Chapter 18
Derek
“I’m just going to use the bathroom and then I’m ready,” Allegra informs me as Levi walks us back toward a sitting area.
“Take your time,” I murmur, watching as she moves toward the bathroom.
When I turn back, Levi glowers at me.
Fuck, I knew this would happen. He may have been smashed out of his mind all summer and barely coherent during our tour, but there’s no way he would miss my intentions toward Allegra when he’s sober. Bright eyed and clear minded.
“What the fuck, Reign?” His tone is low, but accusatory.
“Take it easy,” Mav murmurs. He grabs Levi’s elbow and pulls him into a corner.
I follow at a slower clip, reminding myself to keep my cool. This isn’t the place to lash out at one of my best friends.
We sit down at a small table in the corner of the sitting room. Conscious that other people are present, we keep our tones hushed.
But the accusation in Levi’s glare is evident. “Stay away from my sister,” he seethes.
“It’s not like that; I care about her,” I reply.
He snorts and shakes his head. “You’re fucking unbelievable.” He looks at Mav. “Did you know?”
Mav shrugs. “It’s been a long time in the making.”
Levi points at me. “You’re fucking my sister, while I’m in here? You messed with her head all fucking summer when you knew I was struggling, twisted up over shit. Are you kidding me, Reign? What the fuck kind of best friend are you?”
“Hey,” I snap. “That’s not fair. What happens between Allegra and me isn’t any of your goddamn business. I don’t owe you a fucking explanation.”
“Let’s all take a deep breath and be mindful of our language,” Mav cuts in, his eyes darting to the kids visiting their mom in the center of the room.
I ignore him. So does Levi.
“She’s my sister,” he reminds me.
“Yeah, you’ve done a real good job honoring that,” I clap back.
Mav sighs and closes his eyes.
Hurt streaks across Levi’s expression.
“Fuck,” I say, gripping the back of my neck. “That was a low blow,” I admit. “I’m—”
“Save it,” Levi cuts me off. “She deserves so much fucking better than you,” he says slowly, his eyes pinning mine. Disbelief and disappointment war in his expression. “If you really cared about her, you’d stay away.”
“I tried that,” I admit. “It didn’t fucking work. The way I feel for her… I love her, Levi,” I admit. Fuck. I fucking love her and I haven’t even told her yet. At least, not when she’s awake and coherent.
“Love?” He tips his head to the side, his voice cracking.
“Give me a fucking break, Reign. You don’t know the first damn thing about love.
Or sacrifice. Or showing up for someone else.
You’re the most selfish bastard I’ve ever met and the fact that you could betray me like this, while I’m in here…
” He pauses and digs his finger into his chest. “Well, that says it all, doesn’t it? ”
“Allegra’s coming,” Mav murmurs.
Levi looks over his shoulder and stands.
“I gotta get going, anyway. Thanks for coming, Mav.” He gives Mav a hug.
Then, he glances at me. “Call me for Clovers business only. If it’s not about the band, I don’t want anything to do with you.
” He delivers this in a low, even tone, that scrapes through me.
I nod once, accepting his terms. I hold back as he wraps his sister in a hug. He holds her close and presses a kiss to her temple, whispers something in her ear.
I hate that I can’t hear it. Is he warning her away from me? Is he going to start trouble? Does he think I’ll fucking back down from his bullshit ultimatums?
I glance at Mav who is staring straight at me. I point at him. “Don’t tell Allegra shit she doesn’t need to know. This is band business.”
Mav rolls his eyes. “You’re a fucking idiot.” He shakes his head. “You could’ve handled all of this a lot better,” he tacks on, before walking toward Levi and Allegra.
I hang back as they exchange a final farewell. Then, I toss my keys in the air, catch them with my palm, and lead the way to my car.
The ride home is just as silent as the ride in. It’s sad, because until Levi flipped me shit, we were getting along. Sure, it was surface level, but after weeks of silence and months of shifting feelings, it felt good. Right. Secure.
I drop Mav off at my place. He gives me a long look before shaking his head and moving up the steps to my condo.
“You hungry?” I ask Allegra.
She shakes her head.
When I reach for her hand, she doesn’t stop me but laces our fingers together. Her touch allows me to breathe easier. It centers me and reassures me that we’re doing the right thing.
That I’m capable of doing right by her.
That I can be enough. I can show up. I can be the man she needs.
I just need to prove it. To her, to Mav, to fucking Levi.
“He’ll come around,” I murmur, more to myself than Allegra.
