We finished our session at the studio early and David took us over to the warehouse Mary had rented out for our photo shoot. It was in downtown Phoenix, and the place was secluded. The red stone building was only two stories tall, and when we walked in you could see all the way up to the top windows. Along the back of the warehouse there was a huge gray sheet hanging from the wall that folded to run along the floor. We were to do numerous poses on that spot, some with instruments and some without.
The crew, with the instruments, was still setting up. Mary pointed and directed where things should be. Her cameras were set up and she'd move lights and stands to get whatever idea she had in her head out for the shoot.
She hadn't heard us come in. So, I snuck up behind her and rubbed my hand over her luscious ass, and she spun around on her heel, gasping, fist raised and one hell of a scared look on her face. I jumped back, raised my hands, and said, "Hey! Whoa, angel. It's just me."
Sighing, she placed her hands on her heart, "Damnit Ash! I wasn't expecting you this early." Her reaction was wrong. I stared into her eyes and could see true fear in them. This had nothing to do with me sneaking up on her.
"Hey, sexy," Kane said coming up and hugging her. I scowled at them both. Mary for keeping shit from me and Kane for being, well, Kane.
Before we could be alone, everyone came in to get things started.
"Alright, we are going to start with your stuff," she laughed and slapped my ass. "Go pretend to be rock stars for me."
"Ha ha, very funny," Gabe said as he walked by and ruffled her hair.
Mary was working to finish her prepping as we helped set up the drum set for Kane, who was flirting with some brunette on the crew. As I worked, my eyes were always on my girl. She was smiling and cutting up with some of the people that worked for her.
We were finishing up on the drums when her phone rang; she reached into the back pocket of her jeans, still smiling at the lady in front of her. When she looked at the screen, she paled.
It was her caller.
Immediately, she hit the top button and slipped it back in her pocket, she took about two seconds and composed herself. Looking up at us, she said, "Alright guys, I'm ready."
We took our places and she moved behind the camera, leaning down to check the image. She placed an iPod on a dock and hit play. Our music started and we did what she asked. I grabbed the microphone and leaned forward so that you could see Kane behind me. I moved left and then right.
"Good, that's really good, Ash." She walked around and moved lights and would take more photos. Eventually, she called a break.
When everyone went to get something to drink, I followed her over to the monitor where the proofs were being loaded on the screen. She looked up and said, "Hey baby."
"You okay," I asked. "I saw you get that phone call." I reached for her and pulled her into my arms, she was still holding a small camera. She placed it on the table and kissed the side of my mouth. She smelled so good today.
"Yeah, but today is a happy day and I'm not going to let that get to me. We have work to do." She walked away after grabbing her camera. I was a little hurt, but I understood where she was coming from.
.
After the area was clear of instruments, we posed every which way but Sunday. I'm sure she took over a hundred pictures. After checking the monitor of the proofs, Mary came around to us and said, "Looks good, baby. We're done."
"May I see them?" I asked as I kissed her cheek. Mary leaned over the counter and closed some folders on the screen. Opening a folder labeled, Glory Days, Mary stepped back and let me scroll through all of the photos in the folder.
"Damn," Gabe said. "Those look amazing, Mary."
"Thanks," she blushed. "Now I can customize them if you want. We'll pick out the ones that look the best and then break those down. I believe the label want to approve whatever we choose."
Kane said, "Well fuck Mary. How the hell are we supposed to pick? They're all good."
She placed a hand on his shoulder and said, "It's going to be easy. We have time."
He started to lean into her side, and I was about to warn her, but she realized what he was doing and shoved him before he could get his tongue on her.
"I'm going to lick you again!" He laughed and left us there to go talk to that girl again. Kane really was a tramp.
Gave went off to answer the phone, and Reed was steadily texting Liana on his. The tension between those two had gotten better, but I have a feeling that Liana and Reed's argument was still an issue. They'll work it out, eventually.
Gabe returned with some good news, "Looks like we are performing for the finale of that singing show on television. We'll need to be in L.A. Friday morning. Show is live."
