Page 5 of Feral Touch
“Ah.” Only a single sound escaped Natalie’s mouth as she stared at his retreating back, stars in her eyes.
I took in a deep breath of autumn air to steady myself. That man had almost too much presence. How the hell were these guys able to make us act like giggling tweens?
My friends were still caught up in Jayce’s wake, so I was the only one to see the bassist slip through the crowd. His back was to me, long black hair falling over his shoulders. He signed several autographs and took a few selfies with the girls opposite me.
I got the urge to shout his name and get his attention. I was just as caught up in the fangirl atmosphere as my friends. I realized then that I still didn’t know his name.
He turned around, a pleased smile on his face.
Time stopped.
My body turned cold, then hot, then cold again. My limbs trembled, going weak. I forgot how to breathe. At that moment, air didn’t seem important.
His eyes roved over the hoard of waving and shouting girls, trying to decide who to approach next.
Would he see me, or would he skim over me as if I was one of a million girls, just like all the rest?
His eyes met mine. His mouth dropped, face turning pale. Bloodless lips moved silently, but no words came out.
We stood there for several long seconds staring at each other in shock. My muscles locked up. I couldn’t move.
He took a step forward, then another. The fans noticed our staring contest and swung their heads between us, questions in their eyes and frowns on their faces.
He stopped when he was barely two feet away from me. I had to crane my head up to face him. Had he always been this tall?
The spell Jayce had cast on Natalie and Jen broke as they turned back and saw the bass guitarist of Feral Silence standing right in front of me. Jen jumped back, startled, and Natalie brought her hands to her mouth. I saw them gaping at us out of the corner of my eye, but I was too wrapped up in the tall man to care.
Finally, I managed to make my vocal chords work.
“Ren?” I asked, hesitant, not sure if I was making this all up in my head.
“Ivy?” he replied, voice filled with wonder.
I nodded once. The expression on his face melted slowly from surprise to joy, eyes shining brightly, a smile turning up the corners of his lips. He let out a sharp bark of a laugh. I followed suit, bringing both hands to my chest and pressing my palms against my heart. I could feel it pumping madly even through my layers of clothing.
“How… why…?” I started, but couldn’t finish a single sentence.
“I just— I didn’t—” he started. He couldn’t seem to make himself speak in coherent sentences either. He finally just shook his head and asked in disbelief, “What are you doing here?”
“My friends dragged me out to see some famous rock band.” I quirked a grin and he returned it.
“I never thought I’d see you—”
Before he could finish, a bodyguard turned up at his side and began to shuffle him through the crowd.
“No, wait—” Ren protested, but the bodyguard didn’t listen and continued to manhandle him toward the limo.
“Sorry sir, we’re running late and the crowd is starting to get out of control.”
Ren turned back to me one last time before he was dumped into the vehicle. I caught a final glimpse of his pale face, dark eyes still wide and disbelieving, before the door was slammed closed. It took off seconds later.
I stood there, frozen.
Jen and Natalie immediately went into overdrive, tugging at my sleeve and peppering me with questions.
“Ivy! What the hell was that?”
“How did Ren know your name?”
