Claiming Addison (9 page)

“Bad timing…?” He says with a shrug of his shoulders, the shocked face is gone, replaced by sadness. Something is flitting in his eyes. Fear, maybe?

“It’s worse now because standing in the middle of that bus it hit me like a ton of bricks. I don’t see how I couldn’t see it before.”

“Aw come on, Addison, you’ve never met me before, how could you have known?”

“But damn it, Kyle, you have his eyes. You look just like him in some ways, but my memory is tainted and fuzzy.”

“Shit, Addison, I’m sorry. I hoped you’d never figure it out.” He looks so sad. “I really didn’t want you to figure it out and I’m not sure I could’ve brought myself to ever tell you.” His voice drops to a whisper, “I didn’t want it to come between…” He trails off. His lips move, but I can’t quite make out what he’s said.

I try to give him a half smile but fail. Tears are forming in my eyes and I know that if I blink, they’ll run over. I try to look up to the night sky, but I can’t and the tears spill over. The next thing I know I’m wrapped up in the warmth of his arms. “Jesus, I’m so sorry. I should have, I could have…”

“Addison, stop. Please don’t cry. It’s not a big deal.”

“He was your brother, Kyle. How on earth can you say that?”

“Because it was an accident, and accidents happen. I’ve moved on with my life.”

“Did you know who I was when I showed up this morning?”

I feel him shake his head in a silent no. “It wasn’t until after I saw you face to face and your bright green eyes that I knew who you were. Mom still has a picture of you and Dan on the fireplace.” He takes a deep breath and I don’t know how to respond to him. The idea that his mom still has our pictures on display is unsettling. “Look, this really isn’t the time or place to talk about this, but I promise you, we will talk about it. Soon.”

I nod into his shirt, praying like hell my make-up isn’t bleeding all over onto his white shirt. When I pull back I notice that it’s not and I’m thankful. I look up into his eyes, “Promise?”

“Absolutely,” he tells me with a sweet yet sympathetic smile. “But I need a promise in return.”

“Anything,” I blurt before I can think twice about it.

“I hoped you’d say that.” He gives me a devilish smile. “Promise me that you will keep me and Dan separate in your mind.”

I smile. “That I can do, but I still need that talk.”

“You got it, I promise, but I have to have the separation because I am not him.”

“I know that. It’s just…” I brush away a stray tear from my cheek, “I…” I can’t finish my thought. I see fear in his eyes, like he’s afraid that his relationship to my ex-fiancé is going to have an impact on whatever may be developing between us. I can feel it, deep down, I’m drawn to him and I can’t understand why. I pray it’s not because of Dan.

“I promise, okay, I don’t break promises easily and now that you know, it will be a little easier for me to talk to you about it, but I need some time, okay?” I nod. “Okay, take a deep breath.” I do. “Now let’s go rock.” He grabs my hand and pulls me back into the arena.

We’re not inside but a couple of minutes when I duck around the wall to see the VIP area and sure enough, mingling together are Cami, Tristan, Jess and Sam. I look around for Rusty and he of course is right on my heels. “I’m going out there.”

“I wouldn’t if I were you.”

I turn to him and say, “Well, my boss, along with her husband and my two best friends are out there, try and stop me. Oh and call for Leroy, have him slide over here when he gets a chance.”

Rusty’s eyebrows scrunch up in confusion. I roll my eyes and mouth a whiny ‘please; and he melts like butter in my palm then jerks his head toward the door, signaling for me to go. I double check myself, make sure that I have my security badge and then step through the door. The minute Jess and Sam see me they squeal so loud that Tristan playfully covers his ears. I laugh.

“What the hell, why didn’t you tell us?” I get the immediate third degree from Jess and look over her shoulder at Cami who winks at me.

“You know better than that, I couldn’t and technically speaking I still haven’t told you.”

Sam laughs. “No, Cami told us.” I shake my head and smile, wrapping my girls into a three way hug.

I look right at Cami and say, “Thanks.”

