“Umm, hmm.” I purr into his neck, and we stay connected for a few more minutes. “Honey, we have to go and now I need to clean up.”
“It’s the boots. I thought I could wait until we got back. Ever since I saw you laying out today in your barely there bikini, all I could think about was fucking you. But those damn boots pushed me over the edge.”
“Lucky me.”
“Sparkle, anytime you want to get lucky, you just let me know.”
There’s a knock at the door, and Cooper yells inside for us to hurry up.
I clean up and readjust my clothes while Declan gets my purse and our passes. I notice mine is a different shade than his but don’t say anything.
*****
The iHeartRadio Stage is huge. There are people running around everywhere and the seats are already filling up. The entry area outside is packed with screaming fans trying to get a glimpse of their favorite artists arriving. I recognize several famous musicians backstage, including Katy Perry and Jason Derulo. Declan keeps positioning me against his side so no one will bump into me as they rush around with last minute preparations. We find Kelly, Mike and Knight’s Dream in a room with a few people I do not know. Jay speaks to them as soon as we walk in, and I learn they are the management team.
The energy and excitement in the room fills the air. The announcer kicks off the concert, and the screams of the crowd are deafening. This is probably the largest venue I have ever been in my life. Mike and I joke about the last concert we were at together. It was ten years ago when we had a group go to ‘Creed’ in Nashville. Somehow I talked Robbie into letting me go with him and the guys, and Mike got stuck with me. I didn’t know it at the time, but everyone else had paired off with a girl and he was on ‘Raven Duty.’
Mike lets us know it’s time to leave the room. Before we can get to our designated areas on the side stage to watch Knight’s Dream, I’m stopped by security. He tells me my pass will not allow me any further. Declan looks like he is going to blow a gasket. I offer to go back to the room and wait knowing I can watch on the TV even though I am disappointed.
It finally dawns on me that Kelly gave us our passes and purposely gave me a limited access pass. I mention this to Declan and he motions for Mike to join us with the security guard. Our group follows Mike to where we are standing and now making a scene.
“Mike, we need to get Raven an all access pass. I don’t care about tomorrow because I’ll be with her but tonight she’s with me.”
“I understand, I’m sure it’s a small mix up. Kelly give Raven your pass.” He instructs her.
If I were a vindictive person, I would laugh at the expression on her face. Her lips contort like she’s eaten a lemon and her eyes narrow at me.
“I hardly think that’s appropriate. I’ve worked very hard, and I’m your assistant.” She responds to him.
“We’ll get into this later, but there’s no arguing here. As my assistant, you should have noticed a member of this group didn’t have the appropriate credentials. So now she needs your pass so we can go. I’m seeing a pattern here today that is completely inappropriate. I suggest you go to the event organizers and let them know you need a new pass.”
She hands me the badge angrily and takes off running to the organizer area. We make our way to the stage right as Ryan starts in on their most popular song. The crowds are cheering so loudly I don’t think I’ll be able to hear tomorrow.
After two sets, they take a break and the bassist brings Declan’s guitar to the middle. My stomach drops with nerves. He wraps his arms around my middle and squeezes me tightly. This is it!
“Y’all having a fucking good time?”
Ryan yells into the microphone. The crowd goes wild. “I said are y’all having a fucking good time?!” The response is even louder and wilder.
“I have a very good group of friends here with us tonight. They’re a badass set of rockers who are equally as cool. Their new single drops this coming week and they’re gonna play it for you. Please give a Las Vegas welcome to Sayge!!!”
The guys all fist bump and head to the stage. Declan kisses me quickly and saunters out acting cool and aloof. Even though I know this is one of the biggest moments in his life, his stage presence is calm and collected.
Ryan comes off stage and comes straight to me. I hug him and tell him how proud I am. Right about the time we separate, Kelly comes to stand next to us with her new pass around her neck.
“I was instructed not to leave your side for the next five minutes. Something about roadies, concerts, and boots.” Ryan tells me.
I roll my eyes remembering the charity concert at the Ryman last year. Figures Declan would ask Ryan to watch me.
Blake and Cooper both start the intro as the light adjusts to spotlight each guy. The lights are deep red, which is very fitting for the tone of this song. When Declan starts to sing, the already electrified crowd gets louder. His guitar solo brings a slight hush until Blake joins in and the beat increases. His voice is like velvet and sin mixed together. He never wavers in his confidence on the stage, and they finish the song with an added solo from Nate on the drums.
Roars fill the arena and people are chanting for more.
“Thank you Vegas! You’re fucking incredible tonight! Enjoy the rest of the show.” The lights go black, and he stalks to me. Jumping up and down like a school girl, I run the rest of the way and leap into his arms. Showering his face with kisses, I tell him repeatedly how amazing that was.
The other guys gather around us, and Declan set me down so I can hug them. Mike’s on the phone with his friend at a station in Nashville. He asks him to push the single to the air as soon as possible. Then he instructs Declan to do a twitter feed about the performance immediately. Kelly and I can update the other sites later tonight or tomorrow.
We go back to the room assigned to Knight’s Dream and watch the rest of their performance on the TV. They end up doing one encore before joining us to celebrate.