"What show is live?" Mary asked when she walked over and into our conversation. I was sitting down on a folding chair and pulled her onto my lap.
"The finale of "The Next Big Thing" is Friday and we were just told that we will be playing. How about a trip to my house?"
"Yeah?" she asked. I nodded and she said, "Okay."
Once we got done with this day, I'd talk to David about the phone call, because he'd want to know and look at her phone records again. Whoever was out there wouldn't stop until Mary was out of the picture. I was having none of that.
"Are you going to sing with us, Mary," Kane asked from across Ash's kitchen table in his beautiful Malibu home. "You know the song." He was right. They were only going to perform one song. Could I do one song? My voice was definitely better, but nowhere near perfect.
"What if I get halfway through and lose my voice? Then I'd be an embarrassment and you'd kick me out of my honorary title of a band member?" I laughed at my joke, but honestly. My first performance could not be on national television.
"Come on," Gabe said. He was sitting on the black countertop eating a sandwich.
"Probably not," I scowled. "Ash hasn't even asked me about it." Maybe he doesn't want me to do it.
"Fuck Ash," Kane laughed. "Well, no not literally, because we all know you do that daily." He rubbed his arm where I punched him.
"You know what I mean." I gathered my plate and took it to the sink.
My phone rang from its perch on the counter. I could see the numbers from where I was standing. My eyes widened and I looked toward Kane. He frowned and scooped it up answering, but not saying a word.
We all became quiet as Kane listened. His features never changed to give me any idea if he was hearing someone's voice or not. "Fuck," he yelled suddenly. "That son of a bitch!"
"Kane," I yelled. Ash appeared around the corner, hair dripping wet from his shower.
"What's the hell is all the yelling about, man?"
Kane held up my phone and said, "It's a male voice. He knows you're here in L.A., and he said he's coming for you. He said you owe him, that you took something from him. What does that mean, Mary?" Kane set my phone down and ran a tattooed hand through his short blonde spikes.
"I have no idea! I don't even know anyone from Memphis, Kane!" I threw my hands up in the air and clinched my fist. This asshole is ruining my life! I don't want to be a damsel in distress. Being a victim is not my job title. Why won't he leave me alone? What did I do so cruel in this world that it has to turn on me?
Tears spilled over as I fell to my knees. Warm hands touched my arms and I screamed, "Don't touch me!"
My words were taken unnoticed when Ash scooped me up into his arms and let me cry on his shoulder. This was supposed to be a huge night for them and I was acting like a child. I'd change my phone number tomorrow once we were back in Phoenix. Then I could live in peace.
Pushing away from him, I walked, I didn't run, into his beautiful bedroom, and fell face first on the black satin sheets on his king sized platform bed.
"Hey," Ash whispered. "It's going to be okay."
"The hell it's not, Ash! I mean, come on, my life has been one disaster after another. I don't know what I did to deserve all this bullshit. Can't I have just one ounce of normal? What God did I piss off so badly that I lose everything, everyone?"
"You will never lose me, angel? No matter the situation, we'll get through it. You're a strong woman and this will be over soon."
"What if it's not," I cried into his shirt. I hated crying, even though I did it so easily.
"If it's not, then we will go away. I'll buy us a private island and we can live there. The only means of communication will be by carrier pigeon. No phones, no television, just us." He kissed my smiling lips. Ash Martin, super rock god, was a freaking romantic!
"You'd do that for us?" His odd answer brought me out of my depression and I laughed. Who would've thought I'd find someone that could understand me?
"I'd do a lot of things for you, Mary Montclair." He kissed my temple and then pulled me up off the bed. "You need to get ready to go. We have a show in a few hours."
"I really don't want to sing," I admitted. "Well, not tonight anyway. I don't think my debut should be on national television."
"I think it should exactly be on national television." He slapped my ass and jumped back when I tried to get his own. "Now, hurry up angel, go look like a rock goddess!"
.