“Absolutely.” I let the girls go and move to stand in front of Cami. “Nice ink.” Oh crap. I subconsciously rub my arms, I’ve never exposed my ink at work before. “Stop,” she says, “now look at me.” I do, between my lashes, “I don’t care. It’s the clients who care and I gather your boys don’t mind?”

“Uh, you could say that. I think I caused at least one heart attack already today.”

“I heard you put on quite the show at the press conference and then a little birdie told me that you put these boys in their place.”

I laugh. “I tried. I guess only time will tell. We’re,”-I look at my watch, 7:50-“thirteen hours into this wild adventure, so we’ll see.”

She laughs then settles. “I’m being very rude, I apologize. Addison, this is Tristan, my husband.”

I extend my hand. “It’s an honor to meet you, Tristan.”

“Likewise.” He jerks his thumb toward the girls. “They’re quite entertaining and speak very highly of you.” I fight a blush. “I agree with Cami, great ink.”

“Oh, thank you. It’s not all I have.”

“Oh?” he says curiously. I hesitate for a moment and decide to say fuck it and I turn around, lifting my Nirvana tee and hear their collective gasps. “Wow, Addison, that’s, wow, that’s amazing work.”

“Huh? Seems like wings run in this circle a little more commonly than I thought,” Cami says with a conspiratorial smirk as I turn around. I notice that standing directly behind the two of them is another man, a man I’ve seen a lot around Bold. But I get no introduction. By the way he’s standing so close to Tristan and Cami, the black ensemble combined with the bulge of a weapon that he’s wearing is a dead giveaway that Rusty isn’t the only bodyguard standing here.

I give her a puzzled look and she turns around, displaying for me her own black and purple wings on her back. Though mine have been done only in black and various shades of grey and attached to a fairy between my shoulder blades, hers are vibrant with color. “Wow. That’s amazing work.”

“Tristan has dragon wings on his back.” I look at him and he smiles, but it seems like that’s something that’s private to him so I don’t push for him to show me. I look again at the guy behind the two of them. He doesn’t exactly make me nervous, but curious, not to mention that fact that he’s ridiculously good looking. Cami notices my glance and chuckles. “Tyson, this is Addison Beltrand, she’s one of mine.”

He holds out his hand, but his eyes are ever moving, I take his hand. “Nice to meet you, Addison.”

“Likewise, Tyson.” I smile sweetly at him.

“Tyson is Tristan’s bodyguard.”

I smile at the three of them, “I figured as much.”

Cami smiles back, “Listen, have they decided about whether they’re staying in Phoenix or Albuquerque?”

“They want to stay in Phoenix.”

She smiles. “That’s great. How about we have you for dinner Monday night? We live in Phoenix and we’d love to have you over.”

I’m so taken aback by the request that I don’t know what to say. “Just say you’ll be there. She’ll take care of the rest,” Tristan whispers in my ear.

I smile. “I’ll be there.”

“Perfect.” Just then the opening act takes the stage and the crowd gets crazy, making it impossible to talk.

I turn to the girls. “I have to go. Enjoy the show. Come back stage when you’re done.” They both nod and start rocking out to Empty Chamber. “See you after the show,” I shout to Cami and Tristan, they both nod and smile. Just as I turn around Leroy comes to stand in front of me.

“Leroy,” I hear Cami squeal and watch as Leroy’s face lights up. I put my hand to his shoulder reassuringly and slip out of the VIP area.

Rusty leans into my ear. “Is that who I think it is?”

I laugh. “Yes.”

“And you know him?”

I shake my head. “No, his wife is my boss.”

“Oh shit,” he says shocked.

“Yeah, pretty much.”

Empty Chamber rocks the stage for twenty-five minutes and I have to admit they are pretty good and I don’t mind the fact that they’re joining us on this western part of the tour. They’ll be with us through Albuquerque, then we pick up another band in Galveston who is scheduled to stay with us through Miami, which is toward the end of the tour.

