Page 50 of Tentacles Rock
Nereus
Oneyearlater
The crowd roared, chanting the band’s name, when we wrapped up the encore.
Rick took my hand, leading us to the edge of the stage, and Zoe, Vinny, and Jeremy joined us. We clasped our hands together, lifted them up, and bowed to the audience.
I hadn’t believed Rick when he’d told me that the rush of playing a concert never fades away, and that the pre-gig jitters get crazy every time. But he’d been right, and the six-month tour around the USA and Europe confirmed that.
Swimming with the Sharks’fourth studio album had been number one for six consecutive weeks after release, and the tour we’d announced to promote it had sold out in all venues within hours.
The saying ‘never meet your heroes’ had the opposite effect in my case as the band members had welcomed me with open arms. We’d become fast friends on the road together, joking and pranking each other.
The pressure of fame had hit me hard and quick, especially since it wasn’t easy for me to hide my identity. Initially, when Rick and I went out, I’d hid my tentacles in a loose shirt and he wore a baseball cap. It had worked for a few weeks, but after we started touring, everyone recognized me and I outed Rick by association.
At one point, Rick had told me he was done hiding and was ready to walk proudly hand in hand with me, and attend galas and interviews without his mask. He still wore it during concerts and in the bedroom, but it was a kinky accessory now, not a means for him to protect himself.
Social media hated and loved us as a couple all at once. New rumors of our split surfaced at least once a month, all completely unfounded. It was quite entertaining. Every time something particularly nasty popped up as a headline in a shitty magazine, we reminded ourselves that we had each other, our families, and the band, and nothing would threaten that.
Now, when I stood on stage looking at the cheering crowd, I still couldn’t believe my luck. Maybe it had been fate, a mystical pull, or pure, old-fashioned love that had brought me and Rick together. Whatever it had been, I was grateful for Rick every damn day of my life.
After another wave at the audience, we exited the stage and crammed into two cars with the rest of the band to get to our hotel. Sleeping on the bus on the road had taken me time to get used to. Thankfully, everyone was enthusiastic about getting a hotel whenever the venue and security allowed.
Tonight we had an hour to change before the organizers expected us at an after party with the other bands from the festival. Time restrictions forced us to postpone mine and Rick’s tradition of a post-concert fuck until after the party. Or during it…
When we arrived at the lounge on the balcony of the club, Linc and Darla waited for us along with champagne on ice on the table. Rick had finally made up with his brother and they kept in touch nearly every day. Linc had never regretted his decision to leave. Once in a while, however, he’d send us a song that was so good we’d record it and add it to the album.
Between the studio and touring, Rick and I visited Lync, Darla, and their two kids at their ranch in Montana. Their horses were magnificent, but Linc had yet to convince me to ride one. Rick’s nephew was a charming little menace, dividing his attention between his love of horses and playing cymbals. Gabriela, Rick’s niece, was almost nine months old now, and we were all predicting a successful singing career for her.
Flying to see my family in Greece several times a year had been surprisingly easy, especially during the European tour. The taverna was thriving under Tabitha’s rule, letting my parents travel like they’d always wanted to.
One of my students had taken over my music school and Rick and I appeared as speakers and to jam with the group whenever we visited my hometown.
A look around the decorated club reminded me that next week would be Christmas again, marking a year since Rick and I had built a snowman and had the most magical time together.
I stretched my tentacle over Rick’s shoulders and leaned back on the red-leather sofa. Each band from the concert had a lounge like ours. We were supposed to make an appearance and mingle, but my tentacles pulsed with the need to wrench moans out of Rick instead.
“I’ll be back,” I said in the most casual tone I could muster, then stood up.
“I’ll come with you.” Rick caught my tentacle, and I pulled him to his feet.
“Can’t you two stop fucking for a second? Dear Gods!” Zoe smacked her lap with her hands and turned to Lync. “I asked Frank to give them a separate bus cause they’re like rabbits on ours. I can’t fucking sleep.” She shook her head, but a grin formed on her face. “You live together, for fuck’s sake.”
“Well, yeah,” Rick twisted my tentacle like it was a lock of hair. “But we’re going to Ner’s family for Christmas and we don’t want—”
“For them to experience what the band has to endure?” Zoe smirked. “I get it. Okay, shoo. Or you’ll start getting it on in public.”
“He has a point.” Darla nudged Lync in the ribs. “Since we’re going with them, we won’t have any privacy, either.”
“Aww but my family will love you guys,” I said, patting Darla’s shoulder. “And my mom can’t wait to babysit your kids. I’m dead serious.”
“Okay, enough chit chat. We’ll be back later.” Rick pulled me by my tentacle and I followed him through the dancefloor and into a room with a crimson velvet duvet and sex toys on the nightstand.
Our sex life bloomed with fresh ideas every day, and with the new leather masks we’d got, we could hit the clubs around the world to see what else we hadn’t tried yet.
After conquering the storm of figuring the best ways to nurture our relationship, Rick and I had never been stronger. If we truly were fated mates, we would enjoy our life together for over a century to come.
THE END