Total pages in book: 143
Estimated words: 138287 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 691(@200wpm)___ 553(@250wpm)___ 461(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 138287 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 691(@200wpm)___ 553(@250wpm)___ 461(@300wpm)
My cheeks were bright pink. I could feel them burning holes into my face.
Cautiously, I turned, making sure to only look into his eyes.
He grinned. “Wanna fuck?”
My stomach bottomed out.
What did he just say?
Seeing the shocked expression on my face, he smirked hard then walked toward the second bathroom. “No? You sure? Okay. Maybe next time.” Before stepping inside, he threw me a lurid wink then shut the door.
Noah stepped out of his room, shirtless, and when he caught sight of my pale face, he chuckled. “I thought you’d get away unscathed. Regrettably, you are in his sights and he is gonna torture you, Emmy.” I didn’t need to ask who he was talking about, when we both knew. A moment passed and he gently nudged my arm. “Do you want some advice?”
Straightaway, I began nodding.
Noah sighed. “As soon as he gets a reaction, he likes it. Shock treatment, it’s kind of his thing. I know it’ll be hard, but—” He shrugged. “—try not to react. Use your best poker face. And, hopefully, he’ll move on to someone else to torment.”
“Okay,” I whispered, not liking those odds.
“Want the good news?” When I peered up at him, he uttered, “You’re surviving your first day, and not doing a bad job either.”
At that, I sighed then smiled. “That is good news.”
“Why don’t you go up to your room and shower? Meet us back here at, say, five and we’ll go over to the stadium where you can watch us practice. Sound good?”
“Sounds great,” I told him honestly, leaving four of the penthouse keys on the counter before taking one for myself. I left the suite, closing the door behind me and taking the elevator down to the twelfth floor, where my room awaited me. I was ecstatic to see that my luggage had already been delivered.
First stop, the shower.
The stadium was huge, and now that I knew every show was sold out, I appreciated the magnitude of these concerts. Truthfully, I’d find out tomorrow when I witnessed the first show from the sidelines.
Noah assured me that no one had a better seat than I did. And that was exciting.
As I stood stage-side, I watched the guys set up. A moment later, sound checks followed. Soon after, Hell counted them in and then they were playing.
I was not prepared for what I felt as the solid riff, fast drumbeat, and deep bass flowed over me. One second, I was standing at the side of the stage and the next, my feet were leading me out, closer to a band I’d never heard of. And they were magnificent.
Shame on me.
While Noah played one set of chords, Connor played another. They overlapped and my body was on fire. I felt like my skeleton wanted to jump out of my skin, leaving my soft shell in a pile at the side of the stage.
Closer and closer, I crept until I stood in front of them. When Noah spotted me, he winked and then began to sing.
My body was not on fire. It had long dissolved. I was a mess of guitar chords, a raw drumbeat, thick bass, and that voice.
“Yes,” I whispered. Then I dropped my binder, balling my fists, and shouted, “Yes!”
Surprisingly, none of the guys looked at me like the crazy person I clearly was. They continued playing.
They played for me.
Or so it felt.
Once the song was finished, I clapped as hard as I could, and Noah chuckled into the microphone. “Thank you! Thank you! That was for our one and only fan, Emmy.”
I cheered, laughing loudly, then cupped my hands around my mouth and yelled out, “More!”
“More?”
“More,” I hollered as loud as I could, laughing at the sheer delight of what this music was doing to me.
“You heard her, guys. She wants more. Let’s give it to her,” Noah spoke into the mic.
I moved closer when the music began and as the guitar riff shot through me, I closed my eyes. The drums followed. Unconsciously hugging myself, I smiled then laughed.
I freaking loved rock.
Who knew?
My entire body broke out in goosebumps.
Rocking myself gently, I let the mix of sounds flow over me. The bass was heavy, weighing me down, while the light finger work of Connor’s guitar lifted me. Noah’s commanding voice washed over me, holding me in place.
Every single man brought an important element.
Every instrument, equally significant.
This was powerful. This was influential.
This was music.
And then I was sad. I felt poorer for never having heard anything like it before.
Suddenly, the song took a turn, the guitar riffs turned lighting fast, and the drums followed suit. My heartbeat matched its pace. It was alarming, frightening, and I—like a moth drawn to a flame—struggled to get close enough to it.
To them.
Front and center, I raised my hands to grip my head, and mouthed, “Oh my God.”