Strings attached, p.19
Strings Attached, page 19
While Nik and Sebastian had been talking, she’d gotten a text from Greg.
Are you at TLA with Baz?
Yeah, why?
My fucking Twitter feed’s blowing up. Hire a freelance photog to film if he gets onstage and picks up a fucking guitar. We’re on our way. Be there in ten. I hope.
She took a few seconds to consider Greg’s demand because, honestly, she wasn’t sure Sebastian would want this filmed. What if something happened between Nik and him and they ended up beating the hell out of each other onstage?
Then again, what if they were amazing and no one with a decent camera and a steady hand got footage?
She’d leaned over to Dana, still standing by her side, her gaze glued to Sebastian and Nik.
“Dana, I need your help. Can you find out how many freelance photographers have passes tonight? I need to hire one of them.”
The girl’s gaze narrowed, her head tilting to the side as if she didn’t understand. Then her eyes widened and she nodded. “Don’t need to. I’ve got the guy for you. Be back in a sec.”
Nik and Sebastian had disappeared, and she made arrangements with a seasoned pro whose eyes had glowed like a kid on Christmas morning when she’d told him why she wanted to hire him.
He’d taken her card, on which she’d written the amount he’d be paid, tipped his fingers to her and walked off with a smile, whistling.
Now she watched as one of the crew wired Sebastian for the guitar and another wired Nik for a mic. Johnny and Mac kept up a steady stream of conversation, which she suspected was designed to keep Nik and Sebastian from thinking too closely about what they were about to do.
Nik kept looking at Sebastian, as if to make sure he was still there, while Sebastian familiarized himself with the guitar Mac had put in his hands seconds ago.
When one of the crew popped his head through the door and announced, “Three minutes,” she saw Nik take a deep breath and shake his head. Then he rolled his shoulders, hopped up and down four times and shoved his hands through his hair, pushing the inky black mess away from his face and showing off his incredible bone structure.
She certainly appreciated his look, but the guy didn’t do it for her the way Sebastian did. Sebastian was handsome in all the right ruggedly masculine ways.
Nik had that perfect male-beauty thing going for him.
And she wasn’t the only one who’d noticed. Dana couldn’t keep her eyes off him. But Nik only saw Sebastian.
Three minutes later, everyone was moving toward the stage. Sebastian held the guitar in one hand and Tru’s hand in the other.
They didn’t say anything as they walked through the maze of equipment and cables and people to the wings, where Nik and Sebastian stayed just out of sight of the crowd.
Obviously members of the audience had seen Sebastian in the wings during the first intermission, which was how Greg had found out he was there. But she’d been checking social media and hadn’t yet seen mention of Nik.
Johnny and Mac stepped onstage and Sebastian’s hand tightened around hers as the crowd began to cheer.
She tried to think of something to say but doubted he would’ve been able to hear her over the crowd or the music.
After two songs, Mac set down his guitar and leaned back in his chair, a huge smile on his face to match Johnny’s.
“Now we’ve got something special for you that you’re gonna love,” Johnny said. “We’ve known these guys since they first started touring—”
The outcry from the audience drowned out whatever else Johnny was going to say and continued to get louder as a crew member brought out two chairs and set them on either side of Johnny and Mac.
Tru swore she felt the floor move beneath her feet and she looked up at Sebastian to find him watching her, a slight smile curving his lips. He raised an eyebrow and she knew exactly what he didn’t need to say. She felt the rush for herself, all that energy focused directly at the stage.
He looked so damn happy, his eyes shone with it.
Then he bent to kiss her, and it was no sweet little brush of lips. No, he took her breath away as he prized open her lips and slid his tongue against hers, stealing her breath and making her weak in the knees.
When he pulled away, his grin widened, just before he turned to Nik. His smile tempered a little but there was a hint of a challenge in his eyes when he looked at Nik.
