Sebastian threw an idle punch at him, as idle as the threat. “Whatever, dude. We both know I’d drop you in a second flat.”
Ash bounced around on his toes as if he were going to prove him wrong, fists throwing mock punches in Sebastian’s direction. “In your dreams, Stone. Are you gonna make me have to embarrass you in front of Beautiful Shea, here? You know the only thing that’s gonna do is make this fine woman fall in love with me. No one could blame her. I’m irresistible.”
Sebastian growled through the laughter he was holding back. “About to cross a line, asshole.”
Laughing, I pushed him off, that sweeping, free feeling racing through me again. “Go.”
On a groan, he began to follow Ash, before he seemed to think better of it, and rushed back and pecked my lips in that sweet, sweet way. He pointed at me as he walked backward toward the rest of the guys huddled just out of sight offstage. “Don’t move.”
In amusement, I shook my head, making a silent promise I would always be right here, wherever he was, and mouthed, “Impress me, rocker boy.”
He smiled an earth-shattering smile.
Rocking my world.
My chest squeezed.
The imposing man finally dragged himself away, turning his focus to where it should be and to the band.
Heads leaned in, they formed a circle, unheard words spoken, claps to the back as they hyped themselves up.
Together, the four of them were a force.
Bold and intimidating and beautiful in the most daunting way.
Listening to the chanting roar of the crowd, exhilaration spiraled through my belly. Zee ducked through the curtains and onto the stage. Fisting drumsticks in his hand, he thrust them over his head, looking out over the crowd that screamed like a squall beating at the ocean.
Ash and Lyrik strode out behind him.
That roar turned wild, energy billowing, threatening to spill over.
Sebastian stepped onstage.
Everything erupted.
Screams filled the air as Sebastian slipped the strap of an electric guitar over his head and shouted, “Good evening.”
He edged toward the mic and tapped his foot on a pedal on the floor before he dove right into one of their hard, reckless songs. He strummed a manic beat, skilled fingers sliding in precision up and down the neck of the guitar.
Brilliant and captivating and so talented it shook me to the core.
But it was when his mouth met the mic that his powerful voice tore through me.
Every cell in my body came alive, my heart pressing at my ribs, as I looked at the man I loved more than any other. At the man who was my baby’s father in every way. At the man who’d come with a violent force to upturn my life.
To shake it up with joy and love, with something deep and profound.
The rest of the guys were just as intent on their parts. Lyrik played another electric guitar, all that mess of black on top of his head flying as his body crashed with the beat, Ash’s head lifted toward the sky as he played the bass line, lost to the music, while Zee pounded frantically at the drums on a riser behind them.
On the floor, bodies thrashed.
Untamed.
Slamming and uncontrolled.
Free.
The four looked so much like the first time I’d witnessed them, when I’d locked myself away in the office of Charlie’s, in that moment when I was unsure if I could continue down a path that would lead me right back into the type of life I’d fled.
But I should have known any path I took would lead me straight to Sebastian.
It didn’t matter Sebastian screamed the lyrics, that I felt the words more than I understood them.
His voice still melted over me.
Sinking in and becoming one with my bones.
The words indecipherable yet so clear.
That energy surrounded me, again making me feel as if I were elevated. Riding wave after wave of Sebastian Stone.
From the side, he turned his head with his mouth still pressed to the mic. He was searching. Searching for me.
Those eyes met mine and he swept me away.
The entire show enraptured me.
Lost in his spirit.
Drowning in his presence.