Bang The Drummer Read online

  At that moment, the front door slammed, and loud voices infiltrated the darkness.

  “What’s happening?” Jill grabbed her clothes and held them to her chest. “Who’s out there?”

  “My housemates. Don’t pay attention to them.” He reached for her again. “Come on, princess.”

  Jill pushed away from Beats, yanked her clothes on and rummaged for her purse. “This was a big mistake. I have to go.”

  When Beats reached for her, she yanked away from him and ran for the front door. Pulling her cell from the pocket of her jeans, she speed-dialed Charlie.

  “Come get me now,” she managed to gasp as she ran down the street.

  ****

  February

  “This band is a lot better than the last one,” Jill told Charlie as they parked in the small lot. “Anyway, it’s a lounge band, not rock.”

  “Hopefully easier on my ears,” he grumped.

  She slammed the door. “I told you last month. You don’t have to do this if you don’t want to. I don’t need you casting gloom over my search.”

  “How’s this?” He stretched his lips in an obviously fake smile. “I promise to be good.”

  Jill blew out a calming breath. “It’s Valentine’s Day, Charlie. The day for lovers. Maybe tonight’s drummer will be The One, and I can stop looking.”

  Charlie’s hands were warm on her shoulders as he turned her to face him. “I hope he is, Jill. But just keep in mind what happened with Beats.”

  As if she could forget. What a bad error in judgment she’d made there. But her coffee dates with Bix, the drummer with Moonshine, had been so much more satisfying. They’d connected on so many levels, talking until it was time for him to leave for his gig. His thick blond hair fell in short layers on his head, his strong jaw accented a masculine face, and his hazel eyes looked at her with warmth and a glint of desire.

  “This will be different,” she said as they entered the club. “You’ll see.”

  A waitress hurried up to them. “You must be Jill.” She grinned. “Bix asked me to reserve a table for you.”

  She led them to a small table in the center of the room and took their drink orders. Moonshine was in the middle of a rendition of an old Frank Sinatra tune.

  “I didn’t think anyone played that stuff any more,” Charlie said. “I could listen to it all the time.”

  She turned to look at him. “Really? How come I didn’t know that about you?”

  “There’s a lot about me you don’t know. Even after all this time.” He pointed toward the stage. “Lover Boy’s looking at you. Smile.”

  Sure enough, Bix was eyeing her from the stage, his mouth curved in a smile. His hands wielded the drumsticks expertly as he kept the beat to the longtime ballad. Lordy, drummers just did it for her. She could imagine those hands beating an erotic tattoo on her body, and a tiny shiver slipped over her spine.

  “You cold?” Charlie asked. “I’d put my arm around you, but Lover Boy might castrate me.”

  “I’m fine. Thank you. And be polite.”

  Jill was watching the stage and almost missed the waitress when she arrived back at their table. Her eyes widened as she watched the woman set a small vase with one rose in the middle of the table, then scatter foil-wrapped heart-shaped candies on the surface before serving their drinks.

  “Ohmigod, Charlie.” She pressed her fingers to her mouth. “Look. Isn’t that just the most romantic thing?”

  “Yeah. Very romantic.”

  What was up with him and the sarcastic tone in his voice? She thought he’d be happy Bix was paying so much attention to her. It boded well for afterward, as opposed to the disaster with Beats.

  “Could you at least smile?” she asked. Why was he being such a prick, anyway? They’d talked about this, and he’d agreed to be her wingman. Happily, even. So what was his problem now?

  Charlie picked up his drink and tapped her glass with his. “I’m smiling. And wishing you a Happy Valentine’s Day.”

  Jill studied his face. Was he really happy for her? Did he think this whole thing was stupid?

  “It’s fine, Jill.” His smile was warmer this time. “Really. Let’s enjoy the music.”

  Every time Jill looked at the stage Bix was sending her teasing looks, even as he never missed the rhythm of whatever song the band was playing. As she sipped first one drink, then another, she found herself relaxing. Idly, she fingered the soft petals of the rose, touched that he would think of such a romantic gesture.

