Nate paced the studio as Court’n Jacks set up. He was anxious and didn’t quite know what to do with the nervous energy that was coursing through his body. He wasn’t worried about the song. He knew that it was good and with the edition of Stevie and the others it was even better. No, what he was nervous about was performing in front the people that sat on the other side of the glass. His last live performance hadn’t gone well. The concert had had so many empty seats it was a joke and of the crowd that did turn up, half of them walked out before he was finished. It had been a blow to his ego and it had robbed him of the love he had for the stage.

From the first moment that he and Stevie had performed together, he had loved being on stage and feeding off the energy of the audience. Even when the atmosphere had been tough, and some of the dive bars they’d played had been plenty tough, there had been a certain electric energy from the crowd. But that last concert… that had been different. There had been no atmosphere and performing the songs that he hated to a crowd that was uninterested was like pushing a boulder up a hill. They’d cancelled the rest of the tour after that, citing health issues, and no one had seemed too upset about it.

Except him.

He’d been terrified of repeating the experience and the longer it had been since he performed, the harder it seemed to get. Now that he was standing on the precipice of it again, he felt torn in two. The need to perform was still there. That yearning to get on stage and feel the vibe from the audience, to ride it like a wave, was an addiction and his psyche craved it, but the other half of him, the half that had been hurt by his last performance was pumping his system full of fear. Nate Nash had never had stage fright before. He’d never believed it existed, but he was about to have a panic attack that proved he was wrong.

“Hey,” Stevie said, coming up behind him and resting a hand on his shoulder. He jumped at her touch and shied away from her. She couldn’t know that he was afraid. He would die before he let her know that this was who he was now.

“Hey,” he said turning to her and plastering a cocky smile on his face. “We all set?”

She gave him an odd look before letting the corners of her mouth tip up in a small smile. “Yeah, I think so.”

“Great,” he said, moving away from her and towards his guitar.

He pulled the strap of his Les Paul over his shoulder and sat with it balanced on his thigh, the comforting weight of it grounding him. He let his fingers wander over the strings as his other hand pressed into the fret board, playing the chords of the scale that Stevie had taught him. She sat beside him, her old Takamine acoustic on her lap and played with him. They made their way up the scale and then down and then changed key and repeated the scale. He felt the nerves melt away as he played. This wasn’t a stadium, it was a studio. Yes, there was an audience, but they couldn’t heckle him from the other side of the glass. They could still walk out, but he didn’t think it was likely. This track was so much better than the crap he released on his last album and there was no reason for him to worry about getting a bad reception from this audience. He just had to control the nerves buzzing under his skin and use it instead of letting it use him.

Derek tapped a button on the control board and his rich, deep voice filled the sealed room.

“Okay guys, when you’re ready.”

Nate stood and moved over to stand in front of his microphone while Stevie moved to the piano where her microphone was set up. Nadine had her vibrant purple violin up to her chin, Vanessa was behind her turquoise drum kit and Jace had his black bass strapped on. He made eye contact with each of them before nodding his head and starting to play. The soft, sad melody wafted from his guitar and he closed his eyes, letting the sound surround him. Nadine’s violin joined in, adding a haunting quality to the song, and the minor chords of the piano lifted it again. Jace’s bass grounded the song and the steady drumbeat gave it direction. He opened his mouth to sing and the fear he had been feeling dissolved completely. The words poured out of him in a way that he hadn’t been able to produce during their studio time.

Stevie’s harmony wove around him as they sang together and he was transported back to a time when things were simpler. Singing with Stevie on a rickety old stage while old guys with beards who drank too much and middle-aged women trying desperately to hang on to their youth with big hair and too much make-up watched on. It hadn’t been an easy time. They’d scrimped and saved and lived off bar tips and Ramen noodles. But it was all about the music then and it seemed more pure. His life now was all about image and brand and sound bites and somewhere along the way he had forgotten this part, the part where a song was able to strip away all the pretense and leave him feeling open and raw, scrubbed clean of the dust from life.

He felt the cleansing of the song as they reached the bridge and then the elation as they moved into the final chorus. This was what he was meant to do, not that other crap that had soiled his soul. This was the real thing and he was prepared to do whatever it took to make sure he didn’t lose sight of it ever again.

The final strains of the song faded and he opened his eyes, his head turned so that the first thing he saw was Stevie. He saw it in her eyes too, he knew that she was feeling the same thing he was. For a single moment they were fully exposed to one another and he knew that his destiny would be forever tied to hers. He didn’t know how that would even work, he just knew that they were not done and that there was a whole lot more that needed to happen between them.

Movement behind the glass shifted his focus and he grinned. He couldn’t hear them, but he saw them clapping and he knew that he had found what he had lost on that last night. Even through the glass and the soundproofing he could feel the energy of the small audience and it infused him with a confidence that he hadn’t felt in too long to acknowledge. If he was honest he’d have to say he hadn’t felt this good since the last time he and Stevie had performed together.

