24. Raleigh
Raleigh
24
Anxiety pulses through my veins as I stand at the side of the stage, watching Rock, Dylan, and Jett get night two in Madrid underway. The intro has quickly become one of my favorite parts of the show, watching the crowd as the boys finally appear on stage, and the way Rock dominates the beat is insane. The whole stadium is already on their feet before Ezra even appears on stage.
I pull back a step, watching Ezra make his way through the backstage area, preparing for his grand entrance.
Then as if sensing my stare, his gaze sails to me, and a soft, knowing smile lights up his face. Last night was rough, and I know he’s still feeling the effects of my bathroom breakdown, and honestly, so am I, but I’ve come to the realization that I can’t go on like this. I haven’t been able to heal for eight years, and keeping apart from him is only hurting us both more.
Every word I said to him last night was true.
I’ve spent years blaming Axel and Ezra for the hell I went through, putting my pain on their shoulders instead of where it truly belongs—my father’s.
He’s the one who should be punished. He should be the one to feel my wrath. And one day, I will see that it happens, but today is about Ezra.
Yes, there were some things that we could have done differently as a couple. I could have tried harder to keep in touch, to respond to his emails and texts, and try to make it work long distance. I could have listened to his lyrics and tried to see things from his point of view. He was trying to give me the life I’d always talked about, and if I had been honest back then and told him and Axel what was really going on at home, everything would have been different.
It really was my fault.
But now it’s time I take back what’s always been mine and finally make this right. Hence why I’m so fucking nervous. After my little panic attack in the restaurant bathroom, I spent the remainder of my night on the phone with Madds, and after working out a plan, I’m finally ready. I think . . . shit. Maybe I’m not.
Ahhhh, fuck. Fuck. Fuck.
This is absolutely ridiculous and could go wrong in a million different ways, not to mention, it could possibly get me fired, but there’s no backing out now. The wheels have been set in motion, and I’m not finishing my night without getting to call Ezra Knight mine.
I watch his every step, and as he watches me back, his brows furrow, clearly sensing something is going on with me, but he doesn’t have the time to question it. He keeps going to take his position beneath the stage, preparing to catapult up through the ground.
Every night it’s insane. I’d love to know what it feels like being on that catapult, but to be completely honest, I think I would shit my pants. Instead, I prefer to watch him shoot out of the top with the lights, the crowd, the music, and the vibe. It’s everything.
Ezra is out here living his dream each night, and I couldn’t be prouder.
The drum tempo picks up, and I shuffle back into the stage wing to get the best view in the house. A stupid smile cuts across my face, and I cheer right along with the crowd. When Ezra finally launches out of the stage, tears of absolute joy spring to my eyes.
He glances at me just as he does every night, and seeing the stupid grin across my face, his whole world lights up. I haven’t seen joy like that since before he left for that very first tour.
The smile on his face is intoxicating, and as he grabs his microphone and lets loose on Madrid, I realize that as long as I have him, I won’t ever have to worry about the hell back in Michigan ever again. You know, apart from when I finally find the courage to lay it all out on the table and be honest.
Just like every show, Jessica and Stacey hover in the wings during the first song, and despite their constant scowling and judgment, nothing could wipe the smile off my face, especially tonight.
Hearing their cue, they head out on stage, shaking their fake asses, and all I can do is laugh as a wicked smirk stretches across my face.
God, this is going to be fun, in both the best and worst ways.
Since I’m finally becoming familiar with the lyrics, I start singing to myself, and as the lyrics resonate with my marketing brain, I pull my phone out and jot down new ideas, never having felt so in my element.
The show goes by quickly, but with every passing minute, my nerves skyrocket until my whole body is visibly shaking.
It’s not too late to pull out. Actually, it’s definitely too late to pull out. It was too late to pull out the second I slipped laxatives into Stacey’s and Jessica’s water.
The thought makes a ridiculous witch-like cackle bubble up my throat, and as if on cue, I watch Stacey and Jessica exit the stage and give each other a strange look. Stacey scrunches her face, her hand clutching her stomach, and Jessica does what she can to maintain her composure, but in an instant, it’s game over.
