“I wasn’t expecting this,” I blurted honestly.

“Being rich and famous comes with its advantages,” Loren drawled from his perch against the closet by the door. Naturally, he’d mistaken my meaning, and I wisely decided not to share.

“This bedroom is used on an as-needed basis,” Houston informed me. At my confused look, he added. “We share it.”

“You mean, like, we sleep in here together sometimes?” What the hell would be the reason for that?

“It’s interesting that your mind drew that conclusion first, baby fawn.”

Since Loren chose to tease me, I decided to pretend he wasn’t there as I waited for Houston to explain. Rich was the only one who didn’t seem to get off on being cruel, and as usual, he was missing when I needed him. I tried gauging where he went whenever he disappeared, but as expected, neither Houston nor Loren was a welcome fountain of information.

“In the unlikely event that you find yourself needing more privacy than the bunks allow, feel free to use this space.”

Houston waited patiently for me to catch his drift. When I did, I nodded rather than protest, which he didn’t seem pleased about. He was harder to figure out than a quantum mechanics equation. Why even offer the possibility in the first place? No, scratch that. The better question was why it mattered to him if I slept with anyone.

And that was when I caught on to something he’d said.

“Why unlikely?”

“What?” he snapped a little too aggressively.

“You said in the unlikely event I need to fuck someone in here,” I paraphrased while returning some of his aggression. “Why is that unlikely?”

“He misspoke,” Loren dismissively answered for him. Just as I felt my shoulders began to relax, he added, “What he really meant was there isn’t a chance in hell of that happening.”

Finally, Loren had my undivided attention, which seemed to be what he wanted anyway. “Yeah?” I crossed my arms as I faced him. “Why is that?”

“Because we don’t allow groupies with dicks on board.”

“Let me guess. New rule?” Loren stubbornly chose not to answer as he stared me down. “Does this mean you won’t be bringing groupies with pussies on board?”

Chuckling, he straightened before flicking imaginary lint off his open shirt. “No can do, baby fawn. It’s tradition.”

“Ah, but a new member means new traditions, so let’s see,” I teased as I tapped my chin while pretending to think. “How about…if you’re getting laid on tour, so am I.”

I had no intention of fucking anyone but being told I couldn’t by a misogynistic prima donna meant the gloves came off.

“Sounds promising,” Loren returned with a smile I didn’t trust. He took a step forward, his salacious grin turning feral.

I had the feeling I was one wrong move from being tossed on the bed and fucked. Afraid of how much I wanted that, I started backing up. I only made it two steps before I ran into a hard chest.

Houston.

Why wasn’t he stopping Loren? He hadn’t said a word all this time. Why?

I was afraid to look over my shoulder. I knew I’d see the same hunger in Houston’s eyes that Loren was taunting me with now. What would I do then? I could ignore their desires, but I was powerless against mine.

Another step, and Loren now stood over me with Houston at my back. “You have your pick of dicks already on board, baby fawn. Enough to have a good time. Just say the word, and one of us will service you.”

“You’re disgusting.”

“Oh, I’m filthy, baby. You’re fucking right about that.”

My mouth filled with the decadent burst of juice, sweet and thick like syrup, just as the refreshing balm of a meadow and its mysterious meaning returned. By then, I was lost in Loren’s black gaze. I knew what he was waiting for. My lashes fluttered as I drifted toward him. I was done paying for past sins. I felt more alive when I was damned.

I was standing on the edge of a cliff, waiting to either fall or fly, when I felt strong hands on my hips. It took me a moment longer to realize they were keeping me at bay.

The heat left Loren’s gaze, and the rage that took its place seemed endless as he glared at Houston. “Let her go.”

Houston’s hands tightened even though I hadn’t moved an inch. “Nothing’s changed, Lo.”

“Hasn’t it?” Loren challenged. He didn’t wait for an answer before moving to grab me.

Houston was quicker since he was already touching me, and I was yanked backward before being blocked by Houston’s back. Stumbling, I slammed my hand on the wall to catch my balance. Neither of them noticed as they faced off with one another. I couldn’t see Houston’s face, so I watched Loren’s nostrils flare.

“You don’t get a say in where I stick my dick.”

“She’s one of us now,” Houston maintained. “That means she’s off-limits.”

It was a rather convenient time for him to finally admit it, but pride flared in my chest anyway. Unfortunately, it only made me feel guilty for nearly giving in to Loren. Sleeping with my bandmates wasn’t just against Houston’s rules. It was against mine.

“She’s only off-limits if she says so.”

The sound of my heart beating was louder and scarier than thunder when the room fell silent. Could they hear it? I struggled with too many emotions at once. I wanted too many things. I’d already made my decision, but my body wanted to renege.

“I say so,” I answered, thankfully without any of the reluctance I felt. “I’m not some excuse for the two of you to be at each other’s throats. My only desire is to be treated as an equal and to get through this tour in one piece.” Meeting Loren’s gaze, I let the rest of my decree rip my heart in half. “Everything else is just noise.”

Betrayal flitted across Loren’s beautiful features. He’d offered those words to me in comfort and encouragement, and I used them as a weapon against him. His lips curled, and I told myself that I deserved the punishment that followed.

“Hard facts, Fawn.” My soul felt like the imaginary lint he’d flicked off his shirt moments ago. I thought I hated his pet name for me until he cruelly deprived me of it. “You’re not our equal. You’re barely a step above a groupie, so don’t kid yourself.” Turning on the heel of his expensive shoes, my heart trapped underneath, Loren started to leave the room. Stopping at the threshold, he looked over his shoulder. “And just so we’re all on the same page, Houston doesn’t respect you any more than I do. He wants you, too, but he tells himself he can’t have you. And if he can’t, no one can. Your savior is just a selfish bastard.”

Loren was gone before my mind could untwist itself. He couldn’t fuck my body, so he’d settled for my head. Houston stood there, watching the space where Loren had just been, his fists balled and muscles bunched tight. I patiently waited for him to turn and deny Loren’s claim.

He never did.

They had a lot of goddamn nerve.

Even though Houston was a hypocrite and Braxton was a tease, I wasn’t angry at them. I fucked up. I reacted in the heat of the moment only to regret it later—story of my miserable life. A girl didn’t want to sleep with me? Big fucking deal. Someone was willing on every corner.

Braxton was different, but she was no less willing, and if Houston hadn’t intervened, I’d be rearranging her guts right now. What irritated me most was that I’d lashed out like a prepubescent boy when I didn’t get my way.

I wasn’t going to apologize. I doubt either was expecting one, and it wouldn’t change the fact that I wasn’t a nice guy. Unlike Houston and Jericho, I wouldn’t pretend to be noble.

We’d been on the road for a couple of hours now with six or seven more to go. Vegas was the third city of the tour and our fourth and fifth shows. I was just eager to get there. If nothing else got me excited, gambling, music, sex, and now Braxton fucking Fawn did the trick.

I was lying in my bunk with the curtain closed, trying to drown out the sound of her voice as she goofed around with Rich. I hated that he knew how to get a smile out of her. It wasn’t just because I was jealous.

She was the enemy.

A sexy little insurgent.

If it were up to me, I’d drive her ass to the deepest part of the desert and leave her there. Braxton was trouble, and we caused enough on our own.

My phone began buzzing in my pocket, and I planned to ignore it until I heard Braxton laugh at something Rich said. I’m sure she hadn’t meant it to sound sexy…just like Cain hadn’t meant to kill Abel.

Shoving my hand in my jeans, I pulled my phone out of my pocket and accepted the call without opening my eyes. I didn’t care who was on the other end. I needed to drown her out.

“Son.”

Fuck.