Page 12 of Not the Punk

“What?”

“Yeah, the one Jinx judged, but I was on the season before. I didn’t win. Too nervous, and I kept screwing up.” He shrugged.

“I’m going to Google that, you know.”

He chuckled. “Figured that as soon as I said it. It’s okay. It’s out there, so…” He lifted a hand as if to say go right ahead.

“You amaze me. You’re so talented. I don’t have a talented bone in my body.”

“I don’t know, maybe you just haven’t found it, but you are brave. I’m not.”

“You must be. You go out there on a stage in front of a gazillion people and perform.”

“Not quite that many, dude. But that’s following. Not playing my songs.” I wasn’t entirely sure what he meant, but it wasn’t something I could ever do. “It’s fun. And don’t get me wrong, I love it. It’s just that…when I had a shot, I fucked it up. This…” He held that hand out again and I took it. “Bramble Punk was a gift.”

“You’re a gift.”

He set the guitar down on the floor beside him and crawled into my lap. “I’m glad you’re here.”

Then he leaned in and pressed his lips against mine. They were hot, and I swear they branded my soul. I kissed him back, taking the lead and flicking my tongue out. He opened so beautifully for me.

I slid my hands under his shirt, feeling his bare skin, cool and still sticky from sweating during his performance. He pulled back. “I should probably take a shower.”

“Later.” I pulled him in close, wanting to feel him pressed against me.

The bus door opened, and we both jumped.

“Shit, dudes…sorry.” Matty backed up. “I’ll crash with Randy and Dave…” He muttered something after that, but I couldn’t tell what he said with the laughter coming from Joe.

“You think that’s funny?”

“Uh…yeah.”

“I’ll show you funny.” I tickled him, putting his back on the couch, and he squirmed around for me, laughing and giggling.

“I’m tick-tick-ticklish. Stop.” He squirmed away, but I pulled him back and kissed him again.

We made out for a while, keeping it clothes-on safe. I wanted to take my time with him. No rushing. No pushing. I didn’t want him to run the other way. He eventually got a shower, and then we crashed in his bunk. It was big enough for both of us, but a little too small to move around much. Anything more than cuddling was out of the question, but I was more than okay with that while he was in my arms.

Chapter seven

Joe plays Las Vegas

The buses were headed into Las Vegas, and I had Colten beside me, and I had to admit I liked it a fucking lot. He was fun to be around whether we were just bull shitting, playing a video game, or even just napping like now. I had my head on his shoulder, and his arms were around me. I wasn’t sure if he was asleep, but I wasn’t. I was too busy wondering about that fucking snake and how it got on the bus.

Snakes in the desert were a thing, but I’d never heard of one being on someone’s bus. Tent, yes, but bus? No. No way. It didn’t matter if it was possible. My gut said it was unlikely. Alton and Brax, the bodyguards for the tour, both said someone had most likely left the bus door open and it climbed in, but I seriously doubted it.

The bus downshifted, slowing. “We must be getting close.” I sat up and gazed down at Colten, and he cracked one piercing-blue eye open. “This should be a fun show. Wakey-wakey. Don’t you want to see the strip as we get into town?”

“No. I’ve seen it before.” His voice was gravelly from sleep, and I found it quite sexy. “Honestly, I’d rather look at you.” His words made my heart skip a beat.

I leaned down and kissed him, and when I went to sit back up, he grabbed me and pulled me back down and cuddled me some more. We still hadn’t done anything besides kiss and sneak fingers under our shirts, but the desire was there. He probably was a little afraid of being another conquest for the rockstar, but he’d learn that wasn’t how I rolled. I didn’t sleep with fans or strangers.

“I do have to get up, Colten. I need to get dressed. There’s an interview session before we even get to the venue.” After the concert, we would head straight out to LA. We’d only have one day before the show, which was probably full of interviews and shit. But then we had a couple of days off there before heading to Albuquerque, and we needed to use those days for R&R because the rest of the tour would be grueling. MH Management had added more dates than we had last year, but we’d all agreed, so none of us could complain. We’d be making more money, and it would give us more opportunities to gain fans.

Colten rolled over to his stomach. “Okay…”

“Should be fun. This is Soul Shred’s hometown, and trust me, they are a riot.”