When I came out of Ash's room almost an hour later, they were all sitting around doing various things. Gabe was playing a game on his phone, Kane was reading the paper, Reed was writing music on a notepad, and Ash was just getting up from the couch.
"Holy, fuck," Kane blurted. Reed and Gabe looked at me with wide eyes. Ash froze and I immediately saw him swell in his pants.
I think they liked what they saw.
My outfit was totally hot, even I'll admit that. I'd worn the tight leather pants, and red fuck me pumps that Ash loved so much, but my top was just a leather vest. It was tight and showed off my curves and a hell of a lot of cleavage.
My hair was left down where it fell like a cloak over my shoulders. I teased it just enough to give it some volume. My lips were as red as my shoes; my eyes a sexy shade of gray.
"Angel, you should be illegal," he said as he came forward to kiss me, but I pushed him away. It'd taken too long to do this makeup; he wasn't going to mess it up because he thought I looked hot.
"I'm ready when you are," I said as I walked past him to go toward the door. Now that I was in character, I was totally excited about singing with them.
.
Our limo arrived at the back entrance of the Nokia Theater just as the show was beginning. Glory Days would be singing in about forty five minutes and we were ushered into a backstage area with people bustling all around us.
Instruments were being moved and switched out during commercials. Producers and stage hands ran around shooting orders at people and it was pretty much organized chaos.
Introductions were made with people I recognized and others I didn't. Ash laughed at me when I saw a pop singer that I'd idolized when I was first in the business. He tried to drag me over for an introduction, but I begged him not to. Not tonight. I was too busy trying not to forget my lyrics.
We'd be performing their current number one, "Keep It To Yourself". I was to sing the chorus with Ash, and basically following his lead. This I could do. I could stand in the backup singers spot behind Reed and do my part. I was given my own ear piece so I could hear the music clearly in my ear.
Finally, the lights when down and we were up. The audience went crazy when all of us walked out to get into position, sans Ash. There was the trap door under the stage, where they would sling him up out of the floor at the beginning of the song along with fiery pyrotechnics behind Kane.
After a last second change to some lighting, the lights went up and the host of "The Next Big Thing" introduced us, I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and opened them right as Kane beat out the intro. Then Ash flew up out of the stage floor and we were on.
Fans were screaming, reaching out for him. He walked out on the point at the front of the stage and women were grabbing at his legs, almost mauling him. Never missing a step, he started walking backward, toward his original spot on stage. I could feel the heat off the flames shooting up behind me and the beat vibrated through my feet. Spotlights changed colors from white to blue to orange. Kane was shirtless (like always). Gabe and Reed both wore jeans and t-shirts. Gabe was in red leathers with black boots that flopped open at the tops, his solid black shirt cut at the sides. He told me that he liked it like that, because it kept him cooler on stage, but I wasn't buying it. As a fan, I knew the women loved it.
My turn was coming, and I knew this was it. So, I sang.
When the world takes
And you have enough to make
A million wrongs
Keep it to yourself
Ohhh...whoa...ohhhh
Ohhh...whoa...ohhh
Looking at Gabe, he smiled and I knew I'd nailed it. Gone was the stiff moves, I got into it and when Kane would hit the bass drum I'd pump my fist in the air and sway my ass back and forth, dancing and enjoying every second of it. I sang along with every Ohhh...Whoa...ohhhh, and all four chorus lines. I was having the time of my freaking life!
On the last chorus, Ash ran up to me and we sang it into the same microphone. He kissed me on the cheek and went back up front to finish the song.
The lights went down and the crowd screamed so loud I thought I'd need hearing aids. I clamped the mic back on the stand and came out of my spot, running for Ash. He caught me up in his arms and spun me around.
"You did fucking amazing! God, I love you." Flash bulbs went off from cell phone cameras in the crowd and I didn't care. Everyone knew I was with Ash, now they knew how much I loved him. The stupid look on my face couldn't be seen as anything other than sheer happiness. I jumped down off of Ash and we all went offstage to wait for the limo to pick us up. The equipment would be picked up later by the roadies that were employed by the band.
