Chapter 4 – Malcolm
Chapter Four
Malcolm
I’ve never stalked a woman, and I’m not starting now.
Probably.
Definitely.
Shit.
I already am.
We’ve been at this venue for three days, and I’ve heard her play twice now after the guys from Tangled Desires left.
I’m literally standing around, waiting for them to bounce so that I can get a few minutes alone with her.
Something is wrong with me.
Taking a break from sex has fucked with my head. Randy, our label-appointed babysitter, was a giant cockblock. Despite what everyone thinks, I knew better than to get into any trouble while we were under lockdown.
We’re free now, and I’ve still spent the last forty-eight hours obsessing about the one woman I can’t have.
I’m not sure what Theo from Tangled Desires was thinking.
Bringing a girlfriend along for his first tour? That’s asking for things to get messy.
There’s no way he’s used to the level at which women are going to throw themselves at him, and if he shows even one second of uncertainty, someone will pounce.
Hell, he could say no, and some people will still try, just to be really sure that they can’t change his mind.
I’ve seen a lot of up-and-coming bands, and the only ones whose relationships lasted were the ones with bonds.
The industry is too flashy.
They’re all the same, thinking there’s something newer and better waiting on the other side.
Spoiler alert—there’s not.
But I’d be wasting my breath to tell him that.
It’s shitty because if he hadn’t brought her, I never would have met her.
And now I’ve turned into a goddamn stalker.
Unfortunately for all of us, I caught a whiff of her scent, and I’ve been freaking the fuck out ever since.
I’m normally a the more the merrier kind of guy. I don’t have any real preferences when it comes to bodies. I love them all. I can find something to be attracted to in just about anyone, so I would normally see if they wanted to let me in as their third.
Unfortunately, I’ve seen some shady behavior from Lumen’s boyfriend.
That’s a game I won’t play.
I might not have a ton of experience when it comes to relationships, but I’m also not the type to screw around and break someone’s heart. If nothing else, my family taught me to respect relationships. When someone trusts you, you don’t risk messing that up.
The expectations of hookups are totally different, but if I got into a serious relationship, I’d keep my dick out of other people. It’s as simple as that.
The label put us on hiatus while they were filling Drew’s spot, so I had some extra time to kill. I went home to visit my family, and while I was there, one of my dads had a heart attack.
It was a wake-up call.
If something happened to me, none of the groupies would be sitting at my bedside the way my mom and my other dads were there every day.
All the years I’ve poured into building my career won’t mean much if I never get to actually live life after getting rich, and I don’t want to be alone forever.
The universe tossed the first woman I haven’t been able to overlook into my path, and I think that’s a damn good sign that I’m meant to pay attention.
“What the fuck are you doing?” Kincaid asks, letting himself into the practice room.
I slap a hand over his mouth, bringing my finger to my lips.
“Shut up and listen,” I whisper-hiss, nodding to the stage.
Lumen plays guitar, and she’s good.
It’s the way she stops and replays each section, testing the lyrics and changing pitch before trying again, that tells me she’s a songwriter.
A giddy feeling pulses in my chest. She’s not only on tour because her boyfriend dragged her along. Someone only creates new songs when they love music.
Being a musician is a huge part of who I am.
“We have something we can bond over,” I whisper, releasing my hold on Kincaid’s mouth and slapping him in the chest. “She’s got a killer voice.”
I mean, she’s untrained, but she has raw talent.
“I’ll repeat my question,” Kincaid whispers, sounding every bit the dick I know he is. “What the fuck are you doing?”
“Just listen,” I tell him, keeping my voice low. “We’ve been trying to figure out what that special sauce is in Tangled Desires’ songs.” I nod toward the stage. “I think she’s it.”
“What are you saying?” Kincaid asks.
“I think she’s the magic.” I’m really not sure how he’s not picking up what I’m putting down. “If she’s writing music for them, and they’re blowing up…”
He really should be getting what I’m saying.
Not only would it be fucking spectacular to have someone who could help us craft music, I want to spend more time getting to know her.
And smelling her.
Which is weird, but life is weird.
“You can’t just steal another band’s songwriter,” Kincaid says softly.
I grimace. “She’s not only making music for them. She’s also dating Tangled Desires’ lead singer…”
He curses under his breath, grabbing my arm and dragging me toward the door.
Well, damn.
I should have kept that last tidbit of information to myself, but it’s too late to do anything about it now.
