Incite (Sphere of Irony 1)

Hawke tears his greedy eyes from Ellie for two seconds to look at me and answer my question about his name. “Henry,” he shrugs, “but I’ve been called Hawke since I was a kid.”

I reach back and wrap my arm around El, pulling her into my side possessively so this Hawke guy will get the message. “This is Ellie,” I say, glaring at the two men angrily.

Gavin smiles kindly at my display of ownership, but Hawke’s eyes widen in understanding and he immediately backs off. Good, because with the healing gash in my side and the still sore bruises all over my body, there’s no way I could fight anyone tonight. I grudgingly allowed Ellie to cover the bruise on my face with concealer, but it’s still there, and it still aches.

“Well, I’m going to check out the bar area. You boys chat and I’ll be back when it’s time,” George says happily and he disappears out the door and into the crowd.

“So, what do you play?” Dax asks the two newcomers, joining our awkward little group.

“I play guitar, acoustic and electric. Mostly bass,” Gavin answers.

“Drums,” Hawke says as he air drums the space around him. “George says you guys are really talented, so we can’t wait to hear you. He has a surprisingly good ear for these things.”

Dax and I share a look and start unpacking our things, getting ready for our set. Ellie chats politely with the two Americans. I nearly blow a gasket watching them. Gavin has the nerve to touch her arm and I bristle immediately, spinning to punch the crap out of him. I don’t get a chance to make a move before I’m being pulled back by Dax’s strong hands.

“Don’t man,” he whispers. “Not here, not now, and certainly not while you’re still all fucked up. Plus, we can’t afford for you to mess up your hand again,” he growls under his breath. “They’re just talking so calm the fuck down.”

Breathing in and out deep and rhythmically, I attempt to control my emotions, thankful that Dax is able to keep me from screwing up. Fuck! She’s not even mine, so I have no right to feel this way and I know it. I just can’t even think of anyone else touching her, not when I’m literally aching to hold her in my arms.

“Fine, but I’m keeping my eyes on them,” I growl. My teeth are grinding together so hard that my jaw aches. I have no idea what I’m thinking right now, I’m not a fighter. In fact, I despise it. Living through my dad knocking my mum and me around more times than I can remember, I despise violence unless absolutely necessary, but when it comes to Ellie, it seems all bets are off.

Loud clapping precedes George as he steps back into our tiny space. “You’re up! Let’s go boys!”

Dax and I grab our gear and turn to leave. “Ellie,” I call to her. She comes over and I lean in close, inhaling her sweet vanilla scent. “Stay near the stage, okay? I want, no … I need to be able to see you.”

Her beautiful pink lips part in surprise and she blinks a few times before answering me, her cheeks flushing pink. “Okay, Adam. I’ll stand wherever you want.”

“Good,” I meet her curious eyes with mine and manage a small smile. “I’ll see you out there then.” I flick my gaze over at the two strangers before focusing back on Ellie. “Dax! Let’s go.” I take a deep breath and wince at the pain that lingers in my side as we head out to take the stage.

chapter 8

Ellie

Watching Adam sing is probably the most sensual thing I’ve ever experienced. His presence is captivating, as if he were literally born to be on stage. His voice draws you right in, both musical and masculine at the same time. Perfect lips caress each note as he strums on his guitar.

Adam’s eyes never stray far from where I’m standing a few meters from the stage. I feel as if I’m the only person in the crowded pub as his heartbreaking lyrics pierce through me. No one here knows what he’s seen and done, how he lives, how much pain he hides inside. The songs that he writes express the hard life he’s had to endure.

“Your boyfriend is jealous of me,” Gavin says, leaning in close so I can hear him over the music. His American accent is such a contradiction, so smooth and beautiful, yet severe at the same time.

I slide my eyes briefly over to the tall, unbelievably attractive blonde man before returning my gaze to the charismatic singer on stage. Gavin is so beautiful it almost hurts to look at him. Men shouldn’t really be allowed to be prettier than you, but Gavin certainly is. Yet he’s incredibly masculine at the same time. “Yeah, we’re just mates, that’s all,” I tell him as I go back to watching Adam.

Gavin lets

out a gentle laugh and gestures towards the stage with his beer. “Does he know that?” I pay closer attention, and sure enough, Adam is scowling at Gavin as he sings.

If looks could kill.

I press my lips together determined to ignore Gavin for the rest of the set. Adam and Dax are good. Really good. The large crowd cheers when they take their leave and I realize the conflicting emotion I’m feeling is jealousy. Jealous of the crowd, of the women ogling and quite loudly appreciating Adam’s physical beauty, of sharing him and his music with everyone here. I want to lock him up and keep him to myself.

“Ellie? Did you hear anything I just said?”

“Huh?”

Hawke steps in front of me, waving his hand in my face to pull me out of my thoughts. “Earth to Ellie. Come on, we’re going back to meet the guys.” He laughs and pulls on my arm, tugging me toward the small room in the back of the dark pub. I trip on my own feet and can’t help but giggle at my clumsiness.

Gavin shoves Hawke through the door and we’re all laughing by the time we stumble into Adam and Dax who have beers in their hands and are grinning as they chat.

George is already here, congratulating the guys on their set. Gavin and Hawke join the conversation and all five men are eagerly discussing the music, how to add drums and another guitarist to the mix.