~*A Few Months Later*~
“Thanks for joining us on this Bloody Valentine’s Day!” Joel shouted over their drummer Chris’ final slams of the drums and the guys’ final riffs. The kids in Las Vegas went crazy, lights flashing, kids catching waves above the crowd, kids shouting and hollering, some not wanting to leave, some captive of the music. Paul, Benji, and Billy carried their instruments offstage as Joel trotted in front of him, the screams as loud as a stampede even through the iron door.
“Gonna go get la-aid, gonna go get la-aid,” Paul sang down the hall merrily, the boys turning into a small changing room with white walls and green carpet to change.
“Sorry to tell you this, Paul,” Billy began, reaching for a bottle of water from a blue cooler on one of the brown tables, “I don’t think you can get laid even in Las Vegas.”
“This is the city of sin, man!” Paul differed, his spirits not being brought down by anybody, spinning a white towel in the air like it was a lasso, “And I am ready to sin!”
“Hey,” Joel called to Benji, Benji quickly sliding on his coat with an anxious look on his face, “Where’s the fire.”
“I told Phoenix I’d call her immediately after the show,” Benji told them, shoving his MADE baseball cap on his head, “I need to do it in…private.”
“Scandalous!” Paul shrieked, sniffing his armpits for B.O. “They’re gonna have phone sex!”
“I definitely see why women flock to you, Paul,” Billy told his sarcastically, Paul pouting in response.
“I’ll see you guys back at the hotel,” Benji called behind him as he swiftly exited the room and headed to the back parking lot where he told Steve to have a car waiting for him. Benji didn’t comprehend why Joel was so nonchalant about being away from Madison on such an important day for a couple. Of course, Benji didn’t believe in all the Valentine’s Day hoorah, but that’s before he felt love knock at his heart, and of course, he let it in. Benji and Phoenix have been together for almost 3 months and things couldn’t be better. It goes a little shaky once in a while, but Phoenix seems to be adjusting well to not having Ethan in her life. Benji thought he was finally crawling out of Ethan’s shadow, showing Phoenix how much life and love he had to offer.
Benji drummed his freehand on the window of the Lincoln Towncar as they whizzed through downtown Las Vegas, the vibrant lights masking what would normally be a dark night. Benji swiftly dialed ‘Phoenix Home’ and waited patiently for the connection, thanking the old black car driver as he stepped out of the car and onto the red carpet leading into ‘Caesar’s Palace.’ The lobby was like the room of a Golden God, everything gold from the elevators to the bashe floor to the desk to the waiting chairs.
’10 rings and still her machine hasn’t picked up,’ Benji complained inside, the elevator shooting upwards to Floor 19. Finally, Phoenix’s voice seeped into his ear, making him smile. ‘Hey, you’ve reached two hot chicks, Phoenix (“And Madison!” Benji heard Madison shout in the backround.”) We both aren’t home right now because we went on…a little trip. And Benji, Babe, don’t worry, you’re going to have a great Valentine’s Day. Leave it.” *BEEP*.
Benji felt disappointed and confused as he exited the elevator and strolled to room 560. ‘How can she go anywhere and not think of me?’ Benji asked himself bitterly, ‘Doesn’t she know how crazy I’ve been not seeing her these past few weeks?!’ Madison and Phoenix declined the boys’ proposal to join them on tour, having other commitments like college and work, it would be impossible to get off that long, especially since Ethan’s death. Benji grabbed ahold of the gold door handle, but it was already unlocked. “Joel,” Benji whispered, thinking he was the culprit, “Stupid Fuck.” He entered the room hastily and threw his MADE jacket on the King-sized bed, noticing he threw it on a large box. Benji shut the door behind him and removed the jacket, a large pink box sitting casually on the bed. Benji lifted the lid and found a smaller red box. Intrigued, Benji went through 3 more boxes before he found a Caesar’s Palace room card for room number 143.
It all clicked for Benji, absolutely flabbergasted and excited to see Phoenix, to hold her, touch her. Benji ran out of the room like a track star, noticing little red petals of roses leading to the elevator. Like a kid in a candy store, he skipped to the elevator and pressed the button for Floor 5 (by his poor math calculations.) He pushed at the rose petals surrounding his black converses, his smile a mile wide as the elevator door revealed a new path of rose petals. He sprinted down the hall, diverting around surprised and slightly annoyed guest until he arrived at room 143. Jogging in place, he slipped the card into the lock and heard the ‘click’. He swung the door open and saw…no one.
The only flickering of light he saw was from the red and pink candles strewn throughout the bedroom. He heard soft music circulating, saw a plate of strawberries and a can of whip cream set up on a glass table, smelt the sweet sent of aromatherapy, took note of the cool breeze from outside, the stars in the midnight blue sky twinkling like his eyes.
