by Carian Cole
Asher approaches Vandal, who doesn't smile. "Vandal is also no longer taking applications!" That gets a little grin out of Vandal as the girls in the crowd boo. "And Vandal's little bro Lukas, also my cousin, who couldn't be here tonight, is also very much taken!" Even more boos erupt from the female portion of the crowd.
Asher crosses the stage and stops next to Talon. He looks him up and down, grinning, before turning back to the crowd with a sly look.
"As you guys can see, my baby brother, who’s played with no shirt on since day one of being in the band, is now wearing a kick-ass shirt. And I'm gonna bet it's because he just got married and his abs are officially off the market!"
The crowd roars and Talon grins and throws his arms up in the air. My stomach does a little twist when I see he's got his wedding band on.
"Sorry to say, ladies, that only leaves one member of Ashes & Embers who is single and available—my brother Mikah on drums!" Mikah throws his sticks up in the air, catches them, and bangs out a quick drum solo while the crowd screams and jumps up and down.
"Enough of this shit!" Asher yells into the mic. "Let's rock and roll!"
The lights go out and colored spotlights randomly shine down on each of the guys as they belt into a hard rock song.
"It's incredible to see your guy on the stage, huh?" Evie says, nudging my shoulder playfully as we watch them from the side of the stage. "I was just in awe the first time I saw Storm, and I still swoon when I see him play. I don't think that feeling ever goes away."
I tear my eyes off Talon for a few moments to answer her. "So true. I can't believe I'm married to this guy."
"You guys make a really cute couple," she says.
"Thank you. So, the other guys have wives or girlfriends?"
She nods and leans closer to me. "Asher's married, but I've never met her. Something is going on there, but no one talks about it and I don't ask. Vandal and his girl, Tabi, are having a rough time right now, but I talk to her a lot and they’re probably going to work it out. Lukas is with an older girl—she's like twelve years older than him, but she's a sweetheart. I think you met her at the wedding. You probably know this, but Talon and Lukas are best buds. Vandal doesn't talk much, but don't take it personally. He's had a really bad life, and his daughter passed away recently."
"Oh my God!" I exclaim. "I'm so sorry. I had no idea."
"It was a rough time for all of them. I'll tell you more about it when we're alone."
"How devastating. Talon hasn't mentioned that to me, but we really haven't talked a lot about family things."
"I think it's still hard for all of them to talk about. They're all good guys, really. I think if you just give things time, you'll be happy. It's a different lifestyle, that's for sure, but definitely worth it to be with them." She smiles sweetly at me. "I'm hoping we can become close. It will be nice to have another girl in the family who is going through the same things—like when they tour and all that."
"I would really love that, Evie." I give her a quick hug and then go back to watching my husband perform his guitar solo. I’m quickly becoming a big fan of his rock-star look, and that's something I never thought I'd feel when I first met him. He looks so incredibly sexy and powerful up on that stage, his fingers flying over the strings, his hair falling into his face. The entire band sounds amazing live. They’re definitely one of those bands that sounds just as good live as they do in a studio; even Asher's vocals are perfect.
Nothing prepares me for their last song of the set, which Evie informs me is a new ballad and this is their first time playing it live. At the beginning of the song, Talon tosses his guitar and starts to plays the piano. I had no idea he could play the piano, and I'm utterly entranced watching him as the beautiful tune permeates the club. Asher's voice is equally deep and haunting, singing about memories lost in time.
It’s so easy to get lured into the magical web of these men, and I am, without a doubt, not fighting it.
I’M OVERCOME with excitement when I see Talon backstage, and I throw my arms around him like I haven't seen him months. "You were amazing! And the piano? You never told me you could play that too. I loved it."
Surprise flashes across his face, but he quickly recovers and greets me with a long, breathless kiss.
"Finally, I did something you liked?" he teases, pushing his hair off his sweaty forehead.
"Yes."
"It felt weird playing with a shirt on."
"I'm sure it did. I heard some girls in the crowd griping about it."
