Trusting Gibson (Last Score Book 2) (19 page)

Chloe’s face beamed up at me and the wicked little twinkle in her eye and upward curve of her lips showed me she had a little sexual appetite of her own going on. I stroked her nose playfully with mine and said, “It’s a date, two hours max and we’re out of here.”

I have to admit, I was nervous about what was coming next. Since Chloe had been on tour with me, she’d been sheltered thus far from the rawness of the lifestyle I had before, but the guys were all single and she was about to be exposed to the seedier side of being in a rock band.

Wishing I’d had longer to prepare her for what she was about to see, I knew that if we were going to do this, Chloe would have to be able to handle herself and as much as I wanted to protect her from all the excess and bitching that went on, I knew I couldn’t. It was time for us to sink or swim as a couple and I just hoped I’d done enough to show her that she was it for me. Nothing else mattered.

Should I have warned her?
 If I ‘d warned her, she’d have been second guessing me and I’d   have got frustrated with her, so I figured I’d just play things by ear and get her out of the after- party as quickly as I could.

Desperate for a shower, I gathered my stuff and left Chloe in the hospitality area with Emma, Jerry and some of our public relations team. I had a job to do and, although I was worried about her, she had to learn the ropes to survive.

So far, she hadn’t been exposed to my fans much or the negative vibe that would undoubtedly surround her while we were getting established, but there was feedback all the time from people who monitored the media. Negative tweets were the worst, and I thanked God that Chloe wasn’t on Twitter.

By the time I had showered there must have been fifty people in the hospitality area. Erica, Dana and Zandra, three of the regular groupies in Chicago, were busy with Lennon and Mick, while Simon was talking to Chloe. It felt good that one of the guys had my back, but the fact that it was Simon gave me a little pang of jealousy. If anyone could give me a run for my money with women, it was him.

Simon might well have been looking out for himself, because I saw the way his wandering eyes were ticking appreciatively over Chloe, and the salacious smirk he had on his face said he was having some kinky thoughts. He and I were going to have words about that. Grabbing a can of soda, I strode over towards them and slid in between them, my lips connecting with Chloe’s. Kissing her passionately, I walked backwards, pushing her away from him.

When her ass hit an armchair and her body began to arch, I dropped the soda can and wrapped my arms around her, keeping her in place until I’d finished tasting her. By the time I broke the kiss she was so breathless, I grinned wickedly at how affected she was by my unexpected seduction. Chloe looked a hot mess. From the cheers that erupted from the guys in the room, I knew we’d given them a show, but there was no doubt in those guys’ minds, that Chloe was mine.

Quickly scanning around the room there were eight groupies that I knew, five I’d fucked and three I wanted nothing to do with. Bad form when I was trying to impress a girl who’d only had two men in her life. Still, that was before Chloe and she was definitely keeping my interest despite her limited knowledge about sex. Being with her and inside her was different, it wasn’t at all about being extreme and getting off and I was still getting to grips with this new concept.

Charlotte turned up and I could see she meant business when she pulled that ugly blue leather bound organizer out of that oversized Louis Vuitton bag of hers. “Evening, Gibson, I have a few things I need you to sign off on and there are radio competition prize winners and VIP ticket holders to meet.”

Again, I was pulled in the opposite direction from Chloe and for about half an hour I wasn’t even able to be in the same room as her. I should have been attentive, talking to the fans and asking them questions to put them at their ease, but all I could think about was Chloe in a room full of women that I’d boned and the thought of what might be going on scared me half to death.
What if they started challenging her like Tori had? Would Chloe have the stomach for it?

“I told Zandra to tell the others to stay clear of Chloe.” As usual Len had my back. Those words made most of my muscles from my shoulders to my knees sag in relief. Len clapped a hand on my shoulder in support because I never had to voice my worries to him, he was just always really perceptive to what I needed to hear. I knew there was going to be some bad shit happening at some point, but I would rather Chloe and I have the time to work some things out before that occurred.

