4. Dane
Chapter four
Dane
"Over here, Silver. Look over here!"
The clicking of cameras is incessant as lights flash and photographers demand Silver's attention. She takes it in stride, allowing Alice to manage her movements as she poses on the red carpet like a celebrity veteran.
I keep one eye on the crowd, assessing for threats as she makes her way down the press line, but the other is glued to that round ass that’s had me mesmerized since day one.
In the past twenty-four hours, I've alternated between being furious with Silver and counting down the minutes until the assignment is over, and being hard as a goddamn rock and desperate to be within sniffing range of her delectable scent.
It's infuriating.
Yesterday, when we got back to the hotel, she insisted on going down to the pool. I had to watch her do laps back and forth in a sexy black swimsuit that made her tits look incredible.
This morning, while Alice walked me through the concert schedule for the fifteenth time, Silver applied lotion to her legs while wearing a bathrobe, and I almost came in my pants like a teenager.
I haven't allowed myself any close calls like that almost-kiss yesterday, but I'm barely holding on by a thread at this point.
The only thing keeping me from throwing her over my shoulder and taking her into the bedroom is the reminder of how it felt to find the note from her in Fox Falls.
I thought our moment meant something—she said it did.
I should’ve known better. But it felt special, important somehow.
It was unlike anything I've ever experienced, that's for damn sure.
Then she was gone, and that was that. It was a punch to the gut, and I'm still trying to catch my breath.
By the time Silver is ready to go on stage, I've managed to calm my hard-on to a respectable half-chub as I walk her to the destination.
I wait with her stage-right as she takes deep breaths, nervously playing with her necklace.
You'd never suspect she suffered from stage fright when she’s performing.
Her music is soulful, and her voice is like silk.
Silver shakes out her hand a few times, and I instinctively reach for it. She glances at me, giving me a small smile as she takes one more deep breath.
Then they call her name.
Silver squeezes my hand tightly, then releases it and heads out into the blinding lights.
She greets the audience, and they respond with so much enthusiasm that I can't help but grin. Song after song, she mesmerizes the crowd, finishing with a ballad about waiting for love and finding it in the wrong place.
"Thank you, everyone!" she calls out with a wave, grinning in response to the thunderous applause.
Silver is an early act at the festival, but she's performing another song with Gia Golding later tonight, so after her set, I walk her back to her dressing room.
"Ms. Langford." I hold the door open for her, keeping my eyes focused somewhere above her head. I know she hates me calling her “ma'am,” but I refuse to call her Silver. It feels too intimate somehow.
Silver steps in front of me and sighs. "I suppose you'll be waiting outside for me again?"
I nod, watching her walk to the middle of the room before I reach for the doorknob. I’m about to close the door when Silver says my name.
"Dane?"
I open the door, and my tongue almost rolls out of my mouth when I find her standing in the middle of the room, still in her heels but wearing only her bra and panties. The black lace with little pink hearts makes her look like sin and sunshine, her full curves on display.
She smiles. "I like the suit tonight."
Fucking hell.
You love your job. You are a professional. You want more than a good time with this woman.
Rational thoughts cycle through my brain like a stock market ticker, yet I still take a step into the room when my hedonistic cock takes the wheel for a split second. The sound of footsteps on tile coming toward us snaps me back to reality, and I shake my head as I step back.
"Thank you." I close the door, scowling at the floor.
I spend the next hour alternating between congratulating my horny ass for my demonstration of restraint and berating myself for being a dumbass.
I'm so preoccupied that when the stage manager, Charley, races down the hallway toward me, I almost don't see her. I step aside so she can knock on Silver's door.
"Gia's running fast. We need to move!"
Silver pops out of the dressing room looking like a million bucks. When she catches my eye this time, I don't glare at her.
She'd look even better if I'd spent the last hour getting her off.
I clench my jaw at the thought and follow the ladies toward the stage, adjusting my cock as inconspicuously as possible.
"I've got her ready, stage left," Charley says into her mic.
She glances at her watch as she puts her arm around Silver. Holding up three fingers, she counts down as Gia introduces Silver on stage.
The crowd goes wild as Silver walks out toward the microphones.
The two women grin at each other and start the song.
It's perfect for them. Most of the audience has their eyes fixed on Gia—she's a superstar touring sold-out stadiums around the country, so they’re here for her—but I can't take my eyes off Silver.
