Page 103 of Hard Rock Tease

I had no idea how long I stood there. Long enough for the music to stop. I was lost in thought when the door leading to the pit swung open, making me jump.

Jayce appeared in the doorframe. His leather jacket was gone, having traded it for a tight white t-shirt.

My breath hitched.

The body sweat he’d worked up during rehearsal made the cotton fabric cling to every deliciously muscled ab. I had the sudden urge to lift up that shirt, reveal his toned stomach, and lick every inch of it.

Let’s reiterate: I wasn’t a groupie. I wasn’t just taken with him because of his good looks.

Jayce Evans was a musical genius. The songs he composed were brilliant. His guitar solos were unparalleled. His stage presence was magnetic. He was destined to be the next rock star god. I just knew it.

But his unbelievable good looks didn’t hurt.

“Who are you?” His voice was low, deep in his chest and almost rough.

“Sorry!” My racing heartbeat continued to pound as I tried not to squeak. The surprise of being caught didn’t at all lessen the sweet ache between my legs. “I’m—"

The words died in my throat as he narrowed his eyes at me. “Fans aren’t allowed backstage.”

“I’m not—" I paused. I couldn’t exactly say I wasn’t a fan. I didn’t want Jayce’s first impression of me to be a negative one.

“I suppose I can let this one go,” he continued. “If…” A small smirk crossed his lips.

“If…?” I clenched my purse tight in my hands, trying not to sound breathless.

“You tell me what you thought of the song.”

I blinked. “What?”

Jayce shrugged, deceptively casual, but his eyes burned into me, dark and intense. “It’s new. We haven’t played it in front of an audience before. The execs weren’t sure, but Kell insisted.”

I had barely paid attention to the song, too wrapped up in our staring contest. I thought back to the bits I’d heard at the beginning.

“I liked it.”

“That’s it?” he asked, quirking an eyebrow.

Fighting against all my instincts to swoon on the spot, I somehow managed to answer. “For all that you guys love flair, the song was surprisingly subtle.”

“Subtle?” His brows furrowed.

“I’m not saying it’s boring!” My inner fangirl was gibbering at me. My rock star idol was standing only a few feet away, asking my opinion on his new song. Was this really happening? “It was catchy. The chorus had a good hook.”

“But how did it make you feel?”

I struggled to think, contemplating his question for a moment. “It was… sad. There was a sense of loss. The song had an almost anguished feel. But there was an undertone of anger, too. Fury. No one could accuse you of clichéd teenage angst, though. There were complex layers to it.”

“Complex layers…” Jayce tapped one thumb against his bottom lip, eyes unfocused and staring off into the distance. “That sounds familiar.”

It was something I’d written about Feral Silence online before. All of their music had weight, a depth to it that should have been incongruous with their catchy hooks, but somehow they made it work.

“And of course, there was an undertone of seduction that’s unique to your sound.”

Eyes focusing back on mine, Jayce flashed me a considering look. I flushed, wondering if I shouldn’t have said that last part.

“And were you seduced?”

That rough voice turned smooth, the words crashing over me, turning my insides into liquid. I let out a small, choked noise, nearly swallowing my tongue. Jayce just laughed.