"No, he's eighteen," Brin says, batting her hand, her eyes still on the stage.
"I heard he was twenty-one," I decide to interject, staring just as hypnotically.
If Ash was here, she could solve this debate, since she's sort of related to him through marriage.
"Okay, I wish I still thought he was sixteen now," Rain groans, staring at him. "Jailbait makes him less swoony."
"How in the hell could you think he was sixteen?" Leo asks, staring right along with us. "There's not one teenage thing about his body."
He grunts, and my eyes dart over as Jamie's elbow moves away from Leo's stomach that he's rubbing. Leo grins, and Jamie rolls his eyes.
Then, the rest of us go back to swooning like groupies as Base Masters nods his head in the direction of Rain and Tria, probably knowing them. Obviously not well, since no one knows how old he is.
"Did anyone ever think to ask Tag about his age?" I decide to ask, considering he's Tag's cousin.
"Nope," everyone says in unison.
Well then. I guess we go back to looking like a bunch of creepers now.
I welcome the distraction.
Chapter 50
DALE
"No offense, but giving her space is relationship suicide," Kode tells me.
I drink my beer, tuning them all out as I stare blankly at the hordes of writhing bodies littering the dance floor at Silk.
Corbin is busy texting someone next to me, and I move away from his elbow when it brushes my drinking arm twice.
"This is the same girl who let you dominate her in the bedroom. Why would you think letting her call the shots is a good idea?" Maverick points out.
I continue to drink.
Eight fucking days is a long time to think about how stupid it was to promise her space. I thought she'd immediately call me.
Obviously I was wrong.
And I never thought I'd say this … but Maverick's right.
If Harley wanted to be the one calling the shots in our relationship, she never would have turned over control to me immediately. Just thinking about the way she'd crawl across that bed at my command has my entire body tensing.
Corbin reaches over, handing me his phone. At first, I look at him, confused. Then he puts the phone in my free hand, and shrugs.
Still confused, I look down, reading the texts on the screen.
CORBIN: Where are you?
RUBY: Can't tell you. It's girls' night. We've all sworn our location to secrecy. No crashing this time.
CORBIN: I can't believe you're making me do this … I triple dare you to tell me where you are.
RUBY: Triple dares can't be implemented when it conflicts with promises to others. I promised to keep our location a secret. They know how our game works.
CORBIN: You can give me a hint, because that's a total loophole. So fess up.
RUBY: I'll make you pay for that. We're watching Base Masters …
"The girls are watching Base tonight," Corbin says to the others as his lips twitch, but his eyes are on me.
I realize why he's telling me.
"Of course they are," Kode grumbles. "Damn prick. Why does he have to be in a band? It's diabolical for a Masters to be in a band." He glances down at his phone, and adds, "I know where he's playing tonight if-"
I'm already out of the booth, turning up the beer and finishing it off as I walk toward the exit. I don't even have to turn around to see if they're following.
We ignore everyone trying to get our attention as we walk out, and Maverick takes on the DD role, driving us out of town in Kode's new SUV.
We walk right through the doors of the bar/wannabe club, letting Mav pay everyone's cover, as I search the busy dance floor for the reason I'm here.
Kode disappears into the masses, and I glance up, seeing the balcony above us is less crowded and has a much better vantage point.
I head up the stairs to the lesser used bar, and order a beer. As soon as it's in my hand, I'm drinking it again, worried this plan will crash and fail as epically as all my prior ones.
I move to the railing of the indoor balcony, my eyes raking over the crowd in search of one woman who has driven me to the brink of insanity.
Base Masters speaks into the microphone as I finally spot the girl I'm looking for. "This was a request from some special guests tonight. It's been a while since we played this cover, so bear with us."
The second he starts playing, I recognize the song, and watch Harley's expression as she sways with the music. It's almost a sad look that crosses her face, but there's a lot of emotion there.
And I watch her like it's the first time I've seen her in years.
Chapter 51
HARLEY
Base Master's sings Creep, and I start wondering what compelled me to ask Rain to get him to sing it.
