45. Ashlyn
CHAPTER 45
Ashlyn
I still can’t believe I’m doing this. That this is real. No one is faking touches or kisses anymore—we’re not putting on a show for the cameras. The paparazzi keep snapping photos, shouting questions in every direction, but the reason I melt into Jake’s arm right now is because I want to. Because it feels natural.
His arm wraps around my waist effortlessly, guiding me through the chaos of flashing lights and shouted inquiries.
“Over here!”
“Will you be making it official?”
“Ashlyn, it’s a big step being on tour with them—what about your job?”
They’d be shocked to know that this is my job right now. Not that it feels that way. We slip past the crowd, ignoring the rest of the questions, and duck into the backstage entrance of tonight’s venue. The second the door clicks shut behind us, the roar of the paparazzi fades into a distant echo.
Jake drops his arm, but before I can miss his warmth, West quietly appears at my side, handing me a bottle of water. “You doing okay?” he asks, voice low and concerned.
I take a sip, nodding. “Yeah. Thanks.”
Xayden’s already halfway down the hallway, jokingly lamenting that the drum kit won’t set itself up, and Todd trails behind him, clearly amused. There’s a comfortable ease among the four of them that tugs at something deep in my chest—like we’ve found a rhythm again, one that includes me in all the ways I used to dream about.
We gather in the green room, a surprisingly cozy space with worn couches and the typical spread of snacks. Xayden, true to his word, vanishes to check on his drums, while Jake and Todd huddle over some last-minute changes in the setlist. West stands by the window, tuning his guitar with quiet focus.
I catch sight of a nearby mirror and pause, noticing that my cheeks look a bit flushed. It’s not just from the heat outside—I can feel something shifting inside me, a subtle swirl of warmth low in my belly, the telltale sign that my heat is creeping closer. I’ve tried to ignore it, push it off, but my body has other plans.
Todd looks up from the setlist. His nostrils flare slightly, and his gaze flicks toward me, concern and curiosity mixing on his face. It’s a reminder that I’m not the only one who senses the change in my scent. I give him a small, reassuring smile before sinking onto a couch.
Jake glances at us both, then returns his attention to the pages of lyrics in his hands. There’s no need to explain why the air feels a bit more charged. We all know.
The performance is electric, all adrenaline and pounding music under the spotlight. I stay off to the side of the stage for most of it, but each time one of them glances my way, I swear my heart flutters like it’s the first time I’ve ever seen them. It’s crazy how quickly I’ve gotten used to being here again, part of their world, part of them .
Once the encore finishes, we make our way backstage as a group, the energy still crackling around us. Xayden practically bounces off the walls, sweat dripping from his temples but a grin firmly in place. “Killed it tonight,” he crows, tossing a drumstick in the air.
Jake nods, calmer but equally satisfied. “Crowd was wild,” he agrees, unclipping his bass strap. “Ash, you see the reaction during the new song?”
I laugh, shifting my weight from one foot to the other. “They lost their minds. It was incredible.” My voice feels a little breathy, maybe because of the leftover rush from the show or maybe because my body’s running hotter than normal.
Todd sets his mic down, stepping closer to me with a spark in his eyes. He looks like he wants to say something, but West cuts in, handing me another bottle of water—his version of looking after me. The domesticity of it, the way we all move around each other so smoothly, makes my chest tighten in a good way.
“How’re you feeling?” West asks, glancing at me from under dark lashes.
“Good,” I say, my smile turning a bit coy. “Better than good, actually.”
He seems relieved, though his gaze lingers on me for a moment. I’m sure he senses the uptick in my scent too.
Xayden drifts to my side with a casual ease, slipping a hand around my lower back in that distinctly alpha way—possessive, yet somehow reassuring. There’s a protectiveness in his touch that makes my breath hitch, the soft circles of his thumb sending a spark of awareness through me.
I let out a quiet, rumbling purr before I can stop it, warmth rushing to my cheeks the second I realize what I’ve done. It’s involuntary, low, and I can feel my heart give a little lurch as I catch the guys’ reactions.
Todd’s eyes widen, just a fraction, while Jake’s lips quirk into a half-smirk he’s trying to contain. West goes still, like he’s carefully reading the moment, not wanting to break the spell. And Xayden? His grin turns cocky, but his gaze holds a genuine warmth as he dips his head closer, breath skimming across my cheek.
