Private Affair (The Private Series) (15 page)

“This is true,” Ben laughs, “But I wouldn’t have you any other way. It is rather chilly and rains that time of the year and possibly snow… Then again it could be warm and sunny.”

I nod as he rambles on with Jack, who I am surprised to see so excited about planning a wedding with his son. I love seeing the joy in both of their eyes. These two men are definitely father and son and I am thankful that they too are not very traditional.

Gwen is starting to flip through a paper daily planner. I didn’t think people used the paper ones anymore, not since smartphones became popular. “We have all of May or June...”

“May maybe? Would that be enough time?” I ask, I don’t want to push anyone.

“Okay, I will mark it and start planning. Tess why don’t you come over someday soon and we can go over your dress and decorations? You know Caroline would love to help with the attire.”

“Are you sure she is up for it?” I ask worried about if she is well enough to take it on. The last thing I want is to stress her out.

The couple rises and puts on their jackets, “Are you kidding? She would be so disappointed if she didn’t get to design your dress.”

And you know what? She is absolutely right. I know that when I was in the same boat as Caroline years ago, the only thing that kept me going was listening to my music and painting or taking pictures. It was the things that made me happy the most that kept me alive and hopeful. So, I can understand where Caroline is coming from.

“So, we have a date then? May third or tenth?” I squeak as it finally hits me, after Jack and Gwen walk out the door. I start to hop from one foot to the other.

“Third,” Ben chirps up. “The earlier the better!” Ben swoops me up and spins me around and around. “Even though I have to wait two months to call you Mrs. Ben Mitchell.”

I gasp and smack at him to set me down, “Two months! Oh my God! That really isn’t a lot of time to plan! It didn’t sound like it was that close until you just said it! Holy crap! I don’t know how to plan a wedding! What do we do first?” I am pacing the room and I start to bite my nails. Ben comes over and takes my hand and everything goes soft and I relax. This. This is one of the many reasons I love him, he just has this effect on me. He can calm me down with a simple touch. Hell, he could start an inferno with the same touch too.

“We will be fine. We will start planning now and taking it one day at a time. Besides, between Gwen, Caroline and your mom, I doubt we will have to do much.”

“But I want to have fun planning too, but with work…”

“Hey, we are set to just do local shows for a little bit, so don’t worry. And besides Fuller knows about the engagement and I am sure she will allow us the time off we need for the wedding and…” He leans in and lick my bottom lip and nips it softly, “The honeymoon.”

Oh, the honeymoon. I didn’t even think about that, now I don’t know which part I am more excited about. Yes I do, the committing myself to the man I love, forever and for always.

“Where would we go?” I ask excitedly and now turned on by the assault to my lip.

His hand begins to travel up my t-shirt and his fingertips graze the outside of my bra, “Anywhere you want.”

My eyes roll back as his hand dips into my bra and finds my nipple. I no longer think about location of the honeymoon, but the bed and the time we will have alone together. I let out a soft moan as he pinches it softly, “Mmm… you like that huh?” He asks.

“Mmm Hmmm…”

He lifts my shirt up and tugs down the front of my bra cups and my small breasts are pushed up, ready for his attention. He leans down and flicks the tip of my nipple with his tongue and there goes that inferno. I loop my finger into the front of his waistband and start to pull him towards the hall. I bump into the wall on the way, seeing as I am walking backwards. With one hand Ben grasps both of my wrists and tugs them above my head, my body for the taking right in front of him. With his free hand he frees me of my bottoms and panties. I am panting so hard and so fast my chest is heaving. I need him. I need him so far in me and I still don’t think that would be enough. I feel like there is still a spot that hasn’t been touched by him and I am ready for it.

His pants and shorts are shimmied to the floor and his erection is harder than ever. I lock my eyes to his and I bite down on my lip to quiet a moan. His teeth nip at my lip and it stings, but feels so good and send a wave of tingles to my clit. I let go of that moan.

“Jump and wrap your legs around me.” He demands. Something about his alpha male that comes out during sex is beyond enticing and alluring. I am an independent woman and I can take care of myself, but something about him taking control at times, times like this … I don’t know, it just riles me up even more.

I do what I am told and he uses his hand to line up his shot. The next thing I know he is dipping then slams up into me. Holy mother of… this is good. This is… I scream. Intense. I love this feeling. It doesn’t take much before we are both huffing and puffing. He doesn’t let go of my wrists and his mouth goes to work on my nipples which are still being pushed up by my bra, making it easier for him. He flicks and licks and sucks on them back and forth. “Don’t stop,” I tell him.

“Oh, baby I don’t plan on it.”

He pumps into me a few more times and we are coming together, hard. We shutter as he enters me once, twice and the final third time.

“This is an odd assignment and I have never had anyone request a photographer for a tour.” Ms. Fuller informs me. “This is something we have contemplated in the past, but didn’t have the right person…”

I have been working my butt off for the magazine and loving every moment of it. I get to work with Ben on each show or feature as I have come to say. So when I was called into Ms. Fuller’s office to discuss a show I thought it’d be a typical assignment, not anything remotely like this.

“He wants me for the whole tour? How long?” I ask.

“He is a new emerging performer and he has a good following already through Smash Records. We have a good standing with the record company and have done countless features for their artists. We have sent journalists to cover the tour for a three to five page spread about the tour and used whoever we had in the area for the photographer. As for the duration we are looking at a minimum of four weeks.” She starts to explain and I am still trying to get this absorbed into my head.

