Page 19 of Wild Stars (Rock His World #2)

CHAPTER 19

Dare

“Earth to Dare!” Richie calls, pulling me from my daydreams. I note his expression as he nods at the amp at the edge of the stage.

“Oh, right, sorry,” I say as I head over to help him with the equipment so we can get ready for sound check.

I still can’t believe tonight kicks off our tour.

The last few days have been nothing but craziness as we all tried to cram in as many appearances as we could on practically every show that would take us.

Which meant rehearsals were sporadic at best, which means I haven’t seen Matty since...

Since I woke up curled around him like a damn facehugger.

Or a stage five clinger.

Real smooth, Dare.

I’d wanted nothing more than to stay in bed with him, wrapped around him like a monkey, but I could see in his eyes he was already freaking out, and I didn’t want to add to his meltdown.

I’m not an idiot, I know Matty’s dating history, just like most Mage Of Mercy fans do, but I’m pretty sure a blind man could tell his venomous tone, his bite...

It’s a defense mechanism.

I don’t know the details, but I know you don’t just get over a guy you were with for five years.

A guy who is all over the Internet right now with some rising star model who looks like he could use a cheeseburger. Or two.

And then Penny showed up, which did not help my game whatsoever.

I’d walked him outside, to where the limousine was waiting creepily, like it’d been there all along.

I didn’t want him to go, but I knew he needed to.

And almost as if he could feel my spiraling thoughts, he leaned forward, kissed me softly, and told me goodbye.

And I haven’t seen him since, thanks to our clashing schedules, and every time I think about texting him, I end up writing a fucking dissertation and then erasing it because I don’t want to sound like a fucking stalker.

But today I will see him.

Because it’s the summit tonight. It’s our first show of the Pillars of Rock tour, and he’ll be here for sound check, just like all the other acts.

I drop the amp next to my microphone as Ines and Spike bring out the guitars.

“You good, bro?” Richie inquires once we set everything down.

“Yeah, of course,” I reply, even though I feel a little on edge.

We’ve played a lot of places, big and small, but never a stadium .

Though I think if I think about it too much, I’ll jinx myself, so instead of focusing on the biggest show of my life this evening...

“You just seem a little...”

“What?” I ask as the sound check guys call out for us to tune.

“You have been walking around with your head in the clouds for the last four days, man. It’s like you are somewhere else completely. I just want to make sure you’re good, you know?”

I sigh in exasperation. When did my brother become the talk our feelings out guy?

“I just have a lot on my mind, you know, with the tour.”

Spike brushes against my side as he messes with some chords and wires.

“We’re all nervous about the tour, Dare,” Richie says with a sigh of his own.

“And then there’s the next big hit,” Spike grunts.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” I ask.

Spike shrugs. “We haven’t worked on the Slayer album in weeks, man. All I’m saying, is we need to get our shit together, you know?”

I shoot my brother a look, and he holds his hands up.

“He’s not wrong, Dare. Every time we ask how Wild Stars is coming, you tell us we’ll be working soon, but...”

I purse my lips as his words settle on me. He’s not wrong, but then again, how could I tell them—any of them—that I was struck with the worst case of writer’s block—until recently, that is.

“We will. We’ve got the next three months on the bus, that’s plenty of time to work on the album,” I say.

After the last week, I think I’ve got more than half the lyrics out to a point where I like them, but I’m still missing something.

Richie turns on his guitar as one of the engineers signals our test.

“I hope so, Dare,” he says, and I don’t miss the sadness in his eyes.

I promise myself that once everything is settled—this show, getting my shit packed, and of course, my impending insanity regarding the one and only Mateo Star—once we are on that bus, I’ll get to the bottom of whatever is bothering my brother.

I hang out in the alcove, watching Geo rock his sound check. I don’t know the guy well, but I like a few of Gravedigger ’s songs. But I can’t deny that the guy puts on a good show, and definitely commands a presence of his own.

And just as he wraps up the last notes of his last song, I see them.

Mage Of Mercy .

Matty walks out in a pair of ripped, darkwash jeans, a heathered black shirt, and a pair of black converses, while his sister dons a similar outfit, except she’s traded jeans for shorts that show off her long, lithe legs. Her hi-top converses and her long bouncy ombre waves only add to the youthful look she has.

I watch as they breeze through their sound check, hiding in the shadows.

Matty strums away on his guitar, his stance dominant and commanding, even though there is no audience to woo.

But I have a feeling that’s just who Mateo Starr is. He’s a force of nature, like a supernova.

And as I watch him, I can’t help but get swept up in his performance. His voice, the way his fingers dance along the frets, and the way he commands his stage.

Fuck.

I know it’s only been a few days, but the one thing I’ve realized during that time is that I know without a doubt what I want.

