She moved off me, then immediately got to work on my pants. Once they were free and clear of my body, she took me inside her mouth. Knowing we were center stage almost made me come instantly. I gently pushed her off, then stripped off the rest of my clothes. I didn’t want anything between us.

I laid her down on her back, so her head was to the crowd, then I drove into her. Fuck…she felt amazing. Our hands roamed each other’s bodies as we moved together, and every second that ticked by I was hyperaware of how exposed we were. We were the only thing in the room with a light shining on us, and it felt so right, it made the moment that much sweeter. It was just how I’d hoped it would be.

The excitement brought us to the brink pretty quickly. I knew I was almost there, and by Anna’s cries, she was getting close too. Wanting to give her more, I repositioned us so we were at the very edge of the stage. Once Anna realized how I was showcasing us for our imaginary audience, she groaned and dropped her head back over the side. We weren’t hiding anything.

Gripping the edge of the stage, I used it as leverage so I could thrust deeper and deeper into her; Anna’s throaty cries of ecstasy grew more pronounced with every plunge. Looking up, I gazed at the sea of seats awaiting cheering fans. Fuck, yes…with Anna by my side, I was going to own this stage Monday night.

We were both panting, shaking with need, we were so close. Fuck…she felt so good. It seemed like years had passed since the last time we’d been together, and even then, it had never felt quite like this—like we were completely and totally one, on the same page in every way.

Captivated, I watched the ecstasy on Anna’s face building as I moved against her, with her. She was stunning beneath me, made even more so by the spotlights. Being with her, here, now, was the single most erotic thing I’d ever experienced, and I felt unstoppable as my climax started building.

“Oh God, yes, Griffin…yes…there…right there! More, more…oh God…”

Anna’s words turned unintelligible as she started coming, and I couldn’t take my eyes off the sight. Watching her fall apart, knowing she was letting me do this, letting me take her there, it meant more to me than I could say at the moment. All I want is for her to be happy. Anna clutched me tight as she rode out her release, then she pulled my head to hers for a searing kiss. I started coming as our tongues collided. I could only groan in her mouth as bursts of pleasure swept over me. Fuck…yes. God, I’d missed her.

When the intensity was over, I slumped against Anna. Her arms came up to cradle me, and I felt more complete than I had in my entire life. We would have to do the show like this, because I never wanted to let her go. Not wanting to hide from her or ignore the emotional chaos swirling within me, I made myself say how I was feeling.

“You’re the only thing that matters to me, Anna. Sure, there’s things I want, like winning my job back, but…you’re the only thing I need. You and the girls.” I shifted to her side, so I could more easily look at her. “I got so caught up in myself, I lost you. I lost us. I think I even lost me. Because without you, I’m not really anything. Nothing worth a damn, anyway. You’re the best part of me. The very best. You’re my best friend, and I should have put you first, you and the girls. And I’m so sorry I didn’t.” With a sigh, I shook my head. Anna opened her mouth to speak, but I stopped her with a kiss. I wasn’t done yet. “I love you, and I’ll go wherever you want me to go. I’ll live wherever you want me to live, I’ll do whatever you want me to do…just take me back. I can’t be without you anymore. It’s killing me.”

Her eyes watered as she stared up at me. “Griff…I love you so much, and a huge part of me wants to say sure…come home, and let that be the end of it. But for the sake of our family, for the sake of our girls, I need you to know that what you did—the lying, going behind my back to get what you wanted—that can’t ever happen again. This is truly your last chance with me…so don’t fuck it up.” She gave me a sweet smile on the end of that, like she’d just asked me to bring home a gallon of milk.

Laughing, I kissed her again. “Trust me, babe, I would rather stab myself in the testicle than ever hurt you like that again. I just want my best friend back,” I said with a sigh. “I want my wife back.”

Anna cupped my cheek. “You’ve got her. Now be quiet and make love to her under the spotlight again, before someone comes in here and kicks both of you out of the hotel.”

I was instantly hard again. “You are the sexiest thing on earth, and I am the luckiest son of a bitch there is.” I cupped her cheek. “And I won’t ever forget it again.”

She was nodding, tears in her eyes, when I slid into her again…

Monday evening was the first live show, where we’d be showcasing our talent for the audience, not the judges. I was both excited and nauseous about performing. Sure, I’d done it a million times before, but never with this much pressure on me. My entire career was riding on making the fans like me again, an uphill battle considering how I’d cracked things when I’d left the band. I hoped they could see my repentance onstage, my determination, my drive. I wanted this.

It was a short special, only six weeks, so multiple people would be leaving after each results show. I didn’t want to be let go in the first group. Or the second. Or the third. I wanted to make it all the way through. I didn’t let that desire turn me against my rivals though, and I helped out wherever I could.