Charles Bingley rolled over. Without opening his eyes, he reached for the blonde goddess he fell asleep with the night before. She was gone. Furious patting of the bed failed to find any feel of her, and reluctantly he was forced to open his eyes.
Nothing. He was in bed alone. “Jane!” he called out, pushing the blankets away and sitting up.
“What?” Jane asked, her head appearing in the bathroom doorway, a toothbrush sticking out of her mouth.
Charles sank back down relieved. “I thought you had left,” he explained.
Jane smiled consolingly. “Of course I didn’t leave,” she said. “I’m just getting cleaned up.”
“Jane, do you remember what I told you last night?”
Jane returned to the mirror. “Uh-hum,” she answered vaguely. Her eyes widened at the sight of Charles’s naked body in her mirror.
He took the toothbrush out of her hand and put it down on the counter. “Spit,” he ordered, and she did, into the sink. He removed the hotel bathrobe she was wearing, pleased to see her still naked underneath. “Come back to bed, Jane,” he said in a voice that left no room for discussion.
“But—”
Charles calmly took her hand and led her back to the bedroom, ignoring her squeal of giggles. “I told you,” he said as he gently pushed her down onto the bed, “I wanted to wake up with you,” he continued as he crawled in beside her. “Now I’m just going to have to educate you as to why.”
Before she could do more than draw breath to protest, he had his mouth firmly over hers and her body in his arms. Jane forgot what she was going to say and gleefully enjoyed her education instead.
At breakfast that morning, Elizabeth was careful to sit next to Charlotte. She felt protective of her best friend, but at the same time, didn’t know what more she could do. Alex took the seat on the opposite side of Charlotte, and Elizabeth observed with approval that he seemed to have the same idea.
“Morning,” Darcy said easily as he sat down at their table.
The corners of Elizabeth’s mouth couldn’t help but curl up at the sight of him as she remembered their swim the night before. She arrived at the pool just as Darcy was undressing. Elizabeth watched him silently, observing once again that Fitzwilliam Darcy was one hell of a gorgeous man. She was able to rationalize her frank ogling by figuring that he was safe. She knew she had no chance with him, so she might as well enjoy the show.
When he caught her looking at him, Elizabeth merely lifted an eyebrow in approval. Darcy seemed taken aback to see her, but that soon changed as they both realized she was still wearing her clothes. He raised an eyebrow, signaling that it was her turn to get undressed.
Elizabeth took off her T-shirt, revealing the vivid red racer suit she wore underneath, neither rushing nor taking her time. She told herself she was merely going for a swim, as she had hundreds of times before. Darcy was nothing more than a pool buddy.
She was surprised by the splash she heard as she removed her sweatpants. Apparently Darcy wasn’t as interested in watching her show as she was in his. A bit disappointed, she walked to the edge, dove in, and began her laps.
Darcy was shocked when he saw Elizabeth standing there, her eyes examining his body intently. He had not heard her come in and thought he was alone. He was more than a little surprised by the look of appreciation on her face.
Although Darcy was used to women viewing him as a sex object, it was something he never had been really comfortable with. His way of dealing with it was by deliberately not thinking about it too much. However, this was completely different. If Elizabeth wanted to stare at his body, he had no problem with it.
He grinned inwardly as he realized that his generosity was about to be repaid measure for measure as Elizabeth started pulling off her T-shirt. His eyes burned and he knew he would be replaying this scene over and over in his mind later that night. He watched as she twisted her long, thick hair with her hand and clipped it to the top of her head. He found himself swallowing hard as she bent down to remove her shoes, his eyes caressing every curve of her body.
As she sat down to remove her pants, Darcy discovered he had a problem. He had enjoyed Elizabeth’s show too much, and the swim trunks he was wearing did nothing to hide that fact. He quickly walked to the pool, realizing that cold water and exertion were his only salvation.
“Good morning,” Elizabeth replied warmly. See? This wasn’t too hard. I can be friendly with Darcy.
His eyes actually smiled slightly at her before he began eating. Elizabeth was snapped out of watching him when she became aware of the change in Charlotte’s posture.
As Elizabeth looked to her, she heard Richard’s voice ask, “Alex, could you move down one?”
Elizabeth looked from Charlotte to Alex and back. Charlotte gave her brother a silent sign and he moved, making room for Richard but looking unhappy about it.
Richard sat and poured himself a cup of coffee from the carafe on the table. “How is everyone this morning?” he asked pleasantly before taking a long sip. When he lifted his head, his eyes sought out Charlotte’s.
“Just fine,” Charlotte answered lightly.
“Good,” Richard nodded, “good.” He acted casual, but it was clear to Elizabeth that he was aware of the hostile glances he was receiving.
“So, were they real?” Charlotte asked quietly.
