Page 44 of Behind the Lyrics
Chapter 39
Angela Morales
Pushing open a door, Viktor guided me into his dressing room. “I have to give an encore performance, but will you wait for me?” His eyes pleaded, and he cupped my cheeks. “Please?”
Ugh. I don’t want to give in, but how can I not when he looks and touches me like this?
“I-I guess.” I stared into those brown pools of desire then lowered my gaze to his mouth.It really should be criminal for a man to have lips so pillowy.They moved closer, and I closed my eyes.
Like crushed velvet, his mouth brushed against mine with a feathery tingle then disappeared.
I…hadn’t been expecting such a chaste kiss. As a matter of fact, I’d been looking forward to another scorcher similar to the night he’d brought roses and chocolates.
He slid his hands to my neck and followed the curve of my muscles, the calluses on his fingers creating zips of electricity on my flesh. With a squeeze to my shoulders, he drew in a deep breath and closed his eyes, as if fighting some emotion or thought. “I’ll be back.” He lowered his arms, pivoted, and quietly slipped out the door.
It felt colder with him gone, and I rubbed my goose-pimpled flesh.Wait, what just happened?I’d wanted him to devour me, to make my soul sing, to fill that emptiness inside with his presence.
“Good grief.” I rubbed my temples and let out a low laugh. “I’m out of my mind for even thinking about hooking up with Viktor, yet here I am, in his territory, even after he stole Rusty and replaced him with something I never asked for then tricked me into showing up at this concert.” I wasn’t sure if I should’ve laughed with delight or screamed with irritation, but I had to give it to him—he didn’t back down from a challenge—and I admired his fighting spirit. I also loved his cranky attitude, his sinful stare, and his willingness to be open and vulnerable with me.
When he lowers his defenses, something inside of me responds and does the same.
I trailed a hand along the dressing table. After picking up and examining five different colored eye liners, I placed them in a holder, then rifled through foundations and other cosmetics. The thick kohl liner on his eyeswaskind of hot.
Viktor Farrow had wormed his way into my heart weeks ago, and I’d tried to convince myself we were finished, but it had been a lie. With Viktor, we’dneverbe done. He and I coalesced in smaller and smaller circles, unable to fight one another’s gravity. Two atoms on a collision course and once we touched—both physically and emotionally—our hearts and souls fused together.
The thought excited and terrified me. At one time, I’d thought Jeff was my soulmate, but compared to Viktor, my ex was a pale, watery shadow fading against the God of Nu Rock’s blinding, sunny aura.
All because Terri booked him in our tiny radio station. The thought nearly made me laugh out loud as I remembered the utter contempt on Viktor’s face until he and I began our verbal sparring match.
Shit. Terri. Guess she’ll have to finish the livestream herself.I groaned because I knew I’d hear all about it tomorrow. Well, she wanted publicity, and she certainly got it tonight.
Spinning around, I checked out the rest of the room. A long couch sat against one wall, with a television in the corner and several different video game systems. On the opposite end, a small table held fresh fruit, wraps, chips, dips, and several other snacks. Sodas, water, and many types of alcohol graced the end.
Why would they put alcohol in here knowing Viktor’s been staying clean?Unless he wasn’t. No, I didn’t really believe he’d caved, did I?
After living with someone who’d swear he’d quit, then inevitably returned, it took a huge leap of faith for me to take Viktor at his word. How could I have a relationship with him if I couldn’t trust him?
I took a seat on the leather couch, the material squeaking as I adjusted myself. No matter what I thought Viktor and I might share, or how much I wanted to give in to him, would I always have that thought at the back of my head, wondering when the day would come when he’d lose the fight and succumb to his vices?
Trust. It all boils down to that one simple word.
Even in this closed room, a building crescendo of screams and heavy drumbeats distracted my thoughts, rumbling the walls and causing the mirror at the vanity to shake slightly.
All at once, the pounding stopped, but the screams rose higher.Guess he’s giving them a good show.
I pulled the cell from my purse and shot a quick message to Terri, letting her know where I was and not to wait for me, that I’d get an Uber after Viktor and I talked.
Terri:Even though I’m extremely pissed he stole your car and then you, I got some wicked footage and livestreamed most of it.
Me:You. Did. Not.
If she recorded him on her phone singing that dirty song to me…
Terri:Oh yeah. So did the entire audience.
I groaned and slapped my forehead.God, he’s a hurricane in my life.Finding a gif with a frowning face, I sent it, and she shot back an Ursula gif.
Me:Well, at least I’m getting a raise, there’s that, I guess.
