Chapter 36
Connor
Tai is a star on that stage. It looks as though he doesn’t belong to this world. He’s too beautiful, too perfect, with his eyes closed and angular face illuminated by the shifting lights.
Aaron nudges me as I watch from the side stage. “Never thought I’d see you standing there making heart eyes at a dude,” he teases.
My arms cross over my chest as I turn to him. “For your sake, I hope that’s not judgment in your tone.”
Aaron’s honey brown eyes widen and he takes a half step backward. “No, not at all. I would never… you know I’d never. Love is love, and all… that...”
“Damn straight.” I clap him on the shoulder with a force that makes him wince.
Bruce chuckles. “Stop scaring him, Jugs. I don’t want to deal with a grown man shitting himself in the middle of a job.”
“Speaking of job,” I say, raising my eyebrow at both of them, “how about you two do yours? Scan the audience, then check the exit where the vans are parked to make sure no one has snuck back there.”
“Yes, boss,” Aaron chirps, then rushes off. Bruce shakes his head and gives me a pointed look before joining him.
As soon as they disappear from view, I allow my smile to form and let out a quiet chuckle. I loop around the stage, nodding at the venue staff as I pass. The music is deafening, heavy beats pumping from the speakers that I recognize as one of their popular songs.
I frown, wondering if Tai should wear more protective gear on his ears.
Aaron returns with a thumbs up, and Bruce trails him a few minutes later.
We repeat this routine several times, making loops through the space to ensure all is well.
The show ends, and the audience’s cheers somehow overpower the ear-splitting amplifiers.
The band waves to the crowd as they exit the stage, then exchange a round of high-fives and fist bumps once they’re out of sight.
The exhaustion on their faces is more pronounced than it usually is after a performance. Constant travel is getting to them.
Tai makes his way toward me, then gasps in surprise as I swoop him into a hug. I bury my face in his neck, kissing his throat as it vibrates with his laughter.
“Stop! I’m sweaty!” he shouts, swatting me away.
“And here I thought you were sweet,” I murmur, dragging my tongue up his skin then dropping a kiss on his lips.
We get to work clearing the equipment from the stage. The staff helps load the vans while the band cools off and hydrates. Monica joins their huddle, where Dante has his signature clipboard pulled out. I can’t help my quiet chuckle when I see it.
How a man that rigid ended up with Theo, I’ll never understand.
Their energy is waning, and Monica wraps up when she’s interrupted by Eric’s massive yawn.
The security team waits at the exit as they approach, and Aaron leads the way to the vans while I stay in the middle and Bruce brings up the rear.
The air is muggy as we step out into the night, and Tai weaves his fingers through mine as we walk.
Bright lights snap me into focus, right as a woman squeals, “There they are!” A group of people rush us, pushing and pulling at each other as they try to get closer to the band. Aaron and I form a barrier as Dante forces himself in front of Theo.
“Back up!” I shout as Bruce corrals the guys toward the vans, keeping them behind me and Aaron. The fans don’t budge, trying to push forward and slip around us. There are too many for us to contain. I glance over my shoulder at Bruce, who rushes to reinforce our defensive line.
“Get in the vans!” I order as I scan the band.
Eric and Dmitri square their shoulders, prepared to dive into the chaos and provide support. Of course those two would be ready for a brawl. Dante is only concerned with keeping Theo protected, and Tai stares with wide eyes, frozen.
“Go!” Bruce yells. This time they listen, allowing themselves to be guided toward the vehicles.
Three women push their way forward. “I love you, Sticks!” one shrieks, while another screams for Eric. She tries to duck between us to reach him, then runs full speed into my arm as I block her. The momentum knocks it back, and my elbow connects with something hard.
It takes all three of us to get them shoved back. When I turn to glance behind me, my heart plummets straight to the ground. Tai clutches his nose, while a trickle of blood seeps between his fingers. It paints a vivid contrast against his pale complexion, a crimson stain on alabaster skin.
A tear slips from his eye, and my composure snaps. Rage and guilt turn my stomach into concrete as I whirl around and make myself as large as possible. “If you don’t get the fuck back right now, you’ll be leaving in fucking pieces or on a stretcher!”
The small mob hesitates. My lip rips into a snarl as I charge forward, Aaron and Bruce by my sides. The group scatters, though a few still try to take pictures as they run.
