Reggie led Skye back to the band’s dressing room. The roar of the fans followed them and then disappeared with the closing door. She hadn’t paid much attention when Reggie first brought her here, but now, she took a moment to appreciate her surroundings. She spun around, amazed and then was thankful for the sanctuary of silence.

He moved past an outer grouping of tables toward the furthest and most private of three seating areas. To her left, a galley kitchen held a refrigerator and what appeared to be a fully stocked bar. He took her to the smallest seating area, but there was nothing simple or plain about the opulent leather of the sofa and matching chair. A mahogany coffee table had been buffed to such a deep shine that her reflection stared back from the surface, looking every bit as exhausted as she felt.

“The band usually hangs out after the show, greeting fans and dealing with the local press. Considering the latest news, Mr. Dean will probably be tied up with more than his fair share of interviews.” He headed back to the door. “I have to be at the meet-and-greet, but if you need me, just call.”

They’d traded contact information during the drive over, and she had not only his cell number, but Sam’s and Donald’s as well. She sank onto the couch, reveling in the buttery texture of the expensive white leather.

“Thank you, Reggie.”

After he departed, she stretched out and covered her eyes. Her ears rang from the sudden silence, and a dull ache settled behind her eyes. A few minutes later, the outer door opened and brought a discordant rush of too many voices layered over Angel Fire’s pounding rhythms.

“Uh, sorry to disturb you,” Reggie said.

She sat up, rubbing her eyes, and winced at the pain seated deep behind them. Her headache didn’t seem to be going away.

He walked over and held out a stage pass hooked to a lanyard. “Here, put this on. If you leave, you’ll need it to get back in here.”

“Thank you.” She slipped the lanyard around her neck and settled it over the one she used at work.

He jerked a finger toward the door. “You think you’ll be okay?”

She nodded. “I’m just going to lie down for a bit. I’m good.”

He left her again, and she lay out on the couch, allowing her eyes to drift closed. Images of Ash onstage dominated her thoughts.

A potent, almost painful sexuality had rolled off him as he brought his music into being. His guitar playing and the magnetism of his voice had created a raw synergy that obliterated rational thought. Despite her indecision about their future, an insistent voice told her not to worry. Instead of the hundreds of overly eager groupies, he had chosen her. And, with that, fatigue pulled her into a state halfway between wakefulness and sleep where she contemplated the implications of the past three days.

A door slammed open, and jubilant shouts and people spilled through the outer doorway. The loud raucous laughter of deep male voices had her jolting to a sitting position and blinking the sleep from her eyes.

Spike bounced into the room first. His multiple piercings flashed in the light. A leggy brunette had herself draped over his arm, pressing her boobs against his chest.

Bent shoved past them, using his linebacker physique to shoulder Spike and his female appendage to the side. Bent had three girls in tow, all of them squealing as he pulled them to the nearest set of couches. Noodles followed next with a woman clutching each tattooed arm. The women clung to the keyboardist as he led them toward one of the seating areas.

Bash followed with Ash, their heads pressed together, deep in conversation. Bash had a redhead tucked against his side. Bash thumped Ash on the shoulder and gave a chin bump toward Skye.

Ash captured Skye’s gaze across the length of the room, and he blew her a kiss.

The band’s security team entered next—Sam, Reggie, Donald, and a few others she didn’t recognize. Forest was with them. He was easy to spot with his shock of white hair, and he was head and shoulders over Angel Fire’s security team. The last one closed the door and sealed off the din emanating from beyond. The men seated themselves among the tables, leaving the band members to occupy the couches. Forest waved to her but joined the security detail.

Spike, Bent, and Noodles arranged their collection of women in the largest grouping of couches. Noodles extricated himself and staggered to the bar where he grabbed an armload of beer. Spike and Bent disappeared under a flurry of female flesh as the women divested themselves of skimpy miniskirts and barely there tops.

This was the life of a rock star? Her imagination had fallen far short of reality.

“Don’t hold my past against me,” he’d said.

Well, she wouldn’t, but would he have the strength to do the same when her time came?

Ash lowered himself beside her and nuzzled her neck with a kiss. “Hey.”

Bash settled his redhead on the couch across from them. “Be back in a sec, Kit.”

Ash looked around the room. “God, what I wouldn’t give for that cabin in the woods.” His words wrapped around her, expressing her nearly identical thoughts. “Feels like we didn’t get to spend any time there.” His finger drew a heart over her thigh.

