Aragon Ballroom in Chicago is my favorite venue. My dad moved us to the area when I was twelve. It was the first place besides the tour bus that I remember calling home. He purchased a condo in downtown Chicago on North Burling Street. A luxury building that resembled a palace, with gold-wrapped iron banisters and a courtyard garden that looked like it belonged in a Disney movie.
Our condo was spacious, but my father managed to make it feel homey. And while he still did light traveling to record songs and attend events, he was spending time with me. He’d perform at local venues regularly to keep busy, and when he wasn’t performing, we’d attend other shows at the Aragon. I quickly became well-acquainted with the venue, regulars, and staff. It was my home. They were my family.
It’s late morning when we arrive at the venue. The familiar brick exterior brings back nostalgia for a time of pure happiness. When my father took a break from life on the road and made me a priority. At least, he tried. For three years, to be exact. That’s more than I can ever give my mom credit for.
We line up and eagerly make our way to the front of the tour bus. Everyone’s hungry and stiff from the overnight ride. Wolf and I are last in line, staying a safe distance from each other so no one suspects that we spent the entire night having quiet, intense sex.
Rory holds the door for us while Crawley and Rex have a heated discussion on the curb. Wolf surprises me by holding me back, then signals to Rory to close the door to give us some privacy. I laugh, trying to figure out what’s going on.
Once we’re alone, Wolf turns me around and pulls me into his arms, slamming his mouth against mine. I instinctively mold myself to his body, turned on by the urgency behind his kiss. It feels like he’s about to swallow me, the way his tongue glides ravenously over mine. I groan into his mouth and tighten my grip on his sides before slipping my hands beneath his shirt and up his bare stomach. God, I could run my tongue along these ridges all day long.
For the past week, we’ve managed to keep our hands off each other—except for in private. The moment the guys go to sleep every night, I slip out of my bunk and into Wolf’s waiting arms. And during our hotel stays, we only check into one room. We’ve also limited our club nights, preferring to spend the time alone together.
Restraint becomes more difficult every single day because it physically hurts to be near Wolf without being able to pounce on him. Moments alone feel stolen, like we’re on borrowed time … like now.
He scoops me up and sits down on the couch, placing my legs on either side of him. I press down, wanting desperately to release the erection from his pants. The friction of his jeans grating against me is eliciting heavy pants, and I need more.
We should be naked. Now. I want nothing more than to ride him just like this so he can peer up at me while I take control. I love the way Wolf looks at me when I’m on top. Like I’m both angel and devil. Pleasing him and torturing him with every movement.
He takes his mouth from mine and brings slow suction to my neck in a way that always escalates my heart rate until I feel like I’m going to lose my mind.
“I want you. Now,” I moan.
He growls before biting down and pressing my hips onto his lap, helping me feel more of him.
“Wolf,” I whine. Why is he teasing me?
His mouth comes off my neck, and he examines my dress for a second before slipping a finger under the material and landing on my clit. He rubs it through my underwear, caressing my heat with gentle strokes like he’s dreaming of getting inside me.
He watches my face morph from need to pleasure and smiles wickedly. “Not now, baby. I have plans for you later.” He removes his finger and smooths out my dress.
When he lifts me from his lap and places me on my feet, I’m all glares. “Seriously?” My hands land on my hips. “You wanted to be alone with me to turn me down?”
“Babe,” he says with a laugh, standing and pulling me toward him again. I don’t want to shiver in his hold, but my resolve is shot after his rejection. “Work, remember?”
He’s throwing my words back at me. Payback for rejecting him in his dressing room last night before he was about to go on stage. I pout. But in my defense, I didn't want to be responsible for thousands of enraged fans waiting for his howl.
He’s not supposed to be the one reminding me that we need to focus on the job. He’s supposed to throw me over his shoulder and drag me to his room, caveman style, and make me forget everything except how perfectly his body fits with mine.
My anger dissipates when I glance into his soft, caramel eyes. I want to melt into them, even if that means becoming a sticky, gooey, messy blob of sugar. I can do that. Only for Wolf.
“What plans do you have, exactly?” I ask.
“Well…” He sweeps a lock of hair over my shoulder and strokes my cheek with his thumb. “I recall promising you a date. So you’re mine tonight before I go on stage.”
I sigh. “You know I have to work before you go on stage.”
He smiles. “I’ve taken care of that. You’re off-duty tonight. All you need to worry about is wearing some fuck-hot heels. I don’t even care what you wear above them because as soon as we’re done with dinner, all you’ll be wearing are those shoes when I pound you senseless against the wall.”
Holy shit.
“Sounds like a romantic date,” I say with a wiggle of my shoulders.
His mouth twists up in a grin. “Baby, after you see what I have planned for tonight, you’ll have a new definition of romance.”
I laugh at his promise. “Can’t wait.”
We step off the bus together to find Crawley waiting with his arms crossed. Rex is behind him, looking annoyed, but I get the distinct feeling it’s aimed at Crawley, not us.
“What were you two doing?” Crawley asks, his tone accusing.
“Business, Crawley,” Wolf answers casually.
