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He slung his trademark chains and amulets around his neck. “I’ll see you after our set,” he said. “We can watch Phoenix and Vanilla Sky before we have to party.”
“Sure.” I waved him off, drew my brows together. The after-show event in the private upstairs club might test his resolve and my ability to steer him clear of booze. I picked up my tools of the trade and started putting them away in my makeup box.
With a crash the door burst open and Camila bounced into the room.
She tucked a long, dark curl behind her ear. “Hey! I’ve come to help you get ready, girlfriend.”
“Me? Get ready?” I took a step backward.
“Yup. Jake’s orders.” She held up a slinky red dress and looked me up and down. “You can’t go to the party wearing boyfriend jeans and a t-shirt.”
I eyed the gown with suspicion. “Is that one of yours?”
“Nope. I got it for ya ‘specially this afternoon. And I’m supposed to take you clothes shopping tomorrow for outfits to wear when you’re out and about with Foxy on the tour.”
“Oh…” I was gobsmacked, as Pierce would say, totally at a loss for words.
“I’m stoked you’re still flying out with us, honey.” Camila popped her gum. “It wouldn’t have been the same without ya.”
“Dad would have wanted me to carry on.” My voice sounded flat to my ears. “And I made a commitment to ChiMera that I’d look after Pierce. I didn’t wanna re-neg on that…”
She pulled me in for a hug. “Now sit still while I do your makeup and hair.”ChiMera on stage were a force to be reckoned with…rock gods, for sure. I sat with Camila at a table in the center of the room, my skin prickling as the strobe lights hit them.
The crowd erupted into a cacophony of whistles and screams.
Pierce clacked his sticks three times, then crashed them down.
Rhys launched into a riff, his guitar wailing.
Zach came in on the keyboards.
Axel’s voice cut through the air.
‘Ghost in the Heart’ was their signature opening to a set…the crashes and slashing chords lit by flashing white light. The entire room went wild.
Pierce drummed faster and faster.
Axel shouted, “Jump!”
The strobe lights flashed purple.
We leaped to our feet.
Song after electrifying song, I kept my eyes on Pierce. Perched on his podium, bare-chested, long dark tresses flowing, he crashed, thrashed and twirled his sticks, his arm muscles rippling. He sang the backing harmonies with the guys and I’d have loved him to sing one of his songs on his own. Weird the band didn’t know he was writing. Why hadn’t he told them? There was so much he kept hidden, not only from me but from everyone else.
At the end of the set, he appeared at our table. He’d put on a tight, ripped black tee, but the odor of male sweat filled the air between us. He was, at that moment, the epitome of a dirty rocker, so badass he was almost a cliché.
He eyed me. “You look different.”
“I worked my magic on her,” Camila butted in. “Made her even more gorgeous.”
He leaned toward me, whispered in my ear. “I can’t wait to kiss you.”
I shook my head and squirmed away from him. If Camila found out what we’d been doing behind everyone’s back, I’d have been mortified. I lowered my gaze, sudden guilt flooding through me.
Later, when we were on our own, I’d tell him we couldn’t carry on sleeping together. Pierce didn’t do discretion. The band would find out I’d been behaving unprofessionally and they’d give me the sack.
The whistles and whoops of the crowd interrupted my thoughts. Phoenix and Vanilla Sky had taken to the stage…they’d made a pact with ChiMera that they’d take it in turn opening for each other. Axel, Rhys and Zach joined Pierce, Camila and me at our table, bringing a pitcher of Virgin Mojitos, and we sat back to enjoy the show.Camila went home, pleading tiredness, and the rock stars trooped to the green room to give their ubiquitous press interviews. Then we all moved to the private club upstairs to sit in black leather booths at the side of the small room. Phoenix, Pierce and I stuck to mocktails while everyone else ordered beers. If he was tempted, Pierce didn’t show it, and I was so freaking proud of him I wanted to give him a hug.
What happened next didn’t surprise me…I’d seen it so many times. A long line of fans, who’d managed to swing invites to the party, approached for autographs and selfies. Joe and Axel’s bodyguard, Mike, made sure there wasn’t a riot. Subsequently, Jake, Zach and Rhys found themselves a girl each and stepped onto the dance floor along with Axel and Phoenix. Pierce and I were on our own.
He leaned back and gave me a cocky smirk. “That dress looks way too sexy on you, sweetheart. But I love your hair in an up-do.”
