Chapter 42 – Lumen
Chapter Forty-Two
Lumen
Kincaid stands outside the bathroom while I do my best to clean up. Once we make it back to the VIP section, we’re surrounded by fans, who all want autographs and pictures.
I give his hand a squeeze, nodding to Riser. “I’ll be with Ry.”
He nods and pulls me closer, kissing me deeply before releasing my hand.
I walk away with a smile on my face. Having him show affection in front of the fans is addictive.
Riser sits on a love seat on the far wall, so I have a fair number of people to weave through.
I come to a stop in front of him, and he grabs my hips, pulling me to sit on his lap.
I did as much as I could under the circumstances, but…
My face heats. “It’s after midnight. Happy birthday, handsome.” I cup his face in my hands and capture his lower lip, swirling my tongue around it.
Riser growls, and his hand tightens on my lower back. “Thank you.”
“I have a gift for you, but I figured I would give it to you once we make it to the cabin.”
“I appreciate it.” His snake-bite piercings move as he grins.
“Happy birthday, asshole.” Tennyson pops up next to the arm of the couch. “Have you guys seen Parish or Wren?”
I’m an awful liar, so I bury my face in Riser’s throat.
“Nah.” Either he truly doesn’t know where they are, or he has no problem lying to his bandmate.
“Damn,” Ten mutters. “Whatever. I’m not even going to worry about it.” He disappears, and I get close to Riser’s ear.
“They’re messing around in one of the booths, but I didn’t want to be the one to blow up their spot,” I admit.
“Yeah, they were getting pretty close to fucking on the dance floor,” Riser says. “You smell like Kincaid. Did you have fun?”
“I did,” I whisper. “But I probably better climb off your lap. I’m not wearing any panties, and I’m sticky.”
“Don’t you dare.” He chuckles, wrapping his arms around my back. “I want to hold you for a bit. I won’t freak out about a little cum on my jeans.”
I nuzzle my nose to his neck, breathing in his chamomile scent. It’s so damn relaxing.
I’m tired and ready to get out of here, but the guys were contracted to hang out for two hours following their set.
I move to sit next to Riser on the couch, leaning my head against his shoulder. I’m going to fall asleep with no problem tonight.
Tennyson still hasn’t found Parish and Wren, and I have no idea how that’s going to go. My eyes flit to Kincaid, then eventually search for Malcolm.
Mal stands next to one of the high-top tables, talking to several beautiful women.
My eyes narrow.
The chick next to him inches closer, resting her hand on his chest. His arms are crossed, which screams that he’s not interested, but she still runs her hand over his pec.
He smiles and says something as he takes a step back.
She follows.
He shakes his head, and I’ve had enough.
“Sorry. I’ll be right back,” I tell Riser, shoving myself off the couch and crossing the room in purposeful strides.
Mal might be too polite to tell her to fuck off, but I’m not.
I’m maybe three feet away when she starts teasing her hand down his stomach.
I try to remind myself that he’s a rock star.
The world doesn’t know he’s taken.
I stop dead in my tracks.
He’s really not, though.
We haven’t had any conversations about exclusivity.
In fact, I’ve pushed to not call this a relationship. Even if the fans did know he was dating someone, not all of them would care.
Mal grabs her hand, shaking his head. He releases it, and his eyes dart around.
I don’t love that he looks straight-up terrified when his gaze meets mine.
He’s done everything right to set me at ease and discourage handsy fans.
He can’t help the way other people act, but I know he’s likely worried how I’ll react.
As he backs up against the wall, the woman follows him, planting her hands on his hips.
She stretches up, getting close to his mouth.
He sidesteps, and she kinda falls forward into the wall.
I snort.
He swipes his hand over his face and takes off toward me.
I meet him in the middle. “Are you okay?”
At the same time, he blurts out, “It wasn’t what it looked like.”
I’ve heard that before, and my mind decides it’s the perfect time to replay the night Theo cheated on me. Shaking away those thoughts, I refocus on Malcolm.
“Really?” I ask, planting my hands on my hips. “Because from here, it looked like she tried to kiss you, and you chucked her into the wall.”
“The first part, yes.” Mal frowns, glancing over his shoulder at the woman. “Damn. I didn’t think I threw her into the wall. Do I need to go over there and apologize?”
“Nah.” I laugh. “I was just messing with you. You handled the situation very well from what I could see.” I wrap my arms around him, burying my face in his shirt. “What did you tell her?”
He loops his arms over mine, pulling me into his chest. “I, uh, told her that I have a girlfriend.”
“Is that right?”
“Yeah, she wouldn’t back off.”
“Do I know this special lady?”
“Shit, sorry, baby doll. I didn’t know what else to say.”
“Well, we officially know telling people you’re taken won’t help,” I say, following my nose to where his scent is strongest. “You smell so damn good. Okay, I don’t want to get off topic.
I realize we haven’t talked about it, but we’re not using condoms. I think it’s important we all have a conversation about exclusivity. ”
Mal kisses the top of my head. “That’s not a problem for me. The only person I’m interested in is you.”
The limo drops us off by the buses, and I stay tucked close to Malcolm’s side. He’s been crazy affectionate since the incident with the lady in the club, and I can’t tell if he’s overcompensating to reassure me or if he really liked the conversation about being exclusive.
Wren files onto the bus, but Mal and I wait for Riser and Kincaid to make it out of the vehicle.
I’m going to ask to talk to all three of them. It’s a little intimidating, but it’ll be better to make it a group conversation. That way, they can get out anything they need to say.