"You are so hired," Kane said, coming up to lick the side of my damn face.
"Damnit, Kane!" I laughed and punched him in the gut. "And what do you mean, "I'm hired"?"
"You have to sing with us on the next tour," he said, while checking out a pretty blonde woman with a clipboard. His eyes followed her ass for a while before she slipped out of sight.
"Really," I asked, skeptical.
"Yeah, really," Ash said next to me. "I'll pay you and everything."
"Really," I rasped. It had nothing to do with my voice, but the sheer shock to my system. "You'd really want me?"
"We'll work this out later," his voice lowered to a sexy purr. "We can talk about the contract in my bed. I have all kinds of ideas for your payment."
I like the idea of working over a contract with Ash.
These talks could take all night.
"Ash, please!" Sweet, sweet Mary was squirming under my tongue and I couldn't be happier. I had her on my bathroom counter in nothing but those damn shoes. Her legs spread wide, she was my feast.
"You are so delicious," I mumbled against her clit before taking it between my teeth and giving it a little nip. The heels of those red shoes suddenly dug into my back as she came in my mouth; her petite hands fisted in my hair, and I gave her what she'd been begging for. Once the convulsions died down, I scooped her up and took her to my bed.
Stepping back, I looked at her lain out on my black satin sheets with her long hair wildly fanned out across the pillows. She looked like a pinup model and I wish I had a picture of it. Her arms were raised by her head, knees off to the side, and those red heels stood out like fresh blood on the sheets.
I dropped my towel that I'd wrapped around my waist after our shower, (I'd made Mary put back on the shoes) and fisted my cock. "Are you ready for me again, angel?"
"Always," she breathed.
Fuck, my balls tightened and if I didn't get inside her soon, it would all be over.
I leaned over to brush my lips on the shell of her ear. As I thrust inside, I slid my hand under her ass and raised her so that I can seat myself deep inside. She ran her hands down my back and grabbed hold of my hips, pulling me closer. Her sparkling blue eyes captured mine and I lean forward to nip at her bottom lip.
"You're mine, angel."
"Yours," she panted, closing her eyes.
"Eyes on me," I demand and she opened them immediately. "Are you going on tour with me?"
"What are you going to pay me," she teased. I thrust hard into her pussy and she groaned, "I like that idea."
"Me too," I slid as I slid my hand from her ass, up her side and stop at the heavy weight of her breasts. Those rose tipped nipples were staring at me, begging to be devoured. I ducked my head and took one into my mouth. Knowing that she's close again, I bit down hard and mumbled, "Come for me." When I clamped my teeth on the other one, she shattered under me and I fell over the edge, my cock convulsing inside her, marking her.
I rolled off and out of her, but pulled her against my side. She snuggled up like a cat against my side, her hand played with my nipples. My cock hardened and I pushed her hand down to cup my aching balls, "Damn, look what you do to me."
"I may have to inspect that Mr. Martin." She slinked down my side, kissing a path to my straining erection. "It looks lonely; I need to spend some time down here."
She took it into her mouth, swallowing me whole. Her wicked tongue rolled around the base and slid up and down the heavy vein underneath. Automatically, I fisted my hands in her hair and said, "Angel, I'm going to fuck that mouth of yours."
When she moaned out in pleasure, I took over. I lifted and thrust deep inside her wet mouth. I watched as she put one hand between her legs and started fucking herself by her own fingers. This caused my cock to swell. I had to bite my lip to keep from coming. This was too visually exciting to stop this soon.
Mary was getting herself off by the same rhythm I was fucking her mouth. When she started to come, the suction from her mouth became too much to take. My seed bubbled up and shot deep into her throat. She didn't take her mouth away from me to scream out from her own orgasm.
When she finally released my abused cock, the smile she gave me was of one sated female. I pulled her up to lay across my chest. We fell asleep pretty quickly.
Tomorrow, we'd take care of some things at the label's offices, then we would go back to Phoenix, so that she could work on the photo's for the album.