Page 48
Author: Olivia Cunning
You took what was mine, bitch. Don’t think you’ll keep it for much longer.
Ethan snatched the card out of her hand. “Fucking son of a bitch,” he growled. He lifted the vase and looked at the bottom, examined the card more closely, and then the envelope. Looking for clues. A habit left over from his past police work.
“You go to the party and have fun. Just don’t allow yourself to be caught alone,” Ethan said, giving her an encouraging squeeze and rubbing her arm briskly. “I’ll find out who sent this to you and fuck him up. ”
Chapter 30
The ballroom of the hotel was packed wall-to-wall with people. Reagan searched the crowd until she caught sight of Trey surrounded by his usual posse of admirers. She hurried to his side, ignoring curious stares and the few people who called out to her as she passed. She needed to decompress and she wanted to spend some time alone with Trey. To thank him for being there when she hadn’t known she’d needed him to be. And to pretend she wasn’t afraid of whoever kept sending her threatening messages.
She caught the tail end of Trey’s conversation when she stopped beside him. “… he never did find his pants. ”
No fewer than ten people laughed at whatever Trey happened to be talking about. She touched his arm and he glanced at her. A huge smile spread across his face. “Hey, Reagan. I was wondering when you’d make it. Somebody get the newest member of Exodus End a beer. ”
Three beers were thrust in her direction. “No thanks,” she said.
“Would you like something else? Open bar tonight. ” He lifted his beer and his enamored audience cheered.
She shook her head and leaned close to whisper in his ear. “I want to go up to my room for a little while. Will you come with me?”
“Are rhinos always horny?”
She hesitated, her brain even more exhausted than her body was. “Um. Yes?”
He chuckled. “Right answer. ” He took a swig of his half-finished beer, handed the remainder to the nearest person, and took Reagan’s hand. “Have a great night,” he said to his entourage.
“Are you leaving?” asked a gorgeous redhead in a figure-hugging, purple evening dress.
Reagan’s hand tightened on his. While she never got jealous of Ethan, Reagan couldn’t claim she was unaffected when sophisticated, beautiful women tried to get their claws in Trey.
“Yes, he’s leaving with me,” Reagan said hotly.
“Easy, tiger,” Trey whispered in her ear. “She writes freelance for a couple of major music magazines. ”
That didn’t mean the woman didn’t want in Trey’s pants. “Then she can write about the serious relationship between Trey Mills and Reagan Elliot. ”
Reagan hurried through the crowd, tugging Trey behind her. She was so focused on getting to the door that she didn’t realize Dare was in pursuit until Trey came to a sudden halt behind her.
“Jeez, where’s the fire?” Dare said, his hand fisted in the back of Trey’s T-shirt. “I have some people I want to introduce you to,” he said to Reagan.
“She needs to crash,” Trey said.
Both brothers offered her a look of concern.
“Of course,” Dare said. “I’ll cover for her. ”
“Thanks, Dare. ” She gave him a hug. “I might come back down later. I just need a few moments of peace. ” And to get away from the flowers in her dressing room. And that note.
“Good luck with that,” Dare said.
She wasn’t sure what he meant by that, but she grabbed Trey by the wrist and tugged him out in the corridor. A bunch of camera flashes went off and reporters yelled questions, but Reagan couldn’t make any sense out of the chaos.
A pair of Exodus End’s security guards escorted Reagan and Trey to the elevators. “Is it always this crazy?” she asked Trey.
“Exodus End only throws a party this big on their opening tour date. It will settle down. A little. ” Trey wrapped an arm around her shoulder and gave her a squeeze. “Overwhelmed?”
“You have no idea. ”
The security guards stepped onto the elevator with them and pressed the button to the eighth floor.
“Are you going to follow us all the way to our room?” Reagan asked one of the guards.
“The band has rented out the entire eighth floor. There’s already security on that floor. We’re just here to make sure no one tries to get on the elevator with you. ”
Reagan stared at the carpet inside the elevator as the car lifted to their floor without incident. Trey rubbed her back but didn’t say anything. He seemed to realize she craved quiet and calm. She knew she had signed up for this, and she didn’t regret it, but it was going to take some getting used to. She’d never imagined she’d need security to ride a freakin’ hotel elevator. And she’d never thought she’d crave their protection.
When they exited the elevator, they found several additional security guards. They didn’t escort her to her room, but they watched her closely until she and Trey were safely inside.
***
The instant Trey had Reagan alone in the hotel room, he tumbled her onto the king-sized bed. “Everyone said you were phenomenal tonight. How did it feel to be up on stage in front of all of those fans?”
“I was nervous until I saw you standing in the shadows at the side of the stage. ”
“You saw me?”
She nodded.
“Shit. Sorry. I know you said you didn’t want me there, but I couldn’t resist. Do you know how sexy you are when you play?” He rolled on top of her and captured her hands in his.
