Chapter 22 #2
Phoenix gently pinched her chin and tilted her face up to his. Uncertainty was written all over it, emphasized by the slight dip of her pretty mouth. “If you’ve changed your mind, we’ll climb right back into this limo and go home, or get Soprano’s pizza. Whatever the hell you’d rather do.”
“It’ll be a little hard to accept your award, or perform, from the back of a limo,” she stated wryly. “Or at Soprano’s.”
He shrugged. “Seems like a problem for Naughty Nix, not Phoenix. Right now, you’re my only concern.”
Her long lashes fluttered as she tried—and failed—to mask her surprise.
But damn it, he was serious. The last thing he wanted was to put her in an uncomfortable situation.
“I’m okay. Let’s go and dive into the deep end.” She patted his chest, and automatically he slid his palm over the back of her hand, holding it in place as he questioned her silently with another look. “Seriously, Phoenix. It’s okay. Let’s do this.”
He waited a beat before nodding. “All right then. Let’s do this.”
He flashed her a wink and stepped to the side, keeping his arm around her waist. Lights flashed continuously, more abundantly the farther onto the blue carpet they walked. East and Nai waited for them a few feet away, Phoenix’s sister flashing Addie a supportive smile and small nod.
Safety in numbers was definitely the way to go.
Addie
One foot in front of the other. Don’t trip. Keep your gaze moving and never lock eyes.
All sage words of advice given to her by Naiomi, and Addie tried her best to do all of it, especially not tripping over her own feet and falling flat on her face.
They walked slowly, Phoenix and East stopping occasionally to sign a few autographs for the eager fans lining the ropes.
A few screamed so loud her ears rang, and she couldn’t help but snort when one excited woman asked Phoenix to sign the top curve of her boob.
Phoenix always stopped and made sure she was okay before leaving her, and then quickly returned, his arm slipping effortlessly back around her waist. People called to him, asking if he really was taken—and he just smiled and winked, easing them farther down the carpet as the crowd went ballistic.
At the steps of the massive concert hall, a man she didn’t recognize parted the sea of people and headed straight for them.
His dark eyes narrowed into a glare focused on Addie before shifting to Phoenix and East. “About damn time you two showed up.”
“Hello to you, too, Marcus.” Phoenix patted Marcus on the shoulder and he winced. “And we showed up exactly when we were supposed to. We strutted. We waved. We signed some autographs.”
“Yeah? Did the two of you talk to Music Entertainment and Mic Drop?” As East and Phoenix exchanged looks, he sighed.
“I thought not. East, go over to Mic Drop. Nix, you go to ME. Then get inside and find your seats with Gavin and Xavier. I want you all seated before the cameras start sweeping the audience.”
“Will do.” East nodded, and after shooting Phoenix a knowing smirk, led an eye-rolling Naiomi to the left.
Phoenix, his palm slowly traveling to the small of Addie’s bare back, nudged them right. “Let’s get this over with. The sooner we make Marcus happy, the sooner we can get away from these cameras.”
“He’s a warm ball of sunshine,” Addie quipped, making Phoenix chuckle.
“As our manager, it’s his job to be a ball of sunshine, and honestly, I don’t blame him. It’s not like we make his job particularly easy. He stuck with us through the garage band days, when we were getting paid in—sometimes literally—peanuts. He just doesn’t want us to fuck this up.”
“Still. There are ways to get things done without being … dickish.”
Phoenix chuckled as they approached a tall, gorgeous woman holding a Music Entertainment mic. At their approach, her shoulders pushed back and she gestured to the cameraman at her side.
The second the middle-aged man propped his camera on his shoulder, the reporter’s beaming white smile flashed. “Look what the navy-blue carpet brought our way! Naughty Nix, from the Stone Talons! How are you feeling tonight?”
“Pretty damn good, Carla.” Phoenix grinned, not missing a beat. “It’s a perfect night for music.”
“The Stone Talons are performing tonight and the group is up for three awards: Hottest Upcoming Singer or Group, Most Viral Song, and Band of the Year. How do you feel about your chances of taking home a golden microphone?”
“I don’t let myself worry about that because what will happen will happen. Better to focus on things I can control. Everyone nominated tonight deserves to bring home that mic, so I’m just here to have a good time and soak in the moment.”
