So I wore the beautiful, super-sexy and no doubt expensive underwear, bought for me by a rock star—or more likely, one of the members of his entourage—under the super-sexy champagne-pink dress, also paid for by said rock star, put on my expensive boots and lucky old jacket, touched up my makeup, and met Maggie in the lobby.
Flynn drove us to the venue in a rental car and when we parked in back, inside a security gate and alongside the opening band’s tour buses, my heart started to thump likeIwas about to take the stage.
Which, in a way, I was.
We sailed through security at the door, thanks to Flynn, and Maggie navigated the bowels of the arena like she’d been there a dozen times, which maybe she had. We ended up at a dressing room door, which was open, and joined Raf, Letty and Pepper inside. They were just pouring shots from a bottle of bourbon.
I’d glimpsed Jude in the hallway, but didn’t see Jesse until he came up behind me and slipped his strong arms around my waist.
I looked up, my gaze locking with his in the wall mirror.
“Hey, beautiful,” he whispered in my ear.
“Hey, handsome,” I returned. The thunder of the crowd rocked the building, but I swore I could hear the thunder of my heart right over it.
The opening band had finished their set, and the crowd sounded mad with lust to see Jesse Mayes in the flesh. Not that I could blame them. From where I was standing his flesh was looking pretty fucking delicious in a pair of low-waisted brown leather pants with a lace-up crotch, and a sleeveless shirt that showed off his fantastic arms.
His hands slid down and gripped my hips. He turned me toward him so abruptly I grabbed his shoulders to steady myself, and he landed one on me before I could think.
The kiss was long, hard, deep and hungry. I had no idea where it came from, but soon I’d forgotten everything but that kiss, the room dissolving to nothing but Jesse and I, locked together in a slow, hot, mind-melting make out.
When we broke apart, everyone was staring at us, but kind of pretending not to.
Someone cleared his throat.
“Jesse?” Pepper was holding out a shot of bourbon to Jesse. Raf and Letty were each holding a shot of their own. Jesse took the shot and handed it to me. Raf took the cue and handed one to Maggie, then poured another for Jesse.
We all did our shots, Jesse kissed me again, quickly, and then they were gone, all four guys heading out the door to take the stage.
When I turned to Maggie she was staring at me, a small grin hooking the corner of her mouth. The bourbon—and that kiss—had left me feeling all warm and fuzzy, and yes, horny. I shook it off as she took my hand. “Come on, beautiful,” she said, imitating Jesse’s husky voice as she pulled me into the hall, where Flynn was waiting.
We hurried to follow the band toward the stage, hanging back to keep out of the way as Jesse, Raf and Letty strapped on their guitars. Jesse exchanged a few words with the guitar tech that I couldn’t hear and they both laughed; his spirits were incredibly high, which was intoxicating to be around, and it wasn’t just that kiss. The man had electric energy that seemed to set off sparks in the air and was more than electrifying; it was magnetizing.
I wanted to get closer but I stuck to Maggie like glue.
As of tomorrow, I’d be doing this alone. Tonight, I was in no rush to leave her side.
While she chatted with Jude and Brody, I just stood there watching Jesse. Some local radio personality was on stage, pumping up the crowd, announcing the imminent appearance of Jesse Mayes in French and then English. The crowd went ballistic at the sound of his name, and then the guys were heading on stage.
Jesse turned, his gaze sweeping the small crowd that had formed. When he found me, he walked over, everyone moving aside for him. He took my face in one hand, brushed his lips against mine, and said, “See you after I do this thing.”
Then he turned and sauntered on stage. The curtain dropped, Pepper hoofed out a beat on the bass drum, the crowd’s insanity fired up another octave and the band kicked intoCome Lately.
My heart was thundering so hard I could feel it over the insane vibrations of the music through the concrete under my feet.
Maggie bumped shoulders with me, and when I glanced over at her she smiled. “Time to see your man in action.”
She drew me through the small crowd; I didn’t even know who all these people were or what they were doing. Some wore press passes, and some were obviously crew, or members of the opening band. Whoever they all were, none of them bat an eye when Maggie and I, flanked by Brody and Jude, made our way into the side stage area to watch the show.
Which was incredible.
Jesse blew me away.
It was nothing like the VIP show in Vancouver, which was small, intimate, and largely unplugged.
This was huge, concrete-rattling, blow-your-hair-back, electric rock madness, and Jesse was totally in his element. The man was electric backstage, but on stage, he was on fire. This was so clearly his passion. I could feel it in his music.
His voice filled the venue, somehow carrying over his guitar and Raf’s. Pepper was a madman on the drums but he and Letty and Raf didn’t bother trying to upstage Jesse, and even I could tell that at times they could barely keep up. The man’s fingers flew over his fretboard, so fast and hard I thought for sure I was actually going to see sparks fly. He crunched out raunchy Dirty covers and played the most melodic and moving songs from his solo album, his voice one with the music, haunting and raw.
