by Erin M. Leaf
Julie pursed her lips. “I have no idea.”
Emma nodded grimly. “Exactly. What will happen? I mean, the kids’ marks didn’t even manifest completely until they were touching. What does it mean that mine are completely formed and we haven’t even met? I’m a little scared, to tell you the truth. And I’m connected to two people, not one.”
“Oh man, it’s like the most freaky blind date ever.” Emma looked at her friend then laughed.
“Yup.”
* * * *
“Duncan, she’s out there,” Jake said urgently, grabbing the other man’s arm and dragging him closer to the wall.
Duncan nodded. “I know.”
“You know?” Jake said, running his hand through his hair distractedly. “Of course you know. How could you not know?” he muttered.
Duncan smiled and pulled Jake into a hug. “Dude, you have to calm down. You’re freaking me out.”
Jake sighed, looking up at his friend. Duncan was wearing his tight leather pants and boots and a sparkly T-shirt that hugged his body. He could tell that Duncan wasn’t as cool as he pretended, but he was an excellent performer. His hair was mussed, probably from running his fingers through it, and Jake realized that Duncan was trying very hard to be calm as he pulled his friend closer. Jake took a deep breath, willing himself to chill out. “I’m not used to performing in front of billions of people, Duncan,” he said apologetically.
Duncan nodded. “I know.” He tucked his face down into Jake’s hair. “Why don’t you see if you can find out where she’s sitting? I can feel her here, and I know she’s got her friend with her, but I can’t pinpoint her location. And I can’t really take off to go look for her, but you can.”
“Okay. Her friend’s name is Julie, right?” Jake asked. He reluctantly stepped back, getting himself under control. He wasn’t helping Duncan with his freak-out.
“I think so.”
“It is so weird that we know that. All right, I’ll go see if I can find them.” Jake winced as he heard the opening notes of Mizar. It was incredibly loud back there near the side monitor speakers, and he had forgotten to put in his earplugs.
“Here,” Duncan said, grabbing Jake’s arm as the other man turned away. He held out a pair of small plastic cones. “You left these in the dressing room.”
Jake smiled at his friend, sudden affection overwhelming him. “Thanks, man.”
“Anytime. I have to go do my warm-ups now.”
“Okay.” Jake watched Duncan walk off toward the dressing room, the stiffness of his shoulders betraying his anxiety. Jake frowned, knowing that Duncan wished he could go look for Emma, too. Dammit. He wished Duncan could come with him, but there was nothing he could do about it. Duncan needed to run through his vocal warm-up or he wouldn’t be able to sing. Jake ran his hands through his hair one more time then put in the earplugs, sighing with relief as the ear-bursting music faded to a dull throb. He walked to the edge of the stage, stealthily peeking out into the audience. It was difficult to see because of the lighting, but he thought he could make out the first row. Was that Emma? He squinted but still couldn’t tell. He was going to have to go down there. He sighed, frustrated as he fingered the two backstage passes he’d arranged to have made earlier. He didn’t want to go into the crowd because he was afraid he’d be recognized. Maybe if he put on a hat? He wandered backstage, intent on finding Amanda, Duncan’s makeup artist, costume designer, and all around fixer-upper. She would be able to help.
* * * *
Emma tapped her foot to the beat and watched Julie dancing. She didn’t expect to enjoy the opening act, but they were good. She looked at the stage, wondering what all the stuff covered with black fabric was going to turn into when Duncan began performing. She knew that the headliner usually put on a much more elaborate show, but she hadn’t been to enough concerts to truly anticipate what was going to happen. She tried to relax, reminding herself that there was nothing to fear. She knew from her dreams and her newfound mental landscape that both Jake and Duncan were really nice guys. She could also feel their anxiety in the back of her head, tickling at her emotions. That should have made her calmer, knowing that these two incredibly successful men were nervous about meeting her, but it only made her apprehension more vivid. What if they didn’t like her in person? What if she looked completely stupid and frumpy next to rock star Duncan? She shook her head, catching Julie’s concerned frown. Emma smiled at her friend, and then the music stopped. The deafening cheers of the crowd swamped them for a few minutes before the lights came back on and people started filtering out towards the refreshment stands during the intermission. Emma sat down, enjoying a brief respite from the craziness that was a rock concert.
