Some of the crew had come up with a practice of taking polaroids of groupies interested in coming backstage, allowing the musicians to select whom they wanted without actually meeting them. They also saved the pictures and commented on them later, a practice he disapproved of. He disapproved of the whole photo thing, actually, but wasn't above using it when he wanted company. It was way better for him then having to go out and pick one in person.
This was a smallish town in the Midwest. He was in a good mood after the show, energized. It had been a good one tonight and he didn't feel like going to sleep just yet, so he swallowed his sense of decency and asked for the stack of photos. They consented to having their photo taken for him to choose from, after all.
Most were straight up too pushy, small town pretty, a little trashy, and he didn't feel attracted to them at all.
Then he came across her. Long, straight hair of dark brown, big brown eyes, solemn and a little apprehensive look on her face, looking at the camera a little under her brow. He got curious, it seemed there was some depth to this one. He decided to go with his instincts and showed the picture to Jeff, the crew member handling them tonight. Jeff raised his eyebrows, he had mostly gone through busty blondes recently, but went for it without commenting. He turned back to his dressing room, walked up to the mirror, smiled at his reflection and tousled his curly hair. He picked up a towel from the table and dried his neck with it, he was still sweaty after performing.
There was a knock on the door, the girl came in, Jeff closed the door behind her. She remained standing by the door, looking at him across the room, and he thought she looked nervous.
"Hello there," he said, friendly. "What's your name?"
"Annabel," she replied. She had a nice voice, quite low and soft.
"Hi Annabel, I'm Ted," he said and now she smiled, and she was truly beautiful when she did.
"I know," she said.
"You want a drink?" he asked, turning to see what he had to offer. "Or are you too young for that?"
"I'm nineteen," she said.
"Yeah? I'm twenty...twenty six, or what? Something like that, anyway."
She smiled again. Beer might be okay? He opened two beers, sat on the sofa, and gestured to her with a bottle. She came and sat beside him, at a small distance, and they looked at each other.
"So, what did you want to see me for?" he asked, when she seemed to be at a loss coming up with something to say.
"I want to make love with you," she said and blushed.
He choked on his beer and then laughed.
"Wow, okay," he said, "Yeah, don't bother with autographs and shit, just straight to it, huh?"
And he smiled at her. She seemed less than impressed with herself.
"Too blunt?" she said. "I'm sorry. I just thought that's...that's what you do with...fans. After the show."
"Well, can't say I haven't," he said. "But I'm not gonna just attack you, don't be afraid."
She seemed somehow ill at ease, definitely not lusty or like she wanted him to just jump her, and yet she had said she wanted it. There was now something to this, and he looked at her, thoughtful. He touched her cheek, leaned closer and kissed her.
Her lips were soft and warm, sensual, he kissed her gently and slowly. She responded but didn't take initiative, waited for him to kiss her, add a little tongue. She was sweet but he still didn't get the vibe of her wanting him.
He stopped kissing her and just stroked her cheek.
"So tell me," he said. "What is it you want with me?"
"I want to make love with you," she replied.
They looked at each other, and he said, "Yeah, you keep saying that, but it's not the vibe I get off you."
"I'm sorry," she said and looked disappointed at herself. "I guess I don't know how."
He understood in a flash. "You haven't done it before?"
She blushed again and broke eye contact, she looked at his chest or somewhere thereabouts. He had only a vest on, his chest was bare with only a few necklaces hanging on it.
"Oh, girl," he said gently. "You thought I'd just jump you? I need you to want me, I won't just use you."
"Well I want you," she whispered. "But I don't know how to do it."
"Darling," he said and touched her chin, lifted it so that she met his eyes again. "Your first time shouldn't be on some crummy backstage sofa. You deserve better. Don't you know that?"
"Well I do know but what can I do," she said, flaring up. "You know how shitty it is to live in a small town like this? I know everyone here! I don't want to do it with any of the guys in school, I don't want to give it to any of them, and it's not like I can do it with anyone else, either. And I really do like you. But I'm sorry I said anything, I shouldn't have come, I'll just have to wait until I can move away from here to go to college or something. Or die an old maid."
He was amazed at her outburst and alarmed to see tears in her eyes.
"Honey," he said and wiped a tear from her cheek. "I do know what it's like to live in a small town. I understand you. Please don't be sad."
This had somehow gotten quite deep quite suddenly.
"Can I hug you?" he asked.
She came closer, and he wrapped his arms around her, trying not to pull on her long hair. She shivered and wrapped her arms around him carefully, touching his back, and now there was something there. He didn't doubt she had the kind of crush on him many fans did, and he didn't wonder about her fantasizing about him. He really could identify with small town living, it wasn't that far behind in his past, growing up in a dump much like this one.
And he thought about doing it with her, showing her what it was about, loving her like these small town boys probably had no idea how to do. It was arousing to think of setting a baseline for all the ones to come after him. And yet he hesitated. It felt like a lot, and he felt the weight of it.
"You know what," he said and detached himself to see her face. "I'll try if you want me to. But not here, not like this. Can you come back to the hotel with me?"
She nodded, seriously, there was a look of anticipation and thrill on her face. And nervousness.
"And I tell you right now, I won't do it if I can't make it right for you, okay?" he said. "I don't get any kicks out of just doing it, I need you to want me and I need you to enjoy it. And don't be alarmed, it's my job to make it be like that, okay? You don't have to worry about not doing something right. And I won't do anything you don't want me to, and we don't have to go through with it if you don't want to. Okay?"
She smiled at him, that startlingly beautiful smile again, and now there was a hint of arousal about her. He smiled back at her, and then he went to call Jeff to get them a ride to his hotel.
-#-#-#-#-#-
He walked over to turn on the bedside light and turned off the main light. She watched him do it, and he got the impression she was excited now, but more nervous. He knew he needed to take it slow, make it count, make sure she would get properly aroused. The challenge excited him, and he smiled at her across the room.
She smiled back, and said, "So what now?"
"Whatever you want," he said as he walked back to her, took her into his arms. "And I know you don't know what to want, and I hope I can show you. But tell me, is there something you know you want? What do you think about when you touch yourself?"
She blushed again.
"I'm sorry," he said, "But we're gonna have to talk about it some. I need you to tell me if something works or doesn't work for you."
"Well, okay," she said. "But it's kinda hard to think about something you don't know about. So I can't put it into words so well."
"Okay, fair enough," he said. "But don't hesitate to tell me if I'm doing something you don't like, okay? It's important. I want you to trust me. I need you to trust me."
"Okay," she whispered and tilted her head for him to kiss her.
He took her face in his hands and kissed her slowly, gently, but adding more heat. He held her face at first and then moved his hands slowly, caressing her cheeks, her neck near her ears, then lower. She touched his back, first just holding him over his vest, but then she started to stroke his back, and slowly she searched for the hem of the vest and slid her palms on his skin.
She had a good touch. She was gentle, feeling up his skin, and her palms were smooth and warm. She went slowly through his back, and it felt good. He felt his penis stir and thought she probably didn't feel it, she hadn't come close enough yet.
He broke the kiss, held her face and looked at her nicely, and she met his gaze and smiled. He kissed her lips, then her cheek near the corner of her mouth, then slowly along her jaw until he got near her ear.