EFFA
Opening my eyes, I look into his dark blue orbs, his are full of hope, and I simply nod as he reaches out taking my hand in his and begins leading me out toward the VIP balcony doors.
We head outside, closing the doors behind us, the sound only slightly muted from the loud thumping bass of the heavy rock music. But at least out here, there’s a fresh breeze caressing my blazing skin. We walk over to the edge, neither of us saying a word, an awkward feeling filling the warm air that surrounds us. I grab hold of the railing encasing the balcony decking and look out to the Phoenix city streets.
My heart skips a beat as I risk a glance at Mercs to see him studying me as he stands to look at me dead on.
“Honestly, the other morning if I could take back the words I would. You’re important, Effa. I want to see where this could lead, but job security is important to me.”
“I think you’re forgetting we sought you out, Mercs. Your job is safe. We need you around here more than anyone else. So I don’t think us being together as friends will affect anything to do with your job. I know you and Luke had words, but honestly, he’s more concerned about keeping you than losing you. As am I right now. Let me handle Luke. How about we think about ourselves and not everyone else?”
He nods, and looks away from me and down to the bustling city street below. “My job means a lot to me, my sister needs my support right now.”
I wonder what he means by that. But I choose to not push, I’m sure in time he will tell me more about what’s going on with his sister. “Okay, so what do you want to do? Should we try this ‘being friends’ thing or would you rather our relationship be purely professional?”
“Fuck!” He opens his eyes and looks into mine deeply, taking my hands in his, sending a round of sparks through my tingling skin. “I don’t think I can do purely professional with you. Fact is, I haven’t been able to get you out of my head all day.”
“You were on my mind all day, too. Even when I was singing at the concert tonight, I was thinking about you up in the rafters looking down on me. I want you to know that Jett and I were together only because we were talking shop. We were arranging Swift Division’s set and were hashing out the additional details. I can promise you there’s no attraction there… everything with Jett is entirely professional.”
“Gotta say that guy gets under my skin.”
Needing to feel closer to him, I place my palms flat on his chest trying to send some positive energy through. But all I feel is the sparks flying straight back into my hands. It’s intense, and he looks down as he brings his hands up and wraps his giant fingers around mine, enveloping them completely on his chest as we stare at each other.
Our breathing quickens as I get lost in his eyes. It’s so intense, the power of the moment. I’ve never felt this shift before, like the planets aligning and everything is moving into the right place. It’s cosmic, it’s divine, and as Mercs shifts his hand from mine, in a swiping motion up my arm, his energy moves with it as he caresses my neck.
I draw my bottom lip in by my teeth feeling his soothing touch.
My head moves to the side slightly giving him access as his hand moves in behind my neck, his fingers fisting in my hair, moving from his sweeter side to a more aggressive Mercs. But I like it. His other hand is still holding mine on his chest as his hand in my hair pulls me forward toward him. I gasp as I take a step, more like a trip, and my breathing escalates as our eyes stay glued to each other. With both my hands pressing on his chest, I feel the flow of energy between us. It’s insatiable, it’s incredible, and it’s so wonderful that I’m feeling lightheaded.
The thump of the music is almost being drowned out by the heavy reverberation of my heart as it thwacks against my chest, thump after excited thump. He pulls me closer, and as he leans down toward me sparks shoot off in all directions.
His fingers thread through my hair tightly, making this more intense as he forces my head upward. I swallow hard, staring into his dark blue eyes which are boring into mine with such insatiable lust that I might explode on the spot if he doesn’t kiss me already. He leans down. I press up on my toes to gain some extra height, my fingers digging into his chest.
Mercs licks his lips, making me look at them as he pushes forward and presses his lips to mine hard, full of need and want. My heart leaps into my throat as energy ignites inside of me. It feels like a parade is waiting at my lips, bursting to get out and see the world. It’s like an explosion of fireworks littering the night sky, bursting in bright colors, illuminating the dark air making everything luminous and glowing, filling me with excitement.
He pushes me back against the balustrade, and I let out a small harrumph as I hit it, but I continue to kiss him anyway, as he moves in grinding his hips against me. I moan into his mouth while his hand covering mine spreads, and his fingers loop with mine as he grips me tightly.
With my free hand, I move it up to caress his cheek, just needing to hold onto some part of him a little more. His stubble tickles my palm as we kiss more frantically now. This has moved from exciting, to hot and tempting, and my thighs clench together to dull the ache between them as my clit throbs in time with my frantically beating heart.
He lets out a throaty groan, as I feel his cock begin to harden against my stomach and I smile against his kiss, just as someone wolf whistles from the street below us. I can’t help but laugh into his mouth as the moment is broken, and we finally part lips.
Mercs looks into my eyes, foreheads touching, as we both pant heavily for breath. His tight grip on my hair loosens, and he moves his hand down and around to my cheek gently caressing it, then he leans in pecking my lips tenderly once more for good measure.
“You taste like berries,” he murmurs with a broad smirk.
