking about her in his bed. Until he could have her, he would have to pretend he already did. But why masturbate when many a nubile groupie would play to all his desires? He didn’t want just any groupie though, not at all. While none would even compare to Summer, she would need to at least complement the Californian. But to find one in Seattle?
Throwing his door open, Jimmy stalked down the hallway. Halting in front of Cole’s door, he knocked loudly. The sound of a girlish squeal passed through the door, inciting Jimmy to knock even louder. This time he was certain he had been heard; the door opened to confirm such. The tour manager was completely naked, two girls squirming on the bed behind him, not that Jimmy looked down to confirm the state of Cole’s pants. He didn’t need nor want to see that.
“Hey, Jimmy,” Cole grinned. “Come to have a little fun?”
Looking at the two girls who were likely more into each other than Cole, he shook his head, “No, but I need you to get me something.”
“Anything, Pagey.”
“A blonde. To my room,” he declared, turned and headed back to prepare.
Finding his zippo lighter, Jimmy lit the various candles around the room and clicked off the single lamo he had on since Summer’s visit. Pausing with that thought, he frowned, wishing it was her he prepared for. It would be soon; he was sure of it. Jimmy considered changing his clothing but quickly discarded it. He had no need to impress anyone, least of all the groupie Cole would deliver him soon.
A soft knock at the door indicated his request had arrived. He did not move from the armchair he sait in, sipping whisky from a glass. The door slowly opened, a young woman stepping in, a gruff voice instructing her from behind. She squeaked slightly when the door slammed behind her.
“Good evening,” Jimmy muttered very softly.
The girl turned to face him. Dark gray eyes inspected her like a predator of its prey. Her hair appeared the color of straw in the candlelight, severely lacking the golden glow of Summer’s. Her face was unremarkable, plainly oval without any striking features at all, no matter how she attempted to emphasize her eyes with the thick eyeshadow. Her breasts were larger than Summer’s, but she seemed heavier and perhaps taller anyways. In fact she was nothing at all like Summer, but she was blond just as he requested. It mattered not; she would fulfill his need.
“Come,” he held out his hand, his fingers beckoning her.
She slowly approached the guitarist, slipping her hand into his. Guiding her into his lap, Jimmy lifted his glass to her lips. Her mouth opened to speak after her drink. Not caring for speech, he shook his head to pre-emptively silence her. His hand reached up and fondled her breast, mentally comparing it to how he was certain Summer’s would feel in his hand. Finding the girl in his lap so lacking in so many ways, he made no attempt to hide his disgust.
His hand dropped away from her breast, “Take your clothes off.”
Getting out of his lap, she smiled at him somewhat seductively, baring teeth that looked as crooked as the whores back in England. Looking away from her face as it drew such a stark contrast to Summer’s pretty visage, Jimmy watched the groupie peel her clothes off. Smirking as he did not find her gyrations at all sexy, he shifted slightly in his seat. If he squinted his eyes enough, he could almost pretend she was Summer, could almost imagine she had fluid rhythm in her body. Maybe he needed to finish his bottle of Jack first. Focusing on gulping down the whisky, Jimmy closed his eyes, not caring for her horrible strip tease. Pretending the feminine scent in the room belonged to Summer hardly made the image of the girl in front of him disappear. He needed Summer, not this whore.
“Summer,” he breathed into his whisky bottle, before tilting it back again.
As the last drops of alcohol worked its way into the last sober cells in his body, Jimmy smiled more. His eyes opened, the booze blurring his vison well enough he could easily transpose Summer’s loveliness upon the nudity before him. Stumbling to his feet, his cock growing with each thought of touching Robert’s little blond, Jimmy dropped the bottle of Jack on the floor, the empty glass rolling away from their feet. Briefly his eyes touched hers, glanced at her face, recognized she was not his Summer.
“Lay down,” he pointed at the bed.
The naked girl headed towards the bed, thinking her hips were swaying seductively. Jimmy paid little attention to her, his eyes blurring her outline with the slighter curves of the girl in his mind. He knew he would not be able to keep the illusion up indefinitely. Something would break his perfect idealization of the groupie into an angel. He could not allow that.
“On your stomach,” he declared, his eyes briefly focusing on the mass of dark curls covering her sex.
As the girl complied, Jimmy stripped off his jeans and discarded his shirt. His fingers trailed up the back of her leg to her spine as he walked towards the nightstand. She made some sort of sound, but he that he completely tuned out; her voice was not at all comparable to Summer’s, had not musicality to it at all. His fingers left her soft skin, snagging a frail, overprocessed strand. Shaking it off like a sticky cobweb, he pulled open the drawer of his nightstand as her head pivoted to see what he was doing. Without pause he tied a satin scarf over her eyes, more to conceal her lifeless brown eyes than to keep her from seeing what he was doing, and moved to bind her wrists and ankles as well.
Kneeling on the bed between her parted legs, Jimmy’s eyes dropped down to her well-exposed sex. He could see the slight quivering moisture of her arousal. He could do anything to this groupie he wanted, without question – except the one thing he really wanted to do: turn her into someone else. His eyes racked over her back, settling on the slight rise before her arse. A smile suddenly lit his visage. The night of her birthday, Summer’s dress had dipped down her back, nearly exposing her crack. While the sight and now the thought of such aroused Jimmy greatly, that was not the immediate focus of his thoughts at the moment. She had a freckle just to the right of her spine – and so did the girl laying naked under him, though a little higher than Summer’s. And that thought was enough for him to blur the lines of whom he was bedding and whom he wished to be.
After kissing the freckle, Jimmy pulled abruptly away, making the girl whimper. A sadistic smile graced his face. He was going to punish her for loving Robert, for not being with him always. He would make her cry out for him. She was his.
Reaching into the drawer once more, Jimmy pulled out a cat o’nine tails. Turning to the girl, he dragged the multi-tailed whip gently over the curve of her ass, letting a few strings slip down to tickle her labia. She moaned and wiggled some, pulling on her satin restraints. Jimmy cared little. Her pain would be his pleasure.
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