“Wow, Mizar was really good.” Julie smiled at Emma.
Emma nodded as she removed her earplugs. “I didn’t expect to like them.”
“Well, wait until you hear Duncan sing live.” Julie sat down and took a sip of her water. “His voice is amazing. I have never heard a guy hit the kinds of notes he does. And you know what’s even more incredible?” Emma shook her head, bemused by her friend’s enthusiasm. “He not only sings really high notes, his lower register is ridiculously good. It’s incredibly sexy,” Julie said. She put her drink down carefully so that the open bottle wouldn’t spill.
“I looked him up on the web after—” Emma blushed as she stumbled over her words. Julie raised an eyebrow suggestively, and Emma rolled her eyes. “Well, after the dreams and stuff. I mean, I have his first album because I like his music, but I never saw any interviews or live performances. He’s really good.”
“Good? That’s all you have to say?” Julie laughed. “I lent you his new album last week. What did you think of that?”
Emma didn’t respond right away, shifting in her seat and hunting for the lip balm in her purse. How did she explain the sense of arousal she felt every time she heard his voice? To be honest, she was a little afraid of how she was going to react when she saw him on stage. She loved the album. Maybe too much. She found her lip balm and uncapped it, taking her time rubbing the minty moisturizer onto her lips. Julie watched her impatiently. After she tossed it back in her purse, Emma felt a bit more put together. “I really love it, actually.”
Julie whooped. “I knew it! I knew you’d love it.”
“Well, I’d heard some songs from the radio, so I knew I’d like it.” Emma shifted in her seat again, suddenly inexplicably anxious. She felt itchy, as though her skin was too tight. Did she eat something weird? She stood up, trying to stretch. Maybe she was just cooped up from being squished into one place too long. “Listen, Julie, I’m going to go to the bathroom and maybe get something to eat. You want to come with me?”
“Sure. I could use a pretzel.” They stood and squeezed down the row, trying not to step on anyone. When they reached the hallway, it was still so crowded that Emma felt like the walls were closing in on her.
“Where’s the bathroom?” she asked Julie.
“I think it’s that way.” Julie pointed. “I’m going to get in line for a pretzel.”
“Okay. I’ll meet you back at the seats.” Julie nodded as Emma shoved her way down the passage to a less crowded spot. She didn’t really need to use the restroom. She just wanted a moment to breathe. After about ten minutes of standing alone, she felt marginally better, though her skin still prickled. Oh, well, she thought, must be the heat and stress. She made her way back to the seats but had to pause by a pile of equipment at the edge of the stage because the crowd was too thick to get through. Too many people all trying to get to different places, she figured, waiting patiently near one of the venue’s security men. She leaned against the railing that separated the stage from the audience, ignoring the guard’s curious look. He turned away, scanning the crowd for trouble, then Emma noticed his eyes widening a fraction. What was happening? she wondered just as she caught him nodding. He turned toward her.
“Are you Emma?” the big man asked in a deceptively soft voic
e. Emma’s heart began pounding. How did he know her name? She nodded and he smiled. “Could you please come here for a moment?” He slid the barrier back to create a small space that she could squeeze her body through. She looked at him, wondering if she should trust him, then realized that she could feel Jake in her mind, silently urging her on. She blushed and hurried toward the opening, trying to get control of herself. Did Jake know where she was?
“Just down here, miss.” The guard guided her a short way around the edge of the stage. When he stopped, she could see a small space between the large speakers that lead underneath the stage. At the man’s hand motion, she slipped in and abruptly came face to face with Jake Mackenzie. Emma stopped breathing.
* * * *
After trying and failing to find Emma during Mizar’s performance, Jake felt like hitting something. He could feel her, Duncan could feel her, but he couldn’t find her. It was driving him crazy. He felt jumpy and desperate. Finally, he stopped near the edge of the stage, protected from the crowd’s view by the enormous speakers and the security fencing. He peered out, careful to keep the baseball cap pulled low over his eyes so that even if someone saw him he wouldn’t be recognized. He watched the people walking around while the stage crew worked above him to get ready for Duncan’s concert.
