Page 91 of Burn It Down

“It’s a yes.”

He leans down to kiss me before jumping off the bed. “Get dressed! Let’s look at some properties. I’m calling my realtor on our way home tomorrow.”

When we amble into the kitchen twenty minutes later, there’s a note from Tim on the counter. He’s gone with Ryan to Brett’s house to start loading gear and get everything ready for tonight and wants us to text him when we get to the arena so he can come get us and bring us backstage.

The day passes in a blissful blur of touches, caresses, kisses, and a lot of conversations about financial expectations, home location, and plans for the future. Sure, there are a fuck-ton of bridges to cross, but today isn’t the day to focus on the reality of our situation. Today is the day to bask in the progress.

That voice. My dick throbs from the amount of testosterone flooding my system at the sound of Noah Kinkaid’s voice. Seeing these guys in their element up on this stage has had me dizzy with lust for the last two hours.

Sweat is pouring off their bodies. Sloan and Brett, their drummer, are both shirtless. Sloan’s military dog tags catch thestage lights every now and then, calling my attention back to him if for some reason it had wandered from my idol. The passion they all display is surreal and I wish I could have seen their first major headlining tour. I’ve seen the YouTube videos and the aerial dancers look sick on stage.

Jake and I are standing on the inside of the metal barricades at the foot of the stage with no one to block our view. A place coveted by every single person in this venue.

Beautiful Deceit is starting their encore for fifty-seven thousand salivating fans when one of the arena security guards comes over to Jake and I and hands me a napkin.

“It’s from the blonde on the front row,” he says stoically before moving back into place.

Unfolding the napkin, I let out a bark of laughter when I see the messy handwriting scribbled in black ink:You look like a ride I’d never forget. Meet up after the show?Her phone number is at the bottom.

Jake grabs my hand and pulls me along the barricade until we’re right in front of the girl who’s clearly been drinking the entire time the band has been playing. He crumples up the napkin and throws it over the barricade back to her. As soon as it’s in her hands, Jake grabs my face and kisses me hard and deep, exerting more control and possessiveness than ever before.

It scares me how much I like being possessed by him. I’ve never allowed any of my boyfriends in the past to take from me physically like this.

When we break apart, the girl reaches across the barricade and hands the napkin back with a new message.I can take you both.

Jake smacks his palm against his forehead and laces our fingers, walking back to the side of the stage.

A minute later, during Sloan’s guitar solo in the final song of the night, the security guard at the back corner of the stage looks over at me and winks. Immediately, Jake’s voice is at my ear.

“Oh,hellno. What is going on tonight?”

I can’t help my laugh. I get hit on fairly regularly, but Jake and I don’t spend a lot of time together in public since we both prefer quiet, private places after a long day at work…and because making out in public hasn’t really been an option for us, staying in has been the more appealing choice.

Wanting to placate his jealousy, I grab Jake’s arms and wrap them around my torso, lacing our fingers together, and placing our hands on my chest. I may be the one getting hit on currently, but I’m as desperate for people to know he’s mine as he is for them to know I’m his.

I can’t help but move my body in rhythm to the song. I wouldn’t call itdancingexactly, but it’s enough movement to have Jake’s cock digging into my ass in a short amount of time.

Unable to help myself, I push into him and groan, the sound being swallowed by the final notes of the song. The heat of the stage lights and all the moving bodies in the arena have Jake and I both sweating. If I wasn’t already riding a high from hearing Jake say he’s in love with me, wanting to move in together, and starting to feel like my future holds more than just the shop, I’d be rapidly approaching cruising altitude.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t take long before life reminds us the higher we fly, the farther we fall.

Chapter 25

Jake

The mood in the Range Rover on our way back home is somber despite the afterparty we attended with the band last night and the absolutely incredible weekend. Dylan’s hand is in mine, but we know we’re gearing up for battle.

I’m just grateful he’s on my team.

It’s amazing how changing your surroundings can bring so much clarity to a situation. Talking with Sloan and seeing him live his life on his terms was really empowering and watching Dylan’s excitement unfold as the weekend progressed was pure joy.

There is no doubt in my mind that I’m making the right decision and if I have to start all over, so be it.

Dylan’s phone pings from the cupholder. It’s the first message he’s received all weekend and my stomach automatically twists at the reminder that the bubble of bliss around us is deflating with every mile we travel closer to home.

It also reminds me that my phone is still ondo not disturband I’m sure I have a torrent of texts and calendar reminders waiting for me.

Without letting go of my hand, Dylan uses his right hand to grab the phone and unlock the screen.

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