“Johnny had an update on the ‘fuckwad’ that Chloe was with. I told him it could wait until tomorrow now. That particular issue needs to be handled in the right way, Gib. Promise me you won’t lay a hand on him.” Len was staring at me looking all concerned and shit, and I’d never fought with anyone, my smart mouth always whipped their asses before they even tried to throw a punch.

I’ll admit to violent thoughts at the mention of Kace’s name and my jaw ticked when I ground my teeth. Feeling it and doing something about it was different. I wasn’t stupid enough to touch him because doing time for someone like him would only hurt Chloe more.

“Jeez, there you go again. Is there anyone in this world that believes that I can take care of things in a way that is palatable to everyone? Len, make no mistake, I will deal with this guy, and when I’m done with him his balls will be hangin’ out to dry. That doesn’t mean I’m gonna lay a finger on him. Watch me—I have better things planned for that fucker.”

Len snickered and let the subject drop and we started shaking hands, signing t-shirts, posters and CD covers, then bid our fans goodnight before heading back to the hospitality room. My eyes roamed the room, searching for Chloe before the door was fully open. Spotting her over by the table in the other room where she had been eating earlier, I began to walk towards her.

I knew Tori hadn’t been a problem for Chloe, because she had been with us. But Erica was a devious bitch and she was deep in conversation with Chloe. Erica had conned her way into my bed more than once with her wily charm and manipulative ways and she was a slut.

All that said— she was a very pretty looking woman with sleek dark brown hair cut in long layers, olive colored skin and huge brown eyes. Flaunting her sexuality and a real head turner, with her long slim frame dressed immaculately in rock chick style, fishnet stockings and six inch black patent stiletto shoes, she was most men’s fantasy girl.  Everyone liked Erica. Despite her manipulative ways she did have a great personality.

When Erica’s eyes met mine, she smirked wickedly and instantly my heart sank to my feet. She’d been standing with one knee on a chair showing a hint of lacy garter and as soon as she noticed me, she slid her leg down off the chair, smoothed her pencil skirt down and sashayed toward me. Scowling darkly, I knew there was nothing I could do but react to whatever she said in a way that let Chloe know that I was not that guy anymore.

Reaching me, Erica invaded my body space by slapping her hands firmly on my ass and tugging me against her, so I took her by the shoulders and shoved her back at arms’ length.

“What the fuck do you think you’re doing, girl? Don’t ever touch me like that again.” My voice sounded aggressive and with hindsight my reaction only confirmed that I had something to hide, so I decided to be honest about it. “Chloe is my girl and you will do well to respect that. Whatever life was like backstage before she came on board is over, understand?”

Chloe looked hurt because my reaction told her that she had been one of my ‘many’. Pushing past Erica, I began to make my way over to her but she turned and walked quickly leaving the room. I felt sick to my stomach that Erica was even there and Chloe felt humiliated because of who I was in the past. The one thing I was relieved about was that Emma had gone directly after Chloe, so I knew she had some support and Emma would be in constant contact with Jerry, so Chloe was covered.

With Chloe out of the room I could let my guard down with Erica, so I turned my attention to her and I didn’t care who else was there. I thought I might as well address all of them at the same time and get it over with.

“Right. What the fuck was that?” Pointing at Erica. “You…
don’t
come back. Anyone else want to out me for fucking them?” Holding my hands out, I could see the others drop their heads because they were smart enough to know that I meant business.  Pointing at the door I stated, “That girl is my life. Whatever I did in the past is in the past. She’s
everything
to me. If you saw the way I laid it out during the gig out there earlier, you’d fucking know that by now.

“Anyone fucks with my chances with her, I will end them, you all get me? As for you Tori, I saw the stunt you tried to pull earlier, and I nearly pissed my pants at how it backfired on you. Just because Chloe’s quiet doesn’t mean she’s a pushover. M3rCy has eleven gigs left and I’m clarifying for everyone in the room here. Tori, I have never fucked you and never will, understand? So drop the spurned chick routine, you were never in the running. To be frank, I’m at the point where I’m ready to change the set and push your sorry ass out the door. You want to stay? Then I want no more of your bitching around Chloe. I mean it— one more word and you’ll find my boot in your ass and the exit door slamming shut.”

