Tainted Kiss (Tainted Knights 1)

The song was about to end. I could tell by the way Kin was dancing around beside me. I knew she would end up jumping Jace as soon as the song was over.

I moved out of the way, figuring I would get trampled by my friend if I didn’t.

Gray was still playing, finishing with a guitar solo, but she couldn’t wait any longer. She stepped through the slit in the tarp and rushed on stage.

Cash nearly lost his balance as she bumped into him, but she didn’t even look back as she jumped into Jace’s arms. I caught the sight of his face for only a nanosecond. The sheer pleasure there lifted my heart a little. Then Kin was kissing him, her legs wrapped around his waist, her hands fisted in his hair. Two security guards started toward them, but Cash stepped in their path, shaking his head.

I stayed where I was out of sight, but still able to watch the stage.

Gray took the mic from Jace’s hand, which were wrapped tightly around Kin’s waist, and told the crowd goodnight. Laughing, he and the other three headed my way while Jace just stood there, kissing his girl.

I stepped farther into the shadows as the tarp shifted and Cash and Sin walked out. I twisted my fingers together, watching Gray come through next. When his sand-colored eyes landed on me, they widened with surprise, but then he grinned. He started to open his mouth, but I shook my head and quickly pressed a finger to my lips in a silent plea not to give me away. With a wink, he nodded then went on his way.

I counted down the seconds until the tarp shifted again and I saw his sleeved arm. Then instinct took over. I moved forward, grasping his wrist and pulling him completely through.

“Fuck,” he grunted as his head snapped around.

The moment his eyes fell on me, his entire face changed. The look that had been absent on his face while he had been performing was back now, those hazel eyes drinking in the sight of me.

“Doll,” he breathed as he scooped me up. His laugh rumbled through his chest as he swung me around twice.

I held on tight, not because I was afraid he would drop me, but because I couldn’t get close enough.

“I missed you,” I cried in his ear, burying my face in his neck.

“What are you doing here?” He set me on my feet, but didn’t release me. “Scratch that. I don’t care why you’re here. I’m just glad you are.”

I cupped his face in both my hands, soaking up the sight of him. “I love you,” I didn’t hesitate to say.

Kale went completely still, his face tightening as he looked down at me.

My heart dropped into my stomach as all those fears and uncertainties came flooding back. Maybe he regretted telling me he loved me. It was too soon. Love wasn’t supposed to happen this fast.

Except, it had, and I didn’t want to waste another second not telling him how much I cared.

“I love you, Kale.”

His lashes lowered when I said it again, hiding his thoughts from me, but I didn’t stop.

“I’ve loved you almost from that very first day. I knew it when you confronted Wade, and I knew it before that stupid picture. I still knew it when you were walking away, giving me the space and time I asked for. I … I never should have let you leave me then without telling you how I felt, but—”

His head lowered in a flash, his lips sealing mine in a kiss that melted my knees. I sagged against him, holding on to his shirt for dear life as I kissed him back. It was a long while later before he lifted his head.

“I love you, too.”

“I’m so sorry I sent you away. If I’d been thinking straight, I never would have done it.” I swallowed hard. Licking my lips, I tasted him there. “I trust you, and if I hadn’t been so sick, I wouldn’t have even thought twice about that picture.”

“Doll.” He kissed me again, this time quick and hard, but it still had the power to shut me up. “Let’s get the fuck out of here. You’re saying shit, and all I can think about is sliding between these damn amazing legs. I’m not going to fuck you backstage.” He glanced over his shoulder as the tarp shifted behind him and Jace stumbled through with Kin still in his arms, both of them tearing at each other’s clothes as they continued to kiss. Rolling his eyes, he stepped back and took my hand. “We need a room and a bed. Now.”

Anticipation sang through me as I entwined our fingers. “I’ll follow wherever you lead, babe.”

People were already moving up on stage, taking down the Tainted Knights stuff so the next band could set up. I saw Travis talking to a small group of people. The guy barely lifted his eyes when he noticed Kale, but when he saw me, they widened and he stopped speaking as we walked by.

I lifted a brow at him, but kept walking, holding on tightly to Kale’s hand.

Out in the parking lot, I saw the tour bus in the distance, but he didn’t take me there. Instead, we headed for the main entrance. There, taxis were lined up for several blocks, and Kale lifted his hand to hail one. Opening the door for me, I slid in, and then he got in behind me.

“Where are we going?” I whispered after he had leaned forward to say something to the driver I didn’t catch.