My brain can’t quite process the deluge of all he’s offering me. “You don’t know me well enough to be—”
“I do,” he insists gruffly as his fingers push my panties to the side, gliding over my sensitive flesh. I go instantly, shamelessly wet.
“Travis. Someone might see us.”
“No one can see us. And you’re going to stop fighting me every step of the way, baby girl. You want me as bad I want you. Fuck, you’re wet for me. You want my big cock right now, don’t you, darlin’?”
That’s one thing I can’t argue with because he’s unbuttoning his jeans as he rubs my clit and kisses my lips. I do. I want him with everything I have, even if I’m still mad as hell at him. I wrap my arms around him and kiss him back.
His huge cock rubs against my slick wetness. “What are you doing to me, Ruby?”
“Kissing you.” I gasp as his thick cock forces entry, stretching me open and sliding deep. He starts thrusting in a fast, in-and-out rhythm that feels so damn good it brings more tears to my eyes. “Oh, Travis.”
He puts his hand over my mouth to keep me quiet as he thrusts faster and I moan again even though we’re doing it in a public place against a door with a thousand people on the other side of it. The gliding, thick, slippery friction is too much. His hand is over my mouth and we’re staring deep into each other’s eyes as he fucks me hard and fast. The pleasure is astounding, crashing through me in voluptuous clenches. My whole body is coming, milking his length tightly, over and over. He swears and clenches his teeth as his release explodes, pumping his hot cum deep inside me in seedy bursts until it’s dripping down my thighs.
My head is lolling on his shoulder and he cradles me against him. “Sweet Jesus,” he mutters.
I vaguely hear voices far above us. Travis pulls himself from my body, setting me carefully onto my feet, tucking himself back into his jeans and smoothing my dress into place. My face is wet with tears. My knees are so weak I’m not even sure I can stand up without his support. And under my dress I’m literally overflowing with his cum. “I can’t go back up there.”
He smiles at me, wiping my tears with his thumbs. “You’re going to hold my hand and we’re going to walk right through that party into my apartment, which is at the far end of the warehouse. I’m going to hold you in my arms all night long. And tomorrow we’re going to make a plan. You’re going to move in with me and we’re going to make your music happen. Together. I’m going to help you make all your dreams come true.”
I start to say something. But he holds his fingers to my lips to silence me.
“You can argue with me tomorrow.”
It’s true. I’m too exhausted to argue with him now. Slowly, I nod.
Travis takes my hand, making sure I’m stable enough to walk. Then he leads me up the stairs, through the crowd, ignoring all the people who call out to him.
He takes me to his apartment, which I can abstractly appreciate is the most sublime space I’ve ever seen. He pulls off my dress and takes me into the shower, where he washes me carefully. Then he dries me and tucks me into his bed. He wraps his body around mine and I hold him close as I kiss his lips and lace my fingers through his hair.
I’m not sure what I’ve gotten myself into but this offer is just too damn good to refuse.
Sometimes you have to play the hand you’ve been dealt and I guess this is definitely one of those times. I think I just got dealt four aces and a wild card.
I can’t know how things will pan out. I’ll do my best to survive him.
Travis Tucker has packed more lust, inspiration, heartbreak and love into six days than I’ve experienced in the entire rest of all my years.
Of course I’m going to go with him.
Of course I’ll live with him and tour with him and sing with him.
And make love to him every chance I get.
I blink at him and he smiles in the darkness, all green eyes and promises.
As I drift into sleep, some lyrics I wrote for him weave through my mind.
Tell me where does this road lead and where does it end. Oh, where does this road lead and where does it end.
“There’s something I need to tell you all.”
The three of them look up at me.
I’m in the kitchen with Momma and Rose and Gi and we’ve just cleaned up from lunch and I haven’t told them yet that I’ve packed my one bag that holds everything I own and it’s right now sitting next to my bed. Travis brought me back from Nashville this morning. I told him I needed a few hours.
My mother and sisters can already tell that whatever I’m about to say is big. They go quiet, waiting for me to speak.
“I got a job. It’s in Nashville.”
“What?” says Gi. I’m going to miss her most of all and it’s just now starting to hit me that I’m actually leaving.
I take a deep breath because this is harder than I thought it would be. “Momma, I’ve already made up my mind that this is what I want to do and I’m going to do it so please don’t try to stop me.”
Momma’s face pales a shade.
“You know how I told you someone bought the house next door? Well, his name is Travis Tucker. He’s a musician.”
“Travis Tucker?” breathes Rose. My sisters know exactly who Travis Tucker is. “Jack is in his band.” I don’t know exactly what the state of affairs is between Rose and Jack right now. I do know, though, that Gi did take Rose to the clinic to make sure she took a morning after pill. Not only that, but Gi insisted she get an on-going prescription so it doesn’t happen again because she’s sick of worrying about it. I swear Gi worries about whether Rose is about to get knocked up more than Rose does. And if Rose is still with Jack, it’s her own fault if she gets her heart broken. I told her about what I saw.
“Well … not exactly,” I clarify. “Jack used to be their opening act, Rose. But not anymore. Now …” It almost sounds too crazy. “I’m going to be their opening act.”
“What?” Rose laughs. “Sure you are. And I’m going to sprout little wings and fly to the moon.”
“Ruby,” Momma says. “Is this true?”
“It’s true. It’s a twelve-show tour and they’ve asked me to come with them. It doesn’t start for a few weeks but I’m going to spend time making a record. Travis is going to help me. They have apartments and a recording studio at their loft in Nashville. I’ll get paid a lot of money to do the tour and my record’s exposure will be huge.”
“Ruby, you’re too young. You hardly know these people.”
“I’m not too young, Momma. I’m exactly the right age. It’s what I’ve been dreaming of since Daddy told me he wanted to see me singing on stage one day. He would want me to follow my dreams. You do too, I know you do. This is what I want.”
Momma sits down on a chair like her knees have suddenly gone weak. I catch her eye and I want to mention that she was only seventeen when she left home to follow her dream. But I don’t. She already knows that.
“They’ll be here soon. I’ll introduce you and—”
“They?” Rose sort of clutches herself.