"That was crazy!" Honesty exclaimed, running her fingers through her silky, brown hair. Wrapping my arm around her shoulders, I pulled her close and placed a kiss on the top of her head. She sighed sweetly and looked up at me through her dark lashes.

"It's because word got out that I've been in rehab. It'll only get worse now because everyone will be watching and trying to catch me fucking up. It wouldn't surprise me if they haven't all placed bets on when I'll screw up again," I said. It was true. The paparazzi could be cold hearted bastards. All they wanted was their money making shot or big story that would make them millions.

"That's awful," she whispered, laying her head on my shoulder. I absentmindedly traced little circles on her bare arm with my fingertips.

"It's true though," Jinx told her. "Most of them are snakes in the grass, and if any of them approach you, let one of us know. Don't say a word to them. Let Court or security handle it. That's what they're paid to do; they specialize in that sort of thing," he said, and she nodded.

We arrived at the venue a few minutes later and entered through one of the security doors in the back. Luckily there was a chain link fence around the back to prevent any unauthorized people from getting to us. The first thing I noticed was Sweet Misery's bus is in the parking lot and immediately my heart began to race. Honesty must have sensed it because she laced her fingers with mine and placed a kiss on my knuckles. I glanced down into her green eyes and gave her a reassuring smile that I was sure didn’t reach my eyes.

"I'm okay babe." I kissed the top of her hand.

"I'm not going anywhere. Remember that," she told me, squeezing my hand gently and I nodded in understanding. God, how had I gotten so lucky to have her in my life?

There were roadies and security staff scattered about. Everyone was scurrying about, swapping out equipment, getting ready for the next band to take the stage for practice. Once everything was set up and our instruments were in place, we took the stage. I glanced to the right of the stage where Honesty stood with a beaming smile in place. I stuck out my tongue and fluttered it wildly, reminding her of what I would be doing to her later. Her face flushed a bright shade of pink. I couldn't help but chuckle at her reaction.

"One. Two. Three. Four," Jinx counted out while striking his drum sticks, leading us into our first song.

After working through any kinks that needed perfecting, I packed up my guitar and headed for the side of the stage where Honesty stood, waiting for me. All I could think about was getting her back to the room and naked.

"You guys sounded great!" Honesty said as she met me half way across the stage.

"Thanks babe." I wrapped my arms around her and pulled her in for a kiss. I reached behind her, cupping her ass, giving it a squeeze, causing her to squeal with laughter.

"Hey guys! Hold up just a minute." Court interrupted our quick departure. I need you back here two hours early tonight because Rocker Magazine wants to do a photo shoot for their next issue," he said. "And before you all start bitching about it; I know its short notice, but we could use some good press. I really think it will be a positive thing for Linc," he explained, looking in my direction. I gave a chin lift to let him know that I was down with that. I was just ready to get out of there and back to the hotel where I could have Honesty all to myself.

Jinx called Honesty over to where he was standing beside his drum kit, just as my phone vibrated in my pocket, signaling a new text.

What the fuck! It was from Teagan.

Teagan: I missed you like crazy. We've got six months to make up for, baby.

Meet me somewhere?

Me: I'm not meeting you anywhere. I'm through with this. The drugs, the

Alcohol and you! Don't fucking text me. Don't even look in my fucking direction!

Teagan: You don't mean that! We have great sex, and besides, I have some special dust. You know what I'm talking about. Meet me at our bus at midnight. I promise you won't be disappointed.

This is some mother fucking fucked up shit! The moment she mentioned special dust, the itch began. I knew from the term ‘special dust’ she meant cocaine and ecstasy. I had only used it once before with her and we fucked like rabbits. In all my years of drug use, I had never experienced anything like it, and that was saying a lot. All of my senses were magnified a thousand times over. The skin to skin feeling alone was almost enough to make me have an orgasm. I remember all too well how good it felt to bury myself balls deep while high on that shit.

"Ready to go?" I was startled from my thoughts as Honesty wrapped her arms around my waist from behind. I shoved my phone into the front pocket of my jeans in hopes of her not seeing the text that I had been staring at for the last few minutes. I would have to deal with Teagan later.

"Let's go baby," I responded, turning in her arms and then slapping her on her ass. "I seem to remember being teased right before we left. I think you need to be punished for that," I said with my mouth against her ear. I heard her quick intake of breath, the rise and fall of her chest increased with each breath.

"I like the sounds of that." She giggles when I grabbed her hand and led her from the stage. We couldn’t get back to the room fast enough!

********

The venue was packed. There were cars and buses as far as the eye could see as the limo pulled to a stop at our designated entrance, where four security guards stood with their beefy arms crossed over their chests.

"You guys follow me," Court said as he greets us the moment we stepped through the big metal door. Honesty's hand slid into mine and we laced our fingers together as we all followed Court to the end of a long hallway to a door marked, "Private." We followed him inside to find a white cloth backdrop with several bright lights positioned in front of it, along with a camera tripod. A tall, thin man with a goatee stood in front of the tripod doing something with the camera while the curvy blonde standing next to him made notes on the clip board she clutched in her left hand.

"Welcome guys. My name is Jerome and I'm here representing Rocker Magazine. We will be featuring Dirty Affliction in this upcoming edition. You'll grace the cover, along with several individual photos inside. Grace, here, will get you all in position so we can begin. If you'll just do as she says, we'll get this show on the road. I know you all have more important things to do than stand around and look pretty for the camera," he said and threw his head back, laughing. I was already on edge from the texts from Teagan and now this mother fucker thought he was a damn comedian. It took everything in me to go along with the shoot. I mean, who in the hell asked for a spur of the moment photo shoot, right before we went on stage to perform for a sold out crowd.

Fuck!

As if Honesty could read my mind, she wrapped her arms around my neck and pulled me in for a quick kiss. "You've got this," she whispered against my ear so only I can hear. "Whatever negative thoughts you've got rolling around in that head of yours right now, get rid of them, they’re all bullshit! Do you hear me?" She asked. "You, Lincoln McKay, are worthy of all of this. No matter what may have happened in the past. Got it?" She asked and I could practically feel some of the self-doubt and hate for myself drain from my body. How the hell did I get lucky enough to have her in my life?

"I got it." I leaned in and kissed her on the cheek before turning to follow the guys across the room. As the blonde explained how she wanted the shoot to go, my cell vibrated. I pulled it from my pocket long enough to see Teagan's name and the word, "midnight" on the screen then shoved it back into my pocket. Teagan was a part of that past and I needed to make sure she stayed there.