The rain had lightened to a drizzle. I glanced at my watch. We still had a few hours before we were going to get dinner together, and I was officially bored.
“I’m gonna see what they’re up to,” I said, throwing on my shoes and grabbing a rain jacket. “If I’m not back in half an hour, send a search party.”
“I’ll rent a kayak if I have to.” Riot pulled me into a quick kiss, smiling up at me, before shifting his focus back to his music.
I threw my hood up and went out into the rain. There was an inch of water covering the parking lot, but I managed to splash my way over to the equipment van and climb up into the back just as the storm intensified again.
The rain hammered against the van's metal roof like a relentless drum solo, and thunder rumbled in the distance. Inside the equipment van, the air was thick with the scent of damp leather and lingering cigarette smoke from the roadies who'd ducked out earlier.
Cash and Milo sat on a folded tarp amid the stacked amps and cables, a card game spread out on the equipment case in front of them. Cash's green eyes flicked up to meet mine, a slight smirk tugging at his lips. “Didn’t expect to see you in here.”
“Hey! Our muse!” Milo’s voice echoed inside the back of the long van.
“You’re playing cards?” I asked.
“And drinking beer.” Milo held up the rings of a six-pack that had only one remaining can. “We’re out of beer on the tour bus, but the roadies left theirs behind.”
“We were waiting for the storm to ebb before running back,” Cash explained. “We keep missing our windows.”
“Not complaining,” Milo said. “It’s fun back here. Like camping.”
“Camping?” I asked.
“Well, what I imagine camping to be like. I never had anyone to take me when I was a kid. I wish we had more games, though. I’m sick of cards.”
Cash glanced up at me. “Because I’ve beaten him three times in a row.”
“You should go easy on me. I grew up without parents.”
“Not going to work,” Cash said while refocusing on the cards. “I can’t be guilt tripped.”
“Damn,” Milo cursed.
I glanced behind me. The rain was so heavy we could barely see the lights inside the tour bus a few parking spots away. I was stuck here for the foreseeable future.
And I was feeling frisky.
“If you’re bored,” I said casually, “we could play a different kind of game.”
Cash raised an eyebrow at me. “You now have my attention.”
That was all the invitation I needed.
41
Roxie
My hair clung to my neck from the rain, but I was beyond caring about my looks right now. I swayed my hips deliberately as I stepped closer to Cash and Milo. As the band's muse on this endless tour, I'd grown used to these stolen moments, but tonight felt different.
Milo leaned back against a speaker cabinet, his short brown hair tousled, grinning like he'd just won the jackpot. “Oh yeah? What kind of game did you have in mind?”
Cash set his cards down, his arms flexing under his black tee. He didn't say much, but his confidence filled the space. “I'm listening,” he murmured in a low voice.
It felt like something electric skimmed over my skin. I bit my lip, heart pounding. “How about a game where you two take turns calling the shots? Each of you gets to order the other one, and me, around. No holding back.”
“Wait a minute,” Milo said. “You’re not talking about cards?”
I gave him the lustiest smile I could manage. “Nope.”