I should be up there, overseeing, he thought then felt Duncan’s presence in his head urging him to keep looking for Emma.
Jake sighed, wanting to take off the cap and run his hands through his sweaty hair but not daring. Right now he was just another nondescript technician doing something esoteric under the stage. He scanned the crowd again then felt his heart trip. She was right there in front of him. He recognized her hair, the way she cocked her head. She wasn’t facing him, but she didn’t look as if she were going anywhere soon as she leaned on the security fence to people-watch. He figured she must be waiting for the crowd to ease up so she could make her way back to her seat. He pulled his radio from his belt, hands shaking.
“This is Jake. I’m looking for the security guard at the west end of the floor security fencing.” He looked at the guard who stopped his scanning to stare right at him. The guard nodded imperceptibly. Jake took a deep breath, thankful that modern security included things like ear feeds so he wouldn’t have to go out into the crowd. He could just imagine the kind of ruckus it would cause if he was seen. He pressed the button on his radio again. “Do you see the woman to your left? Her name is Emma. Please escort her through the fence to me, okay?” Jake waited until the man gave him a thumbs-up. He watched him talk to Emma, and he could feel her confusion when the guard motioned toward the barrier. He silently urged her to slip through, hoping no one would notice. He could feel Duncan coming, and he hoped that the other man kept his head down and stayed out of sight of the screaming fans. Then he saw Emma duck through the narrow space the guard created and slip under the stage. She walked a few steps, watching her feet in the dark, then stopped and looked up right into his eyes. Jake froze, unable to speak.
She was beautiful. He could tell she was nervous, and he could also tell she knew who he was. He drew a breath then silently urged her further under the stage, ducking behind one of the pillars that held up the flooring. The lift sat unused a few feet to his left, the dim strip lights illuminating the path the performers were supposed to follow to get on stage. The lights accentuated her hair, throwing highlights onto her curls, making him want to thrust his fingers into the softness and hold her still as he kissed her. She swallowed, and he saw her eyes widen, then suddenly Duncan stepped up beside him, sliding an arm around his waist. Jake leaned into his friend’s embrace gratefully as the three of them stared at each other.
Duncan was the first to break the silence. “Emma. Don’t be afraid.”
Jake’s heart tripped in double time at the emotion in his friend’s voice, and he reached out a shaky hand to her. He could feel Duncan trembling. Emma lifted her arm, not saying a word, eyes wide. Jake could feel her in his head, feel her apprehension and attraction at war with each other. He could sense Duncan’s fierce arousal, and it only ramped his own higher. When her hand touched his, Jake’s knees buckled at the spark that jumped between the three of them. Duncan held him up, so Jake pulled Emma in, folding his arms around her shaking body while Duncan moved closer, slotting himself alongside her as well. The three of them held on for dear life as a thousand images flashed before their eyes. Jake shuddered as he felt Emma’s consciousness slide into him, and he knew Duncan felt her as well. She gasped as Jake felt Duncan slip into his mind and then into Emma’s, and then his own sense of self reached out. Duncan leaned in, blindly kissing Emma, then Jake, their mouths so close together that in a second, the three of them were kissing each other messily, their minds threading together in a crescendo that left them all panting when Emma finally wrenched her face away.
“Emma. Oh, my God,” Jake croaked. Duncan looked flushed under his tan, gorgeous and trembling. Jake couldn’t think clearly, his thoughts muddy and slow with the burning heat that their three-way kiss ignited. Emma quivered, and the two men held her up, cupping her shoulders and around her waist until she could stand on her own again. Duncan pressed his erection into Jake’s side, and Emma shuddered then stepped back when someone coughed behind the trio. Jake looked up to see a stage hand adjusting something on the lift. To his relief, he didn’t think the man saw them.
“Shit,” Duncan rubbed his face, glancing back at the oblivious technician. “What time is it?”
