Page 4 of Blind Attraction

“I’ll speak to him after the performance,” Leah continued. “Don’t worry, he won’t work with you again.”

“He shouldn’t work withanyoneever again. The guy’s a tool,” Sean added from a chair in the corner while scratching his buzz cut with one of his drumsticks.

“So, was she still a hottie up close?” Mason raised a brow in his direction. “She seemed a little too cutesy from my position at the mic.”

Mitch shrugged and strolled to the coffee table for a bottle of water. “She’s all right.” He didn’t want them to know how perfect she appeared up close. All that would achieve is the entire band staring at her for the second half of the performance. “I might buy her a drink after the show, if she’s lucky.”

The four men laughed at him, and Leah smiled.

Fuck ‘em.

“You’re as transparent as Britney Spears’ underwear.” Ryan continued to chuckle.

Cracking the top to his bottle, Mitch glared at the rhythm guitarist. “She doesn’t wear underwear, dickhead.” He took a swig of his water and resigned himself to more humiliation.

“Exactly.” Mason and Sean replied in unison.

He continued to chug his water while he gave them the bird.

“All right guys, five minutes. Let’s get this show on the road.” Leah strode into the middle of the room. “I’ll deal with the Steve issue. You just continue to hit this performance out of the ballpark. The fans love it.”

Thirty minutes later, he was back on stage, half way through the second part of the performance. His body buzzed from the heightened state of awareness which always came with performing in front of a live crowd. Right here, right now, was what he lived for, what he loved more than life—the euphoria from holding an audience in the palm of his hand.

Tonight was better than normal. They were up close and personal with their biggest fans. Something they didn’t get to experience with a packed stadium. He was mere feet from the people who made Reckless Beat into a worldwide sensation. Only, he couldn’t drag his attention away from one face in particular. He was stuck with half his mind on the music and the other half on a fantasy involving the hotel spa and a lot less clothing.

He glanced back in her direction, like he had every two minutes, hoping to glimpse the faint hint of her dimples. Yep, there they were. He was determined to lick the deep grooves, to make her moan and call his name.

The chesty blonde standing beside her waved her arms in front of the beauty’s face, gaining his attention. He frowned while she pointed to his woman, nodded her head vigorously, and pointed to the exit.

He might not be proficient in sign language, but he assumed her actions meant he’d have a hot date later. Jerking his head in understanding, he concentrated on the lead up to his favorite solo. When Mason’s voice fell away, he stepped forward, positioning himself in front of his future conquest and played to her. For her.

His fingers slid over the strings, hitting each note with ease while Sean hammered the drums and Blake and Ryan backed him up with their guitars. When the last chord sounded, he stepped back and caught her gaze. Her face was alight with an angelic glow and an impressed smile tilted her lips. His blood thickened knowing he’d caused that mesmerizing reaction.

By the time the final song started, his palms were sweating and he’d deliberately stopped looking in the woman’s direction. He wanted her. Bad. He blamed his monstrous surge in libido on the thrill of the hunt. He knew she wouldn’t be an easy catch.

Panties and bras lined the stage, and not one of them hers. She’d watched them sail past, her mouth agape as if Reckless Beat fans were sex crazed deviants. Maybe they were.

His woman was straight laced all the way. The thought of seducing the look of innocence from her, nice and slow, made his cock stir to life. The vision of taking her hard and fast against the elevator wall made him bite the inside of his mouth to beat off the enthusiasm.

He’d never felt this way about a groupie before. The crowd before him always seemed easily obtainable, like picking an apple from a tree. They were there because they thought they loved the band members, or craved the thrill of screwing someone famous. He couldn’t imagine this woman acting the same. She may even turn him down.

A grin pulled at his lips. He was up for the chase.

When the final song ended in a flash of light, Mitch pulled the guitar strap over his head and strode straight toward his guitar tech. He handed his baby into the man’s capable hands and walked to the rest of the band members, now hidden behind the lowered curtain. They shoulder bumped and clapped each other on the back to mark the perfect performance.

“Are you guys clearing out straight away?” Mitch raised his voice over the continued screams from the crowd and focused his attention on Mason, Sean, and Ryan who had family to stay with in Richmond.

“Yeah, Leah said she’d have security on stand-by and the cars waiting.” Mason wiped the sweat from his forehead. “You ready to make a run for your room?”

Mitch glanced at Blake and raised a brow. Being the only two who didn’t originate from Richmond, they had a room booked upstairs. Months ago, they all decided to remain in town for a few days after the show. They wanted to create hype over the upcoming album release and what better place to start their promotional tour but Richmond, Virginia, the city where Reckless Beat originated.

“I’m ready to go.” Blake ran his fingers through his spiky black hair and winced. “I need a shower.”

“Let’s get going then. I plan on eating a shit load of my Momma’s cookin’ before I go to sleep.” Sean pushed out his non-existent belly and gave it a rub. “Nobody beat’s my momma’s cookin’.”

“Sounds good to me,” Ryan added. “I plan on groveling until my wife lets me sleep in the bed beside her.”

Sean snorted and tapped his drumsticks on Ryan’s ass. “Good luck, buddy. I think you’ll need it.”

---