Horror washes over both of their faces, and I hold back a laugh as they each take off in a dead sprint toward the bathroom.
God, this is fun.
Phase one of the plan complete. Now on to phase two.
I stand in the wings as Ezra sings “One Day” to his captivated audience, and with every word that pours out of his soul, the most brilliant warmth spreads through my chest. The song comes to an end, and by the time a roadie moves the chair to the middle of the stage and Ezra lowers himself into it for the sexy part of the show, my nerves are shot.
Hooooooly fuck. What have I done?
The music shifts as the boys start the intro for the song “Scarlett Rose,” and after leaving myself no choice, I let my coat fall to the ground, leaving me in nothing but a pair of heels and a black, skimpy lingerie set.
I slink out of the wings and onto the stage, the same way the dancers do. I pass Dylan, and finding the courage, I glance up at him and have to smother my grin as he gapes at me in horror. His eyes are wide with shock, and as he flicks his gaze between me and his unsuspecting lead singer, the shock morphs into silent laughter.
He shakes his head, knowing shit is about to go down, and not a moment later, he turns toward Rock and gets his attention. My gaze shifts toward the drummer, and I almost lose my composure as Rock’s eyes all but fall out of his skull. His face twists with disgust, clearly not pleased with seeing someone he considers a little sister in her underwear about to seduce their friend, but just like Dylan, the laughter is there in his eyes.
I resist the urge to tell them to look away because what they’re about to witness is not for the faint of heart. Jett, on the other hand, looks more than happy to watch the show.
Ezra’s gaze remains glued on his captive audience. This part of the night hasn’t been his favorite. He doesn’t like when the dancers are all over him, but the producers insist. The first night, he played along, but since the moment he realized just how much I hated it, he’s done the bare minimum during this portion of the show.
Tonight though, it’s going to be different.
He doesn’t bother looking my way, expecting Jessica to sneak up on his left, and as I finally reach him, my fingers dance across the back of his shoulder blades. I walk behind him, taking my time as the crowd manically cheers. Most of them know my face, and the hardcore fans know there’s history here, and me being Axel’s little sister, they know that whatever is happening right here is a big deal.
I watch him, up close and personal, as he lifts the microphone to his mouth, and when his deep voice fills the stadium, I lean in, letting my hand trail over his shoulder and down his chest. My lips linger by his throat and as they brush across his warm skin, his body stiffens.
A wide grin pulls at my lips, and I kiss him there, rolling my tongue over his neck. “Hey rockstar,” I murmur by his ear. “You ready for a show?”
Ezra’s gaze snaps to mine, shock in his dark eyes, but all I can do is smile as I slowly step around him, watching the realization dawn in his penetrating stare.
His brows arch, and as the music goes on, I turn to face the audience, dropping down right in front of Ezra as my hand disappears between my legs, just like I’ve watched the dancers do night after night. He has no choice but to sing, and the shift in his tone is everything.
He’s in trouble, and he knows it, and if he’s not careful, the headlines in the news tomorrow aren’t going to be about what an incredible show it was, they’ll be about how the lead singer of Demon’s Curse couldn’t keep his dick in his pants.
I roll my body as I turn on my strappy heels, stepping in between his spread knees. His gaze is locked on mine as he sings the sensual words that I’ve wanted to hear from him for so long, and as I move my body, he becomes captivated, just like his audience.
There’s a strain in his tone as my fingers dance across his skin, and when I roll back against him, his hand curls around my waist, holding me there. I grind against him, feeling just how hard he is through his pants, and I grin, feeling the greatest victory.
We’re halfway through the song, but he’s struggling, and when I kick my leg over him and straddle him, his hand roams down my back, grabbing hold of my ass as I press into him. “Hi,” I murmur, holding his stare as my body moves like a fucking demoness, grinding and taking what’s mine.
He can’t respond as he sings, but it doesn’t matter. I can picture his responses so damn clearly.
“Just so you know,” I tell him as his deep, strained words fill me with the wildest hunger I’ve ever felt. “The moment you step off this stage, I’m going to fuck you.”
He clenches his jaw, his hand tightening on my ass as I put on the performance of a lifetime.