Richard gasped and choked on his coffee, which left him sputtering for a good thirty seconds.
Charlotte allowed herself one small smile at his expense. When Richard finally regained control, he looked back up at her. “Hum?” she prompted.
“Yes, they were, as a matter of fact,” he answered glibly. “She had a tattoo, as well,” he told her, placing his hand over his right breast to indicate the location. “But it wasn’t as nicely done as yours,” he shrugged.
Charlotte replied with an indifferent sound. “So,” Richard continued, “has the honeymoon couple come down yet?”
Charlotte kicked him hard in the shin under the table, her eyes indicating Darcy. Richard mouthed “ow!” at her.
“You don’t have to pretend I don’t know,” Darcy told them softly, his manner commanding even in this casual setting.
Elizabeth shared a look with Charlotte. “You don’t have a problem with it?” Elizabeth asked, her light tone of voice softening the directness of her question.
“I didn’t say that,” he replied easily, taking a sip of his tea, “but I’m pragmatic. I know I have about as much of a chance of stopping Charles and Jane from being together as I do of stopping a tour bus with my bare hands.”
“You didn’t seem too pleased last night,” Elizabeth observed.
“That was because I don’t want this becoming public,” he told her, looking over at Jane and Charles as they entered the dining room. “I don’t think any of us want to see them on the cover of People, right?”
Elizabeth had to concede he was correct in that. She nodded in agreement, pleasantly surprised at how well they were getting along.
The meal progressed smoothly. Elizabeth was confused to see Charlotte behaving in her usual fashion toward Richard. They were gossiping and joking as if last night had never happened. Elizabeth didn’t understand their relationship, and she worried for her friend. But it was clear that Charlotte wanted to continue the status quo, at least in public.
The following Tuesday brought the last night of a long string of performances. They had been traveling and playing for nine consecutive nights, and everyone was looking forward to a break. They were relieved to know they would then have two nights to crash before starting up again. Elizabeth was simply looking forward to getting to sleep in a hotel again. It was funny, she mused, how something as simple as a private room and a real bed could come to mean so much to her, but right now, it was the height of luxury and exactly what she desired.
She mused on these thoughts as she watched Charles and the dancer for the tour practice. The exotic-looking girl wound herself around Charles in a fashion displaying her extreme flexibility. Jane had never been jealous of the girl, as it was clear that Charles had no interest in her. During their weekly hair touch-up session, Sarah had informed them that Richard had bedded Lizbeth for a week or so during the first leg of the tour, which surprised no one.
“She was too obsessed with her own body,” Charlotte had explained cryptically, when asked by Elizabeth why it hadn’t lasted.
Elizabeth had been somewhat surprised to learn the name of the beautiful woman. She felt as exotic as white bread compared to the dancer in the skintight leather catsuit with whom she shared a name.
“So, tell me something,” Elizabeth asked Richard and Darcy, who were standing beside her offstage clearly enjoying the show even if they had no deeper interest in the girl.
Darcy turned his attention to her immediately. Elizabeth indicated the music playing and asked, “Did Charles write that?”
Darcy and Richard looked at each other and broke out in huge grins, which showed their family resemblance. The song blaring on the playback was “Bound,” a well-written, if somewhat shocking, song about sexual domination. The memorable chorus ran:
I wanna feel you smack my ass.
Elizabeth waited expectantly to be let in on the joke.
“No, actually,” Darcy finally replied. “Richard wrote the lyrics, I helped with the melody.”
Richard put his hand on his chest and bowed.
“Somehow I’m not surprised,” Elizabeth said mockingly. “Do I dare ask why?” she grinned.
At this Richard and Darcy broke out laughing.
“What?” Elizabeth insisted.
Darcy pulled himself together. “We’ll tell you, but it’s a secret, okay?” He motioned her closer and placing a hand on her shoulder, said in a low tone, “The truth is we wrote it as a joke.”
Elizabeth looked at him, confused.
“We wanted to see if we could get Charles to say ‘Smack my ass’ a half-dozen times a night,” Richard chortled.
Elizabeth looked in disbelief. “I can’t believe you did that,” she deadpanned.
“Well, it’s not all bad. After all, he gets Lizbeth writhing around him each night,” Richard said, somewhat defensively.
“Yeah, except you were the one who did her,” Darcy replied, chuckling.
Elizabeth was amazed. She had rarely seen Darcy so open and, well, playful. And she didn’t believe for a moment that the only reason Richard wrote that song was to pick on poor Charles. Still she had to admit the image was very amusing.
“Oh, come on!” Elizabeth said with mock scorn. “This is Slurry after all, I thought all three of you would do her together.”
Darcy made an “eww” face that Richard noticed and laughed at.
“You should know by now, Elizabeth, not to believe all the rumors,” Darcy said, his tone still light, but she could see his eyes had turned serious.
