Sing a Song of Love (7 page)

I picked up the bill and we all headed to the car park. 

I was relieved that Cam was happy to take over my
chaperoning duties as I wasn’t use to the hours Lance, Robbie and Josh kept. I
hadn’t been joking when I had told Jess I was up at Matapouri recuperating.  I
had spent years listening to bands in noisy bars and these days my ears just
preferred the sophistication of my iPod eighty per cent of the time.

Jessie hopped in beside me and gave me directions back to
her house. 

I pulled up outside a quaint, wooden cottage that was
surrounded by well-established trees in what looked like an older part of
Auckland.  It felt sleepy and quieter than the more modern parts and I could
see why Jessie had chosen to live here. 

I killed the engine and turned round to look at her.  The
light from the street lamp was filtering in through the window picking up the
red glints in her hair and I couldn’t help myself reaching across and pulling
her close.

I breathed in her scent and promised myself it was just a
goodnight hug but as my lips went to kiss her forehead chastely I felt Jess
tilt her head up.  I saw her parted lips and wide hazel eyes looking at me full
of longing and couldn’t resist.  I dropped my mouth to hers and tasted her lips.

My hands found their way to her face and I cupped it, gently
drawing her in closer.  She opened her mouth hungrily as I struggled to keep my
desire for her under wraps.  I felt like I was breaking a promise but Jess
seemed to be giving me the red light so I let myself go.  More than anything I
wanted to end the night in her bed enjoying that body which I remembered so
well.

I tugged her top up and was surprised and very happy to
discover the lack of a bra.  Her nipples were already erect and the feel of
their hardness brushing against my hand made me want to rip her top off and
take them in my mouth. 

“We shouldn’t Mack but I can’t seem to help myself around
you.”

Jessie was looking at me with such longing mixed with
confusion that I wasn’t sure how to precede.  She brought out such a range of
emotions in me that my usual assurance evaporated.

“All I know Jess is that I don’t want to hurt you but I also
can’t stop wanting you.”

As if to prove my words my hand had never left her breast
and was still teasing her nipple while I watched the pleasure on her face.  She
drew in her lower lip and arched her back, pushing her breasts even further
towards me. 

My lips found hers again and I sucked in her lower lip
teasing her to let me in while my hand slid up under her skirt.  Her thighs
were warm and inviting and I felt Jess move slightly to allow me in and I could
feel the warmth of her pussy through her knickers.  I felt my dick start to
throb as she whimpered with desire as my fingers found her clit.  It was wet
and I let my thumb slid back and forth across it, dipping in every now and
again to that delicious wetness. 

I wanted to bury my dick inside her and made an executive
decision to relocate to her flat before we got done for indecent exposure.  It
had been a long time since I had had sex in a car and if at all possible I
preferred the creature comforts of a bed these days.

I grabbed her bag and lifted her out and while she fumbled
for the keys I kept up my vigil behind her kissing and nibbling her neck.  When
the door opened we stumbled inside before I kicked it shut behind us and drew
her close. 

I yanked her top over her head freeing her breasts which jiggled
delightfully in thanks and dropped my head and found her first nipple while my
hands went under her skirt ripping off her knickers. 

I was so busy focussing on her that I hadn’t noticed her own
work until I felt her hand on my dick moving up and down.  Fuck I had missed
this and it had only been two days!

I pushed her back and lifted her up, pinning her between me
and the wall.  I felt her arms go to my neck as she kissed me and I felt my
orgasm start to build.  Christ I wasn’t even inside her yet. 

I took a breath and guided my dick into her pussy while
firmly holding her on each side.  She gasped as I thrust up into her and
wrapped her legs firmly around my waist. 

Her pussy was tightly gripping my cock and I grabbed her ass,
lifting her up and down so that it could work its magic on my shaft.  Her hands
were in my hair holding fast and her head went back once more thrusting those
beautiful tits into my face.  I took the closest nipple in my mouth and sucked
it in. 

