Page 73 of Bona Fide Fake
Leif cracks a smile. “You manage that, and you’ll make a believer out of even me.”
With a look of faux shock, I wag a finger at him. “Talk about extra incentive.”
A roar goes up at the same time Logan arrives, and we all turn our attention to the stage in time to see the four members of Fifth Circle take the stage. As usual, they take it by storm.
They’ll be travelling around the country to promote their new album next month, with Calum going along to make sure everything runs smoothly. There’s so much to organise these days, I’m not sure the band would know which way is up without Calum there to point them in the right direction. Especially since Johnny and Oz are still working their day jobs. Thankfully, Ned quit working at the pub, with some not-so-subtle encouragement from me, when he officially moved in with me a few months ago. Gavin followed suit not long after.
Personally, I’m taking on fewer graphic design clients than I used to, so I can work on the new graphic art side of my business as well. I’ve enjoyed straddling the two. Continuing my graphic design work means there’s less pressure to sell a lot of my art prints, which means it doesn’t feel like work so much as play. Plus, the design work means I still get to work at the office with Logan three days a week.
I will be tagging along with Ned on the tour, though. Because neither of us wants to spend that much time apart, and I can work anywhere in a pinch. I haven’t told Ned how much I’m going to miss the thirty-five-inch curved monitor I have at home. Even as close as we are these days, there’s no need to shareeverylittle thing.
The crowd goes ballistic with applause as the final notes fade on Fifth Circle’s set. Telling the others we’ll catch up with them later, Charmaine and I make a beeline for the entrance to the backstage area. Taking out my phone, I check the location sharing Ned and I set up for the weekend, so we’d have less trouble finding each other in the masses of people. The little Ned-dot is close to my Toni-dot.
We make it through security and head towards the back of the amphitheatre. Ned is in the distance, still trading back-slapping hugs with the rest of the band. Charmaine takes off at a run, jumping all over her husband and showering him with kisses while he laughs and throws his arms around her.
Ned immediately turns to look for me. When he sees me, a familiar smile lights up his face. The one that says,Goddamn, I’m horny and if I could get away with it, I’d fuck you where you stand. I sigh, happily. As Ned-smiles go, it’s one of my favourites.
With a leering grin, I crook a finger at him, and he starts towards me. As he reaches the halfway point, someone steps into our path, blocking my view. My body tenses, and my hands curl into fists. Even from the back, I would recognise Zachariah Powell anywhere.
We knew he’d be here, of course. We’d hoped he would leave Ned alone. I should have known better—arrogance like his demands satisfaction, no matter how unseemly.
I storm across the grass, intent on giving the arsehole a piece of my mind. Ned is my man now, and I won’t allow anyone to upset him on his big day.
Ned reaches Zac first. He doesn’t stop. He barely spares the man a glance on the way past. Zac tries to speak to him, but Ned shakes his head with a derogatory laugh. “Get a life, mate,” he says, throwing the words back over his shoulder. “Fuck knows I have.”
He reaches me at that moment and grabs me in his arms, pulling me into a passionate kiss. The sudden presence of his tongue in my mouth steals the thunder from my anger and I full-on swoon against him.
When we part, I search his face for any signs of distress. “Are you okay?” My gaze darts over his shoulder, to where Zac is glaring at us.
“Of course, I am. He’s nothing to me, remember?” Ned’s hand lifts to stroke my cheek. “All I see is you.”
“That’s what I like to hear.” I risk another glance. Zac is gone. This time, hopefully, for good.
The last of my tension drains away, and I wrap my arms around Ned’s neck. “You were amazing, as always.”
“I couldn’t stop thinking about your eyes on me.” His fingertips dig into my hips as he speaks.
Smiling, I lick my lips. “I couldn’t stop thinking about how beautifully dishevelled you’ll look later tonight, when you’re on your knees for me.”
Ned shudders from head to toe as he hisses in a breath. “Do we have to wait? I want to taste you now.”
“You most definitely do have to wait. But then, so do I.” I slide a thumb beneath the hem of his t-shirt to tease the skin over his abs. “I promise it will be worth it.”
Leaning in, he presses a kiss to my left dimple. “With you, it always is.”
Taking Ned by the hand, I lead him back in the direction of the band. We have friends waiting. We have a festival to enjoy. And now I get to spend the rest of the day using subtle touches and naughty words to drive Ned to the horny edge of madness. So much fun to be had.
This is my favourite part of being in a real relationship: having someone to share my life with. Not just the fabulous parts of my life, or the parts I deem suitable for mass consumption, but all of it. The happy and the stressful, the ordinary and the wild. Ned and I will be together—tethered and adored—through it all.
THE END