Elizabeth nodded in agreement, realizing he was correct. But somehow his answer only raised more questions in her mind. She wondered where those rumors had come from. And where was the wild bad-boy party band everyone claimed they were? So far, with the exception of Richard’s flavors, these guys had been the soul of respectability and professionalism.
Charlotte rolled her shoulders back, talking a long drag on her cigarette. She knew that Lizzy hated her smoking in their suite, but at this point she didn’t care. She stretched out on the couch, her head and fingers moving to their usual never-ending beat.
She heard a knock on the door and rolled her eyes, figuring Elizabeth had returned from her swim and had forgotten her room card again. Honestly, hasn’t the woman ever heard of pockets?
She walked to the door, her feet continuing the rhythm that was playing on in her head. She opened the door and was turning away when she froze. The person at the door wasn’t Elizabeth but Richard. Her mouth fell open for a moment as the rhythm died, and then she shut it with a snap. “What are you doing here?” she asked coolly when she regained her composure.
Richard shrugged and answered, “Muhammad, mountain, you know.” He waited a moment in her silence, and then asked, “Can I come in? I’d like to talk to you.”
Charlotte stepped back mechanically and pointed to the couch. Richard casually strolled over and sat down and waited for her to join him. He didn’t say anything when she sat down on the chair nearby, but his eyes registered that she had not sat beside him. He gazed at her as she lit another cigarette and looked at him expectantly.
Richard took a breath, believing it would be best to be direct as possible. “I was hoping I could spend the night with you,” he said with deliberate simplicity.
Charlotte felt a flash of anger with his words that ripped her control away from her. “What’s the problem? Couldn’t land a flavor?” she asked scornfully.
Her words hit him like a blow, but he didn’t flinch. “I don’t want a flavor, Charlotte. I want you,” he told her sincerely. “I want to be with someone I know, someone who likes me, who isn’t just sleeping with me to say that she scored a rock star. I want you, Charlotte,” he repeated, his eyes beseeching hers.
Charlotte was stunned as she realized what he was asking of her. She was deeply touched but wasn’t sure if she was able to accept him and what came with it. She looked away, thinking. “I don’t know. This is kinda surprising.”
“Char?” he asked softly, his eyes troubled.
Charlotte frowned as she tried to make sense of her feelings. “I just don’t know if it would be smart. I don’t know what to think, or what I am to you.” She fixed him with a look, and with a voice deep with earnestness said, “I would hate to think I was just a convenient lay.”
Richard’s eyes flared. “No! Charlotte! You of all people should know that!” He grabbed her hand and held it tightly. “You know as well as anyone that I can get sex anywhere, but I came here because I want to be with you.”
“But what am I to you?” she asked, her eyes demanding the truth. “Tell me, what am I? Where do I stand?”
He took the question with a seriousness that was atypical for him. “You are my friend, Charlotte. You are someone I enjoy being with. You laugh at my jokes, you tolerate my constant drumming, and you are someone I enjoy having sex with.” He paused, thinking. “I’m not trying to hurt you, Charlotte, and I see that I have. If I misunderstood or misled you, I’m sorry.”
“No,” she said quickly. “No, you have always been,” she took a deep breath, “very direct. It’s me.”
“Do you want to tell me what’s going on?” he asked cautiously.
Charlotte looked down again. “No, it’s nothing, I was just trying to make more of something than it is.”
“Charlotte,” he said, his voice unguarded, “don’t put our relationship down. You are very special to me. You are one of the closest friends I have, and I really love being with you.”
Charlotte looked at him carefully, studying his open face, fully admitting all his strengths and limitations.
“I hurt you, didn’t I?” he asked softly.
Charlotte wasn’t able to keep eye contact. “No, I hurt myself.”
“I’m sorry, really I am. But I can’t be what I’m not. It would be worse for both of us if I tried.”
She grinned sadly and nodded. “I know.”
Richard looked uncomfortable and started to move. “I better go then.”
“Wait,” she said in a firm, quiet voice. “Wait a moment. You don’t have to leave.”
He frowned. “Are you sure?”
She frowned thoughtfully. “I’m sure. Look, Richard, I know I can’t have you for myself. Hell,” she shrugged, “I’m not sure I would want you all to myself.” She looked at him and smiled briefly. “But I do know that I like it when I’m with you. I like the way I feel when I’m with you, and I would rather have some time with you than not at all.”
Richard looked at her silently for a long time, assessing what she had said, his face expressionless as he tried to cope with feelings that were both surprising and disturbing. He didn’t understand why he felt so needy or threatened.
After a minute Charlotte smiled gently at him. “Would you still like some company for the night?”
Richard nodded slowly. “Yes, very much so,” he said in a low whisper. He realized that perversely he was seeking comfort in the place that was troubling him the most, and he was amused at the irony of it.
