Free Stripped by Karolyn James

become the sound of a brick being thrown against a stone wall.  The heavy thuds rang in her ears.
    The show was over.
    They would leave the stage.
    Down Silent was coming.
    Gunnar was coming.
    Emily didn’t have to wait long.  The surge of cheers from the crowd wanted more from the band but they didn’t plan an encore.  She heard the band members when the crowd stopped. 
    The double doors opened and in walked five men, dripping with rock n’ roll sweat, sex in their eyes, and a passion that filled the room in seconds.  They all moved towards the table and bar, searching for something to drink.  The drummer dropped his sticks to the floor, trading his grip for a bottle of whiskey.  He threw back what had to be equal to at least five shots, making Emily’s stomach turn.
    “There she is,” Gunnar said appearing from the back of the group.
    Seeing his blue eyes made Emily’s mouth fall open.  She went to him without his request and the first thing he did was grab her wrists.  He came nose to nose with Emily and took a deep breath.
    “I can still smell it on you,” he whispered.
    “Oh yeah?  What’s that?”
    Gunnar flicked his tongue at her lips.  “Sex.”  He kissed the tip of her nose.  “Innocence.”
    His hands touched her sides and followed the intense lines of her curves and he groaned. 
    “I can’t stop thinking about you,” Emily said.
    “Of course you can’t.  Were you surprised tonight?”
    “Yes.  I didn’t realize...”
    “Not a fan?”
    “No.  I mean, yes.  Wait.  I love Down Silent.  This is...”  Emily looked over her shoulder watching the other band members indulge.  “... like a fantasy.”
    “How are your wrists?” Gunnar asked.
    “Sore,” Emily said.
    “Good.”
    The intensity of Gunnar’s voice tonight made Emily feel uneasy.  He had nothing to hide behind or hold back.  This was truly his place, his world, his command. 
    The doors opened again and a group of women came rushing in.  They were all tall, blond bombshells.  They had half shirts, short shorts, and breasts that poured from their tops.  All their breasts were obviously fake, but as they chose their member of Down Silent nobody seemed to complain.
    A wave of jealousy hit Emily as she imagined one of the women touching Gunnar.  Kissing him.  Licking him.  Pleasuring him.  Their tiny bodies able to move in ways Emily couldn’t.  They probably had experience beyond Emily’s realm. 
    “What’s wrong?” Gunnar asked.
    Emily tore her eyes from the women and looked into Gunnar’s beautiful eyes.  “Nothing.”
    “You’re not a very good liar.”
    “Where’s your woman?” Emily asked.  “Or, should I say groupie ?”
    Gunnar smiled.  His hand caressed Emily’s cheek.  “I’m staring at her.  You can be my groupie for a few seconds right now, but in a few minutes, you’re going to be my everything.  How about a drink?”
    Gunnar slithered away from Emily and returned with a bottle of vodka.  He drank it like it was water, popping his lips and licking them.  He held the bottle to Emily.  She looked around the room again, watching the groupies drinking as much as the guys from Down Silent.  The aura of debauchery had increased ten fold, the pressure of sexual desire had become an invisible yet thick fog, encompassing everything.  It felt like a boiling pot with the lid ready to blow.  Emily could feel in a matter of minutes someone would be naked, pleasuring someone else.
    She took the bottle, drinking what she could, but left the bottle tipped up with her lips shut, pretending to drink more.  As Gunnar smiled, she could tell he knew she was faking.
    But whatever, Emily didn’t want to show any signs of weakness in front of the heartthrob rockstar.
    “Now, come here, real close,” Gunnar said.
    His hand was behind Emily’s back and he pulled her to him.  Their bodies came together and Emily’s sigh was more of a moan. 
    “You like this, don’t you?”
    Emily