Echoes of the Heart, Casey, L.A. [reader novel .txt] 📗

and I wouldn’t have noticed because my entire being was focused on Risk. On his alluring, soul-touching, clit-throbbing voice. The throaty growling sound he made when he screamed certain lyrics sent a shiver up my spine. I had no idea what lyrics he was singing, I was entirely too captivated with how he looked and sounded to really listen to the words that were coming out of his mouth.

When the first song of the night wound to an end, the lighting on stage changed and each band member could be seen clearly by me at the side of the stage. There was a flurry of activity with the crew behind me still but I blocked them out and focused on Risk.

“London!” Risk shouted into his microphone. “What’s happening, you beautiful bastards?”

The screams, holy Christ, they were deafening.

“That,” Angel said into his mic from the back of the stage behind his drum set, “is what I like to fucking hear, Sinners. Don’t you agree, Hayes?”

“Oh, yeah. Nothing better than Sinners screaming.”

More screams quaked the stadium. I knew Angel and Hayes didn’t sing like Risk, who was the lead, and May, who provided some backing vocals, but Summer had mentioned earlier that they recently started having their own microphones so they could speak and interact between songs because the fans loved it so much. It was clearly a good decision.

“Ha!” May suddenly shouted. “Barely finished the first song and I’ve got my first thong thrown my way.” He bowed in the direction of the woman who threw it. “Thank you, darlin’.”

He hung it off one of the guitar’s tuning keys and I burst out laughing because that was such a May thing to do. A bunch of underwear was suddenly launched onto the stage, making Risk and Hayes laugh. With their fingertips, the lads followed suit and decorated their guitars with knickers and bras. I knew I couldn’t be the only one to wonder if they were worn or new.

“Lucky bastards,” Angel grumbled. “Where’s my panties at?”

More flimsy pieces of fabric were hurled onto the stage, all of the guys laughed when May grabbed a bunch of them and ran up the steps in the middle of the stage so he could reach Angel. He decorated his drum kit and when he was finished Angel high-fived him.

“I’ve always got my brother’s back when it comes to knicker decor.”

I giggled like a silly schoolgirl. They were so funny, so charismatic and so happy. They were all smiling, I loved to see it. Them being happy made me feel happy. It was infectious.

“Long time no see, London,” Risk shouted. “You’re looking . . . good.”

He needed to stop if he wanted me to stay side stage. He was using that low sexy tone of voice that melted me in seconds . . . the man was seducing the audience with nothing more than words, and he bloody well knew it.

“Good enough to eat,” May continued. “I hope you’re extra excited because you heard about our new album dropping next month and the accompanying world tour kicking off next year?”

Screams on top of screams.

“Nah, I don’t think they heard you right, man,” Hayes mused. “They don’t sound hyped enough.”

“Not even a little bit,” Angel agreed. “I thought we had Sinners filling this place to the brim?”

He twirled his drumsticks expertly in his fingers as the screaming managed to get louder and it drew a musical laugh from Risk.

“Oh, our Sinners did hear about our new album and tour. Isn’t that . . . fun?”

I was going to dry hump his leg if he wasn’t careful.

May strummed his guitar, Risk followed suit, then Hayes and Angel joined in. I knew which song it was right away. ‘Black Space’, the song I whooped May on when we were playing Guitar God. I laughed and jumped around, which earned me a smile and head shake from Tobias, who was hovering close by. I was dancing and having fun but I slowed down to bobbing my head so I could focus on the lyrics of the song. It was an upbeat song about living life in the fast lane but needing the promise of a lover to always hold a person’s hand so they couldn’t get lost along the way.

The lyrics . . . they were beautiful.

A lump formed in my throat when I realised it was a song about the promise Risk and I made when we were kids, to always do everything together and have each other’s back. It could have been depicted a million different ways, the lyrics weren’t straight forward, but that was my take and I just knew it was the right one. I could hear what he was saying . . . I could hear him.

A tap on my shoulder startled me as the song drew to a close. I turned to my right and found Chris right there.

“He’s looking at you!”

I turned my head to where Chris was pointing and I realised Risk was speaking to the audience, but looking right at me. I missed what he said, but when he held his hand out, I fully understood what he meant. He wanted me to go out on stage to him. Me. On stage. I reached into my bag and fisted both of my inhalers.

“Go to him!” Chris bellowed in my ear. “Get fucking out there!”

He pushed me from behind and I stumbled onto the stage, just barely catching my balance to avoid falling flat on my face. I wasn’t completely on the centre stage, but I wasn’t hidden by the side stage any longer. I glanced up at one of the huge screens next to the stage and my wide-eyed face was plastered up there for the thousands of fans to see. Screaming erupted when I forced myself to walk towards Risk. I knew the hardcore Sinners who followed the band in the media knew who I was instantly.

I closed the distance between myself and Risk, his hand came up to cradle my face instantly. I latched onto him like a