Page 3 of Exactly What I Needed
Tattoos inked upon both arms, started on his fingers, then disappeared under his black T-shirt and reappeared upon his neck.
Everywhere.
He was as ethereal looking as his voice sounded.
Heart thrilling in anticipation, the hair on the back of my neck rose. The music, as deafening as expected, slithered down my spine as my thoughts became entranced by the poetic lyrics and his angelic voice of death.
His black jogger-like pants billowed in the smoky breeze when he stepped up to the mic and roared the most intoxicating scream. Sydney’s fingers ripped my arm upward as she shrieked in delight, reaching toward the singer. I followed her piercing blue gaze as she shook even harder, grasping for him—begging for even an ounce of his attention.
A chill stole down my spine as my eyes met his glowing amber gaze.
It was intense and fierce.
And locked onto me.
I shook my head, stitching my brows together. He wasn’t staring at me. No, it had to be Sydney or Megan or Tera. Or any of the other girls around me he was staring at.
Not me.
But I couldn’t seem to look away, to break that stare. His wide-set jaw moved, evenly proportioned to that mouth that was producing the strangest, most beautiful notes I’d ever heard. Not lip syncing either. I recognized the difference between something pre-recorded versus sung inperson. There were no other words in the dictionary that described his voice other thanhaunting.
Like Velcro, his gaze latched with mine; his dark, pronounced brows twitched, and he tipped his head sideways.
I subconsciously mirrored his movement, and he stalked me with his hunter’s eyes.
Every shallow breath drawn into my lungs grated across the tangible cord entwining between us. The music danced amongst the screaming crowd, and he continued flawlessly without missing a beat. But for me, everything except his voice faded away. The lead and bass guitarists playing behind him disappeared, the drummer drifted into the breeze, leaving a once-crowded stage completely empty. The bodies scrunched up beside me took flight. A single spotlight rested on the lone man on a hollow stage. Darkness swallowed me, yet his rich gaze drank me in.
I stared.
He stared.
Chills snaked across my skin.
This was unreal. Not happening. I’d read the books, heard the stories, but that wasn’t me. I was comfortable being in the background, a supporting character. This was Sydney’s night. She had dragged me here, and yet, it wasmehe stared at. It was my figure that he lapped up.
No. It couldn’t be.
Choking down some air, I clenched my jaw and scrunched my eyes closed. There was no way this famous rock star or metal star or whatever he was considered was staring solely at me. Never before had my own body betrayed me with such obvious longing as it was right now. This schoolgirlcrush was simply that—hormones flooding my system as a reaction to the environment I was in.
Hesitantly, I pried my eyes open. Relief escaped my lungs as the world morphed back into reality around me. I’d merely imagined it. He no longer looked down at me, no longer focused on what I was doing. His eyes once again swept across the crowd, entertaining them. His movements, his fingers, as erotic as ever.
Beside me, Sydney’s screams lowered. Her excitement dimmed, and she swayed in rhythm beside me. I hoped for all that mattered thatifhe had been staring, it had been at her. It had to have been at her.
For the rest of the concert, I focused on enjoying the music and tried to forget what I thought had happened. Which was easy. Every time he looked our way, I slipped behind Sydney and breathed in relief as his gaze would focus in on her. She squealed in absolute delight and whacked at any of our friends who were near her.
I was happy for her, excited even. This lead singer noticed my best friend, and she’d noticed he’d noticed her. As the concert closed in on the ending, another bubble of excitement burst in my stomach. Sydney would get to meet the members of this band in just a few minutes.
But there was a small part of me, buried deep and hidden in a box that I couldn’t keep away, tugging me toward him. His movements, the way he gripped his mic and danced across the stage, the way his muscled but lean body twisted, made me shiver. I shouldn’t be feeling this or thinking this. He was a famous singer, and I was a nobody. The character that was there to fill in space and maybe help the main character get the guy.
Despite knowing my place, I couldn’t help but admit, he was captivating.
Like every other famous person.
Sighing, I let that small ember die and simply continued to enjoy the music. I cheered and grinned—for Sydney. I clapped and danced along with the music—for Sydney.
And once the band finished, eventually disappearing from the cheering fans and stage, the stadium lights flashed on. Slowly, the crowd began to fade from the building.
Our passes had us waiting, however, since we would follow a different route to meet the members of the band. All seven girls I was with danced in place, squealing and giggling in excitement.