"They'll get over it, babe. There's about a million pictures of my abs online for them to drool over."
He leads me upstairs to one of the lounge areas where we sit with the rest of the band, their friends, and their girls while listening to the other bands play. When the live bands are finished, more of a club atmosphere takes over and people start dancing. Talon excuses himself to use the men’s room, while Evie and I get involved in an intense discussion about cats and the local pet shelter she volunteers at. That's when I see that Talon is on the dance floor, with a drink in his hand and a blond attempting to grind on him.
"I hate that whore. She trails the band all over the place," Evie says, following my gaze.
"Who is she?" My stomach feels sick watching them. He's not touching her at all, but I don't like seeing another woman so close to him. Especially one who looks to have everything he was hoping for: tall, blond, and big boobs. And wow, he can dance. I never would have guessed he would actually have some hot dance moves in him.
"I can't remember her name. She's an actress."
"Great," I mutter.
Evie rests her hand on my arm. "Look, Asia. I know this sucks, and it's really hard to get used to. Women are gonna flirt with our guys all the time. I hate it, too. You have to trust him. Storm and I have had these same issues, and it all comes down to trust."
I nod, not taking my eyes off the blond who now has her hand on my husband’s chest, and he's laughing at whatever she's saying and taking long gulps of his drink.
"We're kind of at an odd place in our relationship, Evie. I'm not sure I can trust him when she's exactly what he wants, and he's made it clear that I'm not."
She looks at me sympathetically. "I don't believe that. I think it's just taking you guys some time to get used to each other. It's a strange situation you're in, but it looks like you're making it work so far. I can give you one piece of advice." She glances over at Storm, who's talking to Asher on the couch across from us. "These guys? They need to feel wanted and loved. They all thrive on it. They all have a deep, possessive side, and I think it's safe to say Talon is the same way."
I shake my head doubtfully. "I don't know. I mean, I know he's trying, but damn, I can't compete with her."
"It's not a competition, but I would say you have to show him how you feel and put your foot down that this type of behavior is unacceptable. I've had to get up in a few of these girls’ faces to get them to back off, and trust me, that isn’t like me at all. The guys are so used to letting women flirt with them that they don't always realize it's going to piss us right off. They kinda have to be trained. It doesn't mean they would cheat, because none of these guys are cheaters, but they need a little push sometimes to see that flirting is gonna make girls like us batshit crazy."
"She's totally eye-fucking him," I say, jealousy boiling up in me. I want to go poke her eyes out.
"Then go and cut in on that skank. Stake your claim. He's your husband."
"I have a better idea," I say, standing up. "I'm gonna give him a taste of his own medicine."
I spy Finn on the dance floor and head over to him. "Asia…I wouldn't do it that way…" Evie calls after me, but it's too late. I'm already determined to show Talon that two can play this game. Right or wrong.
"Well, well, look at you," Finn says when I sidle up to him on the dance floor. "You're looking incredibly sexy tonight, Asia."
"Thank you," I say, letting my body sway with his.
"
You're trying to make Talon jealous, aren't you?" he guesses, putting his hand low on my waist.
"Yup."
He grins. "I got ya covered, babe. I don't mind being used. The boy could use a dose of fear to knock him down a little, right?"
"Right."
I know I shouldn't be purposely trying to make him jealous, but damn, how can he dance with that girl right in front of me? And he's drinking—something he promised me he wouldn't do anymore.
Finn turns me around so my back is against his muscular chest and leans down to whisper in my ear. "This could get me punched, ya know, but it's worth it to see him pissed off."
"Why doesn't he like you?"
"Because I flirt with his little sister. He thinks I'm a douche."
"Are you?"
"I'll tell you a secret," he says, turning me back around. "I only pretend to be one."
I smile up at him just as Talon shows up next to us, and yeah, he's pissed, his eyes hard and narrowed on us.
"What the fuck are you doing?" he demands, staring Finn down.
"Same thing you were doing," Finn scoffs, smirking.