“Come on,” said Charlotte, rising, “I think we should go to your suite. I don’t think Lizzy would like hearing us in the middle of the night.”
Richard grinned wickedly, his good spirits returning. “Oh, I have a way of keeping you quiet.”
Charlotte grinned back, recognizing the sexy tone of his voice. “And what might that be?” she asked provocatively.
“Why, by putting something in your mouth, of course.”
“Oh,” Charlotte sighed, her voice deep and breathy, “I think I like that idea.”
Long Borne Suffering and Alex left early the next morning, long before the regular morning meeting. They were flying to NYC, where they would do Top 20, and then they would return that evening. Charles and Caroline had been the only ones to see them off; everyone else on the tour was still in bed.
Charles turned from waving at the departing limo and faced Caroline. “No point in going back to bed. Would you like to get some coffee?”
Caroline smiled. Time alone with Charles was always a rare commodity on tour and lately it had become nonexistent, due to all the time he was spending with Jane. Together they walked to the empty dining room, filled their cups, and sat down.
“It will be weird having the morning meeting without them. I’m amazed at how quickly they’ve become part of the group,” Caroline said easily.
“Yeah,” Charles smiled his Jane smile. “They’re pretty special.”
Caroline looked at him, understanding everything he said and didn’t say. “You seem happy.”
“I am,” he answered thoughtfully. “Happier than I’ve ever been before.” He smiled at his sister. “And I have you to thank for finding her.”
Caroline smiled, but it never reached her eyes. “Oh, I wanted to tell you before I forgot. I heard from Dad’s lawyer. They have set a date for his hearing.”
Charles face became serious immediately as he nodded.
“We’re lucky. It’s right after Georgie’s graduation, so we’ll be off that week. We can help him move back home and get settled in. I talked to Darcy and it’s all set.”
“Do you think he’s going to get parole?”
Caroline nodded confidently. “I spoke to his lawyer and he assured me he would. It’s pretty standard in cases like his.”
Charles released a long sigh. “Good.”
“Charles,” Caroline said, her tone uneasy, “don’t tell anyone.”
He stared into her eyes, “You mean Jane?”
Caroline looked down and nodded. “Darcy said it’s too soon, and I agree with him. We have worked too hard to keep this quiet and I don’t want this hitting the press right now, not when Dad’s about to be released.”
Charles frowned and nodded. “You’re right,” he agreed unhappily. He studied his sister. “How are you doing?”
Caroline smiled with false brightness. “I’m good. The tour is doing well, and I’m good.”
Charles’s face told her he didn’t believe her at all. “It’s hard, isn’t it?”
Caroline nodded her head, her lips pressed tightly together. She was slightly surprised that Charles had noticed. She thought nothing penetrated the Jane fog, but this was Charles, the person who knew her better than anyone else. “It’s hard,” she admitted. “I mean, I,” she paused, “I knew he didn’t care for me like that, that he never would, but at least I had the consolation of there being no one else.” She took a sip of coffee. “Now I have to watch him be completely obsessed with her, and it’s hard.”
“You know he doesn’t mean to hurt you.”
“I know. That makes it all the worse. He’s completely oblivious to it, to me.” She grinned mirthlessly. “And the sad thing is, I can’t even hate her. I tried, but she’s too nice. Stupid, but nice.”
Charles shared her quick smile. “What do you think is holding them back?” he asked conversationally.
“She is,” Caroline shrugged. “He is completely gonzo over her, but she doesn’t seem to be aware of it. Hell, half the time she seems downright hostile toward him.”
“When she’s not staring at him.”
“Right,” Caroline agreed with a grin.
“Do you think it could be denial?”
“Maybe,” Caroline replied tentatively. “I think a part of her is afraid to admit that she has feelings for him, because she doesn’t know where it might lead.”
Charles mulled over this. “It’s scary to fall in love, sometimes. You have to give yourself over to someone, and that takes a lot of trust.”
Caroline observed him, knowing he wasn’t talking strictly about Lizzy and Darcy.
“But what about you?” he asked, bringing the conversation around. “Are you going to be okay?”
Caroline reached out and touched his hand. “I’m fine,” she told him sincerely. “Who knows, maybe this is the best thing. Maybe now I’ll be able to get over this unrequited shit and find a man who actually knows I exist.”
Charles put his arm around her and pulled her close. He knew she was exaggerating; Darcy knew she existed, and that made it all the more painful that he couldn’t love her.
Elizabeth hadn’t seen Collins since his “proposition,” and she wondered how he would act when he saw her again. She didn’t know exactly what happened when he left the tour the week before. She never asked Darcy for the details and he didn’t volunteer them. She worried that Collins would be hostile toward her, or worse, but she didn’t have a choice, so she just hoped for the best and went ahead.
