Rock Me Slower (Licks of Leather #3) - Jenna Jacob Page 0,9

shy. Let me know.”

“I will. Thank you, for…everything.”

He gave me a wink and a smile.

I sat down, making sure my miniscule Alexander Wang ensemble still covered all my private parts, and watched superstars and a few of my idols take their seats.

Glancing over my shoulder, I saw Licks of Leather parading down the aisle and heading my way. I turned my head and faced the stage and held my breath as I caught sight of Ozzy from the corner of my eye.

“Yo, guys,” Quinn called from behind me. As if sharing the same brain and body, all five men stopped and turned his way. “Phoenix said yes. We’re going to need lots of photos after the show.”

“Great,” Burk replied in a tone void of all emotion.

“Welcome to the family, Phoenix.” Darren nodded soberly.

Ross remained silent as he leveled his resting prick face on me, while Ozzy simply clenched his jaw.

“Thanks,” I forced out.

Syd shoved his way through Darren and Ross and bestowed me with a genuine smile. “If you get scared on the bus, you can always climb into bed with me.”

“I don’t scare easily,” I lied.

Ozzy smacked the bass player on the back of the head. “She’s not interested in your… Do us all a favor and shut the fuck up.”

Syd laughed as the guys from Licks proceeded to their seats, a scant three rows in front of mine.

Priceless. Just what I wanted…to stare at his wide shoulders all damn night. Not.

Twenty minutes later, the lights dimmed, and Felicia Gwen strolled out on the stage to a thundering round of applause. If someone ever asked me what the beautiful R and B artist had said in her opening monologue, I wouldn’t have been able to answer. I wasn’t paying a lick of attention to her; I was too busy trying to decipher Ozzy’s unreadable expression each time he tossed a glance back at me.

Six awards and three amazing performances later, I watched an usher lean in close to Burk and say something. Together, the five men in the band stood and made their way backstage. They were probably getting ready to perform. My heart rate picked up a tiny bit. In all the time Ozzy and I had been together, I’d only attended one Licks of Leather concert. Memories of their show at the Desert Sky Pavilion in Phoenix swarmed through me.

“To present the award for Best New Artist, please welcome Licks of Leather.”

The announcer’s voice ripped me from my musing. My heart leapt to my throat as the five men strolled toward the podium. Burk held the envelope I prayed contained my name while Ozzy gripped the golden trophy, I ached to have grace my mantel.

“Here we go,” Quinn murmured from behind me as he gently squeezed my shoulder.

Poise and grace. Poise and grace. I mentally repeated the mantra, smiling toward the cameraman who appeared in the aisle beside me. I could practically feel the lens zooming in on my face, waiting for my happy mask to slip. Schooling my expression as best I could, I continued silently praying as Darren read the list of nominees. When he said my name, my stomach tumbled all the way to my toes.

“And the winner for Best New Artist is…” Burk began, fumbling with the seal.

My mouth was as dry as the desert, and my tongue stuck to the roof of my mouth.

My heart thundered like a bass drum, vibrating through my entire body and echoing loudly in my ears.

Poise and grace.

Burk’s eyes slid over the name as a crooked smile tugged his lips. When he remained silent, dragging out the anticipation, the others peered over his shoulder. Instantly, Ozzy’s dark eyes landed on me. Though he still had a smile on his face, I could see past his fa?ade…see the smug expression that lay beneath it.

I didn’t win.

An inky black veil of sadness slid through me. The nervous excitement pinging from cell to cell sputtered out and died.

For fuck’s sakes, don’t cry, a little voice in my head firmly instructed.

“Phoenix!” Burk screamed out with a wide grin.

The sound of my name echoing through the arena bounced in my skull as everyone jumped to their feet. Cheers, screams, and applause reverberated my chest, but I was too stunned to move. All I could do was sit there, blinking back tears of disbelief.

“Go get your award,” Quinn urged, breaking my paralysis.

Inundated by a tsunami of elation, I swiped the tear of joy sliding down my cheek and lifted from my seat onto