She closes her eyes as she belts out the chorus, and Gia's face lights up as they play off each other on stage.
This is a huge moment for Silver and her career.
My eyes travel the length of her body. Her dress hugs her luscious curves, and her heeled sneakers emphasize her long legs. My eyes are on her thick thighs, dreaming about what's between them, when my phone pings with an incoming text.
SBH
808. High Tide Pavilion. SBH: Security breach in the area. Kidnapping. Secure clients.
The blood in my veins turns to ice water as the 808 code brings me back to stark reality.
While I'm staring googly-eyed at Silver, I'm forgetting that I'm on the job.
Silver is not an ex-girlfriend. She is a client, and her label is paying good money to make sure she remains safe.
She's made it abundantly clear that she doesn't see a future for us, so I need to get over that kiss and do my goddamn job.
The problem is, my job requires that I get Silver safely to the hotel and lock down her room until she's cleared from the threat.
Yet my first instinct is to get her the hell away from the city as soon as possible.
It's a boyfriend move. Completely inappropriate, but...
I dial a number, lifting the phone to my ear.
"Dane." The tension in Rafi's voice on the other end does nothing to temper my adrenaline, but it solidifies my plan. I’ll keep Silver safe if it's the last thing I do.
"I need a safe house and a car. Ready at 22:00." I speak low, my voice coming out calmer than I feel.
The slight pause has me holding my breath. Silver isn't in any danger as far as I know. I was only hired to help manage crowds as she comes and goes from public places, but the idea of anybody taking her sends me over the edge.
"Is this necessary?" This time it's Sloane's voice on the other side of the line.
I don't hesitate to respond. "Yes."
I'll find a way to explain myself later. Most likely while they're firing me for misconduct.
"Back alley. Ten minutes. Address will be in the car." It's the only confirmation before the line goes dark, but it's all I need.
"This is going viral," Alice says, suddenly beside me, her eyes glued to her phone as she types like a maniac.
"Alice." I keep my voice low, but the urgency is clear.
Alice snaps her eyes to me instantly and puts down her phone.
"There's been a breach. Get Silver's things and meet us in the back alley."
Alice's eyes go round, but she turns on her heel and takes off like a bolt of lightning.
That woman would make a killer security analyst.
My body is tense, eyes sweeping the stage and surrounding area as the women finish their song.
When they hit the last note in perfect harmony, the crowd goes wild, and Silver's smile could light up a cave.
But the exuberant cheering is like nails on a chalkboard, wearing on my nerves as I keep my gaze focused on my client.
Gia gives her a big hug, and Silver waves to the crowd as she heads off the stage with her guitar. Her grin falters slightly when she locks eyes with me, but she gives the crowd a final wave before clearing the curtain.
"What's wrong?" Silver asks, concern in her voice, as she keeps her eyes on me.
"We need to clear the premises. Immediately." My voice leaves no room for argument, and for once, Silver doesn't push back.
I loop one arm around her waist, the other held out as I clear a path to the back door. When we get there, Silver's manager is nowhere to be seen.
"I'm here, sorry." Alice rushes over, breathless, holding Silver's bag. She brushes her hands over Silver's hair and gives her a thumbs-up. "Okay, go." She shoves the bag at Silver, who grabs her hand.
"Come with us." Silver's voice is urgent, and I know I've scared her.
"Nobody is after me, doll. I'll handle things here." Alice turns to me, narrowing her eyes. "You better know what you're doing, Hulk."
Why does she keep calling me that?
I nod as I guide Silver out the security door and into the waiting SUV.
She climbs into the passenger side as I hold the door open for her, and I lean forward, grabbing her seatbelt and clicking it into place.
My heart is pounding with the fear of losing this woman.
I freeze for a moment, trying to calm down, and her face is inches from mine.
She leans forward, and I eye her lips, but the flash of cameras behind us jars me out of the moment.
"Silver, over here!"
"Who's that, Silver?"
"What was it like singing with Gia, Silver?"
"Are you two dating? Where are you headed?"
I stand, my eyes narrowing at the mob of photographers crowding the car. The questions are endless.
Shoving my way through the crowd, I rush around to the driver's side. I doubt any of them know that a much bigger story is happening inside the concert arena.
How the hell did they know we'd be here?