Reckless (Forever 6)

Great, just great. Jax had just told me that he didn’t want any interruptions while he prepped for tonight’s show. I checked my watch. We’d be cutting it super close even if I ran and asked him, which meant I had to make a decision. Since Jax had already agreed to trim some of the pyro, what was one more? He might not like the move, but we really didn’t have the cash to cover this expensive policy. And after all, this was a music concert not a fireworks display.

I crossed my arms and said firmly, "That’s okay, we’ll cut it and not get the insurance."

"Alright, please inform your pyrotechnician then. Have a good evening and enjoy your stay here in Denver." He shook my hand, smiled, and walked away.

I exhaled, realizing it was a good thing I handled this issue. We really dodged a bullet. I could only imagine what would happen if he had talked to one of the other band members. Chances are Chewie would’ve ended up buying ghost insurance on top of the ballistics policy.

I found and informed the pyrotechnician about the Inferno Fountain getting cut, and then I went back to the sidestage. I was actually eager to see the performance today. Things between Jax and me had progressed from adversarial to friendly since the last show, so I didn’t feel the need to avoid him by hiding in a maintenance room. Even though there weren’t any seats around, standing sure beat sitting on a propane tank.

Once again, I peeked out to get a good look at the crowd. The people were now packed in tight, and the crowd’s size was more impressive than the one in Chicago. I immediately noticed that the majority of them were women. No big surprise there. Scanning the faces of the raver girls dressed in pure neon, the staid bespectacled librarians, the bubbly and tanned sorority sisters, and the businesswomen still wearing work clothes, I wondered with annoyance which one Jax might bring on stage in order to give her a mind-blowing, aural orgasm.

The thought of Jax making women orgasm caused me to unexpectedly relive the passionate kiss I’d had with him. The thought that I’d have to give him another one after this show sent goosebumps across my skin. It was getting frustrating—thinking about him, having these feelings for him. I had to constantly remind myself of the professional as well as emotional risks involved with sleeping with Jax. But my god, would it finally ease the near-constant ache between my thighs since I’d started the tour.

A palpable intensity filled the room. Every person in the auditorium was fully attuned to the stage, all of them in fervent anticipation to see the Hitchcocks. To see Jax. And I couldn’t blame them. When I checked earlier today, the band’s album had already crashed into the top twenty reaching number nineteen. The Hitchcocks were rising stars with Jax at the center.

All of a sudden, Chewie, Kev, and Sky hurried past me onto the stage as the crowd started clapping. I watched them with keen interest, loving this up-close view of the band gearing up to start the show.

"Trying to keep an eye on me, Pepper?" I nearly leapt out of my shoes as Jax’s familiar voice whispered in my ear. I’d been so intent on watching the band set-up that I’d let him get the jump on me.

Knowing who it was, I didn’t bother turning to face him, but I also didn’t move away. "Somebody needs to make sure you stay out of trouble."

"And you think you’re up to the task?" he said, his warm breath tickling my ear.

His mischievous tone was a far cry from his earlier mood, and I wondered if the conversation I had with him had anything to do with his change.

I turned my head slightly, looking at his searing grin through the corner of my eye. "How hard can it be?"

"It can be very hard," he said, his voice a velvety rasp. "But I trust you." He shot me a quick wink that made my heart flutter.

As he left me to take the stage, I got a whiff of his raw, earthy scent, and my brained scrambled. It seemed like no matter what I did, we were continuing to grow closer. The sexual tension building between us was starting to drive me crazy, and I wondered if he felt the same way.

The lights dimmed as Jax sauntered out onto the stage and the audience erupted into crazed cheers and hoarse hollers. Those lucky enough to be in the front row were frantically grasping at his leather-clad legs. The fans were screaming their faces off.

Jax positioned himself in the center-stage spotlight and The Hitchcocks exploded into a sonic surge that echoed off the far walls and reverberated through the concert hall. A rumbling bassline poured from Sky’s fingers and Chewie’s rapidfire snare drove a steady beat as Kev’s guitar riffs built an intricate melody on top of it all.

But it was Jax that stole the show as he growled into the mic and prowled the stage like a predator stalking his prey. His fluid movements and mesmerizing lyrics hypnotized the audience and they collectively followed his every step, gesture, and word. I couldn’t even begin to fathom what it must’ve felt like to have thousands of reverent fans idolizing me and worshiping my every word, but Jax drank it all up and thrived on it.

Not much changed from the previous show, but the band gave the audience exactly what they came to see: a wild rock ‘n’ roll spectacle. This time I was more familiar with the set list and the show’s overall arc, so I was almost able to anticipate what song was going to come next. My eyes never left Jax’s writhing torso and gyrating hips. Without realizing I had been doing it, I found myself moving my hips in unison to his seductive movements, and I quickly stopped it. Thankfully no one was around to see my momentary lapse of self-control.

After cycling through more songs, the band launched into a catchy one that got me all riled up. It was quickly becoming my favorite one. I sang along to the parts I knew and tapped my hand against my hip to keep the beat. Trying to learn all the song’s words, I focused in on Jax’s lips curving and twisting as he sang the lyrics. I had the sudden desire to run my tongue over his lips, and I licked my own, anticipating our scheduled kiss after this show.

Jax turned his head my way as the song moved into the bridge. When he noticed me singing along, he locked eyes with me and we synced our singing.

I won’t bend my knees

and I won’t beg you please

‘Cuz I know we can’t ever be together.

But it’s times like these,

I just can’t feed my needs

And I don’t know if I can last forever.

Only time will tell

If we can end this hell,

Oh the hell with time

I wanna make you mine.

Only time will tell

When we can end this hell,