What she needed now was a few games of Angry Birds to help settle her mind before going back inside, but she left her phone in Jon’s dressing room when she stormed out. Shuffling through the stack of magazines on the table across from her, she stopped at the one with the words “1001 Crosswords and Word Searches” across the top. Before cell phones and game apps, this was one way she’d passed the time when she was on the road.
She was working on her second puzzle when the whooshing sound of the door coming from the front of the bus made her look up to see who was there. A blue sleeved arm appeared from behind the partitioned wall, waving one of his black terry cloth hand towels.
“I don’t have a white flag, but will this do? I’m coming up.”
His playful tone would not score him any points or prepare her for the difficult conversation that she was sure was coming.
“Enter at your own risk.”
“Hey. I came with a truce flag.”
“I see that.” Giving Jon a baleful stare, she righted herself.
“I think we...” Emerald green eyes pierced through him as she eyed him up and down. “Oh-kay, I overreacted back there.”
“Mmm-huh.” She looked at him and practically snarled.
He found her evil eye and sarcastic undertone funny. She was equally stubborn as he was and hated to admit it just as much as he did. To save face, he let her have her moment, knowing she would fess up soon enough.
“For the record, it wasn’t my intention to include you with my comment. I had just hung up with Dorothea and I was pissed. You caught the brunt of my anger, and I am sorry. The last thing I want to do is fight and stress you out.”
Shifting in her seat, she brought one bent knee to her chest. “Jon, this has nothing to do about my stress level, it’s about trusting me. You do trust me?”
“What kind of question is that? Of course, I do.”
“Then you know I wouldn’t put myself or our baby in danger. I’m good at what I do. Do I miss doing it? Hell yeah! Do I want to be doing it every day? Not at the moment. The little bit of helping here and there is enough.”
“But...”
“No buts. Let’s see if I can explain to you so you can see it from my point of view." She shifted from one knee to the other. "Imagine me telling you that you couldn’t go on stage and dance anymore. That from now on, the only thing you could do was sit in a chair and sing. And to make sure you did what you were told, I had Rew or Dawn watching you to make sure you didn’t.” His rolling of eyes and shaking of his head said he understood what she was getting at. "The hovering. The constant eyes watching your every move. You wouldn’t like it.”
“No, I wouldn't.”
“Then what makes you think I do?” She smoothed her palms over her sweater, enhancing the roundness shape of her belly. “You, of all people, know how precious and important this baby is to me. There is nothing or no one I would let hurt her.”
“Crash, I can’t tame how much I care or worry. It’s a natural reaction and I won’t stop, because I love you so much. However,” he let out a sigh, “I will try to control it a little better.”
“Just think, in a few more weeks, I’ll be too fat to walk, let alone climb the rafters.” Jon gave her a playful stink eye. "I’m joking.”
“So, are we good here?” He rested his hand on her knee.
“Not yet. I love you Jon. Just because we are having a baby and I’m wearing this,” she held up her ringed hand, “Nothing has changed. I won’t put up with your pompous ass or mood swings. I never have and never will. They will get you nowhere with me. And don’t expect me to become a little homemaker either.”
Jon busted out laughing. “You. A homemaker? I may be an ass sometimes, but I’m not stupid. You’d kick my ass and lay me out flat if I ever even suggested such a thing.”
“Nah! I wouldn’t risk damaging the only thing bringing the ladies to the stadiums.”
“I’ll tell the guys you said that.” He pulled her in to straddle his lap. “Besides, you're the only one I care about bringing to the stadium. Or home. Or anywhere really.”
“That’s the smartest thing you’ve said all day.”
A grin stretched across his face as she curled both arms around his neck and brought her forehead to rest against his, with their noses in perfect alignment until he tilted enough to capture her lips. Their familiar taste had Ariana’s belly clenching as bold hands climbed up her legging clad thighs until settling on her ass. He let her nip, suck, and tease before pulling back with questioning blue eyes.
“Why’d you pull away?”
“Look where we are?” Wiggling his eyebrows, he gave her a sly smile. “We’re on a tour bus, baby. Wanna play groupie and rockstar?”
“Doesn’t the groupie get knocked up after she takes a ride on the bus?”
“Minor details.” He gave her ass a firm squeeze. “Minor details.”
Willing to play along with his little game, her fingers threaded through his golden tresses and pulled back his head. With his neck exposed for her, she let her breath fan out against his warm skin.
“So, you’re a rockstar, are you?” Soft lips skimmed his taut neck. “tell me, What instrument do you play? Are you a guitar player?” She rolled her hips. “Do you have rhythm?” His moan tickled against her ear. “No, wait. I know, you’re the keyboard player. I bet you can do a-maz-ing things with your fingers.” She sucked his earlobe between her lips, scraping the sensitive skin with her teeth.
His fingers dug into her ass as he held her against his erection. “Very naughty, you are.”
“You like naughty, don’t you?” She let out a slutty chuckle. “You must be the drummer then, they’re hot. Muscular arms and powerful hands to pound their sticks all night long.”
Damn her and her words. There was no denying how turned on he was with her playful teasing. Roughly but playfully, he tugged a fistful of her hair, pulling her back.
“All very important members of the band, baby, but I’m the lead singer. The one who stands front and center, shaking his hot ass and making all the women wet.” He slid his free hand between her legs. “Just like you.”
Before Jon could do anything more than stutter, Ari slipped off his lap and jogged to the front of the bus. As she took the few steps to the doorway, she yelled behind her, “Hate to break it to you, big boy. Good groupies don’t put out before the show, lead singer or not!”
Bolting after her, he yelled. “Hey, no fair! Get back here, Crash”
Laughing, she looked over her shoulder to see how far back Jon was as she pulled open the arena door and plowed right into Tony.
“Whoa there.”
She apologized before turning and seeing his face. “Holy shit, Tony. What happened?”
“Ask him?” He nudged a chin towards Jon, who stood behind her.
“You did that?”
“Not on purpose. He walked into it, so to speak.”
“Jon!”
“Ari, it’s okay.” Tony interjected. “Lucky it was me and not the door. Kinda hard to play guitar with one hand.
“True.”
“Speaking of," He pointed a finger at his brother, “A few people were looking for you. Jeanie, for one, and the guys. They are waiting up on stage for soundcheck.”
“A rock star's job is never done.” Ari giggled.
“Cute.” Jon pulled her close. “Can you do me a favor and find Jeanie? She probably needs to go over the arrangements for my parents and the kids. I’ll meet you back in the dressing room when I’m done.”
“Sure. You go get ready for those groupies.”
“Huh?” Tony said.
“Don’t ask!” they both responded before heading off in opposite directions.
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