RAPT - The Price of Love: Everhide Rockstar Romance Book 3 (Everhide Rockstar Romance Series)

by Tania Joyce

  Entering the darkened backstage area, Gemma glanced up at the huge black curtains that hid them from the auditorium. Her heartbeat hit a vivacious tempo. The loud screams from the fans hummed in her ears. Crew scuttled in all directions to take their stationed positions—sound engineers, lighting specialists, equipment technicians. The vibrations and electricity buzzed like a high-voltage electric wire.

  So good to be here.

  As they neared the stage steps, she grabbed Kyle on the arm and drew him aside.

  Worry skipped through his eyes. “Is something wrong?”

  She shook her head and rubbed her hand over his chest. Just feeling his heartbeat eased her pulse. The smooth fabric of his button-down slipped softly beneath her fingertips. In a short couple hours, his shirt would be a clinging, sweat-drenched mess, but for now, it cooled the crazy in her head. “Just wanted to say I love you.”

  He grabbed her by the hips and pushed her back against the metal railing. He kissed her hard. Hard and deep and hungry. Her tongue met his.

  The crew mumbled their objections as they shuffled past. “Get a room.” “Isn’t the honeymoon over?” “Um, guys. Showtime, not playtime.”

  Gemma pictured their eyes rolling. But this moment was for her. Kyle was her strength; she needed him. She couldn’t do this without him.

  She threaded her fingers through his hair, messing up Carla’s styling. “I needed that. Thank you.”

  “Anytime.” He pressed his forehead to hers. “You want to take this back to our dressing room? I will gladly delay the show for ten minutes and show you how much I love you.”

  She closed her eyes, picturing him sliding in and out of her on the countertop in the dressing room. Her legs wrapped around his waist. His kisses covering her face. Oh yeah.

  But no. Pushing her fluster aside, she stroked his cheek. “Hold that thought for after. It’s time for me to get back out onstage.”

  “Me too.” His voice caught in his throat as he readjusted his crotch. “Thanks for the semi.”

  “Sorry.” She winced, but she loved having that effect on him.

  Hunter stepped over and placed a hand on each of their shoulders. Shards of concern flickered in his azure eyes. “You guys good?”

  She straightened her in-ear cords, realigned her transmitter. Set her resolve into place. Music was her life. Nothing and no one would take that from her. “Yeap. Let’s go.”

  Reggie, their production manager, tapped his headset and scanned the monitors before him. He sliced his hand across his throat, the signal for radio silence. The lights lowered to near pitch-black. The noise from the auditorium erupted, slamming into her chest. He shone a torchlight in front of his face, held up one finger and mouthed, “One minute.”

  Gemma blew out a steady breath. The chill of the air-conditioning shivered across her skin. She had performed hundreds of times, but the nerves had returned with a vengeance. Vegas had been the first time she’d performed when she’d thought there was a threat in the crowd. The possibility of it happening again loomed in the back of her mind. The fear had scarred her, she couldn’t imagine it going away. Therapy could only help so much. Determined not to let being kidnapped stop her from living life, she trusted her team to ensure their safety. Trusted herself, her experience, to put on a kickass show.

  The fog machine kicked to life, spurting smoke across the stage like a dragon’s breath. Her pulse surged as fast as the whooshing noise. She had to trust the flooring beneath those clouds to support her, trust it not to let her fall. Just like the guys who would always be there for her.

  Crew shone their flashlights to show the path to their positions. It’s time. She gave Hunter and Kyle one last reassuring nod as the three of them grabbed their mics off the equipment table. Wiping her sweating palms on the back of her top, she stepped toward the metal stairs that led behind the screens mounted at the back of the stage.

  With wobbly feet, she took the first step. Then another and another. Climbing the stairs seemed dreamlike. Like it was a lifetime since she’d done this.

  The countdown began. Twenty seconds to showtime. With the guys standing either side of her, waiting for the door to the stage to open, she whispered a silent prayer. Let tonight be awesome. No issues. No scares. We know the songs. We’ve rehearsed. We know our shit. Let’s kick some ass.

