Page 103 of Loved Out Loud
Now’s not the time to let my mind wander, though. I put all my focus back into the performance. Our fans deserve it.
Thirty-Three
HAZEL
My favorite partof the show is coming up, so I excuse myself from the box to head backstage. Dan falls in step beside me, his size dwarfing me as we walk the concourse.
“How are they liking the show?” he asks.
“It’s not their usual taste in music, but they’re loving watching the guys perform. Grandma especially.”
“I love that.”
Backstage, security steps out of our way as we approach. Darren has his back to us while he talks on the phone. The tour manager does a double take when he sees me and then smiles, motioning for me to join him. I step around Darren, his eyes widen when he sees me, clearly surprised. Xan notices me first as he’s the closest to this side of the stage. He gives me a wink and smile before going back to the mic to join Stone for the bridge.
All three of them were born for the stage. The sharp angles of their perfectly chiseled faces are highlighted by the stage lights. Both Stone and Xander’s veins throb in their necks and forearms as the intensity of the song increases. Xander wanders away from his mic stand when his vocals end, and he walks over to Stone, waiting until he has his attention and then motioning in my direction.
Stone’s eyes lock on mine, and a huge smile lifts his lips. As soon as the song ends, he swings his guitar around to his back and crosses the stage. Before I know it his arms are locked around me, and he’s carrying me out onto the stage.
“What are you doing?” I squeal in surprise. The weight of the tens of thousands of people here to watch him falls on me.
He sets me down on my feet beside his mic. “Isn’t she gorgeous?” he asks the crowd.
He laughs as they scream for him, though I do hear some boos. A guy in the front yells that he’d hit it.
“Well, she’s mine, and I don’t fucking share.” He pulls me back against his body. “Not only is she spectacularly beautiful, she’s also talented as fuck. Everyone should be reading her book.”
That comment gets even more boos.
“All the boos tell me is that you're bad in bed, boys. Pick up a book and learn a few tricks. Your partners will thank you.”
My face flames. He notices and chuckles. “I’ll let her go, but first, say hello to her mom and grandma, who came to watch us play.” He points toward the side of the arena where the box is and plucks his in ear monitor out. “On three, two, one.”
Stone, Xander, and Tobias all lead the crowd in saying hello. I turn in his arms, partly amused, partly embarrassed and press a chaste kiss to his lips in front of everyone. “I can’t believe you just did that.”
“I can’t believe you think I’d let you off this stage without a better kiss than that.”
His lips descend on mine, the taste of salt and lingering traces of peppermint from his lip balm floods my senses. He wraps his arms around my waist and dips me back as his tongue licks into my mouth. Everyone fades into the background as I’m swept into his light. My fingers slide into his hair, and I feel his chest vibrate against mine as he moans into the kiss.
“Should we leave you two alone, for a bit?” Xan jokes into his mic.
Stone straightens, smiling against my lips before releasing me. “Would you?” he asks Xan over my shoulder.
The crowd laughs and hoots. Some woman yells ‘me next’ which leads to another round of laughter. I put my hands over my flaming cheeks and walk off stage as Xan and Tobias smile at me.
Darren has a huge grin on his face as I join him off to the side. “That was great. Are you okay?”
“Yeah.” I shake my head. “I can’t believe he did that.”
“I can. He really cares about you. At the beginning of all this, I suggested he date you for good publicity. He vehemently shot me down. Never doubt that his affection is real.”
I watch the acoustic set from the wings as Darren’s words sink in:This is real.
As they transition into another set, I turn to go find Dan and go back to the suite. He gives me a big dopey grin as soon as he sees me. My cheeks burn as I fall in step beside him silently.
“So, when’s the wedding?” he asks with amusement lacing his tone.
“Oh, shut up.” I give him a playful push which only makes him laugh harder.
