Viper (Fallen Angel #2)(24)

“Oh, for fuck’s sake,” Killian said, just as Jagger yelled, “Don’t nobody wanna see that.”

“Well, considering V was voted hottest guitarist alive in Rolling Stone, I think a lot of people wanna see it,” Slade said, then casually scooped leftover potato salad into his mouth.

Jagger shot him a look. “Dude.”

“What?”

Jagger stared at him for a long moment and then shook his head. As Slade shrugged and went back to eating, I lifted my sandwich and stabbed the second pickle I’d grabbed with my fork. Bringing it to my lips, I bit off the tip, as Viper’s lips curled.

Once I swallowed, I lowered my voice so only Viper could hear and said, “You’re not the only one who likes a thick prick in his mouth.”

His eyebrows shot up, and he coughed around the bite he’d been chewing. “Damn, Angel,” he said, then grabbed my drink off the table and took a long swallow. “The shit that’s comin’ outta your mouth today…”

“Better than what’s been going in it?” I asked, but this time Jagger heard it, and he jumped to his feet.

“Nah, nah, man. I don’t wanna hear none of that,” he said, moving across the room to sit, but there wasn’t another open spot, so he sat on the arm of Killian’s chair. “Tell them to take it to another room, Kill.”

“Can’t do that. We’ve gotta talk album names.” Killian wiped his mouth with his napkin and then set his empty plate on the table beside him.

“Why don’t we self-title it? There, done,” Jagger said.

“We could, but don’t you wanna come out with a bang?”

Jagger grinned. “I think Halo does.”

When raucous laughter broke out, I could only shake my head. Yeah, the guys had been teasing nonstop since finding out about Viper and me, but I found that I didn’t mind, because the alternative would’ve been much worse. Besides, it was kinda fun running Jagger off by freaking him out. Having the guys not give two shits one way or another had taken a weight off, and the result was me feeling more relaxed, more a part of the band than I ever had before. It helped that we were coming together so well musically, and our new producers, Jared in particular, had been great about giving us the space to work our songs ourselves while making sure we were still headed in the right direction.

“What about TBD?” Slade said. A few seconds later, he ducked, the pillow Killian had thrown at him barely missing his head. “Yo, it was a joke!”

“Speaking of TBD, what about Destruction? Like tearing down the past?” I said.

Killian nodded slowly. “Not bad. But do we want to focus on the past or make a statement about our future?”

Good point. As the others rattled off a few suggestions, I wolfed down my lunch. I hadn’t realized I was so hungry, but performing always took a lot out of me, and trying to nail perfect vocals for hours was the hardest part.

Viper leaned in toward me, and I assumed he’d grab something off my plate, but instead he lowered his voice and said, “Now that’s one way I’d like to see you eat my cock. Like you’re fuckin’ starving.”

I dropped the sandwich, and Viper chuckled, taking the rest of my pickle from my plate as he sat back.

“Did you have something to add, V?” Killian said.

With his gaze still on me, Viper tilted his head to the side, those wheels turning, and when his mouth slowly curved… Well, shit. I knew that look.

“I think I do, actually,” Viper said, tearing his eyes away to look at Killian. “We’re Fallen Angel, and it just so happens we’ve got a fallen angel right here in this room.”

Good God, here we go. Another contribution based on our sex life. Great.

“When Halo came to us, he was so…innocent, wouldn’t you say?” Viper smirked at me. “But I think you’ll agree after hearing some of the things that’ve come out of his mouth today, that he’s been a bit corrupted by his association with us.”

“With you,” Jagger said with a snort.

Viper gave him a wolfish smile, like he was proud of his contribution to my demoralization.

“So what’s the suggestion, then?” Killian said.

“Corruption,” Viper said. “That’s the album’s name, because that’s what fallen angels do. They corrupt others to fall. To join them in their sinful, wicked ways.” He focused that wolf stare on me, and I felt the full weight of his words. Viper had been, and still was, the ultimate temptation, one I’d given myself over to after warring over “which way I’d fall,” as Viper had said.

Guess that answer was pretty clear now.

“Corruption,” Killian said, stroking his jaw. “I fucking love it.” Then he turned to the others. “What do you guys think?”

“Sounds cool,” Slade said.

Jagger stood up and crossed the room, holding his fist out to Viper. When Viper returned the bump, Jagger said, “Damn, man. First the band name and now the album title? You on fire.”

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Viper look at me again, and as my eyes met his, I saw the flames that lit that dark gaze. The heat in them warmed me from head to toe and sent my pulse racing.

“Nah,” Viper said, still watching me. “Just been inspired.”