Abbi Glines - Bad For You

When we finished the song and Matty had taken over to give me time to calm down, I turned back to the band and nodded. They knew that meant it was time for the new song. The one I’d written since Blythe had come into my life. It was hard and real. Fans would love it, and every time I sang it, Blythe’s face would be the only thing I saw. She had inspired it, even if I intended to change the bitter facts in the lyrics. She was changing everything for me.

I’ve always had an addictive personality—

Take a little then want a little more.

Being told no isn’t okay with me.

They call it obsession, but I know it’s more.

I know they tell you to stay away from the devil,

But, baby, come a little closer, open my door.

I turned and held her gaze. Her eyes were sparkling with something I didn’t understand, but damn, it felt like it was all mine.

They say I’m bad for you.

They say I’m wrong for the innocent, I’ll only burn you up.

But I’m addicted now, and there’s no changing that.

I just may be bad for you, but this lesson you’re gonna learn.

Accuse me of insanity or desire to possess.

I’ve heard it before but never like this.

I’d tell you not to fear this, but then I’d be a liar.

You lost your free will right after our first kiss.

I know they tell you to stay away from the devil.

But, baby, come a little closer. Open my door.

They say I’m bad for you.

They say I’m wrong for an angel, I’ll only burn you up.

But I’m addicted now, and there’s no changing that.

I just may be bad for you, but this lesson you’re gonna learn.

Good girls should stay away from the dark corners.

Temptation will always lurk within the turn.

Keeping you pure may be the only thing that redeems me.

But I never asked not to burn.

BLYTHE

There were a lot of them. All of them had tiny tops and tinnier bottoms. I stepped back from the women being let backstage by a large guy dressed in black. I could feel several of them looking at me.

“Who is she?” one of them asked in an annoyed tone.

I turned to the large guy who had the muscles of a bodybuilder and a T-shirt on that was so tight, it was in danger of ripping. He frowned at me. “How did you get back here? I don’t let the girls in until last song.”

Nervously, I glanced back at the stage, but I had moved so that I couldn’t see Krit anymore. Swinging my gaze back to the man, I told him, “I came in with the band.”

His frown turned into a disbelieving smirk. “Yeah, right. Heard that before.” He stepped toward me and held out his hand. “Come on, sugar. I bring back the girls the guys pick out, and you weren’t one of them. I didn’t even see you around the stage all night.”

Uh-oh. Glancing back at the stage, I knew Krit would be done soon, and he would inform the guy I was really with the band. Problem was it didn’t look like I was going to be able to keep this guy from sending me away.

“Come on,” he said, motioning me to take his hand. “This isn’t something you want in on. I have no doubt they’d have picked you out of a crowd, but you look terrified. This isn’t where you need to be. These boys like to play.”

“I really did come with the band. I’m a friend of Krit’s,” I explained.

One of the girls burst out laughing, and several others joined her. My face felt like it was on fire.

“You are so not Krit’s type,” one of the girl’s said in an amused tone.

“Nice try,” another one piped up.

The guy gave me a pity smile. “Come on now. Let’s get you out of here.”

I didn’t want to stay back there with those women anyway.

“Fine,” I replied, but I wasn’t giving him my hand. I didn’t know him.

I stepped around him and shoved my way through at least fifteen girls. What the heck did four guys need with fifteen girls? Was that even possible? I ignored the sick knot in my stomach. It was likely that Krit would get a couple of these girls pawing all over him, and he’d forget about me until he was done. I would be stuck out there in the crowd, alone.

“Blythe.” Krit called out my name, and relief swamped me. I wasn’t going to have to go out there and face all those people. “Get the fuck away from her,” he ordered as he jumped down the steps and shoved the guy much bigger than him as well as a couple of the girls until he had his hand wrapped around my arm.

“Where are you going?” he asked, looking panicked.

I turned to look up at the guy in black. “He was sending me away,” I explained.

“She’s really with you?” the man asked incredulously.

“Did she fucking say she was with me?” Krit roared as he pulled me beside him and wrapped his arm around my shoulders.

