Once I let the cat out of the bag that we were going to see Devil’s Lair, she drove me nuts… in an adorable way.
Should we leave earlier in case there was traffic?
I have nothing to wear.
Can I see the ticket?
How should I wear my hair?
I think we should leave now!
That declaration came at three p.m. Showtime was eight p.m.
All day long she paced my apartment, played their tunes, and babbled randomly.
My girl was so effin’ excited for this concert, she was going to self-combust soon. She claimed she was too anxious to have limo sex with me. When we arrived at the arena she refused anything to drink for fear she’d have to pee during the show.
While she went to the ladies’ room with Lizzy, the #LairLover T-shirt I bought her had nothing to do with my rock star cousin. Seeing my name in bold white font across her perfect tits later tonight as I ate her pussy was my real motivation.
She came out from the bathroom, and I handed the black shirt to her. Wordlessly, she ran right back into the ladies’ room to put it on. A few minutes later she emerged wearing the widest smile and her new shirt. She stepped closer, modeling it for me with a spin.
Goddamn.
Her curves beneath the thin black knit fabric, the way her jeans molded over her ass and legs, the way her curls gave her a just fucked look nearly had me coming in my pants.
She had no idea what she did to me, and that made things even worse. Because Haven wasn’t trying to be seductive or sexy… she just was being Haven.
I wasn’t sure if it was our new reunion, or seeing just how happy she was, that had my appetite for her insatiable.
I took her hand and led her toward our section. The closer we got to the stage, the more she squealed. Once in our seats, if at all possible, her nervous energy increased. I could imagine what her reaction would be when she found out we were attending the after-party backstage. I planned on telling her after the show, and not a moment sooner.
We arrived before my cousin, and took the first two seats in the row. I flung my arm around her shoulder and pulled her closer. “Good seats?”
“Are you kidding? Holy shit, Vaughn.” She pointed her finger at the stage not fifteen feet in front of us. “They’re going to be right there!”
“Close enough to see he’s not as hot as I am.” I leaned even closer and pressed my lips against her ear. “By the way, I bought you that shirt instead of the one with Jack’s face on it because I want you wearing my name and nothing else as I go down on you later.” Even with the noise around us, I heard her very audible swallow. “Seeing my last name stretched across those gorgeous tits of yours is riling me up.”
“Everything riles you up.”
“Not everything, just you.” I nonchalantly took her hand in mine and pressed it to my cock.
“Well, hello there,” she said, lengthening her fingers over me. “Are you going to be able to keep him contained for the next few hours?”
“Do I have a choice?”
“Not really, because I’m not leaving a minute before the house lights come on.” She lowered her voice, although there was no way anyone could hear us. “But I’ll make it worth your while when we get home. I promise.”
Home. Hearing her say that was as sexy as she was.
“Hmm… maybe after watching Jack for a few hours, I won’t be the Lair you’ll actually be wet for. Remember you once told me when you were drunk all the things you fantasized he’d do to you.”
“Oh, yeah. He’s my instant aphrodisiac,” she said with a grin. At the way my mouth gaped open, she giggled. My heavy, frustrated sigh combined with an exaggerated eye-roll was my response. “I’m kidding. I promise I won’t leave you for him. Leila is too sweet. I couldn’t do that to her.”
“Good to know. You do know he’s got nothing on me. You’re with the better Lair.”
Lifting her hands to palm my face, she paused to ensure I was staring back into her eyes. “I know I am,” she said with complete confidence. “I won the lottery, Vaughn.”
“I love you,” I said, pressing my lips to her forehead. I wanted her to have fun tonight. I wanted to show her off to my family, the press… fuck, this whole damn arena full of people.
She smiled with adoring eyes. “I love you, too.” The buzz of the crowd faded, making us feel like we were alone in the place. Lifting her lips, she kissed me to ensure I knew just how much she did love me.
At that moment, Lizzy, my aunt, uncle, and Leila and Evan’s parents arrived. Introductions were awkward based on the way we lined up and the noise increasing with each minute that passed. Soon enough, it became impossible to hear each other speak over the screaming fans chanting around us.
