Chapter Ten #2
“You should see your face. Seriously, ditch him. He’s the biggest man whore around.
You’re not his first and won’t be his last. Guys like Colt never settle down, especially when they’re as famous as he is.
If it’s a relationship you’re after, then you’re barking up the wrong tree with our Colter Slade.
You gotta go for someone less known, someone who’d look after and spoil you.
Someone who’s maybe in an opening band. I dunno just sayin’. ”
“Someone like you. That’s what you’re saying, right?”
“Well, if you want me, baby, I’m all yours,” he replies with a salacious grin.
Urgh, this dude one hundred percent makes my skin crawl.
“I don’t think so, but thanks for the offer.” I move to stand, but he grabs my hand, and I turn to look at him.
“Seriously, Dee, you’re too good for him. Don’t get too attached,” he says, letting go of my hand. Furrowing my brows at him, I walk over to Anna and Johnny, who are still sitting together in the corner of the room.
“Hey!” Johnny looks at Jared and then back at me. “He causing trouble?”
“No, he’s just trying to spook me.”
“Did it work?”
“Maybe a little,” I reply honestly, glancing at Colt, who’s chatting with Brad.
“Listen, Jared will say anything to get girls into bed with him. He’s a Colter wannabe, so don’t listen to a damn word that arsehole has to say.
He’s tried it on with all of us, even me,” Anna says.
“Colt is into you. Don’t let any thoughts Jared has put into your brain fester.
That’s what he counts on… that you’ll leave Colt for him.
Don’t let him win. Stay as far away from Jared Coslecki as you can.
He’s pure evil, Dee,” Anna responds, stirring Johnny to laugh.
“It’s not funny, Johnny. Remember how he made me think you were sleeping around behind my back? And even though I knew you weren’t, it still planted that little seed of doubt in my mind, and we nearly split up because of it.”
“It’s funny ’cause it’s true,” Johnny replies. “Coslecki is an arse. I don’t even know why Colt insists on Dragon’s Lair being our opening band anyway. I know he’s chummy with Brad, but still, he knows how slimy Jared can be.”
“He gives me the creeps,” I affirm.
Johnny chuckles. “Hey, I’m a twenty-nine-year-old bassist covered in tats, and he gives me the creeps too. So, you’re not alone,” Johnny states.
A lady with a clipboard comes in, and the boys from Dragon’s Lair seem to know that’s their cue to head to the stage. They all say goodbye to Hux and Colt as they leave for their support band’s concert.
Colt walks over and wraps his arm around my waist, pulling me to him. “Hey, beautiful, where’d you run off to?”
“She was sidelined by Coslecki,” Johnny replies before I can speak.
Colt exhales loudly. “What exactly did he say?” There’s no doubt in his voice that he already knows the answer.
“Not much,” I reply.
“He did his usual speech… ‘he’ll cheat behind your back’ and ‘you deserve someone better,’ blah, blah, bullshit. The stupid fucking twat,” Anna says.
Colt looks at me and frowns. “You didn’t believe any of that shit… did you?” I exhale, then shake my head. “That’s my girl. He’s a dick. I don’t know why Brad puts up with him.”
“Coslecki is his cousin, dude. It’d be like you kicking Hux out of the band,” Johnny replies.
“Yeah, guess you’re right. Dee, I don’t want you anywhere near Coslecki. He’s bad news, and I wouldn’t put it past him to hurt you to get at me, so stay away,” Colt says while looking down at me, his eyes twinkling with some untold agitation.
Honestly, I don’t know how to feel right now.
I know Jared was only trying to stir things up, but I can’t help but think maybe there’s some truth to what he’s saying and that he has a point.
What happens if I am just the flavor of the month?
And when Colt’s had his fill, will I be tossed aside like yesterday’s rubbish?
I know how badly I took it when Joseph tossed me out, and I wasn’t even in love with him—not real love, anyway.
Not that I’m in love with Colt, either. We’ve only known each other for a hot minute, but I’ve felt more alive and like myself with Colt.
I don’t know how I’d feel if I had to toss it all away.
Even thinking about leaving Colt and going back to England makes me nauseous.
“You okay?” Colt asks, looking at me.
I exhale and nod. “Yeah, I’m good. Jared rattled me a little.”
“All you have to do is remember that’s exactly what he’s trying to do, so don’t let it work. Remember, it’s just you and me, baby. You’re mine, and I’m yours. Completely,” he reiterates, then leans down to kiss me.
His soft lips graze mine, and that familiar fire burns deep inside me. I’m sure I can’t be the only one feeling this. Surely Colt feels it too? His tongue slowly enters my mouth, and I tighten my grip around him, feeling him smile through the kiss.
“Get a room,” Dingo yells out as everyone else laughs.
I giggle and pull away from Colt’s lips. He looks down at me, and for a brief moment, I feel a strong connection to him as he stares into my eyes intently. It’s like he’s silently telling me everything will be okay. And in this moment, I believe him.
The crowd is going ballistic out there, warming up the audience while the guys, Sia, Anna, and I are all hanging out in the 12GAUGE-Slayed dressing room, waiting for Dragon’s Lair to finish their set.
Anna and Johnny are still cuddled up on the sofa, and I love how in love they are.
Dingo and Sia are by the refrigerator, drinking beer, and Colt and I are on another couch.
