Page 33 of Fire

No, it has to be Hendrix fucking Creed.

I look up and inwardly sigh because, yep, he’s just as hot as I remember.

His eyes are a soft denim blue with the tiniest flecks of gold near the irises. He looks as if he’s had a haircut since I last saw him because he’s rocking an edgy undercut, and his honey brown locks are pushed back like someone just ran their fingers through them. His beard is neat and trimmed, and I try not to think of all the places I’ve felt it scrape across my skin.

I was sort of hoping I had built him up in my mind and that all those sexy tattoos and lean muscles were just a figment of my imagination.

He stares down at me with a cocky smirk, and that’s when I realize my hand is still pressed between his pecs. Gripping his T-shirt. I spring backward.

“Sorry,” I mutter. “I didn’t mean to…”Grope you? Fondle your man chest?

“Who is this, then?” I hear someone say from behind Hendrix in a posh British accent. He turns and sighs at the giant beast of a man. His tawny brown skin is covered in intricate tattoos, and his thick, wavy brown hair is pulled up in a messy man bun at the crown of his head.

Is everyone in this band tall?

“This is Zara Valentine,” Ridge answers. He managed to make it onto the plane unscathed and stands next to me looking impeccable while I try to reclaim my dignity after nearly face-palming it moments ago. “She will be our on-site physician for the duration of the tour.”

“We have our own doctor now? Brilliant!” Tall guy grins, offering his free hand. The other is wrapped around one of thosegiant energy drinks. “I’m Darius, the drummer. Hey, will you be supplying condoms?”

“Dar, what the fuck?” Ridge mutters.

“Jesus,” Henrick groans.

“What?” Darius shrugs, looking completely unbothered. “It’s a genuine question. I always run out. This one time, I brought back these gorgeous blonde triplets to my room, only to find out I used my last rubber the night before. I don’t know about you, but I go through a lot of them when I’m in a ménage situation.” He notices Ridge staring at him. “You’ve never had that problem?”

I can’t help the tiny smirk that tugs at my lips. This guy seems to have no filter.

“No,” Ridge answers flatly.

“Well, you’ll be glad to know I come fully stocked with Band-Aids, over-the-counter meds, and yes, even condoms.”

“Splendid. Well, if you ever need a visual aid to demonstrate proper placement—Ow! What the fuck?” Hendrix whacks him across the top of his head.

“Stop harassing her.”

“I’m not harassing her. I’m just being friendly. And kind. That’s what we do for newbies here.”

“I’m new,” Hendrix reminds him.

“No, you’re not,” Darius argues. “You and Z are so attached, I was starting to wonder if you were in some sort of throuple situation we didn’t know about. And we’d be okay with that, just so you know. Love is love, right, Doc?”

“Um, yup.” See? No filter.

“A throuple? Seriously? If you think Zander would let anyone touch his wife, even his best friend, you clearly don’t know him well enough yet.”

“Speaking of Elena,” Ridge interrupts. I follow his gaze and see a woman with chestnut brown hair and a gorgeoussmile. She’s dressed comfortably in high-waisted leggings and a cropped hoodie, and I’m guessing the toddler wrapped around her is the reason I was hired. “I’m going to go introduce her to Zara.”

“Lovely to meet you, Doc!”

“You too, Darius.”

I don’t say goodbye to Hendrix. He doesn’t say anything to me either, but I feel his gaze on me as I walk away, like an electric current running up my spine.

Definitely not going to be awkward at all between us.

I can already tell Elena and I are going to be good friends.

When she turned around and exclaimed, “Oh, thank God. This group needs another female to liven it up a bit,” I couldn’t help but laugh.