Staged (Exodus End 3)

Steve slid open the door and eased it closed behind him. He spotted Toni a few doors down the hall gaping at an enormous painting in a gilded frame. She turned in his direction at the sound of his footsteps.

“Is this thing real?” she asked.

Steve glanced at the painting, sure he’d seen it before but not recognizing the artist. “It probably is. Dare likes nice things.”

“Obviously. Is Logan’s house like this?” She tilted her chin down and whispered, “I’ll be afraid to touch anything.”

“His place is real nice, but nothing like this. It’s up in the hills surrounded by dirt bike trails. You’ll love the view.”

Toni’s shoulders dropped. “Do you think the band would be open to including something about your private homes in the book? I think the fans would love knowing how you live. This place is so impressive!”

She was always thinking about that book. He wondered if there’d be a chapter on Logan’s skills in the sack since she had plenty of experience with that.

“No one will be impressed with my little house,” Steve said.

“I bet it’s grand.”

“Not in the least. You wouldn’t have happened to run across a bathroom around here, would you?”

She shook her head.

Remembering Dare’s instructions, he counted three doors on the right and opened the door to a small powder room. “Here it is,” he said. “You’d better get busy making Logan that sandwich.” He winked at her.

“It will probably take me a month just to find the kitchen.”

She really was going to make him a sandwich? Maybe she was putty in his hands. “When you make it to the foyer, take the center hall.”

“Thanks,” she said.

He closed himself in the bathroom and pulled his phone out of his pocket. When he saw the message was from Roux, a surge of adrenaline kicked up his heart rate. What would the guys think if they knew even the slightest hint of attention from her sent his hormones into a frenzy and made him giddy with a flood of happiness? What did he think about that?

“I’m putty in her hands,” he admitted aloud.

Her message read I don’t think I can survive for three months without you inside me. Not sure I can make it three more minutes.

He answered, It’s not nice to give me a hard-on in the middle of an important band meeting.

He unzipped his pants and found his text was no joke. He took several calming breaths to relax enough to take a piss.

Tell me about the meeting. Maybe it will take my mind off your hard-on.

He flushed the toilet and washed his hands before answering. Maybe I don’t want your mind off it. I’d prefer your hand on it, though.

She sent him a series of short messages that arrived one after the other.

I’d use my lips first.

Then my tongue.

My mouth.

My hand only to guide you inside me.

Wow, Dare’s bathroom was overwarm. He probably needed to call an HVAC technician pronto. Steve’s mind was churning up a thousand scenarios to follow her start, but damned if none of that kinky adventurous stuff sounded more exciting than simply being inside her.

Once I’m inside I don’t even want to move, he responded, his heart aching over her absence even more than his balls did.

I’d like you to move a least a little. The words were punctuated with a winking heart-kiss emoticon.

What are you doing this weekend? I need a date for a wedding reception. Which he’d be performing at, according to Dare.

I’m sorry. I’d like to go. I really want to, but I can’t. I have dress rehearsal every day for the next ten days straight.

All work and no play . . .

Makes Roux a dull girl?

Makes Roux’s boyfriend horny and lonely. He held his breath, waiting for her response to his using the term boyfriend for the first time. His nerves were raw, his belly jumbled, his heart raced. He couldn’t remember getting this worked up over hot chicks in high school, and he’d been a giant cauldron of sex hormones back then. This was fucking ridiculous. But he wouldn’t change it. This high was far better than any drug he’d ever tried.

It felt like ten years had passed before her response dinged his phone. I will be sure to make it up to him the next time I see him.

“Yes!” He made a victory fist. She was ready for the next step.

Next time you see me? Not in three months? he texted back. He should have just called her. Or better yet, used FaceTime so he could see her lovely face. Damn, he missed her.

He could practically hear the amusement in her response. Three months? Yeah, no. Not happening. Didn’t I say I doubted I could make it three more minutes?

Well, you must have. I’ve been texting you for at least ten. And he was bound to be missed soon, though Max could probably bore Logan with his spreadsheets for at least another half hour.

Nope. I’ve been touching myself this entire time.

“Fuuuuck.” He hoped Jordan didn’t think she was getting a day off anytime soon, because he was going to need to go to New York even if it was just for a quickie against the wall in an airport bathroom.

You are evil, he texted, followed by, I don’t think I can continue this conversation. And then, You’re going to make me come down my leg if you keep talking like that.

Too late to make that simultaneous.

She’d come while texting him? “Fuck!” he said again. He was no stranger to dirty talk or sexting, but with Roux, it was like he was completely inexperienced. Everything was new and exciting. He wanted more. He wanted her. Now.

He sent her one last text. See you soon.

What? What does that mean?

He didn’t respond. She was going to find out what happened when she pushed him to the limits of his scanty self-control.

Twenty-Two

Roux showed the text she’d just received from Steve to Raven, the moron who’d suggested Roux try sexting with him, probably to get her to shut up about him for a few minutes.

“Does this mean what I think it means?”

Raven grinned. “You lucky bitch! He’s totally in love with you.”

Roux’s heart rate kicked up several notches, but she rolled her eyes. “Whatever. He’s just horny.” He wouldn’t really see her soon. Like, not in person. Maybe he meant he’d FaceTime her or something. She hadn’t slept a wink because she’d been so busy thinking of him all night. How had he gotten so far under her skin so quickly? He was perfection, that was how.

“If he were just horny, he’d grab the nearest groupie and get his rocks off. It isn’t like the guy couldn’t find a willing substitute.”

“We promised we wouldn’t screw around with anyone else.”

Raven nodded. “When I’m right, I’m right. Totally in love with you.”

Roux hopped up from the chair she’d been sitting in while Raven had been pretending to touch up her makeup so she could sext with Steve in the middle of the day. She paced the length of the small room, reading and rereading the string of messages they’d sent to each other. She was almost positive his final three-word message meant he was coming to see her soon. But how was that possible? He had important band meetings and, and some wedding to go to, and, and, and Zach’s heartache to help mend—she loved that the two were so close. Her sisters had had nothing but great things to say about Zach, who’d blended in with the family of women and girls as if he’d grown up in the brownstone with them all. Mama Ramona adored him. Especially when she unwittingly asked him which of her girls he planned to marry and he assured her that only the top prize—Ramona herself—would do. Anyway, Steve was much too busy to fly clear across the country to see her. She wouldn’t have time to entertain him anyway. Iona was already growing suspicious that even though Roux had assured her there was nothing remotely serious between her and Steve, things were a tad more complex than anyone was letting on.

“What am I going to do, Raven? If he shows up here, Iona is going

to flip. I promised her there wouldn’t be any fooling around between me and Steve during the tour.”

“But you aren’t on tour yet,” Raven said, fingering the hoop that pierced one nostril as she watched Roux fidget.