Necromancist (Seven Forbidden Arts 6)

“Let’s wait,” she said. “We’ll talk after the show, all right?”

His mismatched eyes filled with calculation. “When are you giving your editor his answer?”

“I said not until after the show.”

He straightened, pushing their bodies together. His hard-on pressed against her stomach, and for a blinding second, she wanted him to rip the clothes off her body and take her right there, against the wall. His effect on her was the same as always, instantaneous and intense.

“Do you want me, Princess?”

She gasped as he rolled his hips, rubbing his hard-on between her legs. “You know I do.”

“Then I’ll keep on taking you.” He released her abruptly and took a step away. “For as long as you want me.”

He was dangerous. How did he manage to get through her defenses every single time? Her body ached for his touch. If she didn’t walk away now, she was going to drag him into one of the rehearsal rooms and beg him to do wicked things to her, lustful things a woman shouldn’t remember in the light of day. Pushing away from him, she walked to the sanctuary of the rehearsal room. He didn’t follow. He only regarded her with intent that made her pulse jump with a warped sense of excitement.

“You can run now, but I won’t let you hide,” he said. “Not for long.”

His words echoed in her brain as she closed the door behind her and let out a ragged breath. They repeated in her mind during the hour of practice, throughout lunch, and into the late afternoon. As long as Ivan was around, Henry didn’t stand a chance. How could he when she didn’t even stand a chance herself? She should be protecting her heart against the inevitable breaking that would follow if she went down this road with Ivan, but she couldn’t. She simply wasn’t strong enough. For now, she pushed all thoughts of love and lust from her mind. The future of the theater, and therefore her future, was still in the balance.

After singing practice, Alice focused on tying up the last details of the evening’s dress rehearsal. It would be just like a normal show, minus the audience. With the special premiere rescheduled for tomorrow night, they couldn’t have the rehearsal on any other night. Cain wanted to come, but she’d asked him not to. It was easier this way. She didn’t want him to remember her mother on stage when he looked at her or compare them and find her lacking.

By late afternoon, about an hour before the curtains would be raised, she met the photographer and escorted him to the stage where the lighting and music were already set up. Once he’d tested his equipment, she made her way to the side stage. Her normal routine would’ve included going to Ivan’s dressing room to see if he had any special requirements, but she didn’t want to face him, tonight. The last thing she needed was another confrontation or futile discussion about her one-sided love. Instead, she went to her own dressing room and pulled on the red dress. She took care of her makeup and hair and clipped on the earrings that reminded her of her mother. On second thought, she removed them.

Johnny had promised to be there. Most of the board would be, too. She didn’t want to fail them. Too much depended on her performance. Needing to soothe her nerves, she made her way to the spotlight bridge and watched the commotion below. As always, it had the desired effect, transporting her to a place of peace and tranquility. Seeing Ivan walk onto the side stage and wait for his cue gave her a sense of déjà vu that had her stomach pull into a knot. Involuntarily, she looked around for suspicious individuals, but there were only the gaffers who moved around with the lights.

An instant before the curtains rose, Ivan lifted his eyes. It was too dark to be sure, but she had the odd sensation that their gazes connected for the briefest of moments before he squared his shoulders, smiled, and walked into the spotlight.

As always, his singing made her body break out in goosebumps. The symphonic version of his most popular rock songs was amazing. He was a prodigy, her impossible Ivan who spoke to dead people and shared her most erotic secrets but couldn’t love her.

During the instrumental before the first break, which gave Ivan time to change shirts, she couldn’t put off going back, any longer. She was about to turn when footsteps on the bridge made her pause. Expecting it to be Zach, her lips parted in surprise as Ivan’s muscular profile and handsome face came into view.

“Ivan!” she exclaimed on a whisper. “What are you doing here? You should be changing.”

He stopped in front of her. “Hiding up here, again?”