WILL, WHO HAD FOUGHT in two wars and faced more enemy fire than he cared to remember, was about to throw up. How had he been talked into playing with one of the greatest blues legends to ever live?
He blamed Hannah.
“How does this one feel?” Master Z. handed him a guitar.
Will took it because he didn’t want to be rude, but his mind was trying desperately to figure a way out of the situation. He put the strap over his shoulder and fingered the head of the guitar. That’s when he realized what guitar it was.
“This is the one you played in New Orleans at the jazzfest concert.”
“Were you there?”
“No, si— No. I was in Afghanistan, but a friend of mine videotaped your concert and uploaded it for those of us overseas. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve watched it.” Will squinted his eyes. Could he sound more like a psycho fan boy?
“Well, then, I want you to play it tonight. Seems fitting. Let’s go.”
The older gentleman tugged at Will’s sleeve.
He reluctantly followed him out, keeping his head down to avoid the spotlight. An extra stool had been set up for him while they’d been backstage. After waiting for Master Z. to sit, Will did the same. Plugging his guitar into the amp, he waited.
The flock of birds fluttering in his stomach threatened but Will swallowed hard. He would not puke in front of all these people or one of his musical heroes. Master Z.’s music had helped him through some tough times and he would do his best to not embarrass the man.
Master Z. pulled a microphone closer to them. “This here is Will. He’s a marine and he fights every day to keep us safe. Let’s give him a hand.”
Will’s nerves intensified. What if they started throwing things when they heard how bad he was? He was going to kill Hannah for not helping him get out of this.
Master Z. strummed a few bars from an old John Lee Hooker song Will knew well. He let the music swell around him and without thinking his fingers joined in. He desperately tried to focus on the music and not think about who he was playing with on the stage.
After four minutes, which had felt like a lifetime, the music ended. The applause was loud and Will could see a few people standing. He figured it was the fact he was a marine. A lot of people had more respect for the armed forces, more so than they did in the past.
Will smiled his thanks and started to rise.
“Where you going?”
“Back to the table,” Will told Master Z.
“Nah, you sit here and finish out the set. You’re damn good, boy. You got some soul in them white-boy bones of yours. Probably seen more hurt than you should for a kid your age, but it comes out in your music. So sit your butt down and let’s get going. Don’t suppose you can sing?” Master Z. pushed the microphone toward him.
Will laughed. Master Z. had just called him damn good. He wished he’d recorded that. “I sing a little, but I think I’ll stick with the strings.”
The older man shook his head. “Nah, I heard ya hummin’. You sing this next one.”
The giant frog that was lodged in his throat threatened to croak, but Will managed to get the words out. He closed his eyes and lost himself in the music.
Forty-five minutes later he was allowed to leave the stage. Master Z. followed him to the table after they put up the guitars.
“Hannah girl, you didn’t tell me the boy could really play. And that voice…”
Hannah gave the man a thoughtful look and then faced Will. “That was mean good. Like, for real. Your voice is like nothing I’ve ever heard. So smooth, and you can play the guitar. You’re a double threat.”
Will waved her off. “Nah, I just make it look like I can.”
“Bull. If I say you’re damn good, you’re damn good,” Master Z. interrupted.
“You heard him say that, right?” Will’s smile was so wide it made his face hurt. He probably looked like an idiot, but he didn’t care.
“Oh, yeah. You are just full of surprises. People in the audience were even talking about you. In a good way,” she added. “Master Z., you are the best.”
“Hell, that boy can come back and play with me anytime. The way Dickey’s looking over here, I have a feeling your military man could actually book some dates.”
Will laughed out loud. For the first time in a long time he felt so free. He glanced down at his feet to make sure they were touching the ground. “Now you guys are laying it on a little thick. But thanks for the confidence. It’ll be a good story to tell the guys in my unit. Though they’re never going to believe it.”
“Oh, they’ll believe it.” Hannah held up her phone. “I videoed it and took several pics. I already sent them to your phone and email.”
Will was happy. He didn’t care if he was good or if they were trying to make him feel better. It was a great night.
Master Z. stood. “Listen, I’ve got to get back to work. But I want you to have my email and phone number.” He handed him a card. He wasn’t sure what surprised him more, that the seventy-year-old man had email, or that he gave his personal address to Will.
“You want to get serious I’ll hook you up with some guys who might be interested in recording you. Blues can always use an infusion of new blood and you’ve got the talent.”
Will took the card and stuck it in his wallet. He stood up and held out his hand. “I want to thank you for letting me play. This is one of the best nights of my life and one I’m never going to forget.”
Master Z. shook his hand. “I mean what I say. You can come play with me anytime. And also—” he pointed to Hannah “—he needs to meet Terry and Hawkeye. He’s got a look and he can play that guitar. That voice of his is blues gold. They’re going to love him.” Hannah smiled.
“You kids enjoy your date.”
After he left, Will sat there for a moment. “I don’t know whether to kiss you or kill you for that.”
Hannah made a face. “Definitely kissing would be better. You were having fun up there. I could tell.”
“I was, but I damn near puked before he started playing.”
“I thought you looked a little green. But you know what? I think you surprised yourself and you certainly did a good job of surprising everyone in this place. I don’t understand why you don’t see how good you are.”
This time it was Will who shrugged. “If you say so. Who are Terry and Hawkeye?”