Talon grabs my hand and pulls me away like a child at a candy dish. "Stay away from her. I don't want you near my wife."
"And your sister, right? Anyone else? Can I touch the blond you were just with?"
"Fuck you."
I yank on Talon's hand and give Finn a sympathetic look. I don't want him to get punched in the face just because of me.
"Talon, come on. Leave it alone. He wasn't doing anything. We were just talking."
He nearly drags me off the dance floor and over into a dark corner. "What the fuck was that?" he seethes, his eyes wild with anger. "You got a thing for him, now?"
"Hardly. What's with you and that blond crawling all over you?"
"She's just an old friend."
"She had her hands on you."
"So? It was nice to have a chick actually touching me. I wasn't fucking her."
"Not yet."
"I don't like you getting that close to other men. Especially him."
"Now you know what it feels like."
"Don't purposely make me jealous, Asia." His jaw clenches as he backs me up against the wall.
"Are you?"
In response, his lips come down on mine hard and his hand grasps the back of my head, holding me to him. At first I resist, but I soon give in and slowly slide my hands up his arms to his shoulders. I hate that the way he touches me and kisses me makes me submit to him even when I don't want to.
He pulls his mouth away and leans his head against mine. "Why are you playing games with me?" he asks, breathing heavily. "I don't like feeling jealous. I'm not used to it."
"I'm sorry. It's just… She's what you want. How do you expect me to feel?"
His dark eyes close for a long moment, and he pulls me closer to him. "She's what I wanted. You're who I want."
I swallow back the lump forming in my throat. "Really? You mean that?"
"Yes."
"She's blond…"
"I don't care. I love your hair. It kicks ass."
"She's got big tits …"
"I didn't notice. I'm too busy trying to figure out what yours look like."
An undeniable giggle bubbles up in me. "You're impossible," I whisper to him.
"Maybe." He nuzzles down into my neck, kissing me below my ear, sending a shiver through me.
"You know I hate you drinking," I protest, hating the smell of it on his breath, but loving the feel of his lips on me.
"I'm sorry. I always have a few drinks after we play." His lips return to mine. "You look so beautiful. I don't want to fight, okay?"
I entwine my fingers together behind his neck. "I don't want to, either. I was enjoying everything up until I saw that girl on you."
"Let's go back and enjoy the night, all right? If we stay in this corner, I'm gonna molest you."
WE SPEND the next few hours hanging out and talking to his brothers and some friends. Somehow we end up getting split up when Evie asks me to go the bathroom with her and a guy from another band asks Talon to go off into a different part of the club for some kind of "shredding" thing. I find myself sitting with strangers after Storm comes and takes Evie away. Glancing at my cell, I realize it's three a.m. and I'm having a hard time keeping my eyes open.
I wander around the club and finally find Talon about fifteen minutes later, sitting in a smoky lounge room with a bunch of guys I don't recognize and a few girls. Thankfully, none of them is hanging on him. However, my eyes hone in on a few joints and some coke on the table. Shit.
"Hey," he says when I approach him. "Where ya been?"
"Looking for you."
"I've been right here." His eyes look glassy to me, and I don't like it. I quell the bad memories of the alcohol and drug abuse I witnessed growing up. Talon's not an addict, that much I know, but apparently he does like to party, and that’s something I definitely didn’t want to have to deal with.
"I'm getting really tired… Do you think we could go?" I ask quietly, not wanting to embarrass him in front of his friends, who all seem to be having a good time just chilling here. I suppose this is normal for this type of event, but I'm not used to staying out this late at all.
He grabs my arm. "No, babe…not yet. Hang out with me. Do you want a little weed? It's good stuff."
Ugh.
"No, I don't."
The guy sitting next to him jokes with him about something I can't hear and they both start laughing. He seems to completely forget I'm sitting there. Annoyed and hurt, I get up and leave, expecting him to follow me, but he doesn't.