Jess’s moans intensified and I drove myself in deeper and
harder, pushing her down onto my cock until I felt her stiffen in orgasm.  Then
I allowed myself to join her in pleasurable release.

I couldn’t believe I had succumbed to Mack’s charms so
easily.  Where was my will power?  I was so disappointed in myself that I could
have cried but I didn’t want Mack to feel bad or like he had done something
wrong.  I had known exactly what I was doing when I had turned my head up to be
kissed.

Mack had been a gentleman all night, keeping his distance
and I had ruined it.  I just couldn’t help myself when he was near.  During
dinner all I had wanted to do was turn around and talk to him.  I wanted to
know everything there was to know about him and instead I had to be friendly
but indifferent, as if he was just another guy!  It felt so weird pretending to
be newly acquainted when we had all this history.

Don’t get me wrong I loved hanging out with the band and
dinner was great but something was driving me towards Mack and whenever he was
there I wanted to be talking to him, touching him.  Boy did I have it bad!  I
could just hear Kel saying this is what you get when you deny yourself sex for
a year; bad case of crazy, horny women!

I needed a game plan and all I could think of was
avoidance.  It seemed like when we were together the pheromones took over and
we were like two wild animals totally ruled by lust rather than sense.  If this
tour was going to work we needed to lay down a few rules and limit our time
together.

Part of me was saying why not have a fling while on tour but
I knew myself well enough to know that was a bad idea.  It was going to be hard
enough when Mack left New Zealand and returned home as it was.  I hadn’t known
him for long but was already forming an unhealthy attachment.  If we kept
hooking up like this it was only going to get harder to say goodbye.

“Mack do you think it would be possible for you to stay away
from the studio over the next ten days and maybe work out of the office?  I
know this is a big ask and perhaps inappropriate given you are kind of like my
boss but I can’t seem to help myself when you are around.”  I felt embarrassed
admitting my lack of will power and felt my cheeks blaze red in mortification.

I couldn’t make eye contact with Mack and I felt his hand
lifting my chin until our eyes met.  His eyes looked so kind I almost cried
again and I had to blink hard to keep them at bay.

“Jessie you have nothing to apologise for. You had laid down
the ground rules and I just stomped all over them.  I can’t help myself where
you are concerned either!  And I think you are right.  I’ll work from the
office or my hotel room and just check in every few days to make sure things
are progressing in the right direction.  The boys would kill me if I stuffed it
this up.  They are over the moon with the way things are going and I wouldn’t
want to wreck that for the world.”

Mack sounded weary and I got a glimpse at the high standards
he held himself to and felt sorry for the part I had played in this.  I
realised that for him this was not just any tour and I would wager anything
that he loved those three boys as much as he would love any son.  Mack looked
like a bad boy and I wouldn’t be surprised if he had a few dark secrets from
his past but he certainly wasn’t like that anymore.  Under all that confidence
and swagger was a heart of gold with good old fashioned morals and values.

Mack had carried me to my bedroom and had gone to put the
jug on for a cuppa.  I had chuckled inside at that; I guess the Scottish were
just like English about the cure all effect of tea!

When he returned he was fully clothed and had two steaming mugs
of which he handed me one.  He sat down of the edge of the bed and gave me a
long searching look.  It was like he was checking he hadn’t done any permanent
damage to what he perceived was my fragile veneer. But I was tougher than I
looked and what I had been through with Jay was different.  The emotional
paralysis I had felt had been due to the shame and guilt I had been carrying
around and there was none of that in this situation.  Even knowing that the
fling would never go anywhere I still wouldn’t have missed it for the world. 

 “Well I suppose I better let you get some rest?”  Mack was
still staring at my intently and I leaned over and grabbed his hand.

“Don’t go yet, I don’t want you to feel used or anything!” 
I said in an attempt at lightness and Mack laughed.

“So now you want to get to know me as well? But can I trust
you to keep your hands to yourself?”

