Thankfully, I evade him most of the time, plastering on a smile as I sing my lines, as I perform my act and cater to the crowd.
But apparently, Mick has other plans and wants to go out with a bang this evening.
Because right when we’re almost done, when Ifinallyfeel that creeping sense of relief, like I might just make it, he’sthere.
At the end of the song, in one swift second, too fast for me to block, he presses his lips to mine and all my muscles lock up.
I’m screaming.
Screaming.
I’m screaming inside.
I’m frozen. In a state of limbo.
The lips on my mouth press harder. The hands on the back of my head and ass yank me closer—squeezing—and I swear I’ve never felt this kind of dread. Never felt thisviolated. I almost wish I was blissfully high again, so I don’t need to be so fucking aware of how this feels.
I swear I can feel his fucking tongue against my lips.
I’ve handled grabbing before. Handled pushy fans before. Handled unwelcome hugs, sweaty high fives, and people throwing themselves at me with too much enthusiasm.
But nobody’s everkissedme.
Nobody’s evertouchedme like this—
Intimately. Publicly.
Without my fucking consent and claiming me in front of the entire fucking world to see.
It feels like I’m withering on the inside, like a piece of me just fucking dies right then and there. My fists are itching to push him away, but I can’t, I can’t,I can’t.Not without making a scene in front of the entire fucking stadium.
HeknowsI’m not single.
HeknowsI don’t want this.
I said no. I said nosomany fucking times.
But if I say nonow—if I push Mick fucking Heart away in front of an audience of fifty thousand people? Fans who are screaming, catcalling, cheering us on like this is some kind of twisted love story?
Fans who hardcoreshipus.
Who have fuckingshipnamesfor us.
Who’ve writtenfanficsabout us.
I justcan’t.
I promised Ty it wouldn’t come to this; I fuckingpromisedhim this wouldn’t happen, that this was just some stupid crush on his end. That he’ll get bored with and would fade, eventually.
ThatI’dnever let it turn into anything.
Thatthis—this nightmare—it wouldn’t happen.
But I never even imagined Mick doingthis. That he’d stoopthisfucking low.
After last night, I should have seen this coming.
I know he’s an arrogant piece of shit who’s been in the spotlight way too long, who has a skewered view of the world outside of his own little bubble. He’s used to everyone around him catering to his every need, used to all people being obsessed with him, devoted to him,wantinghim.
