“What’s going on?” I slip into the nearest seat and tuck my legs under me, eyeing them both warily. Whatever they’re arguingabout, I’d put money on it having something to do with last night or the articles from today.
“Nothing you need to be concerned over,” Jules replies airily. “Just your man here being a stubborn fuck.”
“Not a man,” Iri mutters, although he doesn’t correct her about being mine, which makes my stomach clench, but not in a bad way.
“We’re hiring twice as much security for our next show and I’m going to fire anyone who doesn’t wear their pins,” Iri tells me. “Do you think you can make enough before the next gig?”
I nod. “Sure. It’s like a thirty-second job now that I know what I’m doing.”
“Good. Great.” Jules lets out a deep sigh. “Now, I’m going to get some sleep while I can. When we land, girl, we’re going sightseeing. No males allowed.”
“Uh, okay. Sure.”
She gets to her feet and saunters off to the other end of the plane, leaving just me and Iri. He looks frustrated and kind of like he’s unraveling. His t-shirt has a tear in it and his arms are still pretty scratched up after last night. I’m not sure he’s changed, or showered, since then.
“Are you okay?” I ask.
He lets out a deep sigh, rubbing the back of his neck and focusing those intense eyes on mine. “I’m... struggling with how far things got out of hand last night. I don’t like not being in control.”
Those words in his gravelly voice hit me differently than he might expect, and I clench my thighs together. Shit. I wonder how accurate my filthy dreams are when they come to him. He’s always slightly to the side, puppeteering my body and telling the other guys exactly how to position me to drive me wild.
It’s hot as hell.
I can feel my cheeks heating as I shift in my seat again. Iri quirks an eyebrow as I try desperately to tamp down the feelings he can no doubt feel rolling off me.
I’ve always had a high sex drive, that’s for sure. One that I spent a long time hating and fighting against.
But this is ridiculous. It’s been less than six hours since I last got railed six ways to Sunday and yet I’m getting wet all over again.
His eyes scan over me with barely banked heat.
And then he puts a dampener on my lusty feelings.
“If you feel uncomfortable continuing with the tour, let me know. We’ll ensure that you can move on and live a quiet life somewhere no one will find you.”
I suck in a breath as a stone drops in my gut. Clenching my hands together under the table, I push through a wave of uncertainty, straight into unfiltered irritation.
“Because that worked so well last time,” I snap. “Is that what you want? My influence went a bit far last night, so you’re done with me? I mean, it’s a bit late to send me home since we’re already in the air.”
His eyes bore into mine and I feel like I’m being flayed alive. Iri’s intense at the best of times, and right now it feels like he’s using his gaze to see right into my soul.
Too bad I don’t speak the language of his eyeballs.
“You wouldn’t need to leave the tour, unless that’s what you want, Sin. You’d still be paid in full if you elected to leave early. I just want you to know you have options.” He sighs heavily. “I should have anticipated how things might go. I should have hired more people. Better people.”
“And I should have predicted that the last dose of elation might drive some people over the edge into mania, but I didn’t. We’re adapting, Iri. No one got hurt.”
I can see he’s trying to carry everything on his shoulders, the same way he seems to carry everything else.
“I’ll spend the next couple of days tweaking things so we can run through things again before the next gig,” I tell him firmly. “But I’m not done here unless you are.”
There’s a double meaning to my words, and he seems to get that, if the way he reaches out to squeeze my forearm is anything to go by.
That little connection sends a spark of electricity through me, and I suck in another sharp breath.
“I just... I’m second guessing things, and it’s not a sensation I’m used to. I’m wondering if this was all a selfish move, and I forced you into joining us. What if it’s not the best thing for either the fans or for you?”
He looks so damn lost and raw right now. It’s the most honest conversation we’ve had. Iri’s usually so slick and controlled, with no hint of vulnerability. But weirdly enough, I quite like seeing that he has weakness and wobbles, just like everyone else.
