Fourteen
Veronica
Security surrounds the stage. I have nothing to worry about as there are Savage Angels and Kings of Korruption at least four deep in front of them. Apparently, they’ve bonded, thanks to my little fiasco in the ladies’ room. No one is going through all of them to get to The Grinders.
I’m wearing jeans, boots, a black Grinders t-shirt and my hair is loose around my shoulders. A new look for me, but going by the look Gear gave me when we met before the show, I’m rocking it. I look to my left and see the old ladies of the Kings of Korruption and to the right, the Savage Angels women. We have the front row to ourselves.
“You okay, babe?” asks Gear from behind me.
You would think from the grin that seems to be permanently plastered on my face that he would be able to tell. “I’m better than okay.”
The returning grin turns my insides to mush and I instinctively grab his face and kiss him. It’s a passionate, tongues dueling, sending heat to all the right places kind of kiss. When I finally break it, his eyes tell me I’ve started something and I’m tempted to abandon the concert altogether to finish what I’ve started.
“That’s enough you two!” yells Laynie with a cheeky grin on her face.
I give Gear a quizzical look. “How does she know?” Gear shrugs, shakes his head and I turn back around.
Truth takes the stage, rock star personified, black leather pants, mesh top, exposing his tattoos and well defined torso. The roar of the crowd is deafening.
He struts up to the mic, center stage, grins and yells, “Are you ready to rock!”
I thought the crowd was loud before but the answering roar that emanates back to him is ten times louder.
Truth smirks. “Let me introduce, the big man on sax, Blair!”
Yells and wolf whistles greet Blair, he’s six foot six of black muscle, yet he does a simple wave, looking slightly embarrassed as he takes his place.
“Let's give it up for Jasmin!”
Jasmin is tall, leggy and wearing the shortest skirt possible without showing off what the good Lord gave her. She waves and poses seductively behind her keyboards.
The introductions continue, Truth saves Kat for last, as she’s always been the crowd favorite. Kat walks on stage and the crowd goes wild. More than one Savage Angel member gives her an ear-piercing whistle. She too is wearing a short skirt; the mirror image of Jasmin except Kat is all in black.
Kat begins working her magic on the guitar as the other members join in. This rally is a big deal for them, they love to play for their club, it's a way to say thank you for everything they do. Truths’ voice goes out over the crowd as they do a rendition of ‘We Will Rock You’.
The crowd loves it. The Grinders have never been afraid to play covers, to pay homage to those who’ve come before them. Most of the concert will be filled with their own music, with the occasional crowd favorite thrown in.
I've never been to any of the bands concerts. Normally, I'm holed up in my hotel room waiting for Dave and the band to return or I'm in the wings, certainly not front row. This is so much better, it's electrifying. The crowd, the band and my man, right behind me. Gear has a protective hand on my hip and for the first time I let myself think about him leaving. Leaving me.
The thought strikes me like a slap across the face and I don't want this to end, not yet, maybe never. Turning, I stare into his eyes and whatever he sees there, makes him drag me from the crowd, away from the noise and people.
It takes us a few minutes to wind through the people and find an area that’s somewhat secluded. “Talk to me,” he says, pulling me to him and staring down into my face.
Tears well in my eyes. “After today, we’re over. I'll go back to my world and you yours. Gear, I don’t want that. I didn't know it but you’re exactly what I've been looking for my whole life.”
Gear rocks back on one foot then moves so quickly to crush me to his chest, knocking the breath out of me. “I don’t want this to end either, baby.”
The tears that were threatening to fall, spill over. In a strangled voice, I blurt out, “Come with me!” He blinks, long and slow, but suddenly I realize just how easy that would be. “Come to LA with us, go on the road with me and the band. You’re a nomad, right? Let’s see where the road takes us.”
His eyes grow heated as I ramble on with my plan and when I stop talking, his lips claim mine in a hot, claiming kiss that makes my toes curl. “You think you’re ready for me, twenty-four seven?”
“God, yes,” I breathe, my heart pounding in my chest as my body trembles with exhilaration.
His returning grin and bone crushing hug, confirm we’ve made the right decision.
“Can we go back to the concert?” Gear asks.
“You sure?”
“To be fuckin’ honest, babe, I've always wanted to see The Grinders live.”
I answer him with a giggle and a nod as he drags us back to the stage and our friends.