Chapter 23
Derek
“I like it,” Maverick states, unprompted.
“This is it, isn’t it?” I agree, glancing up at the home. Over the past month, Allegra and I have driven through areas of LA, pointing out houses we like, noting restaurants and coffee bars and parks. We’ve looked into nursery schools and doctors’ offices, gyms and swimming pools.
And my girl keeps coming back to this property. This home. There’s something in her expression that softens when she takes in the Spanish-styled stucco home with the red tiled roof and big windows. It’s historic and vintage.
The first time we drove by, a small sigh dropped from her mouth. A smile curved her lips. And I haven’t seen that expression cross her face since.
Deep down, I know this is the home of her heart.
While we aren’t rushing into anything, we’ve started planning for our future. Knowing that we’re on the same page, coupled with Allegra’s taking an active interest in our next chapter in LA, has eased my nerves.
While she started her road to recovery, she also embarked on a slew of job interviews with various NGOs and outreach programs in the greater LA area.
On the nights that she works at the NGO, I pick her up and take her home.
We sit down to a dinner I made, like a real family, and share parts of our day.
When she has plans with her girls, I hang out with Levi, Mav, and Jameson.
When she goes out for a coffee or shopping with her mom, I hit Dex up.
Each week, the future I’ve dreamed about becomes more of a reality.
Now, I think Allegra is ready to take the next step. And, if I’m being honest, I don’t want us to miss out on this house, since I know she loves it.
My eyes sweep over the home. It’s hardly contemporary. Or flashy. There’s no state-of-the-art outdoor kitchen or expansive lawn.
But it’s gorgeous in a well-loved kind of way.
“It’s her.” Dex nods beside me.
“Plus, she loves this area,” Levi says, glancing around the street. It’s just off the beaten path. Close to the restaurants and coffee shops Allegra frequents with her friends.
“It’s a good choice,” Jameson weighs in.
I glance at him. Out of my circle, he knows Allegra the least, yet he states the words with confidence.
At my look, he continues, “She wouldn’t want something she couldn’t put her own touch on. And a new, contemporary, pristine home wouldn’t lend that type of warmth. Allegra likes to leave a mark. I mean,” he laughs lightly, “look at us.”
The guys and I—my bandmates, my best friends, my fucking dad—glance at each other before cracking up.
“True story, mate.” I smack Jameson on the back.
Deb comes out of the house and meets us in the backyard. Her sixties-inspired bouffant hairstyle doesn’t move in the breeze. “So…” She beams. “What do you think?”
“I’ll take it,” I say, stepping to Deb to put in an offer.
The guys hang back, talking about the house, shooting the shit, just relaxing. I snap a quick photo of the home and send it to Dre.
Me: (photo attached) What do you think?
Dre: Looks like home.
I snort because, of course, Dre gets it. Gets me.
Me: You gotta get out here.
Dre: Throw a housewarming party. I’ll roll through.
I laugh again because Dre knows I’d never throw a fucking housewarming. But I’ll convince him to roll through anyway. Entering the house behind Deb, we relocate to the kitchen, and I put in an offer I know the current owners will accept.
I buy the type of home I always yearned for as a kid. The home that makes my Stellina smile.
“Pleasure doing business with you, Derek.” Deb shakes my hand.
“Thanks, Deb.”
She grins. “Welcome home.”
I look around the space. The kitchen flows into a living room and wraps into an all-seasons enclosed porch.
I can see Allegra sitting there, reading.
I can envision our future children playing blocks or chasing each other around the backyard.
I can see Dre flipping me shit while manning the grill.
And Levi giving his sister a hard time while Mav lounges in a floatie in the pool, a beer in hand, and Jameson kicks back, taking it all in.
Dex mixing drinks. Allegra’s mom with a grandkid on her hip.
And me, smiling at my Stellina like she makes my world go round. Because she does.
I can see it all.
Fucking magic.
The following week, I close on the property and Allegra is cleared by Dr. Reese to increase her physical activity.
“Does this mean we can do it again?” I murmur, kissing the back of her head, as I wrap my arms around her.
She laughs, turning her head. I kiss her cheek.
“Yes,” she whispers, dancing out of my grasp. “Tonight,” she promises.
I groan. “Why not now?”