My heart is already hurting.
Just as he hits the first chorus, my eyes widen, because Maverick Sterling is suddenly dancing-how do you dance to this song?-right in between our group.
Just like that, a pile of familiar male faces descend upon us, and my heart stumbles over itself. Kode practically mauls Tria as Corbin flanks me and drags Ruby away.
Brin is suddenly lifted off the ground by Rye Clanton, and he kisses her while her feet dangle in the air. Dane spins Rain into his arms, his lips seeking hers as she grins against the kiss.
Like a force demands it, my eyes go up to spot Dale immediately. He's leaning against the loft's railing, sipping his beer as his intense gaze stays focused on me.
Everything on me grows tight as I sway with the music, unable to look away from him.
The heat of his gaze has my heart racing, my thighs clenching, and everything in me demanding to go to him. He's watching me the way he always did in that room.
The beautiful voice and music turns into nothing more than a steady hum in my ears as my heartbeat thuds louder.
Dale smirks, as though he's content to just watch me.
Something very much like jealousy flares inside me when a girl tries to get his attention, but he either doesn't notice her or flat-out ignores her, his eyes never leaving mine.
Someone bumps into me, temporarily breaking the spell as my eyes dart to where Leo is standing beside me. I think he's apologizing, but I can't be sure. I look down, realizing my drink has just spilled on my dress, probably from his massive body bumping into mine.
I put the glass down on a couple's table near us, and my eyes dart back up to where Dale … was. I look around, searching for him, but he's gone now.
I really hope I wasn't just hallucinating that.
I eye the empty glass, wondering if someone slipped me something, but just as I turn around, there's suddenly a hand in my hair, roughly tugging my head back seconds before a set of incredibly familiar lips land on mine.
A strong arm goes around my waist as my hands come up, landing on Dale's chest as his tongue starts to steal all my protests. Hell, I don't know if I even have any protests to steal.
My fingers grip the material of his shirt, pulling him impossibly closer, and he groans into my mouth as though that snaps the last of his restraint.
I moan in response, and he swallows the sounds, kissing me stupid. I'm not even sure how long we devour each other. Hours? Minutes? Completely clueless.
When I start moving subtly against him, barely resisting the urge to outright grind on him in front of everyone, his hands slide down to my ass, jerking me tighter against him.
Dale finally breaks the kiss, his eyes studying mine as though he's making sure I've been thoroughly subdued. Then he grabs my hand, dragging me toward the exit.
I almost laugh when I realize the song Base is singing now-Get Stoned by Hinder.
Dale doesn't stop dragging me until we're outside, and he looks up at the hotel right next door. My stomach tightens with nervous anticipation, and I follow him without needing to be ushered along.
The woman behind the desk smiles at us as we approach, but I barely hear anything she's saying to Dale. I'm still taking in the dizzying change that's happening, trying to process the reality surrounding us.
I vaguely hear her mentioning the only rooms available are on the ground floor. Though I'm not sure why that one fact finds a way through the haze in my head.
If he takes me to a room, I'm his again.
If I walk away, it'll be over.
He turns to me, a key card in his hand that isn't holding mine, and he looks down at me with those determined eyes.
I start to think he's going to ask me if this is what I want, and I arch an eyebrow at him. His lips twitch, and he starts walking, his fingers tightening their hold on mine as my smile breaks across my face.
I won't lie and say I'm not terrified about how easily it will be for him to shatter me next time, but I also won't lie and say I can handle another day without him.
He shoves through the room after the card makes the reader beep, and drags me in. He turns, pinning me against the door so hard that it slams shut. His mouth is on mine again, hungry, demanding, carnal …
"Don't break me," I whisper desperately against his lips, but he kisses me harder, as though that's the answer.
Finally, he breaks the kiss, and I look up at him as he towers over me. "Tell me you love me," he says quietly.
Warmth blooms across my chest, but I bite down on my lip to keep my smile from going goofy so fast.