Chapter 5

Chris. His name swims through my brain, devouring all of my thoughts. It has only been minutes since Elijah said it out loud, but it feels like my entire world shifted on its axis in that short time. Chris.

I turn back to the stage in a fog. Chris is no longer staring at me. I shake myself. No, he wasn’t staring at me. He just happened to be looking in my direction. There is no way he looked at me like that. Serenading me. Singing life into my soul. Pornographically stroking a goddamn mic stand. No. None of that was for me. It’s all just a part of his stage persona. My heart hammers in my chest. It’s all in your head, Dani . None of that intensity, that raw sexuality, was for me, no matter how intimate it felt. Maybe Eli is right and I really do need to get laid.

I watch the rest of their performance like a love-sick puppy, chasing that high I felt when I thought his eyes lit on me. When Chris looked at me, I suddenly became very interested in this concert. What is wrong with you, Dani? I scold myself. You think some random guy in a band is focusing on you, and suddenly you’re under his spell and all but writing in his name on your binder? Get a grip.

No, this definitely can’t happen. I learned this lesson once already, and I learned it so well that I’ve been trying to scoop myself out of a two-year-long depressive episode because of it. I am done with lead singers. No, scratch that. That’s too limited because musicians, in general, are heartbreaking fuckboys. I’m done with any band member. Dating men in this profession is a dangerous game. One that leaves you hurt and broken when they betray you, because they found the next best thing. I refuse to put myself through that again.

Elijah is jumping up and down wildly next to me, hands cupped around his mouth and screaming happily. Snapping out of my trance, I force all thoughts about the captivating man up on the stage, Chris , my traitorous brain supplies, out of my head.

“Thank you so fucking much, New York! You all were awesome. I could feel the energy in the room.” Chris looks in my direction once more, biting his lower lip as he pauses his farewell speech.

My breath hitches as I hold his gaze. I’m stuck in place. I can’t look away; I can’t even move. This is not real. But I can’t even make myself believe it.

Chris is back to shouting his love for the audience. “Thanks for the amazing fucking show! We are Bloodstained Symphony! Have a great night, everyone!” He places the mic back into the stand, stealing one last glance in my direction before exiting the stage with the rest of the band.

He was not looking at me. Dani, get a fucking grip. He was seriously not staring at you.

“What a great fucking show! Did you have a good time, sweet cheeks?” Elijah is giddy with the excitement that only comes from a fantastic concert, flapping his arms wildly.

“Yeah, I had a great time. Wanna grab another drink before we have to head out of here?”

Elijah grabs my hand to start dragging me towards the bar once more. “I’m always down for another. Especially since I thought you would be begging me to take you home already. I honestly can’t believe you aren’t tapping out. But I’m so excited you’re having fun, so I’m not asking any questions!”

I give him a nervous chuckle and say, “I’m living in the moment, babe.” Puckering my lips at him, I blow him a kiss, and he mimes the movement right back at me.

Against all odds, we‘re able to snag two empty seats at the far end of the bar and order another round from the flustered bartender, who looks like they’re about two seconds away from throwing in the towel thanks to the number of people crowding and shouting.

Elijah nudges my knee with his. “Hey, put your purse on my chair and save my seat. I’m gonna go pee while we wait.” I nod at Elijah as he gets up, placing my purse on his seat so people know the seat is taken.

Sitting alone at the bar, my mind circles back to the first moment I saw Chris on the stage. If I’m being honest, the first moment I heard his voice in person. That shock of electricity I felt. I need a reality check and fast. I’m in no state to be pursuing anything romantically with someone right now, especially with somebody who has no idea I exist because there is no way he was looking at me . But even lecturing myself can’t make me deny that I feel drawn to him.

The bartender places our drinks down onto the bar top in front of me and swiftly jogs away to the next person, before I can even say thank you. I grab my glass and take a few sips of the fruity mixed drink through the straw. Maybe the drink will take my mind off Chris. I practically hear the sigh in my mind when I think his name and wrinkle my nose in disgust at myself.

Enthusiastic shouting rises from behind me. I raise an eyebrow, turning. The concert is over, so it’s not like the mosh pit is opening back up. But no, it’s just a group of girls screaming in excitement.

A few of the girls shift around, and I immediately find the cause of the shrieking. I almost want to join them, but I can’t even make myself breathe enough to say words, much less scream. My heart feels like it’s going to explode through my chest. Time stalls, and everything moves in slow motion.

Chris walks towards me, making his way through masses of screaming girls and adoring fans, without even sparing a look for them. He’s headed straight to where I’m sitting, eyes intense on mine. Well. That answers the question of whether he was looking at me during the concert—my breath catches at the sight of him, my brain registering that he was, in fact, watching me. But now he’s stalking towards me with a devilish smirk on his lips that accentuates the dimple on his cheek, and what the hell am I supposed to do?

Dani, don’t be fucking stupid and do something you’re going to regret. The minute it takes me to command myself to make good choices is all it takes for Chris to land in front of me. If I thought he was devastating on stage, yards away from me, it’s nothing compared to the smiling, dimpled devil standing before me. Oh god, that dimple is going to destroy me.