“Yeah, but they all say that,” he said defensively.

“Does she like the rest of them?” he asked in a hard voice. He was angry. Again.

“No. I’m sorry, dude. You never bring a girl with you.”

“I will from now on. You’ll see her again. Make sure the others know this one is mine,” he ordered. Then he looked down at me. “Let’s get out of here.”

“Okay,” I replied, but the women behind us drowned my voice out. They were trying to get Krit’s attention.

“He’s taken, beauties, but I’m so fucking not,” Green called out over the women. Then Matty and Legend joined him.

Krit walked us to the backdoor that we’d arrived at earlier.

“Are we leaving them?” I asked, glancing back at the crowd.

“Yeah, they’ll be awhile. I have a car picking us up. I was prepared for this,” he replied, then pressed a kiss to my head. “Next time someone tries that shit again, you call my name real fucking loud. Got it?”

Next time? My heart fluttered. There would be a next time.

“Okay,” I replied.

“I’ll make sure they know who you are at the next place. I should’ve thought of that tonight.”

The possessive way he sounded made me want things I couldn’t have. I knew in my head that Krit didn’t mean what I wanted him to mean. But with him touching me and holding me all the time, it was hard to remind myself that he was just affectionate. I just wasn’t positive this was safe for my heart. I had never loved anyone. A month ago I would have said I had no idea what love felt like. However, I was beginning to think that this might be it. And I knew that was not what Krit wanted from me.

A black Lincoln Town Car was waiting outside. Krit walked over to it and opened the door. “Get in,” he said with a grin.

When we were both inside and headed back to Sea Breeze, I relaxed against Krit. My eyelids were feeling heavy, and I enjoyed his warmth as I slipped into my dreams.

I woke up tucked into my bed, but I wasn’t alone. I lifted my head to look down at the hard drool-worthy chest I had been sleeping on. It wasn’t as soft as my pillow, but it was so much better. I took in the sexy musical note tattooed on his pec—it was perfect for him. I wanted to trace all the ink on his chest and arms, but he was still blissfully asleep. With his bad boy smirk gone and his long eyelashes brushing his cheekbones, he really did look like a fallen angel.

I remembered waking up with him carrying me last night, and then again when he pulled my boots off. Then his warm body had climbed into bed with me, and I had been drawn to him.

Glancing at the clock, I realized I had only thirty minutes to get to class. Krit was a late sleeper. I didn’t want to disturb him, so the kisses I wanted to cover his chest with would have to wait. With extreme care, I eased out of his arms. When my feet hit the floor, I peeked back at him to make sure he was still sleeping. Seeing him lying there in my bed made me ache for things I’d never have.

I had lived within my walls for a long time. Why couldn’t I keep them up around Krit, and protect my heart? Shaking my head, I realized no woman would be able to turn away from that. If you were lucky enough to have Krit Corbin in your life, you didn’t push him away. You soaked up every minute and made as many memories as you could.

I got ready and took a shower as quietly as I could, and decided against using the hair dryer because it would wake him. Slipping on my jeans and a new blouse I had bought for work, I picked up my heels and tiptoed out of the room.

Taking the notebook out of my backpack, I quickly wrote Krit a note and taped it to the door before I headed to school. I was going to be late for class, but I just didn’t care. I had woken up in Krit’s arms this morning. It was a perfect day.

KRIT

Waking up without Blythe in bed had sucked. But waking up in her bed with her smell enveloping me was pretty damn nice. If I couldn’t wake up to her, then waking up in her bed with her pillow under my head was a close second. I had hoped I would wake up when she got up to get ready. I wanted to see her. Starting the day and not seeing her sucked.

I was in so deep. Funny thing was, I didn’t give a shit. I would gladly drown in her if she’d let me. For the first time in my life the hole that was always empty was full. I wasn’t trying to find something to curb a desire I couldn’t name. The unsatisfied feeling that had chased me and sent me from one addiction to another was gone. I was . . .

Satisfied.