Dean opens his mouth.Closes it.Points a finger at her instead, like that’s somehow a rebuttal.“I wasn’t being a dick,” he mutters.“I was just saying.”
“Stop saying.”Sadie barks back, offering him a tight, diplomatic smile that somehow feels like a threat.“It was going so well for you.”
I choke on a laugh.Dean shoots me a betrayed look.Like I’ve personally joined an anti-Dean rebellion.In fairness, maybe I have.
He mutters something about “journalists with savior complexes” and stalks off, grabbing a guitar from his roadie as if the instrument personally understands him better than we do.
Sadie exhales and shakes her head.“God, that man needs therapy.Or a hug.Or both, in that order.”
“Probably the therapy,” I manage, still catching my breath from, everything.“He’d fight the hug.”
“He’d lose,” she deadpans.I believe her.
Before I can respond, a ripple moves across the crew, subtle, instinctive, and the sound system hums alive.The arena hushes like something ancient just woke up.
Luc steps up to the mic.And the world narrows to him.He’s not even singing yet, just standing, letting the lead in of the song play, a low hum that vibrates in my bones.He looks up, finds me, and something in his face softens then sharpens, like I’m the reason he does this and the reason he has to do it well.
Then he starts.And oh, wow.I get it now.This isn’t the man who held me steady five minutes ago.This is wildfire in human form.Raw voice, scraped and beautiful, curling through the arena like smoke that seduces, instead of suffocates.
Lights catch on his skin, gold and shadow and sin, and every ounce of restraint we traded in the bus turns into a slow-burning ache low in my belly.I knew he was talented.What I didn’t know, was that he could makebreathingfeel optional.
Sadie leans closer, whispering just loud enough for me to hear over the echoing chords.
“Yeah.That’s the part that ruins you a little.”
I swallow hard.“A little?”
She huffs a laugh.“Give it time.”
Onstage, Luc hits a note that feels like it cracks something between my ribs.His eyes find mine again.He doesn’t smile.Doesn’t wink.Heclaims.Quiet.Unspoken.Certain.
God help me.He owns me with that one look.I may not have told him.I may not even be able to admit it to myself, but I’m already his.
Chapter 26
Luc
Play This When I’m Gone
Machine Gun Kelly
I beltout the final song of our encore, and even though my throat is raw from the two hours we’ve been on stage, I would happily sing another hour if the arena allowed for it.I love performing, but I honestly can’t wait to be back stage and near Lily again.
I witnessed a shift in the way she looked at me tonight.The way she put her trust entirely in my hands.That cranked up my desire for her to a fever pitch that had my fingers itching to touch her, have her in my grasp again.
And that’s exactly what I do when I trot off stage, grabbing her around the waist with one hand, the other hooking around the back of her neck as I smash my mouth against hers.Her hands fist in my sweaty locks, pulling me closer, and I know this is it.This is the moment I’ve been waiting for.For her head to catch up with what her heart already knows.
“Get a fucking room.”Mikey grumbles as he brushes past us, pulling me back to reality, both of us breaking apart on a laugh.
“Not gonna apologize for that.”I press my forehead to hers, sweat still rolling down my back from the heat of the lights.
“Wasn’t looking for one.”She retorts, her light blue eyes dancing with mirth.
“Um, not to break up this little reunion, but you two might want to take this somewhere else more private.”Sadie dips her chin toward a group of onlookers at the side of the stage.
“Yep.”I drape an arm over Lily’s shoulder and lead us in the direction of our backstage room.I nod over at the reporter, who’s a couple steps behind us.“Thanks.”
When we reach the doorway to the room, Lily dips out from under my hold and steps away.“I’ll meet you back on the bus.”
