Madelynne Ellis - Come Together

He’d hear no arguments from her on that score. ‘Xane, I’m …’ She was getting close. The combo of his body slamming tight against hers and his expressed need for her had set her alight. Her insides felt electrified. As though she’d been caught outside in a storm and a bolt of lightning was zapping through her.

He wiggled his thumb, bestowing an extra bit of pressure on her clit.

It was enough. She came in long shudders, her body clamping fast to his as he raced to join her.

His cries soon echoed her own. In fact, it was only because he was so voluble about it that she realised how loud her own groans had become. Embarrassed, she shoved her head into the groove between his shoulder and his pecs.

‘I like hearing you yell my name,’ he whispered against her hair. ‘And it’s not like they didn’t know what we were doing.’

She suspected everyone left in the area knew what they’d been doing, and maybe she didn’t mind all that much.

‘Are you all right?’

‘Sure, but can I get covered up before they all come back?’ She didn’t want to face the looks or the barrage of questions that’d result if any of them saw those rows of silvery scars.

He nodded. Fished around for an item of clothing and failed to lay his hands on any. ‘Let’s climb into my bunk.’ He lifted her up there, before climbing in alongside and closing the drapes. ‘I don’t know where your stuff’s been put, but whatever you need I’ll find for you in the morning.’

‘And if I need a wee during the night?’

He leaned over the edge of the bunk to reach into a cupboard at the foot end, and drew out a black man-sized T-shirt and a pair of his figure-hugging Calvin Kleins. He tucked them under the pillows. ‘There, problem sorted. Now come here and hug me.’

They cozied up.

‘I might wear those tomorrow regardless,’ she said, knowing he liked seeing her in his clothes.

‘Consider anything in my cupboard fair game. I like having my things on you.’

‘And in me.’

Xane pressed his head against hers. ‘Definitely that.’

He fell asleep in her arms, apparently temporarily at peace with the world.

The following morning, Dani woke to find most of the bunks already vacated. Only the top two still had the curtains drawn across. Xane had left her a note pointing her towards some free cupboard space, and, better still, her suitcase had materialised so she had fresh clothes and undies. She skipped putting on Xane’s shorts, but did wear his T-shirt. Even freshly laundered it seemed to retain his scent.

The bus was in motion, making her descent rather dangerous. She clung to the twin handrails and took it a step at a time. Ash was sitting at the table in the kitchen area. ‘Missing your sea legs?’ he asked.

She nodded.

The door through to where the roadies slept and the back bedroom was closed. Uncertain where she’d find Xane, she settled for staggering towards Ash. They hadn’t really spoken very much so far, but even though Xane often complained about Ash’s antics, it was clear they had a lot of affection for one another.

‘You can sit down. I only bite when I’m asked to.’ He tossed her a wicked grin, one Dani could swear he’d stolen from Xane. Ash’s version didn’t ignite the same fever in her as Xane’s, which was guaranteed to get her thinking dirty thoughts. Nevertheless, it did lend her the courage to come closer.

She fell gratefully into the seat opposite him.

Ash Gore wasn’t as immediately visually arresting as Xane, but he did have dark and brooding down to a fine art. Like Xane, his hair was dyed jet black, but Ash’s was cut shorter, with a long floppy fringe that reached almost to his jawline. His eyes were deep blue and full of boyish mischief. She could absolutely see why Ginny was obsessed.

Not sure what to say, Dani glanced across at what he was reading. It appeared to be a women’s gossip magazine.

‘Sleep all right?’ he asked. He closed the magazine and stuffed it behind a cushion under the window.

‘Yes, thanks.’ She had, actually, after the workout Xane had given her. ‘You?’

He stretched, and then clasped his hands behind his head. ‘Not too bad.’

OK, he was kind of hot, not that she was interested, and it was really cool that she was getting to hang out with the whole of Black Halo like this. A sense of sudden gaiety tugged at her lips. ‘Where is everyone?’ she asked. The bus seemed very quiet.

Ash placed his hands on the table and drummed one finger. ‘Elspeth and Paul are in the back. Spook’s up front with Cave Troll. The rest of the crew are split between the van and the motorhome, and Iain’s still asleep.’

He’d failed to mention Xane.

‘Oh, and your lover boy is hogging the bathroom.’

The door between the front and rear sections opened and closed. ‘I was just brushing my teeth, actually.’ Xane dropped his washbag onto the table between her and Ash before motioning for her to shuffle up. He settled on the chair beside her. ‘Morning,’ he said, giving her a minty-fresh kiss.

Ash wrinkled his nose. ‘Please,’ he pleaded. ‘Don’t get all doe-eyed. I’ll puke.’

Xane kicked him beneath the table.

‘Ow!’

‘You found your suitcase?’ Xane asked her.

‘Yes, thank you.’

‘We’ll get your stuff stowed when we stop. It shouldn’t be too much longer.’

Dani peeped outside. They were driving through what appeared to be a residential area. Xane leaned over and rested his chin upon her shoulder. ‘Was Ash behaving?’

Ash snorted and shot her lover an offended look. ‘I hadn’t even tried it on. Did I try anything on?’

‘I only just arrived. He was reading.’

Xane looked around for evidence of a book and failed to spot one. ‘What were you reading? The invisible book?’

‘A magazine,’ Dani said.

‘ Cosmo again? Heat ?’ Xane shook his head. ‘You could probably write most of their articles. Is it really necessary to sift through it for tips?’

Ash shot him a dark look that seemed to suggest he’d been keeping up to date with how many kids he’d supposedly fathered or something along those lines. Then he forced a smile. ‘Even masters have to keep up-to-date to remain successful.’ He levelled his gaze at Dani. ‘If this guy ever fails to please, you send him to me for tips. That curl thing he does with his tongue. He learned that from me.’

‘That is such bollocks.’

‘You have a tongue stud too?’ she asked.

‘No way.’ He stuck out his tongue. ‘I have skills without the need for adornment. You just ask your friend Ginny, if you don’t believe me.’ He winked at her.

Damn, she’d never had a chance to say goodbye to her. ‘Did she get off safely?’

‘Condoms were used, yes.’

Oh, God. That wasn’t what she’d meant. Her face filled with heat. ‘I didn’t … I meant …’

Xane started to laugh. ‘Let it go, Dani. He can’t help it. He has a filthy mind. Stuff like that always slips out.’

‘Home safe,’ Ash confirmed, holding up his mobile phone to show her evidence of a text from Ginny. ‘She sent a thank-you once she arrived home and climbed into her jammies.’

‘And that’s all the information we need,’ Xane insisted, holding his hand out to cover the screen. His brows suddenly furrowed. ‘Hey, how did you get that? You know you’re not allowed.’

‘What, this?’ Ash stuffed the phone back into his deepest pocket. ‘I don’t have a phone. What are you talking about, Xane? You know I never carry one. Sally would have kittens.’

Xane shook his head, but he was still smiling. ‘Don’t fuck up,’ he warned Ash. ‘I’ll skewer you, never mind Sally. You got us into no end of shit the last time you misplaced one of those damn things. Ash is distinctly absent-minded when it comes to his possessions,’ he explained to Dani.