Page 161 of Five Summers

“Yeah, we’re a rock band, and we used to write our own songs. I still do. I guess it’s in my blood. But most of our audience these days prefers covers. So, I suppose it’s come down to that.”

“Can I hear any demos of the songs you've written?” I ask.

“Yeah. Why?”

I grab my phone and extend it towards him. “Put your number here and send them my way. We'll be on the lookout for an opening gig for the tour program next year. If you're the right fit, are you guys interested?”

His eyes widen as he takes hold of my phone. “Hell yeah, we’d be interested. Thanks, man,” he says, adding his number and handing it back.

I quickly send a text so he has my number. “Shoot me something and I’ll run it by the band.”

“Thanks, Xander. I definitely will,” he smiles, reaching out to shake my hand. “Thanks for the opportunity, man.”

“No problem.”

“Well, I’ll be back shortly with your burgers.”

As he walks away, I glance at Poppy and notice a huge smile on her face. “You know you made his day, right?”

“Doesn’t sound like they got their lucky break like we did when we first started out,” I add, reaching for my drink to take a sip.

“Xander, share with me the story of how you got your big break. When did you get signed by the label?”

I know it's hard to talk about when I left her, but we need to talk about everything if we want our relationship to succeed. I settle into my seat, position myself to face her, arm casually slung over the back of her seat.

“When Ace and I left, he found us this rundown apartment to rent. We were trying to save money because we didn’t know how long it would take to start making money from our music. This apartment was the worst I’ve ever seen—rats, mice, and cockroaches everywhere.”

“Yeah, I know the feeling,” Poppy says, grabbing her drink and taking a sip. I pause, wondering what she means by that comment. “Go on,” she prompts, encouraging me to continue.

“I got a job as a kitchen hand in this old burger joint, while Ace was serving tables in some other rundown restaurant. One night, Ace crossed paths with Nate and Theo, who were in the same shitty apartment building. They were also there, going after their dreams, and something just clicked. They joined our band, and Ace organized a few gigs. Next thing we knew, we were rocking out to packed crowds and getting a loyal fanbase. Eventually, a record label approached us.”

Walter comes over, carrying two plates. A towering burger stands proudly, accompanied by a generous serving of fries, andtwo remingtons hold tantalizingly zesty orange sauce and classic ketchup.

“Enjoy,” he says, giving us a smile, and leaving us to our meal.

Poppy stares down at her meal. “I have no clue how I’ll get my mouth around this.”

I lean in, moving my lips to the shell of her ear. “Trust me, Princess, your mouth works wonders,” I whisper.

She turns her head, and I notice a rosy blush on her cheeks.

Chuckling, I move my arm from behind her and grab my burger, taking a delectable bite. The taste is heavenly. I’m unsure if it’s the most exceptional burger I’ve had in a long time or if the sheer delight of enjoying it with Poppy amplifies the experience.

“Is it good?” she asks.

I acknowledge with a nod, savoring the last hints of sauce on my lower lip as I run my tongue over it. Poppy’s eyes track my tongue as it moves along my lip, gathering the last traces of sauce. When she meets my gaze, I smirk and give her a wink.

“You’re still a cocky asshole, you know that,” she remarks. I catch the sassy glint in her eye before she shifts her focus to her burger.

I keep my eyes fixed on her as she takes a big bite, her mouth wide open. After setting the burger down, she looks at me, still chewing. At that moment, I notice a mischievous sparkle in her eye and a trickle of sauce on her chin. A sudden desire compels me to lean forward and lick it off her chin, but she beats me to it by wiping it away with her fingers. Then, with a wicked grin, she slowly brings one of her fingers to her mouth and sensually sucks the sauce from it. As she does, her cheeks hollow out, and she playfully winks at me. With a loud sound, she pops her finger out of her mouth, then teasingly inserts another digit. The process repeats, accompanied by a seductive moan. I’m fuckingturned on. My dick is hard by the time she removes her finger from her mouth. Then she throws a mischievous grin my way.

“Well played, Princess,” I remark, chuckling.

Can't deny the sexiness of the woman by my side. She not only challenges me but also pushes me to be a better man, and I just want to give her everything in this life. I know we need to talk about our future after this tour, but her finger-licking seduction is seriously distracting. This once playful vixen has grown into a captivating seductress. I've never been a worshiper, but seeing the woman she's become, I'd gladly kneel for her. She's fierce, always pushes me, and she’s fucking sexy. I just want to get this conversation over with so we can go back to the hotel room and fuck all night.

Shifting my focus from her, I set my half-eaten burger aside on the plate in front. Slowly, I reach for my coke and take a sip.

“What’s on your mind?” Poppy asks.

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