Ember

17 - Boring party

Ember

“We formed in 1997, the year my first son was born. Of course, leaving him to go on tour was hard,”

Marlon Sombes is a friendly enough man, but he sure knows how to talk. Sure, at first, I was interested in how Doubtful Calling made it big. Hearing how other artists got started is interesting to me. Being in the presence of famous people is fascinating. However, this is a party, and I want to meet some of the others in attendance.

As soon as I walked through the door of Canyons Reef’s penthouse suite with Hannah, Marlon was all over us. He’s the typical ladies’ man, even though he’s married. Marlon was smitten with Hannah because she’s beautiful, and her natural curves are emphasized in her tight little black dress.

Colin was soon by her side, telling Marlon that Hannah was his wife and to stay away. Colin then pulled Hannah away, leaving me alone with Marlon. He instantly commented on my body and how the short, red dress I was wearing made me more fuckable than any woman here. I don’t see how when there are far hotter women here tonight. Nevertheless, I rolled my eyes at Marlon and asked him not to make such comments again.

Why do men think that is okay?

I’ve heard it many times in my life. I was raised around bikers. They may be vigilantes and respect their women, but those unattached are all foul-mouthed. It comes naturally to them to tell women how hot and fuckable they are. However, that does not mean I want to hear it from strangers!

Marlon chuckled and apologized before asking me to join him for a drink. I’m not a rude person, and I’m here to make friends, so I said yes. Marlon is easily in his fifties, though he looks years older than my dad. Years of drinking and drug abuse have taken their toll on his body and face.

While Marlon is still talking, my eyes scan the room. There are so many people here that I can’t spot Marco, Bob, Saint, Colin, or Hannah. They seem to be lost in the crowd, though I do see Matt. He sees me looking at him and crooks his finger, beckoning me to go to him. The man has made no secret of the fact he doesn’t like me, but he is my manager, so I excuse myself and make my way over to him.

“Ah, Ember,” I narrow my eyes slightly at the overly friendly way Matt greeted me. “Nate, this is the newest member of Dun’s Dungeon, Ember Marshall.”

“Nice to meet you, Ember.” The tall drink of water in front of me holds his hand out.

I take it and shake his hand. “You too,” I pull my hand away and look at Matt.

“Nate here is the lead singer of Canyons Reef,”

“Yes, I know,” I chuckle.

I’m sure Matt thinks I’ve lived under a rock my whole life. I know as much as the rest of the world about the band of three. Tommy Wheelen is a twenty-six-year-old British drummer. Tommy moved to the US ten years ago with his family. He’s also a party animal with a drug addiction and has been in rehab three times, all unsuccessfully. Travis Colton is the bass player and is also twenty-six. He’s Canadian, finished at the top of his class, and is an all-around good guy. Nate Rigby is the twenty-seven-year-old lead singer and guitarist of Canyons Reef. Nate is also Canadian. He’s a ladies’ man who gets what and whom he wants whenever he wants them. Apparently, nobody ever says no to Nate. Every woman wants him, and they all drop their panties for him.

Standing this close to Nate, I can’t see the appeal. Sure, he’s handsome to a fault, but the cockiness that radiates off him is too much. There’s nothing wrong with being confident, but believing you have the right to take what you want is not attractive to me. Nate is not my type, but I can tell that he thinks he is.

Matt narrows his eyes at me, and I can tell he’s annoyed by what I said.

I roll my eyes at him and turn away. “The guys and I are really looking forward to supporting your band.” I might not want to jump into bed with the man, but that doesn’t mean I have to be a bitc.h.

Nate smirks. “I’m certainly looking forward to it,” He shamelessly looks me up and down.

I’m used to men doing that and usually don’t care. However, this man suddenly gives me the creeps. I’m pretty good at reading men. It’s a gift my mother gave me. Right now, that gift tells me to steer clear of the vampire in front of me.

I chuckle inside my head. Vampire, that’s what my mom always referred to men who believed themselves to be God’s gift as. She told me that men like that would suck the life out of you given half a chance. She also said that a man who thought that of himself would think nothing of taking what he wanted by force and damn the consequences.

A man like Nate could do what he wanted to a woman, and because he’s famous, his manager would find a way to cover it up. Even if the girl did manage to report the crime, she’d be made to look like a lying groupie, out to get a large payout.

Welcome to the world of show business, Ember. It’s seedy and can be dangerous, so don’t let your guard down. Not everyone is underhand, but people will do whatever it takes to reach the top. They’ll do even more to stay there. Be careful, girl, and stick to those you trust like glue.

I plan to!

I make my excuses to leave. I need to make the rounds and introduce myself to people, as no one else will. And once I do, I find myself relaxing.

I’m having so much fun. I haven’t laughed so hard in such a long time. I never imagined I’d meet so many famous people in one place. I have to pinch myself a couple of times because this is my life now, and it’s only just beginning.

“Hey, you,”

I startle and laugh while clutching my chest. “Marco, you startled me.”

I spent an age trying to find the bathroom in this huge place. Thank God I peed before walking into Marco; I might have peed myself. Marco reaches over and tucks a loose string of hair behind my ear. The act was so tender that it made my spine tingle and my puss.y pulse.

God, I want him more than I’ve ever wanted anyone. I don’t know if It’s just the alcohol making me feel this way or if I really do have a connection to this man. I do know that I can’t act on whatever I’m feeling. If I did, it would ruin everything with the band. I cannot let that happen. I’ve only just joined the band, and I won’t do anything that means my dream would come to a premature end.

It’s so hard, though, when Marco is standing this close to me. He looks so devastatingly handsome dressed the way he is, and I want to kiss him. Just one kiss, and I’d walk away.

Jesus, I’m so weak right now, and all I want is for someone to show me that I’m worth something. Toby broke something inside me, and I fear it will never be mended. I don’t need validation from anyone, but everybody needs to feel like they matter.

“Nate is looking for you. He seems to have a thing for you,” I stare at Marco for a moment. My fingers are itching to touch him. “Be careful, Ember. Nate is not the good guy he pretends to be.”

“I don’t want Nate, Marco. He gives me the creeps.”

I take a step back as Marco takes one toward me. I swallow hard.

“Then what do you want, Ember?”

My heart is pounding so hard, and I’m scared to give in to what I’m feeling. At the same time, I’m terrified of never feeling this man’s lips on mine.

It’s too soon to be feeling anything for another man, Ember. You just got out of a relationship with a cheat. You may think you feel something special for Marco, but it’s just physical. Nothing will ever be the same if you have se.x with Marco right now. Marco Russo is a man whor.e, and you will merely be another notch on his bedpost. He’ll break your heart, and when that happens, things will become too awkward, and the others will want you out of the band. Don’t throw away your dream on one night, Ember.

I won’t, but I have to be honest with Marco. He doesn’t deserve to feel as though I’m leading him on.