I was confused. Why was he pushing me to Buck? Angry and drunk Buck, who grumbled all the time and spat beer at me. I'd vastly prefer to sit up front with River. "But. . ."
He cut me off with a wave of his hand. "Just climb up there and sit for a few minutes until he falls asleep." He kissed me on the cheek and whispered, "Do it for me." For River? How could I refuse? Too bad I hadn't met him before he'd found his lover. A man this kind and devoted and powerfully attractive was a rarity.
I climbed back into Buck's cubicle and sat with my feet dangling out. Laying on his back, he looked up at me and groaned. He might be drunk and he was certainly annoying, but I couldn't deny the fact that he was a fine-looking man, someone I'd idolized for a decade. And tonight he had talked the audience into liking me. So I reached out to give him a pat on the shoulder.
Before my hand made it to his shoulder, he snagged it and pulled it to his stomach. Then he rolled away from me and curled up in a ball, forcing me down to the bed, spooning him. I was simultaneously alarmed and delighted. I sighed and gave him a little squeeze, which thrilled me more than I expected. He felt so solid and warm, that I even entertained a few naughty fantasies. Ridiculous, of course.
Buck's breathing soon grew regular. I considered pulling away and leaving his side but thought better of it. This was Buck Morris, the bass player of the Fiery Boys and my second favorite rocker of all time. So why was I objecting to lying next to him in his bed with my arm wrapped around him? Besides, if I left now, I'd never hear the end of it from Kira and Jo. So I relaxed and continued to spoon him.
The bus squealed to a stop, waking both Buck and me. Somehow in the night, we had changed positions so that he was now spooning me. He grunted and pulled his hand from my breast. "Sorry."
I rolled over to face him. "Feel better?"
"Yeah, much. But I gotta return that beer. Move." I hopped out of the cubicle so Buck could run for the bathroom.
From across the aisle, River peeked up at me with a smile. "Did you sleep?"
I blushed. "Yes, thanks. Are we in Kansas City?"
"Probably." He walked forward so he could peer out the front window. "Yep. Another day, another arena." He shook his head with a smirk. "What a life."