Chapter Seven
DANGER
Two Days Later
We are currently setting up the venue for tonight’s gig.
Yesterday, we woke early to get a jump start on the tasks at hand, including securing a van and equipment.
Once that was settled, the four of us practiced hard, fine-tuning notes and lyrics to ensure tonight’s performance would exceed our expectations.
The place is small, but the acoustics are incredible, which is necessary in small venues. It might not be anything like the stadiums we’ve played in, but we’re practically starting again, knowing we have to work twice as hard and from the bottom.
It’s all about natural progression.
Turning around after plugging in my mic, Techie walks in with Lunar next to him.
My eyes dart out of my head when I spot her.
That stunning hair and that fuckable body wrapped in a tight lime-green dress, not to mention those sky-high heels.
She’s flawless. The way the fabric clings to her curves and the dress's vibrant color accentuate her tattoos, making my skin come alive in ways it never has before.
Something about her edgy look sets me on fire, and nothing can douse the burning flames of desire.
She never called after our lunch date at my hotel room.
It has been bugging me, but I don’t want to seem like that guy, that desperate guy who messages and calls every second to find out where she is and what she’s doing.
Not only that, but she said she’d call me, and I wanted to respect her wishes.
Lunar smiles, so I jump down from the stage and casually walk over. The smile on my face comes naturally when I lean out to embrace her. She kisses my cheek quickly, and I want nothing more than to lift her on top of the bar and fuck her senseless because she smells so. Damn. Good.
She pulls back, looking me up and down, and I smirk at her. “Wasn’t sure I was going to see you again, Lunar.”
She shrugs. “I wasn’t sure you were going to either… but hey, here we are. Guess I couldn’t keep away.”
Furrowing my brows, I tilt my head.
Techie chuckles and walks off, leaving us alone.
“So, you weren’t gonna call me?”
“You’re from the US. I’m in a biker club. Sure, the chemistry is here, and you’re really fucking hot—”
“But?” I interrupt.
“But there’s something about you that is, well… dangerous, for the lack of a better word. I’m not sure whether it’s your fragility or your eagerness to be dominant, but your head’s all over the place, Danger. You have to know that.”
“What are you saying?” I ask, and she winces.
“It seems to me that when you came into Strapless, you had a severely broken heart, and then you latched onto me pretty quickly.”
It finally clicks. “Ah, got it. You don’t wanna be the rebound?”
She exhales. “I don’t want to go leaping into something that’s going to end up with anyone getting hurt. I’ve had enough hurt in my life… you certainly have too. There’s no need to add to it.”
This shit only makes me like her more. “Then how ’bout we simply hang out? No expectations. No assumptions. Just spend some time with each other and let fate decide.”
“How very poetic of you,” she says with a smirk.
“I am a musician. I’m supposed to be poetic.”
Lunar giggles. “Okay, we hang out. But don’t expect me to fall for you.”
A smirk pulls on my lips. “Okay, no falling for each other. Got it. Probably a good plan.”
“Yo, Danger, we need to do a sound check before the bar opens to the public!” Ryan yells out to me, and I nod, then turn back to look at Lunar once more.
“Go! Show me what you’re made of, rock star.”
“You just wait till you see me on stage, your panties are gonna be so wet—”
She bursts out laughing and rolls her eyes. “One… they’re called knickers here, and two… you have tickets on yourself, big guy.”
Furrowing my brows, I chuckle. “I don’t know what the fuck that means. I’m still trying to learn all your Australian terminology.”
Lunar laughs, gripping my shoulder. “Well, first off, it’s Aussie lingo, not Australian terminology, and to have tickets on yourself basically means to have an exaggerated sense of one’s own importance or value. It means you’re conceited.”
Holding back my laugh, I widen my eyes at her. “Oh, well, excuse my ignorance, ma’am,” I jest.
She shrugs while smiling. “It’s okay, though. I kinda like your cockiness.”
I lean in, kissing her cheek with a smile.
“Hold onto your knickers, Lunar. I’m about to show you what it’s like to party with a conceited rock star.
” I raise my eyebrows suggestively before she giggles, and I spin around and stride confidently toward the stage, then peer back at her over my shoulder.
“And just you wait until you see what happens backstage,” I suggest with that cockiness she ‘kinda likes.’
