Page 77 of I Need You Tonight
He mumbled against my neck. It almost sounded like he said he wasn’t going.
I pushed him away, knowing I had a responsibility to the band, although my body screamed,What the heck are you doing?With my hands still on his chest, I gazed into his eyes, dark with lust and pain and somewhat still bloodshot. “Mason, you have to go. They’re expecting you.”
“Tell them I’m sick.”
My eyes widened. “Are you?” I wouldn’t be surprised if he was after everything that had happened in the past few days.
He grabbed hold of my wrists and pulled them away from his chest. “I don’t feel like going.”
“I don’t think you have a choice.” Although if I had a say in this, I would tell him to stay here and rest. But if the empty beer bottles were any indication, he wasn’t going to take things easy. “Have you slept at all since you left the casino?”
“Why are you asking all these questions? I don’t want to go to the interview and I don’t want to be interrogated. I just want to make love to you. Is that asking too much?” But based on his slightly pissed-off tone, it didn’t sound like he really wanted to make love. He was trying to distract me from getting ready for the interview.
“How are you going to explain why you didn’t show up for the interview but were fine for the concert?” I asked.
He grunted and stepped away from me. “It’s not like it’s a big deal. I’m the band’s fucking drummer. Do you think the interviewers really care if I show up? No, as long as Nolan is there, that’s all they care about. The rest of the band is just an added bonus.”
“That’s not true.” From what I could tell from the social media sites, the fans loved all the guys. Yes, Nolan was slightly more popular, but that was because he was the lead singer. He was the member people thought of first when you mentioned the band, but it didn’t mean the other guys were considered less important. “Besides, if you don’t show up for the interview, you’ll be fueling rumors that you’re leaving the band. That’s how these things start.” At his disbelieving look, I added, “You’re not planning to leave the band, right?”
“Of course not!”
“Then why fuel speculations?” There were already rumors of the band breaking up, due to Jared’s recent marriage.
“So you’re saying you don’t want to fuck before the interview?” was his non-answer.
“I just don’t want you to be late.” My body was officially going to kill me. Tough. It would eventually get over it. This was more important.
Mason heaved out a sigh. “Fine. How about after the concert? Can we fuck then?”
A smile fluttered on my lips. “I’m counting on it.” I leaned closer and kissed the light stubble on his face. “I love you, Mason. Don’t forget that. I’m here for you, and not just so you can deal with your frustrations by fucking me.”
He turned to face me and my lips brushed against his. He gently kissed me, his hand cupping my cheek. “Thank you,” he murmured. “And just so you know, that’s not what I’m doing. Being inside you makes me feel better.”
I kissed him back. “Then I’ll do whatever I can to make you feel better. But do you know what would makemefeel better right now?”
“What?”
“If you got dressed so we can meet the guys downstairs.” Something dawned on me. “Have you eaten anything today?”
“Not hungry.” He turned away and gathered his clothes from the floor.
“But you managed to down five beers since you left the casino?” Plus however many he had drunk before I found him there.
He leveled his gaze at me, and I did my best to ignore that he was still naked. “I lost my father and no one told me about it. Then I was chased out of his funeral. I think I’m allowed some beer while I wallow in my grief.” He yanked on his boxer briefs. The man could be an underwear model. He was that perfect and that hot.
And, in his underwear, that distracting.
But I couldn’t argue against his point, and given what he was going through, I didn’t want to try. I’d give him today, but I would keep an eye on him. It was all I could do.
I had a quick shower, then we went down to meet the guys in the lobby. The woman from this morning was standing near them, talking with two other women.
She nodded in our direction. I threaded my fingers with Mason’s. Not because I felt threatened by her—I wasn’t, much—but because I wanted to show him that I was there for him.
Mason’s body was stiff, his hands slightly clammy as we approached the band, but I had no idea why. The guys were talking about the upcoming interview. They said hi to him, but none of them mentioned anything about what I had told them. Maybe they were waiting for Mason to bring it up.
The three women who had been eyeing the guys sashayed over. “Hi again,” the blonde said. She gave Mason a smile that was a cross between shy and seductive. She also threw in a little lip nibbling for the added effect. Wow, she was good.
“I don’t know if you remember me from this morning,” she went on to say, “but I’m a big fan.” Her gaze drifted to each of the guys in the band. “Of all of you.”