“It’s the corset, isn’t it? It makes me look like I actually have boobs. ”
Her tits did look fantastic in her corset, but that wasn’t what had drawn him to watch even though she’d forbidden it. “It’s that face you make when you let the music take you. It’s even hotter than the face you make when you come. ”
“I don’t make a face. ”
He grinned. “Yeah, you do. I hope I didn’t make you self-conscious about it. It would ruin my life if you stopped making it. ”
She laughed. “I highly doubt that. ” She scowled. “I’m not sure the fans like me taking over for Max. ”
“They loved you. Trust me. They were a little upset by the change at first, but you won them over. Once you kicked off your shoes and got a little dirty for them. ”
“It’s easier to be yourself when you’re not pretending to be something you’re not. ”
“Where’s Ethan?” Trey asked.
“He had some errands to run. ” She changed the subject. “I’m just glad we could sneak away from the after-party. I’m too tired to pretend I’m social. ”
“Are you too tired to make love? Because I haven’t been able to think of anything but you all night. ”
“Me and the past lovers who’ve been following you around all day. ”
“I told them to get lost. I really am committed to you. I’m sorry I spread so much love around before I met you. ” He was sorry now. At the time, he’d thought it was fan-fucking-tastic, heavy on the fan fucking. He now knew quality was better than quantity. Two lovers were plenty for him.
Reagan lifted her head to kiss him. “I shouldn’t bitch at you about it. You’re so generous with your love. With everyone. ”
“I think most women would be put off by that. ”
“You just have so much to give. Enough for me and Ethan. ” She gave him a hard stare. “That doesn’t mean you can go spreading it all over fandom. ”
“No worries there. I have everything I want right here. ” Trey hesitated. “Where’s Ethan?” he asked again.
“I think he’s helping direct traffic or breaking up fights. ”
“That means I get you all to myself. ” He stroked her hair from her face and kissed her lips gently.
She closed her eyes tightly and didn’t kiss him back. Perplexed, he stared down at her. Maybe she really was just tired. It couldn’t possibly be that she’d lost interest.
“Trey?” she whispered.
“Yeah?”
“I need to tell you something. ”
“I’m listening. ”
“I think you’re going to be mad at me. ”
“I don’t get mad. ”
“I had sex with Ethan backstage tonight,” she blurted. “He just sort of grabbed me and we started kissing. We got carried away and ended up having a quickie up against the wall. ” She opened her eyes cautiously.
Trey grinned. “Was it exciting?”
“We shouldn’t have done it without you there. ”
Trey stared down into her eyes. He could tell that guilt was eating her alive. “Why not?”
“Because. ”
“I don’t have to be there every time you have sex with Ethan. Just like he doesn’t have to be there every time I have sex with you. ”
“Have you two had sex without me knowing about it?” she asked.
He thought back to all of his encounters with Ethan. Even that first time, Reagan had known. “Well no, but…”
“Why not?”
“Because we like to include you. You feel like you cheated on me, don’t you?”
She rubbed her forehead. “This relationship is just so complicated. I get mixed up sometimes. I don’t feel like I’m cheating when you’re there, but when we went at it behind your back and didn’t tell you, it felt wrong. ”
“So just come right out and tell me when you two go at it. ”
“You won’t be jealous?”
“Will you be jealous when I have sex with Ethan?”
“I’m not sure. ”
“Do you want to know about it when it happens?”
“Yes, don’t hide it from me. No secrets. ”
He kissed her gently. “There. You found your own solution. You just needed to talk it out. ”
She wrapped her arms around his neck and snuggled her face against his chest. “I love you so much. ”
“I love you too. ”
“I like you like this, Trey. I’m so glad we brought Ethan into our relationship. I was worried at first that I’d feel neglected or you’d love me less, but now I find that when you’re happy, you love me even more. I could tell there was something wrong between us when we were touring with Sinners. You were trying too hard to want only me, and now you’re just you. ”
“How do you feel about Ethan?” Trey asked.
She stiffened. “What do you mean?”
“Do you love him?”
“He’s my best friend. Well, you are too. You’re both my best friends. ”
“We’re also your lovers. ”
“If I tell you I love him, will you break up with me?”
Trey chuckled softly. “Sweetheart, you’re the one who is trying too hard. You can love him. It’s not like you can help it, and he’s a wonderful man. He treats you well. He’d do anything for you. You’ve been through a lot together. ”
“Do you love him?” Reagan asked.
“I like him. ”
“That’s not the same thing. ”
“I’m well aware of that. ”
“Do you think you could love a man?”
Trey needed to tell her his deepest remaining secret. He trusted her with it. He wasn’t sure if she’d accept it or understand, but if he expected her to be open and honest about everything then he had to treat her with the same respect. “I do love a man. ”
“Do? Or did?”
“Do. I’ll never stop loving him, but he’s out of reach. ”
“What’s his name?”