At the studio offices they were met by Nancy, the stylist who had designed their look for the tour. While Alex met with people from the marketing department, the women spent the next two hours trying on new clothes, hairstyles, and makeup.
When they emerged shortly after noon, Alex announced that he had a surprise for them. He took them to the top floor of the building and into a beautiful dining room with a breathtaking view of the city. The room was elegantly furnished, with a certain overblown quality that made Elizabeth think of the phrase “gilding the lily.”
There they saw an older woman sitting with Anne de Bourgh in a large, heavy chair at a huge, dark cherry table. Bill Collins stood nearby, as if waiting on the tiny woman, and was talking in an obsequious tone when he noticed them.
“Oh, there they are!” he smiled patronizingly. He came behind the girls and escorted them to the old woman, who observed them with silent majesty.
“This is Lizzy, Jane, and Charlotte, and of course, Alex Lucas, their manager,” Collins said grandly. “Ladies, may I have the exquisite pleasure of introducing you to Lady Catherine de Bourgh.”
Elizabeth’s face revealed none of the surprise she felt. This tiny, shriveled creature, with her carefully styled silver hair and conservative suit, this was the Gorgon that terrorized an entire industry?
She nodded to them once, then said in a crisp tone, “Elizabeth, I’d like you to sit beside me.” Her voice was surprisingly strong and lightly accented. Elizabeth began to get a hint of the power she wielded.
Elizabeth took the offered seat, which Collins had nearly fallen over himself to get to and pull out for her, and smiled politely to the woman. “It’s nice to meet you, Lady Catherine.”
She was intrigued by the careful treatment she was receiving. Lady de Bourgh was always spoken of with awe and, sometimes, flat-out fear, and yet despite Catherine’s obviously expensive tastes and imposing manner, Elizabeth had seen nothing frightening about her. Jane and Charlotte sat farther down the table, maintaining a cowed silence.
The men were seated and an elegant lunch was served. Although the tone of the conversation was deliberately kept light, Lady Catherine grilled the women about their backgrounds and their experiences on the tour, demanding to know the slightest details about their history. During this time, Collins maintained a running commentary, complimenting Lady Catherine on everything she said. His blatant sucking up disgusted Elizabeth, but Lady Catherine seemed to enjoy it, for all the marginal attention she paid to him.
When lunch was finished, Lady Catherine affected a subtle change in manner that caught Elizabeth’s attention. “Elizabeth, would you please come with me.” She rose from the table and moved slowly yet smoothly to the other side of the room and stood in front of the large window.
Elizabeth shared a look with Alex and joined her. “I have heard a great deal about you,” Catherine said directly. “You should know that I follow what is happening with the tour very closely. Not only is Slurry my most profitable act but I am also quite fond of the band.” Elizabeth was distracted for a moment with the impossible image of Richard hanging out with Lady Catherine behind the tour bus, sharing a cigarette.
“I was deeply concerned when your sister was injured.” Catherine’s eyes flicked to Jane and then back to Elizabeth. “But I was highly impressed by the way you were able to step in and take control of the set. That shows a professionalism and competency that is all too rare in this business.” She stopped and waited imperially for Elizabeth’s reaction.
“Thank you, Lady Catherine,” Elizabeth answered politely. She was pleased to be receiving this attention from the head of the studio, but she wasn’t going to fawn over the woman. “I believe there are many individuals who are merely in need of an opportunity to demonstrate their talents. I was happy for the chance to perform, but I have no doubt that Jane would have done just as well, had the situation been reversed.” She smiled politely to the old woman.
“Indeed,” Catherine observed. This was clearly not the response she was expecting. “Nevertheless, you did a great service, as the ‘hero’ of the day. Perhaps you’ve given some thought to a solo career?”
“You can’t expect me to say such a thing in front of my band mates,” Elizabeth replied, observing the similarities between Lady Catherine’s and Collins’s thoughts. “And in any case, I really don’t want a solo career. I enjoy playing with my band. They are my closest friends and my greatest source of support. Beyond that, I believe that cooperatively we are able to create more interesting and enjoyable music than I ever could by myself.”
Catherine’s faded blue eyes stared at Elizabeth’s, measuring her. “You seem quite confident, Elizabeth. That is also very rare in a young woman such as yourself.”
Elizabeth wasn’t at all certain that she had received a compliment; she looked pointedly at where Jane and Charlotte were talking to Anne and said, “Not in this room, Lady Catherine.”
Lady Catherine walked back to her chair as she studied Elizabeth, ignoring the drone of praise that was coming from Collins. It seemed that she was resolving an issue in her head. Satisfied, she said, “Well, it’s been delightful to meet you all. I hope you have a pleasant afternoon and I’m certain we’ll have an opportunity to meet again.” And with that they were dismissed.