“Why me?”

Ms. Fuller lowers the iPad she has in front of herself and slides it across the desk. “He … requested you.”

My jaw drops. No way.

“Tony?”

She smiles, “Ah, so you do know Mr. Towers.”

I open my mouth to speak and close it. I feel my head tip to the side in confusion. All the thoughts in my head are swirling like the sky in Van Gogh’s Starry Night. “I do.”

“That explains the request then.”

I knew Tony was an excellent performer, but I had no idea he would be picked up and so fast. The last time I saw him was about a month ago and he didn’t mention anything about it, so I can only assume that he wasn’t signed then. “So, when do Ben and I leave?”

“I know you are used to working with Mr. Mitchell, but this is a unique case and frankly I need him here to cover some big shows happening here in Seattle.”

Ben won’t be with me? I feel my heart sinks slightly. “Who will be coving the show, as in the writing aspect? Does Ben know?”

“We have another columnist who has done tour work with us in the past Jennifer Garrett, you two will get along very well. I have sent Ben an email requesting a meeting with him on the matter, this afternoon when he is in.” She assures me. “The tour is set to start next week. He is new so there isn’t a huge tour bus like most would assume. The label has set him up with a midsize RV and driver.”

“How would I travel?”

“With him. I assume that’s not a problem? The RV will have four bunks.” She stiffens her features and I haven’t seen that look before, she must be serious.

I swallow hard, “Of course not. And Jennifer?”

“With you as well. I want you two to get along, because you will be working non-stop on this tour. I want all the show details and behind the scenes. The music, the growing fame… the girls.”

I am picking at my navy blue nail polish, trying to absorb all this. I never thought I would be going on a tour. I am grateful that it’s with someone I know, but how did Tony know I worked with Tones?

We hear a knock on the door and Ms. Fuller announces the person to come in. Ben is standing in the door way, he is looking yummier than this morning in his fitted jeans, gray shirt and a black over shirt unbuttoned and rolled to the elbows.
Hot daaauuuuumn…

“Come on in and have a seat Ben,” She waves her hand to the empty seat next to me. He strides in, closing the door behind him. He leans down, kisses my cheek and winks.

“What’s going on?” He asks bright eyed. If he only knew we were going to be separated. Apart.

“I was just giving Tess the 411 on Mr. Towers tour.”

“Yeah I hear about this guy, getting picked up at a place in Florida with Smash. That dude must have some ripe talent to get on a tour right away.” He doesn’t know who he is yet.

He snaps it looking back at Ms. Fuller and gives her a questioning look. “I have asked Tess to join Jennifer Garrett on his four week tour. We have wanted to send one of our photographers for some time now and considering he has personally requested her, we couldn’t refuse.”

“Wait? Jennifer? Why not me?” He asks bewildered.

She sighs, “I know you two are engaged and don’t want to be apart, but I need you here for the bands coming to Seattle. Jennifer is fully capable and Tess will do great on this project.”

Ben bites the inside of his cheek and looks to the floor before responding. He rubs his thumb over my palm. He looks up to Fuller with his head still bowed, “When?”

“Next week.”

My jaw drops open and so does Ben’s.

“Are you okay with this?” I ask.

Ms. Fuller stands, “I’ll give you two a moment.” She exits the office.

Ben brings his shoulders up and gapes his mouth open, speechless. “I … I have to be right? I am not going to be that guy who tells you, you can’t do something, not when I know it’s something you love. Do I want you to leave? No, but this is an amazing opportunity for you. How do you feel about going?”

“I am shocked mostly, I mean I didn’t think I would get to go on tour with a band before. It’s good that I know who it is at least.”

“Wait? You know this guy? Who is it?” He has this look of confusion and excitement for me and dread. Maybe he knows?

“Ben, its Tony.”

“He jumps to his feet, “What?” He yells. I am in shock I knew he would be shocked, but angry? I drop my head … No. No, I won’t be made to feel bad about this exciting adventure I have ahead of me. No!

“I don’t see why you are getting so upset!” I give it right back to him. He should know by now that I will hold my ground and push right back.

He puts his hand to his mouth and widen his eyes and rubs his face finally. “Because I can’t be there to protect you.”

“You seemed perfectly fine five minutes ago with the knowledge that I would be going on the road with a complete stranger!” By this time I am standing and putting my jacket and bag over my shoulder.

He grunts and takes hold of my elbow, but gently, Ben wouldn’t hurt me. “Look, I am sorry. I didn’t mean to explode like that and you have a point. I have seen how he looks at you Tess.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

He shakes his head, “You really don’t see it when a guy is into you do you? The guy has a thing for you!”

“Tony? The same guy who is super friendly and gets along with you? You don’t know what you’re talking about. He knows I am off limits.” I recall the time in the music store when he asked me out, but I had to turn him down. At the time I wasn’t with Ben, but my heart was.

“How are you so sure? He might try something on the tour.”

“And so could any other person.”

He stops and thinks about that for a moment. “True,” He admits.

I take his face in my hands and soften my voice, “I know this isn’t going to be easy and I know you have this thing with Tony, but he hasn’t done anything wrong and he won’t. He is a friend and you know that. I am a big girl I can take care of myself.”