Bleeding Love

His head turns and those dark eyes of his meet mine. He studies my face for a beat before one brow arches, and if I didn’t know better I would swear he could hear my thoughts. He knows, with just one small look, how badly I want him.

My hunger spiked so high, I’m mad with my cravings for his body.

When a shiver runs through my body, one corner of his thick lips tip up and he gives me a small nod before turning his head back to the group.

Mutely I turn and stare at Dani across from me on the other couch, where she’s settled on Cohen’s lap. She gives me a wink and I watch as her hands come up, thumbs sticking high, and relax slightly as a laugh bubbles up from deep in my belly. Liam’s hand, the one resting against my shoulder, curls into my skin and my eyes widen, as my panties get wet with my arousal.

It’s going to be a long night.

With no choice but to run with it, I give the new Megan a mental shake and vow to take each moment as it comes.

Fifteen minutes later, a new drink in my hand, and I’m faced with the first test to my newfound resolve of living in the moment. The old Megan, the one living in fear, would have bolted the second that Liam was called to the stage. But the new Megan, the one that’s determined to climb the rope and leave rock bottom for good—that new version of me is shocked still.

Never, in all the times that we’ve been here, has Liam taken the stage. And I knew before I started coming out with them, that he hadn’t done it before me either. Nate said once, after spending an hour trying to convince him to sing Baby Got Back with him, that he never goes up there because he is as tone deaf as it gets. I remember the moment like it was yesterday. Liam just nodded and turned his gaze back to the stage. But I also know from being around this group long enough that despite his over confident demeanor, Liam Beckett has a mean phobia when it comes to being in front of a crowd. Something that Dani has had way too much fun with in the past.

That knowledge is what holds me to my seat. When he stood from the couch, I instantly felt his loss and my body moved to the edge of my seat, almost as if it was trying to stay connected when I lost his weight against my side.

When the opening to Van Morrison’s, Brown Eyed Girl fills the air, I gasp. Liam, with all the confidence in the world, takes the mic and opens his mouth. His voice ringing out around us, booming through the speakers, hits every note as if the song was written just for him.

Perfect pitch.

His body moves with the beat and even with a song like Brown Eyed Girl, Liam’s movements look nothing short of sexual to me.

My heart speeds up and I know, without a doubt, that he’s planned this moment just for me.

You’re my brown-eyed girl.

As I watch him work the crowd like a pro I feel like I’m about to jump out of my skin. The need to have those hands, the ones that are holding the mic to his lips, on my body is burning me alive.

He keeps singing as he jumps off the small stage and makes his way over to our area. I can see our group eating this up. Clapping and singing along with him as he takes the final steps until he’s standing right in front of me.

“Hell yeah,” Nate yells and grabs the mic when Liam hands it off before the song finishes and I hear him belt out the end of the song as the crowded bar gets even louder.

“Darlin’,” he pants and reaches out a hand for me to take. I don’t move. I can’t imagine what my face looks like right now, but whatever he sees brings a smile to his lips the likes of which I’ve never seen before. “Take it, baby. Take my hand.”

With a trembling arm, I reach up and finally take his hand.

I MIGHT PUKE.

If the churning in my gut is any clue, it might be soon.

Fuck, this better work.

When I hear my name called out, I shove that feeling aside and make my way to the stage, tagging the mic from Todd, the announcer, and waiting for the music to start.

Never once taking my eyes from where Megan is sitting.

Fuck, this better work.

She’s moved since I stood, her ass just about to fall off the edge of the couch. Her lips parted slightly and her eyes holding me captive.

Yeah, baby, I’m sure you didn’t see that coming.

When the song starts, I instantly forget my hatred for being on display like this and look at Megan as if she is the only woman in this room. She might as well be. As I jump from the stage and make my way to her, making my intentions clear as I keep my eyes locked to hers, I’m rewarded with seeing her eyes light a fire and that desire I’ve been waiting to see, start an inferno. Her chest is moving rapidly when I take the mic from my mouth and shove it blindly toward Nate.