Mr. Collins showed them to the elevator but did not get on with them; instead he returned to Lady Catherine’s side. As the doors closed, Elizabeth could see Catherine speaking into his ear, while they were both staring at her.
Waiting in the Top 20 green room, Elizabeth was bored to tears. Jane was chatting politely with a production assistant, and Charlotte was flipping through a magazine. Elizabeth reflected that while she loved touring and the performing it brought, she had never done so much waiting in her life as she had in the last month. She thought about Slurry and how they had spent the better part of the last four years touring and wondered how they managed to stay sane.
She was pleased when the door opened and Alex came in, but that pleasure was short lived as Bill Collins followed him. Relief flowed through her when Collins ignored her and sat next to Charlotte.
“I have good news,” Alex told her as he took the empty seat beside her, his hazel eyes dancing.
“What?”
“Guess who is shooting a video next month?”
Elizabeth’s eyes flared open. “Us?”
Alex smiled and nodded. “Collins just told me.” He leaned closer and said in a low voice, “It’s for ‘Can’t Stop Me,’ Lizzy. Your song.”
Elizabeth gasped in surprise. After her meeting with Catherine, she suspected she was out of favor with the studio. “Oh my God!” she cried. “I can’t believe it!”
“Believe it, Lizzy,” Alex told her happily. “I’ve just signed the contract for a two-video deal. The tour has the three-day break next month and we’ll shoot the first one then.”
Elizabeth smiled brilliantly and hugged Alex then excitedly discussed the details until it was time for them to go on.
Saturday night found them in Chicago for the first of two dates. The bands had settled into an easy routine; Jane and Charles lived days of peaceful bliss, Richard and Charlotte continued their friendly banter and occasional sexual encounters, and Elizabeth and Darcy maintained a pleasant relationship by reminding themselves constantly that they had no hope with the other.
Charlotte stood in her usual spot at the meet-and-greet. She had found to her pleasure that the only people who wanted to talk to her were other musicians, and due to this, she had enjoyed a number of interesting conversations.
But tonight did not seem to hold out any hope for her. She had already scoped out all the guests and none of them were musicians. She had also noticed Richard talking up a pretty girl who looked to be of college age, and she knew he would be busy for the night. She had been tempted to card the girl to make sure she was over eighteen but figured that with a rack like that she had to be. She sighed, frankly bored, as she signed the occasional CD case that was passed to her.
Eventually a pretty woman standing before her arrested her attention. “Charlotte?” the woman said nervously.
Charlotte smiled and nodded. “That’s right.”
The woman beamed. “It’s so incredible to meet you!” she gushed. “My name is Dawn.” She offered her hand.
Charlotte shook Dawn’s hand and said, “It’s nice to meet you too, Dawn.”
Dawn looked as though she would melt. “I’m such a fan of yours, Charlotte. I love to watch you play; you’re so strong.” She looked down and blushed. “I was kinda worried it was all an image, but I see now that you are real.”
Charlotte laughed. “Oh, I’m real! Sometimes a little too real for people,” she shrugged, “but what can you do.”
Dawn stared at her, then caught herself and smiled embarrassedly. “Charlotte, you are very pretty,” she said softly.
Charlotte smiled knowingly, her suspicions confirmed. What the hell? “Can I kiss you, Dawn?” she asked softly.
Dawn’s eyes got very huge and she nodded. Charlotte put her hand on the woman’s face and gently pulled her close, letting Dawn decide how deep to make the kiss.
Darcy was signing a CD case when Richard hit him. “Wha?” he said looking up, but the word died in his throat. He hit Charles, who had a similar reaction. All three men stared across the room where Charlotte was intently kissing another woman.
Elizabeth and Jane were also just noticing. Jane opened her mouth to say something when Elizabeth stopped her with a hand on her arm and pointed to the guys staring with wide eyes and slack jaws across the room.
Jane instead looked at Elizabeth and struggled not to laugh.
Charlotte let the kiss end and, smiling, said, “Thank you, Dawn.”
Dawn was blushing wildly and mumbled something before wandering away.
It didn’t surprise Charlotte in the least when Richard appeared as if by magic at her elbow. “Who was that?” he asked, slightly dazed.
Charlotte grinned, fully enjoying herself. “That was Dawn. She’s a fan of mine.”
“She, um, she seems to really like you,” he stammered. “Are you going to see her later?” he asked, trying to look innocent and failing utterly.
“If I were, I wouldn’t invite you, sugar. Some things are not for sharing.”
Richard didn’t try to deny his interest, and she respected him for that at least, even if he was practically drooling on her shoes. “Besides,” she said, “you have that pretty young thing over there. What’s her name?”
“Becky.”
Charlotte suppressed a snort. “Well, I’m sure that you and Becky will have a good time.” She patted his arm in sympathy.
