I nodded, but I wasn’t responding.

“This ain’t over, is it?” he asked.

He knew me better than that.

“You hurt her. She was fucking protecting me. What do you think?”

Green hung his head, and the pained look on his face made me feel a little better. But he still had no idea what seeing her like that had put me through. Then the fact that she had defended me again and been hurt for it. I was to hurt someone, and Green was number one in line.

Matty took over the mic, knowing Green and I needed time to adjust to what had just gone down before we were ready to entertain the crowd.

The girls chanting my name and throwing panties and papers with their phone numbers on them normally made me get that rush in my system. Tonight I had to keep from cringing, knowing that Blythe saw all this. She heard it. When I had looked back at her and she’d been so lost in her thoughts, I had been worried that she’d heard or seen something that upset her.

Getting to her and reassuring her had been all I could think about. I glanced back at her, and she smiled at me. The excited gleam in her eyes was all I needed. I wanted to entertain her. I wanted her to enjoy watching me. I turned off the anger simmering inside and focused on that sweet smile.

When we finished the song and Matty had taken over to give me time to calm down, I turned back to the band and nodded. They knew that meant it was time for the new song. The one I’d written since Blythe had come into my life. It was hard and real. Fans would love it, and every time I sang it, Blythe’s face would be the only thing I saw. She had inspired it, even if I intended to change the bitter facts in the lyrics. She was changing everything for me.

I’ve always had an addictive personality—

Take a little then want a little more.

Being told no isn’t okay with me.

They call it obsession, but I know it’s more.

I know they tell you to stay away from the devil,

But, baby, come a little closer, open my door.

I turned and held her gaze. Her eyes were sparkling with something I didn’t understand, but damn, it felt like it was all mine.

They say I’m bad for you.

They say I’m wrong for the innocent, I’ll only burn you up.

But I’m addicted now, and there’s no changing that.

I just may be bad for you, but this lesson you’re gonna learn.

Accuse me of insanity or desire to possess.

I’ve heard it before but never like this.

I’d tell you not to fear this, but then I’d be a liar.

You lost your free will right after our first kiss.

I know they tell you to stay away from the devil.

But, baby, come a little closer. Open my door.

They say I’m bad for you.

They say I’m wrong for an angel, I’ll only burn you up.

But I’m addicted now, and there’s no changing that.

I just may be bad for you, but this lesson you’re gonna learn.

Good girls should stay away from the dark corners.

Temptation will always lurk within the turn.

Keeping you pure may be the only thing that redeems me.

But I never asked not to burn.

Chapter Sixteen

BLYTHE

There were a lot of them. All of them had tiny tops and tinnier bottoms. I stepped back from the women being let backstage by a large guy dressed in black. I could feel several of them looking at me.

“Who is she?” one of them asked in an annoyed tone.

I turned to the large guy who had the muscles of a bodybuilder and a T-shirt on that was so tight, it was in danger of ripping. He frowned at me. “How did you get back here? I don’t let the girls in until last song.”

Nervously, I glanced back at the stage, but I had moved so that I couldn’t see Krit anymore.

Swinging my gaze back to the man, I told him, “I came in with the band.”

His frown turned into a disbelieving smirk. “Yeah, right. Heard that before.” He stepped toward me and held out his hand. “Come on, sugar. I bring back the girls the guys pick out, and you weren’t one of them. I didn’t even see you around the stage all night.”

Uh-oh. Glancing back at the stage, I knew Krit would be done soon, and he would inform the guy I was really with the band. Problem was it didn’t look like I was going to be able to keep this guy from sending me away.

“Come on,” he said, motioning me to take his hand. “This isn’t something you want in on. I have no doubt they’d have picked you out of a crowd, but you look terrified. This isn’t where you need to be. These boys like to play.”

“I really did come with the band. I’m a friend of Krit’s,” I explained.

One of the girls burst out laughing, and several others joined her. My face felt like it was on fire.

“You are so not Krit’s type,” one of the girl’s said in an amused tone.

“Nice try,” another one piped up.

The guy gave me a pity smile. “Come on now. Let’s get you out of here.”

I didn’t want to stay back there with those women anyway.

“Fine,” I replied, but I wasn’t giving him my hand. I didn’t know him.

I stepped around him and shoved my way through at least fifteen girls. What the heck did four guys need with fifteen girls? Was that even possible? I ignored the sick knot in my stomach. It was likely that Krit would get a couple of these girls pawing all over him, and he’d forget about me until he was done. I would be stuck out there in the crowd, alone.

“Blythe.” Krit called out my name, and relief swamped me. I wasn’t going to have to go out there and face all those people. “Get the fuck away from her,” he ordered as he jumped down the steps and shoved the guy much bigger than him as well as a couple of the girls until he had his hand wrapped around my arm.

“Where are you going?” he asked, looking panicked.

I turned to look up at the guy in black. “He was sending me away,” I explained.

“She’s really with you?” the man asked incredulously.

“Did she fucking say she was with me?” Krit roared as he pulled me beside him and wrapped his arm around my shoulders.

“Yeah, but they all say that,” he said defensively.

“Does she like the rest of them?” he asked in a hard voice. He was angry. Again.

“No. I’m sorry, dude. You never bring a girl with you.”

“I will from now on. You’ll see her again. Make sure the others know this one is mine,” he ordered. Then he looked down at me. “Let’s get out of here.”

“Okay,” I replied, but the women behind us drowned my voice out. They were trying to get Krit’s attention.

“He’s taken, beauties, but I’m so fucking not,” Green called out over the women. Then Matty and Legend joined him.

Krit walked us to the backdoor that we’d arrived at earlier.

“Are we leaving them?” I asked, glancing back at the crowd.

“Yeah, they’ll be awhile. I have a car picking us up. I was prepared for this,” he replied, then pressed a kiss to my head. “Next time someone tries that shit again, you call my name real fucking loud. Got it?”

Next time? My heart fluttered. There would be a next time.

“Okay,” I replied.

“I’ll make sure they know who you are at the next place. I should’ve thought of that tonight.”

The possessive way he sounded made me want things I couldn’t have. I knew in my head that Krit didn’t mean what I wanted him to mean. But with him touching me and holding me all the time, it was hard to remind myself that he was just affectionate. I just wasn’t positive this was safe for my heart. I had never loved anyone. A month ago I would have said I had no idea what love felt like. However, I was beginning to think that this might be it. And I knew that was not what Krit wanted from me.

A black Lincoln Town Car was waiting outside. Krit walked over to it and opened the door.

“Get in,” he said with a grin.

When we were both inside and headed back to Sea Breeze, I relaxed against Krit. My eyelids were feeling heavy, and I enjoyed his warmth as I slipped into my dreams.