“We didn’t,” she said with a wistful sigh.

She lifted a hand to his neck and stroked the outstretched wings of the dragon.

He shivered at her touch. “We need to fix that. I believe I owe you a honeymoon.”

“Ash…” She pressed against his chest.

The cotton clung to his skin, dampened by the exertions brought on by a multi-hour stage event. Even his sweat had her heart racing. Warmth moved through her palm, up the length of her arm, and settled right in the base of her heart.

Things were getting out of hand on the set of couches one seating area over. She avoided looking that way, knowing what she would find. She shook her head, realizing the direction of her thoughts. She couldn’t judge Ash’s friends without judging him as well.

Ash leaned over and pressed his lips to her mouth. Hot and heavy, his kiss swept through her, demanding and insistent. Her lips parted for him while her thoughts spun in a furious maelstrom. It’d been less than a day and a half since she left him at the airport, yet it seemed like ages since they’d been alone. Within that small span of time, so much had changed.

Escalating cries of rising passion emanated from the other corner of the room. She broke off the kiss and turned to look. She’d never experienced such an openly consensual display. Naked females fawned over Bent, Spike, and Noodles—kissing, licking, stroking, and gyrating themselves toward a frenzied completion.

Ash gave a chuckle as he watched her staring at his friends. “Sorry, backstage tradition.”

Her lips tingled, as did the tips of her fingers, and a roaring rushed past her ears, muffling all other sounds. Shadows pressed in from the periphery, rushing to sink her into the blackness of memory.

“Skye? Skye! What’s wrong?” Ash patted her cheek with his hand, not quite a slap, but the sting caught her attention.

“What?”

“You zoned out on me.” His eyes drilled into her, concern etched in the furrow of his brow.

Zoned out? It was much worse than that. She’d been on the verge of an all-out panic attack. She needed to breathe.

“I’m okay. Maybe more tired than I thought.” While not technically a lie, she hated being evasive.

The sound of sloppy sex escalated and could no longer be ignored. She struggled to hold herself together. Bent, in particular, enjoyed his women. They squealed as he moved from one to the next, and as he did, a shiver of revulsion inched its way down her spine.

Ash put a finger on her chin and turned her head back to him. “I’m right here, babe.”

“I’m sorry.”

A lopsided grin filled his face. “The guys get crazy after a show. We like to burn off a little steam before heading back to the hotel. Knock one out, as it were.”

“I see.” She also heard the pronoun he’d used. Not they liked to burn off steam, but we. Was he expecting her to have sex with him here? In front of his band? With his security detail watching? With Forest? Now, that would add fuel to an epic meltdown event. That couldn’t happen.

The slapping of flesh on flesh sounded to their right. In front of them, Kit slid off the couch and went to her knees in front of Bash. He unzipped his jeans and pulled out his cock.

She needed to get out of there. Would Ash ask that of her? She bit her lower lip, praying he wouldn’t, just as one of the girls gave a warbling long orgasmic wail. Another panted with escalating cries.

Spike grunted, “Fuck yeah, I win.”

“Damn,” Noodles said. “I always lose this bet.”

“I’ve got magic fingers,” Spike proclaimed.

Bent cursed, “Shit, girl. Give it up all ready. I’m losing the game.”

Bash laughed as he flexed his hips and threw his head back. “I’m not playing, Bent, and I don’t think Ash is either. You lose.” He gripped Kit’s ginger curls and fucked her willing face. “Ah, fuck, your lips are amazing. Faster, babe. I’m almost there.”

Skye’s breathing accelerated. Similar scenes from her past pushed against the locks of the memory vault. Breathing deep only made things worse as the scent of sex settled deep in her nasal passages. Purposeful male grunts told her that, now that the women had been satisfied, Noodles and Spike were focusing on their needs.

Dread uncoiled from her gut and stretched caustic fingers along her nerves. Her skin drew taut against the pressure, growing cold from the outside in.

Ash pulled her to him. “What’s wrong?”

Someone big sat down. “Hey, Lover Boy, I’m not cool with this scene. It’s time to take my summer Skye home.”

“For the love of God,” Ash cursed. “Back off. She’s my wife, asshole. I’ve got this.”