The brunette’s gaze swung toward Addie, her ruby-red lips curling mischievously as she gave her an appraising glance from head to toe. Her eyes tightened, signaling the faux smile.
Addie had seen people like her do it a million times before. She steeled her spine and prepared for the incoming interrogation.
“And it appears that you’re not walking the carpet alone.” Carla’s too-sweet voice could’ve given anyone a cavity. “You brought a lovely lady here with you tonight to share in your good time.”
“I did.” Phoenix’s hazel eyes twinkled blue under all the flashing lights as he glanced to Addie, a warm smile curling his lips. “Don’t think I’d want to share this night with anyone else.”
Addie’s heart fluttered, and it took a moment to put her head—and her other body parts—back to rights. The cameras were literally pointed in their faces. There was no need for excited little heart flips and stomach turns. This was quite literally what their FAMA was supposed to make happen.
And yet her heart still fluttered, and she couldn’t take her eyes off Phoenix. This was definitely Naughty Nix, but she still saw the easygoing, kindhearted, sonnet-wielding version of him staring at her with those twinkling eyes.
Remembering her part to play, Addie let a sultry smile twist up her lips. “Sweet talk will get you everywhere, Nixxy.”
Phoenix chuckled at the use of the nickname, and winked. “We’ll test that theory later, love.”
“Looking forward to it.”
“All right, Nix,” Carla interjected abruptly, “tell me and all your adoring fans … is Naughty Nix off the market? And just know, you have not only my heart in your hands but the heart of each and every Nix Naughtigan.”
Addie choked on her own spit in an attempt to swallow a laugh. Nix Naughtigans.
As if sensing her internal struggle, Phoenix’s fingers flexed on her hip knowingly, his eyes narrowing in amusement as he glanced her way.
Phoenix flashed a wicked smile toward Carla. “Then let this be a public service announcement that it’s always a good thing to brush up on your CPR skills, Carla.”
An overhead announcement gave a fifteen-minute warning to the start of the awards.
“Guess that’s our sign to get moving,” Phoenix added. “It’s always good talking to you, Carla. Thank you.”
“Absolutely, Nix … and good luck.”
They climbed the stairs to where Easton and Nai stood waiting by the door, and Addie couldn’t hold her laughter anymore.
“The Nix Naughtigans?” Addie gasped.
“Oh my goddess, right?” Naiomi burst into laughter, too. “And their slogan is “Naughty for Nix.” Just in case it didn’t sound ridiculous enough for you.”
They both laughed until tears sprang to their eyes.
Addie gasped. “I can’t breathe … I can’t … Crap. This dress is too tight for me to laugh like this without risking splitting a seam.”
“Keep laughing it up,” Phoenix joked dryly, “but not everyone gets their very own fan club.”
“It’s not a real fan club unless there are T-shirts … tell me, are there T-shirts?”
“Actually, there are. Play your cards right and maybe I’ll get you one.” Phoenix tapped her gently on the nose and Nai and Addie chuckled some more.
They were ushered into the main theater and escorted to their seats close to the stage, where Xavier and Gavin were both already seated, the latter with a gorgeous blond sitting to his left, and a raven-haired beauty on his right.
Nai and Addie sat next to each other with East and Phoenix flanking them on either side. Addie glanced around, noting the celebrities and musicians that would’ve had Bailey freaking out if they’d been there. A few of their favorites sat only a few seats away.
Phoenix’s warm hand slid over hers where it rested on her lap, his long, calloused fingers tangling with hers. “You doing okay?” He studied her carefully. “You did fantastic on the carpet, by the way. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say that you walk those things every damn day.”
“That’s definitely not an everyday occurrence, and as exciting as all of this may be, I’ve never been more solid in my choice to stay out of the limelight. All of this is definitely not me.”
Phoenix’s smile slowly melted away. “It’s not all me, either.”
“No, but it is a large part of you. It’s your job.
And your hobby.” She paused, trying to gauge his shift in mood.
“I’m not saying that it’s a bad thing. It’s just not a thing that everyone enjoys.
Like my mom? She would eat this stuff up like a hot-fudge sundae decked out with all the toppings. Me? Not so much.”
