Aggie did not like this guy. It had nothing to do with how Jace felt about him either. Jon Mallory was slimy. She knew an eel when she saw one. “Why don’t you? I think he likes guys anyway.”

Eric shook his head. “Trey likes both.”

Both? Now that had possibilities.

Chapter 27

Loud voices woke Jace from a deep sleep. Someone was certainly having a good time. From the feminine pitch of one of the voices, it seemed one of those someones was Aggie. He rubbed his face with both hands, scrubbing the sleep from his eyes, and searched the darkened room for some clothes. He stumbled as the bus rounded a corner and grabbed the edge of the dresser to prevent himself from falling.

A pair of shorts in place, he opened the bedroom door and headed for the bathroom. He could hear Aggie’s animated voice through the thin wall as he relieved himself.

“I mean this guy was huge, even bigger than Sed. I just snapped my whip at him, didn’t even touch him, and he came down his leg. Then he started crying that his father sold his teddy bear at a garage sale when he was eleven.”

The guys laughed uproariously.

“Is that what Jace does when you whip him?” Eric asked.

“Jace is on the opposite end of the spectrum. I beat the crap out of him, and he doesn’t even flinch.”

Now why did she have to go and tell them that? He exited the bathroom and moved to stand by her shoulder at the dining table. Across the table, Trey offered an uncomfortable wave. Aggie glanced at him, her eyes glassy and face slack. He supposed that explained why she was running off at the mouth.

“Jace!” she said, excitedly. “Did you have a good sleep?”

“Who can sleep with all this racket?”

“Oh, poor baby.” She climbed from the booth and hugged him enthusiastically, putting most of her weight on him as she stumbled. Her lips smacked loudly against his jaw.

Jace stiffened. Not in front of the guys, baby.

“Aren’t you going to kiss me?” she said.

“Maybe later.”

“Oh poo, you’re no fun.”

“You’re drunk.”

“Jus’ a little.” She pinched her fingers together and laughed, clinging to his neck with one arm for balance.

“She already drank Brian under the table,” Sed said. “I think I’m next.”

At the sound of his name, Brian lifted his head from the back of the booth. “Myrna?”

Trey chuckled. “No, stud, she’s still in Kansas City. Go back to your wet dream.”

Brian’s body went slack again, this time his head resting against Trey’s shoulder. Trey grinned like the Cheshire cat on Prozac.

“Sit,” Aggie insisted.

She shoved Jace into the booth.

And then…

She sat on his lap.

Jace chanced a glance at Trey, but he was too interested in Brian to tease him about Aggie’s attention. Trey didn’t comment when Aggie toyed with Jace’s hair affectionately.

Jace brushed her hand aside. “Don’t.”

She shrugged, dropped her hand, and snuggled closer, her breath tickling his neck. “You smell good.”

“Do we need to leave you two alone?” Sed asked.

Jace’s face warmed instantly. “No.”

He nudged Aggie off his lap and went to the refrigerator. “I’m starving. What’s there to eat?” He looked back at the table, hoping he’d missed the feast sitting there waiting for consumption. Nope. Just empties and half empties and mostly fulls. So they were back to living on a diet of beer. Wonderful.

“Whatever you cook,” Trey said. “Unless Aggie—”

“I’m female, so I get cooking duty? Fuck that.”

“Not because you’re female,” Trey amended. “I’ve tasted the cooking of these guys, and let’s just say it isn’t good.”

“You’re the worst cook of us all,” Brian murmured. He lifted his head from Trey’s shoulder, a concerned look on his face. “Trey?”

“Yeah, buddy?”

“Is that your hand or mine?”

“I think it’s yours.”

“M’kay.” Brian’s head hit the table with a loud thunk. He grunted in pain. Trey helped him upright, settling Brian’s head against his shoulder again. Brian had a spreading red spot in the center of his forehead now.

“I think Brian needs another beer,” Trey said, holding his hand toward Jace.

Jace pulled a brown bottle from the refrigerator.

“Brian’s done.” Sed shook his head at Trey. “We all know what you’re trying to do, Trey.”

Brian poked Trey in the back of the hand repeatedly. “What are you try… hic… What are you trying to do, Trey?”

“I’m just making sure you’re having a good time.”

“I’m having a verygoodfuckingtime, my friend, thankyouverymuch.” His head hit the table again.

Jace returned the beer to the fridge. He searched for something edible that took minimum preparatory effort. He settled for a stale toaster pastry, leaning against the stove while he munched it. Aggie watched him, looking confused. And a little hurt. He avoided her gaze. He really was just hungry. And craving meat. Steak preferably. Bloody rare. He moved to the front of the bus to talk to Dave.

“Any chance we can stop somewhere for food? I’m fuckin’ starving to death.”

“I’ll keep an eye out for a place to stop.”

Jace’s stomach rumbled.

Dave took his eyes off the road to glance at him. “Soon. Go sit down. You look like shit.”

“I feel like shit.”

Jace sat in one of the captain’s chairs across from the sofa where Jon and Eric were involved in a competitive card game. Jon selected one of Eric’s cards, and Eric sniggered.

“Shit. I don’t want your old maid, Sticks. Take it back.”

Jon tried to return the card to Eric’s fan, but Eric held his cards securely to his chest.

“Eh, no. That old bitch is yours now.”

Old Maid? You’ve got to be fucking kidding me. And why was Eric wearing a motorcycle helmet on the bus?

Eric glanced at Jace and did a double take. “You okay, little man? You—”

“Look like shit. Yeah, I know. I’ll live.”

“Or not,” Jon said. “Whatev.”

Eric rolled his eyes and shook his head. “Dickhead much, Mallory?”

Eric was sticking up for him?

Aggie pressed a sports drink in Jace’s hand. “Drink this, sweetie. The doctor said you need fluids.”

“Yeah, sweetie,” Eric said. “Drink your fluids like a good little man.”

Well, that was to be expected. Jace climbed to his feet. “Come get me when we stop for food.”

He took his drink to the bedroom and closed the door. He sat on the edge of the bed, staring into the darkness. He wasn’t sure what to do about the band. He’d been with them for almost three years, and they felt like strangers. The door opened. He knew it was Aggie without looking up. He wasn’t sure what to do about her either. He liked her, but he didn’t want a solid commitment. He couldn’t give her what she needed, and he knew that wasn’t fair. She deserved better.

She switched on the light and sat next to him on the bed, her soft hand resting on his lower back. She kissed his shoulder. He didn’t mind her affection now that they were alone—liked it pretty well actually.

“You okay?” she asked.

“Why does everyone keep asking me that?”

“I don’t think you are. Not really.”

“I’ll live.”

“I didn’t ask if you’d live. Talk to me, Jace. You’re so quiet around the guys. Why is that?”

“I—” He shook his head. He wasn’t about to spill his guts. He needed to keep them inside. Festering. Where they belonged. “You seem to get along with them just fine.”

“I get guys. Well, most guys. I don’t get you. I want to though.”

He wasn’t afraid of much, but she scared the hell out of him. Not the whip-wielding dominatrix. That part of her was enough for him. This open, caring, wonderful woman was too much. He didn’t deserve her. And he knew it.

“Why do you crave pain?”

“Why?” She wanted a reason? His throat closed off. “You shouldn’t ask me things like that.”

“You can tell me anything, Jace. It won’t change how I feel about you.”