“We need to talk about what songs we want on the next album.”
Glancing at Mia through the glass barriers separating us, I couldn’t help but smile as I watched her singing her heart out. Duke and Mick looked as if they were lost in the music as well. I would have given anything to be a fly on the wall in the other studio at that moment. Instead, I peeled my eyes away and forced myself to focus on my own shit.
“We haven’t even started touring to promote our last album,” Ross scowled.
“I’m not saying we begin recording today,” Burk responded. “Now that Quinn owns this place, we don’t have to pre-book studio time. I’m just thinking ahead.”
“Have you or Oz worked up any new songs?” Darren asked.
While Syd wrote an occasional tune or two, it was predominantly Burk and me who penned our music. I’d managed a few new tunes to add to my unrecorded collection but didn’t know if Burk had taken time from Sofia to increase his portfolio as well.
An idea struck me. “Why not record Sofia’s song and release it as a single?”
“It’s a ballad,” Ross groused. “We had this discussion eons ago, remember?”
I did. And could still taste the bitterness on my tongue every time I scrolled past the power ballad sitting among the unpublished songs I’d amassed. Still wondered what might have been, what I could have possibly salvaged if I hadn’t been the deciding vote to omit it from our fourth album.
“Yeah, the Backseat Boys do ballads, not us,” Syd seconded.
“The Stones made bank off ‘Wild Horses,’” I challenged, finding it much easier to push the guys to record Burk’s love song than the one Mia and I had written a lifetime ago. “I’m not saying we produce an entire album of ballads. But Sofia’s song would make a great single.”
“Not to mention, keep Burk in pussy for all eternity.” Syd laughed.
“I already have that, asshole,” Burk shot back.
“You hope,” Syd jabbed before continuing. “All right, I’ve changed my mind. I vote yes. Our fans need to see we’re much more than a bunch of dead-sexy rocker studs. We can show them we have big hearts, capable of love.”
“You guys, maybe,” Ross scoffed. “I’m allergic to the L word.”
We all turned a collective scowl the big drummer’s way.
“One day, some woman’s going to come along and chip that ice off your cold, dead heart,” Burk vowed.
“Not in this lifetime,” Ross drawled.
I shot a furtive glance at the wild minx who was effortlessly defrosting mine. The idea of spending six euphoric months filling her sweet pussy and listening to her scream my name made me want to pound my chest.
“I’m in,” Darren piped up. “Chicks love that happily-ever-after shit.”
“I appreciate the vote of confidence, y’all,” Burk said. “But it’s an acoustic number. If we released it as a single, it’ll set off a bonfire in the tabloids. They’ll think I’ve decided to go solo or leave the band for real. I’m not going through that fucking mess again.”
“Then let’s add a bit of metal to it.” I grinned, gliding my hands across the keys, adding another layer of depth to Burk’s original notes.
“I like that.” He nodded and pointed to Quinn—now seated behind the massive board in the control room—alerting him to start recording.
Though Quinn wasn’t an expert running the mixing board, he’d found a guy who’d given him a crash course on how to operate the intricate system. Our agent might not be able to polish up a final dub, but he could capture what we needed until he found an experienced sound tech.
Glancing over at the other studio, I saw Mia was sitting in a tall chair. Both men were hovering over her as she pointed to a computer screen. Pretty boy Duke said something that had Mia snapping her head his way. She flashed him a blinding smile, pressed a hand to his bulging bicep, and nodded. When he said something to her, Mia threw her head back and laughed, making me wish she was still mine all over again.
Suddenly, every cell in my body exploded in electric-green sparks of jealousy.
Bolting from my seat, I bit back a snarl.
“Let’s take a break. I need to hit the head,” I said, somehow keeping a level tone.
Of course, I would have preferred to hit Duke upside the back of his head with his fucking keyboard. But I knew what Mia’s response to that would be. I enjoyed her nimble fingers massaging my balls