I’m getting real fucking sick of Kincaid lecturing me about staying away from Lumen. He didn’t even know her name before I told him.
He cost me an opportunity to talk to her alone when he straight-up dragged my ass out of the practice area to berate me up one side and down the other about not hooking up with another musician’s girlfriend.
No amount of assuring him that I’m not going to cause problems would get him to shut up, and it’s left me in a shit mood as we get ready to take the stage.
They’ve got me in leather pants that are so tight I didn’t even bother trying to wear my boxer briefs, a cutoff tank top that shows four or more inches of my lower stomach, and so many bracelets and cuffs that my forearms definitely won’t be cold.
I can’t wait for the next venue.
This place sends us out as soon as Tangled Desires exits the stage, but this is normally when the techs and set designers would be swapping out for our gear.
The drums are too expansive to change out, so Tangled Desires’ drummer is using Riser’s kit, and he wasn’t amused when he heard. The rest of us lucked out because our instruments are more portable.
Our pyrotechnics and special effects have been in place since before they took the stage, but I guess the audience probably doesn’t notice.
During our last tour, we had aerial performers that hung on poles, hoops, and silks. They wore these blinking LED lights, and the effect was magical.
I actually miss it, but Benji, our manager, said we’d have them back for a few shows around Halloween. Apparently the performers are headlining their own aerial show, so the label couldn’t sign them for this entire tour.
Having them doing flips and spins above our heads was a hell of a lot more enjoyable than the pyrotechnics. The special effects are hot, and we sweat like crazy no matter what the temperature is outside the venue. Not to mention how obnoxious the smoke gets at times.
It’s way more chaotic to have us going on as soon as the opening act comes off stage, and once I’m strapped into my guitar, I seek out Lumen.
She’s all alone, and it seems like a good idea to check on her.
The security team has done a solid job of keeping the fans with backstage access out of our way, but they’ve never trapped her over with the others.
I frown hardcore as one of the massive security guys stands in front of Lumen. He raises an arm, blocking the side closest to the stage, and it seems like he’s trying to push her into standing with the fans.
I slide between Riser and Kincaid, holding my guitar to my chest.
Kincaid loves his Telecaster, but I’m a tried-and-true Les Paul fan. My Gibson is my baby, and I still take it off, tossing it at the tech and praying he has the coordination to catch it. Once it’s in his hands, I beeline for Lumen.
“Don’t make me tell you again, ma’am,” the security guy says, sounding like a total dick.
“I have an all-access badge,” Lumen says, trying to hold it up. “The friends-and-family kind.”
The asshole knocks her hand away and grabs her arm.
“Whoa, hold the fuck on.” I whip my mask off, resting it on top of my head as I come to a stop at his side.
If he doesn’t let her go in the next two seconds, I’m going to miss the show. Can’t play for a sold-out crowd when I’m in jail.
The security guy twists toward me like he assumes he’s going to have another fan to take care of.
Recognition clicks a half second later, and the scowl on his face disappears, replaced with confusion.
Where the hell is Tangled Desires’ manager?
I think his name is Grant. Garrett? Whatever his name is, he should be handling this.
“She’s with the band, like she was trying to tell you,” I growl. “Let her go.”
Lumen’s eyes widen as she spots me, but she nods, pulling her arm free of his grasp.
“Unless there’s an emergency or someone gets violent, you shouldn’t be grabbing anyone like that,” I snap, looking around for Benji.
Our manager comes to a stop on the side closest to the stage, his head swiveling between us. “What’s wrong?”
“She’s got family access,” I growl. “Not to mention, the security team shouldn’t be putting their hands on anyone unnecessarily.”
The drummer from Tangled Desires stands and heads to the front of the stage with his bandmates to say their goodbyes.
Shit.
That means we’re on now.
“Keep him away from her.” My eyes meet Benji’s, and I nod to the security guy. “And make sure she’s okay until her boyfriend makes it back here.”
Our manager looks annoyed, but too bad.
I’m riled now, and I have to go out on stage and pretend like I’m not.
What the hell is Theo thinking?
She needs full-time security. Having someone to watch out for her while he’s busy is the bare minimum a decent boyfriend should do.
When the tour first started, I would have understood. It’s easy to underestimate how hectic things get, but he’s been living it for a little over a month now.
“Mal,” Kincaid calls from behind me.
I keep my eyes locked on Benji’s until he nods.
“I’ll look after her,” our manager says. “Now put your goddamn mask on, get your guitar, and go out there and handle business.”