Chapter 18 – Malcolm
Chapter Eighteen
Malcolm
I’m a literal saint.
I can’t remember the last time I was in a bed with another person for anything other than sex. Hell, I can’t remember the last time I cuddled with someone.
I usually prefer to fuck in inconvenient places. No one wants to snuggle on the steps or against a wall, and it makes it easy to go our separate ways if I don’t have to kick someone out of my personal space.
I still invited myself right into the room Lumen is staying in and obnoxiously held her all night.
She’s a snuggly little thing, and she didn’t fight me at all. I’d like to think we both needed that affection.
I’ve got a hell of a crush on her, and I’m not even bothering to try to hide it.
It’s crazy.
I’ve been with a fair number of people. It’s like I have radar to tell when someone is interested, but she throws me off my game. Sometimes I’m convinced she’s as into me as I am to her. Other times, I get self-conscious as hell because I can’t tell if she’s just too nice to blow me off.
The bus driver forces us off the bus ungodly early—also known as before noon. The buses are being serviced while we’re in Columbia, and he was ready to start his mini vacation.
We’re all dragging ass as we make it into the hotel suite.
It’s nice.
Not as fancy as some of the places they’ll put us up in when we’re in Chicago, Baltimore, or New York, but it’ll do.
Ten and Parish take off to check out the rooms while Kincaid and I unload the bags off the luggage cart. The attendant—or whatever he is—would have done it, but it’s easier when we do it ourselves, since we know what things belong to who.
I love seeing Lumen’s bags mixed in with ours. We very responsibly pile all our shit near the door, and I leave Kincaid to handle the tip while I go check on Lumen.
Riser will take good care of her, of that I have no doubt. It’s just our first time in a hotel since the week Ruined Records covered in Miami before the tour took off. I didn’t get to see her reaction then.
I want to be by her side as she explores.
When we were first signed, I was blown away by the lavishness. Hell, I’d never been in a penthouse hotel suite in my life.
This place isn’t like the hotel in Miami, but we’ve got the nicest room.
I make it into the living room area and freeze.
Lumen is out on the balcony with Riser. She stands close to the railing, cheesing like crazy. Her hair blows around her face as she cycles through a multitude of poses.
Shit.
I need to call my mom.
I’m going to marry that chick, and my mom will murder me with her bare hands if she’s not the first to know that I met my dream girl.
“You have a balcony to smoke on if you drink tonight,” Lumen says, appearing at my side.
I meant to head out and check on her, but I scared the shit out of myself with my own thoughts. That lasted about two minutes before I decided I believe in love at first sight. I’ve been drawn to her since the first time I laid eyes on her.
I’m physically attracted to a lot of people upon meeting them, but I’ve never had my chest get warm and fuzzy while experiencing that comforting, nostalgic feeling when you come home after a long trip.
That has to mean something, and I’m not going to let it freak me out.
“No demonic serial killer clowns can get you way up here.” She laughs, wrapping her arm around my lower back and leaning around to grin at me.
I slide my hand up her neck and weave my fingers into her hair. Bending, I dip my mouth close to hers and barely hold myself back from shoving my tongue into her mouth.
“I trust you to protect me, baby doll,” I say, brushing my lips over hers.
Her fingers dig into my lower back, her eyelashes fluttering.
She wants me to kiss her, and I surely fucking would if Ten and Parish didn’t choose this exact moment to come into the room.
“You want the good news or the bad news?” Tennyson asks.
I release my hold on Lumen’s hair and make sure she’s steady before pulling her in front of me. Even that small brush of our lips was enough to make my dick half-hard. Her back rests against my chest, and I smile like a fiend.
She’s growing more comfortable with touching me, and I’m living for every second of it.
“Just fucking tell us,” Kincaid says, rolling his eyes. He and Riser have been lingering around the living room, meaning they saw my moment of weakness when I snapped and almost kissed Lumen.
“There are three rooms,” Parish says, walking over and taking a seat on the couch. “The two smaller rooms have two queen-size beds in each. The primary has a king.”
“That’s five beds for six people,” Tennyson says, chuckling. “Now, Parish and I are willing to take one for the team and share the big bed. Sorry, Lumen. You’re going to have to get used to being around others of the female variety. With Randy gone, it’s finally time to party.”
“No apology needed.” She laughs. “I can sleep on the couch.”
“Hell no,” Kincaid says, shaking his head.
At the same time, I say, “I can take the couch.”
“We can flip for the bigger room, like we used to do in the old days,” Riser says, ever the voice of reason.
