and lunged for Krit.
I moved fast, putting up two hands and jumping in front of Krit to stop him. The force of impact when Green didn’t stop hit me directly in the chest. It was as if someone had put a vacuum in my lungs and sucked all the oxygen from the room. Nothing was getting in, and panic gripped me when I realized I couldn’t breathe.
“Fuck!” Krit yelled, and his arms were around me. He was doing something to my chest as he begged me to breathe. I was trying to breathe. It wouldn’t work.
“Baby, please breathe,” he was pleading, and I wanted nothing more than to do that, but I couldn’t. It hurt, and the terror that I was about to die settled over me.
“She got the air knocked out of her. She’s gonna be okay,” Matty said in an calmer voice.
And then the vacuum left, and the air I had been fighting for filled my chest as I gasped loudly and bent over. Krit was holding me against him as me muttered sweet things over and over while he rocked me back and forth.
“Take him out of here,” Matty said.
I couldn’t look up to see who he was talking to, but I grabbed Krit’s arms to hold onto him in case they were talking about him.
“Not me, baby. I’m not leaving you,” he said as his hand began running down my hair as if he were petting me. “Not going anywhere.”
“I was going for him. I didn’t mean to hit her,” Green said, sounding panicked.
“When Krit is sure she’s okay, he is going to beat the motherfucking hell out of you. Go with Legend and let him calm down first.” Matty’s words were more of an order this time.
“I’m so sorry. God, baby. What were you doing? You . . . God.” He took a shaky breath. “You couldn’t breathe. He hit you so hard and you went down and fuck, sweetheart. I’ve never been that scared in my life.”
I was able to breathe again without pain, and I had to fix this. This wasn’t Green’s fault. I didn’t know he wasn’t going to be able to stop. I thought he would stop from hitting Krit if I was in front of him. “He was gonna hit you,” I said, wincing from the pain in my throat.
Krit went still a minute, then his hold on me tightened.
KRIT
“Fuck,” Matty whispered.
He’d heard her.
It was me who couldn’t breathe now. I had thought it was an accident. But she’d fucking done it on purpose. To protect me. Holy hell.
“I’m gonna go . . . ,” Matty trailed off. I listened to his footsteps until he was gone before pulling back and looking down at Blythe.
“You got in front of six-foot-three one hundred and eighty pounds of muscle because he was going to hit me?”
She nodded. “It was my fault he was going to hit you. I was just going to stop him.”
She was going to stop him. This girl. Never in all my life did I imagine there was anyone like her. Never.
“Sweetheart, how did you intend to stop him? I could handle him. I’ve kicked his ass many, many times.” I cupped her chin in my hand. “I had rather had him kick my ass than to have anything happen to you. That was fucking unbearable. You can’t do that to me. If you get hurt, I won’t be able to handle it.”
She sighed, and her eyes looked back toward the stage. “I made this worse. I’m sorry. Can you go fix things with the two of you so you can get back onstage?”
The distressed look on her face meant I wasn’t going to be able to leave. I wanted nothing more than to take her back home and hold her all night. But she was really upset about this. I had overreacted. She had been sitting over here staring at the floor with the saddest lost expression, and I couldn’t think straight. I had to get to her.
“I’ll get Green, and we’ll go back onstage. But you have to promise me that you won’t try and save me again. I take care of you. Not the other way around,” I told her.
She reached up and touched my face. “Then who will take care of you?”
No one had ever cared about that before. That wasn’t something I was going to tell her, though. “You safe in my arms is all I need. Okay?”
She frowned and glanced away from me. “I’m not agreeing to that,” she said.
God, she was adorable. I pressed a kiss to her head. “Come with me to get the guys,” I told her as I stood up and brought her with me.
“You won’t do anything to Green then?” she said, sounding hopeful.
“No.” Until you’re asleep tonight. And then I’m beating his ass.
* * *
The look on their faces when Blythe apologized to Green and explained she was just trying to keep him from hitting me was priceless. Green looked like he might be sick, he was so upset over hurting her. If I hadn’t held her in my arms as she fought to breathe that could have possibly been enough punishment for him. I wasn’t going to feel better until I busted up something on his body. Preferably something that Blythe couldn’t see. I’d have to be careful with his face. She wouldn’t understand.
When we walked back onto the stage, Green whispered. “I would’ve never hurt her on purpose.”
I nodded, but I wasn’t responding.
“This ain’t over, is it?” he asked.
He knew me better than that.
“You hurt her. She was fucking protecting me. What do you think?”
Green hung his head, and the pained look on his face made me feel a little better. But he still had no idea what seeing her like that had put me through. Then the fact that she had defended me again and been hurt for it. I was to hurt someone, and Green was number one in line.
