The Ruby Riot Series: Box Set Part 16

"Somewhere close I hope because I'm b.l.o.o.d.y starving after working this evening. Who knew selling t-shirts could be so exhausting?"

I point at myself. "h.e.l.lo? I worked tonight too."

Tegan catches my hand and squeezes. "You call that work? An hour and a half of flouncing around on stage with a guitar?"

Happiness surges that Tegan is back to her old self, the same edge of snark but with a softness in her eyes as she looks at me. In response, I take Tegan's arm and pull her close so she can't move. "Be quiet," I say quietly.

"Make me," she whispers against my lips.

Again, the image of pinning her against the wall rushes in, but knowing my luck, Bryn will walk through the door. "Don't tempt me," I reply and release her.

When Tegan's eyes glint and the corner of her mouth tips up, it's apparent the teasing Tegan hasn't left the relationship yet. Man, she turns me on and that's going to be a big f.u.c.king problem.

16.

TEGAN.

The car that was supposed to take us back to the hotel pulls into a Madrid side street where we step out onto the narrow pavement. The brightly painted restaurant sign is lit in the dark, above the graffiti tagged on the wall.

"Nice job," I hear Jax say to the driver, whose reply I don't hear.

The large black car pulls away and my rock star date heads over and takes my hand. "This is a place for the locals. We won't be ha.s.sled, but we could be ignored."

"Don't you feel like being ignored for a change?"

"I guess. As long as you don't ignore me." We duck through the open door and into the narrow venue. One or two groups are huddled around square wooden tables and I almost trip over a large greyhound lying on the floor between the doorway and the marble bar.

The man behind the bar looks quizzically at us as he breaks his conversation with the middle-aged couple sitting at the counter. At this point, it's obvious neither Jax nor I can speak Spanish, so I nudge him.

To my relief, the restaurant owner grins. "A table?"

"Please," I reply.

He sits us at the back of the room; but there's no chance of hiding in the shadows, large round lights run along the ceiling brightly illuminating the cosy s.p.a.ce. We order tapas and a bottle of red wine. When all we receive is a cursory glance from the locals frequenting the restaurant, I relax. Our earlier worry that stepping outside the hotel together would end in a barrage of media interest ebbs; I don't think these people are Ruby Riot's demographic.

Jax has dispensed with his t-shirt and jeans uniform tonight, dressed in a dark blue, cotton shirt, the top b.u.t.tons undone, and the green stone pendant he wears hangs against the top of his toned chest. Jax is talking to me; but for a moment, I'm transfixed by his mouth, and the fact I've never looked at him long enough to appreciate how he looks as good in reality as in the photos. The twins are covered in piercings. I'm glad Jax hasn't spoilt his model-looks with bars of metal through his skin.

As I pick at the stuffed artichokes on my plate, Jax pokes something on his.

"What's wrong?" I ask.

"Is this part of an octopus?" he whispers, nose wrinkling.

"Haven't you eaten octopus before?"

"No!" Jax pushes it toward me and points at another item. "And is that the world's smallest burger?"

Laughing at him, I take a bite of the offending food from his plate and he stares at me. "Eww!"

"Not very exotic in your tastes?" I ask.

"Not food, no." He arches a brow and I shake my head at him. "What?"

"You're missing out. Try it."

"I don't think so!" Jax tops up our gla.s.ses of wine.

I continue to smile to myself as we eat, more relaxed with Jax than I expected.

"This is different," remarks Jax, sipping from his wine gla.s.s.

"I like it. Quiet. Unpretentious."

"I meant me and you. You haven't tried to out-snark me once in the last hour. You're confusing me!" Jax reaches across the table and traces a finger along the back of my hand setting goose b.u.mps along my spine.

"I don't need to defend myself against you."

"Good." He closes his hand around mine and continues to poke around at his food.

The restaurant owner drags a wooden chair across the tiled floor and sits with a nearby group, their voices rising in chatter and laughter. As time pa.s.ses, Jax relaxes more; but whenever the restaurant door opens, he looks around sharply.

"How do you cope with being famous?" I ask.

"Don't really think about it. I guess we're only half-famous right now. After these few weeks touring with Phoenix, we're back to reality until the alb.u.m is finished and released." He grins. "So I can't give up the day job just yet."

"You have a job? I thought you were studying. Or did you stop?"

"Me? No. I'm studying at UCL, a year to go, so hopefully the alb.u.m will be big and Ruby Riot can be my day job once uni is over."

"Somehow, I can't imagine you in a lecture theatre."

"Hmm." He loads his bread with dip . "To be honest, you won't find me in lectures much. Too busy with the band."

"Why bother then?"

He shrugs. "Beats getting a job. The parents think I need a back-up plan. I don't. Ruby Riot is going to be as big as Phoenix one day."