He’s sitting, rubbing my feet while I lie down, and I’m so relaxed I could easily fall asleep. The man does have magical hands.
Colt moves his hand to the rip in my jeans and assesses the healing cuts from my first concert in London, where the minions attacked me. He leans down and gently kisses my knee, and I look up at him with a smile. This moment couldn’t be more perfect.
“For fuck’s sake, don’t bother coming if you can’t be here on time.” We hear Hux before we see him.
“That’s it. You’re fucking fired… Yes, I mean it… No, you get fucked, you incompetent arsehole,” Huxley yells as he enters the room, disturbing my perfect moment. He ends the call. Well, it’s more like throwing it down on the sofa as we all look at him curiously.
“And who did you just fire, Hux?” Colt asks.
“Stanley! What fucking good is an agent if he’s never here to support us?”
“Dude, you can’t fire our agent at the beginning of a tour. Call him back. I’m sure you can fix whatever you’ve done,” Colt berates before lifting my legs off his lap. He stands and walks over to his brother.
“No! No happening. He’s useless, and we all know it. Why don’t we take up the offer from Luxley Productions? They’re huge, and Rob Luxley is the most well-known agent in Hollywood. Seriously, we’re big, but we could be huge with his help.”
“C’mon, get serious. Call Stanley back,” Colt replies.
“Colt, Hux could be right. We all know Stanley’s only in it for the money. He doesn’t even like our music. Luxley approached us, so he’s obviously interested. Gotta admit, I’m with Hux on this one,” Johnny states.
Colt exhales and looks at Dingo, who shrugs and nods.
“Okay, fine, but we have to get Luxley on board tomorrow, or this whole tour could be fucked.”
“You’ve made the right choice, bro,” Hux says, retrieving his cell and leaving the room.
Colt makes his way back over to me, and I weakly smile at him. “You okay?”
“Yeah, just concerned. Without an agent, this whole tour could blow up in our faces and fall through. We have Sia as our manager, but she’s overworked. If Rob Luxley doesn’t come on board, I don’t know what we’ll do,” he says, leaning into me.
Trying to comfort him, I nuzzle my lips into his neck, kissing him softly.
“I don’t know how I’ve been doing this without you, Dee. You’re like my rock, my safe place,” he says, pulling me into his lap.
I lean in, kissing his lips gently. “I wasn’t living until I met you. You’re a scary place for me, but I like it,” I whisper, and Colt gives me one of those grins only he can. The one that melts women’s panties clean off their bodies.
“Okay, guys, time.” The lady with the clipboard strides in again.
I stand from Colt’s lap, and he takes my hand, walking us to the side of the stage, where the cheering from the crowd is becoming louder and louder. Looking up at Colt, he’s grinning from ear to ear, and that sight makes me happy.
A surge of excitement flows through me.
I get to hear Colt sing again, and I can’t wait.
The other members of 12GAUGE-Slayed make their way onto the stage, and the fans scream so loudly that a heavy vibration flows through me.
I watch as Colt peeks out to look at the crowd.
He turns back and lifts me, embracing me tightly.
“Here I go, baby. This one’s for you,” he states, putting my feet back on the floor and kissing me firmly.
His hands move down to my ass, and he squeezes both cheeks.
“Now, please, stay in this spot so I can see you from the stage. I want to know where you are so I don’t have to worry about anything while I am out there. ”
“Nothing’s going to happen to me back here. Don’t worry,” I reply with a wink.
“Dee, I’m dead serious. Don’t you move from this spot. I need to be able to see you for my peace of mind. Promise me you will not move until I come off stage.”
“Colt, seriously?” I furrow my brows and look at him with a tiny shake of my head.
“Yes, seriously. Promise me.”
He’s being one hundred percent serious.
“Okay, promise. I’ll be right here when you come off stage.”
He leans down and kisses me hard. His lips leave mine, and he looks me in the eyes. “Good! Thank you.” He takes a deep breath, then looks out to the stage.
“Go get ’em, Colt,” I yell, and he kisses me quickly again before he’s led off under the stage. I watch as he disappears, and Anna and Sia walk over and stand with me in the wings of the stage, ready to watch.
The crowd’s chanting something, but I can’t quite make it out.
“What are they saying?” I yell to Anna.
“Cooolter,” she says in the same slow, drawn-out way that the crowd is doing it.
Oh my God, they’re calling Colt’s name.
This excites me, so I can only imagine how ecstatic he must feel.
The band kicks in, and the crowd instantly goes wild. The spotlight shines center stage, and Colt rises through the floor. I can’t help the little excited squeal that escapes my mouth. Anna and Sia laugh as I let go and laugh at myself.
This world of theirs is exhilarating, and I love it every minute. I look over at Colt, who’s ripping it out on his guitar for the intro to the first song of the night, and as if he can feel my gaze, he looks straight at me and gestures a kiss.
“Hello, New York City. I’m Colt, and this is our band, 12GAUGE-Slayed. Have you heard of us?” he asks into the microphone. The crowd cheers and stomps their feet, and that vibration flows through me with so much power that it nearly knocks me off my feet.
“Well then, let’s get this mother fuckin’ party started,” he exclaims, and they all cheer again as he starts the verse of his first song.
I melt all over the floor as he sings, his voice deep, dark, and sexy as sin.
There’s no doubt my panties are wet, washing away all my worries and doubts from earlier.