Matty took over the mic, knowing Green and I needed time to adjust to what had just gone down before we were ready to entertain the crowd.
The girls chanting my name and throwing panties and papers with their phone numbers on them normally made me get that rush in my system. Tonight I had to keep from cringing, knowing that Blythe saw all this. She heard it. When I had looked back at her and she’d been so lost in her thoughts, I had been worried that she’d heard or seen something that upset her.
Getting to her and reassuring her had been all I could think about. I glanced back at her, and she smiled at me. The excited gleam in her eyes was all I needed. I wanted to entertain her. I wanted her to enjoy watching me. I turned off the anger simmering inside and focused on that sweet smile.
When we finished the song and Matty had taken over to give me time to calm down, I turned back to the band and nodded. They knew that meant it was time for the new song. The one I’d written since Blythe had come into my life. It was hard and real. Fans would love it, and every time I sang it, Blythe’s face would be the only thing I saw. She had inspired it, even if I intended to change the bitter facts in the lyrics. She was changing everything for me.
I’ve always had an addictive personality—
Take a little then want a little more.
Being told no isn’t okay with me.
They call it obsession, but I know it’s more.
I know they tell you to stay away from the devil,
But, baby, come a little closer, open my door.
I turned and held her gaze. Her eyes were sparkling with something I didn’t understand, but damn, it felt like it was all mine.
They say I’m bad for you.
They say I’m wrong for the innocent, I’ll only burn you up.
But I’m addicted now, and there’s no changing that.
I just may be bad for you, but this lesson you’re gonna learn.
Accuse me of insanity or desire to possess.
I’ve heard it before but never like this.
I’d tell you not to fear this, but then I’d be a liar.
You lost your free will right after our first kiss.
I know they tell you to stay away from the devil.
But, baby, come a little closer. Open my door.
They say I’m bad for you.
They say I’m wrong for an angel, I’ll only burn you up.
But I’m addicted now, and there’s no changing that.
&
nbsp; I just may be bad for you, but this lesson you’re gonna learn.
Good girls should stay away from the dark corners.
Temptation will always lurk within the turn.
Keeping you pure may be the only thing that redeems me.
But I never asked not to burn.
Chapter Sixteen
BLYTHE
There were a lot of them. All of them had tiny tops and tinnier bottoms. I stepped back from the women being let backstage by a large guy dressed in black. I could feel several of them looking at me.
“Who is she?” one of them asked in an annoyed tone.
I turned to the large guy who had the muscles of a bodybuilder and a T-shirt on that was so tight, it was in danger of ripping. He frowned at me. “How did you get back here? I don’t let the girls in until last song.”
Nervously, I glanced back at the stage, but I had moved so that I couldn’t see Krit anymore. Swinging my gaze back to the man, I told him, “I came in with the band.”
His frown turned into a disbelieving smirk. “Yeah, right. Heard that before.” He stepped toward me and held out his hand. “Come on, sugar. I bring back the girls the guys pick out, and you weren’t one of them. I didn’t even see you around the stage all night.”
Uh-oh. Glancing back at the stage, I knew Krit would be done soon, and he would inform the guy I was really with the band. Problem was it didn’t look like I was going to be able to keep this guy from sending me away.
“Come on,” he said, motioning me to take his hand. “This isn’t something you want in on. I have no doubt they’d have picked you out of a crowd, but you look terrified. This isn’t where you need to be. These boys like to play.”
“I really did come with the band. I’m a friend of Krit’s,” I explained.
One of the girls burst out laughing, and several others joined her. My face felt like it was on fire.
“You are so not Krit’s type,” one of the girl’s said in an amused tone.
“Nice try,” another one piped up.
The guy gave me a pity smile. “Come on now. Let’s get you out of here.”
I didn’t want to stay back there with those women anyway.
“Fine,” I replied, but I wasn’t giving him my hand. I didn’t know him.
I stepped around him and shoved my way through at least fifteen girls. What the heck did four guys need with fifteen girls? Was that even possible? I ignored the sick knot in my stomach. It was likely that Krit would get a couple of these girls pawing all over him, and he’d forget about me until he was done. I would be stuck out there in the crowd, alone.
“Blythe.” Krit called out my name, and relief swamped me. I wasn’t going to have to go out there and face all those people. “Get the fuck away from her,” he ordered as he jumped down the steps and shoved the guy much bigger than him as well as a couple of the girls until he had his hand wrapped around my arm.
“Where are you going?” he asked, looking panicked.
I turned to look up at the guy in black. “He was sending me away,” I explained.
“She’s really with you?” the man asked incredulously.
