The hours leading up to Broken Euphoria’s second performance pass in the blink of an eye. Hearing the story of how Roman’s dad beat him and knowing I wasn’t there for him has completely drained my spirit. And when I consider how I basically drove him right into Brooke’s arms…ugh, I can’t even go there. It’s bad enough knowing that she could be somewhere inside the stadium with Roman, begging him to reconsider dumping the “skank from camp.” I have no right to be jealous, except that I’ll always think of him as my Roman—even during those dark times we couldn’t be together.

As I’m getting dressed for the show, it seems there isn’t enough makeup in the world to hide the fact that I’ve been crying on and off throughout the day. Roman was reluctant to leave me when Normie wanted him backstage, but I somehow convinced him I’d be okay even though I’m not. Staring back at my swollen eyes in the small bathroom mirror, I release a long sigh. Roman will know if I’m not there for his performance, but at this point there’s no faking happiness with the heavy feeling in my heart.

“There you are!” Nicki appears from behind the doorway. She’s cute as hell in a fashionably cut Slayer t-shirt and torn jeans, dark hair fixed in springy ringlets and a velvet choker around her neck. Her bright smile drops when our eyes meet. “Holy shit, girl. Are you alright?”

“No,” I admit, dropping the tube of concealer on the small countertop. “I’m not.”

Next thing I know, she’s leading me back into the kitchen. “Booze or comfort food?” she asks, leaving me propped against the sink to rummage through the cabinets.

“I doubt I could eat anything right now.”

“Booze it is.”

Soon she’s handing me a shot of something dark. “Wolf it down, sister. It’ll shock you out of this funk so we can carry on a real conversation.”

I tip the shot glass back, welcoming the warm burn of whiskey that trickles down my throat. But then I remember how Roman’s dad hit him over the head with a whiskey bottle, and my eyes fill with fresh tears.

“Oh, sweetie,” Nicki sighs, squaring up in front of me. She takes my arms in her hands, lips tilting with a sympathetic smile. “You know what my mom always tells me when I’m having a shit day? When life brings you down, you’re the only one who can pull yourself back up.”

Seeing the hopeful look she’s giving me, it’s almost impossible not to feel a little better. “What am I supposed to do with that advice?”

“I never really figured it out,” she admits with a little bubbling giggle. “But we have to try something or Roman won’t be able to keep the show going with you looking this despondent.” Her fingers drum against my skin and her eyes momentarily shift to their corners before she’s grinning at me. “You’re a performer too, right? You must enjoy it or I doubt you’d keep doing it. Maybe singing one of your favorite songs would get you back on track.”

I have to admit, being reminded that I have a new friend on this tour already has made me feel a little better. And when I consider her idea, I can’t help but grin. “I might know the perfect song.”

“Oh my god, this is so awesome!” she squeals, backing away. She pops her little butt up onto the countertop, swinging her legs and leaning forward. “From what Roman has said, I get the feeling I’m in for a real treat!”

Clearing my throat, I reposition myself and tip my head down, humming the opening notes to myself. Eyes closed, I belt out one of my all-time favorites of “Darling Nikki.”

As I continue the beloved Prince song, I don’t open my eyes. Its melody flows through my blood and repairs my soul. Even though I’m standing on a bus, thousands of miles from where I grew up, it’s the closest I’ve ever felt to being home since losing my parents. As the lyrics wash over me, I’m able to appreciate the fact that I’ll never be lost as long as I have music.

Once I’ve finished the final verse, I flip my eyes open and shrug. “Then there’s a lot of screaming and guitar riffs that follow.”

Nicki stares back at me, slack-jawed and bug-eyed. “Belle…that was—”

“Fucking amazing,” Roman’s deep voice rumbles through the room.

I turn to find him frozen by the stairway, already wearing the black jeans that perfectly sculpt his gorgeous ass and a plain gray t-shirt that stretches tightly across his thick chest. It’s one of those reoccurring moments I’ve been experiencing a lot lately in which I want to pinch myself, because I can’t believe I’ve been reunited with this beautiful man.

When our eyes meet, he stalks toward me with a wicked grin, looking ready to devour me in one bite. “Babe, that was the most epic rendition I’ve ever heard of any song.”

“I can’t take credit. It’s the Foo’s cover.”

“Yeah, but that sure as fuck wasn’t Dave’s voice.” He lifts me off the floor and into his arms for a brief hug. Before he sets me down, I catch just how much he enjoyed my performance. He’s rock hard.

“Now you know how I felt after I heard you the other night,” I tease before pulling my bottom lip into my mouth.

“I’m going to just…ah…head out now,” Nicki says, jumping down from the counter. “Thanks for the killer tribute, Belle. I’ll wait for you backstage.”

Watching her scurry down the steps and out the door, I start to laugh until Roman gathers me back into his arms and kisses me. It’s a fervent, lingering kiss that ignites me from head to toe. His warm tongue, coated with liquor and cinnamon gum, strokes in tandem with mine in a way that’s a mixture of desperation and desire. Soon he’s guiding me toward the back of the bus as he continues to devour my mouth in a way that makes the rest of me jealous.

