Keys played the closing chords to one of his and Mia’s songs to a packed auditorium in Los Angeles. It was his second encore song of the night. He planned on giving the audience one more after this. His body was so jacked he seemed to hover over the piano bench at his concert grand piano.
Tonight’s concert, his last in the Key to Love tour, had sold out eight minutes after the tickets went on sale. Throughout the entire tour, he and Mia had played to packed houses. Talk of Grammy’s for two of his songs and his first solo album buzzed in the airwaves. Critics had likened him to a cross between John Legend and Stevie Wonder, due to his “soulful vocals and R&B fusion” combined with his “funky jams and percussive, jazzy backbeats.”
A bright spotlight focused on him and the baby grand, while blue lights illuminated his backup band and the trio of singers he’d hired to accompany him on tour. The song, called Fresh Start, a tribute to his relationship with Mia, made him smile so hard his cheeks ached. As the driving crescendo built, he abruptly bolted to his feet and kicked the bench away.
The crowd roared.
As he played the closing notes and sang the last phrase, his hands flew across the keys, and his voice soared. His eyes connected with Mia, who stood just off-stage, her crystal-laden electric guitar in hand. His grin grew wider, and he inclined his head slightly, indicating for her to come onstage.
Dressed in a form-fitting black leather jacket, a short red leather skirt, and thigh-high boots, with her hair pulled on top of her head in several thick braids, she strode onto the stage playing the opening lines to their latest hit, Lava Love. She crossed to center stage where a microphone stand had been placed.
The band and the vocalists seamlessly picked up the beat.
“You. And. Me. We’re magic. Born. Of. Something tragic,” Mia sang in her powerful voice.
Everyone in the auditorium got to their feet, stomping, clapping, and singing along.
Keys grabbed the microphone from the stand near his piano, and jumped up and down, singing, “Can. You. Feel. Fantastic. Let’s. Do. Something drastic.” He bounced his way to Mia’s side and pressed his cheek close to hers so they could sing into her microphone. “Let’s. Let. Go. Into this lava love.” While he sang, he held his microphone toward the audience.
Everyone sang the chorus, “Let’s. Let. Go. Into this lava love.”
His eyes locked with Mia’s. The love reflected in those beautiful caramel orbs matched his feelings, heartbeat for heartbeat. His heart felt like it would explode in his chest, like fireworks filling the night sky.
When the song came to a close, a din of screams, whoops, hollers and whistles filled the auditorium.
Keys took Mia’s hand, lifted it high, and then bowed in unison with her. “Thank you, everyone,” he shouted into the microphone.
“We love you!” Mia yelled, kissing her fingertips and spreading her arms wide.
“And we love you!” several people yelled back.
Keys jogged offstage, leading Mia. When they got backstage, he took her in his arms and kissed her long and hard.
She tasted of peppermint and perspiration. She smelled divine. He couldn’t wait to get her alone and ravish her, his all-time favorite past-time. When their lips parted, he said, “Great tour, Miss Song, soul mate, and manager.”
“Thank you,” she said, bowing.
A roadie strolled toward them, saying, “I’ll take your guitar, Mia.”
She maneuvered the strap from her shoulders, seized the neck of the guitar, and handed it to him. “Treat her like the queen that she is, Theo.”
“You got it,” Theo said, kissing the frets.
“Hey,” Keys growled. “She said to treat the instrument like a queen, not make out with it.”
“Sorry.” Theo’s cheeks flamed. “I only meant… I tried to…”
“He’s kidding, Theo,” Mia said, patting the guy’s shoulder. “Aren’t you kidding, sweetness?” she said to Keys.
“Not really,” Keys said. He glared at the kid.
The roadie shuffled away.
As Keys threw his arm around Mia, he said, “Ready to go, angel?”
“Not so fast,” a familiar voice said.
Keys looked up to see Gia racing up the side stairs. “That gig was so sick! Brutus and I were dancing in the aisles.”
“Thank you, Gia,” Keys said, releasing Mia to give Gia a squeeze.