“Yeah,” she agrees lightly.
I’m not sure if either of us believes our own bullshit, but saying it out loud, and together, gives me a sense of relief.
I take her home. When I enter the space behind her, she turns toward me. I deadbolt her door and reach for her.
Our mouths clash together, edged in need.
My hands grip her waist as her fingers twist in the fabric of my shirt.
She moves my Henley over my head as I pop the button on her jeans.
We’re naked in a matter of minutes and I thank every fucking deity in existence for gifting me this beauty. For giving me a North Star.
“Stellina,” I groan as she drops to her knees in front of me.
My hand finds her head as she takes me in her mouth. I’m already rock hard and wanting. She drags her tongue down the shaft of my length before sucking the tip.
“Christ,” I swear, glancing at the ceiling.
Allegra works me over so fucking good, I see stars. But I just want to see her. Before she gets carried away, I pull her up and kiss her hard on the mouth.
“Want to play all night with you,” I tell her.
She grins saucily. Taking my hand, she leads me to her bedroom.
She drops back on her bed and props herself up on her elbows, giving me a daring look. I laugh and straddle her hips. My fingers move through her blonde tresses.
“I like this color,” I tell her honestly.
She tilts her head. “Better than me being a brunette?”
I study her closely. The lovely shape of her face. The slender column of her neck. Her deep, soulful eyes, and perfect rosebud lips.
“No,” I say. “I like your natural color more. But you look hot as fuck like this too.”
She snorts as I push her back and land on top of her. Then, I frame her face between my hands and kiss her. Our mouths move in tandem, a secret language where only the two of us know the words. We come together beautifully, half song, half prayer.
I bring Allegra over the peak twice before I allow myself to finish. Afterwards, I wrap her in my arms and hold her against my chest. Our hearts beat in rhythm and our fingers link together. She holds our joined hands against her hips as her back presses into my chest.
“You think he’ll accept us?” she whispers finally. I know it’s been on her mind. How could it not? Levi’s always been her home.
“Eventually,” I murmur, hoping I’m right. He has to come around, right? For the sake of the band? For the sake of Allegra?
She shifts in my arms and finds my gaze. God, I want to drown in her chocolate eyes. “You’re really going to stay, right?”
She breaks my heart. I bring my face closer to hers, until our noses brush. “I’m staying right here, love,” I promise. Then, I kiss her again.
She turns fully in my arms and my hands clasp her back, bring her even closer. I deepen our kiss. She mewls as her legs wrap around mine. In moments, I begin to harden against her thigh.
I thrust my hips, dragging my shaft along her silky skin.
Allegra moans and the sound causes my heart rate to double.
She shifts, pushing me onto my back and moving on top.
Taking my cock in her hand, she grips me tightly and pumps three times before lining us up and dragging the head through her slick folds.
“You want to go again?” I taunt.
A wicked gleam lights her eyes as she grins. “Always,” she murmurs, before sinking down on my length.
“Fuck, baby,” I swear, loving how she takes my cock. Like we’re a perfect fucking fit.
Allegra slides up and down, setting the pace, taking it how she wants it. As she gets into it, she throws her head back, arches her chest, and moans. Fuck, she’s gorgeous. I love watching her take what she wants, move how she wants, reach for the release the way she likes it.
I move one hand between her legs to play with her clit while my other hand rolls over her breast. As she writhes and moans, my cock twitches inside her.
Please, let her come first, I silently pray.
Knowing I won’t be able to hold on much longer, I pinch her clit and nipple at the same time. Allegra calls out my name and shatters on my cock.
“Fuck, you’re so damn hot,” I tell her. Before she fully recovers, I grab both her hips and thrust up into her two times before I spill inside.
And…shit. We forgot a fucking condom. For the first time in my life, I don’t care. I stare in awe as my semen leaks down, over her inner thighs.
“So goddamn sexy,” I swear, swiping it up and dragging it over her nipple. Her eyes are hooded and heated as they latch onto mine.
“You’re fucking everything,” I tell her.
“And this is real,” she murmurs, reminding me of the words I said over the summer.
They hit me hard, causing regret and emotion to battle in my sternum. “Always real, Stellina,” I promise.
I pull her forward and she collapses against my chest. Her breasts and thighs rub against me, spreading our mixed arousal. We’re making a mess, but I don’t give a shit.
Instead, I kiss her and pour my reassurances down her throat until she swallows every last sacred promise.
“This is real.”