“Do you have…any idea…what the sound of your voice…does to me?” he rasps out between kisses once the bedroom door closes behind us. His deft fingers peel my lacy tank top off my stomach and over my ribcage. Our lips part long enough for him to pull it up over my head, tangling it in my long curls. After he drops it on the floor, he wraps his fingers around my wrists, keeping them over my head with one hand while the other traces along my side. “Goddamn, you are so beautiful.”

His featherlight touch and dark scent mixed with the sentiment send a violent shiver racing down my spine. Everything this man does is extreme and meaningful, not unlike the boy who made love to me at camp.

There’s no hesitation when I ask myself if I love him, only when I consider saying the words out loud that could seal our fate. But I’ve been carrying that belief around for so long that I’m not even sure if it’s simply a superstitious belief created by a little girl, or an excuse to protect my heart. After all, we were separated once before…

I’m so far gone with my thoughts that I missed the fact that he’s already undressed me except for my spike heels, and now he’s finishing stripping out of his boxer briefs. When we’re both properly naked he pulls me close, dragging his lips up the curve of my neck and pressing his hot erection against my stomach. I drop my head back, a little moan slipping out through my lips.

“Baby, you have to perform that song tonight and every night on this tour.”

“What?” I ask, tipping my chin down to look him in the eye.

“The crowd will fucking eat it up, especially when they find out you’re my girl. I want the whole fucking world to experience your talent.”

“Roman, I can’t just—”

He laughs with his mouth pressed to my ear. “Why not?”

“Well for starters, it’s a copyrighted song.”

“That’s a problem for the venue.” His teeth gently clamp over my earlobe and he sucks. Oh hell that feels amazing. He draws back, grinning. “Normie can arrange everything.”

“I don’t have the proper training for that kind of thing.”

“The hell you don’t.” He hoists me up off the floor and into his arms, burying his face between my breasts. Although I still want to argue, I’m distracted by all the beautiful golden hair in front of me as he licks and bites the tender skin around my breasts. I wind my fingers through the soft locks, tugging when he plucks a nipple with his teeth.

“Say you’ll do it,” he commands, taking my other nipple between his fingers. “Say you’ll perform with me every night.” Then he pinches hard and I gasp.

“Yes, okay! Not tonight—you have to give me more time to prepare myself—and maybe not that song but…” Any rational thoughts disappear when his thick cock disappears between my legs, sliding into me with delightful ease. “Oh my shit!”

“Sorry to do this to you, babe, but we have to be quick. There’s a stadium filled with nearly a hundred thousand people expecting me.”

“Don’t ever apologize for fucking me.” I grab his jaw before ravaging his hot mouth.

We fall down to the bed together with him on top, rocking his hips with mine while kissing me with a renewed hunger. The bus sways beneath us with each of his savage thrusts. For a blissfully drawn out moment, the darkness surrounding us disappears as we become lost in each other’s bodies, achieving climax mere seconds apart.

* * *

“Would you relax?” Nicki tells me, pushing her elbow into my ribcage. “You’re losing that after-sex glow you were showing off an hour ago. It’s not like his ex is going to attack you in the middle of a sold-out concert.”

“I’ll make damn sure of that,” Luke chimes in from my other side.

Still scanning the seats of the open-air stadium surrounding us, I chew on my bottom lip. Roman felt it was necessary to fill everyone in on the situation with Brooke, and I’m admittedly grateful. Still, I can’t help worrying the manipulative bitch will try something. Why else would she drive this far? When she saw me walk in on her conversation with Roman, it was obvious she thought she had the upper hand.

The lights suddenly flicker over our heads and Dillon begins to tap the cymbals from somewhere on the darkened stage. The crowd cheers until my eardrums ring and my heart thunders along to the beat of the high Tom-Toms. I’ve never experienced a panic attack in my life, but there’s something about the tightness in my chest that has me feeling incredibly uneasy. I grab Nicki’s arm to stay upright when Roman’s silhouette appears.

Then I hear the sweet rumble of his voice as the spotlight finds him, and my fears melt away beneath the warmth of his starry-eyed gaze. We share a smile that I feel in the pit of my stomach and he winks before springing to the other side of the stage.

“See,” Nicki says, elbowing me again. “Nothing to worry about.”

Though I’m still a bit weary that Brooke will somehow ruin what’s becoming a perfect night, by the final song I’ve found a way to completely relax and enjoy myself as well as the sight of my beautiful man charming a full stadium with his alluring voice.

Before they’ve returned for an encore, Luke’s nudging me in the back. “Time to go.”

“But they aren’t done,” I say, glancing Nicki’s way for backup.

She nods in agreement, but Luke shrugs.

“Just following boss-man’s orders,” he responds, tilting his head toward the underworld. “Nick, he said you’re welcome to come along if you don’t want to hang here alone.”