Charlotte was already set to go, so she waited by the stage door, having a cigarette. Soon Richard took his regular place at her side and lit up.
“Where is Becky?” Charlotte asked mockingly.
“She doesn’t smoke, so she’s waiting inside.”
Charlotte nodded and continued, “Did you enjoy the show?”
“Which one?” Richard asked flatly. “It seems to be the night for shows.”
Charlotte’s eyes widened a moment. “Ohhh, good one.”
Richard acknowledged his conversational victory and said in a low voice, “I enjoyed the show very much. I wouldn’t mind seeing a repeat of it.”
“I’m sorry, Richard, but I think you’ll be too busy tonight for any more shows.” She ground out her cigarette with her shoe and walked back inside.
As she passed by the gates that separated backstage from the rest of the theater, she heard someone calling her name and stopped.
Pressed up among all the girls that were seeking to get backstage to meet Slurry was a man who was calling to her.
Her mouth twisted into a half smile and she approached the gate.
“Do I know you?” she asked the man. He was tall with reddish-brown curly hair. There was something about his voice that intrigued her.
“No, my name’s Phil. I’m a big fan of yours, Charlotte,” he said in a soft Australian accent.
Charlotte studied him for a moment and then gave Tommy, who was guarding the gate, the nod, and Phil was let through. Charlotte led him away from the screaming girls but kept in view of Tommy and the gates.
“Tell me about yourself, Phil,” Charlotte said.
“I’d rather talk about you.” He ran his hand lightly up her arm. “I think you are really beautiful and I love your music.” He looked at her questioningly.
Charlotte saw Richard approaching from the stage door and lifted her mouth to Phil. He kissed her softly, and then opened his mouth to slip his tongue into hers. After a few moments, Charlotte pulled back. “You kiss very nicely, Phil, are you busy tonight?”
He kissed her again in response.
Breakfast the next morning was carried out with an uncomfortable forced easiness. Charlotte and Richard sat next to each other, pointedly making loud jokes and laughing at everything, determined to prove they were okay.
Darcy observed this and for the first time, he was concerned for his cousin. He knew that Charlotte and Richard were having an affair, having been an eyewitness. But he had always trusted that Richard knew what he was doing and would keep from getting too close. Now as he watched them, he wondered if Richard had made a mistake.
His eyes found Elizabeth’s and he saw that she shared his concern and uncertainty. Charles and Jane were the ones who had been prone to getting hurt in the past, the ones who had needed protection. Charlotte and Richard had always been tough, never letting themselves be touched by what was going on around them.
Yet now it was Jane and Charles who seemed strong and Richard and Charlotte who seemed almost brittle.
Darcy was distracted from his silent communication by a touch on his shoulder. He looked up to see Rachel standing over him. “Sorry, Darcy,” she said with an apologetic grin. “Georgie needs to talk to you.” She held up the cell phone. Darcy placed it to his ear, listening. A moment later, he rose and left the room.
Richard took a sip from his coffee, wincing at its bitterness. “So, who was that guy last night?” he asked casually.
“Oh,” Charlotte replied with equal casualness, “that was Phil.”
“Phil, huh?” Richard said, nodding. “What was he like?”
Charlotte looked at him a moment, then shrugged. “He was nice. He’s a pilot.” She took a bite of her breakfast. “How was Becky?” she asked.
Richard snorted. “You hate that name, don’t you?” he asked with genuine warmth.
Charlotte had her first real smile of the morning. “Yeah, I do.”
“Rebecca was very nice, and very young,” he replied indifferently.
Charlotte turned to him with an expression of mock surprise. “Perhaps too young for the great Richard ‘I’m a sex god’ Fitzwilliam?” she teased.
“Perhaps,” he shrugged.
Charlotte frowned thoughtfully. “I was never that young,” she observed.
Richard regarded her carefully before answering, “I know,” in a low voice. He cleared his throat, and then said in a lighter tone, “I’m glad you had a good night with Phil.”
Charlotte’s expression slipped. “It wasn’t that good. I mean, don’t get me wrong, he was nice and all, but,” she looked away and ran a hand through her hair, “I’ve had better.”
The conversation was forced to end as Caroline began her morning update. Both Richard and Charlotte were glad to move away from the increasingly uncomfortable topic, but as the meeting went on, Richard’s jaw became more and more set.
“That’s all for today. Make sure you have all your things out of your room before you leave for the stadium; we’re back on the road tonight. I’ll see you this afternoon,” Caroline concluded, dismissing the tour personnel for a rare morning off.
Charlotte rose and quickly made her escape alone to the elevator. She stepped in, but before the doors closed, Richard slipped in with her. Charlotte attempted to speak, but one look at Richard’s intense gaze and words failed her completely. She stared at his face, at his eyes devouring hers, and tipped her lips up instinctively to his. If time had slowed before he kissed her, it seemed to speed up as soon as they made contact. Suddenly her arms were around his neck, and his were around her waist and his mouth was everywhere, kissing, licking, and teasing.
