“Fine.” Letty threw up her hands. “Looks like we’re going for lunch. Johnson, have a car follow us. Gareth, bring the bus.”
Johnson nodded and whispered something into his mic, while Gareth climbed dutifully back on the second bus.
“I’ll wait with Duke,” Travis suggested.
“There’s no need for—”
“I’ll wait.” He gave Letty a stiff nod, and she took off after the guys.
“Intern?” Levi yelled, turning around and walking backward. “You coming or not?” the corner of his mouth kicked up and I saw the amusement glitter in his eyes.
Jesus.
What had I gotten myself into?
Security checked the place over before any of us stepped inside. The diner was virtually empty, save for a couple of truckers. I’d spotted their vehicles in the parking lot around the back of the building. They didn’t pay us much attention as we all piled into a booth. The security guys were happy then to hold back, one remaining at the door and the other perching on a stool at the counter.
“Don’t get many famous folks passing through,” a woman with a head of frizzy blonde hair said.
“Our bus broke down. We’re waiting for the recovery truck. We were hoping to get some lunch.” Letty approached her. “We’d appreciate your discretion.”
The woman narrowed her eyes at us. “Y’all don’t look familiar. Should I know who you are?”
Hudson snorted and Damon jabbed him in the ribs. Letty shot them a hard look before returning her attention back to the woman.
“Could I speak to you for a minute, in private?” She eyed the two truckers. They seemed completely disinterested in us, poring over the newspaper, sipping their strong coffees.
The two of them disappeared to the far end of the diner. I knew Letty would be briefing her about the need for absolute discretion. When they were done, the woman went into the kitchen. She returned with two brown paper bags and two disposable coffee cups and dropped them down on the counter in front of the truckers. “Jerry, Kingston, I’m gonna need y’all to be on your way. Here’s a little something for the road. The kind lady over there settled your bill.” She motioned to Letty.
With little resistance, the two men got up and left as we watched on. Johnson flipped the open sign to closed and pulled down the blind.
The woman approached our booth with a wide smile. “I’m Jeanette, and I’ll be your server today. What can I get y’all?”
“What’s good?” Hudson asked, giving her a cocky smirk. Jeanette blushed, but she didn’t let the attention from a gorgeous rock star intimidate her.
“We do a mean burger. It comes with bacon, cheese, pickles and my fella’s special sauce.”
“Sounds amazing, I’ll take two.”
A chorus of snickers filled the air.
“Greedy fucker,” Levi murmured. He caught my eye again, holding my stare. He was right opposite me. There was no escaping, and by the time Jeanette reached me for my order, I could barely string a sentence together.
“Loaded fries please,” I managed to choke out. “Extra cheese, and I’ll take a strawberry shake.”
“Good choice, hon. We’ll get those right out to you. If you need anything, just holler.”
“I like it here.” Hudson mused. “It’s got spunk.”
It was a quintessential roadside diner. Checkerboard curtains and tiles, plain Formica tables, and red, fake-leather booths. But the coffee smelled good, and Jeanette seemed nice.
“Everything okay?” I asked Letty as she studied the window.
“Yeah. I just don’t like getting caught out.”
“Hopefully the tire will be fixed soon, and we can get back on be road,” I said. “And if it isn’t, we can go back to the original plan of all riding on the second bus.”
“Yeah, you’re right. It’s fine.” Despite her words, her shoulders didn’t relax.
I got it. Alistair had handed her the reins while he attended to business in Atlanta. He was joining us in Sacramento in two days’ time. She didn’t want things to go wrong on her watch.
Something nudged my foot under the table and my eyes snapped to Levi. He smirked, dirty thoughts glittering in his eyes. “I need to take a piss,” he announced.
“Restrooms are through that door and down the hall,” Jeanette called over.
“I’ll be back.” His eyes lingered on mine a fraction too long. I felt Hudson watching me. Noticed Damon watching Levi.
Damn him.
I wasn’t ready for our... whatever we were, to be out in the open. Not even to his bandmates.
Jeanette arrived with our drinks, so I used everyone’s momentary distraction to slip past Letty and go to the bathroom. Levi was just coming out of the men’s bathroom.
“What are you doing?” I hissed.
Levi started at me intently, crowding me against the wall. He leaned in and ran his nose along my jaw. “They’re my friends, Bee. My brothers. You think they don’t know that I was balls deep inside you last night? And again, this morning?” You think they don’t look at me and know I’m thinking about all the ways I want to make you come undone?”
“Behave, Levi,” I breathed, trying to calm my racing pulse. “You said we could be discreet.”
“I know, but I can’t help it if every time I lay eyes on you, I want to get you naked.” His hand slipped between our bodies finding my center. He cupped me there, pressing the heel of his palm right up against my clit.
“Oh God,” I whimpered, biting down on my lip. “Levi, we can’t...” My eyes flickered down the hall to the door. No one could see us, but anyone could walk in at any moment.
“But it feels good, right? I make you feel good?” He dipped his head to look at me, his eyes hooded, hunger simmering there. But there was a vulnerability in his voice that floored me.
“You know you do.” I swallowed a gasp as he rubbed me harder. Levi slipped his hand lower, grazing my bare thighs.
“Fuck, I love bootie shorts.” He grazed his pinky back and forth, making me shudder.
“We should stop... we should definitely stop.”
He nuzzled my neck, licking and sucking the sensitive skin. “Or,” he breathed. “I should see how quick I can get you off.”
“Lev—” I pressed my lips together, smothering a moan as he plunged two fingers deep inside me.
“Just feel it,” he whispered against the side of my throat. “Just let go.”
Levi
I couldn’t help myself.
The second my eyes landed on Phoebe, I knew I had to have her. Just a small taste. Something to tide me over until I got her alone and naked again.
Her head rolled back, hitting the wall. “God, it’s...”
“Yeah, Bee, I know.” I worked my fingers, curling them and rubbing deeper, watching with rapt fascination as she began to fall.
“Levi, fuck...”
I wanted to fuck her. I wanted to drag Phoebe into the bathroom, push her up against the wall, and sink deep inside her. But I wouldn’t. Not yet.
I wanted her desperate for me, the way I was desperate for her.