Page 44 of Ravaged By Lust

“Really?”

“But that’s men for you,” she replies. “You can’t help but love them, despite all their faults. Sometimes they do know exactly how to treat you like a Disney princess, and then you’re falling for them against your better judgment. And then sometimes you do get your happy ever after, and it’s the best thing.”

I sigh in resignation and reach into Maddie’s Tupperware.

“I don’t think I’ll get my happy ever after,” I say. “But I will help myself to another cookie. That’s close enough.”

14

BISHOP

It’s a damn good thing that Ravaged is performing tonight because otherwise I might do something crazy.

Like find Chloe again.

And maybe even talk to her.

Yeah, that would be crazy.

Performing music is the one thing that clears my head during times of crisis, and it’s definitely a time of crisis right now. My head needs a whole spring clean. It’s all to do with my best friend’s sister. Chloe has been a permanent fixture on my mind since she appeared out of nowhere yesterday at Axel’s place like a surprise summer tropical storm wrecking everything in her path. I had thought I was strong, that I was over her, that I wouldn’t quake in her presence if I saw her again, but I was so very wrong.

She’s still so damn beautiful.

I must have her again.

Everything is about her.

But performing on stage here in this small basement bar to a select group of fans is where I feel like I can just let go of all the fucking stress that’s built up in me for the last day. I’m in my element here. As I play, I look around at the other members of Ravaged performing along with me. I look out at the crowd with their adoring faces. This isn’t a big arena that we’ve become accustomed to. This is an intimate charity gig. Just us boys, the music, and a small crowd. This is important.

The set is great. The audience is great. The music is banging.

And I feel like I can finally relax.

After the show, us boys take our seats at the back of the bar and have a round of drinks to cool down. Drake has a new girl around his arm, as usual. I give him a roll of my eyes before I order a very expensive glass of Scotch for myself.

Caspian, Ravaged’s drummer, leans in to me as I take my first sip. “You okay?”

The man is massive. Pure muscle. His wide shoulders practically take up two seats. He barely speaks anything more than a syllable at a time, so him asking me if I’m okay means a serious amount of concern.

“I’m fine,” I reply. “Why do you ask?”

Caspian shrugs and grunts. “You seem different today.”

Drake giggles like a schoolchild. He’s obviously overheard us. “Bishop saw Chloe yesterday for the first time since Crystal River,” he pipes up. The girl sitting on his lap trails a seductive finger down the middle of his chest.

“Shit.” That’s Caspian’s reply. He sums up the situation perfectly.

I look for Axel, afraid he might also be overhearing this little fucked-up conversation. He’s busy in the corner having a conversation with Lucas, our manager. Good.

“And how do you feel about that?” Drake asks me, ignoring the fawning girl trying to get his attention.

“We’ve moved past all that,” I mutter. I want to move on past this conversation if I’m being honest. Fuck Drake’s poking. “We’re all adults now.”

“You didn’t like it when she rejected you, didn’t you?” Drake teases.

“I would have my hands wrapped around your neck if there wasn’t a girl in the way, Drake.”

Caspian laughs at that as the girl whispers in Drake’s ear.