“It really wasn’t at all like he just said.” Finally, she got herself under control.
Was I being childish? Most definitely, but again, she had started it.
I was just finishing it.
One look at her and I already knew it wasn’t over.
One look at her pissed off face, and I knew that it wasn’t over by a long shot.
I grinned, mouthing the words so only she could see them. “Game on, Goldilocks.”
* * *
“You wantto explain to me what you meant by your earlier comment?” Erik’s eyes met mine across the table. Everyone else was looking at me as well, but it was Erik’s gaze that I met. I knew he was going to ask. They had all been dying to ask since the words had left my mouth. Erik might have taken his time asking, but I knew it had been coming.
At least he had the good grace to wait until Dion and Elodie had left to have a private chat.
Sipping my coffee, I studied him, fumbling for the right words to use. I knew how I had made it sound. Of course I did. I had said it exactly that way on purpose.
“Jax.”
The bark of my name had me shrugging again. Usually, Erik was one of us. Sure, he did his job, and he did it well, but when it came to it, he was as much a part of Dionysus Rising as the rest of us. He partied hard, had women all over the world, and yet I had never heard him reprimand us as much as he had been in the last few weeks. If I didn’t know any better, I would have said that he was finally fed up with our shit.
Maybe if I was honest, I was as well.
“It was innocent. She was asleep. Pretty sure she thought we were expecting her.”
“So, nothing happened?” Tate leant forward; his longish hair pushed back from his face. There was a hopeful glint in his eyes. “I mean, I’m not interested, but she’s a pretty thing and…”
Erik shot him a look, and he fell silent, hands raised in surrender.
“Nothing happened. I mean, I saw her tit, but I’m pretty sure that was just an accident on her part.” The way I grinned around the table made it clear I didn’t think it was an accident at all. Tate whistled. I ignored him, focusing all my attention on our manager. “Look, I’m not interested in her at all. She’s not my type.”
Tate’s booming laughter filled the bus. “Female isn’t your type?”
Chuckling, I shook my head. Ok, he had a point there. I hadn’t exactly been discriminating in the past with who shared my bed.
“She’s my type,” Tate said wistfully, “I can just see me fisting all that dark hair.”
Erik sent a warning glance at him again. But I didn’t catch the heated exchange between them. Truth was, I could imagine that as well. Vividly. And unlike our bassist, I had seen all those dark curls free and wild. I shifted uncomfortably.
“Shut up.” Erik was talking again, and I forced myself to concentrate on what he was saying. “None of you are to fuck around with her. Is that understood? She’s here for Dion.” His eyes levelled on me.
“Not gonna touch her, brother. The stuck-up rich girl types aren’t my thing.”
The corner of Erik’s mouth twitched. “Rich girl?” he shook his head. “Is that what you think she is?”
“Isn’t she?” I countered, not even particularly interested in his answer. I had recognised the feeling I had got from her even in our first meeting. Spoilt little rich girl, entitled, judgmental. I would treat her with as much respect as she treated me, because Erik was right. Dion needed her. She might star in some shower fantasies, but I wouldn’t touch her. “I can pretty much smell the private education from her.”
Erik remained silent, and then he nodded. “Sure you can, but I’m glad you agree that she’s off limits. Because she’s going to be sharing yours and Dion’s bus.”
FOUR
Elodie
Ihad been to concerts before, even rock concerts thanks to my dad and my brothers, but nothing prepared me for the nerve tingling energy that surrounded me as I stepped into the dressing room behind Erik. The air was thick with it. That and the pungent smell of weed.
The band, all of them, were talking animatedly, the joint being passed between them.
