Page 71 of Filthy Rock Stars

I crawl on top of him again. “If anyone else touches you, I’ll lose my fucking mind.”

Nico coos under his breath as our legs tangle. “That’s hot.” He hesitates. “Does this mean we’re boyfriends?”

I grin. “I’ve never had a boyfriend before.”

“Really?”

“Yeah.” I stroke the side of his face. “Glad you’re my first.”

We kiss. His tongue flicks my teeth and he nibbles on my lip stud. The warmth of his touch washes over me, and before I know it, I’m losing myself in his body again.

There’s a hell of a lot more to figure out, but this one thing is clear.

Nico is mine, and I’m his, too.

CHAPTERTWENTY-THREE

NICO

Me:For the record, if we were going to have sex in the arena, this would be the spot

I attach a picture of the schematic to the message. I’ve indicated the supply closet that I would select, located in a far corner behind the green rooms, a short hallway that leads to the freight area, the door likely unlockable with the swipe of a credit card.

It’s not like we’re going to actually do this. I’m sitting at a café in Los Angeles, waiting for Fox and Owen, and certainly, I’ll see Shadow at his hotel tonight when we’re both free, not at the arena today.

But talking about it is so fun. Prickles dance across my skin, and a flush rises to my cheeks.

Shadow: Still have the problem of getting you back there

I grin. I love when he texts me back right away.

Me: It’s true that I’ve never factored multiple levels of security into my kink fantasies

Me: But I do love a puzzle!

Fox and Owen approach, and I shove my phone in my bag. They’re both in jeans and T-shirts, casual, and the sun shines bright and warm on the little outdoor café.

They’ve been amazing guides to the city since we arrived yesterday, and Fox has slowly been educating me about the music industry. We met with a publicist, an accountant, an entertainment lawyer, and a couple of his connections in the media world.

Fox explained that I should focus on the music and the artistry, but that it was still important to understand the other dimensions of my new career. I’m not sure he realized that he was opening the door to an endless stream of questions and clarifications, but he’s patiently answered my queries all weekend.

It’s weird that I can’t tell them about Shadow, though. Mare and the band agreed that we would all keep it as private as possible for Shadow’s sake, but especially since Owen and I have been getting closer, I really wish I could turn to these two for advice.

“I grabbed you this brochure at the LA Natural History Museum,” Owen says, sliding it across the table after we place our orders. “I thought you’d appreciate their new exhibits.”

“Thank you!” I take it with a smile. “I wish I had time to join you.”

“Next time,” he says. “I know how exhausting these LA trips can be. I’ve only ever been the boyfriend of the music industry guy, but that alone is enough to make me feel like a total fish out of water.”

“Yeah,” I agree with a sigh. “It’s nothing that I ever planned to learn about, that’s for sure.” I shrug. “Mare, Case, and Star all seem to navigate the industry well.”

Fox grunts and sips his coffee. “I’m very protective of them.”

Owen smiles and leans against his fiancé. “He is,” he agrees. “Fox is cutthroat when it comes to his bands.”

“I still haven’t figured out what to do about this damn Forbidden Destiny problem, though,” Fox grumbles to himself, his frustration palpable. “I wish Mare would give me the go-ahead to fight back.”

Owen squeezes Fox’s arm. “It’s okay, cutie. The band is going to be fine. Mare knows how to handle herself.”

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