  And the candies! As she picked up each one, she realized there were sayings stamped on the foil, things like Be Mine or Let’s Kiss. She would have urged Charlie to taste one, but she wasn’t sure how appropriate it would be.

  Finally, the evening was over, and Bix stood at the table. He held out his hand to Charlie. “Thanks for bringing her.”

  Charlie nodded and stood up. “She’s a special lady.”

  “Oh, I know that.” He winked at Charlie. “And I plan to make the evening very, very special for her.”

  The pulse in her pussy that had been throbbing in time to the drumbeat throughout the evening ramped up in intensity, and her panties were suddenly very damp. This was going to be good. Better. Wonderful.

  “Got your cell?” Charlie asked.

  “Right here.” She patted her slim shoulder-strap purse then Bix led her out to the parking lot.

  “I was afraid you might change your mind,” he said as they pulled out into the street.

  “Really? Why? I got a good feeling when we had our coffee dates.”

  “Oh, you know. Things happen. People change their minds. And I’ve really been looking forward to this.”

  The pulse ramped up its intensity. “Me, too.”

  On the drive to his apartment complex, he reached over and rested his hand on her thigh, sliding it under the edge of the short skirt she was wearing. His touch was electric. Sizzling. She wanted to squeeze her thighs together to trap his hand in her heat, but he spread his fingers to keep her legs apart. In a moment, the tips of those fingers stroked her pussy through the satin of her thong.

  “You smell so good,” he said in a low voice, lifting his hand to his nose for a moment. “Everywhere.”

  Jill wriggled in her seat, sure she was blushing in the dark. She wanted to grab his hand and put it back where it had been. He laughed as if reading her thoughts and, with an eager touch, squeezed her soft outer pussy lips.

  “You are so hot, Jill. Tonight is going to be outstanding. And here we are.” He removed his hand as he pulled into his apartment complex.

  “I’m on the third floor,” he told her. “But we’ve got an elevator so no hoofing it.”

  He took her hand again, leading her through the entry to the elevator. As soon as they were inside the car, he pulled her against him, his lips pressed to hers, his tongue stroking inside her mouth. His hand was back beneath her skirt again, this time slipping between the satin and her skin to stroke the soft curls on her mound. One finger found its way into her slit and unerringly pressed on her throbbing clit.

  “Whoa!” Jill tried to push back, although, as good as it felt, it took a lot of her willpower. “Let’s not rush things.”

  “Are you kidding?” He nibbled her ear and slid the tip of one finger into her waiting channel. “I could hardly control myself all day thinking about what we were going to do tonight.” He lifted his finger and licked it. “Can’t wait to get my tongue inside you.”

  At that moment, the elevator dinged and the doors slid open. Jill was glad Bix had his arm around her because her legs were shaky.

  “Right here,” he said, leading her a few feet to a door.

  She waited for him to take out his key to unlock it, but the door was yanked open, and Jill froze in place. Framed in the doorway was a woman of medium height with luscious curves and generous breasts. She was also completely naked, with rings dangling from her nipples and her pussy shaved completely bare.

  Jill reached out to clut
ch the door jamb to steady herself. “Bix? What the hell?”

  His smile was hot and hungry, his eyes glinting with some dark need.

  “This is Serena. She’ll be joining us for the evening.” He tried to urge her inside. “You can’t imagine how I’ve looked forward to this. How many women I interviewed to find the right one for Valentine’s Day.”

  “Come on in, honey.” Serena’s voice was smoky and sultry. She reached to a little table in the hallway and held up a large dildo. “I’ve been polishing this just for you. Can’t wait to slide it into your sweet little cunt while Bix fucks your ass.”

  Jill managed to pull away from both of them and raced for the elevator.

  “Hey!” Bix came after her. “Don’t run away, lovely lady. We have a hot Valentine’s Day planned for you.”

  Frantic, Jill kicked off her shoes and picked them up, raced down the hallway to the stairway door, and ran down two flights to the lobby. She ran until she was out on the street and a block from the apartments, ignoring the detritus cutting into her bare feet. She yanked her cell from her purse and speed-dialed Charlie.