She snorts out a laugh, rolling her eyes at me.
“So full of bravado… nothing like that drunk guy who was fawning all over me in the strip club.” She takes a step closer to me, leaning in, and whispers against my ear, “You caught my attention then, but this guy, here, now… I’d let him do anything to me backstage. ”
My eyes widen as I smirk at her, my cock instantly hardening. She knows exactly what she is doing.
Then she gently pats my chest twice. “Go show them how to rock, Danger,” she states.
I lick my lips, let out a long breath, and then chuckle before I take off for the stage.
This woman is going to either be the death of me or bring me back to life—either way, I am fucking down for the ride!
LUNAR
My life has been complicated.
My love life even more so.
Being part of the club felt like a natural progression for me. Something I had to do for the sake of my family. But with everything that’s going on between Steel and me now, life at the club is harder for me.
I was his girl.
I always thought even though I was a club girl, I was destined to be Steel’s Old Lady.
But that’s not going to happen now that he has found Willow.
Being at the club feels different.
Being there with Steel and Willow doesn’t sit right.
My eyes shift to Danger and his bandmates as they get ready on stage, and I can’t help but smile.
I wasn’t prepared for someone like Danger to sweep into my life.
I still don’t think I am. I’m not in a position to be able to start anything with anyone outside of the club, so even though he sets my world on fire, and that kiss—fuck, that kiss blew my mind—I just can’t see a way forward.
I’m between a rock star and a hard place.
I can’t move forward because I can’t leave the club without permission.
I’m proverbially stuck.
And that’s why I didn’t call Danger—there’s no point.
Letting out a long exhale, I step up to the bar, perching on a stool while the band continues to set up.
Techie turns, smiling overzealously, and I roll my eyes. “What?”
“He likes you.”
Scoffing, I shake my head. “No shit, Sherlock. For a genius, you’re not that smart.”
He frowns and tilts his head. “You’re a Snappy Sandy tonight. What’s up your twat?”
“Danger… I don’t know what to make of him.”
“He’s a rocker from America… what’s not to know? Bad boy persona, bit of a douche, all that shit rolled into a package that screams trouble. But isn’t that what ladies love about him?” Techie quips.
“You’re an arse. But seriously, I need to be careful, right? I mean, I’m club property. I can’t just hang around guys who aren’t brothers.”
Techie swivels to face me and sighs. “Lunar, look… I know Steel finding Willow has been hard on you. I also know you wanted things with him to go further, but he’s invested in Willow.
You gotta let Steel go. I’m sorry, babe, but he’s let you go.
And if Danger is willing to show you a good time, and Steel has loosened his grip on you, then take the reins and run, girl.
It’s not often club girls can be in the club and explore other options. ”
I listen intently, and even though I feel the tears burning my eyes, I won’t let them fall.
Techie notices and puts a hand on my knee.
“Steel being VP and letting you do what you want is a blessing in disguise. Don’t be disappointed.
Be happy you have your freedom. You can either stay in the club and be open to the brothers…
trust me, we’d love to have you back. Or you can branch out and start looking at the bigger picture.
” He smiles at me. “I’m gonna get in trouble for saying this, but there’s more to life than the club, especially for women.
The men… we’re in it for life. But for you, you can get out.
With Steel moving on, I think that option’s good for you, Lunar.
I’m not saying that because I want you gone.
I’m saying it because I know you, and seeing Steel with Willow will eat at you. You gotta let go.”
Swallowing hard, I nod once. I know Techie’s right.
Seeing Steel get cozy with his new flame is more difficult than I imagined.
I’ve loved Steel since I was seventeen, but that love has never been reciprocated.
I have to let him go, and if that’s me letting go of my fear, stepping out of my comfort zone, and trying something new with someone a little more dangerous, then maybe I need to do that.
Danger thinks I didn’t call him because of his ex-drama, but I also didn’t call because of mine. Maybe together we can forget about our pasts and move toward something nice. Or perhaps it will be a fling while he’s in Australia. Either way, he will be a nice distraction.
“Okay, maybe I’ll live a little more, try something new, see where the road takes me, and all that.”
“Atta girl. Bartender, a round of shots. We’re celebrating.”
“We are?” I ask, raising my eyebrow.
He nods. “To your newfound freedom.”
“To my freedom.”