“Did she fucking say she was with me?” Krit roared as he pulled me beside him and wrapped his arm around my shoulders.
“Yeah, but they all say that,” he said defensively.
“Does she like the rest of them?” he asked in a hard voice. He was angry. Again.
“No. I’m sorry, dude. You never bring a girl with you.”
“I will from now on. You’ll see her again. Make sure the others know this one is mine,” he ordered. Then he looked down at me. “Let’s get out of here.”
“Okay,” I replied, but the women behind us drowned my voice out. They were trying to get Krit’s attention.
“He’s taken, beauties, but I’m so fucking not,” Green called out over the women. Then Matty and Legend joined him.
Krit walked us to the backdoor that we’d arrived at earlier.
“Are we leaving them?” I asked, glancing back at the crowd.
“Yeah, they’ll be awhile. I have a car picking us up. I was prepared for this,” he replied, then pressed a kiss to my head. “Next time someone tries that shit again, you call my name real fucking loud. Got it?”
Next time? My heart fluttered. There would be a next time.
“Okay,” I replied.
“I’ll make sure they know who you are at the next place. I should’ve thought of that tonight.”
The possessive way he sounded made me want things I couldn’t have. I knew in my head that Krit didn’t mean what I wanted him to mean. But with him touching me and holding me all the time, it was hard to remind myself that he was just affectionate. I just wasn’t positive this was safe for my heart. I had never loved anyone. A month ago I would have said I had no idea what love felt like. However, I was beginning to think that this might be it. And I knew that was not what Krit wanted from me.
A black Lincoln Town Car was waiting outside. Krit walked over to it and opened the door. “Get in,” he said with a grin.
When we were both inside and headed back to Sea Breeze, I relaxed against Krit. My eyelids were feeling heavy, and I enjoyed his warmth as I slipped into my dreams.
* * *
I woke up tucked into my bed, but I wasn’t alone. I lifted my head to look down at the hard drool-worthy chest I had been sleeping on. It wasn’t as soft as my pillow, but it was so much better. I took in the sexy musical note tattooed on his pec—it was perfect for him. I wanted to trace all the ink on his chest and arms, but he was still blissfully asleep. With his bad boy smirk gone and his long eyelashes brushing his cheekbones, he really did look like a fallen angel.
I remembered waking up with him carrying me last night, and then again when he pulled my boots off. Then his warm body had climbed into bed with me, and I had been drawn to him.
Glancing at the clock, I realized I had only thirty minutes to get to class. Krit was a late sleeper. I didn’t want to disturb him, so the kisses I wanted to cover his chest with would have to wait. With extreme care, I eased out of his arms. When my feet hit the floor, I peeked back at him to make sure he was still sleeping. Seeing him lying there in my bed made me ache for things I’d never have.
I had lived within my walls for a long time. Why couldn’t I keep them up around Krit, and protect my heart? Shaking my head, I realized no woman would be able to turn away from that. If you were lucky enough to have Krit Corbin in your life, you didn’t push him away. You soaked up every minute and made as many memories as you could.
I got ready and took a shower as quietly as I could, and decided against using the hair dryer because it would wake him. Slipping on my jeans and a new blouse I had bought for work, I picked up my heels and tiptoed out of the room.
Taking the notebook out of my backpack, I quickly wrote Krit a note and taped it to the door before I headed to school. I was going to be late for class, but I just didn’t care. I had woken up in Krit’s arms this morning. It was a perfect day.
KRIT
Waking up without Blythe in bed had sucked. But waking up in her bed with her smell enveloping me was pretty damn nice. If I couldn’t wake up to her, then waking up in her bed with her pillow under my head was a close second. I had hoped I would wake up when she got up to get ready. I wanted to see her. Starting the day and not seeing her sucked.
I was in so deep. Funny thing was, I didn’t give a shit. I would gladly drown in her if she’d let me. For the first time in my life the hole that was always empty was full. I wasn’t trying to find something to curb a desire I couldn’t name. The unsatisfied feeling that had chased me and sent me from one addiction to another was gone. I was . . .
Satisfied.
I wanted to see my girl. My girl. I liked the way the words sounded. Letting her go was impossible. Hell, staying away from her for a few hours sounded like torture. I wasn’t going to make until this afternoon. Rolling over, I inhaled her scent in the sheets before get
ting out of bed. I went to grab my shirt and decided I was going to leave that here. I wanted her sleeping in my shirts. The other one was going to have to go.
Getting a shower was important, then I was going to find her. I knew when her classes were today, and if I missed her at the college, I would head over to the church. The piece of notebook paper taped to the door caught my attention.
Krit,