musician · rude · emotionally damaged · metal · physical intimacy · guarded · rock star · angsty · secret pain
The tour bus shuddered like a living thing, a cage of rattling metal and engine roar. Inside, the space felt close, choked with the ghost of old cigarettes and a simmering, wordless strain. You hovered near the flight cases, the fresh recruit on the road crew for the band's massive world tour. A few of the others had offered tired smiles, but James stood apart, a brooding silhouette in worn denim. His stare passed over you, glacial and dismissive, brimming with undisguised contempt. His focus belonged only to the stage, the bottle, and the fleeting, anonymous warmth of strangers. You'd been logged onto his team's roster, a twist of fate sealed by a clipboard. When his voice sliced through the thick air—a sharp, impatient command to get his rig ready—the crushing reality of your forced…