Page 25 of Syncopation
“I really liked the way ‘Dark Dreams’ and ‘White Hot Midnight’ worked. I say we leave them at theend,” Ray said. Both Dom and Mish nodded and he leveled those whiskey eyes at Zavier. “What about you?”
“I wouldn’t mess with perfection.”
Ray’s whole face darkened, his anger sharpening his words. “I’m being serious here.”
“So am I.” Zavier leaned forward. “They wereperfect, Ray.”
As quickly as Ray’s storm came, it lifted and his shoulders relaxed. “You mean that.”
Zavierlifted his head. “Yes.” He spoke it like a command, and it had the same effect on Ray as it would’ve had on any of the subs he’d played with. A flush and a melting, that little hint of subspace.
Ah, hell. He shouldn’t have done that, because now he wanted more.
Ray shook himself. “Okay, so we’ll leave those for the encore.” He wrote something down. “And slot those two songs Dom suggestedin the middle.”
They hashed out bits and pieces of the set, moving songs around and mixing their best known with edgier but fun pieces until they had a good list.
Except Ray had a little frown. Mish must have noticed it too, because she tilted her head. “Honey, what’s up?”
“Just—I’m not sure I like ‘Diamond Fever’ as the opening song.”
“Fans loved it,” Dom said.
They had. Butthat didn’t change Ray’s expression, even though he nodded. “I know. But I think we could do better.”
Both Mish and Dom threw out a few other songs they hadn’t already listed as openers, but Ray just frowned into his journal. “They’re all good options, but...”
Once more, Zavier was staring into Ray’s eyes. Need there and fear, all the things that made Zavier’s mouth water. “Ray, if youcould pick any song, which one would you pick to open with?”
“‘Lightning.’” No hesitation. The title bolted out of Ray like a cry of pain. Or pleasure. Beautiful. Both Ray and that song.
Dark and slow at first, ‘Lightning,’ like its namesake, built and rumbled ominously until it crashed up into a frenzy that left them all playing their loudest and fastest. It wasn’t the kind of song anyoneused to open a concert.
Then again, why not? So that was exactly what Zavier said. “Why not?”
Ray took a breath and straightened. Mish shrugged, but her smile was splendid. “Yeah, why not?”
Dom seemed taken aback, and not at all his Domino persona. “‘Lightning’? First?”
“Yeah.” Strength radiated from Ray. “Think about it. No one will expect it. We lowballed with ‘Diamond Fever’—it’san easy song. Let’s do something different and wake ’em up.”
Not that “Diamond Fever” put them to sleep—far from it. But the die-hard fans would go nuts. Hell, Zavier felt a surge of energy thinking about it.
Maybe Dom did too, because he chewed on his thumbnail before a glimpse of Domino slipped out. “Fuck yeah. Let’s do it.”
Ray beamed and wrote in his book. When he was finished,he closed it reverently, then pulled the attached elastic band around it again. “Thanks, guys.”
The bus lumbered on for another hour or so before reaching at a truck stop. They all got out to stretch and mingle with the crew. Ray shared the playlist and that seemed to go over well.
Zavier wandered to the shop, not really needing anything but space. He almost wished he smoked, because thatwould have given him the excuse he needed to step away and stare at the highway for a while.
He couldn’t get Ray’s hunger out of his head. Or body. Or cock. Heneededto, though. Ray was off limits—except that wasn’t true. He pushed and played and watched Ray. What did that say about him?
Zavier swallowed a sigh and scanned the shelves. Everything in the store was either something he didn’twant or they already had on the bus. There was a selection of alcohol, but it seemed cruel to drink when Ray couldn’t.
“There’s beer and wine on the bus.”
Zavier nearly startled. The surge of adrenaline was there, and he caught his breath, but he’d had plenty of practice controlling his reactions. Still. He glanced at Ray. “Really?”