“Oddly enough, so do you.” I giggle thinking the exact same thing from when we had our first kiss.
He chuckles, pulling me from the balustrade and into his arms. “Must be from all the berry water I’m consuming.”
“That’s my favorite water, too,” I reply and he smiles.
Finally, our entwined hands on his chest move down to our sides but continue to stay joined.
“Mercs, this will only work if we have our communication on point. Being on tour is hard. It will test even the most amazing friendships…” I give him a smile, “… and now, we’ve added amazing chemistry to ours. We have to be honest with each other all the time, okay?”
“Yep, but we have to be exclusive. Otherwise, for me, this won’t work.”
I smile and try to hide my excitement. “Exclusivity I can do.”
“We have the next four months together, let’s make the most of it.”
“Yeah, but I’d like to take this slow, whatever this is with us. I don’t usually have attractions like this, so I want to find out where it can lead.”
“You’re not scared of being honest are you?”
I shrug. “No point in hiding how I feel. You ignite something in me, and I like that Kaden. I don’t want to risk screwing around with something that could be great.”
He pulls me to him and licks his lips. “Say it again,” he murmurs confusing me. Furrowing my brows, I shake my head slightly. “My name… I usually hate people calling me by my name, but when you say it… it sounds sexy as fuck.”
Giggling, I smile and wrap my arms around his neck, having to lean on my toes even though I’m in my boots. “Kaden,” I whisper and he groans, leaning in pressing his lips to mine a little softer this time and kisses me gently. A spark sizzles over my lips like popping candy, and my stomach flips at the thought of spending the next four months on tour kissing him and exploring our chemistry together.
He slowly eases the kiss and pulls back looking into my eyes. “Can I ask you something?” Nodding, I weakly smile wondering where this might go. “What’s your name?”
I let out a small giggle.
“Oh, come on… it can’t be that bad. Can it?” He grins.
“It’s not bad as such. My mother named me after her grandmother, and well… my mother is not someone I admire. So anything to do with her I kind of reject.”
He nods. “Hence the stage name?”
“Yeah, I know Effervescent isn’t really a name but it suits me, I think.”
Mercs nods and his lips turn up into a wide smile as I take a deep breath.
“Vespa… it’s Vespa Carrington. See… nothing rock and roll about that.” I sigh, and he pulls me closer to him and leans down kissing my forehead.
“Well, Vespa Carrington, I like it. But you’re right, Effa definitely suits you.”
Looking up into his cheerful eyes, I cuddle into him. “So, do you want to stay at the party or…?” I leave the question hanging in the air a little, to let him make his own conclusions on where this might go tonight.
His exhales. “As much as I want to come back to your room with you… trust me, it’s all I’m thinking about right now. I respect the fact that you want to go slow.”
Smiling wide, I like the fact that he listened and respects my wishes.
I knew he was a good guy.
“You’re a real one in a million, you know that?”
“Thanks. But you’re the catch here, not me.”
“Let’s agree to disagree, but I do want to ditch this place. Come back to my room, and we can just talk? Get to know each other better?”
“Great. Sounds good.”
Bouncing up on my toes, I reach out for his hand and interlock our fingers as I turn for the VIP door dragging him with me. He lets out a small chuckle and follows behind me as we walk back inside the club, the heavy bass vibrating through my chest in time with my anxious heart. Walking past the girls and Tank, they all smile at us with knowing smiles, but I ignore them as I head toward Raoul and Cooper at the top of the stairs. We stop in front of them, and Mercs moves in behind me wrapping his arms around my waist, holding my back to his front and resting his chin on my shoulder.
“Raoul, I need another favor,” I ask looking at him.
He exhales and looks from me to Mercs and then subtly to Cooper and then back to me. “Effa, do you know how much shit I got into last time?”
With a wince, I answer, “I know, I’m sorry. But I’ll tell the people who matter we’re leaving this time… promise.”
He groans. “Fine. But make sure you tell Luke. Please. Before we leave.”
Nodding, I lean forward planting a chaste kiss on Raoul’s cheek. He doesn’t smile or flinch, he just stands there and looks from me to Luke as if to say ‘hurry up.’ Giggling to myself, I turn in Mercs’ grip and face him. “I’ll be right back.”
I turn and rush over to Luke and Alana. They both look up at me and smile wide. “Hey, you really have to try this cocktail, Eff, it’s to die for,” Alana beams, taking a sip of her fruity looking drink through her curly straw.
“No. I’m calling it a night. I’m getting Raoul to take me back to the hotel, early morning flight and all.”
Alana looks up with a concerned stare and furrows her brow. “Oh, you’re not still upset about Mercs are you?”
I turn my head to where Mercs is happily chatting to Cooper. Alana and Luke follow my line of sight, and Alana smiles wide.
Luke stiffens and lets out a loud exacerbated groan. “Effa, be careful… we need him,” Luke warns.
“Don’t worry, old man, we’re just going back to talk and get to know each other. We’ve already set boundaries.”
