Front Man: The Complete Trilogy (3 page)

“What
the fuck man? Get out of here!”

Erica
just stared at them vacantly, as if her eyes couldn't quite focus.
“Sara..?” She slurred.

“Michael,
what the hell? This chick's off her head, what are you doing?”

Sara
went to her friend, supporting her as she slumped against her
shoulder. Michael rounded on Jack, buttoning up his pants in the
process.

“Dude,
what's your problem? She's fine. Stay out of what doesn't concern
you.”

Sara
helped Erica stand, easing her dress down over her thighs. But as her
feet touched the floor, Erica's legs buckled. Jack had to help her
carry Erica to the sofa. Her friend could barely keep her eyes open.

“This
is your idea of fine, is it?” Jack spat.

“So
she's had a few drinks. She's just another drunk little whore.”

Sara
felt rage rise within her, mingled with guilt. She shouldn't have
left her friend alone with this bastard.

“Just
get out of my sight Michael, before I do something stupid.”

“It's
my fucking dressing room -”

“Get
the fuck out!” Jack growled. Michael gave a shrug, and left the
room, not even casting a last look at Erica. Jack shook his head.

“Asshole.”

“Sara,”
Erica whimpered, “I don't feel so good.”

“Oh
shit, I better get her to the ladies room,” Sara said, and Jack
scooped Erica up like she weighed nothing and carried her to the
washrooms. As soon as they reached the door, Erica seemed to come to
and bolted for the cubicle. Sara sat beside her friend, holding her
hair back, rubbing her back and telling her everything was going to
be okay. At least, thanks to Jack it was.

Finally,
Erica sat back on her heels and leaned against the wall of the
bathroom stall. She let out a small groan.

“Feeling
any better?” Sara asked, smoothing her friend's hair out of her
face.

“Mmmhm.
I'm so sorry Sara, I don't even know what happened. I didn't think I
drank that much.”

“Could
he have, you know, slipped you something?”

“No...maybe,
I dunno. I don't remember anything.”

“Okay
hun, well sit tight here for a second, I'll go fetch you some water.
Will you be okay?”

Erica
smiled weakly and gave a small nod. Giving her friend a pat on the
shoulder, Sara hurried out of the ladies room. She was taken aback to
see Jack hovering in the corridor.

“Hey,”
he said gently, “how's your friend doing?”

“Nothing
she can't sleep off. I, uh, didn't realise you were waiting.”

Jack
smiled. “I had to make sure you guys were alright. We can take
her to the hospital if you like, get her checked out?”

“She's
awake and talking, I think she just needs to rest. Thanks though.”

“Of
course. Look, how are you getting home?”

Sara
frowned. She hadn't even thought that far ahead.

“Erica
was meant to be driving us. Looks like that won't be happening. Shit,
I don't even know if I can take her home in this condition, her Dad
will go crazy.”

Jack
gave her a worried look.

“Um,
how old are you girls?”

Despite
the situation, Sara couldn't help but laugh at his fearful
expression.

“Don't
worry, we're not
jail-bait.
We're
twenty-one, but we just graduated college, so we haven't got a place
sorted yet. Still living with the folks for now..”

“Sorry...I
figured, I just...”

“I
know, don't worry,” Sara said with a smile.

“Look,”
Jack said tentatively, “don't take this the wrong way. But I've
got a big suite back at the hotel, it's only two blocks from here.
You're more than welcome to stay....you'd have your own bedroom and
everything. Might be easier than trying to get her home in this
condition. “

Sara
wavered for a moment. The thought of a plush hotel room for the night
was tempting, especially when the alternative was an expensive cab
ride with a puking Erica. If only she had learned to drive a stick,
she could have taken Erica's car. Damn. If she was honest, the
thought of spending more time with Jack was certainly
appealing...surely this was every girl's dream come true? But she
didn't want to be another stupid groupie

“Honestly
Sara, it's just a bed for the night. No strings attached, I promise.
I'd just feel a lot better if I knew you were safe.”

The
sincerity of Jack's tone clinched it. She might as well take a chance
for once.

“That
would be great. Thanks.”

He
smiled, and Sara felt her stomach flip over. Don't be silly, she told
herself, he's just being nice. Why would a famous musician like Jack
Carter be interested in someone like me?

