Paper Thin

The drums kicked in first. Sadie bobbed her head to her guy’s beat. The guitar was next. Blaze strummed cords that cut right though the place, exciting all the woman beneath the roof with his fast fingers and devilish grin. I anticipated the moment when Joh

I’d known his voice would be good. You could tell from talking to him he would have a raspy, hypnotic voice when he sang, but I had no idea it would be this good. I listened to the lyrics. He was singing about how he wanted a girl, how he was addicted to her without ever having a taste. My eyes were glued to him. I took in the way he cupped the mic with both hands, how stiff his shoulders seemed, as though he were really an addict for this girl and was truly craving her at this moment. His eyes had closed at some point, and I wondered who he was picturing in his head. The song grew even more erotic and obsessive, becoming the hottest thing I’d ever heard. Just when I thought he couldn’t get any freaking hotter, he opened his eyes and found me.

“I’m going to get that taste. The one I crave. Before the night is through. And girl, you know it’s you,” he sang, his stare never wavering from mine.

My knees grew weak as I watched him step back from the mic, his eyes still trained on me, and lick his bottom lip. Holy hotness, I didn’t think I would be able to deny him a single thing. Joh

Sadie leaned into me. “I think he has the hots for you.”

“The feeling is totally mutual.” I watched him as he sauntered off stage. There was so much confidence in his walk. It wasn’t cocky, but bordering on it. He seemed like a guy who knew what he wanted from the night.

Natasha slipped off her stool beside Sadie, and gestured for us to follow her backstage once more. She didn’t speak a word. I didn’t want to lump her in the category of being a bitch right away, considering how off my assumptions of things had been tonight, so I followed her without scowling. For all I knew, she could suffer from a severe resting bitch face. Sometimes I had one. It sucked.

“Great show, guys!” She surprised me by saying once we made it to where the guys were standing backstage. Yeah, resting bitch face was definitely her problem. “You did awesome!”

“That was amazing!” Sadie gushed to Thresh. The hint of a smile twisted his lips at her words. He was cute, and I could see the two of them together.

“And what did you think?” Joh

“Wicked good.” I wasn’t sure where the words had come from. Wicked was not a word I used to describe anything, but I couldn’t think with him so close. My whole right side tingled with life at his nearness. That was what I blamed my lapse in word choice on.

“Wicked. I like that.” He gri

I found myself wondering what it would feel like to kiss him with that thing in the way. Would it be cold? What it would feel like slipping across my skin, and dipping to other places?

I wanted him. Parts of the song he’d sang flipped through my mind, and I wanted him even more.

“We were thinking of heading back to our place, and having a few drinks. You interested?” His eyes never left mine. They pi

“Sure,” I said without consoling Sadie first. My eyes shifted to her for a split-second, before coming back to Joh

“Not going to ask your friend first?”

I shook my head. “No. She’ll be fine with it.”

“Okay, then.” His lips curved upward into a sexy smirk. One that drew my attention to his lip ring again. “Never felt one against your lips have you?” His question surprised me.

“Nope.” My response might have been simple and one-worded, but what I felt inside was anything but. His question caused my chest to balloon with heat, and my stomach to drop to my toes. Had I been that obvious about it?

His tongue flicked out, and pulled the ring into his mouth. I could feel his eyes on me, trailing across my face, dipping down to view the cleavage I had on display. When his gaze finally lifted to mine, I could see a war waging within him. He was debating whether to kiss me now or wait until later. Sexually charged tension occupied the air between us, building with each breath I took. I felt as though he were torturing me, like he was holding out on purpose. God, I bet he was good at foreplay.

“We have all night,” he muttered, sending disappointment crawling along my insides. A breath of amusement escaped him, and before I could decipher how it made me feel, his lips were pressed against mine, moving in a rhythmic, intoxicating way. He pulled away, leaving inches between us. “Doesn’t mean I cared to wait that long though.”

I didn’t kiss guys this soon after meeting them. Instead, I generally preferred to wait until at least the third or fourth date. There was something about Joh

“How was it?”

His question lacked the sense of arrogance I imagined it would hold. I liked that it was more sweet than dirty. “Nice.”

“Just nice?” He arched a brow, and a crooked grin found its way to his face. “That’s all I get?”

“Really nice?” I teased, flashing him a phony, unsure smile.

“I guess there’s always room for improvement.” He ran a hand through his hair, the smirk on his face never wavering.

“There’s also plenty of time to convince me you’re the best kisser I’ve ever locked lips with. The night is young.” My words were bold and brazen. I was glad I’d thought of them.

“Very true.” Heat burned through his words, sending sparks of desire dancing in my lower stomach.

“I see the two of you are now better acquainted.” Sadie gri

“Charlotte already answered for you both.” Joh

“With her lips or vocally?” Sadie asked.

“Both,” he insisted.

I could feel the heat from my cheeks spreading down my neck as Sadie continued to glare at me. One thing was for sure, I needed to watch my alcohol consumption tonight. If not, I would be jumping this guy’s bones in front of everyone.

“Let’s go, then.” Blaze gri

“Come on,” Joh

We started out the back door. The night air was damp from the rain earlier, and the scent of wet asphalt wafted to my nose. I wrapped my arms around myself as we continued walking.

“We need to decide on a time to head home,” Sadie whispered to me. “One we both agree on.”

This was our usual procedure for heading to any party. We always decided on a set time we should leave, one that still allowed us to get a few hours of sleep in before class the next day. “What time is it now?”

“I don’t know.” When she didn’t move to reach for her cell in her purse, I went for mine.

A motorcycle revved its engine after it came to a rolling stop in front of us. I couldn’t see the guy’s face because it was covered by a glossy black helmet. The little I could see of him let me know he enjoyed working out and getting tattoos. His entire left arm was one solid, never-ending tattoo. I couldn’t see his other arm fully, but from the wrist to his elbow was the same. Placing his feet on the ground, he kept his balance on the bike. Natasha stepped forward, her red lips stretched into a wide smile at the sight of him. The guy removed his helmet.