“Then let’s go,” Nicki decides, hooking her arm through mine.

Among the fans’ cries for one more song, we wind our way through the structure beneath the stage to where Roman and his band mates stand waiting.

“You guys rocked the shit out of this place!” I tell them, standing on my tip-toes to wrap my arms around Roman’s sweaty neck. I brush my lips over his before I lean back, throwing a frown Reggie’s way. “Why the hell am I back here?”

Reggie tosses me a wink. “Your man wants to introduce you to his fans.”

Fear whooshes through my stomach when I meet Roman’s twinkling gaze. “I told you I’m not ready. You have to give me time to psych myself up.”

“I’m not asking you to sing this time, babe.” With a deep chuckle, he kisses the tip of my nose. “I just want them to meet the inspiration behind the lyrics.”

“I don’t know. There are a shit-ton of people out there and they just want to hear you play more music.” Running my teeth over my lip, I glance back to where Nicki stands beside Luke in the shadows and silently plead my new friend to give any bit of advice she has to offer.

“Does she have to say anything?” Nicki asks Roman, quirking one eyebrow.

“It’ll be a quick intro,” Roman promises. “The crowd will love it.”

Nicki dips her chin in my direction, grinning. “You can handle it, girl. I’ll be waiting for you on the dark part of the stage.”

“What’s the hold-up?” Normie asks, nudging his way into our little circle. His lips curl with a scowl when he notices me. “The boys have a job to finish.”

Roman takes my hand, giving it a squeeze. “She’s going out there with us.”

“Fucking hell,” Normie mutters, rubbing at his balding forehead. “For what reason?”

“To get her acclimated to the stage. She’s going to start performing a song with us at every stop.”

If I’m being honest, the look of shock on Normie’s face as Roman leads me past his manager adds to my building confidence. I don’t know what that prick has against me, but I’m done letting others dictate my relationship with Roman. It’s a mistake I won’t make again now that I’m a grown woman.

It’s a little tricky maneuvering through the metal maze of the underworld, but I keep up with Roman and the band until we’re standing at the hole leading up to the stage.

“Ready, babe?” Roman hollers in my ear over the wild plea by the crowd for more.

Pulling in a deep breath, I nod, and suddenly we’re in motion.

The applause and wild screams of the fans raises a few more decibels once we’re standing in the blinding spotlight. Roman wraps one arm around my waist and waves his hand high in the air with the other. It takes several minutes before they’re able to calm down enough to hear Roman speak.

“I brought someone extra special for you all to meet tonight,” he says, taking the microphone off the stand. He drops his arm from my waist and turns to face me with the most beautiful smile I’ve ever seen grace his lips. “This gorgeous fucking woman right here is my muse—the reason I was able to write so many hits. She’s had my heart for as long as I can remember, and I know she’ll win yours over too once you get to know her. You’re going to want to remember this moment, because it won’t be long before you’ll see her name topping the charts. Philadelphia, I want to hear you give it all you’ve fucking got for the undeniably sexy, one and only Isabelle Martin!”

Their cheers fill the warm sky like a living thing, weaving its way through my veins and electrifying me in a way I’ve never experienced when playing for a small crowd at Vinnie’s.

Roman squeezes me tightly against his side and leans in to say, “They’re cheering for you, babe! Greet your future fans!”

My cheeks are ready to split when I smile into the ocean of faces surrounding us and raise my hand. Somehow their excitement intensifies.

“See? They like you already!”

As Roman’s kissing the side of my head, I’m all at once given a preview of what it would be like to headline my own show and hear thousands of fans begging me to play another song. And suddenly I want this lifestyle more than I’ve ever wanted anything. The tours, the fans, the label deals, all of it. I want to live my dream while becoming a coveted name in the rock industry. And I want Roman there for every milestone, good or bad.

But when I look down to the front row, my stomach drops. Brooke stands with her hands gripping the gate keeping them from rushing the stage. Her hateful glare doesn’t get to me, but the determination in her hard expression does.

She’s clearly not giving Roman up without a fight.

Game on, bitch.

Roman and I part ways with a deep, searing kiss that has the crowd roaring in approval. Somehow I find my way off the stage even though my head’s floating among the clouds.

I find Normie waiting for me, nostrils flared and chest puffed out. “Enjoy this while it lasts,” he yells over the opening chords of the band’s first encore song. “Roman only invited you along on this tour to insure he wouldn’t stutter on stage.”

My heart skips a beat before resuming at a painfully slow pace. Covering one ear, I lean in closer and give a slight shake of my head. “What?”

“If you don’t believe me, ask Reggie. He suggested Roman find you the day before the show in New York. Won’t be long before he realizes you were merely a placebo, and sends you on your way.” With a forced laugh, he leaves me alone with my thoughts.

Although I’m not stupid enough to believe that Roman only asked me on this tour as a way to save his career—because after everything we’ve been through that would be ridiculous—I can’t help wondering if there could be some truth to what Normie said, and what that would mean for our future.