Page 19 of Heartbeat Girl

“What are you doing?” Jayne asked Steve.

I took that second to look down, shielding my eyes from Jayne with my palm. My eyes were changing colors. It was what Steve was probably trying to tell me. Flicking my nose ring, I tried to drown out Jayne entirely, but that was impossible. Her citrus smell lived inside me. I sensed her constantly. One of these days, I feared I might be unable to fight temptation.Not helping.I shook my head and focused on pushing away my bloodlust.

Jayne snapped her fingers. “Hey, I’m right here and can see you trying to communicate with Liam. It’s a no, Steve. No one comes backstage.”

“Someone is coming back here.” My voice came out harsher than I wanted, but it couldn’t be helped.

I’d never had a problem with controlling myself before. None of us did. It was the things our sire made us do that left us uncontrolled. Butthiswas something different. I wasn’t sure what, but time only seemed to make it grow. With being so close to Jayne and so hungry, I could drop to my knees and beg for anything she’d give me. But the only way to have her would be compulsion, and that put a damper on my lust. I was attracted to a woman who feared me and who would never come to me willingly. Thankfully, the thought helped my irises return to normal. I dropped my hand and lifted my head.

“Why does someone need to come back here?” Jayne crossed her arms beneath her breasts, causing her blouse to reveal more cleavage. I gritted my teeth, letting my hunger and lust become anger. That way, the desire will bleed out of me.

“Pete needs to get laid,” I said, pointing to the guy, who looked as surprised as everyone else. When I stared at him, his mouth became a giant O and he nodded vigorously.

“Right.Yes. I need to get my dick wet,” Pete said.

Jayne’s nose wrinkled. “Ugh. Are you kidding me?”

“No,” Steve slapped Pete’s back. “And he’s not as smooth as he looks with women. That’s why we’ve got to help him.”

Jayne arched a brow, and her mouth quirked to one side. “Really? Hard to believe, since most of these ladies fantasize you guys. They’d kill for the chance at a quickie.” She blanched suddenly. “Oh,oh, my God. I had no idea you guys didthattogether. I mean, of course, you’re a rock band. You have every excuse to be and do whatever.” She was rambling, and I had no fucking clue where she was going, but I worried she thought about orgies or sharing a female.

“You caught us,” Steve interrupted.

I tensed. I didn’t want him adding fuel to the fire.

Even if Jayne never desired me, I didn’t want her thinking I slept with other women.

“Steve,” I warned.

“We all want to get laid. We’re high on our performance, Jayne, and need to unwind.”

Jayne’s heart was as loud as her breathing. TheBa-thump!steadily increased with her nervousness.

Jayne blinked. Her embarrassment left red spots on her pale chest. “You could have said so.” She glanced at me before looking away. “Three is easier to manage than an entire group of fans. Or is it just one?” She leaned in closer to Steve and Pete, like she couldn’t resist knowing.

“Wouldn’t you like to know?” Steve winked.

More than irritated, I stepped up and jerked Steve away.

“I’ll keep an eye on these two. Go to the bus,” I ordered Jayne without looking at her.

“Machine of Death!” Steve corrected me.

“Uh… O-okay,” she replied. “But I’ll be back to check on all of you. And I don’t want to see anything that will scar me for life.”

“Better stay in the Machine of Death then,” Pete said.

“I’m serious! I’ll be back.”

Resisting the urge to turn and see what expression Jayne wore, my nails bit into my palm. Did she sound a little sullen, or was that my imagination?

“Uh-huh. And we’ll be waiting,” Steve told her.

The constant clicking of her heels and pulse drifted as she moved further away. I finally let myself look toward her and caught her opening the door. Her heartbeat settled as she put distant between us. Like all the times before, I felt lost when her sounds were a mere whisper in my ear. It made little sense, but I felt split in half when she wasn’t close enough to drown the world out.

“We have to be quick,” Steve began. “Who knows when she’ll come in.” Ignoring him, I walked to the exit and peeked out. Once Jayne was inside the door, I listened for the lockclicking.I stayed longer, listening to the thump of her kicking her heels off angrily.

She huffed. “So stupid!” I heard her say.