Page 89 of Snared

“Here you go,” Josh said, handing out key cards. I’d been so lost in my head that I hadn’t even noticed he’d left my side to speak to the concierge.

“Oh my god, it’s them!” a frantic voice called out.

“Jax! Jax! Hi,” another said. “Bash, you’re amazing.”

I turned to see a group of fans coming toward us and groaned. After what happened outside, I wanted nothing more than to escape to my room. I needed a breather.

“Shit,” Bash said, as one woman grabbed his elbow.

“Bash, I’m your biggest fan,” she exclaimed, holding out her phone. “Selfie?”

“Ah, nice to meet you. Sure, a quick one,” he said, gently extracting himself from the woman’s hold.

“Everyone, a little space, please,” Josh said, sounding calm.

“You are seriously the luckiest woman on the planet to be surrounded by so many hot guys. I would give anything to be on that bus,” another woman gushed at me. My stomach knotted.

It always came down to that. It always would.

“Uh, thanks.” I glanced over at Josh right when someone pushed me away, and I almost lost my balance.

Josh gripped my elbow, pulling me into his body.

“I’ve got you,” he said. “Fucking fans. Where is security?” he muttered.

“Jax, Jax. Hey, Jax,” they continued to call.

“Ladies, ladies. There’s enough of me to go around,” Jax said, playing up the crowd as usual.

I caught Tristan rolling his eyes before he noticed me curved into Josh’s body. His mouth was set tight as he stepped toward us.

“You okay?” he asked.

I tried to put a little distance between me and Josh, but he moved with me, not letting go of my arm. “Yes, I’m fine.”

We were jostled again, and Tristan bumped into us.

Josh cleared his throat. “Sorry, everyone, we have a big schedule and I have to get these guys upstairs. Hope to see you all tonight.” He started guiding us toward the elevator as Mark and Glen stepped in.

“Aww, don’t go.” “Can you sign this?” “Can I get a picture?” fans called out.

We rushed to sign a few items and take quick pictures before we escaped into the elevator.

“Sorry, Josh. They swarmed quick,” Mark said as the elevator doors closed in front of us.

Josh glared at him. “Why wasn’t hotel security helping? If you need more guys, get them. They almost knocked Charlie over.”

“We’ll call in more guys. Not sure where hotel security was,” Glen said, not shrinking under Josh’s glare.

“Shit. You okay, Charlie?” Bash asked. “Everyone else good? They grabbed my arm fucking fast.”

“Yep,” I said, but my focus was on Josh. Usually, he was all for fan interaction, pushing for as much exposure and glad-handing as possible.

But the way he’d curled me into his body and shielded me until we got on the elevator, how pissed he was at Glen and Mark, did all sorts of funny things to my chest. My brain said he was protecting an asset, but the rest of me wondered if there wasn’t more.

“Charlie, you sure you’re okay?” Tristan asked.

“I’m good.” I stayed pressed against Josh’s side though. His hand skated up and down my back, and it took everything in me to not curl further into his body. I couldn’t give the guys any reason to suspect what we had going on.

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