Page 133 of Cadence
“I swear you’re giving me premature grey hairs,” Thea mutters before straightening. “Okay, you’re both consenting adults and as long as this isn’t going to be an issue for the band…”
“We’ve spoken about it, and the band is our top priority,” I say firmly, readying myself to tell her what Maddox and I discussed last night. “My mom went over the contract with us, and it’s ironclad. There’s no mention of Paige Deveraux being linked to Sip Station anywhere, and we want it to stay that way.”
Thea nods, waiting for me to continue.
“Deveraux can never be mentioned. In terms of the band, I’m only ever an Erikson. Yes, there will be people out there who know who I am, but we want Sip Station to be as removed fromPaige Deverauxas possible.” I glance at Maddox, and he nods, linking our fingers together as I keep going. “It sounds stupid, I know, but…”
“No, I get it,” Thea interrupts. “Nepotism isn’t something we want to be associated with the band anyway, but with how much Reign’s tour has been a success for you all, I highly doubt it would.” She inhales deep and heads toward the door. “But I understand. No involvement, no backdoor deals, no hidden credits. Deveraux stays completely out of it.”
My shoulders relax, some of the tension seeping out of them. “Thank you.”
Thea looks between us once more. “Contract aside, I’m glad you two finally worked things out, just…keep it clean when you’re in practice, okay? I already have Eli to keep an eye on; I don’t think I could handle a scandal with you two as well.”
“I’m shockingly well-behaved these days,” he teases, looking at me with a smirk.
“You’re shockingly full of shit,” Thea rebuffs, opening the door and disappearing back into the hall as it shuts behind her, and we watch as she reappears on the other side of the glass. I start to follow after her, pausing with my fingers curling around the handle and turning back, my head tilting when I see he hasn’t moved.
“You coming?”
“You know,” he drawls, stepping in close, hands sliding to my hips as he backs me up until I’m lifted onto the desk. “I’m getting déjà vu. The last time we were in here, I remember you saying you could make yourself come quicker than ten minutes and twenty-three seconds.”
He dips his head to my neck, kissing lightly at the sensitive spot between my throat and shoulder.
“You remembering the exact length of time of that recording should be worrying,” I breathe out through a laugh.
“I’ll always remember the playtime of my favorite track.”
Claiming my mouth, he pushes between my legs, spreading them wider, the taste of lust on his lips almost as addictive as his desperation. He slides his hands up my thighs, fingers practically shaking the closer he gets to the button at my waistband, ready to flick it open when there’s a loud thud on the window.
“Will you keep it in your pants?” Eli grins through the glass. “Anyone would’ve thought you’d never had a girlfriend before with how horny you are.”
Laughing, my head drops to Maddox’s shoulder, hiding my embarrassment.
“Come on, we should get back.” Hopping down off the desk, I link my hand in his, tugging him toward the door. “We’ve got the final show to practice for.”
We step back into the studio, and the second we cross the threshold, it’s like nothing has changed. The amps are humming, Beau’s tuning his guitar and Eli’s cradling his bass like it’s a newborn baby. Thea sits at the table, typing furiously into her laptop, pausing only to push up her glasses or flip through a page in the contract.
“You two finally done defiling every room you enter?” Eli teases, and I feel my cheeks heat. “Or do you need longer to dry hump on the controls?”
“Please don’t say dry hump,” Beau cringes.
“I’m a bit scared about how obsessed Eli is with all of this,” I mutter, heading to my bag to grab my sticks.
“I’m just happy.” He grins. “You two are together, the band has a record deal, soon we’re heading to Europe… In fact…”
He sets down his bass and jumps to his feet, grabbing Beau’s arm suddenly, barreling toward us.
“Group hug!”
“No, wait—”
He crashes into me, somehow with Maddox in tow, shoving us all together in a crash of limbs and elbows, and I’m sure a hand that isn’t Maddox’s lands on my ass.
“Just watch out that Maddox’s trouser snake doesn’t bite you,” Eli adds at full volume right in my ear.
“When will you grow up?” Beau grumbles, head under his arm.
Thea laughs from somewhere behind us, just as a flicker of light flashes. “I’m posting this to your socials.”