I don’t waste any time the moment he tears off the stage, and I practically sprint over to him.

“Hey,” I say, pulling his and Hailee’s attention.

Matty stops, and so does Hailee.

“Dare...” He clears his throat, looking from me to his sister. “I didn’t see you there.”

Hailee nods as she looks around me. “Your, uh... brother around?” she asks nonchalantly, but I can see the glimmer of interest in her eyes.

Something is definitely going on between them. Maybe that’s why my brother has been up my ass the last few days, because he’s avoiding his own shit. That would be classic Richie.

Maybe I’m not the only one wishing on a Starr.

“I, uh, think I saw him in the break room a little bit ago,” I reply with a polite grin.

Hailee nods. “I’m kinda hungry anyway, so, uh... I will catch up with you two later?” She says the words softly, almost as if she is afraid they will break.

Matty nods. “Of course.”

I watch as she walks off, her ombre curls bouncing behind her.

This is it.

This is quite possibly the biggest moment of my life.

I shift my stance as I slide my sweaty palms in my black jeans pockets, glancing up at the tall glass of fucking water in front of me.

God, he is so fucking fine.

“So, I was... uh... thinking,” I say, clearing my throat.

Matty crosses his arms, raising an eyebrow. “Should I alert the press? Or should I stand by with a fire extinguisher?” he bites out, but there’s an edge of something less bitter than usual.

Almost as if he is teasing me.

Which only fuels my fire.

“Well, that depends on your answer, Matty,” I quip, flashing him with a smile.

“I told you not to call me that,” he growls, shifting his stance in the shadowed alcove, which only puts him closer to me.

My heart feels like it’s in my throat, and I am acutely aware of the space between us. The sliver of space that is slowly closing.

“I, uh, want to ask you something,” I say, his gaze making me feel warm.

“Is that so?” His voice is calm and cool.

“Uh huh,” I reply, fighting the urge to lean in and kiss him, to push him up against this wall and?—

Focus, Dare!

“English, Dare,” he taunts me.

I take a deep breath, steeling what little resolve I have, because being in this man’s proximity melts my fucking brain.

I have no goblins working the gears when Matty is around.

I am all instinct, all impulse.

“So, I was thinking...” I say, reaching a hand behind my head, playing with my hair, if only to quell my nerves. “That maybe we could like... hang out after the show tonight? Grab something to eat or?—”

“I can ask Haileee if?—”

“No, I, uh... I mean just you. And me,” I say, nibbling on my bottom lip.

My heart beats so loud I think it’s actually echoing in the space, but a quick glance shows it’s just the damn sound engineers messing around.

Matty’s eyes narrow at me and his jaw tenses.

“Like a date, you mean?” His voice is solid and unwavering, and I feel like a victim of kidnapping or something.

Unsure if my captor is going to beat the shit out of me, or if we’re just going to chat about the fucking weather while I’m tied to a chair.

Although, I wouldn’t mind being tied to a chair and tortured by Matty, fuck.

Focus! Dare!

I try to feign nonchalance, but I fail miserably as I let out a nervous laugh.

“Oh, uh... well, it doesn’t have to be a date. I mean, if you don’t want it to be. We can just, uh, like, hang out and maybe jam a bit? Work on the song together, or?—”

Matty’s lips turn up in the corner just the slightest, making me blush.

“I have conditions,” he says stoically, and I blink.

That wasn’t a no.

“Oh, uh... yeah... of course you do. Uh?—”

“I pick the place,” he says matter-of-factly.

“Yeah... yeah, sure,” I reply, nodding so much I think my head may fall off. “Whatever you want. I’m totally at your mercy.” I realize the moment I say the words, I have sealed my fucking doom.

Matty grins, and the sight makes my body flush with heat, my cock standing at attention once more.

Matty moves just the slightest, but the motion puts me back against the wall.

He leans his arm out casually, bracing against the wall so he can loom over me like a villain in a romance novel or some shit.

But I like it.

I like how he makes me feel like I never know what is going to happen with him.

He could kill me or he could kiss me, and honestly I’m down with either.

Maybe both, if I am being honest.

“You will meet me at loading dock C-7 at nine-thirty.” His voice is clear as a bell, and solid.

I nod as he leans his face close to mine; so close, I can feel the heat of his breath, smell the overpowering scent of eucalyptus and sexy shower gel, and I sigh.

Like a damn swoon-worthy heroine.

“Yes, sir,” I agree, licking my suddenly dry lips.

Matty grins and removes himself from my space.

“Good boy. I’ll see you later, Darren.”

And with that, he walks away from me, leaving me hard and wanting all over again.

He said yes.

I wait until I’m certain he is gone before I fist pump the air and whisper a resounding victorious yes.

Tonight is going to be the best night of my fucking life! I just know it!