Page 41 of Verses Of Us

Things were different now, he could tell. She no longer was the shy little girl who’d been unsure. She was independent, smarter, she’d challenged him during their interview. She was a force to be reckoned with. After all, he’d been right—leaving her had been good.

“So, then?” She settled her glass onto the table, letting her eyes roam over his features, making him feel exposed, but also incredibly turned on.

“Then what?”

She rolled her shoulders back, her lips in a tiny pout. “Tell me about the last six years.”

“Like what specifically?”

“I want to hear about you.”

“Me?” His eyebrows lifted. His throat was tight. During interviews, he could answer any question—about the tour, the band, the songs. But speaking about himself, well, that wasn’t easy, and it filled him with dread.

“Tell me everything.” She leaned against her hand, licking her bottom lip, and he followed the movement.

“Everything?” he croaked, dropping his chin. The tables had turned—she was the confident one, the one without fear. He swallowed hard. “How long do you think this dinner will last?”

She checked her silver watch and shrugged. “I have time.”

A few hours later, filled with food, drink and safe, impersonal stories, they left the restaurant and got in the awaiting car. They turned down Stanley street, but Alexis seemed too distracted to notice where they were going. Once she saw the towering auditorium out the front window, she looked over at Ciarán, confused.

He grinned. Surprising Alexis remained one of his favourite things. “You didn’t think I’d not have you see the show?”

She gaped at him, shaking her head. “I’d love to, but the article…”

“What I said at dinner was off the record, right?” He took her hand, her touch erasing his qualms and setting his skin on fire. Calmness softened her face in slow motion. “Tell your boss you’re getting a sneak peek behind the scenes. I’m sure she won’t mind.”

Alexis eyed her surroundings as the SUV circled the building, turning into an underground parking garage. They slowed down, bypassing a group of fans gathered by the doors. They shouted Ciarán’s name and stepped close to the vehicle. Alexis pushed away from the window as if it might break, and slammed up against Ciarán’s thigh, resurrecting lustful thoughts he felt wrong thinking.

“Don’t worry, the glass is bulletproof.” He had meant it as a joke, but when she spun around with her jaw slacked, he regretted it.

“Are you being serious?”

Ciarán draped an arm around her shoulders, unable to keep his hands off her, needing to make her feel safe.

“You’re safe, Lex,” he whispered into her ear, resisting the urge to plant a kiss on her soft neck.

They drove into the building, the large metallic garage door shutting behind them with a thud, Alexis’ body relaxing in his embrace. Robert parked, and they stepped out.

She followed Ciarán through a doorway that led down a long, never-ending tunnel lit by stark, fluorescent lights. People bustled past them, sound crew and dancers, people with tour badges hanging from their necks. A frenetic energy filled the air. From the other side of the thick concrete walls, the thrum of the audience seeped in. Even from backstage, the sound of fans pouring in was raucous—a sign of how successful tonight’s show would be. At least in terms of ticket sales, which made Ciarán smile.

But even the absurd profit the tour was raking in couldn’t match the excitement buzzing in his veins as he guided Alexis—his Lex—toward his dressing room.

LET THE SHOW BEGIN

Alexis

Theywalkedintohisdressing room, Ciarán moving around Alexis to shut the door. He stepped into her space and she inhaled his scent—warm, leathery with hints of sweetness. Ciarán stopped and stared at his feet as if weighing his options. Something substantial roused in her heart, something she wasn’t keen on experiencing again. In a vain attempt to force it away, she swallowed hard. As if going through the same thing, Ciarán let out a long breath before turning toward the snack table, now covered in sandwiches and veggie platters.

“You can’t possibly still be hungry?” she asked. He reached for a bottle of beer and offered her one, which she refused politely.

He sipped his beer, his brow creased with confusion, and sat down. Drawn in by his sudden demeanour, and seeing as she was still standing awkwardly by the door, Alexis moved closer, if a little tentatively.

“Is everything OK?” she asked.

“Yeah. Fine, why?”

“You seem unhappy.”

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