Together,
they escorted a very wobbly Erica to the waiting taxi.

“Ambassador
Down-town
,” Jack directed the driver,
“ service entrance please.”

The car
pulled in to a dingy alley, and Sara felt a little stab of anxiety.
This is what happens when you get in cars with strange men, she
thought to herself.

“Not
a very glamorous spot, “ Jack grinned, “ but saves having
to deal with the press. I don't need pictures of me escorting two
young women into me hotel room all over the front page tomorrow
morning.”

Looping
an arm round Erica's shoulders, he led the girls through a shabby
little door, past the kitchens, until they reached a service
elevator. Jack hit the button for the top floor. Through one more
door, and they emerged into another world. Sara had never set foot in
a hotel this luxurious. Her feet seemed to sink into the hall carpet,
and the doors were set ridiculously far apart, suggesting a decent
amount of square footage inside the rooms. Jack guided them right to
the end of the corridor, and inserted his card into the lock of a
door that did not even have a number.

“We're
going to be slumming it in Europe I think,” he said with a
grin, “ so the record company splashed out for tonight.”

***

Having
tucked Erica into the enormous bed, with a glass of water and some
Advil in easy reach, Sara had time to truly take in her surroundings.
The suite was huge, twice the size of her and Erica's college
apartment, and boasted three separate bedrooms, two bathrooms and two
reception areas. The crowning glory was the floor to ceiling window
in the lounge, from which she could see the sparkling lights of the
city stretching into the distance. As she stood soaking up the view,
Jack emerged from his bedroom. He had shed his stage clothes, and was
wearing black sweat pants and a dark grey t-shirt. Dressed down, he
looked like the boy next door, albeit a very handsome one.

“I
don't know about you,” he said, “but I could do with a
nightcap. Anything from the
mini-bar
catch
your eye?”

“Whatever
you're having,” Sara replied. The stress of looking after Erica
had sobered her up completely, and she felt like a drink might take
the edge off her nerves. Being alone with Jack Carter was something
she'd been dreaming about since she was a teenager. She still
couldn't believe it was actually happening. Despite all the
conversations she'd imagined having with her idol, at that moment she
couldn't think of a single intelligent thing to say.

“Scotch
on the rocks, with a twist,” Jack declared, handing her a
drink. Even the glass felt expensive, Sara thought ruefully. Jack
stood beside her, swirling the amber liquid in his glass. It was so
quiet, she could hear the ice cubes clink.

“I
don't know how to thank you for tonight,” she said at last. “If
you hadn't helped me, god know what could have happened.”

“Honestly,
it was nothing. I'm just sorry that Michael acted the way he did.
He's...man, he's not a bad guy. At least he never used to be. The
whole fame thing just went to his head. We used to be friends, now I
feel like I don't even know him
any more.
”

“Seems
like a creep to me,” Sara said, taking a sip from her glass.
She wouldn't forget the look on Michael's face when they opened the
door, the way it twisted with spite. No shame at all.

“After
tonight, it's hard to disagree with you. But I don't think he would
have hurt her.”

“He
was taking advantage, that's bad enough.”

“Sorry.
You're completely right. I just...it's hard to think that someone can
change that much. Can act like that. But the way he's been lately, I
don't even know why I'm surprised.”

He
looked genuinely upset at the thought, and Sara stifled the urge to
throw her arms around him.

Instead
she touched him gently on the arm.

“Hey,
no harm done. Erica will have a headache and a good story to tell.”

“And
now I'm here with you. That counts as a happy ending in my book.”

Sara
looked up at him, her eyes wide with surprise.

“Sorry,”
Jack said, “I shouldn't have said that. I meant what I said
earlier, I just wanted to help you out.”

“I
know you did,” Sara said softly. “You really are full of
surprises Jack Carter. I came here tonight just hoping to see you up
close. Maybe get an autograph. And now here I am, in this crazy hotel
room, sipping scotch with a rock star.”

“The
rock star's the guy you see on stage. Right now, I'm just plain old
me. A little tired, a little stressed and a little nervous about
talking to a beautiful woman.”

It was a
cheesy line, but Sara couldn't help but blush. She wanted to pinch
herself.

“Is
it really all it's cracked up to be, this life? Fame and fortune?”

