Page 98 of Knot My Band: Part One
“Hey,” I say, breathless from more than just the dash through the backstage maze. “We need to talk. Like, really talk.”
His smile falls slightly until he looks nervous, but he tries to maintain his calm persona.
“Everything okay?” His brow furrows.
Can’t he feel my excitement through the bond?
“More than okay.” I lean in, close enough to catch the scent of caramel popcorn mingling with the musky adrenaline of his post-show high. “I’ve been thinking about us, about the… bond. And I want it, Chase. All of it.”
He pushes off the wall, stepping closer until I feel his heat mixing with mine. A shiver runs down my spine, not from cold but sheer anticipation.
“Are you sure?” His voice is soft but urgent, and he steps closer, erasing the last bit of space between us. “Because if you’re in, Oli, I’m all in. No looking back.”
“Absolutely sure.” I reach up, running my fingers throughthe ends of his hair, feeling the wild beat of my own heart. “I want to embrace this thing between us. Let’s not waste any more time.”
He grins, and it’s like the sun breaking through after a relentless storm. “I’m all yours, little rose.”
His enthusiasm is palpable, vibrating through the air between us. It’s the kind of reaction that tells me he’s not just happy about my willingness to embrace our bond. He’s elated, thrilled, and maybe even a little awed by the turn of events. And knowing that I have the power to affect Chase Sullivan this way means everything to me.
And just like that, I know we’re starting something amazing.
“Whoo!” Chase’s shout rips through the charged air backstage like a victorious anthem. His voice is a wild, untamed thing.
It’s raw power and pure elation rolled into one sound that seems to echo off the walls, making techies and roadies alike stop in their tracks and glance over.
I’m caught up in the infectious energy of it all, the way his happiness doesn’t just fill him, it spills over, drenching everyone in its path. And before I can even react, he’s upon me.
His arms are around me, strong and sure, and I’m lifted clean off the ground. He spins us both, and suddenly, the world’s a blur, a kaleidoscope of colors, sounds, and his dizzying scent mixed with the sweat and adrenaline of our show.
“Chase!” I manage to gasp out, half-laugh, half-protest, but there’s no denying the thrill that zings through me. My hair fans out like a banner in the wind, and I cling to him, my green eyes wide with surprise and delight. For a moment, nothing else exists, just us.
My feet find the stage floor again, and I’m still reeling from the high of both the performance and Chase’s enthusiastic twirl. “You never cease to amaze me,” I quip, a surge of affection warming my voice as I playfully nudge his shoulder with mine.
His grin is infectious, and I can feel its pull, like a magnet to my own happiness.
“I’m happy for you guys,” Aiden says from behind Chase.
I turn to see Jack and Aiden with huge smiles on their faces. Dax, of course, looks pissed, but I’m ignoring that for now. He won’t ruin this moment for me.
Since his rut, it feels like he’s reverted back to his grumpy self. I guess our deal is over.
We weave through the post-show chaos backstage until we make it to the meet and greet. It’s a blur of fans, but all I can think about is Chase.
I can feel his affection and excitement through the bond. Getting used to always having him with me will take some time, but I already know I love it.
Afterward, we spill into the cooler night air, heading toward the idling tour bus.
Me and my pack.
Oli
PACK ‘EM UP GOSSIP COLUMN
WILL WE SEE MORE ROMANCE BETWEEN OLI HART AND JACK HANSLEY AFTER HE CARRIED HER OFF THE STAGE?
May 26th
Iswing open the door to my nest at the back of the tour bus, expecting the comforting scent of strawberries and the soft pile of cushions that usually greet me. But instead, a prickling unease climbs up my spine. The air is wrong—tainted. I sniff, my instincts screaming at me to be on high alert. There’s a chemical tang mixed in with what should be my safe haven.