He opened his mouth to say something when the house lights flickered. People hustled to their seats and the lights dimmed before the award host, a popular action-movie star, strutted onto the stage.
The night passed in a series of jokes, acceptance speeches, and heart-pounding performances. The closer it got to the Stone Talons’s award categories, the tighter Phoenix squeezed Addie’s fingers.
“You okay?” She slid her hand over his and leaned firmly into his side.
Phoenix looked nauseous and a little pale. “For the last seven years, the winner of this next award has gone on to win a Grammy during the following award season. I’m not usually superstitious, but that would be—”
“A lot of pressure?”
Phoenix huffed a short laugh. “A ridiculous amount of pressure.”
The next two presenters walked onto the stage. Phoenix’s fingers tightened around hers and she squeezed back, settling her other hand on his rock-hard forearm.
Hottest Upcoming Singer or Group.
The presenters took their time announcing each of the four nominees. As they announced the Stone Talons’s nomination, a nearby cameraman swung around the corner, and slowly panned down their row. Addie’s throat dried as she avoided looking at it and instead focused on the stage.
Seconds felt like hours, and before long, her knee bounced with her own rising nerves.
“And the winner of the Hottest Upcoming Singer or Group is…” The man paused dramatically and held the envelope open for his co-presenter to read.
“The Stone Talons!”
The crowd cheered and Addie squealed. Next to her, Phoenix blinked, seemingly frozen in position.
“Phoenix!” She squeezed and shook his arm until his gaze snapped to her, lips spreading into a ridiculously wide smile. “You guys did it!”
Xavier and Gavin stood up next, and East followed suit, pulling Nai in for a hot and heavy kiss that would’ve made Addie blush if she didn’t suddenly find herself yanked from her seat.
Blue eyes glittering, Phoenix twirled her around to face him and her breath caught at the excited, hungry look on his face. His gaze flickered from her eyes to her mouth, causing her to reflexively moisten it with her tongue.
“Sparkles?” she heard herself ask.
Phoenix blinked before his gaze drifted back down to her mouth, and nodded. “All the fucking sparkles.”
Addie expected him to bend her over in a deep dip and devour her akin to something like East and Naiomi. Instead, he palmed her cheek, thumb caressing over her bottom lip in the gentlest of touches, and slowly brought their mouths together.
His thumb continued sweeping over her newly flushed skin as he gifted her the most delicate—and delectable—of kisses. It couldn’t have stolen her breath any more than if he’d vacuumed the oxygen straight from her lungs.
Her body readily lifted onto her toes as she searched for more, not wanting it to end, but Phoenix slowly pulled away and his heated gaze turned her into a puddle of goo.
Breathless.
Boneless.
And speechless.
“Go get your award, rock star.” Addie gently shoved him to where East and the others waited at the bottom of the stage.
He chuckled and jogged to catch up, hugging them all before they climbed the steps.
Naiomi linked her arm through hers. “I’m not trying to make this weird considering he’s my brother and all, but holy Hades, that was some kiss.”
Addie’s cheeks warmed. “I don’t know what you mean. It was barely a brush.”
Naiomi snorted. “There’s a whole lot more to a good kiss than lips, tongues, and teeth. But judging by your slightly erratic breathing pattern, I’d say you already know that.”
Xavier took possession of the golden microphone award before giving a personal thank-you speech on behalf of the entire group.
Addie couldn’t take her eyes off Phoenix, and when his gaze found hers a few seconds later, he flashed her a cocky wink that would normally send her eyes into a roll, but instead sent a flurry of butterflies through her lower stomach.
Locked in Phoenix’s gaze, it took her a moment to realize she’d missed what Naiomi had said to her as the guys finished their speech and headed backstage. “I’m sorry, what?”
“I said there’s no getting out of the after-party now. Marcus will demand it. Although, I hear they go all out for the golden mic winners, so maybe it won’t be so bad. Goddess knows I could use a little mindless fun.”
Mindless fun.
That sounded way out of Addie’s wheelhouse, but the excitement glinting from the other woman’s eyes called to her own, and before she realized it, Addie couldn’t wait to experience that thing called fun, either.
And who better to experience it with than a rock star?