“It’s going to be long,” I breathe, leaning in and biting down on his earlobe. “Hard.” He shudders beneath me as I grind against his cock, my hands slipping beneath the fabric of his shirt, my nails digging into his skin. “Wild.”
His voice cracks as he sings, and as he lowers the microphone for Jett to take his solo, Ezra grasps me by the throat and pulls me in as his adoring crowd roars so loud that I feel the vibration in my chest.
He pulls me in, and without warning, his lips crush down on mine. He kisses me deeply, and my eyes roll as the sweetest pleasure pulses through my veins. “You’re in so much fucking trouble, baby,” he rumbles as he breaks our kiss.
“Oh yeah?” I challenge, rolling my tongue over my lips to savor his kiss. “Whatcha gonna do about it? Fuck me right here in front of fifty thousand people?”
My body rolls as I drag my fingers across his fiery skin, feeling the way he shudders beneath me. I’ve never seen him so worked up, not even that night in the pool. That was a night created out of desperation and lust, but this is different. It’s fire. It’s greed. It’s a deep-rooted hunger spanning the width of years.
Taking his shoulders, I lean away and circle my hips, arch my back, and tip my head, which pushes my tits right up. When I pull myself back up to him, he locks his strong arm around my waist.
He groans, but as the guitar solo comes to an end, he lifts the microphone to his mouth. I slide off him and lower myself to the ground. I push between his knees, and he reaches down, brushing his fingers across my jaw as I look up at him, and I know without a doubt he’s wondering how it would feel to have my lips wrapped around his thick cock.
I spin around on my knees and lower my chest to the stage, leaving my ass in the air just for him, and to my surprise, he comes down behind me, grasping my hip and grinding against me as I push back, so desperate to be touched.
The hunger is like nothing I’ve ever felt before, and when he locks his arm around my waist and pulls me back to him, I gasp. His hand trails higher, circling my throat as the heat from the overhead spotlights bears down on my skin.
As he sings the final chorus of the song, I tilt my chin up toward him, making a show of licking my lips. “God, I’m so fucking wet for you, Ezra Knight.”
He chokes on the lyrics, having to do what he can to quickly recover, and then just like the dancers do, I get back to my feet and slowly walk away, feeling his heated gaze locked on my back with every step I take.
Settling back into my position in the wing of the stage, I scoop up my coat and pull it over me, only I leave it loose in the front so every time Ezra looks at me, he’s reminded of exactly what I’m wearing beneath it.
There are two songs left for the night, and he struggles the whole way through it, and with every crack and strain of his voice, my victory spurs brighter in my chest.
I’ve got him exactly where I want him.
Dylan and Rock laugh the whole way through the finale, knowing that whatever’s about to happen between us is somehow significant, and the moment Ezra puts his electric guitar down and farewells the audience, he all but races off the stage.
The crowd is still chanting his name when he reaches me, and before I even get a chance to say a single word, he scoops me into his strong arms and crushes his lips against mine.
My legs lock around his waist as he kisses me deeply, somehow navigating through the backstage area as the crew tries to mind their business. He finds their dressing room, and the moment he barges through it, it’s on.
The door slams behind us with a loud BANG and within seconds, my back is pressed up against it. He grinds against me, and when he breaks our kiss and we start pulling at our clothes, he meets my fiery stare. “Fuck, Rae. I need to be inside you.”
“What the hell are you waiting for?”
Ezra groans and tears my panties clean of my body, shredding the fabric in his skilled hands as I grip the front of his pants, hating how many pieces of fucking clothing he has on.
I free his straining erection, and as my fists curl around him, he steps in closer, shuddering beneath my touch. “See what you do to me?”
A thrill booms through me, and I love every moment of it. I never got to experience him like this before, never got to see this wild desperation that he always hid, and now seeing the way I affect him . . . fuck. I crave it.
I go to kick my heels off, but he shakes his head. “Leave them on,” he groans as he takes my ass and lifts me into his strong arms.
His lips crash back to mine, and in the same instant, he shoves me back against the door again. The desperation is too much, and I lock my legs around him, pulling him in. “Ezra,” I pant between kisses. “Don’t make me wait.”