Jake shook his head, but Emma looked down at her hand where she still held her cell phone. It’s a miracle she hasn’t dropped it, Jake thought.
“It’s nine forty-five,” she said, her voice shaky but clear.
“Oh, sweetheart, I’ve gotta go,” Duncan said reluctantly. Emma nodded, and Jake took a deep breath, trying to organize his thoughts. The burning arousal hadn’t faded in the least, even with the little bit of distance they’d put between themselves.
“I’ve got two backstage passes for you.” Jake pulled the plastic tags from his jeans pocket, trying not to wince as his hand pressed against his cock. He’d never been so aroused so quickly before. It was absurd. Emma’s eyes widened as she watched him, and Jake grinned as he felt her desire spike in the back of his head. Duncan snickered, and suddenly Jake didn’t feel so shaky. Emma grinned and took the tags, shaking her head. Jake laughed. It was that or cry.
“Thank you, Jake.” She stepped back further. “I’m looking forward to the concert.”
“Oh, baby, so am I,” Duncan said, his voice low and sexy. Jake shivered at the tone then watched him try to adjust himself, wincing in sympathy.
“This is so not the way I imagined we’d meet,” Emma said, chuckling now. “I was so nervous—”
“Oh, honey, me too.” Jake pulled off his cap and ran his fingers through his hair. He felt Duncan’s eyes on him and turned his head to see his friend watching him, his need no longer unspoken. Jake acknowledged it, smiling at Duncan, then turned back to Emma. “I was nervous as hell, but Duncan was cool as can be.”
Duncan grinned. “I totally was not, as you both know. And now I really do have to go. I’ll be looking for you, Emma.” Duncan stepped back reluctantly then turned and walked away. Jake looked at Emma. She was watching Duncan go, a look of frustration on her face.
“I know, I feel it too,” Jake said, the heat in his body turning into something both hotter and more urgent the farther away Duncan got.
“I feel like I’m burning up,” Emma whispered, lifting a hand to her forehead.
“Like with every step he takes I need him more desperately.” Jake sighed and took a careful step back, frowning as the heat increased again.
“He must be going crazy. He’s the one walking away,” Emma said, her face worried. “I was afraid of what might happen.”
Jake nodded. “We have to get together after the concert to talk about what to do.” His radio beeped, and Emma flinched. “Shit. I have to go. I’m so sorry.” He r
eached out a hand to Emma, but she danced back out of reach.
“I don’t know what will happen if we touch again. I can feel that Duncan is barely holding it together.” Emma sighed. “This is insane.”
Jake squared his shoulders and put his cap back on. “Yeah, I know. I’ll see you soon, right after the show. Right after.”
Emma nodded and stepped back through the barricade. Jake watched her disappear into the crowd.
* * * *
After Emma found her seat, she sat down, fanning herself with the complimentary program that came with the VIP tickets Julie won. She could still feel both men in the back of her head, the sexual pull not lessening at all. She was flushed and hoped that Julie couldn’t tell how flustered she felt.
“Hey, Emma! I couldn’t find you, so I went back out to get another pretzel.” Julie flopped down next to her. “Do you want a piece?”
“No, thanks.” Emma pushed her hair back off her face, wishing a little cool air would drift her way.
“Hey, you okay? You look flushed.”
So much for Julie not noticing, Emma thought then sighed. “I met them.”
“What!?” Julie shrieked, and Emma winced. A few of the people sitting around them sent her curious looks. “What do you mean, you ‘met them?’ When? What happened?” Julie asked, her voice quieter.
Emma rubbed her face. “I was waiting by the fencing for you because the crowd was insane and I didn’t feel like pushing back through that many people to get to our seats. Then, the security guard caught my attention and squeezed me through the barrier. I knew it was Jake. When I ducked under the stage, he was there, waiting for me.”
“Oh, my God,” Julie breathed.
“He gave me these.” Emma showed her friend the passes. Julie squealed again then clapped her hands over her mouth. Emma laughed as she sensed Jake’s amusement through their bond.