Nik stared back and waved his hand out for Sebastian to precede him. Instead, Sebastian wrapped his arm around Nik’s shoulders and got Nik moving beside him.
Dana stepped up to Tru’s side and she exchanged a smile with the girl before Dana’s gaze snapped back to the foursome onstage.
Nik and Sebastian acknowledged the crowd with smiles and waves but didn’t say anything as they took their seats. Sebastian played a few chords, adjusted the tuning on the guitar for few seconds, then looked at Mac and nodded.
Mac started to play, Johnny started to sing, Sebastian began to play and Nik joined in with Johnny on the second verse.
With a sinking heart, Tru realized something she’d never considered.
She’d never be able to compete.
Chapter Ten
Johnny and Mac had announced the last song and the outcry from the audience was so loud, Baz figured they could hear it all the way to Society Hill.
They’d already played fifteen minutes past the scheduled time and if they went over any more, they’d be paying a hell of a lot in penalties and overtime.
But they had to stop sometime. Even if Baz didn’t want the night to end.
Holy shit. He hadn’t felt a rush like this since . . . Well, since two nights ago when he’d come inside Tru.
Yeah, it was that kind of high.
For the past hour and forty-five minutes, all he’d known was music. The music he loved to play. The music that spoke to him.
Not to say he didn’t love what he was doing for Greg, but this was different. It spoke to a different part of his soul, to a primal part of who he was.
The fact that Tru had been there to see it had made everything that much better. And with Nik by his side . . .
As Johnny and Mac thanked the audience for coming and the four of them stood to bow, the applause rose to thunderous levels that would probably mean noise violations for the TLA.
Nik and Baz headed offstage before Johnny and Mac, who wrapped their arms around each other and took another bow before leaving. The two older guys had huge grins and were slapping each other on the back when they left the stage. Dana immediately ran up to her dad and gave him a big hug, which he returned before tucking her into his side as they all made their way back to the green room.
Baz and Nik had said a few words to each other onstage and for a minute it’d felt like old times. Like before everything had gone to shit.
But when he’d walked offstage, he’d wanted to see Tru. And there she’d been, sweet smile on her face and her eyes bright. He’d bent for another kiss and lingered a little longer than he had before he’d walked onstage. This time, she responded with a little more heat of her own, which made him want to get her somewhere dark and private. But they couldn’t do that. At least not yet.
No, he still had to talk to Nik. Had to tell him how much he’d missed him and how he didn’t want to make Baseline Sins music without him. Tell him how much he needed him.
And then he realized Greg and Sabrina were there, standing off to the side, out of the way of the crew who were breaking down the equipment.
Greg had a huge grin on his face as he glanced at Johnny and Mac, and Baz remembered how he and Greg had spent an afternoon discussing Silence Divided music and how much Greg loved it.
He wanted to introduce Greg to them, wanted Sabrina to meet them and Dana. And he wanted Nik by his side, where he’d been since they were ten.
Looking around, he spotted Nik heading for the bathroom. After a quick look at Tru, he headed there, too.
He found Nik standing with his hands braced on the sink, head down, just breathing.
Shit. “Hey, you okay?”
Nik didn’t say anything at first, just kept his head down.
A few seconds later, before panic could start to rear up again in Baz’s chest, Nik lifted his head and looked into the mirror and into Baz’s eyes.
“It’s been a long time.”
“I know.”
“I’d almost forgotten what it felt like, you know? That rush.”
Baz shook his head. “I’m sor—”
“No.” Nik shook his head. “Just . . . don’t. Just stop apologizing, okay? I’m not asking for any more apologies. I realized tonight I should probably be making some of my own.” Turning to face Baz, Nik leaned back against the sink, arms crossed over his chest, intense blue eyes latched onto Baz’s. “I wasn’t fucking there when you needed me, was I? I left you hanging in the wind, even after I found out you nearly died. And that just made me even more pissed off.”
“Yeah, I kinda got that feeling the last time we talked.”
