My knees were wobbly. I needed to see that wink much, much closer.
“Yeah?” Jasmine stepped up to my shoulder.
“I know I have to be here for the nomination, but whatever’s about to happen can’t happen here. Do they have a dressing room?”
The performers often had rooms backstage for their gear while the rest of us had more public suites for food and other things as we slipped in and out.
“Door number two,” she said quietly. I heard the smile in her voice.
“Why do you sound like you’re a kid on Christmas morning about to open their presents?”
She laughed. “Because it’s about fucking time, Eva. You need someone. You’re lonely even when you pretend you’re not. Especially this last year after—” A sigh. “Do what you need to do. I’ll knock when you need to come out.”
“Thank you.”
I turned and went, pushing into the room before anyone could question me. They would be back any second, and I was too nervous—toodesperate—to sit down.
Fuck, Jasmine had my phone so I couldn’t text anyone. This was happening. This wasactuallyhappening.
You heard the stories about getting blindsided. When people weren’t ready or when they least expected it. They were right.
The door opened, and suddenly the only thing I could hear was my own heart pounding in my ears. The bass player was the first one through the door. His guitar was already off his body, and he dropped it on the couch without even looking.
Three steps separated us. Two steps were all the time I had to take a breath before he yanked me close and dropped his lips to mine.
Lightning flashed behind my eyes. A moan left me at the same time as a groan left him. His hand slid into my hair, gripping it so he could kiss me deeper. I drowned in apples and cinnamon. He tasted like a pie and all I wanted to do was fuckingeat.
We broke apart, heaving breath. He smiled and dropped his forehead against mine. “I should have asked your name first.”
“No,” I said. “You shouldn’t have. And it’s Eva.”
“Eva.” My name sounded incredible on his lips. “I’m Tyler.”
My cheeks hurt from how hard I smiled. “Hi.”
A hand landed on his shoulder and pulled Tyler back, revealing the rest of the pack. “Eva,” the next man said. “I’m Jack.”
The lead singer. He was tall and wiry, with ink peeking out from his collar and all down his arms. I was distracted by the hand on Tyler’s shoulder. It was abeautifulhand. I wanted to see what he could do with it.
His scent came into focus as he stepped closer. Orange. A deep citrus and contrasting spices. Basil? Why did that smell so fucking good?
“Can I kiss you?”
I nodded. “I want to do a hell of a lot more than kiss you, but I’m not sure the dressing room is the best place for that.”
The smirk on his lips was devastating. “We’ll get there.” The utter confidence of those words had the air around us filling with heat.
One hand slipped behind my neck, thumb tilting my jaw upward so he could kiss me, soft and slow. Arousal dropped through me so strongly the whole room filled with perfume. “Fucking hell,” he murmured against my lips.
“I’d say I’m sorry, but I’m so far from sorry.”
A hand slipped around my wrist and tugged me away. The drummer. He smelled like maple syrup. Deep and sweet and like he could fill every craving I ever had.
Blond with muscles on muscles on muscles. I could stare at the arms that were currently wrapping around me. Sharp green eyes and a crooked smile before he kissed me. Kissed me and then kissed my forehead. The corner of my lips. My nose. “I’m Dylan.”
My cheeks flushed with heat. “Hey.”
“Nice to meet you,” he whispered, his hands sliding down my spine. “Sorry if we’re overwhelming.”
