Page 27 of Covet (The Red #3)

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Elle

Listen to Closer

by Samuel Jack

H oly shit.

I’d done it.

My whole body shook as I tried to settle from the buzz of being on stage.

I’d been terrified, but somehow, pushed through.

There were always nerves before an audition, but this was a new level I’d never experienced.

Thank God, everything disappeared the moment I began to speak.

It was the same with acting; I became someone else when I began to read my lines. The same happened with singing.

A shocked giggle escaped as I shook my body out.

I loved being out there with Noah. It was like we anticipated each other’s every move and thought, from how he started the music at the perfect time, to pulling back when I decided to extend the pause at the end of the main octave.

Like a choreographed dance, we simply got one another.

It was…perfection.

Fire.

Noah had admitted he wanted me. His gaze had practically devoured me whole and made me feel like a goddess. Then, he’d smiled at me right before I went on stage and gave me the confidence I needed. Calm settled over me like a warm blanket, and it felt like as long as Noah was beside me, I was safe.

I never experienced peace with Coop. It was more like a rocky roller coaster ride, where I got addicted to the highs, but despised the lows. I imagined a relationship with Noah would be like sailing a boat through cool, calm waters, with gentle swells.

God, I was out of my mind.

I pulled myself together before my thoughts spun out and joined Gabby and Max at the bar.

They clapped and hugged me. “Just what I thought,” Gabby said smugly. “You are now officially known .”

Max grinned. “What does that actually mean?”

“Known means your name is buzzing and gaining recognition. It’s what JJ was hoping for and he was right. Noah is making a name for himself being a DJ but they would’ve never listened to his own music. With you as the lead? Everyone will listen.”

I wrinkled my nose and took the Aperol Spritz she handed me. “Doubt one song and performance will do all that. Noah drove this whole thing—he should get the credit.”

Max rolled his eyes. “Can’t either of you just step in and own it? Fuck, I’d be pumped to have all that attention. Shit like that could get our gym funded on GoFundMe ASAP.”

Gabby bumped his shoulder. “We all know you’re greedy for attention, Max. I thought you had plenty of money for funding?”

His face smoothed out. “I do. Just saying if I needed it.”

“Well, I’m just happy I didn’t choke. You didn’t film me, right?” I asked.

Gabby gave a sly smile. “Nope, I promised not to.”

Max picked up his phone. “So, I did. Promised Coop I would.”

I gave a groan. “No!”

“Yep. Don’t worry, I would’ve deleted it if you guys sucked but it was—fire.”

We all laughed. “Just don’t upload it anywhere, okay?”

“Fine,” Gabby grumbled. “But if you change your mind, you could have a viral Adam moment.”

“Can we just get drunk and celebrate?” I asked.

Max slapped his hand on the bar. “I’m in. Let’s get fucked up.”

As Noah finished his set, I pounded tequila shots and danced my ass off.

Taking the position Daisy usually did by the stage, I watched Noah work his magic and fell under his spell.

He looked different when he DJ’d, a little rougher around the edges as he chased the music.

I threw my hands up, shook my hips, and let myself go.

Finally, Noah ended his set and came to find us. We crushed together and congratulated him. Gabby leaned in. “Guys, I’m sorry, I gotta go. I have a bunch of early consults and need to wake up in my own bed.”

“I’ll go with you,” Max said, dropping his card on the bar to close out. “We’ll split an Uber.”

I was still riding high and didn’t want to call it a night. “Go without me. I’m not ready to leave yet,” I said.

“You didn’t get a room?” Noah asked.

“Coop forgot,” I said.

Max laughed. “The hotels were all full by the time I remembered, too.”

We hugged goodbye. Max and Gabby left. I grabbed the bartender’s attention and ordered shots. Then turned to Noah with a giddy smile. “We need to catch you up. ‘Cause I’m drunk.”

He laughed. “I could tell. You deserve to celebrate. You were amazing, Elle.”

“So were you.”

I got lost in those beautiful gray eyes as the chaos around me faded. The bartender slapped the shots down and the moment broke. We drank and then I grabbed his hand to pull him onto the floor. “Let’s dance.”

We partied till last call was announced. Our bodies brushed together like a soft kiss. I studied the lines of his face as he danced; the curl of his lower lip; the sweet frown line between his brow as a thought chased past.

A pleasant buzz gripped my body and my head felt soft, like fluffy cotton. I knew I was pretty drunk, but I had to get my ass home tonight. I’d take an Uber, too, even though it would cost me big bucks. I couldn’t deal with public transportation.

We stumbled out with the rest of the crowd. The chilly Fall air cooled the sweat on my skin and I tilted my head up to the sky. “Do you know the buildings block all the stars? We only see half of them. Isn’t that so sad?”

I began to hiccup. Noah laughed. “Elle, you’re pretty drunk. I can’t put you in an Uber home.”

“I can’t sleep on the sidewalk,” I said sadly. “I’ll get arrested.”

“I have a room for the night. You can sleep there. I’ll take the floor.”

My defenses were down so the idea of staying in Noah’s space for a while longer made me smile. “Okay.”

He tugged playfully at my braid. “Come on, let’s crash.

” His arm slipped around my waist after I stumbled.

I leaned into his muscled body and let him guide me down the street and into the hotel.

The elevator opened on the seventh floor and I caught a flash of burgundy patterned carpet, fake gilded mirrors, and a long corridor that shifted in my vision, reminding me of The Shining.

