I catch sight of a nearby mirror and pause, noticing that my cheeks look a bit flushed. It’s not just from the heat outside—I can feel something shifting inside me, a subtle swirl of warmth low in my belly, the telltale sign that my heat is creeping closer. I’ve tried to ignore it, push it off, but my body has other plans.
Todd looks up from the setlist. His nostrils flare slightly, and his gaze flicks toward me, concern and curiosity mixing on his face. It’s a reminder that I’m not the only one who senses the change in my scent. I give him a small, reassuring smile before sinking onto a couch.
Jake glances at us both, then returns his attention to the pages of lyrics in his hands. There’s no need to explainwhythe air feels a bit more charged. We all know.
The performance is electric,all adrenaline and pounding music under the spotlight. I stay off to the side of the stage for most of it, but each time one of them glances my way, I swear my heart flutters like it’s the first time I’ve ever seen them. It’s crazyhow quickly I’ve gotten used to being here again, part of their world, part ofthem.
Once the encore finishes, we make our way backstage as a group, the energy still crackling around us. Xayden practically bounces off the walls, sweat dripping from his temples but a grin firmly in place. “Killed it tonight,” he crows, tossing a drumstick in the air.
Jake nods, calmer but equally satisfied. “Crowd was wild,” he agrees, unclipping his bass strap. “Ash, you see the reaction during the new song?”
I laugh, shifting my weight from one foot to the other. “They lost their minds. It was incredible.” My voice feels a little breathy, maybe because of the leftover rush from the show or maybe because my body’s running hotter than normal.
Todd sets his mic down, stepping closer to me with a spark in his eyes. He looks like he wants to say something, but West cuts in, handing me another bottle of water—his version of looking after me. The domesticity of it, the way we all move around each other so smoothly, makes my chest tighten in a good way.
“How’re you feeling?” West asks, glancing at me from under dark lashes.
“Good,” I say, my smile turning a bit coy. “Better than good, actually.”
He seems relieved, though his gaze lingers on me for a moment. I’m sure he senses the uptick in my scent too.
Xayden drifts to my side with a casual ease, slipping a hand around my lower back in that distinctly alpha way—possessive, yet somehow reassuring. There’s a protectiveness in his touch that makes my breath hitch, the soft circles of his thumb sending a spark of awareness through me.
I let out a quiet, rumbling purr before I can stop it, warmth rushing to my cheeks the second I realize what I’ve done. It’sinvoluntary, low, and I can feel my heart give a little lurch as I catch the guys’ reactions.
Todd’s eyes widen, just a fraction, while Jake’s lips quirk into a half-smirk he’s trying to contain. West goes still, like he’s carefully reading the moment, not wanting to break the spell. And Xayden? His grin turns cocky, but his gaze holds a genuine warmth as he dips his head closer, breath skimming across my cheek.
“That’s a sound I could get used to,” he murmurs, voice rough in a way that sends a subtle thrill through me.
I press my lips together, trying to quell the purr that lingers in my chest, but my body is in full agreement with him. The hint of heat low in my abdomen intensifies, and the need to be near them grows stronger, more immediate. My skin tingles for something more. It’s a reminder of how close I might be to my heat truly hitting.
For a heartbeat, no one speaks, the air around us heavy but not tense.
I exhale slowly. Leaning into Xayden’s side, I offer a small, breathless smile. “Guess I’m not the only one who’ll need to get used to it.”
His hand slides down to my hip, and he tugs me closer, so close that I can feel the heat of his body radiating through his shirt. “I don’t think it’ll take much for me,” he murmurs, voice low. “Purr for me again, sweetheart.”
He doesn’t wait for an answer. With a quick tilt of my chin, he captures my lips like it’s the most natural thing in the world, his mouth firm but inviting. My perfume blooms between us, tangling with the faint spice of his scent, and I feel that undeniable pull low in my belly, like gravity drawing us together. Slick gathers between my thighs, my body already responding before I can think better of it.
A soft, involuntary purr escapes me, my chest vibrating with the sound. It’s quieter than I expect, but it makes Xayden’s grip tighten on my hip, as if it’s driving him a little wild. I press against him, the urgency in my kiss demanding more, and he gives in with a low growl, angling my head so he can deepen it.
When we finally pull back, I’m breathing hard, heart pounding. Xayden’s grin is downright wicked, his gaze hooded, and his hand lingers at my waist like he’s not quite ready to let go. My cheeks burn, my thoughts whirl, but there’s a thrill in giving in like this—finally letting myself want them without second-guessing every move.
“Good girl,” Xayden murmurs, his voice rich with satisfaction.
“Two purrs for Xayden? Really?” West’s voice filters over, tinged with mock indignation. He stands a few feet away, arms crossed, looking like he just found out someone stole the last slice of cake.
I can’t help the laugh that slips out, breathless but genuine. “Jealous?” I ask, arching a brow as I gently step away from Xayden. My pulse still races, but there’s a different note of excitement thrumming now. This is new—this sense of playful ease as I shift my attention from one to the other.
West lifts a shoulder in a half-shrug. “I don’t recall getting even one purr.” His tone is light, but there’s a shadow of longing in his eyes, and it tugs at something in my chest.
I smile, crossing the distance to West’s side. “Guess I owe you some attention then,” I say. I slide my hand along his arm, feeling the tension ease from his muscles as my fingers brush his skin. The flicker in his eyes is all the encouragement I need.
He doesn’t move at first, just stands there, watching me with that calm intensity of his. But when I reach up, he leans in, and the moment stretches. My heart stutters all over again as I rise onto my toes, pressing my lips to his in a kiss far gentler than theone I shared with Xayden. West responds with a low hum, the sound coursing through me.
From behind, Xayden lets out a low whistle, completely unabashed. “Wow, you two,” he drawls, stepping closer with a mischievous grin. “If you keep going, you’re going to give the crew a show.”
“Wouldn’t dream of it,” West says, pulling back just enough, but keeping his hands at my waist. His eyes stay on mine, and my heart flips in my chest, doing a little dance at the intensity in his gaze.