  “Come get me,” she pleaded. “Right now.”

  ****

  March

  “What did you say this guy’s name is?” Charlie asked, adjusting his green tie in the mirror in Jill’s hallway.

  “Aiden,” she told him, slipping on her shoes. “Aiden Killian.”

  “And he’s a drummer in an Irish band? I didn’t think they had drummers.”

  “That’s how much you know,” she grinned, flipping the end of his tie. “This band has a damn good one.”

  She reached for her tiny purse on the hall table but stopped when Charlie closed his hands over her arms.

  “Jill. Stop a minute. Take a breath.”

  She blew out a breath and stared at him. “What? I told Aiden we’d be there by the third set.”

  “I know. But please. Take a minute here.”

  His hands were warm against her body, the heat of them penetrating through the green silk of her blouse. When she looked in his face, she saw lines of worry and something in his eyes. Concern? Disquiet? Something else she couldn’t quite put a finger on?

  She tilted her head. “What is it, Charlie? You aren’t getting queasy about this, are you?” Then an idea popped into her head. “Oh, wait. Dumb me. I’ve been so focused on myself. Am I keeping you from a date? Were you planning your own St. Paddy’s Day celebration?”

  And why should it bother her if he was?

  Because I won’t have my wingman with me. That’s it. That’s all it is. Nothing more.

  “I’m just a little concerned. You haven’t had the best luck with your last two choices.”

  Her face heated. “I know, I know. But this time I got names of his friends and checked him out.”

  Charlie gave a rough laugh. “And what do you think those friends will say? He’s an asshole? Come on, Jill. What do you really know about him?”

  Her stubborn streak surged up from deep inside her. “I know what I need to. And I met with him twice as much as the others. We’re good to go here.” She grabbed her purse. “Besides, he owns the bar where his band plays. He’s a solid citizen.”

  “Who is interested in a Christmas wedding with you?”

  “Damn straight he is. We already talked about it. And Christmas is only nine months away.” She nibbled on her lower lip. “I don’t want to be panicking at the last minute.”

  Charlie rubbed the back of his neck. “I continue to be astounded at these men—”

  “Drummers,” she interrupted. “That makes them special.”

  “—these men who fall into these things with you. Just like that.” He snapped his fingers.

  “They know what they’re getting into,” she pointed out.

  “Yes, but do you? The last two were near disasters.”

  “I’m past that,” she sniffed. “Are you coming with me or not?”

  “I promised, didn’t I? Besides, who knows what the next disaster will be?”

  Charlie was very quiet as he drove them to the Black Velvet Band, the pub Aiden owned. His silence gave Jill an uneasy feeling, and she wondered if she should just tell him to drop her off and leave her to do this herself. But then she remembered the last two episodes and waiting around for a cab if she needed one wasn’t too appealing.

  He was quiet as they sat through the sets at the pub, too. The place was jammed and decorated with more green than Jill thought she’d ever seen. Aiden was effusive in his greetings, settling them at a table he’d held for them and bringing them pints on a tray himself.

  “I need to work the bar between sets, my love,” he told her. Then he leaned his brawny body down and whispered in her ear, “But I’m going to make time to show you my office before we close so we can talk about the rest of the night.”

  She shivered with anticipation, his green eyes sending her hot messages.

  The music captured her for the rest of the evening, both the ballads and the lively tunes. Aiden’s red hair flew wildly as he worked his drums, even playing a solo on a couple of numbers, unusual in an Irish band. Jill could feel the beat thrumming through her body, and her pulse responded with an answering beat. She could almost feel the tremors in her pussy and her breasts and crossed her legs to squeeze her thighs together to contain the vibrations in her inner walls.

  Charlie said very little during the breaks, not even asking again if she was sure or if she wanted to think about it one more time. He looked both thoughtful and worried, and Jill wished she could remind him this was her decision and she was prepared for any consequences. She hoped.

  After the next to last set, Aiden turned the bar over to his assistant and came to fetch Jill.