Benji sifted through the room for Phoenix, but she was no where. Not on the balcony, not in the bathroom. Benji began to think this was some cruel joke the guys were playing on him, but he knew better than that, the guys did too, for their own sakes. Suddenly, he heard a gentle knock at the door. He bit his bottom lip with eagerness as he opened it, Phoenix leaning against the doorframe in a short, silky, black bathrobe, her tangles of dark hair either straight or curly, her blue eyes pools of lust as she tapped her red fingernails against the open door. “I’ve been…” Phoenix began in a sultry voice, glancing around as if to see if anyone else was there, “Waiting for my boyfriend. He’s been so busy lately I was hoping he’d show up.”
Benji’s hormones went wild when Phoenix talked like she was role-playing, Benji engulfing her in his arms, lifting her as if she was his blushing bride, Phoenix’s silky legs brushing against his arms. “He’s here now and waiting to abide to your every whim.”
Phoenix giggled as she walked her fingers over his cheek, missing his caring eyes burning into her as she gazed into them. “Kiss me,” she whispered breathlessly, and Benji responded immediately, seizing her lips in his, relishing in the taste of her sweet lips and tongue. Benji walked to the foot of the bed and gently laid Phoenix down atop the ivory sheets, Phoenix crawling backwards as Benji stalked her across the sheets, giggling a little as she reached the cotton pillows, leaning on her elbows as Benji looked her up and down. Phoenix felt so sexy when Benji looked at her the way he did, like she was the most beautiful, important thing in the world, and anything else was 2nd place. “Well,” Phoenix began, raising her eyebrows, reaching up, and tugging at the collar of Benji’s navy button-down shirt, “Aren’t you going to unwrap your present?”
Benji slowly untied the bathrobe, getting antsy with every exposed inch of her tan skin, a black lace and pink satin Victoria Secret’s bra and underwear set was all that remained tight against her body, her breast nearly popping out of her bra, her tattoo playing peek-a-boo with her low-cut French panties. “Beautiful,” Benji simply said, his fingers roaming up her thighs as she sensually unbuttoned his shirt, letting it fall from his body. Benji crouched over her, his knees in between her legs as he began sucking on the sweet skin of her collar bone, Phoenix letting out soft moans, closing her eyes in pleasure as her hands roamed down spine. Benji’s hand softly pulled down her bra straps, welcoming the newly exposed flesh with kisses. “Oh, Ethan,” Phoenix whispered with a relaxed smile.
Benji stopped and looked over at her. “I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that.”
“Oh shit,” Phoenix replied mournfully, slapping her hands against her cheeks as Benji sat up and hung his feet over the end of the bed, drooping his head down in disappointment. “Benji, Babe. I’m sorry.”
“It’s OK,” Benji assured her in an unconvincing tone, forcing out a long sigh as Phoenix scooted toward him, her legs tucked underneath her body as she leaned slightly forward. “It’s only about the dozen-th time you’ve forgotten my name.”
Phoenix didn’t know what to say, Benji looking as if he was either going to explode or evaporate. “You’re mad at me, aren’t you?”
No response.
Phoenix slammed her hands down on the bed, tears stinging her eyes. “I knew it. I spent all this time planning this lovely, romantic evening and I fuck it up royaly. I bought this outfit just for your eyes to see, no one else. God, I am so sorry, Benji. This was your night and I don’t think and say…say…”
Benji felt horrible as he heard Phoenix cry, something she rarely did since the beginning of their relationship. It was only in the bedroom where the reprocussions of their relationship smacked him in the face. Benji turned back to her, her hands buried into her eyes. “Phi,” Benji whispered, taking one of her hands and pulling it away from her saturated eye, rubbing his thumb across her knuckles, Phoenix’s tears beginning to subside, her mascara running down her face like rain. “Phi, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be so curt with you. I know you’re trying hard. And I am in love with what you’re doing to keep this relationship alive.” Phoenix’s face was downcasted, the light emitted from jumping flames revealing her upset, anger at herself weighting down the corners of her lips. “You know,” Benji started mischievously, sliding Phoenix onto his lap like she was his daughter, massaging her thighs with his experienced hands, Phoenix beginning to feel better with every touch. “You woke up Baby Benji.”
“Did I?” Phoenix asked with a wavering voice and a small laugh, Benji’s lips exploring her neck.
“Yes,” he replied between kisses, his kisses covering her neck and behind her ear and on her cheeks, “And you know…Baby Benji won’t…go back to sleep…until Mommy feeds him.”
“Well…” Phoenix responded slyly, her leaning back forcing Benji to be pinned underneath her, Phoenix rotating so she was on top, Phoenix feeling Benji’s desire for her through his black bondage pants, “We don’t want Baby Benji to be bothering us all night…or do we?” Phoenix’s smile disappeared under Benji’s lips. And the rest of the night? Only one can imagine what popped up.