He turned his head to take in the rest of the band and they looked as shell-shocked as he felt. What they had done today had been magic. The challenge was to be able to reproduce that same magic on their record.

He was keyed up, just like old times. The adrenalin from playing a good - no great - show coursed through him, even though it had only been one song. He hadn’t thought he could do it, not with how his last tour ended, but tonight proved that he hadn’t lost it, that he hadn’t pissed away the best thing in his life.

The old urges were there too. How many times after a show had he sought out the company of a woman to get rid of the excess energy? Every damn time. Mostly it hadn’t mattered who the woman was, just that she was willing and available. At the height of his career there had been no shortage of willing women and they had congregated backstage just waiting for him to take his pick. Sometimes he hadn’t been able to choose between two, so had taken them both.

The flow of women had ebbed when his career started to go south. Oh there were still plenty willing to bed a rock star, but a lot of them had done the dance with him before. That’s when Natasha had come in handy. Being in a relationship with her, no matter how twisted it was, gave him an out when he didn’t see a woman that took his fancy. Looking back now he could see what a dick he’d been, but he’d never made them promises and they all knew the score. He was a rock star and they were his groupies, and there was no other relationship beyond that.

It was different now and had been for a long time. With the failure of his last tour, extricating himself from the destructive claws of Natasha and his stint in rehab, he had taken a long, hard look at himself and realized just how much he was responsible for the shit he’d found himself in. Working with Court’n Jacks had opened his eyes in a whole different way and even the short time he’d spent with Mabel had changed him. He knew that he couldn’t blame anyone else for his spectacular fall from grace, he alone was responsible.

But he felt stronger now, more confident. Performing that song in front of the people he respected the most had shown him that all was not lost. He could in fact make his way back to what he loved. He could actually fulfill his dream. And that had him psyched, even more so than the adrenalin high from performing.

He felt the familiar buzz under his skin and the need to keep moving. Even as people slapped him on the back and congratulated him, telling him that the song was going to be a hit, he was distracted by the sudden need to feel the soft press of a woman’s skin against his. And not just any woman. He wanted Stevie. He wanted her more than he had a right to, more than he had ever experienced before. She drew him to her like a moth to a flame and he didn’t care that he knew she would leave him burnt, he had to have her.

And maybe, just maybe, she felt the same.

He felt her eyes on him, the heat of her gaze scorching his already overheated skin. He knew her eyes tracked him, just as he kept watching her out of the corner of his eye. They circled one another, surrounded by people but only aware of each other. It was a heady dance, a drawn out foreplay that guaranteed fireworks were they ever to actually act on it. He knew they would, they had to. This thing between them had somehow blown up into something so much more. He’d been attracted to her since the moment she had walked back into his life, but this, what he was feeling now, it surpassed attraction and was headed full on into lust.

He watched her as she walked towards him on her way to talk to Derek. They hadn’t spoken a word to each other since the song ended because he knew it wouldn’t stop at words. Her hand brushed his as she prowled passed him, sending sparks shooting through his veins. Her intent was clear; she wanted him and she was as anxious as he was to get everyone out of the studio so they could be alone. He heard murmurings about going out to celebrate, but that was the last thing he wanted. If he didn’t get his mouth on her soon, he was going to lose it.

Finally he noticed people starting to leave. There were promises to meet up at a local bar and he told them he’d be along shortly. He busied himself winding cords and putting his guitar away, taking more time and care than he technically needed to in order to prolong it. He noticed Stevie kissing Darla goodbye on the cheek and heard her tell the other woman that she would be along soon, that she wanted to freshen up and pack her gear away. He tried not to stare, he tried to pretend that he hadn’t heard what they were saying, but he knew Darla gave him the evil eye before she left, whispering something to Stevie that he couldn’t hear.

Eventually the silence descended and there was only the two of them. Nate put down the cord he was holding and stalked towards her. She held her ground and her breath and he saw the pulse at her throat flutter wildly. He came to a stop inches from her, close enough that he could feel the warmth of her body. Slowly, so as not to startle her, he lifted his hands and threaded them through her hair, cupping the back of her head, his thumbs resting on the underside of her jaw, as she looked up at him. Her lips parted and she ran her tongue along the bottom one before catching it between her teeth.

He lowered his head and brushed his tongue along the same lip before drawing it between his teeth gently. He let it go and slid a tender kiss against her lips, taking his time, forcing himself to go slow.

“Tell me to stop,” he whispered against her mouth.

Instead of responding, she stretched up and kissed him, her arms going around his waist and pulling him close so that their bodies touched from hip to knee. He didn’t need any more encouragement, so he deepened the kiss, losing himself in her and not caring in the least that she just might destroy him.

