Page 121 of Just Wait

“Jesus, Ten. It’s not like I’m going to rob the place if you’re not watching me,” she says, but she doesn’t fight him as he gets the instrument settled in place.

Parish just laughs, shaking his head. “The hate sex is coming. I can feel it.”

Kincaid quirks an eyebrow at me, and I jab a finger at his chest.

“No way, buddy. The lead singer is the focal point for everyone’s attention,” I say firmly. “I’ll be fine. I’ll link arms with Benji and not leave his sight. I’m very well-behaved.”

Riser chuckles an ominous sound that I’ve never heard come from him. “You’re totally with me, beautiful. I’ve always wanted to try this.”

Kincaid nods, spinning out from behind the curtain to take the stage.

“I see now.” Malcolm pokes out his lower lip dramatically. “This is war. I’ll be faster next time.”

“Next time,” I scoff, but Malcolm winks, swipes his hair back, and steps out to the screams of the audience. “This time isn’t happening.”

Only, Riser chuckles that dark, sexy sound again as he wraps his hands around my shoulders and gently pushes me toward the stage.

Chapter Thirty-One

Lumen

If I assumed Benji would stop this insanity, I was dead wrong.

My next mistake is thinking Riser will want me to face him, putting my back to the drums and the audience, but oh no.

He leads me to straddle his right thigh, facing the drums.

“Lean against this side of my chest,” he says, patting his right pec. “You’ll need to slide with me when I bump your knee. Don’t worry. You’ll get the hang of it.”

Whatever that means.

My heart beats erratically, and I stare at Riser’s drums. This is a much smaller venue than some, but there are hundreds of people all staring at the stage.

I’m not sure how they do this every night without having a panic attack.

I briefly check out the audience, and my whole body tenses.

It’s impossible to pick out individual faces.

It’s more like a sea of bodies.

I’m shocked they were able to pick me out of the pit that night Mal and Kincaid saved me. Maybe it’s because they’re used to the lights glaring directly into their eyes.

Kincaid and Malcolm go back and forth, bantering as everyone introduces themselves, and Kincaid takes over to tell the audience what’s up first.

“Enjoy the ride, beautiful,” Riser says against my ear. “You’re going to love the kick drum.”

Riser spins his sticks, tossing the left up and catching it before swirling it in some pattern that I can’t make out, even this close.

Adrenaline courses through my veins, making everything super intense.

I’m terrified of getting in his way and causing him to miss a beat, but Riser is a fucking beast on drums. He’s just as capable of landing his sticks with me in his lap as he always is.

I bet the audience is wondering why there are two random women on stage, but I finally understand what he meant about the kick drum. He works the pedal, and his entire leg vibrates with the movement. It echoes in my clit, and with the song they’re playing, I’m not going to get a reprieve any time soon.

Riser is unreal. He bounces between the drums and the cymbals, landing every thump perfectly. I didn’t realize how much my entire body would jostle around as he plays. I bet it’s easier for him since he knows what’s coming, so he can brace for it.

It doesn’t take long before he works up a sweat, and his pheromones spill from his skin. His chamomile scent is comforting, but every inhale also makes me hazier and more out of it.