Devil’s Muse (Devil’s Halo #1)

Chapter 1

Chapter One

Lily

Shoot Tequila

Tigirlily Gold

“I really don’t want to do this, Bri.” I stand outside the double doors of a hotel suite, the soul of my sneakered foot scuffing back and forth across the floor as I plead to my best friend.

“Of course you do!” She rolls her eyes, always the dramatic one, then continues. “I mean, how often do you personally get invited to an actual rock and roll party, and by a member of one of the biggest bands in the world? You are coming with me, whether you want to or not!”

“But he invited you, not me.” I point at myself. “I wasn’t even there when he asked you. How do you know it’s okay for me to come?”

Bri chuffs, again with another eye roll. “Lily, it’s a fucking party thrown by rock stars. I’m pretty sure they’re going to be okay with another hot chick in attendance.”

Before I can utter another protest, she knocks on one of the doors. It opens almost immediately, as if someone was standing there waiting, and oh shit, listening to our entire conversation. I’m already mortified, and we haven’t even walked into the room yet.

A big man, dressed all in black, analyzes us both with a hard stare. “Who are you here with?”

“Yeah, um, Dean invited me.” She tosses a glance my way, remembering to include me in the mix. “Us. He invited us. Said to come to this room.” All the confidence she exuded a moment ago, fading away as she rambles on. “You know, the guitar player for Devil’s Halo.”

“I know who Dean is.” The man deadpans. Not exactly the friendliest dude. “What’s your name?”

“Briana. Briana Chambers.” Like a last name really matters right now.

“Hold on.” The door shuts in our faces.

“See?” I shuffle away from the door. “We should go. I told you this was a bad idea.”

“Will you stop it! Why are you being such-” Her question cut short when the door opens, Dean now standing beside the man in black.

“There you are, you little fox.” Dean flirts with Bri. “I’ve been waiting for you.” He grabs her hand, tugging her to his side, his lips planting a kiss against her cheek. “Now the fun can really begin.”

Bri’s face glows, her cheeks coloring a faint pink as her entire body leans into his, her arm sliding around his back. He pivots them both into the room, Bri’s free hand launching out to grasp onto my arm, dragging me behind her. “This is my friend, Lily.”

His eyes peruse over me, his head nodding as the corner of his mouth tilts up in a coy grin. “Cool. I’m game if you are.”

I skid to a stop as it clicks that he thinks I’m there to join them for a threesome. I yank my arm out of Bri’s grip, my eyes widening as I mouth, “no way” to her.

“It’s just going to be me and you, if that’s okay handsome?” My heart slows its roll as Bri slithers under his arm, pressing her mostly exposed breasts against his chest.

“More than okay.” He purrs, and as if it were even possible, his grin cocks up into one more wicked than a moment ago. “Let’s get you ladies a drink.”

His arm drapes over Bri’s shoulders as he steers us further into the suite, straight toward a bar that’s set up in the back of an adjoining room.

It’s enormous, complete with a marble top and leather stools.

It sits in front of a bank of twenty-foot-tall windows that overlook the strip, lights twinkling brightly.

Every imaginable liquor is displayed behind the bar, lit up underneath in a cool neon red, compliments of a glass LED shelf.

“What’ll be ladies?” Dean flashes another easy smile our way as he nods toward the row of choices.

“Tequila shots all around!” Bri shouts, my brow shooting up to my hairline as I curl my fingers around her wrist and squeeze.

Her gaze meets mine, the look she delivers making it very clear I better just shut up and drink. I glare back at her, silently conveying that she’s going to owe me big time, releasing the vice grip I have on her. The things we do for our best friends.

“You heard her, Eddie,” Dean chuckles. “Line ‘em up!”

The bartender, who we now know as Eddie, places three shot glasses on the bar and fills them to the brim. A second later, there’s a shaker of salt and three wedges of lime next to them.

Dean grins broadly, then lifts his hand to his mouth, his tongue darting out as he presses it flat against the base of his thumb knuckle, before dragging it lazily up to the bottom of the next knuckle.

His eyes remain locked on Bri the entire time, his intention with the single action amplified with a salacious wink as he sprinkles the shaker onto his dampened skin.

He licks the trail of salt left behind, then raises the shot, tossing his head back, swallowing the clear liquid in one gulp. His lips pull back to expose a small grimace before swapping the glass for a wedge of lime, which he promptly squeezes between his teeth. “Fuck yeah!”

His attention swings back to us, frowning when he notices neither of us have taken our shot. “What are you waiting for? Giddy up ladies! Knock those suckers back!”

Bri tilts her head to me with a shrug, a wide smile lifting her cheeks as she snags the shot off the counter, taps it against mine before tipping it to her mouth to gulp it down.

I immediately follow suit, not wanting to catch one moment of shit from her for even a second of hesitation, my eyes watering as the tequila burns a trail of heat from my throat to my stomach. I snatch a lime off the counter and suck hard hoping to quell the fire, but it honestly doesn’t help much.

“That’s what I’m talking about!” Dean hollers as he slaps his palm onto the bar. “Another round, Eddie.”

My eyes pop wide at the prospect of doing back-to-back shots of tequila within the span of five minutes, and I shake my head in protest.

“I’m good.” I direct my attention to Eddie. “I’ll just have a beer.”

