Strung (Rock & Romance I.)

Chapter 45. - Curtain Call

A/N: I apologize this took me so long to write. From all the chapters, there are a few that require special attention, a few that need to be absolutely perfect before I could share it with you.

And this was one of those.

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*London*

This time, I arrived at the concert with Lukas LaBelle and was led backstage without the security guards checking for any passes, or asking for my ID. We walked in, holding hands, smiling from ear to ear as we discussed the new songs the band was working on.

The band.

Hazmat was set to start recording in a couple of weeks, while they were on the road. Lukas promised I'd get to listen in as they were settling into their new routines, and I nodded and laughed and lied right into his eyes as I reassured him that I couldn't wait.

I held his hand a little too tight as he walked up to the row of guitars the crew has already arranged for him. Lukas began asking the sound technician some questions and I watched his golden profile transform from the lover I came to know so well, to the famous rockstar I grew up adoring.

"London!" A familiar, friendly voice sounded from behind me, and I turned around to face Jesse. "Glad you could make it! You look like a knockout!"

I felt, rather than saw Lukas' gaze on the back of my head as I went in to hug the drummer that became one of my best friends. "I'm excited to watch you guys tonight!"

"Well, keep that excitement going! We might have a special surprise for- Ow!" He was cut off as Brian smacked the back of his head.

"Don't listen to a word he says." He said calmly, but his glinting eyes suggested that I definitely should expect the unexpected tonight. "It's good to see you again, London."

I nodded at him in greeting, before his wife swooped in. "Alright, the fans will be here in ten minutes! I need the backdrop area cleared, and-" Nikki paused. "Where the hell is Ash?!"

"Right here!" His deep, unmistakably raspy voice made all of our heads turn to the door, where the long-haired rock star stood, with a girl under each arm.

Nikki sighed in exasperation. "I hope those are not the raffle winners!" She murmured under her nose, before scurrying away with a couple of crew members.

Lukas wrapped his arms around me from behind, pulling me against his hard chest. "Do you want to wait back here before the show starts?"

"That'd be great." I breathed, my heartbeat picking up as his familiar scent enveloped me. "As long as Nikki is fine with it."

Lukas chuckled. "She's not the one in charge here, Kingston." His plump lips pressed against my ear, making goosebumps rise on my arms as I shivered. "Just stick close to security."

For brief moments like this, it was easy to forget our situation - put the unhappy fans, management, the world's problems out of my mind. For these little moments when he held me this close, I didn't think about the future or lack of it. I just felt.

"Will do!" Go make these girls happy!" I joked, turning around to plant a quick kiss on his lips, just before Nikki announced that the VIP pass holders and raffle winners were now lined up outside. "I'll be right here."

"Good!" Lukas grinned, his golden eyes shining from more than the bright reflectors strategically placed around the room. He started walking backward, away from me, looking every bit of the delicious famous sensation that he was.

Tonight, he wore a tight, black shirt that stretched across his wide muscles, tan jeans that were ripped around his knees, exposing dark golden skin, covered in light blonde hairs, and black hightop sneakers. His look was simple, but so him, accessorized with tens of leather bracelets around his thick wrists and completed with the perfect length of blonde curls.