“Oh, I’ll take the one he doesn’t want.”
Trent glances around. “Sean, where did the new kid go?”
“Bathroom, I think.” Sean settles back into one of the reclining chairs, pops in his ear buds, and shuts his eyes.
The engine of the bus rumbles to a start and Trent stretches his arms overhead, letting loose a yawn. “If you’re good, I’m gonna catch some Z’s.”
“Yes, I’m fine. Thanks.” I don’t know what I’m going to do for the next six hours, but I’ll figure it out. I don’t need a babysitter, and I don’t want Trent to feel responsible for my entertainment. He’s done more than enough.
“Cool.” He runs a hand through his hair, tucks the loose strands behind his ears. “Come get me if you need anything. I mean it. Anytime. Whatever.”
“I will.”
Trent struts the length of the bus until he disappears behind a closed door at the rear.
I could claim my bed now, settle in and try to fall asleep, but I don’t think that’s fair. Leighton is a member of the band and I’m just an assistant. He should have first pick, and besides, it’s not like I could sleep right now. Not wanting to look stupid standing here next to two empty bunks while I wait for Leighton to come out of the bathroom, I decide to check out the kitchen.
I take a few steps but the bus surges forward and throws off my balance. Before I can fall or trip, someone’s hand grips my waist and holds me steady against his long, lean body. I have to lift my chin to guess who it is, and when I do.Leighton.
“You good?” His hand doesn’t move and without meaning to, I turn into his embrace. His eyes, which I didn’t notice before, swim with a molten amber, so much more than the plain brown they appear from afar. The color reminds me of marbles I collected as a child.
“Yeah.” But that’s a lie. My heart hammers in my chest with so much force I swear he can probably feel it. My skin prickles with awareness, and as the bus slows to a stop and then increases speed again, I press into him.
“Sorry.” He takes a step back, and I instantly miss the safety that comes from his body. Which is ridiculous. I’m not so helpless I can’t stand on my own two feet. He nods to the bench that wraps around a table near the kitchenette. “Shall we?”
“Thank you.” I take care not to fall, this time paying close attention to the shift in movement from the bus. I slide into the bench seat. “Still getting my sea legs, I guess.”
Leighton takes a seat at the other end, stretching out his legs and leaning back into the padded backing. “Yeah, me, too. Not used to traveling like this.”
That surprises me. Sure, he’s young. Or at least appears so, but getting hired as the drummer for a band as big as Three Ugly Guys, I assume he comes with tons of experience. “You’ve never been on tour before?”
“Oh, I have, but not by bus.” His glaze flicks to his hands.
“How did you get around then?”
“Plane.”
“Oh, wow. That must have been challenging. Do you check your drum set? That’s got to be expensive. And a pain.”
He glances back at his fingers and taps them on top of the table. “Oh, yeah, well. I’ve played other instruments or borrowed them for concerts, but yeah, it is a pain. This is much better.”
“Don’t feel bad. It’s my first time, too.” I immediately regret the words, their overtone shameless. He probably thinks it was my intention.
Leighton raises his gaze and a wicked grin takes over his face. He lifts one eyebrow. “Should I be gentle?”
My face floods with heat and it takes everything not to look away. I opened myself up for that one, and he’s teasing. What guy doesn’t love a good sexual innuendo? But still, this one hits a little close to home. Yeah. I am a virgin.
The old me, Opal from Destin who doesn’t disappoint her grandparents, would shame him for not acting a gentleman and stomp away. But since I’ve already broken the mold, run away from that life, I can say whatever I want. I don’t have to be scandalized by such a joke, even if my blush gives me away.
“Leighton. You should always be gentle the first time.”
“Yeah?” If his smile could grow any wider, it does. “What about after that? How do you like it after the first time, Opal?”
Lord. The way my name falls from his lips has me squeezing my thighs together. Bad news. This boy is bad,badnews. But I can’t help shift toward him, closing the distance between us by a few inches. “As long as it’s good, I’m open to anything.”
That does it. His smile disappears and in its place . . . lust. Desire. Want.
“What’s this?” Austin must be a ninja, because I never hear him approach. He nudges my shoulder with his hand. “Scooch.”