“What’s the matter?” she gasped as he pulled her shirt aside, revealing her shoulder, which he then covered with kisses and light nips. “Couldn’t stand me being with someone else?” she moaned.
“Don’t be,” he panted as she nibbled on the skin under his ear, “ridiculous. I just—oh!” he cried as her hands slid under his shirt and found his nipples. “I just hate to see you left unsatisfied.”
The elevator doors opened. Charlotte pulled down her shirt, which had somehow slid up, exposing her breasts, as Richard dragged her to his door. He fumbled with the keycard as her hand stroked his ass. Finally, with an emphatic swear he got the door open and they tumbled in, their mouths once again tightly pressed together.
“No,” Charlotte broke away to gasp, “not the bed.” She shook her head and licked her lip. “I don’t want to—not there.”
Richard looked puzzled, then picked her up and took her to the large luxurious bathroom. There he put her down and turned on the shower while Charlotte quickly undressed.
Richard left the room, coming back a half minute later with a condom in his hand. He stopped when he saw her, naked and aroused before him. “Oh God, Char,” he groaned and quickly stripped off his clothes.
She stepped into the shower and adjusted the temperature, when he joined her. Once again he took her into his arms and kissed her, hard yet tender, over and over again. She made a whimpering noise in her throat as his hand slid down to cup her breast, and he could feel her push herself against him.
He broke off and, his eyes never leaving hers, sank to his knees. She took a ragged breath as he took her breasts in his hands and closing his eyes, rubbed his face against them. She wove her fingers through his hair as he sucked her swollen tit into his mouth and drank the hot water that was pouring like a stream down her breast to its apex.
His one hand rested on her hip, holding her steady, while the other slowly traveled up her thigh to her sex. Charlotte began a low moan in her chest as his fingers delicately stroked her, using the water washing down her body to heighten the slipperiness between their skins.
“Charlotte,” Richard sighed, “you taste so good!” He gently moved her back so she was against the wall of the shower, still under the hot spray. Then he pushed her legs apart and knelt between them, lifting his face to her sex. Charlotte thrust her hands against the side walls, bracing herself as Richard’s hands curled around her slim thighs and his mouth began pleasing her.
She wondered what his power was. How he alone could move her so much, pleasure her so completely. Then she stopped thinking altogether as the pressure built. Her hand found his head, and she held him close as she ground herself into him. He was so good, so strong, and so perfect. She felt sexy, and wanton, and wicked, and then she exploded, her passion and pleasure released in a scream that filled the tiny space they shared.
She slumped back against the wall, her chest heaving with each breath. Richard released the hold he had on her hips and she slowly slid down onto his lap and his embrace. She rested her head on his shoulder while he rubbed her back and murmured soft words to her, listening to her shuddering breaths.
After a minute she became aware of what he was saying: “Thank you, Charlotte. My beautiful, beautiful Charlotte.” She lifted her head, and looked at his face, her eyes full of wonder and doubt. Tenderly, he touched her cheek, and then softly kissed her lips. “You are so beautiful, Charlotte,” he whispered, his lips lightly brushing hers as he spoke. “Thank you.”
Charlotte kissed him once more, then waited as he rose back into the spray of the hot water. He offered his hand to help her up, but she ignored it, instead rising to her knees, her face level with his impressive erection. “Char?” he asked, his voice shaky.
Charlotte smiled in a feline way. “Turnabout is fair play, Richard.” She opened her mouth and slowly licked the head of his cock, pleased with the sound of his gasps. Holding him at the base with her hand, she slowly slid his length into her mouth then drew it back. She repeated the movement with agonizing slowness, enjoying his cries of pleasure. Gradually she sped up her strokes, as he placed his hands on her head. She let him set the rhythm for a few minutes, learning what he liked, and then she took him as deep as she could and held him there. “Jesus Christ, Char!” he groaned. She lightly raked him with her teeth when she slowly slid her mouth up him at last, delighting at the sounds he was making, as he begged her not to stop.
Again she returned to the rhythm he preferred, relishing the power she had over him. For once he was the one screaming and she was doing the pleasuring. She could hear his gasps becoming more frequent as she felt him growing even harder in her mouth. “Oh God! Don’t stop! Please don’t stop!” he cried and a moment later his body jerked as hot come filled her mouth. Dutifully she swallowed it all and gently licked him clean as he leaned against the shower wall, limp and breathless.
Only then did she rise and slide into his arms, where he held her close and kissed her. “Thank you,” he said in a soft breathless whisper.
“Thank you,” she sighed contentedly, pressing her head against his chest and letting the hot water wash over them as one.