“We’re heading to Beirut for lunch,” she explains.
“We are?” I raise an eyebrow, pretending I don’t know this afternoon’s plan when I’m the one who set it in motion.
“Yes. My mom has decided to stay in LA for a while. Dex has kindly offered the help of his lawyer to help Mom navigate the landmines of separating from my father.”
“Shit,” I whisper. I didn’t realize Dex was going to spin such a tale to convince Allegra to swing by Beirut. Dex mentioned a few times that he’s worried about Mrs. Rousell, but I also didn’t think he was actively engaged in helping her.
Allegra faces me and scrunches her nose. “I know. But I think this is good for her.”
“She looks a lot better now than when she arrived,” I comment.
Allegra swats my stomach. “Derek!”
“What? She does. She looks happier. Laughs more too.”
Allegra is thoughtful for a moment. “She does laugh more.”
I lift an eyebrow as if to say, see, I’m right.
Allegra grins. “Want to come to lunch?”
I stifle my chuckle at her invitation. Sweet Stellina, if only she knew what I have in store for her. “Sure. I want to show you something too. Can we take a detour on the way to Beirut?”
Allegra glances at the time. “If we leave now.”
I chuckle. My girl is always fucking punctual. I tug on her hand. “Let’s go.”
“You ready for your surprise?” I ask as we near the home.
“What?” She glances at me. “What surprise?”
I park the car. “For graduation, Stellina.”
“You didn’t have to get me anything.”
I roll my eyes and round the car to open her door. Extending my hand, I beckon for her to exit. “Come on.”
She stands and, lacing her hand with mine, falls into step beside me.
“I love this area,” she comments, her tone wistful.
My heartbeat races and I roll my lips together to hold back my laughter, to conceal my excitement.
Together, we approach her new home. I reach into my pocket and pull out a key. Then, I raise our joined hands, slip my fingers from hers, and place the key in her open palm.
“Welcome home, Stellina. I hope all your dreams come true.”
She stares at me in awe. Shock blooms in her expression as her gaze darts from my face to the house and back again.
“You…bought this house?” she asks slowly. “The house I love?”
I smile and dip my head. “It’s yours. The deed’s in your name.”
She gasps. “What?”
“It’s a graduation present,” I explain.
“It’s too much,” she refutes.
I laugh. She’s too fucking much. “It’s not nearly enough.
I’m in this with you, Allegra. I’ve said it over and over.
I’ve tried like hell to fucking prove it.
But I want you to know, without a shadow of a doubt, that I’m yours.
I’m here. I’m happy. I fucking love you.
Please, let me live here with you and keep making plans for our future? ”
“Derek!” She gapes. “I can’t, this is…” She stares at the key in her palm. “I don’t know what to say.”
“Say you want this as much as I do,” I murmur the words. They’re hopeful as fuck and I hate how vulnerable I sound. How raw I feel. But for her, I’ll lay my shit bare.
Her expression softens and her eyes clear. They hold mine, deep and tender. Filled with emotion. “I want everything you want and more.”
She closes the space between us and winds her arms around my neck. “I love you,” she says simply. “Always have.” Then, she kisses me, and I see stars.
I carefully sweep my girl up into my arms and walk toward the front of the house. I keep my hold on Allegra until I maneuver opening the door and step across the threshold.
She giggles. “You’re supposed to do that on our wedding night.”
“I’ll do it then too,” I promise. I set her on her feet and flip on the light.
Allegra sighs dreamily and my heart nearly bursts. I watch every emotion flit across her face.
Awe. Excitement. Disbelief. Happiness. Love.
So much fucking love I could drown in it.
And never come up for air.
She turns toward me, her hands clasped beneath her chin. “Thank you, Derek.”
“Don’t thank me, Stellina.” I take her hand in mine. “Just, do this with me.”
“I already am,” she murmurs. Then, she tugs on my hand and drags me from one room to the next.
I love the sounds of pleasure that fall from her mouth when she discovers something she likes.
“A walk-in closet! This is wild!”
And then, “This would be a perfect nursery.”
“Oh my God! Did you know it’s been a long-held dream of mine to have a window seat?”
“Could I have a library?”
Or… “A gazebo! We need a gazebo!”
