Page 28 of Hard Rock Muse

I remembered that fire and that passion. It had always been directed at me. He’d look at me with those dark eyes, bright and burning, and I’d melt for him. I’d given him everything I had, no reservations. Maybe I’d been young and stupid like Abby said, but I didn’t care. I’d opened myself to him, body and soul.

Just like I wanted to open myself to him now. Those eyes, that face, those hands, that body…

I squeezed my thighs together, willing the heat between them to go away. Every time he took his eyes off his keyboard and looked out, the throbbing intensified. I’d always been turned on by the way Julian performed. It was the musician in me. I couldn’t help it. There was something so goddamn sexy about watching him like this.

My heart fluttered and my insides ached.

The things he made me feel back then were the exact same things I felt now.

Shit.

I should have known coming to this concert would be a bad idea. Everything I’d tried to suppress was bubbling to the surface.

I made it through the concert somehow, my existential crisis keeping me from fully enjoying the rest of the show.

I contemplated leaving with the crowd through the front doors, but Julian had invited me and I was sure he was expecting me to at least come and say hello.

I made my way backstage, flashing my pass at the bouncers. I had to maneuver my way through some staff and crew. It took a lot of people to coordinate shows like this. I tried to stay out of their way, finding a quiet corner to stand and wait. It gave me time to calm down, both the pounding of my heart and the pounding between my legs.

After most of the chaos had dwindled, the members of Cherry Lips wandered out from the artists’ lounge. A gorgeous man with wavy brown hair had his arm around Cerise, which she looked thrilled about. That must have been Liam Knight, her guitarist and boyfriend.

I looked around for Julian, but didn’t see him. Maybe he’d already skipped out. Maybe he hadn’t been waiting for me after all. That thought sent a pang of dejection coursing through me.

“Hey,” a low voice said from the shadows.

I jumped and whirled around. “Shit, you scared me!”

Julian’s lips twitched upward. “Sorry.”

I pointed an accusing finger at him. “You’ve always been like a goddamn cat.”

“Meow,” he said, straight-faced.

I shook my head and laughed despite myself.

“Enjoy the show?” he asked, hands in his pockets, looking oddly at ease despite his sweat-dampened hair.

“You know I did,” I said. “You brought the house down.”

“I’m glad you came,” he said.

Nearly came in my pants, you mean.

I kept that thought to myself.

“You were great out there,” I said. “You’ve really grown as a musician.”

He tried to play it cool, but I saw his eyes light up. “Yeah?”

It warmed me that he thought so much of my opinion. Just as I cared about his.

“I can’t wait to hear you play our song live,” I said.

“Our song…” he trailed off, looking hopeful. “It really is going to beoursong, isn’t it?”

“Remember, Cerise wants it to sound like you,” I hastened to say. I didn’t need him getting any thoughts. It was bad enough that was the direction my mind had been going in. I didn’t need to encourage him.

“There’s always going to be a part of you in the song,” he said.