She was mad at him, angry about the whole Natasha thing, resentful of the way he had left her five years before and pissed off that he’d never noticed her as a woman. She was mad that they’d never connected on that level even though she had been completely besotted by him. But singing together again, performing together for an audience after all these years, crystalized all those feelings into something else, something darker. The feelings she’d had for him when she wasn’t much more than a teenager were nothing compared to what was burning through her now. Even the kiss they’d shared a few days ago couldn’t compare. She was on fire from the inside out and she knew that the only relief she would get would be with him.

It had been an exquisite kind of torture waiting for everyone to leave. From the moment the last notes had faded from the air, she’d wanted to slake her thirst with him. The need to be skin to skin with Nate had almost knocked her from her feet. She’d never felt something so powerful before, never wanted something so much. Part of her brain knew that it was the adrenalin. She’d seen how it had affected Nate in the past, not that she’d ever felt it before, but the other part of her brain, the cavewoman side, didn’t really give a damn why she felt it. She just wanted, she wanted him.

Darla must have sensed the pheromones in the air because she had whispered a warning to her before she left, but Stevie was way past warnings. She needed to satisfy this primal urge more than she needed her next breath.

The first touch of him as he’d slid his hands into her hair had cause tremors to vibrate through her and then he’d kissed her, too soft, too gentle, too careful. That’s not what she needed, not tonight. Tonight she needed the animalistic wild monkey sex that she’d only ever read about. Nothing else would satisfy the hunger that had overtaken her.

“Tell me to stop,” he said and she knew she couldn’t have that. She didn’t want him to stop, didn’t want him to treat her kindly or cautiously. She needed the raw power of sex without thought. Sex for the sake of sex. She didn’t care about the consequences. That part of her brain had shut down under the onslaught of dopamine that had begun to flood her system. He had become her drug and she couldn’t rest until she’d had a hit of him.

She reached up, closing the distance between them and kissed him, wrapping her arms around him and plastering her body against his. He got the hint and deepened the kiss, his tongue exploring her mouth, tangling with her tongue. She could taste the hops from the beer he’d had, the earthy bitterness heightening the experience. Her hands found their way under his shirt seeking skin and she was rewarded with the feel of fevered nakedness under her palms. But it wasn’t enough, she wanted - no needed - more.

She slid her hands up his back, feeling the ripple of muscles under her fingers. His hands moved out of her hair and down her neck to her shoulders before skimming lightly over her breasts to her waist. She felt her nipples tighten and she pressed her chest against his, seeking the abrasion of his body against the tight buds. His hands dipped lower, cupping her ass and pulling her tight against him. She could feel the ridge of his erection pressed into her belly and it suddenly became vitally important that they get naked.

She pushed at his t-shirt until he got the hint and let go of her long enough to remove it. Then his hands were on her, under her shirt, cupping her heavy breasts over her bra. That wasn’t enough, they both still had too many clothes on. She shucked her shirt and bra and rubbed herself against his bare chest, whimpering with how good it felt. Her fingers fumbled with his belt and he stilled her hands, breaking their kiss to look in her eyes. She could see the banked lust there, but still he asked.

“Are you sure about this?”

“Yes Nate, God yes,” she replied. “I need this, I need you.”

He searched her eyes for a moment before giving in to the desire and helping her to undo his jeans. He peeled his jeans off while she watched, kicking off his boots and tossing them aside. He managed to grab a condom from one of his pockets before discarding his jeans and kneeling in front of her. He tossed the foil packet down beside them and then went to work removing the rest of her clothes. He took off her boots first before sliding her jeans down her legs, taking her lacy panties with them. When she was naked before him, he buried his face in her mound and took a deep breath, his arms wrapping around her thighs and holding her still. Her fingers wove through the long lengths of his hair and she closed her eyes, relishing in the feel of finally being naked with him.

Somewhere in the back of her head she knew that what they were about to do would forever change the future, but at this point she was so deep in lust that she couldn’t muster enough responsibility to care. And when he opened his mouth on her, his tongue sliding between her wet folds, even that part of her mind shut down.

He was demanding; there were no tentative licks or soft kisses. He wielded his tongue like a weapon and his fingers complimented the assault. She felt her climax rush towards her and she was helpless to stop it. It crashed into her with force, causing her to stumble, but he was there, holding on to her, keeping her steady, lapping at the evidence of her orgasm as she lost herself in the pleasure of it.

The taste of her exploded on his tongue and he could have spent hours making her come again and again with just his tongue and fingers but his cock was aching with the need to slide into her and feel those same throbbing muscles pulse around it. When he was sure she had her balance again, he reached for the condom and rolled it on as quickly as he could with shaking fingers. God. He felt like a teenager having sex for the first time. He was worried that as soon as he plunged in to her he would come and he had to take some fortifying breaths before standing and pulling her against him.