  The torchlights went out.

  Gemma’s heartbeat thundered louder than the screaming and stamping crowd. She shoved her in-ears in. The stage lights blazed to life. Their backup band started to play.

  Let’s do this.

  Three. Two. One.

  Pyrotechnics blasted and the doors burst open. The three of them, lit by floodlights, stepped in formation onto the platform and struck a pose. The whole auditorium took to their feet. Banners waved above people’s heads. “Gemma, we love you.” Their followers rocked. “Live life to the fullest.” Her life motto tattooed on her inner bicep. “Gemma rocks.” Hell yeah, and “#GLADTOBEALIVE,” the hashtag message she’d been using on her social media posts.

  Holy fuck. I never expected this. Our fans are freaking awesome.

  A blanket of warmth and overwhelming gratitude enveloped her, filled her heart. Her eyes pricked with tears. This is amazing. Millions of fans adored her, she had to remember that. She drew on the energy of everyone present. Adrenaline soared through her system like a rocket shooting for Mars and pumped through her veins, keeping in time with the heavy drumbeat.

  She glanced at Hunter, then at Kyle. She gave him a wink and held her mic to her lips. With a deep breath, she hollered toward the crowd, “Yo bitches. We’re back. Who’s ready to rock?”

  Kyle and Hunter laughed as they walked down the staircase onto the front of the stage. They waved and blew kisses to everyone in the auditorium. Clapping their hands, they jumped into “Phoenix,” one of the hits off their last album and full of raw fighting attitude.

  I’ve been lying, on the ground,

  I’ve been beaten, knocked around.

  You can kick me when I’m down,

  You can fight me, steal my crown.

  But you forgot just one thing,

  I’ll come back again and again.

  I’ll come back again and again.

  Because, baby.

  Like a phoenix, I’ll return,

  Fire won’t ever keep me burned.

  From the ashes, I will rise,

  I am beautiful, let me shine.

  Like a flower in the sun,

  I am free, I am one.

  I’ve found an inner strength,

  One that I have never known.

  Don’t fuck with me, you’ll get burned,

  You’ll get burned.

  I’ve been up, I’ve been down,

  I’ve run wild all over town.

  You’ve seen me at my worst,

  Scared of truth because it hurts.

  You think you’ve won, and I’ve had my run,

  But you forgot, just one thing,

  I’ll come back again and again.

  I’ll come back again and again.

  For two hours, Gemma and the guys sang their hits, rolled out a set on their guitars, and had the crowd dancing. As the confetti cannons fired at the end of the show, and silver and gold pieces of foil rained down on her head, Gemma closed her eyes and let the soft paper tickle her face.

  I did it. I’m back.

  Kyle’s hand closed around one of hers. Hunter grabbed the other and they bowed to the audience. Blowing kisses to the screaming fans, they rushed from the stage into the arms of their crew, ready to party.

  But they could start without her and Kyle. She pulled him into their private dressing room and hauled him into the shower. There was nothing like a quickie with the high of performing still coursing through their systems. It heightened every sense and sensation—the scent of his clean flesh, every touch of his hands on her skin, every thrust of him inside her sent shudders shivering up her spine.

  Perfect.

 
Ripping on fresh jeans and T-shirt, the heat in her cheeks burned long after they finished making love. “That was incredible. The show and the sex.”

  “You nailed both.” Kyle grinned, tying up his boot laces.

  Holding hands, they rushed into the room next door and joined the party. Music blared; alcohol flowed. Laughter filled the air.

  Through the crowd, she caught sight of Taylah. Kyle had tracked her down after their honeymoon and kept to his promise. He’d offered her two VIP tickets to every concert they performed in New York City . . . for life. Gemma dropped Kyle’s hand, dashed over to her and threw her arms around Taylah’s neck. Took her a minute to let go.

  “Oh my God, Gemma.” Tears welled in Taylah’s eyes. “What was that for?”