“My sister is losing her shit, and you haven’t a fucking clue.” Forest pointed to Bash getting his blow job and to the other members of the band fucking the groupies a few feet over. “And, as much as I like your music, I don’t know fuck about you. I’m getting her out of here.” He stood and towered over Ash. “I’m sure we understand each other.”

Forest extended a hand he knew she would never take. “Come, my summer Skye. I’ve got you.” His hardened ice-blue eyes dragged her back from the blackness creeping in. He gave a nod, understanding exactly where her mind had landed. He knew this memory well, because he shared it.

With a shaky voice, she moved on autopilot, latching on to the deep baritone of Forest’s voice instead of taking his proffered hand. “Thanks, Bean.”

“You’re not taking her away.” Ash leaped to his feet. “She’s with me now.”

Noodles swaggered toward the bar as he zipped his jeans. “What’s wrong, Ash? Old ball and chain won’t wet your willy? Figured you’d have her blowing you or riding you hard by now. What’s up? Married life got you down already?”

Ash’s face turned red moments before he launched at Noodles. He dived and dragged Noodles to the ground, punching as they fell.

Ash flipped Noodles over onto his back and clocked him in the jaw. “Don’t you ever disrespect Skye again, you fucking bastard.”

“What the fuck happened to you, you pussy-whipped wimp? You used to bring three or four girls back after a concert and fuck them all. Win the game every time. You haven’t even gotten her shirt off.”

Noodles swung at Ash, but Ash blocked.

His voice came out in a menacing growl. “That’s my wife!”

“Yeah. Got that. Why aren’t you fucking your wife?” Noodles lay flat on the floor, not moving a muscle. “You think this one is going to last? She’s a doctor, for fuck’s sake. Way out of your league. I give you two weeks.”

Ash knocked Noodles out cold. “Bastard.”

Not a single member of the security team intervened.

Ash turned to her, agony scrawled deep into his features. “I’m so sorry.”

The redhead hadn’t stopped her oral ministrations during the fight.

Bash pulled her off his dick. “Ah, fuck, we’re leaving? I’m not done.” Frustration edged his words.

Ash shook his head. “No. You stay.” He took in the naked women and his bandmates, and then he turned to Skye. “This isn’t what I want anymore.” He walked to Forest and didn’t back down when Forest puffed out his chest. “I don’t care what you say. She belongs with me. You get what I’m saying?”

“So long as you understand what happens if you hurt her,” Forest said. “And as long as you stop acting like an ass.”

“If I ever hurt her, there’s nothing you can do that’d be worse than what I’d do to myself.”

Ash took her hand. “I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinking.” He turned to the security team sitting at the tables. “Get ready. We’re going to the hotel.”

“I want to go home.” She squeezed Ash’s hand and lowered her voice to a whisper. “I won’t come between you and your band.”

Noodles moaned on the floor, waking up. He rolled over and pushed up on his hands. Then, he collapsed back down. “You fucking punched me.”

“You deserved it,” Ash said with a grunt.

“Shit. That’s not right.” Noodles rolled to a sitting position. He stared at Skye, a look of awe in his expression. “What have you done to him?”

“Don’t answer.” Ash pulled her toward the door. “If we go back to your place, your brother will make me sleep on the couch. I need to feel you, Skye. You’re slipping away.”

“Isn’t anyone going to help Noodles?” she asked.

The rest of the band was busy getting off. Even Bash had gone back to enjoying his redhead. All the security folks sat at the tables, playing cards or surfing their cell phones, with the exception of Ash’s personal trio. Reggie had disappeared out the door while Sam grabbed her bag from the locker where Reggie had it stored.

Noodles raised a hand. “You hit me over a girl. First, Bash, and now, me? What is it about this one that’s so special?”

Ash gave Noodles a hand up. “She’s the one.” He spun Noodles toward the bar. “Don’t fuck with her.”

“Shit, man, you are insane.”

For whatever reason, Skye had the impression that Noodles wasn’t as upset by that.

Reggie waited by the door, speaking into a headset microphone. “Donald says the car is pulling around, sir. You ready?”

Ash gave her hand a squeeze. “Stay by my side, babe. This is going to get intense.”

Despite all her doubts, being tucked under his arm made her feel safe. The warm scent of him flowed around her, intensified by the deep musk of his sweat.

“You need a shower,” she said. “You smell rank.”

“So do you. That’s the first thing we’re taking care of when we get to the hotel.” He kissed the top of her head and looked to Reggie. “We’re ready.”

Were they?