Mack was such a tease but I was use to that having come from
a big family where nothing was sacred and instead asked if he would mind
getting the ice cream from the freezer and two spoons.

He willingly obliged and already had the lid off by the time
he returned.  He kicked off his shoes and hopped up beside me on the bed.

“You kiwis sure know how to make ice cream.”  It was caramel
flavour with lumps of Russian and chocolate fudge and it was heavenly.  In
between mouthfuls we talked about our day and Mack told me about the boy’s
newest song.

“Wow I can’t wait to hear what they are working on. How long
have the three of them been playing together?”

“They have been playing together since their early teens but
they have known each other since they were wee bairns.  They went to school
together and ever since I can remember it was the three of them.  I have always
gone up to the farm whenever I could to help Alina out, as after her husband
walked she moved back in with Mum and Dad to help out.  The boys use to tag
along with me talking twelve to the dozen about this and that so I feel like I
have watched them grow up.  And I am still as surprised as anyone about their
talent.” 

“I know what you mean.  You could walk the earth to put
talent like that together and still not even come close.  So what sort of farm
did you grow up on?”

Mack explained that he was from a highland cattle farm and
his family had been farmers for as far back as he knew.  When he had finished
school he had decided he wanted something else and had moved to Edinburgh where
he had fallen into a music career with a big label.  He had found he had a good
ear for what music worked commercially and his career had grown from there.

“But High Land Boys has to be the best band I have ever
signed and to think they are local boys from back home leaves me speechless. 
Think it left Alina speechless too.  I think she finally thought she was going
to get a bit more help around the farm!  Then wham! They were gone!”

“Was Lance the only boy?”  I was feeling a bit sorry for
this sister of Mack’s who sounded like she was running a big farm on her own.

“Alina has three girls as well.  The oldest, Gina has
recently married and she and her husband are helping Alina now which is a
relief.  I use to worry about her taking it all on as well as looking after Mum
and Dad.  The other two girls are showing no sign of wanting to leave either
though which is good.  It’s a fantastic place and has three wee cottages as
well as the main house so there has always been room for everyone.”

“Sounds amazing; you don’t ever regret leaving it?”  I
couldn’t imagine not singing but I had always wished I could combine that
career option with living in the country. 

“No regret as it is always there for me to go back to.  That’s
the great thing about being born on a family farm as you always have a home to
return to.  Our parents always encouraged us to spread our wings and Alina has
done the same with her kids.  We knew if things didn’t work out there was a job
back home.”  Mack smiled at me as he looked at his watch.

“Just about time for beauty sleep; what time did you
organise to start at the studio tomorrow?” 

“Meeting at ten so very decent; think the boys all night
owls like Cam so it works well.”  I was feeling tired now too as it had been a
long day but it had been nice hanging out with Mack talking about this and that.
It also made me feel way less slutty as now that we had talked it could hardly
be called a booty call!

“Well I guess I’ll see you around Jessie and thanks for the
ice cream!”  Mack grabbed his keys as I pulled on my dressing gown and walked
him to the door.  He gave me a quick peck on the cheek and was off before I
could change my mind and ask him to stay.  I was seriously fooling myself if I
thought my biggest danger with Mack was jumping into bed with him. 

Over the next ten days I poured all my energy into the
single and getting to know the High Land Boys music.  The more I heard the more
I fell in love with their sound.  Their folk rock sound with a bit of country
thrown in was something totally new to our music scene.  Even putting a label
on it seemed way too simplistic.  They were unique and to think til now they
had never left their home village astounded me.  But as Lance said all the
feelings that make a good song are through interactions with people and you
don’t need to travel anywhere to experience that. 

Once the single had been done and dusted we concentrated on
the set they wanted to perfect for the tour.  A lot of the songs were from
their debut album so we were familiar with them but they also wanted to add in
a few new songs.  The process of getting a new song to how they wanted it was
very organic so each day was fun and full of experimentation.  For Cam and I it
was our dream job; getting paid for doing something that didn’t even feel like
work.