I shuddered and fell through the door to escape the scary twins.

“Easy,” Noah said. “Here, lie down. I’m going to get you some water.”

I lay back on the bed and stared at the ceiling. I counted three water stains. Gross. I focused on the past few hours instead. “Wasn’t tonight perfect? Do you think JJ will be happy?”

“ You were perfect. I’m thinking JJ may want to pull you from me so you can be more in the spotlight, especially after we release our songs. Would you want to front Unison full-time if it’s offered?” Noah asked, bringing me a water bottle.

I began to shake my head, then immediately stopped. Way too spinny. “No.”

Noah put his hand on the back of my head and eased me to a sitting position.

“Here, drink.” He uncapped the bottle and tilted it to my lips.

I drank greedily. When I finished, Noah put the bottle on the nightstand and stood by the foot of the bed.

He unzipped my boots with deft fingers and pulled them off my feet.

I groaned with relief and wriggled my toes. “Better?” he asked.

“Yes, thanks.”

“Do you need to use the bathroom?”

“No, I went right before we left. But I have no pajamas and I’d do anything to get out of this outfit.”

“Got it covered.” He ruffled through his bag and took out a black Metallica t-shirt. “Wear this.”

“I don’t like Metallica.”

Noah flashed a grin. “Well, I don’t have Taylor Swift available.”

I half giggled and managed to inch my way to the edge of the bed. “Can you turn around? I just want to change here.”

“Sure. I’ll be back. Gonna shower real quick.”

The door shut. I took off my clothes and pulled on the shirt. It hung to my knees. The faded cotton was soft and cozy against my skin. With a happy sigh, I inched my way to the headboard and snuggled under the covers.

Noah returned. His sweat shorts and charcoal gray tank showed off his corded arms and powerful thighs.

“There’s gotta be an extra blanket somewhere,” he muttered, checking the closet.

I looked at the only chair in the room—a vinyl club that would never fit his body.

“Noah, don’t be ridiculous. Just sleep in the bed with me.

The floor is disgusting and you can’t sit up all night. ”

His gaze swung around and met mine. I noticed his tank brought out the smoke color of his eyes. “You sure?”

I blinked. No, I wasn’t. Because I was still tripping from his nearness and the way we’d danced together, like our bodies fit as well as our music. “Yes.”

“Okay, I’ll stay on top of the covers.” He turned out the light and lay beside me. The space between us was barely there. I caught the scent of mint and soap. His hair was damp. I wanted to run my fingers over the buzzed strands and see if they prickled my palms.

The silence seethed with unspoken want but the dark cloaked the danger.

Noah’s voice was whisper soft. “Why wouldn’t you want to sing with Unison? You and Adam would work well together.”

“Adam’s making his own way with the band. I don’t want to step in late and force myself to fit in.”

He seemed to analyze my response. “Okay, but if our songs hit, you’ll have a bunch of opportunities. Did you think about what you’d want? A solo career? Find a young, fresh band to lead? Create your own group?”

I smiled in the dark. “It sounds like you have.”

His warm breath rushed past my cheek as he shifted position to his side. “I know how this industry works, Elle. It’s best if you lead JJ instead of the other way around. I refuse to let him try and push his agenda at your expense.”

The fierce protectiveness in his voice made me melt. “Noah, did you have fun tonight? With me?”

I had no idea why the question escaped but it was important.

Noah didn’t rush to assure or placate me.

It was one of his quirks I loved—the ability to sit in silence until his thoughts lined up with his words.

He had the gift of intention. “It was so much more than fun, Elle. I think tonight counts as one of my top moments in my career. I love being a DJ, but I never created a song with someone. Listening to you perform on stage, beside me? God, it was incredible. It was like…” he trailed off.

“What?”

“Like you were the missing piece.”

I closed my eyes as hunger surged through me. Our thighs brushed but the covers stopped skin-to-skin contact. He tried to cover the intensity of the moment by forcing a laugh. “Sorry, I’m kind of drunk.”

I turned my head on the pillow to face him. “Noah, I only want to make music with you.”

He sucked in a breath. “That means a lot. And being a part of watching you launch your career is something I’ll never forget. But I’m not enough for you. I’m just a DJ and half ass producer. JJ is looking at much bigger opportunities.”

“I don’t care. If I get to call the shots, those are my demands. We do it together or I don’t do it at all.”

He reached out and placed his hand on my arm. The contact scorched through me. “I won’t let you do that. Don’t you realize I knew this would happen? That you were special? No way you’re wasting such talent because you feel loyal to me. We’ll talk with JJ and see what he says.”

I shook my head. “It’s not loyalty or pity or because I’m scared of branching out.

I want to make music with you because you’re my safe place.

I want to sing with you because I feel things that are so big when we’re together, there’s no other way to express them.

Don’t ever say you’re not enough for me. I won’t let you.”

Desperate for contact, I slid my hand into his and squeezed.

The silence crackled with possibility, and I took another step toward the edge of the cliff, peering over the edge as I waited to see what he would do with my confession.

His voice was raspy. “Elle.”

He gently pulled me toward him. Wrapped his arms around me in a warm embrace. Rested his chin on top of my head.

I gave a long sigh and relaxed against him. Surrounded by his scent, protected by his body, my soul settled.

I knew it was wrong. I knew tomorrow had to be faced. I knew we’d betrayed the people we loved. I knew all of it, but I didn’t care. So, I closed my eyes and let sleep take me, happier than I’d been in a long, long time.