Chapter Four
Fans fill the stadium quickly.
Then, suddenly, the lights dim, and the strobe lights kick in.
The opening band, Dragon’s Lair, is on first, and when they come running out onto the stage, the crowd cheers, and so do the Slayettes around me. I’m totally out of my element. Having never experienced anything like this and not knowing who this band is, I’m unsure how to react.
They don’t teach you this at finishing school. That thought makes me giggle as I think about old Miss Pendlemerry and her stuffy social etiquette and protocol.
As soon as the band starts playing, everyone around me dances. Well, I don’t know if you can really call what they are doing dancing. It’s more jumping around like idiots, and it’s all I can do to hold onto the rails as people randomly fall into me.
The band is good, but I can see why they’re not the headline act. After about seven songs, they leave the stage, and the crowd cheers. Soon, their cheers turn to various chants in anticipation.
The lights dim, and another wave of excitement floods my veins.
Sia grabs hold of my arm and leans into my ear. “Get ready to get wet,” she says.
I look at her with creased eyebrows. “What do you mean?”
She smirks and points to my crotch. “You think Colt’s hot? Wait till you see him in action. Your panties will be soaked by the end of the concert, along with every other girl in here. Trust me… you’re about to be blown away,” she says, her tone filled with excitement.
Oh my goodness! Did she really just say that?
I giggle slightly as my hand goes over my mouth, positive my face is as red as a beetroot, and I’m thankful for the dim light while I stare around the stadium at the people everywhere, going crazy.
Then, suddenly, everyone starts screaming.
Turning my attention to the stage, Dingo, Hux, and Johnny run out.
Sia starts to hop up and down, clapping and hollering. Dingo looks down at her and blows her a kiss. She pretends to catch it, placing her hand on her breast, then squeezes.
My eyes widen as I look up at Dingo, who’s smirking insanely and raising his eyebrows up and down. Man, those two are crazy—crazy in love. Anyone can see that.
The other Slayettes are waving their hands in the air, matching the energy in the stadium.
When the lights dim completely, a lone guitar starts to play. It’s somber and dark. The crowd roars to a new intensity, and I almost have to block my ears because the noise is deafening.
A spotlight shines on center stage, where Colt rises from below. The girls go frantic, getting impossibly louder, but instead of generic admiration, it’s full-blown declarations of love.
I can’t help but smile when he appears fully on the stage.
Laser lights start to flicker around the stadium in blues and greens.
Then, the drum beat kicks in. It’s deafening compared to when Dragon’s Lair was playing, and we aren’t even by the speakers.
Every time Dingo kicks the bass drum, it’s like a freight train collides with me.
This is amazing.
Colt looks out over the audience and raises his hand, causing the crowd to go wild. The people behind me ram forward, pushing me into the railing.
It might be amazing, but it’s also utter chaos.
“Hellllllooo… London,” Colt yells into the microphone, and the natural reaction is for the crowd to stomp their feet.
He puts his hand over his eyebrows and peers out into the crowd.
“So, are we all here to have a good fucking time tonight?” The crowd screams back at him in affirmation, but he appears to be searching through the crowd, his eyes squinting with focus.
He looks deliciously good standing up there with his magenta electric guitar strapped to him and his bulging muscles rippling in the spectacular lighting display.
Colt’s wearing his usual black tank top, I’ve become accustomed to seeing him dressed in, and oh my goodness, does he look ridiculously attractive.
I think Sia’s right. I don’t know why, but I lose my inhibitions as Colt’s magnetism pulls me to him, and I let out a little excited scream.
I can’t believe I just did that!
“Are you ready to rock?” Colt asks before he strums his guitar, and everyone around me jumps up and down.
I get caught up in the moment and join in.
Looking up at Colt, I notice his eyes are directly on me.
Caught in his stare, I stop jumping and swallow.
He has a look in his eyes of pure, unadulterated lust, and it completely unravels me.
I hold his gaze, and he winks. In return, I blush, biting my bottom lip, and he raises his eyebrows insinuatingly.
When he finally looks away, I swear my insides have melted.
Their first song really takes off, and Colt’s voice echoes across the stadium, along with the crowd, who are all singing along. It’s awkward that I don’t know the lyrics, but I can move my body, so I do that while taking everything in.