  Gemma clasped onto Taylah’s hands. “I will never, ever be able to thank you enough for helping save my life. Never.”

  Taylah bobbed her head. “I’m just glad you’re okay.”

  Gemma wiped her own tears from her cheeks, but they weren’t sad ones; they were tears of gratitude and happiness.

  Kyle swooped in around Gemma and gave Taylah an enormous hug, lifted her off her feet. “My number-one fan.”

  “Always.” Taylah giggled as he placed her back on the ground and blinked her tears away. “I knew you were nice. I never doubted it for a second.”

  He slid back to Gemma’s side and gave her his heartwarming smile. “Yeah, just don’t mess with my wife, and I’m cool.”

  Gemma hooked her arm around him and cuddled into his side. “That you are my crazy husband.” She reached for Taylah’s hand once again and held it tight. “Taylah, from the bottom of my heart, thank you. We have to mingle. Enjoy the rest of the evening and we’ll see you at our next show.”

  “You betcha.” Taylah straightened and sucked in a deep breath. “I’ll be front and center.”

  “I look forward to it.”

  Kyle drew Gemma into the crowd, and they made the rounds chatting to all the guests.

  Gemma’s heart beat to a new rhythm.

  For so long, Kyle and Hunter had been her world; she’d kept everyone else at bay. But people in this room had shown her the true meaning of family over the past few months. Family wasn’t just about DNA; it was about the people who loved and supported you, the people who’d do anything for you, and who were there in a crisis, no matter what. It had taken her too long to learn and accept that.

  Catching a glimpse of Sam and their security team, Bec, Sophie and Kara, their backup band, Carla, and Hayden and Lexi, who’d come to watch the show, made her feel safe and secure.

  This was her family. This was living.

  Kyle entwined his fingers with hers and drew her near a group of people dancing in the middle of the room. Gemma laughed as crew members swayed their arms over their heads and downed beer in races. She fell into Kyle’s embrace, rested her head against his chest.

  He swept her hair back over her shoulders, swayed to the music slowly. “Can we do this forever? Make music. Make love. Make magic.”

  “You bet. We have one mad year ahead of us. We have Christmas. A crazy awards season. We hit the studio soon to make a new album. Life is pretty darn good, isn’t it?”

  “It’s better than good. It’s fucking lit.”

  She tilted her head back to meet his dark, espresso eyes. “And we have the most amazing team, crew and friends. We are the weirdest, coolest family ever.”

  “Told you so.” He pressed his lips to hers, deepened their kiss with a flick of his tongue.

  Meeting as gangling teenagers; becoming best friends bound by their love of music and their shitty home lives; touring and experiencing the many ups and downs life had thrown at them—all those things had brought them to this place. Married. In love. Ridiculously happy. The things they feared and craved had united them. Trust. Love. Family.

  Kyle was her rock. Her man. He had hold of her heart. She loved him with every ounce of her being. He’d taught her to let go, that it was okay to be vulnerable. He loved her, no matter what. Honesty brought them closer, made them stronger. For so long and from this point forward, every song she wrote, every scale she sang, every sound from her beating heart would now and always be for her one true love . . . Kyle.

  ***

  Dear Reader,

  Thank you for reading RAPT – The Price of Love.

  Kyle and Gemma finally got their happily ever after.

  But what about Hayden and Lexi? Do you want to find out how they fit into the Everhide world? He's a drummer with a dream. She'd given up on hers. But one kiss change everything.

  Did Hayden regret kissing his best friend? . . . Hell No!

  Did he regret losing his best friend? . . . Hell Yes!

  REGRET – The Price of Truth

  A rockstar roommates, friend to lovers romance with more epic feels.

  Grab Your Copy Now!

  Everhide Rock!

  Thank you

  Tania Joyce.

  P.S. If you enjoyed RAPT – The Price of Love, help others to find it. It would mean a great deal to me if you could leave a quick review. Here’s the link.

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  BOOKS BY TANIA JOYCE

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