Page 21 of Marked By Night

What is happening right now?

I’m not the only one wondering if the looks his fellow bandmates are giving him are any sign. They’re staring down at him with raised eyebrows and open mouths. Hell, their drummer even has his hands poised above the drums like he was about to start the next song before Brandon abandoned ship and jumped off the stage.

When he finally makes it through the crowd, he stops in front of us and holds his hand out for Ash to take; She does with a breathy sigh. I’ve never understood the thought behind treating celebrities like they’re anything more than regular people, but Ash is enthralled.

“Hello there, gorgeous,” he says, his voice low and husky. He wraps a sweaty arm around her, like they’re old friends and not strangers from completely different worlds. “I saw you shining down here like the brightest star in the night, like a beacon beckoning me forth and I couldn’t resist the urge to come down and speak with you. You’re the inspiration love songs are made from, my dear.”

This man. Always speaking in terms of song lyrics. Seriously, you should hear his interviews.

“Is that so?” Ash smiles, batting her eyelashes at him playfully.

He nods, running a black painted fingernail down the side of her face. “Would you care to join me on stage?”

Her eyes almost bug out of her head. “Yes, absolutely, yes! But uh, only if my bestie doesn’t mind?” She takes a step back from him and gives me the puppy dog face which she knows I can’t resist. Not that I would anyway. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity and I’m not atotalbitch.

“Of course I don’t mind. You told me to shoot my shot with these two. The same goes for you. You’re insane if you think I’d let you pass this opportunity up.”

“You mean more to me than getting some hot rock star dick, Sades.”

Wow, way to be discreet about it, Ash.

I smirk. “You do love me after all.”

“Duh,” she says as she shrugs Brandon’s arm off and pulls me into a bear hug. “But I’m worried about you. With Tyler here and…” She trails off but doesn’t have to finish her sentence. I know where she’s going with it.

“I’ll be fine. Don’t worry about them. Besides, I can take care of myself, you know this. And I have two hot bodyguards if all else fails.”

She watches me for a moment before responding. Her eyes travel to where Brandon is waiting patiently, and she waltzes over to him with a little more pep in her step than I’ve seen lately. I can’t believe I haven’t noticed sooner how sad she seems.

“I hate to break up the moment,” Brandon says, “but if you’re coming, we need to go. I’m holding up the show.” He holds his arm out for Ash to take and then they’re off.

She glances over her shoulder one last time, giving me a thumbs-up before they climb the steps to the stage and disappear behind the curtain. They reappear a moment later and the joy on Ash’s face gives me chills.

I pinch the toned flesh of Dante’s arm. “Ouch! What was that for?”

What? Why would I use mine when I could use his?

“Oh, it couldn’t have been that bad. I was making sure I’m not dreaming.”

I watch as my best friend lip-syncs their hottest song on stage. And with one of the most famous rock stars in the world to boot. He’s practically a king, and she’s his queen. If only for a night.

Mirth dances in those amber eyes of his.“You had to pinch me for that? Pretty sure that’s not how it works, Angel.”

“Eh, it seemed like a good idea at the time.”

“Who’s ready to rock out with my lovely lady here? Let’s get those devil horns up!” Brandon calls out.

I attempt to throw my hand up and the charm on my bracelet snags in my long curls, burrowing itself in there. A pained yelp escapes my lips as I try to pull it out, grimacing as it tugs on my scalp. Kaos reacts instantly, whipping a knife out of his crotch somewhere. Or at least I think that’s where it came from. Is there a hidden pocket next to his balls? No. That’s an accident waiting to happen. What if it pops open and then bam, severed dick?

“Uh… Sadie? My eyes are up here,” he says, while he gently cuts my wrist free from my hair.

I quickly snap my attention back to his face, but not before I see a bulge starting to form, and not in the form of a crotch knife. All coherent thought leaves me as I struggle to formulate sentences. “I... Um... Yeah.” I can’t seem to help myself as my eyes travel back down to see the outline poking through his faded blue jeans as he subtly adjusts himself.

“I know. It’s impressive, isn’t it?”

Dante watches the spectacle with a raised eyebrow. “Fucking hell. I’ll show you mine if you stare at it that intently.”

Don’t look down, Sadie.

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