Page 47 of Ruined

"You're good," Gianni said once he finished giving me a clap. "Musical talent must run in the family."

"Unlike some." Damon grimaced in the direction of the twins, who were tapping at the drums with dubious rhythm.

I suspected they were doing it on purpose to get a rise out of him. If they weren't careful, he'd shoot them for being too annoying.

"We're very talented, thank you very much," Hunter called out. "Remind me later to give you a pack of Kink Or Drink cards. They might help you to lighten up." He punctuated his sentence by hitting a drumstick on a cymbal, making it ring out.

Damon rolled his eyes. "I don't need your help to be kinky."

Gianni's eyebrows shot up.

Damon's lowered. "We're not having that conversation here."

Gianni raised his hands in surrender. "I can wait until later." His intention was clear. As long as they had that conversation, he was content to be patient.

I couldn't help being curious. I'd barely started to explore my sexuality, but I wondered how far they'd be willing to take it. Apart from being tongue fucked, sucking Reuben off and letting him and Gianni lick my fingers, I didn't know what I was into. I knew for certain I didn't want to be tied up in any way. Anything else, I had no idea.

Damon pressed his lips together and rolled them a couple of times. A sure sign of his annoyance. "Will you be buying that?" He nodded toward the guitar I was still holding.

I glanced at the price. That was another thing that changed a lot while I was away. The price of everything had gone up so much I couldn't get my head around it. The idea of paying that much for a bottle of milk or a bag of apples seemed crazy, but Reuben didn't blink when time came to pay for them. Of course, he could afford to, but still.

"I don't know," I said slowly. "It seems like an indulgence."

"That's a yes then," he said firmly. "You should have some indulgences. Hell, buy three of them. And a few picks, songbooks, a stand and a good quality amp."

"This quick shopping trip to get a guitar just got real," I said, half-joking. I hadn't even thought beyond the instrument himself. Yes, all of my guitars were a he. I didn't know why, they just were.

The sides of his mouth twitched upward ever so slightly. "If you're going to do it, you might as well do it properly. Why bother doing anything half-assed? Life is too fucking short for that."

All of them had said that to me at some point during the last few weeks. That life was short. They certainly seemed to believe in living each day to the fullest. That was understandable when we could step back out onto the street and get shot, or run over.

Hell, we might get struck by lightning, even though it was sunny outside.

"I'm going to buy it," I said definitely. "And all the other things too. The best of everything."

"That's my girl," he said softly. "Get some of those headphones so only you can hear yourself play. When Reuben is in a mood, you'll need them." He seemed to be speaking from experience.

I nodded and placed the guitar on the counter before walking through the shop to gather up all the other things.

I finished paying for all of my new purchases when I heard an excited rumble from the street outside. While we'd been in the shop, a crowd gathered. I'd kept half an eye on them, but now they had my full attention.

"What's going on?" Damon snapped to the shop assistant.

She was standing behind the counter, bouncing on her toes. "Wolf Venom is in town to do some promotion. They usually drop in here for a meet and greet with fans."

It was my heart that dropped. Asher was coming here?

"We need to go," I said quickly. I grabbed my guitar and the bag with the smaller items, while Gianni picked up the amp.

"We'll never get out the front," Damon said.

The assistant looked as though she might try to stop us from going through the back, but she thought better of it. With wide eyes, she stepped aside and let us pass.

"What's the hurry?" Hunter drawled. "Their music isn't that bad."

I shot him a look and stepped over boxes and packaging material that was spread all through the stock area at the rear of the shop. Past him, I caught a glimpse of the door opening.

I recognised the dark-haired man who stepped through first. Zeke Brantley, lead singer and brother of Reuben and the twins. He grinned and usherd fans to come inside too. He'd changed a lot since I saw him last. Matured.

---