I follow along, beaming from ear to ear and saying yes to everything she wants. I want to give her the fucking world since she’s mine. My whole entire reason for being happy is wrapped up in her perfect curves and big, brown eyes.
I’m such a lucky bastard, I can barely process it.
“Come here.” Allegra beckons me closer when I enter the master bedroom.
I lift an eyebrow. “You want to christen it now?”
I expect her laughter. I’m ready for her to shove me playfully in the stomach.
I’m one-hundred percent not prepared for my girl to shimmy out of her sundress. It slides down her body like silk and pools around her feet. She steps out of it, neat and prim, like she’s doing a fucking party trick and not blowing my mind.
“Now?” I sputter, glancing at my watch like it matters. Time stands still when I’m with Allegra and everything in my world, save for her, disappears.
She unhooks her strapless bra and drops it on the floor in response.
Her ribs still show fading bruises. They break my fucking heart, but the love shimmering in her gaze is powerful enough to distract me from what happened.
“Right now,” she murmurs, her voice husky. Throaty. Needy.
“Fuck, baby,” I reply, losing my shirt.
Allegra reaches for the waistband of my pants and opens the button, drags down the fly, and pushes my jeans off my hips. I kick them off as she drags my boxer briefs down my legs.
Before I can process what’s happening, she’s on her knees. My cock twitches against her mouth and her eyes—those warm, chocolate, begging eyes—find mine.
“Jesus,” I breathe out.
Allegra smirks. Sassy and saucy and fucking hot as hell. She guides me into her mouth and doesn’t stop until I hit the back of her throat.
“Allegra,” I moan. My palm slides over her head, my fingers tangling in her hair.
Her grip on my base tightens and she begins to bob her head. Her mouth and hand work in tandem, driving me to the edge a lot faster than I want. My body tingles and tightens as I drink in the visual of her, before me, on her knees…shit.
“Fuck, slow down,” I sputter. “It’s been a minute,” I remind her.
She releases my cock with a pop and grins at me. “Gotta work on your stamina, Reign,” she teases, gently squeezing my balls.
I bark out a laugh that’s half delirious and pull her up. Palm her ass and lift her. “Smart ass,” I murmur, turning to pin her against the wall.
My mouth crashes over hers. Our kiss is passionate, our hands tracking and tracing each other’s bodies. I grind my erection against her core, and she mewls, giving me those sounds I love. They should be on a fucking album, but I’d never let anyone else hear her.
Not like this. Not when she’s mine.
I cup her, loving how her heat spreads through the silk of her panties.
“Need you,” she pleads.
I lay her out, right in the middle of the empty fucking master bedroom.
Her hair fans around her head like a halo. A goddamn angel.
I snap her panties at the hip and fist the material in my hand.
“Derek,” she gasps. “I can’t wear a dress with no underwear.”
I laugh. “Wanna bet?” I travel down her body until I can kiss her right there. She bucks against my mouth and I palm her thigh, holding in her place while I drag my tongue up her core.
“Oh God,” she moans.
My hand snakes up her body to play with her nipple as I lap at her, sucking gently on her clit.
“Derek,” she pants. “Need you.”
I play for a few more minutes until she’s writhing against my mouth. Then, I line myself up at her entrance and push inside. Her eyes widen and a moan—guttural, raw, needy—fills the air.
“Goddamn, beauty,” I swear as I bottom out.
I fall forward and brace one hand next to her head as I begin to move. Our pace is steady. A series of sharp thrusts followed by long and smooth. I work my girl up until she cries out, her pussy pulsing around my cock.
I drag out her orgasm for as long as I can, kissing her neck and pinching her nipples. Only then, when her hazy eyes meet mine, do I find my release.
I come hard. Fast. My vision blurs as emotion I’ve never experienced swells and crests. I break apart. Unravel.
“Holy shit,” I swear, dropping on top of Allegra.
I gather her in my arms and roll to the side, holding her against my chest.
She giggles. She fucking giggles and presses a kiss to my pec.
“Welcome home, Derek,” she whispers.
I look at her, note the lightness in her eyes, the grin that curls her mouth. Drink in her pure perfection.
Then, I laugh. I crack up until tears fill my eyes and my stomach hurts.
I hold on to my beauty who laughs with me. The two of us live in this magical moment knowing it’s only the beginning.