“Awe, come on, Lily.” Bri protests as I snatch the offered bottle off the bar and start backing up. “Let your hair down a little and have some fun!”

“Yeah, what she said.” Dean leans over Bri, propping his chin on her shoulder as he slides his arms around her waist. “The fun’s just getting started.”

“I’m good.” I keep backing up, the space between us growing, my eyes darting to the left and right as I try to determine the best escape route, my progress thwarted as I collide into a solid object.

I flinch, freezing in place as warm hands land on the exposed skin above the waist of my skirt, fingers gripping my hips lightly.

“Did someone mention fun?” A deep, raspy voice asks from behind, warm breath against my ear a second later as he whispers. “Careful kitten, you might be running into more trouble, than away from it.”

I spin around, his hold loosening enough for me to do so, but not letting go, and I find myself staring up into the most beautiful eyes I’ve ever seen.

They’re brown, but not just any brown. They look like the color of whiskey, reminding me of the time I stood on the edge of the Grand Canyon as the sun was setting, the cliffs a staggering display of warm brown hues.

They’re framed by dark, full lashes, blinking lazily as he stares back at me. The corners start to crinkle as a smile lifts his cheeks. He chuckles then, the vibration from his chest startling me into awareness.

I attempt to move away from him, my face heating under his intensity, but his grip tightens, holding me as his prisoner.

“I thought we were about to have some fun.” He’s practically growling, his voice still low as he addresses me.

“What?” I stammer, yanking myself free of his grasp, stumbling a bit as I do. “I-I was just going to find a bathroom.”

“You need some help with that?” Mr. Whiskey Eyes continues to torment me with his raspy voice and attention.

“Luc, leave the girl alone and come join us for a shot.” Dean intervenes, motioning for him with a wave of his arm.

“But she’s so pretty.” He peers down at me, an almost feral smile flashing my way before addressing Dean. “Are you sure I can’t play with her?”

“She’s not a toy, asshole.” Dean admonishes with a shake of his head. “Get your ass over here and do a shot with us.”

“The bathroom’s that way.” He points to the left as he saunters by me, his scent, cedar and smoke and spice trailing in his wake as I continue to gawk at his beauty.

“Lily?” Bri’s voice snaps me out of the trance I’ve fallen into. “You good?”

“Yep.” I give a little wave as I turn to the left. “I’ll find you later. Or text me when you’re ready.” I don’t bother waiting for a reply as I scurry away, my skin still tingling from his touch. What in all things holy was that? Or better yet, who?

Miraculously, I find the bathroom without further help and secure myself inside, turning the lock before I slump against the door. Why in the hell did I let Bri talk me into going to this party?

I thought I was being pretty damn nice by agreeing to go to the concert of a band I didn’t even know, let alone like, for that matter, but to end up at an after party they’re throwing? Complete and utter mistake on my part.

I heave out a breath as I push myself upright, then use the toilet and wash my hands. I glare back at my reflection in the mirror over the sink, knowing I can’t be angry at anyone but myself over the predicament I’m in.

I know from past experiences that if Bri wants something, she’s going to get it. And holy Hell, she had wanted Dean Ross, the lead guitar player of Devil’s Halo, for as long as I could remember.

Not going to lie, the guy was pretty damn nice to look at, but hooking up with someone from a famous rock band-no thank you. God knows what kind of medication she’s going to need after tonight. Hard pass.

A knock on the door startles me back to reality. “One second,” I call out, then unlock the door and stride back out into the unknown. I nod at a guy waiting in the hall. “All yours.”

I wander in the opposite direction of the bathroom, wondering what I’ll find. I’m not entirely surprised to find a couple dry humping on a couch when I pass a living room area, which I promptly keep walking by.

I continue until I encounter another room, this one furnished with a huge glass table with at least a dozen seats around it. There are seven people sitting at one end, but only one captures my attention.

I pause in the doorway, frozen by the scene unfolding in front of me. There’s a half-naked woman lying across the end of the table, narrow rows of white powder lined up perfectly on the curve of her bare hip.

Believe it or not, that’s not what has me riveted.

It’s the fact that Mr. Whiskey Eyes is bent over her ass with a rolled bill in one hand, his other on her waist as he leans over to snort not one, but three rows of the coke.

He straightens, throwing his head back in the process, the motion ceasing when his eyes lock onto mine.

One side of his mouth crooks up in a wicked smirk. “See something you like, Kitten?”

My nostrils flare out as I inhale deeply in an attempt to slow down my racing heart. I glare back at him, hating how he is constantly baiting me and calling me a damn kitten. Is that some lame way of referencing I’m just pussy to him?

“I’m all set.” I grit out as I twist out of the doorway and barely keep myself from running away.

“Ah, pretty little kitty doesn’t want to play.

” Mocks me from behind as I escape to a staircase I saw earlier.

I trot up the stairs, relishing that the hallway at the top is people free.

I turn right, roaming further down the hall, knocking on a door, opening it when there’s no response. I peek inside to find an empty bedroom.

It’s enormous, with a king bed centered on a wall that overlooks the city. The room appears to be unoccupied so I slip inside and shut the door gently, exhaling a sigh of relief. I’ll just hang out here until Bri texts me. Hopefully that will be sooner than later.