Author's note: Happy Scorpion Monday!

Whew, I thought I'd never get this chapter finished. Sorry it took so long. I blame binge-watching 4 seasons of Prison Break over spring vacation. This is hot off the press and may contain typos and things I may go back and change at a later date. We'll see.

CHAPTER TEN

Walter followed Zalina, intending to keep her from harming Paige. He attempted to grab the irate woman, only to have Paige get to her first, punching the singer right in the nose.

"You bitch!"

Zalina's hands flew up to touch her injured nose, and her fingers came away stained with blood. "You fucking whore!" She launched herself at Paige, fingernails first, but the liaison shoved the other woman, knocking her on her butt.

"No means no." Paige stood over the singer, her hands on her hips, bursting with righteous indignation. She nodded in Walter's direction. "He said he wasn't interested. Go hit on someone else."

"Go fuck yourself," snarled Zalina as she scrambled to her feet. She tossed her head contemptuously. "He's not interested in you either, bitch. He's already got another girl." Throwing a heated glance at him, she added, "That what he says anyway. I still think he's probably gay. And I'm still gonna kick your ass."

The blonde stomped off, muttering what were probably Russian curses. Paige turned to look at Walter, smiling as she noticed his awestruck expression, his eyes like saucers. Sauntering up to him, she came to a halt about a foot away, noticing how his t-shirt clung damply to his chest. It suddenly became quite warm and she fought the urge to fan herself.

"Is she threatening you?" She could hear the worry in his voice and see it etched on his face. "You don't have to put up with being harassed. I can call Cabe and . . ."

"No, don't," she interrupted his overprotective yet sweet tirade. "She's all talk. I can handle her." Her right hand throbbed, and she smiled as she showed it to him. "I did handle her. She has no right to harass you either."

"Uh, I-I. . .um, thanks," Walter said, staring down at the floor. "I, uh, should get back to w-work."

She moved closer, gliding her hand over the unexpectedly sinewy muscles of his upper arm, and he swallowed nervously. "So you have a girlfriend, huh? Anyone I know?"

God, he was adorable when he blushed. She knew it wasn't nice to tease him like this but. . . She couldn't help herself.

Flicking his eyes between hers and the ground, he stammered, "Um, I-I just said t-that to. . . So sh-she'd leave m-me alone. . ." He finally met her gaze, gulping before adding, "I-I'm truly not interested in her. She. . ."

". . .came onto you," Paige finished for him. "I know, Walter." She gave his arm a squeeze before lowering her hand. Biting her lip when she noted his disappointment, she slid her fingers flirtatiously across his shoulders. "What if someone else came onto you?" she asked huskily, stepping nearer until their bodies were only separated by an inch or so. "Would you be interested?"

He glanced up at her, inhaling deeply as he trembled under her hands. "M-Maybe." The intensity of his stare caused desire to swirl low in her belly, making her knees wobble. "Depends on wh-who it w-was."

She knew she was playing with fire, but she didn't care if she got burned. Heat was already radiating off him in waves, telling her he was as hot and bothered as she was. "What if it was me?"she managed to whisper into his ear.

"I-I w-would be. . .I would be in-interested. V-Very interested."

Then his lips were on hers as he pulled her tight, confirming he was as aroused as she was. Threading her hands through his dark curls, the kiss deepened as he slipped his tongue inside her mouth. He tasted like coffee, and his sweaty, musky scent sent a shiver down her spine. Her back landed up against the stage wall, her short black skirt riding upward as he pressed himself between her legs.

"Paige." He breathed out her name as he kissed her neck, her pulse beating wildly against his mouth. They shouldn't be doing this, he scolded himself as his hands traveled upward, outlining her curves. They were going to get caught, blow their cover, let a rebellion hap. . . His brain came to screeching halt as all cognizant or coherent thoughts were driven from it as she began grinding herself on him.

She gasped as he brushed his thumbs over the hardened tips of her breasts through her thin silk blouse. He thrust against the apex of her thighs as she leaned her head back, closing her eyes. She was panting, shallow little breaths, alternately invoking his name and God's as she rocked in rhythm with him. She was so beautiful; her lavender scent, the moans she was making in her throat, her nails grazing the back of his neck. . . He was close, so close. . .

Then an intense shudder rippled through her, her mouth dropping open as her eyes grew wide with amazement. She clutched at his arms as she sagged against him. "Oh, God, Walter," she whispered breathlessly as she rested her head on his shoulder. "Oh, God."

"Are you okay?" he asked, pushing his own needs aside as he worried he'd hurt her somehow. She was shaky and limp and out of breath. Something had to be wrong with her.

