Page 39 of Bewitched By the Phantom
“You’re the lullaby laced in a church bell’s chime,” he sings.
“I should flee from the dark, from your velvet deceit,” I scream.
“But your name’s in my marrow, your song’s on repeat,” he finishes.
And then we launch into the chorus again followed by a sick guitar solo that I’d added in. Cynthia plays like a dream as I dance around the stage, rocking out, until Erik and I lean our backs against each other and make both of our electric guitars scream.
I’m so lost in the song, so lost in him, I don’t even realize the song is over until we’re both panting hard, staring at each other over the mic after the final verse, our breaths mingling with each other. The small crowd finally trickles into my reality as they cheer and whistle. The other bands are watching nervously, their resentment powerful enough to feel even in the open room.
We leave the stage, and the moment we’re in the back, Ted appears with a bright grin. “Look at these numbers! You two are going viral!” He points to the screen and my eyes bug out.
“What?” I gasp.
“The label is eating this up,” Ted nods. “You kids did great.”
When all the bands have sang their duets, Erik sits on an amp, unconcerned as we wait for the results. There will be no going back and forth this time. The label will announce the top three bands right after the performances. Our numbers play a big part in it this time, and though Erik seems unconcerned, I can’t bring myself to be so dismissive. This is it. If we don’t make it, this was all for nothing.
“And your final three bands are . . .” the announcer says on the stage. He pops open a piece of paper and scans it. “Not surprising. Cadaver Cantata. Angels Bleed Mercury. And Hell Hath Honey. Congrats to our top three!”
Claudia starts to scream beside me, but my eyes are wide as I stare at the results, as the cameras zoom in on us. Erik smirks as my band cheers around me, and when I meet his eyes, he winks at me. Ever the smooth lover boy.
Fuck. If I’m not careful, I’m going to celebrate in his arms tonight.
Hell, maybe I shouldn’t be careful.
“We did it!” Claudia shouts. “We fucking did that!”
“One sec,” I tell her, and then before I think better of it, I close the distance between Erik and I throw my arms around his neck. As the cameras zoom in on us, I press my lips to his. His arms come around me, lifting me off my feet. And then with the world still watching, he stands and carries me away.
I hear we go triple viral after that. I don’t know. I wasn’t paying much attention once our clothes came off.
Chapter
Twenty-One
Iwake up the next morning to frantic knocking on Erik’s apartment door. I peek my eyes open and take in a shirtless, masked Erik before grumbling and nestling deeper into his velvet bed sheets. The knocking is jarring in the relative silence of his room.
“You expecting company?” I grumble, annoyed when the knocking gets louder.
“Not when I have you here in my arms,” he muses. “One of the others will open it.”
On cue, I hear someone else grumbling outside Erik’s door. It sounds like his drummer. “I’m coming. I’m coming,” he snarls. I hear the door open. “What the fuck?—”
“Where is she?”
I sigh. Unfortunately, that’s a voice I recognize all too well.
“Chris! Where are you?” Raoul shouts outside the room. It sounds like someone tries to stop him, probably the drummer, but it turns into a scuffle, before the bedroom door flies open and Raoul is revealed standing there in the doorway.
Normally, I’d rush to cover up my clear nudity, but my breasts are covered so I don’t bother moving. Raoul takes onelook at me wrapped in Erik’s arms and clearly naked, and his face flushes red.
“I can’t believe you came here after what I told you,” he growls aggressively. “You’re smarter than that, Chris.”
I raise my brow at him, but don’t bother moving. “Did you come in here to insult me or is there a real reason you’re here?”
Raoul’s face flushes scarlet. “I told you he isn’t what he says he is.”
“I don’t know,” I muse. “He feels pretty human to me.”