Just as I was finishing my rant, Chloe pushed the door open and strode over to me and for a moment I thought she was going to slap me, but she pushed me down on the black leather sofa and straddled me, taking my head in her hands and started speaking to the women in the room but looking at me.

“So what Gibson said? All of you better believe it, because I intend to keep this man happy for a long time to come.” Bending forward, Chloe grinned naughtily, then ran her tongue sensually along the seam of my mouth and I instantly put my hand on the back of her head to take her in a hungry kiss.

With my kiss Chloe got bolder and from the heated look in her eyes, I could see what was happening was empowering her sexually. Breaking the kiss, she grinned and wiggled her crotch back and forward on my hard dick, but when my hands ran up her sides she was shaking slightly, the only sign that she was nervous about what she was doing. She was giving them a clear message, who was I to put a damper on that?

Sliding my hands under her ass, I edged forward and stood up with her, her knees next to my chest as I headed towards the door. “Excuse us but we have a plane to catch, enjoy your party, Len…see you and the guys in Seattle tomorrow at the gig.”

Chloe clung to me with her face buried in my neck as I began walking down the dim blood- red painted corridor toward the exit. Emma pushed open the exit door and gave me the thumbs-up signal and Jerry was waiting immediately outside in the car.

Placing Chloe on her feet, I still held her close with my arm wrapped around her lower back. Chloe stared up at me and I sensed she had a multitude of feelings running through her head because her face was kinda registering partial expressions that morphed into other ones. I felt she was trying to shut out feelings Erica and Tori had caused her, just because I had chosen her to be with. Before I let her go, I had to say what was on my mind.

“Chloe, I’m sorry, that must have been so fucking hard for you to deal with. If I had known this day would come I’d have never been with any of those women. The last thing I ever want is to humiliate you. I love you, and I feel fiercely protective of you, but I’m sorry to say that this won’t be the last time something like that happens. You just gotta look at it like all those women were practicing runs for the time when I got to be with you.” I smirked after I said it because it sounded conceited.

Chloe stared intensely at me and worked a swallow, biting her lip for a second then she took a deep breath, “It’s not your fault, Gibson. What you did before we were together isn’t up for debate any more, I just need to toughen up and deal with the negative side of loving you.”

My heart stopped, then beat wildly in my chest at the word ‘love’ escaping that sweet mouth of hers. With wide eyes I asked, “You think you can do that, Chloe? Love me?” Chloe’s hand tightened on my t-shirt and she twisted it in her fist, looking down at what she was doing before looking back up at me, her eyes brimming with tears. Working another swallow she was overcome with emotion and I just stood there holding her, while she struggled to compose herself enough to speak.

Clearing her throat she swallowed noisily again, then let go of my t-shirt and spoke softly, her voice cracking with emotion.

“Gibson, it’s been no time at all, yet you already own my heart. Every waking thought I have you are in it or a consideration in it. You made me love you, how could I not? I’m scared Gibson, but I know that you control how my heart beats. It beats wildly when you are near and aches when you’re not. When you are happy, I am happy. When you feel, I feel. Trust is hard for me and I’m trying with that, but I can’t deny the feelings I have for you that are overwhelming me. You make me feel safe. You make me feel fearless to deal with the negative vibes that people give me just for being with you.

“I can accept your past Gibson, because it is what it is. You never did any of that to hurt anyone, but I think you ended up hurting yourself because you want to commit to me now and everything that’s happened before continues to follow you. I love you so much it hurts, but I’m scared of what that means for me in the long term.”

Chloe admitting her feelings and how vulnerable it made her suddenly became a huge responsibility for me. I prayed to God that I didn’t fuck this up with her after she disclosed that she loved me. Telling me wasn’t done in a romantic setting or during a time when something spontaneous might have fallen out of her mouth, but to me it was the best way possible, because of what she’d just witnessed and the shit she’d dealt with during the day. So for me she’d given me the normality I’d been desperately seeking and in my line of work that was a rarity.

CHAPTER 17 - PEP TALK