“Can I have your autograph?” Gia teased. “Please?”
“Are you going to sell it on eBay?” Keys said with an arched eyebrow.
“Of course!” Gia hopped up and down.
“Then, I’ll pass,” Keys said, winking at her.
“Spoilsport,” Gia said, pouting. Then, a sunshiny grin appeared on her face. “I hear you’re going to write the soundtrack to one of Christopher Nolan’s new movies.”
“Yeah,” Keys said, kissing Mia’s cheek. “I’ve got a kick-ass manager.”
“We’ll be finalizing the details when we get back to New York,” Mia said, lacing her fingers with Keys.
“Cool, cool,” Gia said, practically vibrating. “And when are we going to have a house-warming for your new apartment?”
“As soon as we spend more than a day in it and get it ready for primetime,” Mia said. “Keys and I are working with a designer to give it that cozy feel that Keys likes, with the touches of class that I like.”
“You two are amazing,” Gia said, reaching for their free hands. She gave them both a squeeze. “I’m so proud of you, Keys. Both of you. What a difference it makes when you deal with your shit, huh?”
“I still have a pile to work through,” Mia said. “But I’m getting better every day. It helps to have an amazing guy to love and support me. And, it helps to have friends like you. As well as a rock-solid therapist.”
“Thank you. I agree. None of us would be doing as well as we are, were it not for our friends’ support.” Gia let go of their hands, pivoted, and hooked her hand inside Mia’s elbow. “You heading out?” she said, as they all strode away from the stage.
“Yeah. We’re flying home tonight. You?” Keys said as they entered the softly-lit hall that led to the dressing rooms.
“Nah. The big guy and I are going to spend some time here in L.A. We’re going to Disneyland, then we’re going to motor down to the Baja peninsula, just the two of us. Spend some time in the sun before we go on tour again.”
“Sounds like a good plan. Mia and I are going to stay home for a couple of weeks. Let the cat know we own the house, we’re not simply there to serve his needs.” Keys snorted.
“Oh, you know Mr. Maxie has wound his claws into your heart, Keys,” Gia said, peeking around Mia.
“You should see them,” Mia said, pausing before her dressing room. “Max curls in his lap when Keys is chilling in the front room. Purrs like a maniac.”
“I’ll bet he does.” Gia grinned. “Well, you two.” She stood on her tiptoes and kissed Keys’ cheek before wrapping Mia in a huge hug. “Let’s have a spa day in New York when I get back,” she said to Mia.
“I look forward to it,” Mia said. “Have fun at Disneyland and the beach.”
“You know it.” Gia gave them a finger wave, whirled, and hurried down the hall.
Keys twisted the doorknob to Mia’s dressing room. “Get in here. Quick,” he said, urging her inside the darkened room. He shut the door behind them and pushed Mia against the door, pressing his lips to hers. Consumed with volcanic lust in the same way he’d experienced every day in the last ten months, his cock begged for release. He longed to be inside her, stroking her heavenly pussy, rubbing the delicate skin between her breasts, inside her wet mouth, anything, along as it was skin on skin with the love of his life.
As he peeled away her leather jacket, kissing her shoulder as he slid the sleeve from her arm, his soul had never felt freer. His mind detoured for a second to the many changes he’d made by taking a chance at love.
A year ago, his life had been filled to the brim with meaningless encounters. He hated his life. He’d constantly argued with the band and screwed faceless, nameless women, in a no strings attached drift, like a helium balloon let go into the sky. But now? Now he lived with his cherished girlfriend. Did they have perfection? Nah. There were speedbumps along the way as they became used to one another’s rhythms and quirks. They had a career together. Mia had also landed a few juicy clients on her own.
But best of all, their hearts beat as one. Could life get any sweeter? Who knew, but he was glad he decided to show up and find out.
If you’d like to continue the Adrenaline series, try Book 1, Crazy Love, Book 2: Twisted Love or Book 3: Sugar Love. All books are HEA and can be read in any order.
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