Screw this. I don't want to be here anymore, and I certainly don't want to be around him when he's stoned. I make my way through the sea of people to the entrance of the club and find our limo still in the lot. I cross the dark parking lot and lightly tap on the driver’s side window of the limo. Max puts the window down and looks at me questioningly.
"Are you all right, Mrs. Valentine?"
"Yes… Are you allowed to take me home?"
"Of course." He steps out of the limo and opens the back door for me. "Will Mr. Valentine be joining us?"
"No, you can come back for him. I would like to go home now, if you don't mind driving me?"
"No problem at all, Mrs. Valentine. That's what I'm here for."
"Thank you, and please, call me Asia." I feel silly being called Mrs. Valentine.
I FALL asleep in the limo on the drive home, jolting awake when Max opens the door for me.
I step out, my legs wobbly from wearing heels all night, and Max takes my hand. "I'll walk you to your front door. It's very dark here in the woods, even though it’s beautiful."
“Thank you," I say and let him walk me to the door. Thank God I have my key with me and the code to the security system or I'd be sleeping on the porch. "Max, please accept my apologies, but I don't have any money on me… I don't know how this works for payment."
A warm smile touches his face. "It's all taken care of, Asia. No worries for you at all. Have a good evening. I'm sure I'll be seeing you again. I'm usually the driver Talon requests."
"Oh, that's good to know. Thank you again for bringing me home. I'm sorry to make you have to make an extra trip."
He waits for me to enter the house and close the front door behind me before he leaves, which is a nice gesture I'm sure is part of his job. I kick off my boots as soon as I get into the foyer, and Pixie comes running, her little bell jingling. Picking her up, I hold her against me and kiss her soft fur.
"I missed you too, sweetie," I whisper and carry her up to the bedroom with me.
As I get undressed, I keep checking my cell phone, hoping Talon will either text or call me, but he doesn't. I wonder if he even realizes I'm gone? And now that I'm home, I'm a little mad at myself for leaving him there, stoned, drunk, and surrounded by sexy women. Did I just inadvertently give him an opportunity to spend the night with another woman? How stupid am I?
No. He wouldn't do that. He wants our marriage to work.
This house has a high-tech alarm system installed, but I still feel scared all alone here for the first time out in the woods, so I turn the hallway light on before crawling into the bed, which feels amazingly empty without him next to me.
Even though I'm so mad at him that tears spill down my cheeks and onto the pillow, I miss him so much my heart aches.
19
ASIA
THE RINGING of my cell phone wakes me, and I find it next to me on the bed, the screen flashing Kat's name. I ignore it, not wanting to talk to her at the moment.
Right now, I'm way too distracted with the vacant side of the bed where my husband should be, but isn't.
He never came home.
Checking my phone, I'm shocked and gutted to see there are no messages, no phone calls. Nothing.
Does he even care where I am? Does he know I made it home okay?
Where is he? And where the hell did he sleep?
Stress-induced nausea comes over me in quick waves as my mind scrambles to all sorts of sordid scenarios, from him starring in an orgy to being in a car accident to serving divorce papers. Any one of those things seems realistic to me right now.
Biting my lip, I call his cell phone and it goes straight to voice mail, which means his battery is probably dead. Or maybe he rejected my call to avoid talking to me.
I rifle off a text, just in case.
Me: Where are you?
I stare at the little glowing screen, waiting for it to tell me it was read, and hoping for a reply.
Nothing.
Ah! Maybe he actually did come home and slept on the couch downstairs so he wouldn't wake me up. I jump out of bed and dart down the stairs, praying that's where he is, but my heart sinks even lower when I see the couch is empty. He's nowhere in this house.
Panic hits me again and I pace aimlessly around the room like a mouse in a maze. I have no idea what to think or do. This is entirely new territory for me, to be putting up with a missing partner. I debate calling Dr. Hollister or Kim, but I'm embarrassed and I don't want it to seem like I'm tattling on him in some bizarre way. Maybe he has a really valid reason for not being home, like a car accident. Oh my God. What if he's hurt? Would anyone call me?