Chapter 3
Roxie
“Right now?” I asked the security guard. “But Rainknife is going to start soon. What do they want?”
“I don’t know, ma’am.”
I wasn’t naive; I had an idea of what they wanted. It was what every band wanted when they invited a fan backstage.
They wanted to have sex with me.
I’d always heard stories about women being invited backstage to sleep with Led Zeppelin or the Rolling Stones. I never thought I would be one of them, though.
For a moment, a tingle of excitement ran up my spine. I was single. I was an adult woman who could do whatever she wanted. And the lead singer, Riot, was so incredibly hot.
Why shouldn’t I go backstage?
But even though the idea gave me goosebumps, I was too nervous. I could never do something as exciting as sleeping with a band after a concert.
“Sorry,” I told him, “But I’m going to stay here and wait for my friend.”
The security guard scratched his jaw and looked around. “Listen. The lead singer offered me a nice bonus to find you, and I need the money. You don’t even have to do anything—just come back and meet them. If you do, I’ll get you a drum stick from the equipment box.”
The negotiator in me immediately perked up. “I don’t want a drum stick. How about a guitar?”
He grimaced. “Can’t do a guitar. They’re signed and auctioned off after every show. But I might be able to sneak away with the lead singer’s leather jacket.”
“Deal!” I said.
The security guard beamed. “Right this way, ma’am.”
I followed him down to the end of the barrier and around the side of the stage. Another guard nodded at us, and then we were walking among thick equipment cables and black-clad roadies who were setting up for the next band.
While following him, I quickly texted Meghan.
Me: Don’t freak out, but I was just invited backstage. And I’m not joking.
Meghan: You’re joking!
Me: I literally just told you that I wasn’t!
Meghan: Oh my God. Are you going to fuck everyone in Cherry Midnight?
Me: No!
Meghan: Then why did you agree?
Me: The security guard said he would steal a leather jacket for me. And I kind of want to see what the band wants.
Meghan: The band wants to take turns railing you in the dressing room, that’s what! And you should totally do it. You’ll never get another chance like this!
The security guard stopped at a closed door and said, “Wait here,” before ducking inside. I caught a glimpse of the pink-haired keyboard player before the door closed.
Me: Let’s pretend I was entertaining your suggestion. Which band member should I bang?
Meghan: Uh, all of them. Duh.
Me: Be serious!
Meghan: I AM SERIOUS ROXIE! It’s 2026. You’re a strong woman who can do whatever you want without someone kink-shaming you. Group sex isn’t even that taboo anymore. Besides, nobody would know unless you told them.
While standing there, I allowed myself to think about it. I’d never had group sex before. Not even a threesome. But I’d be lying if I said the idea had never crossed my mind. Like all women, I’d fantasized about it before, wondering what it would be like to be passed between a group of guys…
There was a woman in the band, though. She was inside the room right now. Would she want in on the action? I could appreciate the female body, but I wasn’t bisexual.
I gave myself a shake. What was I doing? I needed at least two more drinks before I could even consider doing something this insane.
Across the hall from the dressing room was a rack of leather jackets. Maybe I should grab one and run away as fast as my feet could carry me…
The door opened and the guard said, “Right this way, ma’am.”
I walked inside, and there they were.
Cherry Midnight.
It was one large room, with a pair of couches to my left and a table with chairs to my right.
The pink-haired keyboard woman and the lanky drummer were playing cards at the table, while the bass player was stretched out on the couch with a thick book in his lap.
They all stopped what they were doing to look up at me.
But my eyes were glued to the man at the far end of the room.
Riot Kane sat in a chair, idly plucking at the guitar in his lap. He was mumbling to himself, staring down at the ground, totally focused on what he was doing. He wasn’t trying to play the instrument for everyone else in the room; it was more like he was testing something new for himself.
Suddenly, he glanced up. Our gazes collided.
He smiled.
“Riot, that sounds really good,” the keyboardist said. “You sure you haven’t been working on it for a while?”
“Just came to me during the show,” he replied. Without taking his eyes off me, he placed the guitar in a nearby stand and strode over to me. “I was inspired. By her.”
I was uncomfortably aware that all four members of the band were now staring at me.
“I’m Riot,” he said. “That’s Violet over there with the pink hair, currently kicking Milo’s ass at cards.”
“Hey! I’m winning for once!” Milo complained.
“And Cash, our bass player, reading his book on the couch.”
Cash raised a hand in greeting.
“And you are…?” Riot asked.
“Roxie,” I replied.
“Roxie.” He smiled, his eyes flicking down to my lips and back so quick I almost didn’t notice. “You look like a Roxie.”
My nervousness finally overwhelmed me, so I blurted out, “I’ve never done anything like this before.
But I’m open to anything as long as I have another drink to calm my nerves.
Is Violet, uh, joining in? I made out with my roommate once in college, but it was really just to get attention at a frat party. I’m not actually bisexual.”
Violet’s eyebrows climbed up her forehead, and she busted out laughing.
“Wait, is that why you invited her back here?” Milo asked, head swiveling like a meerkat. “I need to shower first.”
Over on the couch, Cash was frowning in thought.
“If I were single,” Violet purred, “I would do wonderful things to you that might change your mind about your sexuality.” She waggled her fingers, showing off a ring. “But my partner Dana and I are currently monogamous.”
“Shut up, you’re scaring her,” Cash said. “Riot clearly didn’t invite her back for that reason.”
“I didn’t,” Riot agreed. His focus was still on me.
My heart was pounding in my chest, making it hard to think. “So you don’t want to have sex with me?”
“I mean, let’s not take anything off the table,” Milo said with a grin, until Violet leaned over and smacked him on the back of his head.
“I wanted to invite you to join us,” Riot told me. “On tour.”
Violet blurted out, “Excuse me?” while Milo said, “Uh, what’s happening here?”
I blinked in confusion. “Tour?”
“This is our last show opening for Rainknife,” Riot explained. He towered over me, a physical presence that made my mouth dry. “We’re going on a solo tour starting in two days. Thirty cities over the next three months. I want you to come with us.”
Cash closed his book and was giving us his full attention now. Milo and Violet both stared, mouths open in shock.
“You want…” I gave myself a shake. “You can’t be serious.”
“I’ve never been more serious about anything in my life,” Riot calmly replied.
“I can’t just pack up my life and follow you across the country like some groupie.”
A knock on the door interrupted our conversation. Another security guard stepped inside and said, “This woman’s looking for her friend. She said Jamal brought her back here?”
Meghan barged past him into the room with two drinks in her hands. “There you are! I almost didn’t believe your text. Don’t worry about me; I’m just here for moral support. You won’t even notice I’m here.”
“They don’t want to sleep with me,” I said.
Meghan handed me a drink and stepped right up to Riot like she wanted to fight him. “Why not? Roxie is a fucking smokeshow. You—all of you!—would be lucky to gangbang her in the dressing room!”
“Don’t I know it,” Violet said with a smirk.
“Meghan,” I hissed. “They invited me to join them on tour.”
“No we most certainly did not,” Cash said, rising from the couch and crossing his arms over his chest. He was a lot more muscular in person. “Riot invited her without consulting the rest of us.”
Meghan’s expression slowly morphed from anger, to confusion, to excitement. “She’ll do it!” she announced. “She’ll go on tour with you.”
My shock had worn off, and the reality of the situation was finally sinking in. I shook my head and said, “Thanks for the offer, but I can’t. Sorry.”
The last thing I saw was disappointment spreading across Riot’s beautiful face, and then I fled from the dressing room.