With a shake of his head, it seems as if Crawley’s about to let whatever’s bunched up his panties go. Wishful thinking on my part, I guess. “If you two think you’re fooling anyone on this bus, I’d like to be the first to tell you you’re not.”
“Okay, great. Thanks, Crawley.” Wolf pulls me toward the back entrance of the venue before Crawley can say another word. He’s radiating intensity, and I can tell he’s pissed about the confrontation.
“Just ignore him,” I say with a squeeze of my hand. “He’s not used to seeing you with anyone. Give him time to get over it. He will.” As I’m saying this, I’m not so sure.
Wolf narrows his eyes. I think he’s about to argue with me, but then his lips curl up in a smile and he leans in to kiss me. Crawley walks through the door after us, and I can sense him debating whether he should say something. When he finally breezes by, uttering curse words under his breath, our laughter breaks up our lip-lock.
“I’m glad Crawley said something,” Wolf murmurs into my neck. “Now there’s nothing stopping me from making you scream the next time I fuck you on that bus.”
Shit. Every time Wolf and I have had sex, it’s been gentle and full of exploration. Always intense. It’s been perfect. But now, I can’t help but imagine his rough hands on me as he presses me against the wall and drills me into tomorrow.
He squeezes my ass and runs toward the stage with a huge grin spread across his face.
I call for a car and head to the hotel before the band is finished with their soundcheck to get everyone checked in by the time they arrive. I stand there with the keys, handing them out as always.
Wolf approaches last, winking at me.
“One keycard for the rock god, Wolf,” I say and reach my hand out with a bat of my eyelashes.
He pulls me to him with a grin, causing his bandmates, crew, and even some strangers, to turn and stare. A rush of excitement licks through me at our public display. Wolf meant it when he said he was glad everyone knew about us. He’s done hiding it. “Thanks, babe. I’ll come get you at your room at five, okay? I have some things I need to do before we leave.”
I try to ignore my disappointment. Wolf and I have been sharing a hotel room since last week. I wasn’t planning to get my own. “Okay. I’ll text you my room number.”
He kisses me on the cheek and takes off for the elevator after Derrick and Hedge. That was strange. Wolf never misses an opportunity to trap me in an elevator. I shrug it off, check into my room, and jump into the shower. Maybe having my own room is a good thing. I can take as long as I want in here without being mauled by Wolf’s sexy hands.
Three new text messages are waiting for me when I'm done in the shower. Still wrapped in my towel, I lay on my bed to go through them.
12:32 p.m. | Asshole: Hey, baby girl. Just writing to say I miss you.
I laugh at the name I programmed for Tony in my phone. Is he for real?
12:46 p.m. | Asshole: I fucked up. I’m going to make this right.
Oh, hell no, you won’t.
I block his number. The next message is from Wolf, asking for my room number. I quickly reply and start mentally preparing for our date.
I’m wearing a short, floral skirt and a faded jean jacket when the knock sounds at my door at five on the dot. Even after spending every day of the past week with Wolf, the little flutters still come alive in my chest at the thought of him. I open the door, and—holy shit.
He’s standing there dressed in dark, ripped jeans, a thin, white V-neck shirt, and a navy blazer with the sleeves rolled up. Wolf is out-of-this-world good-looking, and even more so when he smiles at me like he is now.
“Beautiful,” he says, eyeing me.
I make a point to twirl and lift a foot when I’m done, pointing to a heel. Just as promised. “You like?”
His eyes blaze as he hungrily takes me in. I know he’s imagining what he wants to do to me later, and it makes me grow hot under his spell. “I approve,” he says in all seriousness.
I take a step forward and drag my hand down his chest, never pulling my eyes from his. “You look good enough to eat.” Then I slip my arms around his waist underneath his blazer. “I know this is our first date and all, but I’m really hoping you aren’t going to make me sleep alone tonight.”
His amused smile illuminates his entire face, and he leans his forehead against mine. “Oh no, babe. I have plans for you.” Then he brings his mouth against my ear. “All night.”
Shivers run through me like wildfire, but he doesn’t give me time to recover as he takes me by the hand and guides me toward the elevator. The car is waiting for us at the curb. Wolf holds the door open for me, and I slide in to find a single rose waiting on the seat along with a card. I open it as Wolf steps around to the other side of the car.
Lyric,
To some, words are cheap. For us, words are everything. Here are mine:
From the moment I met you, there was something about you that would not leave me. What you sparked when your hands fell onto my chest in that elevator only ignited when our eyes met, and it’s a flame that still burns between us. Like one of those damn trick candles. I hope this one burns forever.
Here’s to our first date and to every moment after.
Wolf
This is why I love lyricists and why I’m crazy about Wolf in particular. Well, it’s one of the many reasons. His words seep into my cracked exterior and soak my heart, turning it to mush.
I’m done reading by the time Wolf sinks into the seat beside me, and I have to restrain myself from straddling him. Instead, I reach out to hold his hand. Once our fingers are tangled together, he squeezes my hand, and I feel it again. The intense flame that burns between us. It may not have been in my plans to fall for Wolf, but it’s clear now that I never had a choice. This thing happening between us, whatever it is, is meant to be.