“Raina,” I start, grasping her chin to turn her attention to me. Her head moves freely, but her eyes are closed, and she’s taking deep breaths, like she’s trying her hardest to calm herself down. It’s a drastic change after she seemed so relieved while on the phone. “What’s going on? Talk to us.”
She releases a harsh breath through her nose, her nostrils flaring. It shouldn’t make me more attracted to her, but it does.
Her mouth opens, but she pauses, eyeing the driver to determine if she wants to say anything with him here. He’s employed by the label, someone who follows the tour making sure there’s a vehicle on hand if anyone needs a ride whether it’s us or someone on the team like a runner.
She must decide it’s safe after giving one of the weakest smiles I’ve ever seen to Keaton in the passenger seat. “Those assholes have us on the schedule to do thirty shows. They’ve already decided how many they want from me, so last night adding on another as a payment for missing the party was all a show. A tactic to make it feel like I’m constantly losing pieces of myself, forever giving more and more.”
Her eyes close for a beat, a wrinkle forming between her eyebrows before she blinks them open, and I get a window into her pain. I shift my hand so I’m cupping her cheek, soothing my thumb over her soft skin. She leans into the touch like she’s starved for it. “So, what do you want to do about it?”
“I don’t know. But at least now I know what game they’re playing, and they won’t be able to eat away at my soul.”
Nash scoots into her space, not liking that he isn’t getting any of her attention. The man is a total whore for it. It’s actually been nice not bearing the full weight of his neediness for once. “Maybe it’s something you should bring up to your lawyer? You had an agreement in place, they can’t change it on a whim like this.”
Her face snuggles further into my palm, but she reaches out with her free hand to grab his, placating his desire to be included. “I’ll mention it to the new manager who’ll meet us in Detroit. Oh, and we got The Storm back.”
“No offense, roomie, but Alyssa is trash. I don’t know how you put up with her for so long.” An up-to-no-good smile appears on his face. I know it’s only there because he knows she can’t see him right now. “Seems like our presence has helped you come to your senses.”
He barely gets the words out before she’s shoving her hand into his shoulder. “Oh please. You’re so full of yourself. I’ve already admitted I’ve screwed up my fair share in the past. Fixing my mistakes can’t be done overnight.”
The SUV comes to a stop outside the same venue as last night. The buses are still parked in the same place, but this time there are fans crowding around the back door, waiting to get a glimpse of us as we arrive. I’m glad to at least find the security team is keeping them from being too close to the buses, but it still doesn’t leave much to be desired for privacy.
Nash leans into Raina again, his arm on the seat behind her. “When the bus is a rocking, don’t come a knockin’.” He laughs and I smile, knowing I just had the same thought. “Maybe we really should make a sign. I don’t mind if everyone knows Raina and Nash are doing the mash.”
To my surprise, Raina laughs. “You’re too encourageable. We’re not letting everyone know when we’re fucking. It’s not a car. If it does move, it could be for any number of reasons.”
Keaton’s hand reaches out to grasp her chin and turns her to face him, at the same time Nash’s mouth drops in a dramatic show of shock. “And how do you know that?” the drummer asks, his voice rumbling as the driver gets out to stand by the back door on my side of the car.
It’s weird having him all of a sudden speaking more than we ever heard him before. Yet at the same time, it’s not like he’s changed much. It’s still all things he deems important, I guess he just has a lot more of them now. It doesn’t hurt he’s found someone he cares about to break him out of his shell, too.
Raina licks her lips, her pupils blowing wide with Keaton’s show of dominance. “Don’t worry, big guy. It’s not from firsthand experience. The Storm hasn’t been christened yet.” Her gaze tracks over him like an intimate caress. “But I’m not opposed to changing that.”
Sexual tension fills the interior of the vehicle, thick and heavy, touching all of us. Nash toys with his lip ring, and his leg jiggles up and down. His mouth twitches to open, and I instinctivelyknow exactly what he’s fixing to say, and the word is out of my mouth before he can put claim to it.
“Dibs.”
A loud gasp precedes her hand pressing against her chest. “Nash!” She might be saying his name, but it’s me she’s looking at. Rightfully so, since he was the one who was fixing to exclaim it.
“That was rude, Blake! You knew I was going to say it. You stole it right out of my mouth.” Nash huffs and crosses his arms over his chest. “Fucking asshole. Roomie, please tell him he can’t do that. Give me the dibs. You even said my name, knowing that would be my move!”
He leans into her, sticks out his bottom lip and tilts his head as he gives her the most practiced puppy dog look. It’s a powerful expression on him, one I don’t want to risk her seeing. I quickly reach out and palm her cheek, stopping her from turning her head. She probably saw it from the corner of her eye, but that’s nothing on the full effect.
“Bunny, fair is fair.” We might’ve only had our first kiss yesterday, and it could admittedly be moving fast, faster than I’m ready for if I’m honest with myself, but it doesn’t make me want it any less.
“Stop it.” Keaton’s voice slices through the mounting competitiveness between me and my best friend. “There won’t be any fighting over a decision that belongs to Raina alone.”
Nash and I share a glance, knowing we’re properly chastised even if we were mostly—but kinda not—joking around about it.
“Mmm,” she purrs, stirring my cock. Fuck, I really can’t get hard right now. It’ll be impossible to hide. “My hero. Don’t worry, big guy, I can handle them.”
“At the same time?” the trouble maker shoots off.
“Nash,” Keaton barks. He whips out his sticks, smacking the loose cannon in the arm before she can respond. Raina bites her lip and gives Nash a coy smile.
“We better find Tristan and get to sound check before they get up our ass about it.” Raina swats at the side of my leg, indicating she wants me to climb out. Glancing out the window, I realize even more fans have gathered, waiting to catch us entering the building. This will be our lives now, constantly surrounded by admirers and reporters. We had it so easy back at the beach house. I have no idea how we got away with nobody harassing us.
The driver paired with the security team is at least keeping people away from us. I’m sure they’ve guessed by now we’re in here, even with the dark tint on the windows. Why else would someone climb out and guard the door?
Within a millisecond of the door popping open, the driver steps out of the way, grabbing the handle to open it the rest of the way for me. The movement grabs the attention of the Storm Chasers waiting and their screams calling Raina’s name fill the air. They move as one, like Raina is a queen bee who released her pheromones into the air with her mere presence, and they’re the workers needing to swarm around her.