“Record producers. Like he said, they are always looking for new talent.”
Will chortled. “Record producers? This night can’t get any weirder.”
“They’d love you. Master Z. is right. You have that whole hot thing going for you and you play as well as anyone else I’ve heard here.”
Hannah picked up a nacho and bit into it.
He liked the fact that she ate like a real person. So many of the girls he dated in the past existed on salad and liquid shakes. Though with Hannah’s energy, he figured she burned through calories like matchsticks on a bonfire.
“Boss wants to chat with your man,” Raymond said from behind her. Will hadn’t even seen him walk up.
“Well, tell him to come over. But if it’s about him playing here, he’s going to have his work cut out for him. Will doesn’t think he’s good enough.”
Raymond waved a hand in front of his face. “Ludicrous. You’re the best thing that’s happened in here in a long time. I’ll send the boss over.”
By the time they’d left the club Will had promised the owner that he’d play when he came back to town. He couldn’t believe everything that happened. And he owed it all to Hannah.
She might be chaotic and a little off-the-wall, but she was also one of the most incredible women he’d ever met.
“Your hotel is about six blocks that way.” She pointed down the street as they reached the subway.
“I’d feel better if you’d let me take you home either on the subway or a cab. I don’t like the idea of you going alone.”
Hannah patted his chest. “I’m a big girl and I’ve been living in the city all my life, Marine. I don’t need a bodyguard.”
How could he tell her that he wasn’t ready for the night to end? “I— Please. You’ve done so much for me tonight. Let me do this.”
She gazed into his eyes. “You told me that you have an early day tomorrow. If you take me home, I’m going to drag you upstairs and make wild, passionate love to you. Are you up for that?”
Pretending to think about it for a minute, Will finally said, “I guess that would be okay. I mean, you did promise the possibility earlier in the evening.” He said it dejectedly but couldn’t hide his smile.
“Well, don’t sound so happy about it. We could grab a taxi but subway would be faster,” she promised.
“Subway it is. And you know I’d invite you to the hotel but—” Will wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
“No way. Too many prying eyes. I don’t want your dad to know that I’m continuing my evil plan to corrupt the venerable Captain William Hughes.” As she rubbed her palms together, she gave an evil cackle.
“Corrupting me?” Will tried to hide his smile. As if her sweet soul could compare to his darkened mass of nothingness.
She gave him a sexy look. “Oh, I have my ways, Marine. Trust me. You be nice, or I’ll show you.”
“Promise?” He pulled her close and kissed her hard.
Her cheeks flushed pink and he liked the idea that he caused the reaction. “Oh, yeah,” she said breathlessly.
At her loft, she began stripping as soon as the elevator door closed behind them. She threw clothes off as she half ran to the bedroom. Will resisted the urge to pick them up. He unbuttoned his shirt as he followed her.
She was on her knees waiting for him, beautiful and naked, the moonlight giving her a not-of-this-earth quality, her waves of hair falling over her breasts. Her silky skin called to his hands to touch her. She was a gorgeous creature. His heart tugged at the sight of her eagerness.
She wanted everything to be free and easy. He’d agreed. But after tonight, the way she’d taken him to the club because she knew he liked the music… No one had ever done anything like that for him. Not that grand gestures mattered—it was that she cared enough to go to the trouble. And she’d encouraged him even though he’d been unsure. And she’d helped make a dream he didn’t even know he was allowed to have come true.
She was a treasure. His treasure.
She clapped her hands. “You’re thinking too much and you’re too slow, Marine.” She pulled his belt through the buckle and unzipped his pants. Her hand slid to his member and she pumped him through his boxers. Will managed to rid himself of the rest of his clothes before she slid her mouth up and down his cock. Her lips and mouth suckled and teased him, and he wasn’t sure how much longer he could hold on.
“Hannah,” he gritted through his teeth. “You have to stop. I can’t…keep control when you do that.” The last words came out as a grunt. She was wicked with her mouth. He’d never felt anything so good—well, except when he’d been inside of her.
She didn’t stop and his hand slid down to pull her head back, but he found himself gently twisting her hair in his hands. Every muscle in his body contracted as he forced himself to hold on, but her tongue wouldn’t stop. The tension below his cock was building and the sensation of her mouth riding him was more than he could take. He let go of her hair and stepped back. The cold air on his cock was exactly what he needed.
“Hannah,” he begged her, his voice hoarse. “Please.”
She lifted her head, her face full of innocence. “Please what, Will?”
“Stop.” He put his hands on her arms. “It’s your turn.” He pushed her back and brought her hips forward to the edge of the bed.
“Will?”
He shook his head and knelt down so that his face was even with her heat. His tongue pushed hard at the nub there and he gently pulled her in with his teeth. She squirmed beneath him and her soft moan urged him on. His machinations continued, sending her into a frenzy.
“Will,” she begged, her voice full of need. That he had such power over her body was heady, but giving her pleasure was the biggest high.
She hissed a breath and he saw her hands fist the sheets.
The third time she arched her back and screamed his name he caved. Standing, he lifted her legs and put her feet over his shoulders. Eyes at half-mast, she reached around so she could guide him to her.
Home. This was where he belonged. She met him thrust for thrust, her hooded eyes never leaving his. A small smile on her lips was his undoing.
“Come for me, Marine. Come for me.”
As always, he followed orders.