Page 113 of Lyric & the Heartbeats

“To be honest, it is a good idea.” She turned on him. “Take that to your grave. Henry can’t know. I have a reputation to uphold.”

Mirth danced in his amber eyes. “And what reputation is that, pajarita?”

Inside, Lyric melted as the endearment rolled off his tongue, no matter how casual he intended it. Did she know what it meant? No, but it was cute anyway.

“A pain in his ass,” she answered.

Javier cocked his head back and laughed as they reached the exit door. The cool air rushed in past them as they stepped into the night, and he slung his thumb over his shoulder. “It’s been a pleasure. I wish you luck on the rest of your tour and safe travels.”

A smile curled Lyric’s lips, and she reached a hand out. She wanted to touch him, however briefly.

Javier’s hand engulfed hers, and their arms moved in sync as they shook hands. His touch was electric, his scent coming through so much more clearly now that they were in the open air. It tickled her senses, almost spicy, but far from unpleasant. It transported her to a place she’d be happy to get lost in.

How was it possible for one alpha to be so magnetic?

“Safe travels back home,” she responded a few seconds too late, but he smiled at her distraction.

The seconds stretched on, and just when Lyric realized she needed to let go of his hand now before it got weird, the door opened behind them.

“Oh, hey, guys!” Desi greeted cheerily. “The guys wanted to talk, so apparently it’s time for me to have phone sex with my girlfriend.”

Lyric’s cheeks blushed on Desi’s behalf, and she dropped Javier’s hand—finally—and barely refrained from palming her face. “Thank you for that information, Desi.”

“No problem. Let’s go,” she said, grabbing Lyric’s hand and pulling her away. Her other hand, gripping her phone, waved in the air before she lit the screen and began typing a message one handed.

Lyric squeaked, and glanced back at Javier, whose cheeks were red with suppressed chuckles. “I’m not—this isn’t what it looks like!” she called out.

The chuckles he let free were deep and light at the same time, making her chest feel feathery. “That’s nice to know, pajarita. Safe travels!”

Lyric yelled a response before Desi pulled her onto the bus, finally locking her phone and turning on Lyric.

“What was that about?” Lyric asked.

“You tell me. Why would the guys kick me out of the green room to talk?” Desi countered, humor dancing in her eyes.

Lyric narrowed her eyes. “I don’t know. Should I?”

“Well, if you ask me, I think it’s because of the resident omega everyone has a crush on.”

Heat rushed to her cheeks. “What… I don’t—”

Desi waved her hand through the air. “Pfft. I don’t care. Just as long as it’s all consensual,” she warned, her smile slipping.

Lyric swallowed, her weekend with Emerson and Adra flashing through her mind. A fog of sheets and mixed scents and moans and pleasure…

“Yeah. It’s definitely… consensual.”

“Great!” Desi beamed. “Now, if you don’t mind, I am going to have phone sex with my girlfriend. Unless you need to talk about anything…”

Shaking her head in amusement, Lyric freed Desi to the bunk area, the lock clicking with a warning snick. She had about twenty, maybe thirty minutes before everyone was due back on the bus.

Headlights splashed across the parking lot, and through the slats in the window, Lyric watched Javier navigate the lot before exiting onto the back road.

A pang pierced her chest, and she frowned at the darkened street.

Whenever she got home, she’d have to pay a visit to Casa de Taco and say hello.

But in the meantime…