His voice washes over me like a cold sweat burning my insides and freezing my outsides.
His deep, sexy tone is doing precisely what Sia said it would.
I tighten my thighs as a throbbing ache for him develops, and I can see on the faces of every other woman in here that the same thing’s happening to them.
From the crowd’s reaction, there’s no doubt as to how popular they are.
Between the energy all around and the effect Colt has on me, it’s not hard to get caught up.
I’m in awe of his presence and the way he works with his fans.
He wasn’t lying when he said he lives and breathes music. He was born for this.
Each song, every minute they are on stage, is like seeing my world through different lenses. The vibe, the atmosphere, and the downright sexual tension in every song make me want to combust.
What feels like half an hour is more like three hours, and the last song of the night is about to start.
Colt begins playing, and instantly, I know the song.
It’s “Rapture,” the one that has spent the last six weeks at the top of the charts.
I hadn’t believed him when he said this was his band’s song.
But now, as the unmistakable melody fills the air, I know it’s true. This song is huge.
A thrill rushes through me as I get swept up in the excitement of finally knowing a song I can sing along to.
I throw my hands in the air, close my eyes, and let the music take over.
The pounding rhythm, the electrifying energy—it all makes me feel weightless, free, like I’m becoming one with the sound.
When I open my eyes, my breath catches. Colt is looking right at me as he sings. A giddy rush swirls in my chest, making me feel like a teenager with her first crush.
He kneels on the stage, his hand skimming over the sea of reaching fans. And then—he’s in front of me. Instinctively, I lift my hand higher. His fingers wrap around mine, firm and warm. Slowly, deliberately, he turns my hand and presses a kiss to my palm.
The girls around me erupt in screams, but all I can do is smile.
Colt winks before rising to his feet, his voice soaring as he finishes the song.
Colt makes me feel things I haven’t before, and I like it.
I like everything about this feeling.
It’s euphoric.
12GAUGE-Slayed leave the stage, then, much to everyone’s delight, they return for an encore.
The excitement buzzing around the arena is something I have never witnessed.
It’s at a whole new level of crazy mixed with supercharged adrenaline-fueled exhilaration.
This is a night I won’t forget. The dullness of my existence will be hard to return to.
It’s funny how you never know something’s missing until it smacks you fair and square in the face.
The concert wraps up, and I have to say, my first rock concert experience will definitely not be my last, no matter what Daddy or anyone else has to say about the matter.
Sia takes my arm, and we’re ushered backstage. I feel high, and I don’t want to come down.
Now I understand all the hype around the crazy minions out there. I always thought being high was about drugs, but you can be high without them.
We are walking down the hallway toward the Slayette room when I hear someone calling my name. I spin and watch Colt jogging toward me.
“Oh my goodness, Colt, that was simply amazing,” I yell out before he reaches me.
He jogs faster, then, when he’s close enough, he slams into me, picks me up, and twirls me around. He’s all sweat and heat, but somehow it makes him even more delicious, and I squeal from his overexcitement.
“It was so much better singing to you tonight. Dee, you’re my muse.” He looks me up and down after he places me back on the floor. “Holy fuck, Dee. I dig the new look. One word. H.O.T. hot,” he divulges.
I giggle while I hold onto his bulging, sticky biceps.
“Seriously, Colt, I’ve never experienced anything like that in my life.
Thank you so much for bringing me into your world.
It’s so completely different from mine, and I absolutely loved every minute of it,” I say honestly as he brings me in and embraces me tightly.
Hugging him back, I nuzzle into his neck.
Oh, wow. He smells so good, like a mixture of his cologne, sweat, and his natural musky scent—compelling and dynamic.
How have I not noticed that before?
“C’mon, let’s go to the after-party,” Colt says, pulling back from me and taking my hand.
Oh my goodness, this man can walk fast because I’m being pulled along so quickly that I’m slightly stumbling at times. I don’t know if it’s because of the adrenaline from the show, but I’m not used to this quick-paced lifestyle.
“Colt, slow down,” I say, then he turns to look at me.
“Sorry, I’m on a high from the show,” he replies, slowing down to a normal walking pace.