“That’s a sound I could get used to,” he murmurs, voice rough in a way that sends a subtle thrill through me.
I press my lips together, trying to quell the purr that lingers in my chest, but my body is in full agreement with him. The hint of heat low in my abdomen intensifies, and the need to be near them grows stronger, more immediate. My skin tingles for something more. It’s a reminder of how close I might be to my heat truly hitting.
For a heartbeat, no one speaks, the air around us heavy but not tense.
I exhale slowly. Leaning into Xayden’s side, I offer a small, breathless smile. “Guess I’m not the only one who’ll need to get used to it.”
His hand slides down to my hip, and he tugs me closer, so close that I can feel the heat of his body radiating through his shirt. “I don’t think it’ll take much for me,” he murmurs, voice low. “Purr for me again, sweetheart.”
He doesn’t wait for an answer. With a quick tilt of my chin, he captures my lips like it’s the most natural thing in the world, his mouth firm but inviting. My perfume blooms between us, tangling with the faint spice of his scent, and I feel that undeniable pull low in my belly, like gravity drawing us together. Slick gathers between my thighs, my body already responding before I can think better of it.
A soft, involuntary purr escapes me, my chest vibrating with the sound. It’s quieter than I expect, but it makes Xayden’s grip tighten on my hip, as if it’s driving him a little wild. I press against him, the urgency in my kiss demanding more, and he gives in with a low growl, angling my head so he can deepen it.
When we finally pull back, I’m breathing hard, heart pounding. Xayden’s grin is downright wicked, his gaze hooded, and his hand lingers at my waist like he’s not quite ready to let go. My cheeks burn, my thoughts whirl, but there’s a thrill in giving in like this—finally letting myself want them without second-guessing every move.
“Good girl,” Xayden murmurs, his voice rich with satisfaction.
“Two purrs for Xayden? Really?” West’s voice filters over, tinged with mock indignation. He stands a few feet away, arms crossed, looking like he just found out someone stole the last slice of cake.
I can’t help the laugh that slips out, breathless but genuine. “Jealous?” I ask, arching a brow as I gently step away from Xayden. My pulse still races, but there’s a different note of excitement thrumming now. This is new—this sense of playful ease as I shift my attention from one to the other.
West lifts a shoulder in a half-shrug. “I don’t recall getting even one purr.” His tone is light, but there’s a shadow of longing in his eyes, and it tugs at something in my chest.
I smile, crossing the distance to West’s side. “Guess I owe you some attention then,” I say. I slide my hand along his arm, feeling the tension ease from his muscles as my fingers brush his skin. The flicker in his eyes is all the encouragement I need.
He doesn’t move at first, just stands there, watching me with that calm intensity of his. But when I reach up, he leans in, and the moment stretches. My heart stutters all over again as I rise onto my toes, pressing my lips to his in a kiss far gentler than the one I shared with Xayden. West responds with a low hum, the sound coursing through me.
From behind, Xayden lets out a low whistle, completely unabashed. “Wow, you two,” he drawls, stepping closer with a mischievous grin. “If you keep going, you’re going to give the crew a show.”
“Wouldn’t dream of it,” West says, pulling back just enough, but keeping his hands at my waist. His eyes stay on mine, and my heart flips in my chest, doing a little dance at the intensity in his gaze.
I clear my throat, trying not to grin too widely. “I might be open to it…” I tease.
Three low growls answer me—Xayden, West, and Todd all reacting at once in a way that sends warmth streaking up my spine.
Jake clears his throat pointedly, a hint of a smile on his lips. “We heading back or…?”
“Yeah,” Todd says, exchanging a meaningful look with West and Xayden. “We’ve drawn enough attention already.”
West’s hold on me lingers for a beat longer before he gently lets go, his expression solidifying into something resolute. “Back to the hotel, then.”
“Sounds like a plan,” Xayden agrees, casting me a look—half teasing, half smoldering. “Wouldn’t want to give the stage crew more of a show than they’re paid for.”
I laugh, swallowing back the thrill that courses through my veins. Between the playful teasing and the lingering tension, I’m more than ready to slip away from prying eyes and enjoy a little privacy with them.