Total pages in book: 37
Estimated words: 33965 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 170(@200wpm)___ 136(@250wpm)___ 113(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 33965 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 170(@200wpm)___ 136(@250wpm)___ 113(@300wpm)
I'm in awe of the fact that they're up there, gliding around like they own the freaking stage while thousands of people literally scream their lyrics at them. I can't take my eyes off Crue. He's always been an amazing dancer, but he's on fire tonight. They all are.
Every time he looks out at the audience, he looks right at me. I feel like I'm living out my fangirl fantasies, except for this one is ten thousand times better. Because I'm not in love with Crue Blake, superstar. I'm in love with Crue Blake, the bossy, gorgeous, sweet, crazy man I've gotten to know since he jumped off the stage and introduced himself yesterday morning.
And somehow, some way…I think he's falling in love with me, too.
It seems like I've known him forever. In a way, I guess I have. He's exactly like I always expected, and yet he's vastly different too. He's so much more than I was prepared for…bossier, hotter, sweeter, more demanding, harder on himself, funnier, and carrying so many ghosts from the past. Yet his love for his band, the music, and the fans shines.
My heart didn't stand a chance against him.
When the concert ends, he jumps off the stage. Security immediately moves to flank him as he stalks toward me, smirking.
"What are you doing?" I ask, a little worried that he's going to do something crazy. At this point, I wouldn't put it past him.
"Coming to escort you and the girls to the back." He holds out his hand for me and then pulls me to my feet. The rest of the girls stand, too.
"What the heck?" a girl in the row behind us says. "Why do they get to go backstage?"
"What can I say?" I shrug. "When a heartthrob reaches for your hand, be the kind of girl who takes it."
She's still gaping when Crue turns me toward the stage, leading us to the back.
"A heartthrob, huh?" He leans down to shout in my ear.
"Former heartthrob," I shout back to him.
He growls playfully, his hazel eyes light and a permanent smile on his face. It looks good on him. Way too darn good.
We don't say anything else until we're backstage. As soon as we're into the crossover space, he turns, scooping me up into his arms. His lips come down on mine in a hard kiss.
"You're sweaty," I say, laughing.
"How long do you think it'll be before we're all over the internet?"
"Pfft. We're probably already all over the internet," I scoff, wriggling for him to put me down. "They were posting about that little interaction before we even walked away." I shoot him a pointed look. "Which is exactly what you wanted."
He smirks, not denying it.
I just shake my head at him. He's not nearly as smooth as he thinks he is. But the fact that he wants the whole world to know about us is adorable. I just hope he doesn't change his mind when the whole world really does find out, and his face is plastered all over the tabloids again.
Part of me is still a little afraid he might. It's not because I lack confidence. I don't. I love who I am, and I don't care who approves. But who I am is a small-town girl. And small-town girls don't live happily ever after with superstars anywhere except in movies. When people find out about us, they're going to have a whole lot of opinions…and a lot of those opinions aren't going to be nice.
They've already put Crue and the band through so much. I don't want to be the reason he goes through it a second time. And I'm really afraid I will be. I'm equally as afraid that Crue won't handle it well.
"We have a band meeting to see who is signing autographs out back."
"This requires a band meeting?"
"It's more like a Rock, Paper, Scissors competition, but band meeting sounds better," he mutters, pulling me toward their dressing room. "You can judge. Mason cheats."
"He does not," I say through laughter. "It's impossible to cheat at that game, Crue."
"Fine. He doesn't cheat. He's just too fucking good, and it pisses me off."
"Well, this is swanky," I mumble, prowling through our new hotel room…which is actually a two-room suite on the top floor. Havoc is posted outside the door. Another security guard is posted at the end of the hall by the elevators. They'll switch off throughout the night to make sure no one tries to sneak in.
"It's a beautiful view," Crue murmurs from the doorway.
I glance toward him, only to find him staring at me. I smile, unable to stop myself. Anytime we're in the same vicinity, his eyes are on me. I love it far more than I probably should.
But then again, I love everything about this man.
"Mine isn't so bad either." I hop up on the bed and kick back, crossing my legs at the ankles. I let my gaze drift up and down his body, making it clear I'm talking about him. "It's a pretty amazing view, actually."