Dangerous Kiss (Dangerous Noise 1)

"That the two of you should talk about the missing money. Mal knows where it went. He won't tell me. But he wants to talk it over with you." I fold my arms and offer Mal my sweetest fuck you smile. This is his problem now. "Don't worry. The money is back. You're on budget for the tour. And you have a lot of extra royalties coming in." I press my lips together. With my access to the books, I know Ethan's Dangerous Noise earnings, down to the penny. "You're still a multi-millionaire. I should let you two talk. I'll see you after the show." I make my way to the door.

Ethan pulls me into a tight embrace. His lips hover over my ear. "You sure that's it?"

I nod.

He drags his lips over my neck. "You owe me one, Vi. You're coming on my hands later."

God yes. I kiss him hard then I offer him my best coy smile. "I'll find a way to fit you into my schedule."

Chapter 18

Violet

I want to tell Mal to go fuck himself for his presumptions, but I can't bring myself to say anything close to that.

I understand his impulse. If I could go back in time and protect Asher from all the hurt that destroyed him, I'd do it. And I certainly wouldn't let anyone get in my way.

I hang out by the stage and watch the show. It takes three songs for my thoughts to drift away. Ethan is amazing. He commands the stage as well as he commands his guitar. Every time he blows kisses to the audience, a few hundred girls scream with glee. All of them want to bring the guitarist home.

They don't get him.

He's mine.

Not forever. Not even for a while. But for the next week, he's mine.

Ethan is sure of that too. As soon as the band is backstage, he slides his arms around my waist. He pins me to the wall and drags his lips over my neck.

"You look good enough to eat in that skirt." He sucks on my earlobe. "Let's go out, just me and you."

And nobody giving me shit about how I broke Ethan's heart. Sounds great. "Where?"

"For donuts."

"It's ten-thirty."

"Place is open all night."

"Okay." Honestly, at the moment, I'll go anywhere. I very much want to be not here.

I very much want to be wherever Ethan is.

Ethan grabs his leather jacket and leads me out the side door. It opens into an alley. There's noise to our right.

Uh-uh. No more interruptions. I squeeze his hand and lead him to the left.

"That's the wrong way," he says.

"So?" I step onto the sidewalk and check to see if the coast is clear. We're a block away from the venue. No one is waiting for a rock star sighting or, worse, the chance to invite herself into a rock star's bed.

I shake off the thought of Ethan plowing through groupies. The two of us are having fun. Doesn't matter what came before. Doesn't matter what comes after.

Right now, us having fun tonight—that's what matters.

Ethan laughs. "Which way is it, Master Navigator Violet Valentine?"

I have no clue. But I'm not admitting that. "This way." I point towards the direction of a busy street. Despite the misty rain, the sidewalk is packed with people. Some wear rain coats. Others brave the cool air in cocktail dresses and heels.

Shit, it's cold. I'm not used to doing things on the fly. I keep forgetting my coat. I'm about to pull my arms across my chest when Ethan slides his leather jacket over my shoulders.