Page 163 of Hard Rock Tease

“I’ll try not to get attacked by scary fangirls from now on, I promise.”

“Are you finished with the police?” Deena asked.

“For now. There’s going to be some follow-up, but they said they were done with me for the night.”

I saw Neil out of the corner of my eye, standing awkwardly outside the circle, looking like he wanted to intrude but didn’t dare.

“Neil, you finished, too?” I asked, prompting him to come forward.

He nodded and stuck his hands in his pockets. “They told me to go to the station to give a more formal statement in the morning.”

“Me, too,” I said. Jayce nodded.

“Ailey…” Neil trailed off, glancing hesitantly at Jayce. “You doing okay?”

“I must be doing better than I look, because everyone’s treating me like I’m going to fall apart any second. I’m feeling fine. Yeah, it was scary, but we’re safe now.”

In fact, I was feeling more than fine. My body was awash with adrenaline. I felt like I could get up and run a marathon. They said that experiencing a near death experience gave people a kind of high, a rush of excitement.

Wasn’t there a cliché about people getting the urge to fuck after a brush with death? I supposed all clichés had a grain of truth, because I was feeling that familiar tingle right then.

”I just want to go back to my hotel room.” And take care of that itch.

“You’re right,” Kell spoke up, almost too loud. “You should go get some rest. Jayce, Neil,” Kell gave them each a pointed look, “Ailey shouldn’t go alone. Why don’t the two of you take her to her hotel room?”

My mouth popped open and I stared wide-eyed at Kell. Neil looked taken aback while Jayce gave Kell an amused look.

“The both of you better make sure she gets there safe and sound,” Kell added with a grin.

Jayce wrapped an arm around my shoulder and Ren let him pull me up and off the back of the ambulance. My knees were a little shaky, but aside from that, I was fine.

“You coming?” Jayce tossed the question to Neil, who looked befuddled but took my hand anyway.

Kell gave me a smug look. I wanted to be peeved at him. Could he be more obvious? Another part of me, though, couldn’t help but squirm inwardly in excitement.

I hadn’t been able to have that conversation with the two of them like I’d planned.

It looked like I was getting my chance.

Chapter Twenty-Four

The two ofthem guided me to a taxi and piled in next to me, one on either side. The taxi ride to the hotel was quiet, as was the elevator ride to my room. Neil tried to speak a few times but always fell silent.

I tried not to be impatient as the lights on the elevator lit up floor by floor, but Neil must have sensed it. He snuck his hand around my waist and pressed it against the small of my back, lending me a comforting touch. I leaned into him and took in a deep breath. I could smell his aftershave along with a woodsy scent that sent warmth flooding through me.

Jayce noticed and brushed his hand against mine, not wanting to be left out. I wondered if Kell had spoken to him. Did he know what was going to happen tonight?

When the elevator doors opened, I took both of them by the hand and led them to my hotel room. I pulled them through the door and shut it behind me. When I turned to face them, I saw two very different expressions.

Jayce’s was fierce, hot. Neil’s was confused, apprehensive. I felt the need to go to him first. I cupped his face in my hands and leaned against him so close my breasts were pressed against his chest. Those bright blue eyes searched mine for a moment before flicking over to Jayce briefly.

“Ailey, what—”

I cut him off with a kiss, lowering his head with a light pull. I pressed a soft kiss on his mouth, then ran my tongue between my lips. He groaned and parted them for me, letting my tongue stroke leisurely against his until he pulled away sharply, expression almost scared as he glanced at Jayce again.

“Ailey, what are you—”

“There’s been too much confusion,” I interrupted him. “Too many misunderstandings between me and you, between you and Jayce. Between all three of us really.” I shook my head. “It doesn’t have to be confusing anymore. It can be simple.”