And that’s how Lumen gets the big bedroom with the Jacuzzi tub.
Lumen gets high with us to avoid napping the afternoon away, but she disappears shortly after to take a shower.
Benji lets himself in right after she leaves the room. The glare on his face makes me happy that she’s not around to witness us get bitched out by our manager.
Tennyson grabs one of the throw pillows, tossing it over the straws and plastic baggies, but there’s no way Benji didn’t notice.
“I’m choosing to see nothing at the moment,” Benji says, crossing his arms over his chest as he paces the carpet bare.
“I’ve been fielding calls since last night.
Everyone wants to know if you’d like to make an official statement about the woman you stopped a show to pull from the audience.
It doesn’t help that the paparazzi caught pictures of you leaving the meet and greet early to sneak off with her to the bus. ” He directs the last part at Kincaid.
“Do your job and say no comment,” Kincaid says, putting his booted feet up on the edge of the coffee table next to the pillow.
“The reporters at the after-party also mentioned she was close to you,” Benji says, nodding at me. “They have pictures of her sitting in your lap.”
“Okay,” I reply, trying to figure out where this is going.
“Liminal hasn’t had great press since before everything happened with Andrew,” Benji says calmly. “Having Lumen traveling with you might be a blessing in disguise. The press loves an underdog story. A fan upgraded to girlfriend might be just the positive press that you need.”
“Bullshit,” Kincaid says. “It’s practically outlined in our contracts that we won’t flaunt any romantic relationship in the public eye to allow for the fantasy that any fan could land one of us.”
He’s not wrong.
Technically, it’s not written in the contract, but it is highly discouraged. Legally speaking, they can’t tell us who we can or can’t date.
“That’s fine, as long as it isn’t a band-wide thing. Parish and I want to be able to fuck whoever we want.” Tennyson leans forward, pointing at Benji. “It’s been a long five weeks. Now that Randy is gone, we’re no longer putting on a show.”
“Is she an omega?” Benji asks, glancing between us. “If so, we can swing it as she’s dating the three of you. If not, one will do. It would leave the other four of you available in the eyes of the fans.”
Kincaid growls. “Her designation isn’t anyone’s business.”
“That’s just asking for trouble with her ex,” Riser chimes in. “He wants her back. If every major news outlet starts running stories about any of us dating Lumen, he will shit a brick, and things will get even messier.”
“Leave it,” I say firmly. “She’s skittish. If she feels pressured into making an announcement, she’ll leave.”
Benji curses under his breath, glancing between us. “Have you considered that might be the best call for everyone involved?”
My eyes narrow.
The jump from suggesting we make a dating announcement to trying to get rid of her happened a little too fast for me to believe that wasn’t his goal all along.
“It’s our day off,” Kincaid says, pulling his boots from the coffee table and hitting his feet. “This conversation is over. It’s time for you to go. We’ll meet you downstairs tomorrow afternoon to head to the venue to practice.”
“None of the rest of you want to chime in?” Benji asks, focusing on Parish and Tennyson.
“Nope,” Ten says.
“Nah.” Parish shakes his head. “I like Lumen. She’s not bothering me.”
“You always do a great job of settling the press,” Riser says. “We need some time to see where her head is at. Our official statement is that we have no comment at the moment.”
“That will only make them more feral for information,” Benji says.
“Then so be it, but we’re not going to push her into making a public announcement,” I tell him unapologetically. “We’re especially not going to pressure her to lie by saying we’re in a relationship.”
“She legally can’t say anything, anyway,” Kincaid points out. “Not unless you bring her an amended contract.”
“She signed the same business-related NDA that we gave Tangled Desires,” Benji says with a huff.
“It covers trade secrets, any insider information about Ruined Records’ business dealings, upcoming shows, and songs that haven’t been announced, as well as your personal routines.
Broad language has proven to invalidate a nondisclosure agreement, so we keep them situation-specific.
Nothing in the version she signed would prevent her from telling the press about your personal relationships.
It’s set up to protect the record label and any intellectual property. ”
“Bring me a copy of it tomorrow,” Kincaid says. “I want to check it over.”
“You guys get more intolerable with age. I’m leaving.” Benji huffs. “If you’d like my professional advice, I recommend you stay in tonight. Don’t give the press any more fuel for the fire.”
I chuckle.
That’s not going to happen.
I have mine and Lumen’s first date planned.
She doesn’t know it yet, but I’m going to quietly court the fuck out of her.
I should probably eventually ask about her designation.
Honestly, though?
I’m going to pursue her if she’s a beta or an omega.