Page 69 of Wishing for La Luna
Yeah, we’re all dying right now.
“New Yooooork,” his voice croons in his signature sexy voice. Then the beat drops. “Are you ready to shake it?”
“Yeeahh!” we all scream in unison.
“Vamo a romper.”
The spotlight focuses on the middle, and when he steps out, the arena erupts into chaos. My face splits into a smile. He opens with "Cuando la noche llega,"and the audience answers, "I only got you on my mind."
I’m transfixed. He’s swaying his hips in a sexy way only he can evoke. His stage presence, the way he commands attention, the lights playing with the shadows over his face and body, all create an immersive experience. I’m captivated by his movements and how he lures our eyes to follow the outline of all those muscles and the new tattoos that I’ve yet to fully see. The butterfly on his chest curves under his arm and his ribs and ends on his back. His silken and soulful voice sends goosebumps over my skin.
And the arena is there with him, singing along at the top of their lungs without missing a beat—enthralled, just like I am.
Happiness swells in my chest. Tears fill my eyes, and when I look at Maeven, she is teary-eyed too. As is Esme. We exchange looks and laugh because he did it. He filled the arena and kicked off his tour.
Thirty minutes before the end of the show, Maeven leans over. “When he says goodbye, they’re going to come to take us to go backstage. Be prepared because it’s always a rush and a mad dash.”
I don’t take my eyes off the stage.
“New York. Thank you for all the love you’ve shown me and my new album. It means the world to me. But now, I want to go back in time so I can play Luna’s favorite song.” He’s looking around. “I want to see her dance on the screen and all of you along with her.”
The blood rushes through my head as a collective gasp echoes through the arena. The trumpet sounds in, and then the medley of instruments kicks in, and he gyrates his hips. “Dime Mami, que tu quiere que te haga.” He points the microphone to the audience.
“Que me des duro por la noche y la mañana,” the audience yells back.
And before I know it, I’m shaking my hips along with everyone. During thepa bajo pa bajo pa bajo, we dip it low as he asks and pick it back up. Hands point to the screen, where I’m magnified for everyone to see.
And his eyes are on me, fanning the heat up my chest. I place my hands on each side of my head and roll my hips in that sensual way he likes.
Maeven leans over. “Are you sure you don’t know what he’s thinking?”
My heart hammers against my chest. By the time he begins to say goodbye to the audience, I’m so amped to tell him how good he was. Most of all, I’m bursting with excitement to hold him.
The guard comes to escort us to the back, and as Maeven says, it’s a mad dash so we can beat anyone trying to leave early. Rio starts singingSi tu me dejaswith the audience, and everyone sings along with him—in the hallways, the concession stands, and even as we make it backstage.
“I want you close to where he will come out. He’ll want to see you,” Maeven tells me.
But not even two hundred feet from me is Adina and her friend Carrie. They begin to walk toward us, but there’s a rush, and my eyes focus on the muscular build toward me.
Rio passes a bunch of people calling his name. Before I can form a thought, his arms are around me, his sweat-slicked skin warm against me in a tight hug.
“You were amazing. Omg, I’m so proud of you.” I’m almost screaming the words.
Then he pulls back, takes my face in his hands, our eyes clashing as a myriad of emotions swirl in his eyes. My throat closes, the air fails me, and I can almost see his intention right before his lips descend on mine. There may be twenty-five thousand in the venue, but in this moment, it’s just us. And I’m drowning in my emotions, in him, in us, because I’ve been wanting this kiss so badly. I let him engulf me in the heat of his body, his natural scent mixing with his cologne, overwhelming me.
He pulls back, and we’re staring at each other like it’s the first time, even he’s tugged into a round of congratulatory hugs.
Niko bear-hugs him and they clap each other in the back. Chico Sparx follows with a tight hug. Then Adina and Carrie step forward.
Adina throws her arms around him, but it’s the smug look she turns my way that sets me off. The anger rises from my chest, over my neck, to my head. I flush like a geyser, almost violently. I picture myself snatching her by the hair off him and slapping her right across the face. I take a step forward but a hand wraps around my wrist, pulling me back.
“I have someone I want you to meet.” Maeven pulls me away from the crowd, and I let her because if not, I’m going to disgrace myself in front of them.
She waves to a couple of people and pulls me into Rio’s dressing room. People are waiting inside. The minute they see Maeven, they scram and close the door.
“I want you to breathe, Luna.”
I stare at her but don’t say anything. I don’t trust myself to open my mouth.
