Page 76 of Doesn't Count

“See you there.” He hangs up.

I groan, stepping out of the cab and into the bar with Sam.

“What’s going on?” She asks.

“I haven’t heard from Blane since I started the tour and now he wants to come check out the show... I’m kind of freaking out. I just slept with the lead singer, what if he finds out?” I panic.

“It’s not written on your forehead, Ash. He doesn’t have to know.” She laughs.

The cab parks in front of the bar, letting us out.

“What if Khaos says something to him?” I worry as the hostess greets us and shows us to our table.

We slide into the booth next to each other, dismissing her with a smile.

“Tell him not to. He has to understand that this is still your job.” Sam rationalizes.

“I guess we’ll find out.”

Buzzed and satiated after a five-star meal, we pull up to the Aragon Ballroom. Flashing our passes, we’re ushered in and headed straight for the green room.

Immediately, Sam finds Hypnos throwing herself at him, their mouths instantly connecting. I watch, curiously andwonder if that’s what Khaos and I look like when we kiss. There’s an air of playfulness to the two of them like they’re so carefree with their actions, unafraid to let the other too far in.

My fingers subconsciously find my lips, still puffy and bruised from earlier today. Nothing about Khaos and I are playful or carefree. Everything is terrifying and intense.

Black painted arms wrap around my center, my body stiffening.

“What’s wrong?” Khaos croons in my ear, nipping at my neck.

“My boss is coming tonight. I don’t think he should know about us. I don’t want to lose this job.” I peel myself away from him.

“Why would you lose your job?” He counters.

“For unprofessionalism. Please?” I begin to beg, worry settling in deep. “Just while he’s here.”

Khaos mulls it over, a part of him itching to disregard my instinct to deny us, “Okay.”

My eyes perk up, “Yeah?”

He nods, “Yeah. I’ll pretend for just one night that I didn’t just fuck you for hours while you screamed my name over and over and over-”

“Oh my God! I get it.” I laugh, smacking his naked chest, black paint coming away with my hand.

Just as he’s about to grab my waist to pull me in for one last kiss, Blane Pieters walks up behind us. I push him away instantly and spin on my heels.

“Hey boss!” I clear my throat.

“Ashton, how’s it going over here?” He smiles, looking from me to Khaos.

“Great! Let me introduce you to the band members.” I move out of the way.

“Blane, this is Khaos, the lead singer.”

They shake hands before I introduce him to the rest of the band members.

“I hope you guys don’t mind if I hang out, watch the show. I’ve been keeping up on the Inside Genius blog that Ashton writes, so I feel like I know a little bit about each of you. How has everything been going?” His tone can charm a snake out of its hole.

Kokytos chuckles, “It’s been... interesting, but we’re really happy to have Ash on board.”

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