My eyes scanned the sections starting from ours and coming full circle to the stage. The place was sold out, and I couldn’t help but be proud of my cousin’s success. The last time I saw Devil’s Lair in concert was in a small arena in L.A. Haven was dating some ass-wipe at the time, and passed on coming with me. She always regretted it and hadn’t been able to get to a show since then.
This would be the first time I saw Evan’s band in concert. Normally, the two sets of rock stars toured separately. When starting out, Cliffhangers would open for Devil’s Lair, but now were able to fill their own arenas. Once a year they came together for the benefit concert in New York. The concert attracted celebrities, politicians, and usually sold out within minutes.
Press was everywhere, and the coverage for the event would be all over the news tomorrow. I knew this night would mean a lot to Haven. Besides loving all things Jack Lair, which I needed to put a stop to now that we were dating, she adored Leila and the philanthropic work she dedicated her life to.
Lizzy mentioned that Leila was in need of a new assistant because hers was pregnant and planned on being a stay-at-home mom. Haven would be a perfect fit for Leila. I took it upon myself to text Jack that morning, letting him know that Haven was looking for a new job and if he could pass the word to Leila.
His response came an hour later—She’s hired.
Giving me yet another thing to surprise her with later.
The lights dimmed causing the multitude to go ballistic. The concrete floor beneath our feet vibrated as the entire arena began chanting for their favorite rock stars. We heard Jack’s voice addressing the crowd before we saw them.
Haven’s hand clutched mine, but her eyes remained glued to the darkened stage.
And my eyes remained glued to her.
The house lights flooded the space with a harsh brilliance. All the fans in the entire arena were on their feet, running high from the adrenaline rush force fed through music and lyrics. Some chanted the band’s name again, hoping to have them come out for yet another encore. If it were up to the crowd, they’d want the concert to go on all night.
Those to our right began exiting out along with sixty or so thousand others. I turned to Lizzy and winked. She nodded with understanding, and followed the rest in a single file toward the concrete steps.
“That was amazing!” Haven shrieked, making me laugh out loud. “Sorry,” she added in a normal tone. “My ears are ringing.”
“Did you have fun?”
She nodded like a little girl who just spent the day with Disney Princesses. “I did!” Again, she exclaimed a bit louder than she needed to.
“Ready to have some more?” I asked, pulling her into my arms with a devious smile.
“Are we going to have limo sex again?”
“As tempting as that sounds, that needs to wait until later. We have a party to get to.”
“Party?” She tilted her head to the side and narrowed her eyes. “What party?”
“A backstage party. It’s time to meet your crush.”
Her eyes widened, her mouth gaped open, and her head swung from side to side. “No. No, way.”
“Yes, way.” In the minute or so since the concert ended, so many already left the building, and with each second that passed the place grew more and more deserted. She looked over my shoulder, and it then occurred to her the rest of our row had already disappeared. “Come,” I said, taking her hand and pulling her behind me.
Two steps were all I was able to take before our arms stretched between us. Haven stood stone still with a panicked expression. “Haven? Let’s go.”
“I can’t! Are you insane! I look awful. I’m all sweaty. My hair is a mess.”
“You look gorgeous.”
“You have to say that.”
“No, I don’t. Stop being ridiculous.”
“No. Vaughn, that’s Jack Lair… rock star Jack Lair. No.”
“He’s just a man, Haven.” I walked back to stand smack up against her. “He’s also family.”
“I don’t see him that way.”
“You’re going to have to meet him eventually. How are you going to feel tomorrow when you passed on this opportunity to party with Devil’s Lair?”
“But…”
“No buts. Let’s go.”
“Vaughn!”
“What?” I asked over my shoulder refusing to stop. She allowed me to pull her along, her whimpering causing me to chuckle. After a few flashes of our V.I.P. passes, we were led down a dimly lit hallway. The voices we approached seemed even more amplified in the hard concrete cavern. Haven’s fingers clutched mine in a death grip. Every so often, she’d slow down forcing me to drag her to pick up speed.