He groans, holding me tight, and after guiding himself to my entrance, he thrusts inside, taking me deep, inch by desperate inch. “Fuck,” he grunts as I tip my head back against the door, feeling the way my walls stretch around his delicious intrusion.
He draws back, and I feel his pierced tip glide within me, making my walls clench around him. “Oh God,” I pant, clutching his big shoulders. “More.”
Ezra doesn’t hesitate, thrusting inside of me again and again. I cry out in the sweetest agony as the rapid pleasure rocks through my body. I’m so fucking wet for him, so worked up. I’ve never needed anything more.
He takes me fast and hard as though he’s just as desperate as I am, and as his fingers bite into my skin, I welcome the bruises I know he’ll leave behind. “Fuck, baby. You feel so good,” he rumbles before pulling me away from the door.
He quickly crosses the room to throw me down on the couch, and just when I think he’s about to come down over me, he flips me onto my stomach, pulls my knees up under me, and settles in on the couch, his hand taking my hip.
Without skipping a beat, he lines himself up with my cunt and slams back inside of me, both of us shuddering with hunger. He fucks me from behind, ramming into me over and over as I push back against him, taking him deeper.
My pussy trembles, and I reach down between my legs, rolling my fingers over my clit as my hips jolt with bursts of electricity. “God, Ezra,” I pant, arching my back and asking for more—which he’s all too happy to give.
“That’s right, Rae. Show me how you like it.”
My fingers furiously work over my clit as he gives me everything I need, and when I feel that familiar pull deep in my core, my eyes flutter closed. “Fuck,” I cry, burying my face into the couch cushion. “Don’t stop. I’m gonna come.”
I groan loudly as his fingers bite into me, and as I push back against him, he does what he can to hold me still. “Give it to me, Rae. Let me feel you come.”
I feel my orgasm building inside of me like a coil getting tighter by the second, and soon enough, it’s going to explode, but I need more. As if sensing that desperation within me, Ezra rolls his hips, taking me at a whole new angle, again, and again, and again.
My pussy clenches around his thick cock, and with each new thrust, I feel the sweet magic of his piercing inside me. It’s too much. I can’t take it anymore. My hips jolt again, and as my fingers roll over my clit, my world explodes.
“Oh, FUCK!”
I cry out as I come hard, my orgasm rocking through my body as I vividly come undone. My body spasms as my pussy wildly convulses around him, and as I start to see stars, I feel the very second he reaches his climax.
Ezra shoots hot spurts of cum deep into me, and as I crumble around him, he doesn’t stop moving, letting me ride out my high.
It’s everything, and as his movement finally begins to slow, he trails his fingers down my spine and watches my skin prickle with goosebumps. “Fuck, Rae. I will never tire of being inside you,” he says, barely able to catch his breath.
Before I can say a word, Ezra reaches down, pulls me into his arms, crashes onto the couch, and brings me down over him. Without skipping a beat, he slides straight back inside my pussy.
I straddle his lap, and I don’t hesitate to rock my hips, getting a feel for what it’s like to ride him. As I move, he tips his head back against the couch, his dark, piercing eyes hooded as he watches me.
“I can’t keep away from you,” I tell him as my heart races, feeling the way he hardens within me. “I don’t want to be someone you used to know anymore.”
“I’m right here, Rae,” he tells me, reaching up and cupping the side of my face before pulling me down to him. His lips brush over mine in the sweetest kiss as I continue rocking my hips. “All you’ve gotta do is take it.”
“Oh yeah?” I ask as his cock massages me from within. “Just like that?”
“Mm-hmm,” he groans, capturing my nipple in his mouth and flicking the pebbled peak with his skilled tongue. “Just like that.”
He thrusts from beneath me, taking me deeper, but I capture his hands at my hips, threading my fingers through his and holding him captive. “Nuh-uh,” I say, shaking my head as I pick up speed, feeling the way his cum spreads between us. “You had your fun. Now it’s my turn.”
“What exactly do you plan on doing?”
A wicked grin stretches across my face. “I’ve missed out on riding this thick cock for eight long years, Ezra,” I remind him. “I have lost time to make up for, so I suggest you sit back and enjoy the ride. Perhaps strap yourself in because I anticipate this being a long, bumpy ride.”