“You look pretty hot yourself,” I tell him, teasing. Dex looks like he just strolled off-stage from a sold-out stadium show: all dark denim and faded black T-shirt, fitting just right on his muscular torso. His tattoos snake enticingly up his arm, and I can’t resist reaching out to trace the dark ink over his bicep.
He grabs my hand and yanks me against him, claiming my lips in a searing hot kiss. I cling to him, my head spinning, until an amused voice cuts through the haze.
“I guess nobody cares what I’m wearing,” Tegan announces. I turn in time to see her sashay past us with a grin. “See you guys backstage!”
Tegan greets the bouncer like they’re old friends and disappears past the velvet rope. There’s already a line around the block of excited people chatting about the event. I guess the news of Austin’s secret show didn’t stay secret for long.
“Oh my God, it’s him!” I hear the now-familiar gasp from one of the girls in line. “Dex, Dex! Over here!”
Dex tenses beneath my hand. I feel my heart twist, waiting for his reaction, but instead of bolting, he raises his hand and gives the crowd a wave. “Hey,” he calls. “Are you guys excited for the show?”
There are yells and flashes as people start snapping cellphone pics. A couple of girls rush out of line towards us, but the bouncer quickly steps in their way and Dex smoothly steers me to the door, before we can be mobbed.
“Are you OK?” I check quietly, once we’re safely inside.
He exhales. “Yeah, I think. I was ready for it. It’s different when I’m just out shopping for groceries or whatever, but here, I knew they would be like that.”
There’s a determined line to his jaw, and I realize that he must have been bracing himself for this all day.
“I’m sorry I wasn’t around to distract you,” I tell him, leaning into him for a moment to inhale his musky scent and feel the warmth of his body, pressing gently against mine.
“Believe me, darlin’, you were distracting me just fine.” Dex’s eyes turns smoldering. He trails a hand down my back and I shiver, feeling the blaze of heat through the silky fabric of my shirt. “Tell me, did you keep your promise? Because I went half-crazy imagining all the things you could be doing to yourself.”
My stomach twists. I’m caught in his gaze, dark and hungry. I slowly shake my head. “I waited, like you said,” I whisper. “It’s not the same without you. You’re the only one I want touching me.”
“Good.” Dex’s gaze darkens. The intensity between us could light the city block on fire, but then suddenly, the door swings open behind us, and people start to file into the club. Dex makes a noise of frustration. “What do you say we ditch this thing and go check into a hotel?” he murmurs, his lips quirking in a smile.
I want to say yes, but I force myself to stay cool. “You came here to see Austin, remember? Come on.” I tug his hand, then add a flirty grin. “What was it you told me? Patience.”
Dex chuckles, following me into the club. I look around curiously, taking in the rustic, open space and the small stage in the corner. It’s a far cry from the massive stadiums I know the band was playing in their prime. Here, maybe a couple of hundred people are cramming into the small space, with peeling classic rock posters on the wall, and graffiti autographs on every surface.
I see people staring—not just at Dex, but at me too. Men’s eyes sliding over my outfit, an appreciative look on their faces. My pulse kicks. I’ve never been looked at like this before, and although my first instinct is to try and act invisible, I force myself to stand straighter and walk confidently across the room. Tegan told me a hundred times that that only way to wear an outfit like this is to own it, and watching their reaction, I realize, she’s right.
“Do you realize every guy in here is wishing they could take you home right now?” Dex murmurs, draping a possessive arm around my shoulders.
“They’re all out of luck.” I smile at him, slipping my hand around his waist—and over his back pocket. “I’m taken.”
The look Dex gives me makes my toes curl: full of seductive promise. We’re being jostled by people, the room filling fast, so Dex leads me around the stage area, and through a door that’s guarded by a burly security guard. The guard lets us through with a nod, into the small backstage area. It’s more of a hallway than a real room, I notice: strewn with cables and amps, and even more crammed than the bar out front. But here, the talk is loud and relaxed, dozens of cool-looking people relaxing with beers, clearly familiar old friends.
“Dex, my man!” People slap his back and bump fists when they see him. “How you been?”
“You know,” Dex shrugs, still holding me tight. “I’ve been around.”
“When are you going to drop some new material?” one of the suits asks, an eager look on his face. “Anything you want, just say the word.”
Dex shakes his head. “Not me, man. Talk to Eddy.”
“Aww, you’ve gotta see sense one day,” he sighs. “I’ve got a platinum disc with your name on it!”
Dex nudges me through the tangle of people until we find Tegan in an alcove, chatting to a tall, bronze-haired guy in faded jeans and cowboy boots.
The man’s face lights up when he sees Dex. “Shit, I thought she was kidding me when she said you were coming!”
He strides towards Dex and embraces him in a bear hug. They do the manly routine of slapping each other on the back before stepping away.