We chat for a bit but before too long, all of the lights in the pub dim, throwing the stage we are sitting in front of into total darkness. A hush falls over the crowd, and then the silence is broken by a shrill whistle from someone in the back. I hear the clack, clack, clack as the unseen drummer beats his drumsticks together. Then the stage explodes with noise as the band rips into its first number.
As suspected, the opening guitar riffs are harsh, wild, and edgy, reminding me of some of the metal rock that Flynn insisted on blaring from his room back home.
Several floor lights on the stage are glowing, illuminating the band members with sort of a hazy vagueness. I can't see any of their features, just the outlines of their bodies shadowed by the soft light. I have no clue which one is Cady's friend, Cillian, but I'm positive it's not the bassist. That is clearly a female because I can see a femininely curved body and hip-length hair swinging back and forth in the dimness.
Then, a lone spotlight comes down on the lead guitarist just as the lyrics begin. He stops playing the guitar, swinging it to his hip, and grabs a hold of the microphone in front of him. The music slows and softens, and I'm entranced as he starts singing.
He's tall and lean...almost gangly. And he's young...maybe just a few years older than I am. He's Black Irish...what Americans like to term Irishmen that have dark hair, olive skin, and dark eyes. His hair is long and shaggy, falling forward over his eyes as he sings and just brushing the tips of his shoulders. I take in the fact that he is dressed in faded, black jeans that are tucked into black combat boots, a white t-shirt, and a faded, red-plaid shirt. As he holds the microphone with both hands, I notice he has several leather bracelets around each wrist and just a peek of tattoos shining through.
He is, quite simply, the hottest guy I've ever seen in my entire life, and I'm sure it has everything to do with the fact he's on a stage singing in the most sexy, caramel rich voice I've ever heard in my life.
She goes down, down, down...
I push her down, down, down...
Hot breath, moist lips...
She goes down, down, down...
My face flames red as I listen to the lyrics.
Cady leans over to me but she practically has to yell so I can hear her. "Cillian's good, isn't he?"
I just nod at her. That also answers my question...Cillian is the band's lead singer.
Taking another sip of my beer, I get lost in his music, the atmosphere, and the wildness of Cillian.
His lips graze the microphone as he sings and I can't help but wonder what they would feel like sliding over my lips in the same way. At one point, he looks down to our table and a quick smile comes to his face when he sees Cady. She waves at him and his smile turns bigger. His gaze moves off Cady in a casual way, checking out the people around. His eyes skim over and pass me by, and I feel disappointment. But just as that brief glimpse moves over me, his eyes snap right back to mine. I can see his eyebrows rise under his shaggy bangs, and then he gets an almost sensual smile on his face. I feel the redness still staining my face get brighter and start creeping down my neck under his bold perusal.
But I hold his look.
I force myself not to let my shyness prevail. I pretend that he is singing only for me.
And he doesn't look away from me for the rest of the song.
***
Over The Edge has finished their last set and people are pouring out of the bar. I feel like I've drank about five Starbuck Mochachinos as I'm buzzing from a flirting high. All night, Cillian stared at me as he sang. Not in a creepy way. He looked around, taking in all the pub's patrons rocking to his beat. But his gaze often came back to rest on me for several long moments at a time. It was usually when he was singing about something super sexy, and I won't lie—the sensation of having someone singing to you is thrilling.
Cillian's music was raw, with most of the songs played in an almost wild frenzy. His voice is deep and slightly gravelly, enabling him to hoarsely shout many of the lyrics but still make them sound like you want to get stoned to a pleasurable death by them. Some of his songs were slower, almost ballad like and I noticed that his voice would lose some of the graveled quality, sounding richer...softer. No matter what he was singing, his voice was entrancing to me.
We're waiting outside of the bar where OTE played, which I am just now noticing is simply called Mac's Place. Cady wants to see Cillian, and frankly, I want a closer look as well. My nerves are humming just over the thought of meeting him. I’m equal parts nervous, terrified and excited, feelings that make me almost want to puke.
Said nerves fire into overdrive when Cady breaks out into a huge smile as she glimpses someone behind me. With a squeal, she jets around me. I turn to see her launching herself into the arms of the man who stared at me all night. He grabs her in a big bear hug, lifting her tiny body clear off the ground. Wrapping her arms around him tightly, she buries her nose in his neck. He returns her hug but lifts his eyes to capture mine and a tiny smirk graces his lips.
After Cillian puts Cady back on terra firma, she grabs his hand and drags him over to me. Again, those dark eyes of his hold mine like a magnet and my body warms then tingles with anticipation.
"Cillian...this is my cousin, Renner Caldwell. Renner...this is my friend, and of course you already know the most amazing musician, Cillian O'Bradaigh."
"Hi," I say. "You were great tonight. I really enjoyed watching you."
"Likewise," he replies with a predatory smile, obviously referencing the fact he stared at me from the stage most of the evening. I glance at Cady and she rolls her eyes at his obvious flirtation.