“You need to know what it’s like,” Ethan said quietly, staring deep into her eyes. “The partying, the groupies – the paparazzi. The wild crowd. You’ll get to see what it means to be in my world. The best part of it all is that I actually want you to be there.”
“Yes. Okay,” she said softly, her gaze shy as she lifted her eyes to his face again.
“Damn, you’re so lovely,” he breathed, lips skimming over hers. “Everything about you drives me crazy. It might seem hard to believe right now, but I do know what I’m doing when it comes to us. I just need you to trust me, babe. I’ve got you.”
Once again Mandy could only nod and succumb to the drugging taste of his mouth molding to hers. She heard his breathing grow harsh as her tongue flicked out to massage his. He held her securely against his strong, hard body for a few moments. Then he drew back with a ragged sigh.
“What’s the latest with Marcus?” he asked gruffly, as if to distract them both from the raging need swirling like a mist around them.
Mandy exhaled deeply. “I haven’t contacted him yet. I’ll have to see him sometime. Maybe tomorrow. I’ll meet him for lunch and I’ll tell him. I’m just dreading the confrontation. This will hit him out of nowhere.”
“I just want to have you all to myself,” Ethan said firmly, fingers holding her chin. “He needs to know he has no claim over you anymore. And I won’t rest until he does.”
“I’ll tell him tomorrow,” Mandy said with more assurance. She got another warm, tingling kiss. He drove away minutes later and she was still dazed by it all. His possessive power, his deliciously hungry passion, his strength of purpose. Whatever it was they had, he really wanted it to work. And that made her happy for now. Everything was about getting through the next minute, the next hour. She wouldn’t let herself ever think beyond that.
Chapter Nine
The fans were clamoring to get backstage now that the show was over. There had to be around twenty-five women bunched together around the rope and screaming like their lungs would burst. The numerous male fans seemed far outnumbered by the screeching females hoping to get passes backstage. But the hefty bodyguards, five in total, looked unbendable as they ignored pleas and offers while guarding the doors, looking ready to take on any eventuality of getting rushed by the desperate gaggle of females.
Mandy rubbed her hands down her short dress, managing to avoid being nudged in the side by the elbow of an over-enthusiastic, horny female fan. It had been like that all night. Pumped-up women screaming at anything The Strum said or did during the show. Once the opening act was done and Ethan came on stage with Jaime and Henson, the fans had come alive. Mandy had been center stage, taking it all in with awe. Seeing Ethan perform live with his band mates had been incredible. The atmosphere had pulsed with electricity that had nothing to do with all the lights, the rising flames, and all the other crazy props used in the backdrop of the massive stage. Ethan had looked freaking hot in his leather pants and ripped T-shirt, a bandana tied around his forehead and his long hair flowing over his shoulders bared by the sleeveless tee. From her vantage point, she’d been able to view each sinew of his sexy muscles, the ink glowing in the spotlight he stood in as he shredded tunes on his guitar. The crowd was going nuts all around her and Mandy almost didn’t even hear the noise. Just a few feet away was Ethan, staying mostly to the side while Jaime took the lead for one of their more popular songs. There was loads of screaming vocals and haunting instrumentals. It felt like being inside a trash can being banged around by a hundred baseball bats. The crowd was never still, never silent. They went crazy for any of the band members who took the spotlight, whether it was Jaime singing and playing, or Henson banging on the drums, or Ethan tearing through riff after riff. Tonight he was using one of his well-known custom guitars. It was onyx black with silver studs on the surface. She’d seen it in many of his photos on different fan sites. All around them, people were wearing apparel with The Strum’s logo emblazoned in front. There was no mistaking who had the crowd’s love that night.
He was looking at her.
She felt his gaze like a laser beam pointed straight through her heart. Mandy felt a thrill of excitement when she lifted her gaze and met Ethan’s. The last song had ended and she watched Ethan reach for his microphone. Her breath caught along with the rest of the crowd.
Some women were already screaming his name before he said anything, and one woman yelled, “Love you, Ethan!”
He beamed and nodded. “Love you too. All of you. And there’s someone special who needs to know how I feel about her. I hope the next song gives her a clue.” He nodded to Jaime and Henson, who nodded back with matching grins. “Let’s do this, guys. For my girl… for Mandy.”