so,” I whispered, hiding safely behind the illusion that Vance was our topic and not Bryan and me. “Why did he never say so before?”
“He probably knows you’re out of his league.” Bryan took another step closer, and the tips of his black boots touched my bare toes. “Knows you belong to someone else.”
The way my body reacted, it was like he’d blown a teasing gust of breath over the throbbing center of me. In the last year with War, I’d learned a lot, developing a sensuality I’d never known I had.
Now my pulse pounded hard, and my nipples tightened as his tantalizing alpine scent spiraled around me. Trembling, I swayed, and he reached for me as if no other had claimed me, his hands closing around my upper arms. Beneath the silk, the warmth of his touch branded my skin.
I licked my lips. “What if that weren’t the case? What if I didn’t belong to someone else?”
“But it is, and you do.”
His gaze dropped to my mouth, his grip tightening. My lips felt overly full, stretched to the limit, desperate like the rest of me.
“Bry.” I lifted my head. “Please just—”
The door popped open, and War swept his gaze over us, frowning. “You okay, Lacey?”
“Yes, of course I am.” I took a step away from Bryan, wanting to be the one to break the connection this time. This had happened once before, or I thought it had when he’d walked me home from school the first time. Long ago, sure, but it still hurt to remember the way my expectations had soared, then plummeted.
“Good,” War said.
“But are you okay?” I asked him, avoiding eye contact with Bryan. “Your lip is bleeding.”
“Vance is bleeding worse, I assure you.” War wiped the edge of his mouth with his thumb, then pulled me into him.
His ringed fingers closing around my upper arms, he put his hands right where Bryan’s had left their mark, replacing the heat but not erasing it. Lifting me onto my toes, he lowered his head and laid a deep, wet, coppery-tasting kiss on my lips. All the parts of me that had awakened because of Bryan now throbbed for War.
When he pulled his mouth from mine, my body naturally leaned toward him. He turned me on with very little effort. But he wasn’t focused on me. His gaze was on Bryan.
“We gotta kick ass onstage tonight,” War said. “Not letting Rebel Heart show us up.”
“We’ll kick ass.” Bryan shifted and cleared his throat. “When have we not?”
“True.” War settled me into his side.
Bryan’s expression darkened, his lids hooding when I tried to make eye contact. He was shutting me out. Well, at least I’d shut him out first.
I leaned closer to War, placing my hand on his chest.
“We’ll change the set list. Heavy metal all the way.” War tipped his brown gaze to me. “We’ll have to table the keyboard solo you’ve been working on. Debut it on another night.”
“Okay.” I was a team player, but I was disappointed. I’d anticipated being in the spotlight and had chosen my outfit accordingly.
“These guys have a big following.” Bryan’s gaze zeroed in on War. “Diz said the place is already packed.”
“Right.” War’s expression turned determined. “So, we need to knock all those Rebel Heart followers on their asses. Win them over fast.”
“Then we should do ‘My Way or the Highway’ first,” I said.
“That song’s not ready yet, Lacey.” War squeezed my shoulder in a condescending way that made me bristle.
“It is ready,” Bryan said, countermanding War. Something he rarely did, especially when it came to the band. “The lyrics are set. The bridge is worked out. My solo is blazing hot. What’s not ready?”
“It hasn’t been tested in front of an audience.” War’s brows drew together beneath his red bandanna.
“It’s in your face,” I said. “It’ll certainly catch their attention. It’s the kind of tune you play first. Screw ’em if they don’t like it.” I smoothed my hands over his chest, feeling the tension in his muscles. “It’s you, War.”
“It’s a manifesto for all of us.” Bryan lifted his chin.
“Okay.” War nodded. “Go tell the others. I want a little private time with my woman.”
Bryan’s gaze skimmed over mine before he moved. It seemed that he wanted me to note he’d sided with me.
“Babe,” War said, stepping in front of me as the door closed behind Bryan. “You’ve been back here a while.” His eyes searched mine. “Why aren’t you already dressed?”
“I was listening to my music.” I gestured