I usher everyone into the vans in a rush, grouping Eric, Dmitri, and Tai together in one, and Dante, Theo, and Monica into the other. “Bruce, Aaron, you go with them,” I bark as I toss Bruce the keys. “I’ll drive the others.”
Everyone is silent as we pull out onto the roads.
My molars grind as my eyes sting, and I can’t stop looking at Tai in the rearview mirror.
A small smear of blood lingers on his skin even after wiping it away.
Once the initial shock fades, the three of them talk in a rapid-fire exchange.
Eric is the loudest in his outrage, but by the time we make it to the hotel twenty minutes later, they’ve quieted.
I pull to the rear entrance of the hotel and wait for Bruce to pull in beside us. “Don’t get out yet,” I say, voice rough. “Let me check that it’s clear.” My hands still shake as I walk the length of the building, checking around the corners and shining my flashlight into the parked cars.
When I’m satisfied there’s no threat, I open the van door. Bruce does the same, and we lead the group to their rooms. Once everyone is behind closed doors, Bruce and Aaron say goodnight and do the same.
Tai waits for me inside his doorway. A bloody smudge smears across his lip, and the adrenaline I’ve been riding crashes out of me. Without it, only my guilt remains. I close the door, and pull him into my arms.
“I hurt you,” I whisper as the tears I’ve been fighting pool in my eyes. “Fuck, I hurt you, sweetheart.”
“Whoa, big guy. Slow down,” he says, trying to break out of my hold. “That was an accident.”
“One that shouldn’t have happened,” I insist. “If I was doing things right, I would’ve done a final sweep before we went out there, but I didn’t. It was my fault, and I’m sorry—”
“Connor,” he interrupts forcefully.
He breaks free from my grip, swiping at the tears in my eye with a gentle thumb. “Look at how fucking sweet you are,” he breathes as his fingers dance across my face. “So sensitive.”
“I’m sorry,” I repeat, kissing his thumb as it drags over my lip. I pick him up and carry him into the bathroom, then place him on the counter. Another pained whine leaves me as I grab a washcloth to clean the blood, then hold it beneath the running water.
“I’m fine,” he insists.
“Just let me do this.” I clean his face carefully, cradling it in my hands and checking for injury.
“You punch guys in the face every day,” he reminds me with a crooked smile. “Probably see more blood than most doctors.”
“Yeah, but I’m not in love with them,” I mutter, still dabbing at his nose. He catches my wrists, and I realize what I said.
“But you’re in love with me?” he asks, devastatingly gentle.
I nod slowly. “Yeah.”
“Tell me.”
I take a deep breath, drowning myself in his cognac eyes. “I wanted to tell you on our last night at the resort. It was too soon—I knew it was too soon—but god, I was sure, Tai. So fucking sure.”
“But you left,” he says gently.
“It’s why I left. I was already gone for you, and I knew I would never recover from losing you if we spent any more time together.
” Another small droplet of blood pools under his nostril, and it breaks my heart as I wipe it away.
“I thought it was my punishment for hurting you. Fall in love, but never get the chance to tell you or show you how much you fucking mean to me.”
He grabs my shirt and hauls me closer. “So why am I just now hearing about it? Why not say something sooner?”
“I didn’t want to scare you away,” I admit. “You’ve pointed out over and over again that I’m impulsive and loud. Everyone knows I lead my life with my heart, not my head, and you’re the opposite. You need a chance to think—time to be sure.”
“I am sure,” he says with no hesitation. “I’ve been sure, Connor. Ever since you swiped that bottle of rum from behind the bar and flashed me those ridiculous dimples…”
My smile spreads, and his thumbs gently touch the dips in my cheeks.
“There they are,” he whispers. “Those things make me stupid.”
“Stupid enough to love me back?”
Tai’s dark eyes crinkle in a sweet smile. “Yeah. Stupid enough to love you back.”
I close my eyes and bring my forehead to rest against his, a flood of relief coursing through my body as I cling to him. When I pull back, my gaze drops to his nose, swiping my thumb underneath to check for more blood.
“I’m so sorry for hurting you,” I say softly. “I would never in a million years lay my hands on you.”
“What if I want your hands on me?” He ghosts his lips over mine before trailing them to my neck. Teeth scrape over my skin, and his tongue flicks over the burn. “Your hands… your mouth…”
“My dick?” I ask, voice low and rough.
“Yeah, that too,” he breathes, pulling back just enough to meet my eyes. He wraps his arms around my neck, nuzzling his nose against mine. “Take me to bed.”