Chapter Ten

“Huh? Where?” Megan was confused.

Halle pulled the lanyards from her bag. Grinning wildly she held them up “backstage”.

Megan began laughing at the ridiculous notion of them going to a backstage party, but on closer inspection the passes looked legitimate.

“C’mon, let’s go before you catch any flies in that open mouth of yours.” Putting the lanyards around their necks, she led Megan to the side of the stage and found Rob waiting for her.

He led them through a small maze of corridors until he opened a door that led to the party. There seemed to be a lot of crew and security, there was also a handful of photographers clicking pictures. There amongst the excitement Halle’s gaze landed on Richie.

“Oh my God! There’s Jon” Megan said pointing madly to a point in the middle of the room. “Let’s go introduce ourselves.”

Halle allowed Megan to pull her through the crowd, inching closer and closer to Richie who was talking animatedly with Jon and laughing. The women stopped and waited while they were talking, Halle was trying to her hardest not to laugh at Megan who was clearly star struck. The ridiculous smile and the constant jittering were making it hard to keep her composure.

Jon noticed them standing there and patted Richie’s shoulder for him to turn and look.

“Great show guys” Halle said smiling through her nerves. It was a very different Richie tonight than who had woken up in her house that morning.

“Hi Hal, glad you could make it” Jon said leaning in and giving her cheek a small kiss. “We had a blast, crowd was awesome.”

“Hey Halle” Richie said sliding his arm around her waist and giving her a quick hug. He didn’t know what was coming over him, as far away from women that he wanted to stay he still found himself automatically drawn to Halle.

Halle laughed a full bellied laugh at the look on Megan’s face as she had been watching the exchange between Halle and these God’s of Rock.

Feeling sorry for her friend, Halle put her arm around her friends shoulder “Megan, meet Jon and Richie.”

“Hey darlin’” they both said together, then one at a time bent down to kiss her cheek, chuckling too at her reaction.

Megan all of a sudden looked quite flushed, but recovered well enough to start the questions. “Ok, what gives?” eyeing them all off suspiciously.

After a brief explanation of the previous nights events and then this mornings breakfast guests, Megan was quite put out that Halle hadn’t shared the story with her.

“Hey, you’re lucky that I even invited you to come tonight sweetheart, after that horrible date you sent me on last night” Halle teased.

Richie’s ears pricked at the mention of the word ‘date’. Why did it bother him to know that she was on a date? Hell, he didn’t even know her then.

“Aww c’mon Hal, he’s not that bad.”

“You date him then.”

Jon made the less than subtle move of taking Megan to meet the rest of the band. Placing his hand at the small of her back he steered her away from Halle and Richie. Looking back over Megan’s shoulder, he sent Richie a wink.

‘What the fuck! Someone needs to tell that asshole that we aren’t in high school anymore.’

Halle put her hands up to tease at the ends of his hair. “Well, you certainly seemed to be over your hangover tonight.”

Richie watched her mouth as she spoke, wanting desperately to crush his lips over them.

“Yeah, all gone. It was a great show, we definitely need to get down here more often, and the fans are always great here. Hey can I get you a drink darlin’?”

“Sure, thanks.” Halle said “Just a coke.”

“Coming right up.” He slipped out of view for a split second then returned with a bottle for her. He opened a beer and took a long sip. He watched her tip her head, exposing her neck, her lips wrapped around the top ‘hell, it’s been way too long’ Richie thought, trying to fight off the horny devil sitting on his shoulder. In a slightly strained voice Richie suggested they go see what everyone else is up to.

Nodding in acceptance, Halle put her arm around Richie whose own arm had done the same to Halle, although it had been a totally innocent move, it had felt as if it was the most natural thing in the world.

The two manouvered around the room comfortably, Richie stopped to talk to a few people along the way, but never took his arms from Halle's waist. At one point while Richie was talking with a crew member, his hand was slowly moving up and down in a comforting motion on Halle's hip her shirt slowly inching up with each pass. She held her breath in anticipation of skin on skin, but Richie unconciously stopped when he finished the converstion. Halle let out a strangled breath, her heart was beating furiously in her chest. 'yep, definately a panty change needed'.

Richie backed Halle up against the wall in a secluded corner of the room, partially concealed by a huge potplant. She held her breath as Richie leaned in close to her ear, his body molding to hers. "Having fun yet?" his voice was raspy in her ear sending a coursing trail of lust straight through her body.

"Ah...huh" Halle's voice faultered, not one concious thought came to mind. 'blithering IDIOT' she mentally admonished herself. The look of satisfaction gleamed in his eyes as he realised how unhinged he had made her. She inwardly shook herself clear and came up with an answer. "Well, so far so good." Peering over his shoulder she continued "although it's not quite what i expected from a backstage party for a rock band".

Richie kept his body close to hers but threw his head back laughing loudly. "Darlin' this is as wild as we get these days" looking around the room quickly he sighed remembering the good 'ol days when there were no responsibilites, nothing but great music, great women and great booze.

Halle noted the nostalgia in his eyes and tried to lighten the mood. "Well i just expected to come back here and see naked women everywhere."

Richie leaned back in toward her ear again "well baby, if you want to start the ball rolling, you'd hear no complaints from me" he ended the sentence with a small nip to her ear.

Halle held her eyes closed, breathing heavily, her lips parted slightly at her arousal. She bit down on her bottom lip to prevent it from quivering then slowly opened her eyes.

Richie knew he was stepping over some lines he had drawn for himself, but the way she looked when she tried to compose herself, had brought on some pretty vivid mental pictures. Breathing in deeply, he inhaled her scent of vanilla and strawberry, and groaned softly wondering whether she tasted the same. He was keenly aware of her heavy breathing , pushing her breasts against his chest, his cock was straining for attention sending an ache through his body that made him feel alive for the first time in months.

Halle opened her eyes to see him smirking, his eyes piercing her. She found herself holding her breath again when Richie leaned in closer, his tongue slithered out, wetting his lips in preparation. As he got closer, Halle's lips parted.

"Halle" Megan called out as she approached.

Richie snapped his head up and brought his fist to his forehead and clenched his teeth.

'I'm gonna kill her...yep, it was nice while it lasted...but she had to go!' "What!" Halle growled. Richie chuckled slightly at her frustration, but he was dealing with his own disappointment at the moment and he knew it would be a couple of minutes before he composed himself enough to turn back and face the room. He grasped Halle lightly on the arm, sending her a pleading look.

Richie's gaze screamed out to her, had she really had that much affect on him? Glancing down briefly she blushed at the obvious reason for his pained expression and without uttering a word she knew to stay put as Megan came to stand by them.

"Oh my gosh Hal, Dave asked for my phone number. DAVE BRYAN wanted MY phone number" she shrieked, punctuating her words wth extra high screeches.

"That's great Megan" 'now go away!' Halle mumbled in annoyance.