He lifted her and she wound her legs around his hips, their centers aligning like they were made for each other. He took two steps until her back was pressed up against the wall and then slid home. The sound of their mutual groans was the only sound in the studio and it felt like they were the only two people on earth. He took a moment to enjoy the sensation of her surrounding him; her scent in his nose, her taste on his lips, the sound of her breath in his ear and the sight of her eyes, lazy and heavy with desire. Then he began to move, rocking into her gently at first, finding their rhythm, the rhythm that was forever and always theirs.

Her nails bit into the skin of his shoulders and her thighs squeezed around him, urging him on. He hadn’t wanted their first time to be like this, a rough and tumble liaison in the studio, but it seemed more than appropriate considering that it was music that had brought them together. It had also torn them apart, but he wasn’t willing to acknowledge that now, not when he had her in his arms and was buried to the hilt inside her.

“More,” she rasped out. “Harder, Nate, harder.”

He bit down on her shoulder and slammed into her, letting go of the control he had tried so hard to keep. It was no use trying to hold back, she had smashed through all his restraint. The sound of their skin slapping together and the grunts and moans of their coupling became the new music that filled the studio. He wanted it to go on forever but knew that he would barely last the next few moments. He felt her body tighten and she threw her head back against the wall, a keening cry breaking free of her throat as she came, her core pulsing around him. It was all he needed to push him over the edge and he came with a roar, a white light breaking behind his eyelids as he let the orgasm take him.

He dragged in a breath, willing his knees not to collapse as he slowly lowered Stevie to her feet. He pulled free of her with a groan, already missing her body. Stevie slid down the wall until she was seated on the floor, her head tipped back, her eyes closed and a look of bliss on her face. He couldn’t help but smile and feel a little smug that he had been the one to put that look there.

With great reluctance, he turned away from her to take care of the condom before returning to sit beside her, letting his head fall back against the wall and a contented sigh to escape from his mouth. He found her hand with his and entwined their fingers, not wanting to spoil the moment by speaking, although there were so many things he wanted to say to her.

The sound of ‘Blister in the Sun’ shattered the calm and Stevie jumped, before reaching for her jeans and pulling out her phone.

“Hey,” she said, her voice husky. “Yeah, I’m on my way… no I’m fine Nate and I… No, we were just listening to the playback… Yes… No, Darla, I’m fine. See you soon.”

She hung up the phone and closed her eyes before turning to him. Her brows furrowed and he knew what she was going to say, but there was no way he could let her run from him, not now. Whatever had happened between them was nowhere near finished, despite what they might have thought.

“Don’t say it,” he said, cutting her off before she could speak. “There’s something here Stevie, something we’d be idiots to ignore.”

“I can’t Nate,” she said shaking her head. “There’s too much riding on the band and the tour. I don’t have time for whatever this is. Besides, Darla would kill me.”

“So don’t tell her,” he said. “Don’t tell anyone. I don’t care if I’m your dirty little secret. I just want to do that, again, but maybe in a bed next time.”

She smiled at him. “It was pretty amazing,” she acknowledged and he grinned. Then she sobered. “I don’t know Nate. I don’t think it’s a good idea…”

He leaned over and kissed her, stealing the words from her tongue.

“I think it’s a very good idea,” he whispered, “and we’ll keep it under the radar. No one needs to know.”

“The press would have a field day if they found out and Jace and the girls—”

“Is there something going on between you and Jace?” Jealousy rose up swift and fierce.

“What? No, nothing like that,” she said with a shake of her head giving him untold relief. “It’s just that we’ve got a good thing going and I don’t want anything to mess it up. We’re just at the beginning of something great and I don’t want to jeopardize it.”

He cupped her cheek and turned her head towards him. “I don’t want to do anything to jeopardize it either. You’ve earned this. You deserve all the success that’s coming your way and I don’t want to stand in the way of that, but why can’t we have a little bit of fun along the way? You have to admit that what happened tonight was…”

“Fucking awesome,” she said and he laughed with surprise.

“You’re not wrong,” he said, leaning in to kiss her again. “So what do you say? Should we embark on an illicit and tawdry affair?”

She kissed him this time, long and slow, her tongue seeking his and stirring his cock once more.

“Yes,” she said and it took all his willpower not to pull her down on top of him for a repeat of what they’d just done.

Instead, he stood and held his hand out to her. “Then we should go and make an appearance at this celebration so that I can whisk you away later on and have my wicked way with you.”

She took his hand and let him help her up, but she looked troubled.

“Darla and Tom are staying with me… I don’t think I can get away tonight.”

“Leave it with me,” he said. “I’ll work something out.”