SWNOVELS Lilac: Chapter 5
That ass. My God, that ass.
I couldn’t remember a time I’d beheld something so…perky. I could feel Houston and Rich behind me, straining to get a peek. Now that Braxton wasn’t looking, they didn’t bother with pretending. They were interested, and so was I.
Like an only child, I hogged the view. I never liked sharing anyway.
This new toy of ours was fucking magnificent.
Exciting, sexy…a menace.
She was the only thing my mind and dick could agree on in a long time. I wasn’t too excited about that, though. I didn’t need Braxton Fawn in my head—just in my bed.
I was so wrapped up in the curve of her ass in those skintight jeans that it took me a second longer than my bandmates to notice the boos and jeers.
“Do you think we should have sent her out there?” Jericho asked, always the first to backtrack. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t commit to being an asshole, though he tried, bless his heart.
“No one made her go out there,” Houston remarked. Unlike Rich, being an asshole came naturally to him. “She’s the one who decided she had something to prove.”
As if she could.
We would never accept her, which made us even bigger dicks for making her think that we would. If she wanted this gig, she must roll with the punches, and because we always got our way, there would be many.
Houston damn sure would make sure of it, and Jericho didn’t have a mind of his own. He was a follower and would do whatever Houston said. As for my reasons…well, life had gotten boring. This was my chance to have a little fun.
While a decent size, the stage still swallowed her up whole as she stood in the center of the blinding lights. I couldn’t wait to see how she’d fare with even bigger crowds. I was patiently waiting for her to tuck tail and run when she opened that beautiful, insolent mouth.
“I know,” she spoke to the crowd through the mic. “I’m not what you were expecting, right?” The crowd answered with a resounding no before chanting our name again.
Unable to help myself, I pushed through the curtain but made sure to stay hidden behind the equipment. It wouldn’t be the first time someone rushed the stage. I could feel Houston and Rich flanking me but paid them no mind.
I was too fascinated by her.
“Recently, I made some new friends. I think you know who I mean.” I was at the perfect angle to see Braxton’s conspiratorial wink. Slowly, the crowd grew silent as confusion and curiosity rippled through them.
Fuck.
She had their attention. I didn’t know how to feel about that.
“They’re watching right now.” Without warning, she began with a novice pattern of chords. My mind tracked them even as I held onto every word she spoke.
“They want to know what I’m made of.” She peeked over her shoulder, and I held my breath until I realized her attention was on her bassist and drummer. It was my first time even noticing them. I wondered if they knew she was ours now.
Evil intent spread through me, but just as quickly, it was vanquished by the unexpected might of Braxton’s voice.
Open your lips
Say you want me
I won’t ask you if you’re sure (God ends here)
You came alive; then you set me on fire
I’m burning, burning within
Insatiable, undeniable, you have no idea what’s in store
Strip me, fill me, and then kill me
I’ll never not want more
I’m a slave to the mania; you’re the truth I can’t deny
Until then, I’ll hide in plain sight
Until then, I’ll die a little inside
Until then, I’ll drown in this endless, black tide
My heart is a well
Watch me fill it with pain
My body is a garden (I’m Eden)
Watch them pillage and plunder
Watch me sate the hunger
There’s no sleep for the wicked
There’s no saving the damned
There’s no prayer to be had
You’re already ensnared, my little lambs
Open your eyes
Look deep inside
I’ll ask you what you see (God ends here)
Find what you love and let it kill you
If I’m what you love, you’re already dead
Wanting the taste of you, craving the feel of you
I’ll drain you to the very last drop
If I’m toxic, you’re poison
You say you want more
If I’m a monster, you’re the darkness
If I’m addicted, you’re the drug
Fuck it, stay awhile
We’re already in too deep
Open your mind
Say your darkest desires
You’ll never want to leave (God’s not here)
Incredible, unforgettable
You have no idea what’s in store
Strip me, fill me, just don’t turn away
I’ll never not want more
I’m a slave to the mania; you’re the truth I can’t deny
There’s no reason left to run
There’s no reason left to fear
There’s no reason left to hide
God’s not here
The roar that erupted from the twenty thousand that only minutes ago had booed her shook me to my very core.
Standing on my right, red bloomed on Rich’s cheeks as his lips formed an O. I looked to my left, already knowing what I’d find. Houston’s jaw was locked tight, his gaze burning as his nostrils flared. There was fury, wonder, and the need to devour as well as to destroy. It was the same internal war waging inside of me.
She told me to eat my heart out, and that’s exactly what I’d done. Braxton looked like an angel, but she played like a demon—one not even Satan would dare cross. There was no way now that we wouldn’t make her ours. She was Bound.
Braxton performed two more numbers before she pranced her happy ass off stage, but still, the crowd wasn’t sated. I didn’t like that she’d forgotten all about us as she laughed and celebrated with her former bandmates, but then Houston stepped into her path, blocking her from leaving. The light left her eyes, and it felt like someone had yanked a magic carpet from underneath me, and now I was plummeting back to earth.
Her bandmates didn’t move a muscle, and neither did she as Houston invaded her space before holding up a small white card. I already knew what he’d scribbled on it.
Wordlessly, he slipped it inside the décolletage of her corset, right between the fleshy mounds of her breasts spilling from the top. I didn’t miss the unnecessary brush of his finger against her skin, either.
Bastard.
Why hadn’t I thought of that?
Unmoved by her anger at his violation, he spoke his parting words to her before turning away. “Don’t make me wait.”
Jericho trailed after him, but I was a little slower to follow. I didn’t want to leave. The dark look Braxton wore shifted to me when she noticed I was still standing there. I watched one of her perfectly arched brows rise in question. I wanted to stay, but she wanted me gone.
Needing to save face, I shoved aside my fascination. The shit was embarrassing, not to mention nauseating. “See you later, Amy Lee.”
I heard choked laughter from the three who’d backed her before it ended abruptly. I guess she had them by the balls, but we wouldn’t make it so easy for her. Looking over my shoulder one last time, I smirked when I caught her watching me go.
The seventy-two hours that followed were the longest fucking three days ever.