Chapter 14 – Cove
Chapter Fourteen
Cove
Life gets so much better for all of us over the next couple weeks. At least, that’s how it feels. The energy on the bus is lighter, and we really start to feel like a cohesive unit.
The only thing that doesn’t improve is my reaction to the suppressants. Some days I wake up fine, and the next, it’s right back to feeling miserable all over again.
It’s frustrating, but mentally, I’m stronger than I was before. I think it’s because there’s an end in sight.
Once I made the call to go off my meds, it gave me a light at the end of the tunnel. It’s just rough getting going on the days I do feel like shit. Luckily, I’m no longer trying to keep the truth from the world.
Okay, I definitely have no plans to let anyone outside of our bus know how badly I’ve been suffering, but Damian, Ravvi, and Declan know.
All three would be happier if I would give up the medication immediately, but I can’t do that to the fans.
Not to mention the other bands that we’re touring with.
Once we’ve honored the responsibilities regarding this tour, I’ll be going off them. I’m even cautiously optimistic that Ravvi and Damian will help me with that heat I have on the horizon.
The thought sparks an unexpected pang of arousal. I almost wish they wouldn’t be such perfect gentlemen.
Damian holds my hand and lets me cuddle with him on the couch.
Ravvi and I have had several hardcore make-out sessions, but I want more.
I’m seventy-five percent sure we’re dating.
Hell, I don’t know.
If I was less of a chicken, I would ask, but labeling seems like it could destroy whatever we’re building. And honestly? I’m happy with whatever the three of us are. There might not be a label, but whatever it is… It’s working for me.
There are some shows where the energy is electric. Tonight is one of those nights. I’m in awe of the way Damian plays when he’s in the zone.
It’s almost ethereal.
And goddamn, he’s sexy.
Wardrobe put him in a black long-sleeve button-down and leather pants.
The shirt hangs open in front, showing off his lithely muscled chest and stomach.
Honestly, I don’t know how he keeps up that physique.
He never works out with the rest of us, so I guess it’s part of his genetics.
He’s not bulky, but when he moves just right, you can see the outlines of his abs and those sexy V muscles that disappear into the top of his skintight jeans.
I’m baffled how he has hip bones that sharp when he eats whatever he likes. I can look at a cheeseburger and gain two pounds.
Damn omega genetics.
He’s on his guitar for this song, and the way he stretches back, strumming the strings, is enough to be distracting. His eyes stay on his hands, and I actually have to focus on my lines, which never happens.
I know from experience that the veins on his arms will be sticking out after playing this hard. I can only see the ones on his hands, and those poke out too.
God.
That’s so hot, and I don’t even understand why. Maybe it’s a combination of the visual and knowing what kind of skill it takes to play at the level he does with so little effort.
Could be the smirk that tips at his lips as he catches me watching.
He winks, and my vagina stands up and waves.
I shake my head and lean in, focusing on the audience.
Holy shit.
It’s hot in here.
It’s always warm under the stage lights, but I feel like I’m boiling from the inside out.
I’m a sweaty mess as I make it offstage, but Declan meets me with a cold bottle of water and a hand towel.
“You’ve got a solo interview. It’s a big deal, supposedly. Simon told me to bring you over as soon as you stepped offstage, but if you want to get changed, we need to be quick.” His blue eyes sparkle as he quirks an eyebrow.
Someone slides by behind me, and I have no choice but to take a step toward Declan. His beachy, salty scent hits my nose. It takes everything in me to keep from following that smell right to his throat. He’s way too tall for that, anyway.
I’d basically have to climb him.
There are photographers and reporters back here. Someone would get a picture, and that’s a nightmare waiting to happen.
“Yeah, let me change.” I nod, taking off down the hallway.
Holy shit.
We are entirely too compatible for me to be close to him when my system is all out of whack. Apparently, the only acceptable thing to do in this situation is to run away.
Declan holds the door open for me as we exit into the hallway following my interview. It’ll be an online piece about up-and-coming bands in the rock genre, but with a focus on female lead singers. There aren’t exactly a ton of us, though I would love to see that change.
If I can inspire even one kid to follow their musical dreams, then I’ll be happy. Then again, the reality of touring has hit me harder than I expected when we first landed our contract. It’s gotten better now that I don’t feel so alone, but I’m still exhausted.
To get back to the side with our greenroom, Declan and I have to take the hallway just behind the stage.
This venue is set up a little like an uppercase H, with the stage as the cross.
The greenrooms line the bottom half, while the top parts of the hallways go past the cross, giving the fans space to wait for the bands to come offstage.
At least, the ones with backstage access.
It’s easy to tell when Liminal finishes their performance. The screams of the lingering fans get exponentially louder.
We still have about twenty feet to make it to the hallway that cuts over to the side where we need to be, and rather than hanging around offstage, Liminal must be making their way toward us.
There’s no other reason the crowd would be backing closer and closer. Man, I hate it when there’s not enough security to properly corral everyone.
I stop dead in my tracks as I try to determine if we can make it to the hallway we’re aiming for before the masses make it to us.
Declan comes to a stop at my side, sighing heavily.
I’m not sure what kind of shape I would be in at this point if Damian and Ravvi’s dad hadn’t assigned me a bodyguard just for me.
Ruined Records has solid tour security, but some of the venues are huge, and there have been a couple of hairy situations.
Declan wraps his arm around my waist. “Come on. Let’s see if we can beat the masses.
” He takes long strides, guiding us forward.
It gets so loud that my senses scream to speed up to try to bypass all those people.
Some of the fans closest to us back down the hallway, not paying attention, but it gets so much worse so fast.
Declan uses the arm wrapped around me to shove a guy away before he can back into me, though there is still a crush of people headed straight for us.
“Mal, sign this!”
“Over here, Kincaid. I’m your biggest fan!”
“Riser, can I get a picture?”
So many different voices all screaming for their attention. Being on the outside looking in, it’s even crazier than being one of the ones they’re surrounding. There’s no way we’ll make it to the hallway to cut over. Not with everyone moving so fast as they converge on our location.
Declan curses under his breath, and his hand on my hip tightens. He pulls me in front of him and directs me toward the wall. My back lands against it as my eyes widen, but my head fails to connect with the brick solely because Declan palms my skull.
“Gonna have to ride it out,” he grunts, flattening against my front.
It’s pure chaos as the crowd starts passing us.
He’s being jostled around even worse than I am. There’s no way he’s not uncomfortable.
Some people become dicks when they spot their favorite celebrity. They lose touch with what’s going on around them and hyperfocus on getting what they want. It’s understandable, but frustrating.
Declan looms over me, and I can’t look away from his crystal blue eyes. His jaw clenches as he’s shoved into my front.
“Are you okay?” I ask, projecting my voice over the obnoxiously loud crowd.
He grunts, his hand tightening on the back of my head as he’s once again rammed into me. With so many bodies passing by, it should be impossible to pick out his beachy scent, but I swear it’s all my nose can pick up.
I wiggle a little closer, and a shiver runs through my entire body as I breathe him in. My thighs clench, and I groan at the unexpected wave of cramping that rips through my abdomen.
I face-plant into Declan’s chest, fighting back the whine that rises in my throat.
This is so not the place.
My instincts don’t care.
They scream with the need to climb him. That way, I would be able to bury my face in his throat and soak up even more of his delicious pheromones.
The alpha tips his head down and curses under his breath. “Ahh, hell.”
I second that.
My skin sizzles.
The fog takes over, making my head a hazy mess as I groan.
A low growl fills the air, but it doesn’t come from Declan.
Oh, God.
What a mess.