Chapter 16 – Kincaid #2
They’re relentless.
The barrage of flashes promises those pictures will be uploaded before tomorrow morning.
“Smile back over your shoulder at me.”
That one pisses me off. It’s well known that the magazines and internet sites pay fifty percent more if they can get a woman’s ass and face in the shot at the same time.
Wrapping my arm around Lumen’s lower back, I help her twist to the side.
“Bury your face in my shirt. I’m going to give you some coverage.”
Once she’s in place, I toss my arm over her shoulder and bring my other hand up to block her face from view. It’s the most I can do under the circumstances, but it’s still too late.
Those pictures are going to be everywhere.
If it had been Malcolm or Drew—when he was around—leading a woman to our bus, it wouldn’t be worth quite as much.
It would still have value because we haven’t given them anything of note to focus on this tour, but for the last three or four years, I’ve made it a point not to let them catch any pictures of me leaving with a woman.
“I’ve got you,” I murmur, keeping my voice low. “Let me lead you, and I’ll make sure we get onto the bus without them snagging any extra shots.”
She nods against my T-shirt. “Thanks, Kincaid.”
Lumen shakes out her hands as we stand in the living room of the bus.
Kasey said her goodbyes and headed off to the bus she stays on with the other core security team members who travel with us.
That just leaves me and Lumen.
She takes a step toward me, and my head tilts.
I’ve seen that look on a lot of women’s faces, so I’m not sure why I’m surprised to see it on hers. Her plush pink lips push together, and I ache to know what she tastes like.
She’s followed my lead multiple times now, and that animalistic part of my hindbrain craves more of her submission.
“You smell like hazelnut,” she says, licking her lips. “All smoky and nutty, but also sweet with hints of chocolate.” Her pupils are blown, and her nostrils flare like she’s desperately trying to pick up hints of my scent.
Could she be an omega?
Maybe she takes suppressants and uses scent blockers?
That doesn’t make sense.
She would have had to reapply the scent blockers multiple times tonight if that were the case. They don’t last that long, and they wear off when the person sweats.
She could be an omega who hasn’t presented yet.
Shit.
I need to ask how old she is, but that would make me sound like a creep.
Although I know for a fact the label wouldn’t have arranged backstage passes for her without verifying that she’s over eighteen, I don’t fuck around with anyone who has teen in their age.
Eighteen- and nineteen-year-olds are still way too young for me.
I’d say she’s at least twenty-two or twenty-three, which would make it highly unlikely that she would present.
“I was anxious, but smelling you calmed me right down.” She smiles, shrugging awkwardly.
“Yeah?”
“Yeah.”
“Good.” I pull the hair tie off my wrist, tying up my hair. “You smell pretty damn good to me too. Light and fruity from the pears with that hint of floral at the end from the roses.”
“I’m surprised you could even pick up my scent,” she says, stepping over to sit on the edge of the club chair.
She unzips one thigh-high boot before reaching over to do the other.
I get a full view of her thighs and have to force myself to look at her face. She’s soft and curvy in all the places I like, from her hips to her thighs to her chest. Although that dress hides it, she even has a rounding to her stomach that I adore.
“Most people never notice what I smell like, but such is the life of a beta, I suppose.” She laughs, grabbing her boots and standing up.
It’s a battle to keep myself from reacting, and I’m not sure I’m quick enough to camouflage my shock.
It gives clarification to why she and Theo never bonded, and at the same time, my system doesn’t buy it.
To legally be an omega, a person has to have a heat cycle.
Who knows why the laws were set up that way, but I’ve heard it goes back to needing regulations around heat leave.
Even if someone smells like an omega, has omega pheromones, and can take a knot, they don’t need two weeks guaranteed paid time off every three months unless they’re out of it with a heat.
When I popped a knot, all I had to do was see my doctor for an awkward physical. He gave me a form that I brought to the DMV, and it’s been on my license ever since.
Lumen could be one of those omegas who never had a heat, so, legally speaking, she’s a beta.
Shit.
Ultimately, it’s none of my business.
“I had no problem picking up your scent.” I bend down to unlace my boots. “I wish I had moved faster to block the pictures. Are you okay?”
“Yeah.” Her head shakes, betraying the lie. “I’m guessing they’ll be everywhere soon, just like the others.”
“Probably,” I admit, since I’m not in the business of lying. “If you hang out with rock stars, you’re going to have to learn to contend with the paparazzi.”
She scoffs.
Or snorts.
I’m not really sure what that sound is.
“Damn,” she whispers. “The phone calls are never going to end.”
“Can I level with you?”
She nods.
“You’re going to have to decide if you want to be here,” I say, keeping eye contact.
“You willingly came on tour. Tangled Desires might not be at our level, but they will be in a year or two. Their music is solid. They’re going to build a fan base, and it’ll happen fast. If shit didn’t go down between you and your ex, you’d be in the same situation before you knew it.
That didn’t pan out, but we’re happy to have you with us for however long you want to stick around.
” I kick out of my boots and stand. “You just have to decide if you’re comfortable being photographed with us, or if you’d rather go home and live your life without the hassle of the press.
None of us can make that call for you. Although Malcolm will try, so you have to decide what’s best for you and stick with it. ”
“Yeah.” Lumen crosses her arms, nodding. “You’re right about that.”
Based on her body language, I can tell I said the wrong thing.
My hands fly up, and I take a step forward, which causes her to take a step back.
“Fuck,” I mutter, shaking my head. “Everyone says I’m a dick, but I swear I wasn’t trying to be. I just wanted to be honest with you because the more you’re photographed with us, the more the story will grow…”
“No, I got what you were trying to say. I promise I didn’t take it that way,” she says, glancing back toward the bedroom.
“If I’m going to stay, I can’t get upset every time the press gets a picture, and I’m going to need to accept that I’ll run into Theo.
It’s not fair to the fans for one of you to constantly leave early.
” She smiles tightly, backing toward the bedroom.
“Thank you for the advice and for protecting me earlier. It means a lot, Kincaid.”
Jesus.
I hope that was sincere.
If I fucked everything up by talking when I shouldn’t have, Mal will never forgive me.
“No problem.” I pull my hands down, shoving them into my pockets. It’s hard to keep myself from asking what she’s leaning toward doing. “And for what it’s worth, I think you should stick around. You deserve to have fun. I promise, it will get slightly less chaotic the more you get used to it.”
It’s also a nice fuck you to her ex, but she doesn’t seem as vindictive as I am.
She’ll get there.
It’ll just take some time for that love to turn to hate and eventually…apathy.