Page 96 of Our Deceptive Heat

“I’ll give you guys a minute to decide,” Tara says and steps away from us.

Fuck!

Digs lets out a low moan that says everything. “She’ll run. If we do this, we lose her forever.”

“No, she loves us. She will hear us out,” Tyr says confidently. “She’ll wait for us.”

Tara is standing there looking completely unconcerned. I want to break her face.

“If Raines gets her, she will end up under that pack, and we’ll never see her again. I’d rather lose her forever, than see her live her life like that,” Mako says hoarsely. “We sing Tara’s song.”

“I can’t lose her!” Digs wails.

Tyr grabs him and whispers fiercely in his ear. Whatever he says steady’s Digs.

I stare at Mako, trying to work out what the fuck to do. I inhale and shake my head. It is what it is. They’re right. It would be selfish to risk her life. Ryn will understand.

Mako turns towards me.

Maybe it just wasn’t meant to be. My ears ring as I walk out onto the stage.

Tara’s smug smirk makes me feel physically sick, but the show must go on.

The song ends, andI stand there. Tonight, the lights are too bright, the sounds of the fans are too loud, I’m too hot. Everything is wrong.

I turn away, only to see Mako staring down at his drums, his expression grim and depressed.

Digs is struggling, too. I can hear it in his voice.

I turn away.

“How did we get here?” I ask out loud.

Just out of sight of the crowd, I spot Tara smirking. There’s no way out. We’re trapped. The panic rises, and I’m suddenly struggling to breathe. I clutch at my chest and turn away from the crowd.

What did I do?

The others have passed out, and Lia and Locke have just gotten in a taxi and gone home.

I spread my arms and spin, laughing because it’s such a beautiful night and my song, our song, is number 1.

“Ryn?” I hold out a hand to her, and when she takes it, I twirl us around, dancing under the moonlight.

She smiles at me and stumbles, but I catch her. We both freeze. The night is cold, icy, even. Our breath steams, but none of it matters. We’re never this close to each other, I make sure of it. We’re never alone because I’m weak, I am so weak for this woman.

I duck my head down and stop, gauging her reaction.

Auryn Raines stares at me, not looking away, not flinching. Our lips are so close. I feel the weight of responsibility, and all our choices fade as just one thought comes through loud and clear. I want this kiss.

This is so wrong.

I don’t speak and neither does she. It’s like some instinctive knowledge that words will break the spell.

We’re all alone. The world is asleep. It’s just her and me on this street with the pale white glow of the streetlights bathing us and the dark silhouettes of the buildings and trees hiding us.

It’s a time without rules, a time without consequences.

Just once, I want to do what I want to do.

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