Page 79 of Fractured Rhythm

“Bash wrote some new kick-ass songs, so we thought we’d play one for you. You interested?” Jax asked.

Echoes of fuck yeah and woohoo reverberated through the space.

“Guess they’re interested,” Jax said with a wide smile as he looked at his bandmates.

I finally met Bash’s gaze as they launched into one of the new songs. There was no mistaking the words love you that he mouthed to me, and a tear of happiness slipped down my cheek.

Over two hourslater, we were sprawled out in the back room. The show had ended fifteen minutes ago, after two encores, and Bash’s parents had just said good night. I was sitting next to Bash on the couch, trying to ignore the desire coursing through me as he lightly trailed his fingers along the nape of my neck. He knew what that did to me, and I feared he was already starting what would be a long night of torture after I’d innocently—okay, not innocently at all—grazed his hard cock in his bedroom after dinner.

“Beers at the bar?” Jax asked, pulling off his sweat-soaked t-shirt and wiping off his chest before yanking on a new shirt. The man’s body was insane. He was also like a brother, so eww.

“Want to get out of here?” Bash ducked his head down and whispered.

“No. No. No. You two can bump uglies in a few hours. We have to celebrate,” Jax said, pointing his finger at us.

“Okay, unnecessary,” I said.

“Seriously, dude,” Bash said.

“Please,” Jax said, rolling his eyes. “You two aren’t subtle. You used to be better at hiding this.”

“Well, we are in love and we aren’t hiding anymore,” I said.

“You could do so much better than this guy, Cassiopeia,” Jax said.

“Keep it up and we’re bailing now,” I grumbled.

“I’m happy you guys finally got your shit together. Now let’s celebrate with a round of drinks,” Tristan said, standing up from the chair in the corner.

“One drink and we are running for a cab,” Bash growled in my ear as we headed into the bar. A shiver of white-hot need buzzed through my body, and I resisted the urge to run for a cab with Bash right now.

As much as I wanted to get out of here and head for the hotel, the band needed this. Connors was special, and it was their first show. I wouldn’t take that away from them because I needed Bash inside of me.

“There’s plenty of time tonight and tomorrow,” I said.

Jim had roped off a corner of the worn bar top for us, and Charlie and the guys paused along the way to shake hands, give hugs, and sign whatever was thrust toward them. When it was boobs, Bash kept moving and let Jax and Tristan do those signing honors.

“This place is crazy,” Charlie said.

“Yeah, it wasn’t always like this. Just your typical college dive bar. But then Steelwolf wasn’t a household name the last time the guys were here.”

“This must be weird,” she said, her voice measured.

“Yeah, it is.”

“I want you to know—” she started.

“Stop. You don’t have to walk on eggshells around me. My brother is gone, Steelwolf needed a drummer, and you are fucking awesome. You fit in great with the guys. That’s the best I could’ve asked for,” I said, and it was sincere. She was amazing, and I wanted the band to continue, to hear my brother’s music thrive, even if he wasn’t the one pounding out the beats anymore.

“Thanks. Yeah. I really love playing with the guys, and I want to make sure we’re good,” she said.

I grabbed my beer bottle and clinked it with hers. “I promise, we are good. You’re earning your spot in the band and kicking ass. Just don’t cut your hair. Steelwolf should have a drummer with high-flying hair,” I said, and then I took a sip of my beer, choking down the cold, bitter liquid. I meant every word, even if it hurt me to say them.

“Thanks. I’ll keep the hair,” she said, flipping a long, blond strand over her shoulder before taking a long pull of her own bottle.

“Everything okay? What are you two talking about?” Bash asked, his arm resting lightly around my waist.

Knowing that he was there if I needed to fall against him meant so much to me.

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