He rolls his eyes. “Yeah, right. You know you can talk here, Effa. A hotel room with a bed and no one else around, that’s not taking unnecessary risks… at all.” He lays on the extra sarcasm. “Enough with the old man shit, I’m only thirty-five. I’m not pushing up daisies just yet.”
“Sorry, Luke. I know you’re not old, and trust me… please. Nothing’s going to happen other than talking. We need a quiet environment to get to know each other without people watching us.”
He huffs as Alana bumps into his side giving him an adorable smile, and he looks down at her and seems to soften. “Okay, fine. But so you know… I’m against this relationship. It’s only going to end in heartbreak and with us losing Mercs in the middle of the tour.”
Nodding my head, my stomach turns slightly at the thought of that outcome. That’s precisely what we don’t want, and the reason why we’re taking this slow. Why I’m not rushing into bed with him like I would any other member of the crew because as much as he makes my panties wet, I need him on tour as much as I need him between my legs.
I’m going to have to hold out. I can do this. I have to do this because having a meaningful relationship with someone is far better than casual sex anyway. I’m so over the casual, and I want something more.
Turning, I walk back over to Mercs and the security team who seem to be having a great time together. Raoul is actually almost cracking a smile, and I’m a little shocked as I approach.
“Hey, you guys ready to head off?” I ask, stepping up behind Mercs and wrapping my arm around his waist.
He looks to me sliding his arm around my shoulders and pulling me to him. “I am. You good to go, Raoul?”
He nods and turns as Mercs looks to Cooper and slaps him on his shoulder giving him a wink as Cooper starts laughing. I have no idea what that’s about, but I guess it’s just men being men. Raoul leads us down the VIP stairs, and at the bottom, he has some more security guards stationed.
You never know if you’re going to get a smooth exit or if it will be chaos.
Tonight I’m hoping for smooth.
Raoul stands in front of Mercs and me and then three other guards circle around us as we flow through the crowd at the bottom of the club. People start to turn and stare at us heading through the dancefloor, and then suddenly it’s like it hits them. Someone realizes who I am, and lets out an almighty scream. I grip onto Merc’s hand as he moves into my side tighter to surround me a little more. He hasn’t been witness to this, but I have a feeling he’s about to see the mania close up and personal.
The crowd all turn and focus on us and in a mad rush swarm the security circle, their hands in a flurry reaching in between the guards to try and touch me as the music continues to beat, thump, and reverb through the room.
The Arizona heat is doing nothing to help with my nerves as the club is pumping with humidity from all the bouncing bodies, mixed with adrenaline and sweat, as they scamper to move closer.
Mercs wraps his arms around my body, sheltering me from the prying hands as they try to grab at anything they can, all the while the screaming continues in its intensity. Raoul and the others force a line through the crowd to the door, with the help of the club security as well.
We finally arrive at the door and burst out onto the street. The crowd screaming and yelling, and it’s only now, that we’re away from the heavy music, that I can hear they’re chanting my name.
“Effa… Effa… Effa,” drawls through the crowd as they scream and claw to reach me.
Raoul keeps us moving toward the car that’s parked right by the front of the club. He leads us to the side of the car, while my breathing is erratic and my heart pummels in my chest. No matter how many times this happens, it still scares the fuck out of me.
“I got you,” Mercs yells in my ear as his body towers over mine comfortingly, and Raoul opens the rear car door for me to slide in. Mercs pushes me in as a girl grabs at his shirt and yanks. The sound of the fabric tearing grates my ears as he slides into the car behind me, and the door slams shut to people pummeling their palms on the window. I turn to look at Mercs who’s panting heavily, his shirt ripped open and torn down the side in an entirely irreparable way which immediately makes my eyes well.
“Shit, Mercs, I’m s-sorry,” I stammer moving my hand to his shirt, picking up the loose strand of black fabric and noticing the frayed edges.
Raoul slides into the driver’s seat as the remaining security guards try to fight off the crowd from the car so Raoul can pull out from the curb.
Mercs grabs my hand while shaking his head. “Stop! It’s just a shirt, I can get another one. Your safety in that chaos was all I cared about,” he assures.
I sigh, leaning in and resting my head up and on his shoulder. His arm wraps around my shoulders pulling me to him, filling me with warmth and safety, something I haven’t felt for a long, long time.
“Thank you. Thank you for being so understanding.”
“This isn’t my first rodeo, Effa. I’ve been around bands for a while now. I’ve seen this sort of stuff before. Sure, I’ve never been in the thick of it, but I’ve witnessed it all. I want to be here to protect you.”
“I think I can handle that.” Glancing up at him, I press my lips to his tenderly. Kissing him and knowing he comes from this chaotic world makes this that much easier. He knows how we work. He knows the pitfalls and dramas that come with being famous. Hell, he’s lived this life with many bands before us that he could probably teach me a few things. But knowing he’s here to support me in this way, kissing me, holding me, encouraging me, lets me know that he thinks highly of me like I do him. And I can’t wait to get to know him better. To see if I can set his pulse racing as much as he’s sent mine rushing off into oblivion.