Nik dropped his head for several seconds. “I fucking suck as a friend.”
“No, Nik, we—”
“I came tonight because I knew you’d be here, and I couldn’t figure out what to say to you. I just needed to see you. And say I’m sorry.”
The self-loathing Baz saw in Nik’s eyes took him by surprise. Baz hadn’t seen that look in years. He’d thought Nik had gotten over that shit, left it behind like he’d left his childhood home and the abusive dick his mom had married who’d made Nik’s teen years a living hell.
“Nik. We’ll get through this.”
Pushing away from the sink, Nik walked straight up to Baz, put his hand on the side of Baz’s head and wove his fingers through the short hair.
The affection with which he did it wasn’t shocking. They’d never had hang-ups about touching. Hell, they’d slept in the same damn bed more times than not those first few years on tour when money was tight and they couldn’t afford more than one room for the five of them.
But when Nik leaned in and kissed him . . . That shocked the ever-living hell out of Baz.
Because this wasn’t a friendly kiss.
Nik kissed him like he wanted to make Baz kiss him back. Pressed their lips together hard, Nik’s scruffy chin rubbing against Baz’s, a sensation that made every nerve ending in his body snap to attention.
Holy fuck.
Stunned, Baz grabbed Nik’s shoulders but he didn’t push him away and he didn’t pull him closer. Jesus, he could barely breathe. Nik’s lips felt soft against his, softer than Baz ever would’ve expected a man’s lips to feel.
Then Nik stepped away, released Baz completely and stared straight in his eyes.
“We need to talk but it can wait until tomorrow. I’ll call you around noon. Maybe we can meet for lunch.”
Then he walked past Baz and out the door.
* * *
Talking with Johnny and Greg, who was fangirling all over Johnny, Tru saw Nik leave the bathroom and waited for Baz to make an appearance. The guys hadn’t been in there long enough for her to get worried that they were having a fight and Nik didn’t look any worse for wear when he left.
Baz didn’t immediately follow but she wasn’t about to barge into the bathroom to make sure he was okay. And when he finally emerged thirty seconds later, he looked a little stunned but not upset.
Looking around, he stopped when he found her and made his way to her side immediately, putting his arm around her shoulders and gripping her tight, as if he thought she might try to get away.
“I was just telling Johnny how much I love their music.” Greg nodded in Baz’s direction. “You know I love you, but Johnny and Mac have been part of my life much longer than you have.”
Sebastian smiled but she could tell it was forced. “I don’t blame you. I know exactly what you mean.”
“You sounded great tonight.” Johnny slapped Sebastian on the shoulder. “So did Nik.”
“Yeah, Nik sounded great. But then, he always does.”
“So what’d you think, Tru?”
She felt Sebastian turn to look at her and she smiled up at him. “He’s amazing but I already knew that. You wouldn’t have hired him if he wasn’t.”
His smile seemed a little more natural now and the look in his eyes promised all sorts of things he’d better not say in front of these people. Just in case, she raised her eyebrows at him and his grin turned wicked, telling her he knew exactly what she didn’t want him to say.
“Nice to hear.”
The group continued to talk and Tru listened but her gaze wandered over to Nik, who kept stealing glances at Sebastian while he talked with Mac and Dana on the other side of the room.
A few minutes later, she saw Nik hug Mac, saw him nod as Mac whispered something in his ear, then pull back and smile when Mac put one big hand on his face and patted his cheek.
Nik shifted his gaze to Sebastian and Tru saw so much frustration and longing in his expression, she couldn’t help but feel for him. Then she felt Sebastian’s arm tighten around her shoulders and she looked up to find him staring back at Nik.
The contact didn’t last long, just until Nik nodded and turned toward the door, quietly opening it before slipping out.
Beside her, Sebastian released a heavy breath and visibly relaxed.
Five minutes later, when Johnny and Mac invited everyone to come back to their hotel room with them for drinks, Sebastian immediately declined.