"Yes. Oh, God, yes." Lifting her head, she touched her lips to his in a long, lingering kiss, rekindling his desire, leaving him a little frustrated and edgy when she broke away. "Walter," she murmured against his cheek. "I'm sorry."

"S-Sorry? W-Why?"

He watched in confusion as her cheeks turned pink. "Because. . .I. . .and you. . .you didn't. . .and. . . Oh, God." Placing her hands on the sides of his face, she raked them up through his hair. "Tonight, after the concert. . . Would you, uh, be interested in. . .in coming up to my room?"

Walter was so stunned he forgot to breathe for a moment or two. "Yes," he blurted out once he gathered up what was left of his wits.

Smiling shyly, she leaned forward and gave him a peck on the mouth. "Okay, then. I-I better go check in with Darby," she said, her face still glowing. "I'll see you later."

"Okay." He stared as she turned and walked away, the swaying of her hips holding him in thrall until she was out of his line of vision. Bracing his arms against the wall, he gulped for air, trying to get himself under control. Was she suggesting what he thought she was suggesting? He didn't want to get his hopes up in case he was once again misreading her signals.

Although, after what had just happened between them, he was positive he was interpreting the signs correctly. And all those signs indicated Paige Dineen wanted to have sex with him.

Oh, boy.

ooooo

Tossing a glance over her shoulder to confirm she was out of Walter's sight, Paige slumped against the nearest wall. Oh, God, she'd finally been driven over the edge, not to mention to an orgasm by his awkward yet enthusiastic kisses and caresses. All while fully clothed and standing up. She quivered in anticipation as she imagined what he could do when they were both naked and on a bed.

Breathing deeply, she tried to clear her mind of its erotic daydreams as she glanced around backstage. She hadn't lied to Walter, she really did need to find Darby and get her schedule for the day.

Paige wandered around the venue, which was deserted except for a couple of surly roadies who had grunted at her when she asked if they knew where the manager was. With a shrug at their rudeness, she continued her search. She ended up in a corridor of offices, their doors all closed as she passed by. Deciding to look for a bathroom, Paige turned a corner, coming to a halt when she overheard an angry voice speaking in Russian.

Creeping closer, she discovered Darby standing in front of the men's room, talking into his cell phone. He sounded really ticked off at whomever was on the other end of the line. She heard him say what she thought was a name several times. Mila.

She bit her lip, wavering between slipping away before she got caught eavesdropping or listening to more of a conversation she didn't understand. Not getting caught won out and she spun on her heel, ducking back down the empty hallway. Peeking around the corner, she watched as the manager ended the call, muttering to himself as he walked toward her.

Paige took a deep breath and stepped out from her hiding place. "Oh, there you are," she said brightly before pretending to frown. "Is something wrong?" She doubted he would tell her, but, she thought optimistically, it wouldn't hurt to ask.

He glanced up sharply, his disturbed expression evaporating as he plastered a smile onto his broad face. "No, everything fine," he said, obviously lying. "You looking for me?"

"Yes," she said before asking him about the day's schedule. She listened with only half an ear though, wishing Walter had been with her to interpret the phone call. Because everything certainly did not sound fine. It sounded like someone named Mila was in trouble. Which begged the questions, who was Mila and why was she in trouble?

Sighing, Paige returned her attention to Darby as he rattled off the itinerary for the day in his broken English.

ooooo

Paige walked off the stage with the roar of the crowd still ringing in her ears. The excitement flowing through her body had nothing to do with the performance she'd been a part of, and everything to do with Walter and the fact they were going to sleep together.

After their encounter earlier that day, she'd only caught glimpses of him as he went about his duties as a sound technician. Every time she laid eyes on him, her heart started pounding and she found it hard to breathe and parts of her grew all tingly, making it hard to concentrate on what she was supposed to be doing.

It got so bad, at one point she'd thought about sabotaging her microphone so he'd have to come over and fix it, just so she'd have an excuse to stand near him. Smell him. Maybe even 'accidentally' touch him. Only the thought of Zalina also being near him kept her from pulling a wire loose, although she'd still been very, very tempted.

She groaned inwardly, hoping he hadn't come to his senses and changed his mind, when someone grabbed her arm from behind. She knew it wasn't Walter even before she turned around. "Oh, Yuri," she said, adding insincerely, "You were great tonight."

"But you haven't slept with me yet, baby," the lead singer purred, rubbing his hand up her arm and squeezing her shoulder. "I thought you were coming to my room last night. I stayed up all night waiting for you to join me."

