Page 77 of Fractured Frets

“Good.” I stood and threw him a playful smile. “I love it when you scrub my back.”

“Babe, I’m going to do more than that. And you know it.”

“Then what are you waiting for?”

He flashed me one of his gorgeous smiles, the kind that made me fall in love with him. “Nothing. Absolutely nothing.”

Chapter 23

MADDY

“Hurry up!” Sutton squealed as we slipped on the VIP lanyards Beckett had handed to us at the rear entrance of the venue in Milan. We’d been out shopping while the guys had gone to a meeting, done soundcheck, and met their VIP ticket-holders. But we’d gotten caught in traffic and were now running super late.

Sutton grabbed my hand and pulled me down the corridor. “Move it.”

“I am.” I hooked my purse over my shoulder as we scurried along at a super-fast walk. “But you don’t have to rip my arm off.”

We followed Beckett through the depths of the venue toward the guys’ dressing room. Crew crowded the corridors, standing around with anxious, pissed-off looks on their faces. Several people glared and sneered at us as we picked up our pace.

We deserved every cutting look. I’d texted Slip from the car several times to let him know we were on our way and again once we’d arrived. The guys had refused to take to the stage until they saw us.

I broke into a run, scuttling along as fast as I could in my high-heel ankle-boots. I didn’t want to delay their show any longer.

“Sloane? You there?” Beckett jogged in front of us and radioed his fellow team member. “I’ve got the girls. We’re seconds away from the dressing room.”

The door at the end of the corridor swung open, and Blake stepped out before Sloane. He waved Sutton and me inside. “Not happy, ladies. You’ve got one minute. Not a moment longer. We’re already ten minutes late.”

“Thanks, Blake.” Sutton patted his shoulder, then dashed over to Flint. He leaped off the sofa, picked her up, and spun her around as he kissed her.

I barely had time to blink. Slip shot over to me from the drinks table and crushed his lips to mine, stealing my breath and weakening my knees.

The taste of licorice coated his tongue, no doubt from the throat tea the guys often drank before a show to protect their vocal cords. “Mmmm.” I smiled against his hot lips and inhaled the scent of his cedarwood cologne. “We made it.”

“You’re here. Now everything is perfect.” He wrapped his arms around me, holding me tight. His hands fell to skim across my butt. “Damn, Mads. I love this leather skirt. Total boner.”

“I promised you I’d buy one. Remember? It just took a while.” After our hot video calls, how could I not?

“I remember every conversation we’ve had.” He shimmied his hands up to my waistline and brushed his thumb over my ribs and the hemline of my short, glittery tank top. “But baby, you’re fading away. You’re nothing but skin and bone.”

“Stress does that to you.” I’d lost a couple of pounds in recent months, but it was nothing I couldn’t afford to lose. And at least it would keep Mom off my back.

“I don’t want you to worry,” he murmured against my hair. “I’ll be home soon.”

“I know.” But as I stood back, the dull haze gleaming in his eyes and his dilated pupils caught me off-guard. New concern crawled through my chest. Had he taken his pain-killer? God, I hoped he was okay. I didn’t want him to be in agony.

“Slip?” I rubbed his forearms. “What about you? Are you good?”

Nothing could dampen the glorious smile that inched across his face. “Sure am. You’re here. Having you with me is everything.”

He erased my concerns with a steamy kiss. Hmmm. So good. One thing was certain—we both needed this time together.

I broke our kiss and dragged my thumb across the fine line of stubble above his lip. “Yeah. It’s good to be here. I can’t wait to see the show again.”

I hadn’t seen the band play since they’d performed in Vancouver during the early weeks of their tour’s first leg across the USA and Canada. As I ran my hand over the soft leather of his vest, his heartbeat thudded beneath my touch. I bit my lower lip, loving the quickened tempo of his pulse against my fingertips. “But you’d better get going. You’ve kept the fans waiting long enough.”

“They can wait.” He kissed me again, long and hard and sensual, with a whole lot of craving and lust. His hands tugged and clutched at the back of my tank top. Yeah, I couldn’t wait for him to tear my clothes off and have his way with me again, like we’d done after I’d arrived that morning. I was down for more lovemaking...but later.

“Babe, I love you.” I dragged my lips from his in a panting mess. “But go. Get that butt on stage so I can perv on you while you play.”

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