Ash gave a chuckle as he watched her staring at his friends. “Sorry, backstage tradition.”
Her lips tingled, as did the tips of her fingers, and a roaring rushed past her ears, muffling all other sounds. Shadows pressed in from the periphery, rushing to sink her into the blackness of memory.
“Skye? Skye! What’s wrong?” Ash patted her cheek with his hand, not quite a slap, but the sting caught her attention.
“What?”
“You zoned out on me.” His eyes drilled into her, concern etched in the furrow of his brow.
Zoned out?It was much worse than that. She’d been on the verge of an all-out panic attack. She needed to breathe.
“I’m okay. Maybe more tired than I thought.” While not technically a lie, she hated being evasive.
The sound of sloppy sex escalated and could no longer be ignored. She struggled to hold herself together. Bent, in particular, enjoyed his women. They squealed as he moved from one to the next, and as he did, a shiver of revulsion inched its way down her spine.
Ash put a finger on her chin and turned her head back to him. “I’m right here, babe.”
“I’m sorry.”
A lopsided grin filled his face. “The guys get crazy after a show. We like to burn off a little steam before heading back to the hotel. Knock one out, as it were.”
“I see.” She also heard the pronoun he’d used. Nottheyliked to burn off steam, butwe.Was he expecting her to have sex with him here? In front of his band? With his security detail watching? With Forest?Now,thatwould add fuel to an epic meltdown event. That couldn’t happen.
The slapping of flesh on flesh sounded to their right. In front of them, Kit slid off the couch and went to her knees in front of Bash. He unzipped his jeans and pulled out his cock.
She needed to get out of there.Would Ash ask that of her?She bit her lower lip, praying he wouldn’t, just as one of the girls gave a warbling long orgasmic wail. Another panted with escalating cries.
Spike grunted, “Fuck yeah, I win.”
“Damn,” Noodles said. “I always lose this bet.”
“I’ve got magic fingers,” Spike proclaimed.
Bent cursed, “Shit, girl. Give it up all ready. I’m losing the game.”
Bash laughed as he flexed his hips and threw his head back. “I’m not playing, Bent, and I don’t think Ash is either. You lose.” He gripped Kit’s ginger curls and fucked her willing face. “Ah, fuck, your lips are amazing. Faster, babe. I’m almost there.”
Skye’s breathing accelerated. Similar scenes from her past pushed against the locks of the memory vault. Breathing deep only made things worse as the scent of sex settled deep in her nasal passages. Purposeful male grunts told her that, now that the women had been satisfied, Noodles and Spike were focusing on their needs.
Dread uncoiled from her gut and stretched caustic fingers along her nerves. Her skin drew taut against the pressure, growing cold from the outside in.
Ash pulled her to him. “What’s wrong?”
Someone big sat down. “Hey, Lover Boy, I’m not cool with this scene. It’s time to take my summer Skye home.”
“For the love of God,” Ash cursed. “Back off. She’s my wife, asshole. I’ve got this.”
“My sisteris losing her shit, and you haven’t a fucking clue.” Forest pointed to Bash getting his blow job and to the other members of the band fucking the groupies a few feet over. “And, as much as I like your music, I don’t know fuck about you. I’m getting her out of here.” He stood and towered over Ash. “I’m sure we understand each other.”
Forest extended a hand he knew she would never take. “Come, my summer Skye. I’ve got you.” His hardened ice-blue eyes dragged her back from the blackness creeping in. He gave a nod, understanding exactly where her mind had landed. He knew this memory well, because he shared it.
With a shaky voice, she moved on autopilot, latching on to the deep baritone of Forest’s voice instead of taking his proffered hand. “Thanks, Bean.”
“You’re not taking her away.” Ash leaped to his feet. “She’s with me now.”
Noodles swaggered toward the bar as he zipped his jeans. “What’s wrong, Ash? Old ball and chain won’t wet your willy? Figured you’d have her blowing you or riding you hard by now. What’s up? Married life got you down already?”
Ash’s face turned red moments before he launched at Noodles. He dived and dragged Noodles to the ground, punching as they fell.