  “Let’s go chat in my office, a chara. I want a few minutes alone with you, okay? The end of the evening is too far away.”

  “Of course.” She gave him her hand, and he helped her rise from the chair. “I’ll be right back,” she told Charlie, who just nodded silently.

  Jill was slightly nervous as Aiden led her down the narrow hallway and into a room that was jammed with a desk, filing cabinets, and other office detritus. Aiden closed and locked the door and swept her into his arms. His mouth was hot on hers, his lips rich and full, his tongue a living thing as it probed her mouth, licking her inner surfaces.

  Every one of her nerves responded as he pressed her to the door with his big body, his hands buried in her hair. By the time he lifted his head, she could barely catch her breath.

  “A ghra,” he murmured, trailing kisses along the column of her neck and beneath her jaw. “You taste and smell so delicious.”

  One large hand skimmed along her ribs and slid upward to cup a breast. The heat of his fingers seared her flesh even through the silk of her blouse and the thin satin of her bra. She pushed herself against him, urging him to hold tighter, squeeze harder. At her mound, she could feel the thick heated rod of his cock, huge and swollen beneath the jeans he wore.

  For a brief moment, she wondered what she was doing in a back office with this man instead of waiting for the close of the bar when they’d have the rest of the night in a proper place. Then she banished the thought, concentrating instead on how he excited her. How much he wanted her. Enough to sneak in these few moments together before they left the pub. As his lips skated over her skin and his hands caressed her, images of how they would be in bed, naked and unrestrained, danced through her head and aroused her even more.

  He cupped her buttocks, gripping them for a brief instant before lifting her and placing her on the desk. There was barely enough room for her to sit, but Aiden pushed papers aside before yanking up her short skirt and spreading her thighs. He stared at her crotch, covered only with a bit of green silk.

  “I fantasized about this,” he told her in a gravelly voice. “Ever since the last time we met. It was all I could think about.”

  Better and better.

  With a quick flick of his wrist, he yanke
d the thong down her legs and tossed it to the side. Opening the lips of her cunt with his large fingers, he gave her a long, hungry stare before he leaned forward and licked the length of her slit.

  Jill moaned at the touch, looking down on his thick red curls through eyes hazy with lust. His tongue was doing wicked things to her, lapping and teasing, thrusting inside her waiting channel, then tracing around the rim of her opening. Holding her in place with his warm hands, he feasted on her cream, nipping with his teeth, then soothing with his tongue.

  Heat flashed through her, her blood pumping as her nerves woke up and danced everywhere in her body. When Aiden closed his teeth lightly over the aching bud of her clit, she had to bite down on her fist to keep from screaming. Over and over, he teased and lapped and soothed, thrusting his tongue inside, then gradually drawing it out.

  Low in her belly, the climax began to unwind, twisting its way upward through her body. Her breathing hitched, and she thrust herself toward Aiden’s mouth. Sliding his hands beneath the cheeks of her ass, he pulled her closer yet, then moved one hand to push three fingers inside her. He bit down on her clit, and she exploded, wrapping her legs around his neck to pull him in tighter, riding his fingers as he fucked her with a strong, steady motion.

  The spasms went on and on, shaking her entire body, the walls of her pussy clamping down until the last tremor had died and she could finally catch her breath again.

  Oh, my god!

  If he was this good with a little quickie, she was sure they’d set the bed on fire.

  Aiden withdrew his fingers, gave her cunt one last stroke with his tongue and smoothed down her skirt. Drawing her head down to his, he kissed her slowly, giving her the taste of herself that lingered on his lips. He smoothed down her hair then lifted her from the desk, retrieved her thong and handed it to her.

  “Wow!” She gave him a shy grin.

  “Indeed,” he grinned.

  A sudden pounding on the door shocked her back to reality.

  “Aiden?” a woman’s voice called out. “Aiden, I know you’re in there. Open the fucking door.”

  Jill widened her eyes. “Who is that? What does she want?”

  He looked at his hands. “Well, you see, a chroi, it’s like this. There’s a sort of complication—”