Page 43 of Snared

Holy hell, he tasted divine as I delved into his mouth, my tongue swiping against his. I tilted my head when he deepened the kiss, rolling my hips and rubbing against his hard cock. I couldn’t stop the low moan that came from the feel of his blatant desire for me. The hand that had cupped my jaw sank into my hair, holding me close, and everything else disappeared as he continued to kiss me. His blunt nails scraped against my scalp, and a shudder coursed through me. I couldn’t stop myself from shifting against him, loving how his hand tightened on my hip when I pressed against his hard cock.

My thighs clenched with need, and it took everything in me not to hook my leg around his hip.

Someone whistled. Maybe Jax.

“See, told you it was love.”

Jax’s voice cut through my haze of desire and brought me back to the present.

Holy shit, Josh was kissing me like a man possessed, and I wasn’t stopping it. Hell, I didn’t want to stop it. This man should not be able to kiss like this. It went against nature.

“Not to wreck the honeymoon, guys, but we kind of have a meet and greet to finish, remember?” Jax said, his voice finally breaking the hold Josh had over my lips.

I stepped back and felt my cheeks flame red. My lips tingled, and I refused to reach up and touch them.

Fucking hell. This was not part of the plan.

I wasn’t stupid enough to think we’d be able to avoid all signs of physical affection, but dammit, my body was not prepared for that assault. I trembled, missing his touch already and stupidly wanting more.

“Uh,” I stammered. “Yeah, so… who’s next?”

“For kissing or for an autograph?” Jax asked.

“Fuck off, El,” I replied, my breathing still not back to normal. Josh hadn’t said a word, but I swore I heard him slightly pant. I needed a cold shower or an ice bath. Hell, I’d take a bucket of freezing water over my head right now.

“Don’t you dare,” Jax jumped in.

Bash and Tristan both chuckled, but it almost sounded pained. I’m sure none of the guys knew what to make of Josh kissing me like we were a real couple and like he wanted me.

But Josh was always about what was the best for the band. What would get the most media attention. Ulterior motive was always his MO.

I felt a pit grow in my stomach. I had never wanted to be a gimmick, but I’d walked—or rather, to be fair, staggered drunkenly—right into this mess. We both had.

“Nice show,” the asshat fan sneered. He still stood on the opposite side of the table from me, apparently having stayed for that kiss.

How long had it gone on? It had felt like both a split second and an eternity at the same time. My cheeks were still on fire. I couldn’t believe I’d stood there and let Josh kiss me in front of everyone.

And I hadn’t objected at all.

“And you’re done,” Josh said, cutting through my internal panic attack as he nodded toward our security.

“Hey, I paid for this meet and greet,” the irate man said.

“And I can kick you out for being a disturbance,” Josh replied, using a hand to motion toward Mark, one of our security guards.

“Don’t like when the truth is called out, huh?” the man shouted when he was pulled from the room. “You’ll never be as good as Jamie. He was epic. You’re a gimmick, his mediocre replacement. Just a hot girl pretending to play the drums.”

I couldn’t move.

This man had stated my every fear, and I was afraid staying married to Josh through the rest of the tour was going to make it all worse. But with that kiss and Jax’s proclamation on stage, there was no going back. What was this going to do to my career? Would I ever get the respect I deserved—that I’d worked so hard for? I could feel myself spiral.

“Stop it, Charlie. Ignore that asshole,” Josh whispered into my ear.

My heart jumped at how close he was, at how his warm breath washed over my ear and shoulder when he leaned down.

“Ignore that dick. We know you’re amazing and that’s all that fucking matters,” Jax said with complete sincerity.

Josh and Jax were right. I refused to let that one fan—even though I knew his views were held by more than one fan—make me feel out of my element when I should be basking in the afterglow from our kick-ass concert. How dare anyone diminish that.

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