Just before turning the last corner toward the party, she said, “Wait!” Her hands fluffed out her curls, her fingertips ran half moon circles under her eyes, and she pulled out a tube of lip-gloss, applied, and smacked her lips together.
“Done?”
“No, but I don’t have a choice.” I shook my head, taking her hand again to hear her repeat, “Wait!”
“Now what?”
“Don’t leave me.”
“I’ll be right beside you the whole time. I’m not dumb. There are rock stars in there, some of them are single.” I gave her slick lips a quick kiss and stepped through the door, not bothering to wipe away the evidence.
A few dozen mulled around the room, most holding a drink. Music piped in over the speakers, but with the chatter it was hard to even hear who was singing. Haven stepped so close to my side, our arms were squashed between us. I’d never seen her this nervous, and I was trying hard not to laugh.
Spotting my cousins near the bar, I dragged her through the room toward them. Under her breath, Haven repeated, “Oh, my God. Oh, my God.” Her head flipped from side to side and a gasp escaped every time she recognized someone.
The closer we got, the softer her words were uttered. Once we came right up to the group, her panicked expression instantly morphed into a full-blown smile. It lit up her face, her eyes, and every part of her posture.
Leila was the first to notice us. “Vaughn, how are you?” I tried to release Haven’s hand to hug her, but Haven would not have it. Comically, my arm stretched behind me still tethered to her as I gave Leila a one-armed hug.
“Hey, bro!” Jack moved right into Leila’s place once she stepped back, pounding my back in a brotherly hug. “How’ve ya been?”
“Good. Really, good.” I yanked my arm, sending Haven stumbling into my back with an, “Oomph.”
Ignoring her, I added, “You guys were awesome. Great show.”
“Thanks. It’s always so amazing playing New York.” He flung an arm over Leila’s shoulder and twisted his head to look around me. “Hi, Haven. Nice shirt,” he said with a dimpled smile.
“Hi,” she said so quietly, I could barely hear her. “Thank you. Vaughn bought it for me,” she felt the need to explain. I could tell by the way her fingers tightened in between mine, the fact he acknowledged her by name was freaking her out all over again.
“My name looks great on you.”
“My name looks great on her,” I amended. “I may buy a dozen of them just to keep my name on her chest for years to come.” My eyes cut to Haven, who was still awe-struck by Jack’s presence. It was probably a good thing she wasn’t paying attention, because my comment should have gotten me a good smack.
Jack raised a brow at me and chuckled. “Gotcha.’”
“Men,” Leila said raising her eyes upward. Stepping away from Jack, she threw her arms around my girl and squeezed affectionately. “We’ve been dying to meet you.”
“You have?” Haven’s eyes widened in surprise.
“Ever since this clown hired you.” Jack moved in, hugging her the same way Leila had while adding, “Anyone who could organize his mess of a life deserves a medal.”
An unintelligible sound came from Haven’s mouth—something between a yelp and a bark.
“You’ll have to excuse her,” I interjected. “She’s a bit star struck.”
“Of us?” Leila’s smile lit up her face. “Trust us, we’re as normal as they come. I’m just a girl from Hoboken. And I’m sure you know the Lair’s aren’t royalty by any means,” she teased. Her amber eyes met mine before she winked.
Haven laughed and nodded along with Leila’s comment. “He thinks he is, though.”
Jack wrapped his arms around Leila’s waist and said something that sounded like, “I’ll show you my royal staff,” directly into her ear.
“Jack!” she exclaimed with a shove. “One thing is for sure, you Lair men have a one-track mind.”
“Guilty,” Jack and I both said at the same time, and cracked up at how similar we were.
“Anyway. Haven, I want to introduce you to the guys. You already know my brother Evan, and Lizzy of course. Oh, and when you meet Trey he’ll most definitely tell you a joke. He thinks he’s funny, but whatever you do don’t laugh. I love to give him a hard time.” She took Haven’s other hand and pulled her away, calling out, “We’ll be back.”
Haven looked over her shoulder at me with a smile on her face that I wanted to see every day for the rest of our lives.