Jack
considered for a moment.
“I can't complain,, Sara. I've got
all the money I need, I get to travel. I get to make music, which is
all I ever wanted. The fame part gets boring after a while, I'll tell
you that. Never having a moment to yourself, never being in one place
for any length of time. It's fun, sure, but it does get lonely. It
can be hard to get close to people.”

“That
must be difficult.”

“Sometimes.
But still, I know I'm lucky.”

“I'm
sure you're sick of hearing this question, but...Back Track. What is
it about that song, Jack? When you were playing it tonight, it seemed
really difficult for you. Or was I imagining it?”

Jack
exhaled and took another long swig of his scotch.

“You
weren't imagining it. That song...it's very personal to me. I wrote
it about someone I loved. Someone who isn't in my life
any
more.
” Jack trailed off, unsure how to continue.

“You
don't have to tell me about it if you don't want to. I just
wondered...you seemed so sad.”

Jack
looked into Sara's eyes, brimming with compassion. For whatever
reason, he felt he could trust her, and he had an urge to tell her
everything. About Laura, about the song, about the bridge. Somehow he
felt like she might understand. Might care. But he couldn't. He
didn't even know her.

“It's
not that I don't want to...I just don't know how to. I'm sorry.”

With
uncharacteristic boldness, Sara reached up and stroked his hair.

“Don't
be sorry,” she whispered, “there's nothing to be sorry
for.”

Jack took in her beautiful face, felt the softness of her touch, and
despite himself he couldn't hold back any longer. He leaned forward
and kissed her on the mouth, softly at first, growing more intense as
he felt her respond. He pulled her closer, the curves of her body
pressing against him as they relaxed into each other. His hands
roamed over her body, stroking their way down her back to cup her
tight backside. Reluctantly, Jack pulled back from their kiss and
looked her in the eye.

“Are you sure?” He said, not wanting her to feel
pressured.

“Yes. Oh yes.”

“Thank God.”

Sara let
out an involuntary moan as Jack's tongue invaded her mouth, his hands
continuing their exploration. She had idolised the swaggering rock
star for so many years, but it was the real, vulnerable man who now
fascinated her. She slid her hands under his shirt, her fingers
tracing his solid abs, stroking the coarse hair that formed a trail
down his belly. The thought of what lay at the end of that trail
filled her with lust, and she returned his kisses with even greater
fervour. Jack kissed his way down the soft skin of her neck and along
her delicate collarbone, while his hands found her full breasts. Sara
moaned as he massaged them, teasing her erect nipples through her
clothing. He reached around to unhook her bra, and deftly removed her
shirt, so she stood in only her leather pants in front of the
enormous window. Instinctively her arms moved to cover herself.

“Relax,”
Jack said softly, “ nobody can see us up here.” He took
her hands and gently moved them away from her breasts, replacing them
with his mouth. He kissed the soft skin, toying with her nipples with
his tongue until she gasped. Sara was overflowing with desire,
desperate to be taken by this beautiful, complicated man.

Without
moving his mouth from her breasts, Jack's fingers found the zip of
her pants, and he slid them off her slim hips to fall in a heap on
the carpet. Now she stood before him, clad only in a white lace thong
which grew more transparent by the minute as her juices flowed. Jack
groaned, part of him wanting to push her up against the glass and
fuck her there and then. But she was so stunning, and he wanted to
make it last. Trailing kisses down her flat stomach, he pushed his
face between her legs, tracing his tongue over the flimsy fabric of
her underwear. God, she smelled incredible. He grasped her panties
with his teeth, meaning to pull them aside, but as he tugged the
fabric tore clean in two. Beyond caring, Jack thrust his tongue
between her legs, finding her swollen clitoris and circling it until
she cried out with pleasure. He slipped two fingers into her wet
opening, slowly pumping them in and out while he continued to lick
her in increasingly frantic strokes. Sara had her hands on his head,
urging him on, lost in the incredible sensations coursing through her
body. She could feel the pressure building inside her as he licked
and sucked, his fingers threatening to send her over the edge. But he
wasn't finished with her yet. Suddenly Jack stood and swept her up in
his arms, planting a kiss on her lips as she did so . The musky scent
of herself on his mouth only heightened her arousal. He carried her
into the bedroom, and threw her down on the emperor sized bed.