Page 83 of Snared

“Just being the doting husband who can’t wait to get back into your pants,” I said.

She laughed softly. “One-track mind.”

“Like you’re not thinking the exact same thing,” I said.

“We’ll see. Now stop short-circuiting my brain. I’ve got a play to show,” she said, giving me a wink when she stepped out of my grasp.

I could tell myself I’d done that to distract her from looking at her phone, but I would’ve been fooling myself. Every time I touched her was because I couldn’t stand near her without feeling her skin against mine, hearing her gasp near my lips.

Fuck. That hotel in New Orleans couldn’t come soon enough.

Chapter 17

CHARLIE

Myphonevibratedinmy pocket as we boarded for the quick drive to Dallas. Josh had hustled us toward the bus shortly after our last encore in Austin since we’d done our meet and greet before the show. I was still coming off my high of performing and was both exhausted and full of adrenaline.

But maybe I wouldn’t pass out as soon as my head hit the pillow at our hotel in Dallas. Tearing off Josh’s clothes and climbing him like a tree sounded like a good plan.

I bit back a hum as my phone vibrated again.

“Uh, Charlie.” Tristan’s gaze flickered between me and the phone in his hand.

I pulled mine out to see a bunch of texts, the most recent from my sister.

Jules: Troy is such an attention-seeking dick. Ignore it.

Jules: But are you okay?

Jules: I’m going in for a shift now, but text or call whenever.

Jules: Love you.

Anxiety started to build in the pit of my stomach, my high of being on stage already vanishing as I swiped through a few messages from my mom and random old friends.

“What’s going on?” Jax asked.

I tapped on my mom’s message. She’d included a link.

Mom: Aunt Gladys sent me this. What is going on?

Heartbroken ex claims there’s something fishy about that recent Steelwolf Vegas wedding.

“What the fuck,” I said and tapped on the link.

“Fucking paps,” Bash said as my phone was taken from me.

“Ignore the bullshit,” Josh said, holding my phone. “It’s a bullshit article and people are looking for dirt.”

My eyes narrowed at him. “You knew? When did the story drop?” How long had he managed to keep this from me?

“Not that long ago,” he hedged.

“Give me my phone, Josh. What did he say?” I tried not to jump to the worst conclusions, but Troy was involved, and based on my bandmates’ expressions, what choice did I have but to freak out?

“It’s trash. Ignore it,” he said, still holding my phone.

“Give me my damn phone,” I said. He reluctantly handed it to me.

---