Dammit, she'd forgotten all about his sleazy demand. "Oh, sorry, I was, uh, washing my hair," she improvised, using an excuse she learned in high school to get out of unwanted dates. "I hope you didn't get too lonely," she said, surprised she could say it without throwing up.

"If I did, it was your fault." Yuri moved closer and she instinctively stepped back. "If you want to keep singing for me, you need to be nice to me." He put his hands on her ass and pressed her against him. She started to struggle but realized it would be pointless. He was stronger than she was, and was probably perverted enough to enjoy making her feel helpless.

"I can be nice," she replied, her stomach churning at the thought of what 'being nice' to him would entail. But she couldn't avoid this. She had to clone his phone, it was part of what she was there to do. But the device was in her suite and she'd have to stall him until she could retrieve it. "Why don't I come up to your room in an hour? I want to freshen up first."

He smiled lazily, his hooded eyes leering at her as he held up a finger. "One hour. I don't like to be kept waiting. You no show. . .you fired."

"I'll be there." She exhaled with relief as Yuri released her and walked away, calling out to his other band mates. If she was lucky, maybe he'd spend the next hour getting wasted with his friends, and would either forget their meeting, pass out, or be unable to perform. If she were super lucky, maybe all three.

"So, you're going to let Yuri fuck you?" Paige spun around to see Zalina standing behind, a triumphant sneer marring her pretty face. "I knew you were whore."

"It's none of your business who I sleep with," she snapped, glaring at the other woman.

"Then it's none of yours who I fuck either." The blonde singer smiled smugly.

"You stay away from Walter," snarled Paige as she stepped up to confront Zalina.

"You can't stop me." The singer laughed. "You're gonna be busy getting screwed over by Yuri."

Paige stared at her, noticing the woman's slightly swollen nose liberally covered with powder to hide the bruising. "I've already bloodied your nose," she pointed out. "Are you sure you want to risk two black eyes and some missing teeth?"

"Go to hell." With that, Zalina stormed off, leaving a cloud of her sickening perfume behind.

Growling in frustration, Paige curled her hands into fists. The thought of him having sex with the blonde singer made her sick to her stomach. But she couldn't worry about him now. She needed to worry about keeping herself from being raped by Yuri.

ooooo

Walter rushed into the hotel room where the obligatory after-concert party was being held. Scanning the suite, he spied Happy sitting on a couch, with Akim on one side and Anya on the other.

"Damn, I'm glad we don't have to break down until tomorrow," she was saying as he hurried over. "I'm wiped out." Her companions agreed as the mechanic took a swig of her beer.

"I need to talk to you," Walter interrupted. "Now."

With a shrug, Happy got to her feet. "I'll be right back," she tossed over her shoulder as she followed the genius into a deserted corner of the suite. "What's up your butt?" she asked, holding up her bottle. "This is my first one, by the way, Grandpa."

Walter waved away the insult. "Have you seen Paige?"

"Not since the end of the concert," she answered. "Why? What's up?"

"I think she's in trouble," he said, panic threatening to overwhelm him. "We, uh. . .we were supposed to. . .um. . ."

"It wouldn't have anything to do with this, would it?" The mechanic pulled out a shiny square package from the pocket of his jeans. "Hot damn, O'Brien," she said as she dangled it in front of him. "Are you and Dineen gonna. . .?"

His face on fire, he tried to snatch the condom away from her, but she kept it out of his reach. He'd bought one of each variety from a vending machine in one of the venue's bathrooms, since he had no idea which kind he was supposed to use or if Paige was on any kind of birth control. It hadn't been something they'd discussed while planning their rendezvous.

"I-It's none of y-your business, but she. . .uh. . .yeah." He aimed his gaze at the carpet as he ran his hand over the back of his head.

"Glad you finally took my advice." The mechanic held out the package, which he grabbed and stuffed back into his pocket with the others. "Here's a bit more. Don't use that one. They break too easily." She smirked. "Hey, if I see Paige, I'll tell her you're looking for her, okay?."

Saluting him with her beer, Happy wandered back across the room. Walter closed his eyes and took a deep breath, trying to calm himself. She was okay. She had to be. He'd find her.

"I know where she is."

He jerked around as Zalina blew her taunting words into his ear. "Where?" he demanded to know, flinching away when the back up singer tried to put her hands on his chest.

The blonde pouted at his rejection. "Maybe I not tell you. Maybe you should be nice to me." Once again she attempted to touch him.

Walter grabbed her wrists. "Tell me where Paige is."

Zalina wrested herself from his grasp and smiled evilly at him. "She's having sex with Yuri."