Heart of Stone (Rock Star Fairy Tales #1)

Chapter 37

C h apte r 37

Portals and A ctual Beds

N ormally, Margot would have checked on the guys before they headed to an after party. She liked to make sure Nik didn’t bring any of the new instruments along due to his habit of gifting them to adoring fans in addition to staring at Ash one more time before returning alone to her bus and organizing the crew schedule for the drive to Sivas the next day.

Margot was a responsible stage manager. She never neglected her duties. But when Tobin kissed her, she forgot everything she was supposed to be doing, instead surrendering to the call of her body, the unfulfilled yearning he had ignited days ago when they first met. Tonight, she decided that Stone Dragons could look after themselves for one night, and she was just going to stand on the rooftop and kiss Tobin until her toe s curled.

She was vaguely aware of the show ending, the music ceasing with a long shout, and the roar of the crowd fading away, but most of her was focused on the touch of Tobin’s hands on her body, his warm mouth, her cold cheeks, and the air that misted between them when they broke the kiss, faces close together.

“You want me?” Tobin asked, wanting to be perfectly clear. His voice sent shivers down Marg ot’s body.

“I want you,” Margot assured him. She turned to look in the direction of her bus, so far away from the rooftop on which they stood. She could see it down there, tiny next to the huge RVs beside it. It would take too long to get down there. She considered her wings, but it was cold, and she would have to take off her shirt to call them. She was sure Tobin would be willing to suffer a little cold if it meant getting her alone somewhere private, but she didn’t want to ask. “My bus—”

“I can take you to my rooms,” Tobin offered, “if you want.” He winked at her, and heat worked up Margot’s chest into her neck at the idea of finally getting Tobin’s full attention without interruption. “I have an actual full-sized bed and ev erything.”

“Where do you live?” she asked, calculating time and distance and knowing she had to be on the road to Sivas by 10 am or she would be late for her appointment with the repair shop that afternoon. She hated to be so pragmatic, but her bus came before getting laid, no matter how badly she wanted him. Her hands were still holding his back, keeping him close, and she knew he would fit better in her bunk than Ash had. They were roughly the same height, but Tobin was leaner, a sinewy strength—she had seen—while Ash was bigger across the chest.

“Lorellon,” Tobin whispered in her ear, and it took her a moment to place the name.

She put a hand out, making some space between them, but not letting him go. “Lorellon,” she repeated, recognizing the name from her mother’s stories. “Like the f ae realm?”

He nodded. “The estate is in Demacia, high in the m ountains.”

“That sounds awesome,” she admitted, “but I have to head out by 10 tomorrow. You don’t just have an apartment nearby?”

“An apartment?” He cocked his head at her. “How do you think I live , Margot?”

“I don’t know,” she replied, trying to think through the lust clouding her brain. “You travel a lot, so maybe hot el rooms?”

He nodded. “Occasionally, if the need calls for it, but I do have a home, Margot. I am not some wandering v agabond.”

Margot recalled the diplomatic ID. She wasn’t thinking clearly. “I’m sorry,” she said. “I know that. I’m just…” She looked up at him longingly, biting her lip. Tobin bent his head to kiss her again, a hand against her ass to pull her eve n closer.

When they paused again, she said, “Fuck it. How long will it take to g et there?”

“Were you not listening, darling?” Tobin asked, grinning down at her, lips forming a wicked grin. He held out his hand next to them, and his fingers began to twist, marking out specific motions in a definite pattern. A dark purple glow formed behind his hand, the magic prickling Margot’s skin. A few moments later, the magic grew, forming the shape of a door next to them. Tobin gestured at the doorway. “My Lady?”

“Of course,” she scoffed, staring into the purple glow. “A fucking magic portal.” She reached out to it but paused, brain finally getting in a complete thought that didn’t involve what lay beneath Tobin’s clothes. “Wait,” she said, putting a hand to his chest. “Don’t you live at his estate or whatever? Lord Refinus?”

“Rebinus,” he corrected. “And yes, I do, but he isn’t t here now.”

“How do y ou know?”

“Because I know,” he said.

“That’s not an answe r, Tobin.”

He paused, then sighed. “My Lord is not at the estate right now, Margot, I assure you. He will not di sturb us.”

“But he’s the one who will try to Claim me,” Margot insisted, common sense trying to overcome her desire for immediate satisfaction. “ Ash said—”

“Did he?” Tobin interrupted, and she heard something harsh beneath the question. Tobin’s anger with his brother wasn’t limited to his own interactions with him. “Are we taking Ash at his word now?”

“He never lied to me,” Margot defended, but the words were habit. She gave Tobin a skeptical look. “And your Lord has an ax to grind against Ash and his family. This feels lik e a trap.”

“He isn’t there, darling,” Tobin repeated. His hand pressed hard against her back, and he brought her body closer to his, reigniting the fire inside her as he bent his head to kiss her, one hand still held out and maintaining the magical portal. “Do you think I would betray you?” he whispered against her lips.

Margot shivered, her desire warring with her common sense. In the past when she went home with someone, she’d always trusted her gut to keep her safe, that she shared expectations with her companion. Her gut insisted that Tobin was trustworthy, that time with him was well-spent. But this wasn’t going to someone’s place where she could just call a car to take her home when she wanted to leave. Tobin’s portal magic was something he controlled. If she left with him, she was at his mercy until he let her return—or brought her back.

“Swear it,” she demanded suddenly, snatching his hand from her back and pressing it between their bodies. “Swear this isn’t some kind of trap.”

“I swear that this isn’t a trap.” Tobin said instantly, kissing her fingers. “Lord Rebinus isn’t there,” Tobin repeated, a hand running through her hair as he bent to kiss her neck. “He will not disturb us. Did I mention the hug e shower?”

Margot tugged his mouth back up to her lips, satisfied with his promise. “No, but I hope to see mo re of it.”

“Definitely,” Tobin promised and gestured for her to step into th e portal.

“I’m not going to get lost in there, am I?” she asked, turning to look at Tobin over her shoulder.

“I’m right behind you,” Tobin said, one hand resting on her hip and guiding her forward.

She stepped into the purple haze, not sure what to expect. Magic tingled on her skin and she closed her eyes. Her feet left the slightly gravel feel of the rooftop. As she disappeared into the portal, she thought she heard Ash’s voice be hind her.

“Margot!”

She ignored his call, taking another step forward into the unknown.