He's serious; and having witnessed them perform, I agree they've a good chance with the right management. "You guys are b.l.o.o.d.y amazing live."

"Yeah, I know." I poke him. "Hey, if I didn't believe in us, why should anybody else?" He pushes the bread into his mouth and winks.

Barriers finally down, we chat. Jax is fascinated by my travels, even though I hate boring people with the stories; and I'm equally eager to hear his tales of Ruby Riot's history. Once, he touches on a story involving girls but quickly shifts the conversation in a different direction. This uncomfortable reminder of the man I'm dealing with doesn't shift with it.

A bottle of wine later, Jax tips his head and studies me. "Thanks for coming out with me tonight."

"Thanks for being you with me tonight, not the star."

"When I'm sober, I'm a great guy."

"And when you're drunk?"

"Corruptible."

"I bet you're the one doing the corrupting."

His eyes shine. "Maybe one day you'll find out."

"If you're lucky." The look we exchange clearly says that's what we both think. I sigh and pick at the food on my plate. "What do we say to Bryn?"

Jax shifts in his seat. "Bryn? We don't have to say anything. I had a taste of what I'm in for the other night and, man, he's scary."

"Yes, you're not the first he's warned off, and I doubt you'll be the last. Bryn means well, but I can look after myself."

"It kind of puts pressure on me though." Jax pulls his hand away and drinks. "Like this - between us - has to be a forever thing."

I choke on the wine in my mouth. "Jesus, Jax. First date. Calm down."

Jax's shoulders relax. "Right. So it's okay to just see how we go?"

"Like any ordinary people on a first date, yes."

"We're not ordinary people though." He leans forward and whispers. "I'm Jax Lewis and one day everybody is going to recognise me. A lot of people already do." Jax glances around the quiet restaurant while I suppress a laugh. Every now and again, he flips from normal guy into the one people are building him up to be. Jax in love with the fame.

"I'm Tegan Hughes and I don't care. If you start to believe your own hype, I'm not sticking around. So let's go into this with honesty."

He sits back again. "Into what?"

"Us. I'm not looking for a serious relationship, and it's clear you're not. I haven't decided whether I want to see you again yet." I give him a smile to indicate I'm teasing. "But if I'm with somebody, I don't date other guys and would expect you to do the same if this becomes a regular thing between us."

Jax smirks. "No problem, I'm not into guys."

"You know what I mean! And by 'date' I mean no s.e.x with other people either."

"Other people? So you're saying that s.e.x is on the agenda for us?" he asks in a low voice. No way is he getting an answer to that, or the satisfaction of making me blush. "Well, while we're going into this with honesty, I'd like to say I've pictured you naked and I'm looking forward to the day I see how much better the reality is."

Two can play at this game. "How many girls have you screwed recently, Jax?"

"Wow. Right. Define recently."

"Six months."

"Ah. Um. One or two." I raise a brow. "Or three or four." He huffs. "A few."

"Keep your hands off other girls, and I'll consider it."

"Whoa, Tegan, seriously? I don't usually discuss this stuff on a first date. This conversation is very... like a contract. Do you want me to sign something here?"

How do I tell Jax I need to have this conversation to paint a picture of exactly what I might fall into? He's right, normally a first date is 'see how it goes'; but with the scrutiny that no doubt will hit us -in public and in private - I have to hold the cards. My self-control around this guy wavers each time we're alone; h.e.l.l, I'm sitting with him in public and all I can think about is getting my hands on his naked skin. Common sense lingers around the edges of my l.u.s.t and I can't shut it out completely.

"Just being honest," I say and flash him a smile.

17.

TEGAN.

Meal over and a second bottle of wine later, we head out of the restaurant onto the cobbled street. The Spanish climate is milder than England at this time of year but still cool. I pull my thin jacket closer and look around.

"Where's the taxi?" I ask.

"I don't know. I called one half an hour ago."

"Maybe they didn't understand your accent?"

"Sure, Tegan. I think they're used to tourists."

"Not rock stars?" I rub my arms. "Call one of the tour cars, someone can pick us up."

"I don't think so! They'll be followed from the hotel. We've been lucky so far with no media."

I'm about to retort that he's not that famous, but he is. I saw what happened outside the club in Portugal and the reaction wasn't just because Blue Phoenix members were there.

"Fine, we walk instead." I head down the cobbled pathway in the direction of the main street and stop when I realise Jax isn't with me. "Come on!"

"Walk?"

I giggle at the incredulous look on his face. "Walk."

Turning away, I continue to find a taxi on the main street.

"Tegan!"

I turn to face Jax and walk backwards away from him as I reply. "Is walking too lowly for you?"