Tennyson and Parish climb from the vehicle, but they don’t head for the bus.
Mal chuckles. “Ahh, yes. It’s time for the world-famous fistfight in a parking lot. They really must be trying to live up to the Liminal name.”
“I have no idea what that means,” I say as Kincaid and Riser file from the back of the limo.
Riser looks over at Ten and Parish. “It’s better if they get that disagreement out of the way.
We should let the bus driver know that it might be a few minutes.
Do we still have ice packs in the freezer?
” He takes off toward the bus. “If not, I’ll pull them out of the first-aid kit and get them cooling. ”
“Or they could just talk it out like normal human beings,” I say, trying not to laugh.
“You’re not dealing with normal people anymore, baby doll,” Malcolm says, laughing. “You’re dealing with rock stars, and we’re a whole different breed.”
Kincaid grins, shrugging.
Well, I guess I’d better get comfortable with the differences because I’m having more fun and enjoying life more than I have…possibly ever.
I plan on sticking around indefinitely.
Having three sexy rock stars staring at me is a lot, but I’m not going to let myself back down.
I stretch against the pillows, wishing I’d had a drink before we left the club.
No.
I shouldn’t be drinking when I’m stressed or sad.
Actually, I probably shouldn’t drink at all.
Alcoholism runs in my dad’s family too heavily for me to do more than drink two or three times a year, and even that is playing a dangerous game with fate.
“Okay, this is awkward,” I say, bringing a hand to my face.
“Aww, baby doll.” Malcolm stretches out across the bed and pats my thigh. “Don’t stress. It’s just us.”
Riser has been sitting on the end of the mattress, but he climbs up the bed, sitting next to me against the pillows. “I didn’t like how it physically felt like it was you versus us. Now it’s a little more even.” He tosses his arm over my shoulder, and I snuggle against his chest.
“Thank you,” I tell him, marveling at how emotionally aware he is.
I’ve never had that in a sexual partner, and I love it.
“Okay, so, I just wanted to have a quick talk about exclusivity. I kinda feel like it was implied when we went and got tested, but we’re not using condoms, and that makes everything more serious. ”
“It does.” Kincaid nods. “And I agree.”
“We’re fluid bonded as a quad for the time being, and I think we should keep it that way,” Riser chimes in. “Anyone can obviously change their mind at any time, but if that comes up, said person should have a clear conversation with the rest of the group to announce their departure.”
I nod, following his line of sight.
I don’t love that he looks at Mal like he’s trying to make a point, but I also understand the three of them know each other way better than I do.
“I thought we already agreed not to fuck anyone else, so I’m good to go,” Mal says, grinning dangerously as his fingers tease up my thigh. “I’d also really like to negotiate being able to call you my girlfriend.”
“The tabloids are already doing that for you,” Kincaid mutters.
“They get stuff wrong all the time,” Riser says. He’s still got his arm around me, but he reaches down, interlocking our fingers. It’s reassuring and grounding all at once. “It’s totally your call if you want us to start confirming our relationship to the press.”
“I thought you guys were always told to deny, deny, deny when reporters ask if you’re taken?” I ask, glancing between Kincaid and Malcolm. “To make it more believable to the fans that they have a chance.”
“That is true, but we haven’t had much good press since Andrew left,” Kincaid says, his teal-blue eyes standing out even more brightly in the dim light. “Ultimately, they don’t get to fuck with our actual lives. The label might not like it, but they can’t say we aren’t allowed to date.”
I nod.
That makes sense.
I guess maybe it’s not in their actual contracts, but rather something that’s discouraged. The label signed Theo, knowing he was in a relationship. Although, they probably knew it wouldn’t last long.
“I don’t know if I want to make whatever this is into a media spectacle,” I say carefully.
I’m much less worried about K and Riser misunderstanding my words. Malcolm is a lot more sensitive than I would have guessed when we first met, and I want to be careful not to make him feel rejected.
“I mean, the press obviously has pictures of us together,” I say. “I just don’t know that addressing things this early into a relationship is the right call.”
“So you admit this is a relationship,” Mal says, smiling a lopsided grin that makes my heart race.
“Dude, there are all kinds of relationships,” Riser says, chuckling. “Dating, friends, friends-with-benefits, coworkers, purely sexual relationships.”
Mal deflates, and I hate it.
I appreciate Riser so much, and I know he was only trying to avoid putting me on the spot, but I don’t want them to feel like they always have to walk on eggshells.
“That is true.” I grin at Riser, then shake out of his hold to brush my fingers over Mal’s cheek. “Feel free to tell fans and anyone else that you want to know you’re off the market. Maybe just not a press release or anything.”
Malcolm fully rolls onto his stomach, pushes up on all fours, and climbs over me as well as he can when I’m still plastered to Riser’s chest.
“Can I tell my mom?” he asks, brushing his nose against mine.
It’s crazy feeling his warm skin and the cool metal of the hoops in his piercings.
What woman wouldn’t melt with that statement?
I laugh, wrapping my hand around the back of his neck. “Yeah, you can tell your family.”
His eyes sparkle, and he purrs, “Perfect.” He’s not shy about shoving his tongue into my mouth.
Riser teases the backs of his fingers down my arm, and I give in to the kiss. Resisting Mal in general is impossible. His excitement is contagious. Having all three of their scents so close is comforting.
Damn.
I can’t wait for the show tomorrow night to be over. I’m really looking forward to chilling in the cabin they rented for Riser’s birthday. I’m also quite excited to hear more about that whole chasing thing Kincaid mentioned.