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“A wannabe kid who’s not around any more.”
“I think I’d like him.”
Jax tugs his bottom lip between his teeth and looks at my mouth. “Do you likeme, Tegan Hughes?”
A couple of guys head down the hallway toward us, talking into radios and I move to one side. Jax matches, blocking my way. Instead, I rest against the wall and put my feet out so he can’t move closer. Any nearer and I won’t be responsible for my actions.
“Big after-party tonight, huh?” I ask.
“Yeah. You didn’t answer my question.” His sapphire blue eyes search mine and I concentrate on hiding the reaction I’m having to him. I can’t blame my pink cheeks and breathlessness on dancing to Ruby Riot anymore.
“Do I get an invite?” I ask.
“To me or the party?”
I give a small smile. “The party. Why? What are you inviting me to do?”
“Anything you want.” His voice is low and despite my attempt at distance, his face is close to mine. Yesterday, I’d have scorned him for a comment like that, rolled my eyes at his moves; but in a short space of time, he’s flipped my brain to standby.
I don’t know how long we stand with faces centimetres apart, challenging each other to be the first to make a move in this power play. Each second that passes with Jax’s warm breath touching my mouth, darkened eyes holding me in place, and I'm a step closer to surrender.
“Five minutes!” yells a voice and I twist my head away from Jax, breaking the pull to him. The stage manager glances at us as he passes.
Jax touches my lip with his thumb and I jerk, caught off-guard. “I think you answered my question.”
I dig my hands into the back pockets of my jeans in case he sees them shaking. “Don’t be so sure of yourself,” I reply.
The intensity in his eyes doesn’t drop and I match his look. Jax may have enchanted me with his brand of rock star, but I won’t make this easy for him. As soon as I walk away from the heated evening, I’ll regain some of my senses. Hopefully.
“This morning, in the elevator, I forgot to tell you something,” he says.
“What?”
“Don’t play games with me, Tegan, because you’ll lose.”
Before I get a chance to respond, Jax moves away and I watch his swagger as he heads back to the noisy dressing room.
Oh, yeah? Game on.
9
JAX
The chaos of the walk through the airport two days ago is nothing compared to what faces us when walking out of the venue after the performance. We choose to leave with Blue Phoenix, taking the back exit toward waiting cars in an attempt to keep a low profile. But what else would people expect us to do? A crowd rushes forward, screaming names and pushing at each other to move closer. Flanked by security, we forge ahead; and for once, I don’t stop and talk. The Phoenix boys lead, consummate professionals, heads down, refusing to make eye contact. Usually, I stop and chat or sign autographs, but when they surge closer, grabbing at clothes, I’m fucking terrified.
“Holy shit!” yells Nate in my ear as the security guy is jostled into us, knocking me into Will. “Is this about us?”
Jem strides past with Ruby and the look on his face would keep any fan away from him. He has his arm tightly around her despite the cage-like presence of burly guys either side. She ducks her head too. I know she hates attention like this, but Ruby’s acceptance of Jem’s increasingly possessive attitude around her confuses me. Ruby broke away from a controlling guy who beat and tried to rape her. Why is she falling back into another relationship with another fucked up guy?
Our names are screamed; and as I reach the waiting black sedan, Will stops at the open door and blows the crowd a kiss. I grab his arm. “Get into the fucking car!”
He grins and ducks in. I push him across the leather seats and sit.
When Nate slides in too, Will leans around to look at his brother. “They shouted for me more than you! Ha!”
“Like fuck they did!” he retorts.
Will sniggers. “Little drummer boy…”
