Love in the Mix (Love in the Mix #1)

Chapter 7

seven

LUNA

T he bass pumps through the speakers surrounding me, a force vibrating every bone in my body. My fingers fly over the turntables, knobs, and buttons, each movement precise and purposeful. The air is thick with excitement, a palpable energy that crackles through the packed venue.

The crowd is unlike anything I have ever experienced.

As I let the music build for the last time, I take in the entire venue. The club is a sensory overload—strobe lights flash in sync with the beat, smoke machines add an obscure ambiance, and the bar at the back is a hive of frenzied activity. In the brief flashes of light, I see bodies on the dance floor move as one entity. They’re not so much dancing as they are pulsing with the rhythm, jumping in place, mirroring my own movements onstage.

The side stage catches my attention, and a shiver runs down my spine as I glimpse the men of the evening. The stark contrast between the dimly lit backstage area and the pulsing main floor creates an almost surreal atmosphere.

My gaze locks with DJ Xav’s—Xavier. Even from this distance, his golden eyes seem to pierce through the chaos of the club. The intensity of his stare makes my breath stutter, and suddenly my feet feel unsteady beneath me. The bass thrums through my body, but I’m not sure if it’s the music or his presence that’s making me feel this way.

Snapping back to the present, I refocus on the crowd. The beat pulses for an elongated moment, the tension in the air almost tangible. Then the music crests and crashes into the final climax drop. The sound system unleashes a wall of sound that seems to physically push against my chest. I’m hitting all my triggers, the lights, lasers, and sound responding to my touch like an extension of my own body.

The dim house lights allow me to watch my audience as they chant my name. Giving several more waves, I catch a few bracelets thrown to me and slip them on quickly. With one last wave and the biggest smile, I make my way offstage. The backstage area is a different world compared to the chaos of the main room. Here, the bass is muffled, the air cooler and less oppressive. The sudden shift is almost disorienting as I begin to wipe the sweat from my face, adding to my post-performance high as I collide against a solid form.

“Whoa, you good?” a deep voice murmurs. I remove the towel covering my face, seeing a full broad chest, and quickly move my gaze to the most beautiful golden eyes. DJ Xav anchors me to the spot.

“I’m so sorry. Sweat and eyeballs don’t mix. Neither does walking when you can’t see.” God, what the actual fuck is wrong with me? Sweat and eyeballs? Might as well dig my own grave. Here lies the girl with no social abilities. I hear a deep chuckle and resist the urge to shiver as the feeling travels down my spine.

“That was an impressive set. You really had the crowd hyped. I’ve never seen them respond like that before.”

“That was once in a lifetime. The response was fucking electric. Thanks for the invite!” I blurt. The adrenaline is still pumping through my body. I find myself looking up at his face, knowing the smile on my own face is wide. I see it reflected back at me. God, have I ever seen a more attractive man? He’s so tall. My eyes peruse his body. A set of broad shoulders, big hands, and even thicker thighs. But it’s his eyes I keep coming back to. They pull me in, golden with amber hues and flecks of brick, playing off the warm tones of his copper skin. My eyes drift to the hands that were just holding onto me, catching onto the bulging veins trailing up his arms. My mind quickly wanders as I imagine them covering my body, wrapped around my throat?—

“You know, that was probably the hottest thing I’ve ever seen.” My eyes shift to my right to see DJ Bas approaching, the complete opposite to Xav—pale skin, light brown hair, green eyes that just scream “devious,” and a jawline to match. His face structure is cut from marble. One touch and I’d be history.

“Oh, yeah? And why is that? A woman being a DJ is not a new idea,” I say, raising my brows.

“I mean, you can’t deny that you’re hot, but I was referring to the crowd getting hyped so quickly. You read them well and went out with a banger. Watching you control that audience was definitely sexy,” he finishes with a purr. I allow myself to laugh.

“What can I say? I like to be in control.” I send an exaggerated wink his way. With a tilt of his head, he bursts into laughter, eliciting a smile from me.

“Well, thanks for getting them warmed up.” He takes the joint Xav is holding. I quickly swipe it from his fingertips, inhaling smoothly and holding it.

“You could’ve asked, you know,” Bas says as his green eyes—true pools of jade—hold mine in a magnetic gaze. I smirk right back, exhaling before taking another hit.

“Yeah, but then I couldn’t do this.” I wrap my arm around his neck and pull his head down to hover right over my own as I blow the smoke right into his open mouth. I rub my lips lightly against his before pulling away, leaving him stunned. “Do me proud, boys. I didn’t edge them all night just for you to drop the ball now and leave them wanting.” I pass the joint back to Xav, staring back into his golden desire.

“Do you plan to stick around and watch?” Xavier asks earnestly.

“Oh, darling, that golden retriever energy is so cute,” I say, reaching out to pinch his cheek. What the fuck is wrong with me? Send help. Pinching his cheek? Do I want to die? “I’m going to change. I’m sure I’ll make my way back out here eventually.” I pat his shoulder as I go to walk past. His fingers reach out to grab mine, effectively making me stop.

“Do me a favor?” He pulls me close, using his other hand to push an errant piece of hair out of my face. “Make sure your sexy ass is back here by the last song of our set. I promise you won’t regret it,” he whispers directly into my ear. I can’t suppress the shiver this time. I nod my head as he releases my fingers. Making my way to the provided dressing room backstage, a small, somewhat shabby space—a far cry from the glamor of the main stage. I drop into the single chair sitting in the corner, its vinyl covering cracked with age, now groaning with my weight as I sit back. I have no idea what just happened, but fuck . My whole body is on fire.

I quickly undress from my stage clothes to a more comfortable black sundress. Using the small sink, I use my towel to remove the layers of sweat, doing my best to clean my body. I rip the hair tie in my hair out and impatiently attempt a second messy bun. It only takes me seven tries to get one that still looks cute.

I can hear the muffled roar of the crowd and the pulsing beat of the music through the thin walls as I make my way back to the stage just in time. I hear Xav’s voice over the music. “As you all know, we are here to say fuck Valentine’s Day! We want to replace the day with good vibes and love in any shape, form, or desire.”

The word desire leaves his lips and his eyes catch mine from the stage. His eyes are full of fire. My breath catches as I feel my entire body blush. I feel the heat move from my face directly to my pussy as I stare back at him, unblinking. There’s that unsteady feeling again. I seriously can’t believe that someone as sexy as Xavier Sanchez would slide into my DMs, or that it took me so long to respond.

His eyes leave mine just as the microphone leaves his hands and Bas screams out, “I want to hear you all give it up for our amazing opening act, DJ Luna Sparks!” The cheers are deafening. My eyes shift from the captivating men in front of me to the energetic crowd, leaving me taken aback.

“I’m glad you all feel that way, because we would love it if she came back out here to play our last song with us.” As soon as the words leave Bas’ lips, my eyes widen and I shake my head. No, absolutely fucking not. No way, he could eat me, no way. Xav quickly ushers me onto the stage, sliding headphones onto my head and shining bright lights in my face before I can even process what's happening. Taking a deep breath, I brace myself for the most intimidating moment ever.