“I think I’ve ignored my date enough for one night,” he said. “We’re gonna get going.”
She wanted to tell him it was okay, that they could spend another hour with his friends. But honestly, she wanted to get him alone, away from everyone who had a claim to him, so she could have just a few hours to herself.
Selfish? Maybe.
Right now, she didn’t care. Because she had the feeling she wouldn’t have him in her life that much longer.
“I think we can deal with that.” Johnny smiled at them, nodding, while Mac and Dana made their ways back to join their group. “Don’t be such a stranger, kid.”
“I won’t. I promise.”
“We’re gonna hold you to that.” Mac squeezed Sebastian’s shoulder. “Nice to meet you, Tru. Hope to see you again soon.”
They said their good-byes to Greg and Sabrina, who gave Tru a private thumbs up as they were leaving.
Sebastian held his ball cap in his hand but hadn’t put it on yet, and they stopped just before reaching the outside door, where another bouncer waited to release them out into the world.
“I don’t think that’s going to do any good.” She smiled as she pointed to the cap. “If there’s a crowd waiting outside, they’re going to know it’s you because of your clothing.”
“Yeah.” He sounded resigned. “So, you ready to run the gauntlet?”
“Do you really dread it?”
He shook his head. “Not really, no. But I’m dying to get you alone and naked.”
Combined with the heat in his eyes and the sound of his voice, her body reacted as if he’d put his hands between her legs and stroked her.
Her heart turned over and her lungs felt deprived of oxygen. And, oh my god, she wanted him to fuck her. Right here against the wall. She wanted everyone else to just disappear so it was only the two of them. And then she wanted him to take her like he couldn’t get enough of her. Like he wanted to devour her.
His expression said she wouldn’t have much trouble talking him into it. And he’d probably be willing to forgo having everyone else disappear.
Just the thought made her go wet between her thighs.
She took a deep breath. “Then let’s go back to my place.”
Nodding, he took her hand and they walked up to the door.
“Not too many people out there anymore.” The bouncer grabbed the door handle but didn’t open it right away. “Tried to keep them moving. If you can slip out quick, you might not get caught. Good show tonight, man. Nice to see you onstage.”
“Thanks.” Sebastian stuck out his hand and the guy shook it with a smile. “It was nice to play again.”
“Let me check to make sure there’s no one right outside the door.”
The bouncer stepped outside for a few seconds then stuck his head back in. “Head right immediately and don’t look back. See you again soon.”
They slipped out, keeping their heads down and made it almost a block before someone caught up to them.
He was probably twenty-five or so and had a huge grin on his face. He handed Sebastian a ticket from the show and a pen.
“Dude, you were awesome tonight. Seeing you and Nik with Johnny and Mac was mind-blowing. I saw you guys out on tour with them seven years ago. Best night of my life.”
“Thanks, man. That means a lot.”
“So is Baseline Sins gonna have new music soon?”
For the first time since she’d met him, Sebastian’s smile held no trace of indecision. “I hope so, yeah. I think we will.”
The guy’s expression couldn’t have been happier. “That’s fucking awesome. I can’t fucking wait.”
Sebastian thanked him, shook his hand, then took Tru’s hand again and started walking. No one else bothered them on the way back to her place and they didn’t talk.
But he didn’t need to say anything to let her know exactly what he wanted to do to her. It was there in the heat in his eyes and the way his hand tightened around hers. In the way he picked up the pace the closer they got to her house until they were practically running.
Giddy anticipation made her heart pound, which made it hard for her to catch her breath.
So by the time she had to dig her keys out of her purse, her hands were shaking with excitement and she could barely get the key into the lock.
She nearly dropped the key when Sebastian plastered himself to her back and wrapped his arms around her waist.
“Problems?”
“No.” Although she did sound pretty out of breath.
“You sure? You need help?”
Oh, hell, yes, she needed help when he pulled her ass back against his pelvis and pressed his rock solid erection against her.
