Page 40 of Wild Stars

Because with Dare around, my attention span seems to falter.

Probably a side effect of spending so much time with someone whose brain is like a squirrel on cocaine.

Dare turns toward me, capturing my gaze.

I’ve been caught staring.Again.

Fucking hell.

Thankfully, before either of us can say anything, the car rolls to a stop and my driver opens his door.

I breathe a sigh of relief that we are at the studio, and soon enough, I will be able to work out this...this...unsettling energy.Soon, I will lose myself in my music, and everything will be okay.

Dare follows behind me as I swipe my card to let us into the building, and I can feel his gaze on me, like a fire.

I hold the door open for him, nodding for him to enter.

Dare stands there, on the sidewalk, chewing his lip like a piece of licorice.

The sight ignites memory once more, as I recall how soft and plush they were as I nipped at the flesh with my teeth.How they crushed mine with brutal force.

I force the image away as I nod toward the open door and say, “After you.”

Dare’s eyebrows furrow slightly and he brushes past me, his form sliding against my front only slightly.

I can’t deny that he looks good in the basics.Sure, bright colors and dramatic clothing are what he is known for, but there is something about the simplicity of a man in a white tee shirt and gray sweatpants that feels so much...sexier than the former.More intimate.

The shirt itself draws attention to Dare’s thick arms, and the array of colorful tattoos that accentuate his skin.It’s also tight across his chest, and his nipples prominently poke through, which makes me think of his damn nipple rings, which makes my cock twitch, and...

Lord have mercy on my fucking soul.

“Thanks,” he says dejectedly as he enters the building.

With his back to me, I do my best to adjust my cock and close the door.

“Welcome,” I say coldly, fighting the urge to say anything else.

The clock reads eleven-thirty, and I sigh.I hate being off on my schedule.

Rehearsals are usually done by three, and usually, I like to head home for a meditation following a rehearsal.Why I let my sister and Geo talk me into going out last night is beyond me.

Clearly, I’m off my game.

Guess I’m going to have to pull some extra hours in the studio tonight to make up for it.

“Matty, listen, I?—”

I close my eyes as I give Dare my back.The desire to turn around is strong, but I need to be stronger.I cannot let myself see the remorse, the embarrassment on his face, and know I’m the cause.

I should have put up a fight.I should’ve said no to that drink, I should’ve left him in the hallway.

Because if I would have done so, I wouldn’t be standing inches away from him, feeling like the biggest fucking asshole.

“Remember to shut the door,” I murmur as I force myself toward my studio room and shut the door tightly.

On the other side of the door, Helena and Palo stand around chatting quietly.One look to the studio and I see it’s empty.

“Where’s Hailee?”I snap, feeling agitated.

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