Page 76 of Filthy Rock Stars

I cup Nico’s face as he gasps for breath. “You good?”

He grins. “It’s like the scared part of me and the horny part of me fused together.”

I press my forehead to his. “Hot,” I growl and pull him into a kiss, tongues swirling.

There’s no one around, but we’re careful and quiet as we grope our way behind a huge concrete pillar. I work Nico’s cock, the catsuit unzipped and shoved off his shoulders to give me access. He writhes his ass to my erection and manages to push the suit aside, and, with the help of a condom, spit, and his own precum, I fuck him in the cavernous, dark space.

His breath hitches, shallow and needy. My hand plays in the loose leather until I find his cock, and we ride each other’s convulsions until we climax together, the bliss of the orgasm eclipsing every other thought.

Except one thought, that is.

For the first time in my life, I’ve fallen in love.

We clean up, and I press my lips to his ear. “You’re the most beautiful man in the world,” I tell him.

Nico laughs and spins to kiss me. “It’s the setting. Dirty concrete is my color.”

I laugh. “And the sharpest wit.” I kiss him again, the compliments spilling out because I can’t say what I want to say, the dizzying reality that I love him. “Best taste in sci-fi novels. Most talented fingers, on the keyboard and other places.”

Nico laughs again. “Sweet-talker,” he says, then blinks. “Don’t you have to get on stage soon?”

As though to answer his question, the very large metal door across from us creaks. It groans, and then, very slowly, it begins to open.

I spin Nico, pulling him around the column as my pulse spikes. “Oh shit.”

He peeks over my shoulder. “The line!” he yelps.

When I look, I see that the line for the wildly popular rock fest has indeed wrapped all the around to the back of the arena, countless fans assembled just outside the garage.

My brain racing, the need to protect him rising up, I give Nico one last kiss. “Don’t worry. I got this.”

“You do?”

I point in the opposite direction, the far corner of the garage. “You see that emergency exit? I’ll cause a distraction. When you get the chance, make a run for it.”

Nico gives me an uncertain look, but shrugs, accepting it as he fixes his face mask. “Okay.”

I don’t want to go. I just realized that I’m in love with him, and leaving him hurts. But we’ve clearly dodged a bullet here, and he’s right. I’m due on stage.

“You got it from here? You got money for a car and everything?”

He smiles and lifts his backpack. “Yeah. I got it. Thanks, Shadow. And I hope you have a good show.”

I smile, my heart in my throat. “Thousands of screaming fans, and I’ll only be able to hear your voice.”

Before he can say anything else, I push my hand through my hair and walk toward the crowd. I keep a fast pace right up until someone spots me, screaming out my name, and the fans immediately react.

The crowd swarms me. The truck that was apparently trying to back up into the garage gets blocked, and I go into celebrity mode. I flash a cocky smile around, take some photos, sign some autographs, all eyes on me.

And in the shadows behind us, the man I love gets away, safe for at least one more day.

CHAPTERTWENTY-FOUR

NICO

Back in Seattle,the band invites me out for lunch at their favorite sushi place. Everyone is waiting for me in a big private room in the rear, and even though they’re as kind and welcoming as always, the back of my neck itches with anxiety, knowing the conversation to come.

It’s not until we finish the meal that Mare, Case, and Star all exchange a glance.

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