Page 2 of Within Shadows

“I think we’re fine where we are,” Knox dismisses her without looking away from me.

His gaze is burning right into my cheek, and I try to stand, but he still holds my waist with his arm draped around me.

I awkwardly wave her off, and Jess excitedly turns to follow them out of a side door.

I open my mouth and close it as she runs off and leaves the two of us locked in another stare down.

Everyone is now gone, and I jump from my seat.

This time, Knox lets me as he interlocks his fingers behind his head to stretch.

“Any questions, little muse?” He uses that nickname for me again. “Or do you prefer to have a staring contest for the rest of your visit? I don’t mind either way.” His voice is rough from the strain of singing, and it makes my body flush, but I try to compose myself.

“I just don’t know what to say,” I answer honestly.

“Are you local?” he asks me, the question catching me off guard as I nod. “Use your words, muse,” he says, his voice dripping with authority.

“Yes,” I say quickly.

“Good girl. Have you been to one of our shows before?” My eyes nearly bulge from those first two words, and I swallow hard.

“Not really, I’m in college and really busy and broke a lot, which that’s just life, right? My parents gave me these passes as a gift.” I ramble and laugh nervously when he chuckles, shaking his head. “You are amusing,” he says.

“Can you take the mask off?” I ask, my voice nearly a whisper, and the moment it's out, I wish I could take it back. His shoulders tense as he curls his finger for me to step between his feet, and like a moth to a flame, I do.

“Next question.”

“But you didn’t answer—”

“The answer is no. Next question.” His voice is stern, and I sigh as I try to come up with any questions, but my brain seems to have forgotten everything I have ever wanted to know about this man. “What’s your favorite food?” I ask stupidly.

“It was pizza, but I feel like that’s going to change soon.” His gaze once again roams down to stop at the top of my thighs, and I clench them together without thinking. His grip tightens on the armrest as he flicks his eyes back to mine.

“Are you uncomfortable standing there, Maeve?” he asks, and I shake my head from side to side.

He taps his thigh, and I stare, completely dumbfounded.

“Sit, now,” he demands, waving a hand at my boots.

“Those aren’t comfortable.” He shifts his foot and nods towards his own boots.

“You need something more sturdy. You can’t run in those. ”

“It’s a good thing I’m not going jogging anytime soon,” I say.

“I said running,” he corrects and taps his thigh again, harder this time.

“Sit,” he demands. I cross my arms and stare down at him.

“Listen, I’m not some horny groupie.” I scoff and try to step away.

He hooks a single finger through the front of my belt loops and yanks me so close I can feel his breath on my chest.

“No, you’re not. I promise to behave myself, I just want to touch you.

” The words are soft, spoken gently, and like an idiot, I allow him to pull me close again.

I slowly sit on his thigh, and he nods. “Good girl.” His voice is raw and deep again, and I tense.

“Stop saying that.” I nearly hiss the words before clearing my throat.

“We’re going to have so much fun, my muse. You are fucking divine.” The words make me squirm, and his grip tightens on my hip. His other hand lands on my thigh, squeezing as he slides his hand higher.

His laughter is low as he watches me with those unnerving bright eyes that catch the light as it filters through the fabric behind the mask. He motions to the rolled poster peeking from my bag, and I pull it out with shaking hands, sticking it in front of him.

“Would you mind signing this?” I ask, tucking my hair behind my ear as he watches me.

Knox wordlessly signs the paper as I lean closer to see what he’s writing.

My muse. The flattery of the nickname fades when I realize he must be this way to every fan that hovers with a backstage pass outside the door.

I feel like an idiot as I hastily get to my feet, muttering a thank you as I step towards the door Jess had exited through earlier.

“Our passes are only for ten minutes.” As I say that, Jess comes back into the room with a starry-eyed look, her lower lip clamped firmly between her teeth as she wiggles her eyebrows at me.

“Best birthday ever?” Jess bumps her hip against mine as she comes up to interlock her arm with mine. I laugh and nod, my eyes catching Knox as he stands up, towering over me.

“It’s your birthday?” he asks, tilting his head. Jess nods excitedly and nudges me towards him again.

“Happy Birthday, Maeve.” He leans forward, holding his hand out for mine.

I slowly raise it, settling my hand into his palm as he yanks me closer until his mask brushes against the side of my face.

“I’ll see you soon, little muse.” He steps away, nodding his head to Jess as she keeps throwing shamelessly flirty looks at the drummer, Al.

Knox tells two of his security guards to walk us to our car, and if it wasn’t for Jess leaning against me, I am not sure my legs would be strong enough to carry me.

I have the feeling of being watched as we both climb into the car, thanking the guards as they wave us off. Most of the parking lot has cleared after the concert ended, and it’s easy enough for us to slip into the flow.

“Al fucking kissed me.” She spits the words out and I nearly choke on the bottled water I was chugging down.

“He signed my damn hip, and I told him I would get it tattooed, and girl—he moaned. The gigantic, muscular wall of a drummer moaned!” Jess is practically screaming as she smacks her hands on her steering wheel with a giddiness that makes me smile.

“Come on, you and Knox looked awfully cozy,” she prods, but I shake my head, rolling my eyes.

“Pretty sure they treat all of us crazy fan girls the same, Jess. Knox was a flirt, and I kept tripping over words like an idiot.” I sigh, leaning my forehead against the cold glass. He said he would see me soon, but I’m pretty sure I’ll never get another chance like this one.