No argument. Aggie collapsed into the backseat of their cab and slid to the far side. “Fine. Eric can sleep on the floor. It will make it easier to stomp on him repeatedly in the morning.”
“Dude, your chick is hardcore,” Eric said to Jace.
Jace slid into the cab beside Aggie with a wicked grin affixed to his gorgeous face. “I like that about her.”
Eric folded his long form into the backseat. “She’s also a total babe. You’ve been holding out on me. So how did you like his new tattoo, Agster?” Eric sniggered. “Is it wicked awesome, or what?”
“I was just glad it was you who picked it out and not him,” Aggie said. “I wouldn’t want to think a guy I’m fucking has the taste of a total pussy.”
Eric licked the side of Jace’s forehead. “He does sorta taste like pussy.” Eric smacked his lips as he contemplated his palate. “A touch saltier than lady sauce, but not bad.”
Aggie tried to maintain The Cranky, but it was impossible. She burst out laughing. Jace wiped Eric’s spit from the side of his face, obviously annoyed. “You are paying to get my bike out of impound, jackass.”
“Uh, no, I’m not.”
“The whole Golden Gate Bridge thing was your idea.”
“You could have said no.”
Aggie took Jace’s hand in the darkness and gave it a squeeze. She knew that he couldn’t easily say no to Eric—what with the hero worship thing he had going on. Now that Aggie had met Eric, she understood Jace’s devotion to the guy even less. She had been expecting the mentorly type, not this crazy dude with the wacky sense of humor.
“You should pay half,” Jace said.
“I’ll pay half. Only fair.” Eric poked Jace in the side, a huge grin on his face. “At least we won the bet. What kind of tattoos should we make Brian and Trey get on their asses?”
“Smiley-faced daisies?”
“No way. That’s vintage Jace Seymour. I was thinking more along the lines of kittens and unicorns.”
“And rainbows?”
Eric’s eyes lit up. “Yeah, definitely rainbows. Good call, man. Good call.”
There were too many hands on Aggie’s body. She recognized the one tangled in her hair and the one resting on her back as belonging to Jace, but the one on her ass? Nope. Not familiar. Or perhaps a bit too familiar. She lifted her head from Jace’s shoulder and turned it to find Eric Sticks grinning at her.
“Good morning,” he said, blue eyes sparking with mischief.
“Is there a reason why your hand is on my ass?”
He removed it and winked. “It felt right at the time.”
“You’re supposed to be sleeping on the floor.”
“It’s hard on my back, and I have a concert to perform tonight. I knew you’d understand.”
“The only thing I understand is you getting out of this bed.”
“Shh,” Jace murmured, his arms tightening around Aggie. She’d used him as a pillow all night because Eric had insisted that he needed three pillows if he had to sleep on the floor. That left one pillow for Aggie and Jace to share. “Early…”
“We can get it on while Jace sleeps,” Eric whispered. “He doesn’t join the living until noon.”
“I did bring Jace’s favorite flail,” Aggie said. “It’s in my luggage. I’m sure you could use a good, hard beating.”
Eric’s eyes widened. “You’re joking.”
Aggie lifted her eyebrows. “Do I look like I’m joking?”
“Don’t worry. She won’t break the skin,” Jace mumbled.
“I think I’ll pass.” Eric scooted over a few inches and flopped onto his back to stare up at the ceiling. “I’m bored.”
Aggie snuggled closer to Jace. She was starting to think he could sleep through an earthquake.
“So Aggie, what do you like to do for fun?” Eric asked.
“Besides make men cry?”
He laughed uncomfortably. “Yeah, besides that.”
“She sews,” Jace murmured.
“Sews?”
“Yeah, sews.”
“What? Like pot holders?”
“No, like leather corsets,” Aggie said.
“She makes them by hand and sews designs on them,” Jace said, starting to sound more alert now.
“Embroidery,” Aggie clarified.
“They’re works of art.” Jace’s hand stroked her hair lethargically. “And sexy.”
“Oh,” Eric said flatly. “Well, that gives me a boner. Now I’m bored and horny.”
“And I’m wide awake,” Jace said. “Time for you to leave.” He reached over Aggie and shoved Eric onto the floor.
Eric climbed to his feet and stood at the side of the bed with both hands resting on his narrow hips. “Why do I have to leave?”
“Because those plans I had with Aggie last night…”
“Destroy the hotel room in a lust-fueled frenzy of sex?”
“Yeah, those plans. I’m ready to get started now. We have a lot of making up to do before the concert tonight.”
Jace rose up on one elbow to stare down at Aggie with his most smoldering look. She smiled, knowing she was about to have a wonderful day. Rock on!
“So I’ll help you,” Eric offered. “I owe her too.”
“Get lost, Eric,” Aggie said, her body already thrumming with anticipation.
Jace lifted his gaze to Eric. “You heard the lady.”
“Aw, come on, little man. I’m dying here. Just let me watch a little.”
Jace shook his head. “Not this time. Now go away before I kick your ass.”
“Yeah, right.” But even as he said it, Eric reached for his shirt and tugged it on over his head. “I’m starving anyway. Who needs sex when you can have scrambled eggs?”
“I’ll see you at the arena,” Jace said.
Eric launched three pillows at them before showing himself to the door. “Don’t forget we have that thing to rehearse for Jessica.”
“I’ll be there.”
The door closed, and Jace turned his attention back to Aggie.
“What thing for Jessica?” she asked.
He smiled. “You’ll see. It’s a surprise. For everyone.”
“Eric’s a bit…” She scrunched her forehead, trying to think of the proper adjective.
“Eccentric?”
“Yeah, I guess that’s the word.”
“Most geniuses are.”
“You think he’s a genius?” Aggie stuck a thumb in the direction of the door Eric had just exited.
“I know he’s a genius. I’ve seen him compose.”
“You’re the genius,” she whispered and tugged his lips to hers for a kiss.
“I really am sorry you had to bail me out of jail last night.” He trailed suckling kisses along her jaw.
“I’m glad you realize you can depend on me.”
He froze. There she went scaring him off again.
“But I do think you need to be punished for ruining my evening,” she added.
He relaxed again, took her hands in his, and drew her arms up over her head. “Later,” he said. “First, I need to offer my apologies. Consider every kiss an ‘I’m sorry.’”
It didn’t take her long to realize how very sorry he was.
Chapter 16
Aggie stood beside the stage on the stadium floor. Roadies and all five band members milled about in the darkness. It was almost time for Sinners to take the stage. She longed to grab Jace and plant a big wet kiss on his lips. He’d more than made up for that bail-me-out-of-jail incident, and she was primed to show her appreciation. After hours of apologies, she figured he’d be relaxed in her company. Just the opposite. As soon as she’d arrived at the arena, he had become withdrawn and skittered away if she even touched him. She blamed it on nerves. He didn’t seem to enjoy performing live.
“Are you sure you can sing, Sed?” some dark-haired roadie, adorned with more tattoos than all five band members combined, asked. Everyone was treating the vocalist like fragile glass. Apparently, no one trusted his throat was well enough for a show.