I manage to keep myself in check as we play our final songs, harnessing the strange energy simmering inside me into the music. My body is rushing with adrenaline and something I don’t recognize. My fingers fly over the strings, my voice rasps with a richness I’ve only ever managed when I’m alone in my apartment, working on my own songs — the ones I don’t share with anyone.
It’s the tightest set we’ve ever played.
“Ry, you killed it tonight!” Lincoln yells in my ear over the roar of the crowd as we walk off stage. “You were on fire out there!”
My eyes drift across the sea of strangers, searching for a long, dark, messy braid that’s been driving me to distraction since I first laid eyes on it. I’d like to set it free, to sink my fingers in deep, to hold it like a leash as I…
I shake my head to clear the unexpected, X-rated thoughts surging to the surface of my mind.
“Where did that energy come from?” Aiden is asking.
“No idea,” I lie.
“Whatever it was, keep it up! We’ve never sounded like that. Ever. Even with Lacey singing.”
“He’s right.” Lincoln claps me on the back. “And now, gentlemen, there are some pressing issues that require our attention.” He jerks his head toward a nearby table where three girls are waiting. They’re sipping vodka sodas and practically salivating at the sight of us. Their skimpy outfits and come-hither stares make it clearer than cling wrap that sex tonight is not just a possibility, but a certainty.
I run a hand through my hair and blow out a sharp breath. “Not really in the mood for groupies tonight.”
“Ryder Woods, turning down willing pussy?” Lincoln lays his hand on my forehead, as if to check my temperature. “You must be sick…”
I shrug him off. “Get away from me.”
“I’m just in shock. I’ve known you three years. Only time I’ve ever seen you say no is after so much whiskey your dick refuses to cooperate. And even then, you usually give it the old college try.”
“Linc, I mean it. Shut the fuck up.”
His blond brows lift. “Dude, what crawled up your ass and died tonight?”
I lock my jaw and look away from him.I wish I knew.
“Friendly reminder that some of us would like to get laid tonight,” Aiden says as he starts walking toward the bar. “You grab the girls, I’ll grab the first round. Meet at our usual booth in five.”
“Make mine a double!” I shout after him.
With enough whiskey in my system, maybe I can drown out the strange energy that’s been simmering inside me since our set. Whatever this feeling is…
I’ve never felt it before.
And I don’t like it at all.
* * *
A feminine throat clears. “Hey, assholes.”
I look up from the cleavage three inches from my face to find Carly hovering a few feet from our booth, staring with distaste from the girls on our laps to the near-empty bottle of Jack Daniels on the table.
“Carly, baby,” Lincoln drawls, grinning at her. “What’s up?”
“Don’t call me baby.”
“Why so tense?” he asks. “Abstinence got you down?”
“Why so desperate?” she counters. “Viagra got you up?”
“Ah, you’re just flirting with me, now.” He waggles his eyebrows at her. “You want in on this action, just say the word.”
“Pass.” Her voice is flat. She doesn’t even spare him a glance, staring into my eyes instead. “Adam requested a word before you guys are too wasted to form coherent sentences.”