I love this part of the fucking show.The anticipation.The roar of the crowd when I step onto the stage.It’s what fuels me and keeps me going every night.
I sneak a glance at Lily.She’s got her lip clamped in her damn teeth again, and while I think it’s fucking adorable, I’ve come to realize it’s what she does when she’s nervous.I want her to feel welcome, at ease here behind the stage with me.
As soon as Kirk is finished wiring me up, I go to her.She’s like a magnet I can’t seem to ignore the pull of.And one that surprisingly, I don’t want to.I remind myself again, this is not the time to fall for anyone, ignoring my own advice as I snag her hand in mine.
I stop, kissing Lily with all I’ve got so she knows that no matter what happens out on that stage, it’s her I’m thinking of and can’t wait to get back to.
The house lights drop and the world detonates.A roar rises from the dark like a living, breathing beast, thousands of voices fusing into one relentless scream that rattles my chest harder than the bass ever could.
I step out into it, into them, and the spotlight slams into me.Heat, blinding and white, washes over my skin, but it’s nothing compared to the fire burning inside.My pulse thrums in sync with the pounding drums behind me, a heartbeat amplified until it feels like I own every vein in the room.
Hands shoot up.Cell phone lights flicker like stars scattered across a velvet sky.For a split second, the crowd is mine.Mine to command, mine to break, mine to lift higher than they’ve ever been.
I wrap my fingers around the mic, the metal warm from the heat of the stage, and I grin like the devil they came here to see.
Then I open my mouth.The first line tears out of me raw and sharp, slicing straight through the roar, and the placeerupts.The sound of my own voice, amplified, fed back into me with their screams.It’s pure gasoline.Every note I spit is fire, every lyric a spark, and they burn for me, howl for me, beg for more.
I always thought that this—this—is the closest thing to heaven I’d ever get, but as I turn my head, find Lily, and flash her a grin, I know I may have found something even better.She’s the calm in a storm I didn’t even know I was caught in.
Her cheeks are lifted in the biggest grin, her body bopping to the beat, her arms raised in the air.Witnessing her jamming out to my music is a fucking high that surges a burst of energy into my performance.Every growl, every thrust of my hips, every song I sing tonight, it’s for her.
I love the fucking stage, but as we belt out our final song, I can’t wait to get back to her.I bow with the band, wave to the crowd and have to restrain myself from running in her direction as we leave the stage.
When I reach her, I wrap her in a hug, swooping her off her feet, swinging her in a circle, hoping she doesn’t mind I’m drenched in sweat.Doesn’t seem to be an issue as her arms loop around my shoulders to press herself tighter to me.
“You were-” She begins before I seal my lips over hers, stealing the breath from her.Her chest vibrates as laughter bubbles and she breaks our kiss, her eyes meeting mine.“Luc, seriously, you were amazing.”
I flash a wicked grin as I slide her down my body, onto her feet.“I told you.”
She swats me lightly on the arm.“Cocky much?”
“Nope.”I arch a single brow.“Don’t need to be.”I tilt my head toward the stage where members of the crowd are calling for another encore.“Listen to that.”
“It’s surreal.”She shakes her head, her hand lifting over her mouth as she stares out past the stage.“I can’t believe this is your life.”
“Not my life.”I nod in thanks when Jake walks by and hands me a towel.I use it to scrape the sweat from hair, face and neck, then wrap it around my shoulders.“It’s my job.”
“Pretty sweet job.”She muses, staring wide-eyed at the small crowd gathered backstage as our crew work on each one of us to strip us of our wiring.
“Not complaining one bit.”I flash her a quick smile, thank Jake as he hands me my phone, and then direct my focus back to her.“Ready to get out of here?”
“Is there another party tonight?”Her sneakered foot scuffs back and forth as she peers up at me.It was pretty clear what she witnessed last night was not her scene.And although she didn’t know it, I was so over it as well.
“There’s always another party.”I admit, noticing the slump in her shoulders almost immediately in response.“But I’ve got other plans for us.”
Her posture straightens, a small smile gracing her features.“Really?You don’t have to go?”
“Nope.”I drape my arm over her shoulders and lead her down the hallway we came from earlier.“I had Jake get me my own room.”I glance down to gauge her reaction, satisfaction washing over me when I witness the evident expression of relief on her face.“You cool just hanging with me.”
Her hair swishes against my arm as she nods her head.“Totally cool with that.”
“Sweet.”I already had Jake move all my shit earlier, not wanting to chance having to go to the suite and then getting pressured into staying.Jake had also already transferred the room key to my phone, making us getting up there a piece of cake.
We step onto the elevator and I press the button for the 23rdfloor.Not quite the penthouse, but I told Jake to get me a room to impress, so I’m sure it’ll be nice.I have to swipe my key to get up to the floor, so I slide my phone out of my pocket and find it in the wallet app and scan it before the elevator finally starts to rise.
As we’re climbing, I notice all Lily has with her is a purse.Didn’t exactly know how the day, let alone this night, was going to pan out and realize my planning really isn’t doing shit for her.
“Anything you need I can arrange for you.”I tug her flush to my body and gleam wickedly at her.“Except clothes.I’d really prefer you naked for the next twelve hours.”
