Page 2 of Within Shadows
“Holy shit, was he looking at us?” Jess squeals, nearly ripping my arm from its socket as she drags me to follow the security guards as they wave us forward. We are the first ones to step into the room backstage, and my tongue becomes thick and hard to swallow when we step into the brightly lit room. Knox is sitting in a massive armchair, with sweat still dripping from his chin and neck as his breathing slows. His head is turned towards me as Jess and I nervously shuffle closer, and he tilts his head once again while his eyes devour every inch of me. For the first time tonight, nerves rise as I fidget in my fishnet bodysuit, with a ripped band tee overtop and cut-off black shorts.
Jess nudges me forward and begins babbling to the drummer as he watches her and nods along to her chatter.
“Maeve?” Knox mutters, reading my badge, and I swear his voice shoots right between my thighs and tries to buckle my knees. I give an awkward wave and step closer. “Hi, huge fan. Obviously.” I laugh and immediately start flicking my eyes around the simple room to look for an exit.
“Trying to run away already, little muse?” He murmurs the words, leaning forward to rest his elbows on his knees. The mask is still firmly in place, with his black hood pulled up and hiding his hair. Jess bumps me again, and I stumble forward, nearly tripping over my oversized black boots.
Massive, warm hands are on me before I can make a fool of myself, and a squeak peels from my throat. I’m staring right at a painted red handprint on a very bare chest. The smell of sweat combined with his cologne steals away any sense as I clench my thighs and look up to stare at the black holes in the mask where his eyes should be.
“Not so steady, are we?” he rumbles, a chuckle coming from him as he keeps his grip on my waist. “You’re taller than I expected.” The words blurt out as I stare, and Jess snickers behind me. When I shoot her a glare over my shoulder, Knoxyanks me down to sit on the arm of his chair as he resumes his seat. My hand lands on his shoulder to balance myself, and I wrench it away like he’s burnt me.
I can feel the amusement radiating off of him, and I’m overly aware of every breath I take. Words have died on my tongue as we stare at each other, and Jess snaps her fingers in front of my face to get my attention.
“Al is going to show me how to play the drums. Wanna come watch?” she asks, smirking as she looks at how close the two of us are.
“I think we’re fine where we are,” Knox dismisses her without looking away from me. His gaze is burning right into my cheek, and I try to stand, but he still holds my waist with his arm draped around me. I awkwardly wave her off, and Jess excitedly turns to follow them out of a side door. I open my mouth and close it as she runs off and leaves the two of us locked in another stare down. Everyone is now gone, and I jump from my seat. This time, Knox lets me as he interlocks his fingers behind his head to stretch.
“Any questions, little muse?” He uses that nickname for me again. “Or do you prefer to have a staring contest for the rest of your visit? I don’t mind either way.” His voice is rough from the strain of singing, and it makes my body flush, but I try to compose myself.
“I just don’t know what to say,” I answer honestly.
“Are you local?” he asks me, the question catching me off guard as I nod. “Use your words, muse,” he says, his voice dripping with authority.
“Yes,” I say quickly.
“Good girl. Have you been to one of our shows before?” My eyes nearly bulge from those first two words, and I swallow hard.
“Not really, I’m in college and really busy and broke a lot, which that’s just life, right? My parents gave me these passes asa gift.” I ramble and laugh nervously when he chuckles, shaking his head. “You are amusing,” he says.
“Can you take the mask off?” I ask, my voice nearly a whisper, and the moment it's out, I wish I could take it back. His shoulders tense as he curls his finger for me to step between his feet, and like a moth to a flame, I do.
“Next question.”
“But you didn’t answer—”
“The answer is no. Next question.” His voice is stern, and I sigh as I try to come up with any questions, but my brain seems to have forgotten everything I have ever wanted to know about this man. “What’s your favorite food?” I ask stupidly.
“It was pizza, but I feel like that’s going to change soon.” His gaze once again roams down to stop at the top of my thighs, and I clench them together without thinking. His grip tightens on the armrest as he flicks his eyes back to mine.
“Are you uncomfortable standing there, Maeve?” he asks, and I shake my head from side to side. He taps his thigh, and I stare, completely dumbfounded. “Sit, now,” he demands, waving a hand at my boots. “Those aren’t comfortable.” He shifts his foot and nods towards his own boots. “You need something more sturdy. You can’t run in those.”
“It’s a good thing I’m not going jogging anytime soon,” I say.
“I said running,” he corrects and taps his thigh again, harder this time. “Sit,” he demands. I cross my arms and stare down at him. “Listen, I’m not some horny groupie.” I scoff and try to step away. He hooks a single finger through the front of my belt loops and yanks me so close I can feel his breath on my chest.
“No, you’re not. I promise to behave myself, I just want to touch you.” The words are soft, spoken gently, and like an idiot, I allow him to pull me close again. I slowly sit on his thigh, and he nods. “Good girl.” His voice is raw and deep again, and I tense.“Stop saying that.” I nearly hiss the words before clearing my throat.
“We’re going to have so much fun, my muse. You are fucking divine.” The words make me squirm, and his grip tightens on my hip. His other hand lands on my thigh, squeezing as he slides his hand higher.
His laughter is low as he watches me with those unnerving bright eyes that catch the light as it filters through the fabric behind the mask. He motions to the rolled poster peeking from my bag, and I pull it out with shaking hands, sticking it in front of him.
“Would you mind signing this?” I ask, tucking my hair behind my ear as he watches me. Knox wordlessly signs the paper as I lean closer to see what he’s writing.My muse.The flattery of the nickname fades when I realize he must be this way to every fan that hovers with a backstage pass outside the door. I feel like an idiot as I hastily get to my feet, muttering a thank you as I step towards the door Jess had exited through earlier.
“Our passes are only for ten minutes.” As I say that, Jess comes back into the room with a starry-eyed look, her lower lip clamped firmly between her teeth as she wiggles her eyebrows at me.
“Best birthday ever?” Jess bumps her hip against mine as she comes up to interlock her arm with mine. I laugh and nod, my eyes catching Knox as he stands up, towering over me.
“It’s your birthday?” he asks, tilting his head. Jess nods excitedly and nudges me towards him again.