“Hey. You’re Danica, right?” His speaking voice is lower, raspier than it sounded coming through a mic. Standing tall above me, sitting on a bar stool in front of him, I have to strain my neck to make eye contact.

My heart squeezes in my chest at the sound of my name in his voice. He’s absolutely intoxicating. Breathtaking, wholly drenched in sweat from the hour-long manic performance he just gave on stage. His jet-black hair is slicked back and damp. He has a strong, angular jaw with sharp cheekbones. As if his natural look wasn’t enough kryptonite to me, he’s covered in tattoos too—ranging across his entire neck, down across his exposed chest, and onto his full-sleeved arms. I practically sigh at the sight of the beautiful tattoos that make his body a kaleidoscope of color and black ink. I’m a sucker for tattoos and always have been. His edgy look is completed by stretched lobes on each ear, expanded by the black gauge piercings he has inserted.

His beautiful brown eyes are accentuated with black makeup and watching me closely. They’re an intense anomaly in his pale face, made even more striking by the makeup he and his band members apply for their concerts and his entirely black outfit. He is absolutely arresting. One look at this man and my entire body flushes at the thought of every depraved thing I want to do to him. I’m not sure I’ve ever felt this instant desire for anyone, even Oliver.

Usually, thoughts of Oliver are enough to slow me down, but apparently, that only works for ordinary mortals, not this metal god standing in front of me. Okay, Dani, play it cool. You’re not interested. “Yeah, but you seem to know that already.” With a casualness that I definitely don’t actually feel, I pick up my drink, sipping slowly while holding his gaze.

He grabs the back of his neck with his hand and huffs out a nervous laugh. The dimple somehow becomes deeper at the slight movement of his mouth. Fuck. I have zero defenses against that dimple. “You’re right, I do. Todd told me you might be here after he ran into your friend, Elijah, earlier today. I wanted to come introduce myself to you. I’m Chris.” He extends his hand to me hesitantly. “I wanted to see the woman that brought Oliver Shaw to his knees.”

Ugh, of course, another douchebag wanting to get in my pants—but did he have to use the phrase “to his knees?” Now, all I can do is think about this sexy beast of a man at my feet, staring up at me with those mahogany eyes while he eats me out like I’m his last meal. No. Bad Dani! He is only after one thing, remember that. I can use that to my advantage and fuck with him. Feeling flushed, I look down at his hand before flicking my eyes back up to meet his gaze once more. I’m twirling a strand of my hair as I hold his piercing stare. Ignoring his outstretched hand, I lean back in my seat, resting my back on the bar. “Hi, Chris. Do you make a habit of meeting women after your set? Help me figure out whether I should feel insulted or complimented.” My tone is throaty, far more seductive than I intended it to be.

His gaze, laced with lust, drops to my mouth, where I nibble my lower lip between my teeth. He adjusts his feet and lifts his hand to tug my lip from between my teeth with his thumb. A pulse of electricity spikes through me at the slight touch, nearly knocking me off the bar stool. His thumb loosely traces along my freed lower lip, subtle tingles following his touch before his hands drop back to his side. “I don’t ever come out after shows, and I definitely don’t walk the audience. That’s just for you.” Lust flashes through me, and I think he catches some of that desire in my eyes. A low chuckle rumbles out of his chest. “You’re feisty. Like a kitten. It’s fucking sexy.” He gives me a wide grin.

Before I can say or do anything else that will get me in serious trouble, Elijah walks back to the bar, handing my purse back to me as he slides into the chair. “Chris! You’re looking positively delicious, especially since you’re looking at my friend with those bedroom eyes—like you want to ravage her.” He chuckles loudly before picking up his drink.

With friends like these… I shoot a glare at Elijah. Straightening myself in my seat, I clear my throat loudly, ignoring my former best friend. He’s dead to me now. Bedroom eyes? Jesus Christ, Elijah . Time to get out of here before Elijah decides to pimp me out further; maybe give Chris my ring size too. “Well, it was lovely to meet you, Chris. You and your band put on a great show. Unfortunately, my friend and I have to go.” I awkwardly suck down the rest of my drink to make my lie seem more believable.

Elijah tilts his head and stares at me inquisitively. He looks puzzled as if he’s slowly piecing together in his head what happened while he was in the bathroom. Fortunately, he catches up quickly and supports my attempts to escape. “Yeah, so sorry we were definitely just leaving . Your set was fantastic, by the way! We will catch you at the party later, I’m sure. I know Dani and I have many things to catch up on on the way there!”

I cross my arms and glare at Elijah. He’s not subtle on the best of days, but it seems like tonight, he’s doubling down on trying to get me hooked up. I want to smack him.

Chris licks his lips slowly, his gaze still burning through me, sending shock waves of pleasure thrumming throughout my body. “I’ll see you again soon, little kitten. It was nice to meet you both.” He doesn’t even look at Elijah as he says his goodbyes. It’s like only I exist for him. He gives me a cocky grin and walks away from us, adoring fans flooding back around him, trying desperately to attract his attention.

I can barely even think about that, because I’m still trying to catch my breath from the most intense conversation I’ve ever had with a man in my life. I’m so screwed.