Page 60 of Undeniable Temptation

She remained quiet for long seconds. Not long enough to encourage him to drag his attention from the chipped paint of the cement wall.

“Our time alone this morning didn’t go unnoticed. One of the gossip sites that ran the initial photos of you and Felicity, mentioned us hiding out in a back room. I didn’t want any assumptions to be made. We can’t risk someone latching onto the possibility and digging deeper until they find the truth. So yes, I asked Mason to help divert the topic of my promiscuity in another direction. And, as usual, he used creative license and took the request way beyond my instruction.”

Motherfucking asshole.

“He needs to pay.”

“No.” She stepped closer, her slight frame taking up his periphery. “We all know what he’s like. Mason deflects emotion. Instead of showing he cares, he turns his feelings into a joke. It’s what he does. It’s what all of them do.”

“His bullshit attitude isn’t a defense.”

“Ryan.” Her tone was guttural as she slid in front of him, leaning down to meet his gaze. There was something in her eyes, something that put him on edge and built his concern with every blink of her lashes. “This—” she waved a hand between them, “—is exactly why there’s a clause in my contract. Your feelings for me can’t get in the way of my position or your friendship with the rest of the band. This reaction, and ones like it, will be the reason why I have to walk away.”

He stepped back, unable to mask the horror contorting his face. “So I quit caring and ignore how ten thousand fans are now talking about you and some tattoo artist from Vegas?” He squeezed his eyes shut. “Jesus. I need fresh air.”

The after-show adrenaline was getting to him. The accompanying ton of emotional baggage on top of it was unbearable. He made for the end of the hall, not wanting to take his instability out on her.

“Please don’t be angry with me,” she called after him.

“I’m not angry with you.” He stopped. “But I also can’t pretend like tonight was a walk in the park.”

She strode forward and lowered her voice. “Then take it out on me. It’s my fault. Not Mason’s.”

A derisive scoff escaped his lips.

“Please, Ryan.”

“Fine.”

“Fine?”

“Yep.” He threw his arms up in the air. “I’ll take it out on you. But it’ll be on my bus. Tonight.”

She shook her head. “You know I can’t do that. Especially not now.”

“Then don’t ask me not to take this further with the asshole who humiliated you.”

“Let me get this straight.” She cocked a hand against her hip. “You’re trying to manipulate me to get me on your bus tonight?”

“On my bus. In my bed.” He shrugged. “Either I take it up with you or I take it up with Mason. And I sure as shit won’t be using the same techniques.”

His angry expression subsided with the quirk of her lips.

“I don’t like Mason enough to risk getting caught.”

“Then I’ll take it up with him. Let the fucker know I’ll be waiting on the bus.”

* * *

Leah watched him walk away, her feet refusing to move until he turned the corner and vanished from sight. She’d never cared about the ire she’d previously earned from the guys when she had to make tough band decisions. But this was different. This was emotional and exactly what she needed to remove herself from ASAP.

She dragged herself to the dressing room door and knocked once, not bothering to wait for a response before she walked inside.

“Where’s Mason?”

“Hiding in the shower.” Blake rubbed a towel through his wet hair. He was naked from the waist up, displaying a new tattoo over his collarbone that read “She stole my heart but made me whole,” in delicate font.

“Where’s Ryan?” Sean sank into one of the arm chairs, a clean towel waiting in his lap.

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