Talon steps up to the microphone, sliding his hands through his damp hair. “Thank you all so much for coming out tonight and supporting me. No Left Turn was born in this place because of you. As my music career goes through a rebirth, I knew there was no one else I wanted to share that with. This last song of the night is my favorite on the album for me and will be my first solo single. If you loved what you heard tonight, please find my album streaming at midnight. I love you all.”
The crowd screams, and he grabs his guitar, waits, and settles on a stool in the middle of the stage. He strums a slower song, and I’m mesmerized when his gaze locks with mine. He’s singing to me a song about a second chance at love. It’s our story that he’s laying out. Everyone else around disappears, and it’s just the two of us in that moment. When the song ends, we stare until he mouths “I love you” to me, and he leaves the stage while the crowd screams and shouts.
I pack away my camera, and we all go backstage. The partying back here is already in full swing. Drinks are passed, and half-naked girls are dancing around. I find Talon sitting in one of the recliner chairs like it’s a throne. There’s a girl sitting on each arm of the chair. I breathe a small sigh of relief when I don’t see a drink in his hand. The redhead on his right puts her hand on his shoulder and says something in his ear that makes him smile. My stomach somersaults, and my fists clench.
Can I really expect a rockstar to change his colors?
Abso-fuckin-lutely I can.
He’s made me promises, and I won’t be the shrinking Blake I was before. I march across the room, and people part around me. Talon’s face turns, and his smile brightens when he sees me. Then it falls when he notices my expression. I hope I look fierce.
“Kitten, did you enjoy the show?” he asks me, hesitating. When I get close enough, he pulls me into his lap. “Ladies, it’s been nice chatting, but I need to spend some time with my girl now,” he tells the women on either side of him. They get up and are absorbed into the crowd around us.
Once they’re gone, he buries his face in my neck. He sinks his teeth in there, giving me a little nip that has me squealing. “Put the claws away, my Kitten. That was strictly business. They’re both influencers, and Vic wants me to play nice, so they’ll post glowing reviews. I was being a good boy.” His tongue flicks out to soothe the slight pain he left on my neck, which I’m sure will leave a mark.
The angry tension leaks out of me, being soothed by his mouth and his words. I look back at him and grin, “You’re never a good boy.”
“I can be very good, but only for you. I don’t want to be here, but Vic says I have to stay at least an hour. Is that okay with you?”
“Yeah,” I answer. My anger is gone entirely now.
“Good, do you want to meet the band?”
I stand up from his lap, “Sure.”
I look over the room and see Foster and Cole sitting on the side of the couch, talking amongst themselves and ignoring everyone else. Cole sees me watching them and smiles. I give him a small wave before following behind Talon.
We walk over to the pool table, and Talon pulls two guys who are playing aside. He places his hand on the shoulder of a tall, skinny guy with shaggy blue hair. “Blake, this is the drummer Theo,” he motions to the guy with long, curly brown hair, “and Les, the bassist. Guys, this is my girlfriend, Blake.” I shake their hands, and we return to the oversized couch, where someone I already know is playing tonsil hockey with a purple-haired girl.
Talon kicks his feet, making them break apart. “You know Caleb.”
Caleb smiles at me, “Hey Blake. I’m glad to see you took this idiot back.”
I smile back at him, “You played great tonight.”
After our tour around the room, we again fall back into the cozy recliner with me in Talon’s lap.
“I thought Caleb wanted out of the rockstar lifestyle,” I tell Talon in his ear.
“He does, but he still loves the rush of performing. Tonight was more like old times, but he has no interest in going on the road with me.”
I stiffen, “You’re going on tour?”
“Maybe, if this music takes off. It’s a part of the job.”
“Let me guess, Vic says?”
He grimaces, “Yeah, I need to get out there and connect with the fans. I’ve already told him that I won’t travel too far and won’t be away for long periods. I promise you’ll have a say in my schedule when we get to that point.”
“Thank you, Talon.”
I kiss him quickly, and we sit there until we can escape.
Chapter 23
Living in a house with three men, I rarely get a night to myself. Tonight is the exception. Cole left this morning for a two-week training camp, and Foster is at dinner with his parents, who are in town again. I wasn’t invited, so I had to push him into going. I’m not entirely alone in the house because Talon is in his studio having a video meeting with his manager and record company.
I’m halfway through my third episode of a cooking show when Talon comes up from the basement and joins me. I pause the show.