Backstage is a madhouse of activity as Empty Chamber sings their last song. Now comes the switching of gear for 69 Bottles. The crowd is completely pumped up as they round out their song. The lead singer thanks San Diego for being awesome and tells them to hold tight because the band they’ve really come to see is coming on shortly and just like that the great switch begins.

Empty Chamber is pretty small time because most of our roadies along with the band members are clearing their own gear. It’s rather humbling to see when our roadies are doing everything and the boys are still lounging in the greenroom. Or they were.

“Here we go,” Kyle whispers in my ear and the butterflies start kicking up. “Are you excited?”

“I’m stoked,” I say to him as I watch the band walk through the hallway toward the stage. It’s like watching a slow motion movie, the only thing missing is the fog. Dex is in the lead, followed by Peacock and then I’m assuming Mouse because there’s too big of a gap between him and Talon.

Dex saunters right up to me and tries to wrap his arms around me. “What are you doing?” I squeak.

“I need a good luck kiss.”

“Pfft.” Before I can protest he lands a big wet sloppy kiss on my lips.

“That’s what I’m talking about.” He laughs as he pulls back and I want to gag.

“Seriously, Dex.” I wipe the slobber off my lips.

“Thanks, love, that’s what I needed.” Just as quick as it came on, he walks away and on stage.

Peacock and Mouse look at me as if they want to do the same thing. “What am I, the good luck charm?”

“Yes,” They say in unison.

“Oh, for crying out loud. Come here.” I spread my arms wide and they both come in, wrapping their arms around me and in unison they both plant a kiss on my cheeks. “Break a leg, boys,” I say when they let me go, though Mouse lingers a little longer and I can hear Dex laughing from the stage. I look at him, point my finger and mouth, “This is your fault.” He busts out laughing again and takes his seat behind his drum set.

Kyle comes up behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist. It feels comforting and just like that my butterflies are gone. Now Talon is standing before me. “You need one too?”

“Of course.” He smiles. I open my arms and he steps forward. Kyle doesn’t release my waist, but Talon doesn’t seem bothered by what Kyle’s doing.

Talon surprises the shit out of me when he takes my face between his hands. His fingers dig into my hair and I can feel Kyle stand a little straighter, his erection pressing into my backside. Talon slides himself closer, pressing his own erection into me from the front and just like that, his lips slant against mine.

My heart skips and my breathing stutters. My entire body goes limp in their embrace. I’m thankful for Kyle behind me, holding me. That is until I feel his lips press against the hollow of my neck and everything else in the world fades away. My lips go slack and Talon steals his chance, sliding his tongue along mine.

I’m melted butter in his hands and I pray this kiss doesn’t end; I don’t want it to end, ever. My nipples are hard peaks against my bra, my pussy is dripping with desperate need, and my clit feels like it’s going to explode. I want to grind my hips against the two men who’ve captured me in their grasp. But before I can savor every touch, Talon pulls back. “That was, wow,” I say breathless from his kiss and their joint hold on me.

He steps back, watching me closely. Then he steps back again and again, finally turning around for the stage as Dex strikes his drums and the crowd goes wild the moment Talon steps onto the stage and the lights explode.

“Where’s my kiss?” Kyle murmurs in my ear.

I turn in his arms and he brings his lips to mine. His kiss is equally as breathtaking and heart stopping, but I feel strangely naked without Talon here. Kyle turns me ever so slightly and I can see Talon looking at us with an extremely sexually charged smile.

There is something comforting in that smile, something that tells me that he’s enjoying Kyle kissing me as much as I am.

Kyle pulls back and there is a look in his eyes; a look that says that there is nothing he won’t do to have me. It takes everything I have not to grab him and drag him back to the bus. Just get it out of our system so that we can work on this tour, but I have a feeling that won’t be enough, for me, for Kyle, and it just might make Talon jealous.

Talon and the band finish up their first song. Talon works the crowd, introduces the band and thanks his crew, including Kyle and myself by name. He looks straight at me and Kyle when he says it then encourages us to say hi to the crowd. I fight the blush and step out onto the edge of the stage with Kyle and we both wave.