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“More. Please, Hendrix.”

His breath stuttered, and his hips snapped once like a reflex. Pleasure slammed into me, making me gasp, and my hands tightened on his hips.

“Again. Again, again, please.”

“Ah, shit… I–” He bucked against me, each movement sending waves of pleasure throughout my whole body. I kept begging, kept urging him on, until it felt so good that I couldn’t breathe, much less speak. His cock brushed against my prostate with every thrust, his body surrounding mine as he leaned over me. My release was barreling towards me too soon, and yet not soon enough. I wanted it to last forever, to prolong the pleasure, but I also wanted to explode, my body demanding it as tingles started at the base of my spine.

“I love you. I love you so damn much, Art. Fuck, I–”

I felt it before I heard it, Hendrix’s release flooding my body as he came with a shout. The look on his face, combined with the feeling, sent me flying after him, completely untouched. I’dnever experienced that before and it was overwhelming, to say the very least. The amount of pleasure coursing through my body was intense, and the edges of my vision went black. I may have even passed out for a second because when I blinked again, Hendrix was collapsed on top of me and we were both fighting for breath.

Cupping his face, I lifted his head so I could kiss him gently. “I love you too. Mate.”

As much as I wanted to spend the entire day in bed with Hendrix, there wasn’t a chance he was missing the gig tonight. Hendrix worked too hard to blow it all away for sex. Besides, I fully planned on dragging him home with me once the night was through. I wouldn’t be getting any more surprise visits. Val showed up last week because there was a school holiday she didn’t know about and she needed me to take Sophie because she had an early meeting. Since I wouldn’t answer my phone, she figured I was asleep, and she was going to wake me to let me know she needed Sophie to stay early. It honestly wouldn’t have bothered me if she did, but because I didn't hear my phone during the concert and I was busy once I got home, things just went sideways. This week was a normal week at school, though, and I promised Sophie I’d pick her up tomorrow. Tonight, Hendrix was all mine.

Hendrix dragged me backstage, and the room went silent as they all studied him carefully. He sighed.

“Shut up. We all have bad days. I’m fine now.”

“Uh huh. Art? Is he good?” Ruby queried, ignoring Hendrix’s incredulous gape. I snickered and shrugged.

“As good as a rock star before a show.”

That made them cackle and Hendrix grinned, kissing me soundly before setting himself up to get ready. I stuck around to make sure everyone was hydrated and ready and snuck back out to find my spot by the bar. The club was crowded, and I heard the excited murmurs as people waited for Children of Myth to take the stage. It was so different from when I first met them, when the crowd was mostly leftovers for other bands. Their popularity was on the rise and soon they’d be playing in bigger and better places, making way for the next undiscovered talent to shine.

Maya saved me my favorite spot, tipping her head towards the other end of the bar. Henry stood by an older version of him, waving at me when he noticed me watching. He pointed at his brother and gave a thumbs up, making me grin. This was it. This was their big break. I wasn’t even on the stage and I felt almost giddy with nerves and excitement.

The band came out and Hendrix beamed at the screams of the crowd, lifting his hand in greeting. He introduced the band and himself, giving everyone their turn in the spotlight. Then he strummed a familiar note, starting them off on my favorite song. I couldn’t hold a tune, so I didn’t sing along, but I swayed with the crowd and hummed it to myself. I knew their entire set, familiar and yet so exciting every time, so I knew what was coming before they started.

Except, when they were supposed to be finishing out with one of their older songs, when Ruby started the beat, it wasn’t a song I was familiar with. Excitement built slowly, and I stared wide eyed as they introduced a new song.

“We’ve got a few songs in the works, but this one jumped out at us. As a special treat, we’re gonna share it with you tonight.”

Aliyah’s guitar cut through the noise of the crowd. Her wild riff got the crowd going, and then Hendrix took over, his grin making my stomach flip. Even though I knew he couldn’t seeme, it felt like he was looking at me. I was locked in his gaze, completely enraptured, as he belted a song that took my breath away.

I didn't know I needed you until I had you, and now I can’t let go.

That line especially shook me. I didn’t know when I got to my feet, but I was moving towards the stage before I even thought about it. My heart was pounding, almost drowning out the music, but Hendrix’s voice was louder and I couldn’t miss a word that he was saying.

You shook me up and brought me back to life. Darling, you’re everything to me, so make me yours.

I didn’t stop until I was standing in front of him. I thought he couldn’t see me through the lights, but he tracked me through the crowd and when I stopped in front of him, his eyes stayed on me. This wasn’t something he’d made up on the spot. It was too perfect for that. He was working on this for a while. Long before our break. My chest swelled with happiness and when Hendrix smiled down at me, I felt like I was flying.

You’re everything to me, baby, so please don’t let me go.

I mouthed the word ‘never’, hoping he could see me enough to get the message. I started listening to the Children of Myth because their music resonated with me. They sang what was going on inside my head and I finally felt a little less alone. Now, Hendrix sang just for me, and I felt like I was part of the music. Part of the band, part of the thousands of people just like me who would hear it and feel the same way I had. I’d never be alone again. And it was all thanks to him.

EPILOGUE

ARTHUR

“Daddy! Come on!”

I chuckled, tugging the band t-shirt over my button up. Mine was special and had the word manager stamped across the back. I still worked in finance, but as the band got more popular, I was transitioning more and more to managing them full time. The studio had someone who was with them when I wasn’t, but they wouldn’t sign unless I was in the paperwork as their official manager. I loved it, and I was making plans to join them permanently soon.

“I’m coming, Princess. Did you text Zach?” Malakai’s mate was nice enough to agree to watch Sophie during the concert. It wasn’t her first, she’d gone to some smaller shows when they were first gaining traction, but they were bigger now, and she wanted a front row view. With Hendrix’s friends watching out for her, I felt safe enough to let her stay up front. She was close enough that if there was any trouble, Hendrix could just grab her. He told me that when I mentioned how nervous Iwas. He always did everything in his power to make sure I was comfortable and happy.

“Yeah, they’re already on their way. So we should go!”