“When you’re off stage, I’ll only take photos of you with your permission. I promise. No secret shots.”
Jayce looked doubtful.
“On stage is another matter, of course,” I added. “But you must be used to having cameras flashing in your face during concerts anyway.”
He didn’t say anything, just lifted the bottle of water to his mouth and took a swig, keeping his eyes on mine the entire time. The muscles of his neck rippled as he swallowed. My mouth went dry. He put the bottle down. “What about quotes?”
“Huh?” I blinked at his question, still dazed. His lips twitched upward, perfectly aware of the effect he was having on me. It was probably his intention. Jayce ensnared girls wherever he went, with ease.
“I just want to know if you’re going to take the stuff we say in private and broadcast it all over the internet,” he clarified.
If I hadn’t seen him break a thousand hearts with his smoldering stares and melt the panties off hordes of fangirls with his flirting—including mine—I would have said he sounded almost worried.
“Absolutely not.” I didn’t want Jayce to get the wrong impression. I cleared my throat, straightened my back, and refused to let my inner fangirl win. I was going to be professional if it killed me. “I’m not some sort of paparazzi trying to make money off your private life. I’m here to promote your band and your music. I’m here to make you guys look good. If you want,” I added. “I’ll show you any message I post on your behalf before I hit send.”
As he looked me up and down slowly, I wondered what he thought of the sight. I was much shorter than him, even with my heels. All the members of Feral Silence were taller than average. I wondered if my neck would be perpetually cramped from having to look up all summer.
His eyes traveled from my face down my neck. I’d felt self-conscious when I first bought my blouse, wondering if the neckline was too low. A slow heat burned through me as Jayce’s eyes settled on my chest. All the hairs on my arms stood on end.
I flushed with embarrassment as my nipples hardened into peaks under that gaze. Could he see them? Did he know the effect he was having on me?
Jayce took another swig of his water and looked away. I could breathe again.
“I got her to sign an NDA, so she can’t talk about anything she sees or hears all summer. Your private lives will stay private.” Deena gave them an admonishing look. “This is for your own good. We’re doing great so far, but the public’s attention wanes so quickly. We need to keep people talking about us, and if that means posting your every move all summer, then so be it.”
“But it won’t be too obtrusive, I promise,” I added, not wanting Jayce to feel cornered again.
“We hired an expert,” Deena continued. “You do your job and let her do hers.”
“An expert?” Kell repeated, as if he were entertained by Deena’s words. “You’re just a baby.”
“How old are you anyway?” Jayce asked, sounding much more interested in the answer than his casual expression would belie. Wanting to make sure he wasn’t undressing an underaged girl with his eyes, no doubt.
“I’m twenty-one.” They had no right to judge me for my youth. I knew for a fact the members of Feral Silence were barely a handful of years older than me.
“She’s been doing this stuff online for years. She has over a hundred thousand followers for her online music reviews. More than your personal accounts, I might add.” Deena gave Jayce and Kell pointed looks.
Jayce’s eyes flashed with amusement, full lips tilting into a smirk. “Fine. I surrender. Turns out the internet girl is pretty badass. But be careful,” he said, an almost wolfish expression on his face. “Guys like us love to eat up pretty little girls like you for breakfast.”
I gaped, mouth dropping open, too shocked he’d said that in front of the others to be embarrassed.
“No corrupting the intern,” Deena said.
“Not unless they like it.” Jayce’s eyes glinted with wicked humor.
“It’s time to get going,” Deena said, glancing at the time on her phone. “There’s a journalist from a local music mag here to interview you before the show.”
As the band members got up to leave, Kell reached out and ruffled my hair, messing up the strands. I ducked and scrunched up my face as he sauntered out with a laugh.
Jayce held my gaze for long moments, until I could practically feel the simmering heat rising between us.
“A music reviewer, hm? I suppose I should be happy you liked our new song.”
“It was really good.”
“Seductive, I think you said.”
My whole body tingled with remnants of desire. An almost lascivious smirk crossed his face. He knewexactlywhat he was doing to me.
“Yeah, seductive. Kell’s voice is pretty sexy, after all,” I said, aiming for a nonchalant tone.
Jayce appeared startled for a brief moment, then laughed. “Somehow I don’t think it’s our lead singer who’s got you so worked up.” His eyes flashed with a dark, wicked heat, striking me to my very core. He gave me one last smirk before strolling out with an easy stride, leaving me alone.
Swallowing heavily, I clasped my hands together, recoiling from the intensity of that look.
Jayce didn’t want me following him around all summer, but the way he’d looked at me, those flashes of interest…
I shivered, anticipation rising in my chest.
Had we gotten off to a bad start or a good one?
