Page 52 of Ravaged For You

“No, just as long as we’re on the same page.”

I don’t think Axel understands how scary this is for me. It’s like meeting his family. All this goes against little old introverted me. I glance at the doors leading into the nightclub with trepidation.

This is a world I should not be in.

Axel reaches down and takes my hand. His warm grip makes me feel lightheaded. I do not expect him to hold my hand at all and so I find my heart fluttering unexpectedly as he guides me inside the back entrance of the nightclub.

“Don’t worry,” he whispers. “Stay with me. I’ll look after you.”

Kindness? From Axel?

We head through the kitchens – with the loud shouting of chefs and banging of utensils – through to a private area at the back of the nightclub. The most exclusive area of the most exclusive club. There are even more scary-looking security guards in suits hanging around here with little walkie-talkies like in the movies. Yeah, this all definitely feels like a movie.

A few days ago I had to summon up the courage to go out to a concert arena to see the same boys I’m about to spend a night with in a private nightclub. Terrified isn’t a strong enough word for what I’m feeling.

The rest of Ravaged are waiting in the VIP section. From the vantage point of the room, we can see the rest of the dark nightclub, but no one can approach without going through a wall of security.

There are Drake, Bishop, and Caspian, all sitting together drinking.

Here they are…

They stop their conversation and turn to me when Axel brings us in. I take in a deep breath and ready myself.

This is becoming all too real.

“Boys, this is Maddie,” my new fake boyfriend says. “As you may know.”

Axel drops my hand.

I awkwardly wave at the famous rock band with my other hand like a total dork.

“Hiya.”

Such an awkward loser.

Caspian is the first to acknowledge me. He simply nods, and I have a feeling that’s a big welcoming gesture coming from him and his trademark silent stoicism. Drake merely lightly smiles at my entrance, his dimples showing even in the dark nightclub.

And Bishop gets up. A gentleman.

“Please sit, Maddie,” he instructs me warmly. He motions to his old spot at the booth.

“Thanks.”

“Anything for someone like you,” the guitarist says. “I still can’t get over how you spilled tea all over Axel. Fucking hilarious.”

“Yeah, that was a real sight to behold,” Drake agrees. Caspian softly chuckles in approval.

Behind me, Axel growls like a dog. “Back off,” he says to Bishop. The tallest member of Ravaged smirks at Axel. I can feel the tension in the air between the two. I saw them poke each other into violence the last time they were at my work, and I don’t want that to happen again in front of me, even if they’re simply playing.

“It was a total accident,” I say, trying to diffuse these young males from fighting each other, as I know they want to do. “But I did enjoy it. A lot.”

“I like this one,” Bishop says to Axel. “You can keep her, Axel. Really, come and sit with us, Maddie.”

I do as he asks and take a seat next to Caspian. The drummer for Ravaged truly is massive, even more so up close. His shirt is practically bursting from his tight muscles. It’s all strength and power under there. He regards me with his dark eyes as I smile up at him. I think I see a slight smile pass over his lips.

“You want a drink?” Drake asks me, comfortably leaning back in his seat opposite me like a lothario from an 1800s painting.

“That’s my question to ask,” Axel says. “She’s my fake girlfriend.”