Page 126 of Whirlwind

Her eyes searched mine. “Did you like it? Did you … do stuff?”

“Yes, and yes.”

Her teeth scraped her lip again as she sucked in air. To steel herself? “Intoxicating, huh?”

“Powerful stuff. There aren’t any shoulds and should nots, no judgements. Only choices. And no consequences other than pleasure. What do you say, Ms. Hildebrand?”

“Are you daring me?”

“I don’t think I need to, do I?” I kissed her jaw, her lips parted. I took her mouth and kissed her slowly, my tongue thrusting against hers. “Are you getting wet just thinking about it?”

A soft noise escaped her damp lips, and she shivered as she pressed into my side, her fingers tightening over her camera strap.

One of Kaspar’s men appeared at my side. “Mr. Lanier? It’s time.”

“Thank you.” I turned to Violet and kissed her again. “Have a good time out there. And get good shots of me.”

She brought me back in and kissed me hard and quick. “I will.”

Kaspar was onstage, his sonic rhythms thundering through the club, electrifying the fans. The crowd was a wave of jubilation, dancing, jumping, hands in the air. He was their Jam Master and they lived for whatever he created for them.

Tag jumped onstage and hugged Kaspar, and the crowd roared. Lars was up there filming the two of them dancing, egging on the crowd for rhythmic cheers. Tag grabbed a mic and went to the edge of the stage and greeted the crowd. “Hey, motherfuckers!”

“Hey!” the crowd shouted back. “Hey! Hey!”

I spotted Violet behind her camera up front. She was utterly still and focused while the people around her were crazed, hopping and dancing.

“I’m so thrilled to be here with you to party with Kaspar!” Tag said into the microphone. “Tonight Kaspar has two special guests who I think you all know….”

The crowd hooted and cheered. Kaspar’s cohorts jacked the music up and Kaspar joined Tag center stage. They both hopped up and down in time with the music. The crowd grew wilder, the music stronger.

“Let’s do this!” Tag roared, and Kaspar jumped up to his platform as Tag hopped off the stage.

The synth blazed over the speakers, then lowered. The lights lasered and flashed, and the sexy, primal beats of Andoni’stouberlékifilled the night. I closed my eyes and listened to the powerful magic of those beats twisting around us, that melodic, hard driving beat that filled me. It was a call, strong and true. My heart drummed in my chest. Ready for anything. Ready for everything.

Kaspar flew in, his notes exploding, and Andoni swiftly kept pace.

4-3-2-1

I hit my first chords, and a spot light flooded over me. My fingers moved quickly over my strings as I dove into my solo.

“Oh my God!” Shouts and yells and hoots filled the air as I played. I raised my head and grinned at the audience. They cheered. “Beck! Beck! Beck!”

Andoni dove back in, and Kaspar slid around us with an exultant verse. Our playing warring, defying, melding. I jammed toward my final notes, my hand flying in the air. I threw my pick at the audience. Andoni’s drum insisted, keeping pace with the relentless pulse of Kaspar’s final notes.

That rush hit me, washing through me, and I grinned, waving at the audience. I went over to Kaspar and we high-fived with both hands, a big hug. Andoni took a bow and we hugged Greek style, with a kiss on each cheek. Together we waved to the crowd one last time and darted offstage.

Fresh music exploded from the massive speakers. I wiped back my sweaty hair as I searched the front lines of the audience at the edge of the stage.There she is.Violet, her camera in one hand, face flushed, gleaming eyes on me. I lifted my chin at her, my hand in the air, my heart swelling, pounding fiercely.

Heat swirled in my body, needling over my skin as I grinned back at her. Tonight we shared the adrenaline rush.

This was different from me being with the guys and our crew when we finished a set. I had no guys. I had no crew. It was just me and my guitar and my girl and her camera.

She was here, she was in it. She knew.

Violet’s grin grew wider, her hands up in the air, applauding. The dynamic flash of colored laser lights, the loud, intense rhythms swirled with the throb of the crowd. One cyclone of light, music, and sensation. A soundtrack to us.

She pushed through the front line, to the edge of the stage where Lars stood. She got his attention and he hitched her up over the side. Gripping her camera, she rushed at me. Shifting my guitar to my side, I held out my arms, and she crashed into me. We held on tight.

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