Harmony Hearts

Sydney

Fans of the new band, Whiskey River Devils , filled the Rhythm & Revelry Lounge bar in a brightly lit alleyway. Colorful graffiti jumped off the alley walls in precise lines that made it come alive. Inside the bar, excitement and curiosity filled the room. Fans ordered from a menu’s witty names the band members chose for their favorite drinks. They only had to wait another thirty minutes for the first debut. Other rock songs played overhead through the speakers around them to keep them entertained while waiting.

The music bounced off the storage room’s walls in vibrating pulses, covering the sound of labored breath and moans. The locked door kept unwanted guests from interrupting the two in a heated embrace.

Sydney bit her lip to keep quiet from making too much sound. The man against her kissed and nibbled at her neck. His hands were everywhere, making her tremble in anticipation. She felt like her skin was on fire that followed wherever his fingers brushed. This isn’t you…but it feels so good…, she thought briefly until his hand moved to the end of her shirt. Her brain shut off again when his lips were back against hers in a passionate kiss.

Her fingers gripped his shoulders tightly. Was tonight going to be the night? In a grimy storage room of a bar with people crowded outside? She finally got a breath in.

“Wait,” she panted, trying to gather her senses. But his breath against the dip of her neck was making it rather hard. That’s not the only thing hard. She whimpered. “I should tell you something…”

He nibbled her shoulder. “I don’t care if you have a boyfriend. I won’t tell.” Desire coated the thick Irish accent of each word.

“Wh-what? No…” Sydney shook her head in an attempt to clear it for a moment. “We should slow down. Maybe get to know each other?” She laughed nervously.

He paused, smiling against her skin. “You don’t do this often, do you?”

“Never have, actually…”

The man laughed softly. “Always a first time for everything, love.”

Sydney shivered at his words. That accent probably got him in loads of trouble, she’d guess. God only knew how many others he captured with it. “We don’t even know each others’ names.”

He pulled away, his hand still pressed against her waist, half under her shirt. He was beautiful. His short red hair was messy from her hands running through it. His green eyes pierced through her soul when he looked at her. She bit her lip once more and a growl came from him.

“You keep biting that lip, love, and I’m not sure I’ll be able to pull away.” He moved in for another kiss, but she pulled back. A smile lifted his lips. “Okay, okay. The name is Skylar.”

Sydney smiled. “Was that so hard?” She took the hand playing with her shirt and brought it up to her lips. “Sydney.” She kissed his callused finger, nipping it softly. She wondered what he did to make his hands rough, though she didn’t mind.

Drunk off the lustful look he gave her, she pulled him back in for another kiss, completely under his spell. A light vibration against her inner thigh caused her breath to catch. He suddenly pulled away and pulled out his phone.

“I’m a little busy at the moment, mate.” His voice filled with annoyance.

Sydney watched as he checked his watch and cursed. She frowned when he suddenly looked serious.

Skylar’s eyes lingered over her with a hungry gaze as he spoke to whoever was on the other line. He cursed beneath his breath, closing his phone before he cleared his throat. “I have to go. There’s a few things I need to do. But we can meet up after the show.”

Sydney smiled, confused, but nodded anyway. “I’ll be here.” Skylar gave her one more deep, electrifying kiss before walking out of the storage room. She wondered why he seemed to be in so much of a hurry. Deciding not to think too much about it, she closed her eyes and took a breath.

Her smile fell. “Fuck.” Her chest tightened at the thought about what he could have left to do, but something told her she already knew. She hoped she was wrong. Fixing herself, she quietly left the room. She walked up to the bar, stopping next to a blonde in a thin emerald dress that complimented her curves. “Tori…”

The blonde held up her hand and took a shot before she spoke. “Where the hell have you been?” She said, taking a bite of the lime in front of her.

“Long story.” Sydney sat down next to her, exhausted from overthinking.

“Want a shot?” Tori smiled widely as she tapped the bar twice for two shots of Tequila. Tori handed her the small glass and a lime. Her brows furrowed and sat closer, tilting Sydney’s head up and aside. “Are those hickeys?”

Red filled Sydney’s face. “What?” She quickly pulled out her phone and opened the camera to look. Panic filled her. “Dad’s going to have a heart attack. I think I’m having one.”

Tori only grew giddy. “You hooked up? I can’t believe it! About time. I was starting to worry about you.” She licked salt off the back of her hand then threw back the amber tinted liquid and shivered before taking another bite of the lime.

Sydney glared at her. “I didn’t hook up. Not fully, anyway.” She placed her head on the bar, exhausted. “We got interrupted.” She went to explain more, but the music and lights shut off. The crowd moved closer to the stage in anticipation.

“I’ll tell you more after,” Sydney said louder as the snare of the drums filled with air. Sydney winced as she took her own shot. She sighed in relief from the lime, and turned her attention to the men coming out onstage as the spotlight flashed on, illuminating the band. Her heart fluttered as she recognized the drummer instantly. “Fuck,” she whispered. There he was, red hair still somewhat messy and a cocky grin that made all the girls squeal.

A tall man with dark brown hair smiled into the mic as the crowd went wild. “We are the Whiskey River Devils and we’re here to make you rock!” He winked as Skylar began the first song, filling the room with loud, vibrating beats. The leader gave a riff of his guitar and began to sing, causing the crowd to go wild once more.

Being around music most of her life, Sydney felt something move through her soul as she listened to the lyrics of the song that complimented the music of the instruments. She wasn’t one to like most genres that didn’t have solid flows with lyrics. Being a cello player, she tended to lean more on the classic and alternative rock side of music. But there was something about the way the lead singer's words made her heart hammer. It was like the singer was speaking just to her, like he knew her darknesses. She couldn’t take her eyes off of the redhead on the drums. She could still feel his breath, his body pressed against hers.

This isn’t happening… Why is it that the first time I actually feel something, I can’t keep it?

She shook her head after the first song finished. She couldn’t stay. While it’d be hard, she had to remind herself that she couldn’t see him again if she could help it. Just don’t go into the studio. It’ll be fine.

Sydney grabbed her coat and purse. Tori was immersed into the music herself, making it easier for Sydney to sneak out into the cold air of the night. She had to leave before she made a mistake that would ruin his life and hurt her in the long run.