Six - Kieran
I lick my fingers as I waltz through the record store’s front door, moaning at her taste. Her essence fills my damn taste buds, going directly to my dick. God damn. She tastes as sweet as she felt on my dick, and I can’t wait to have another fucking bite of her. River might be the drug I’ve craved for years now.
Never in a million years did I think I’d reconnect with the girl I obsessed over as a kid. My best friend. The girl they forced me to repress. River was too young to understand how deeply I felt about her back then. I could tell her all day long that I loved her, and she’d never understood the true meaning of my words.
My entire world caved when my stupid stepfather marched into my life, hauled me off to greener pastures, and forced me to forget the life I had before. He effectively erased everything from my childhood memories down to the girl I wanted to rush back to. Through expensive new clothes and a butt load of new friends, he took her from me. By the time I reached high school, River was a distant memory and nothing more than a stain on my existence. If I had passed her in the halls or seen her in public, I wouldn’t have noticed or known who she was. I was too consumed with my rich new life to fucking care.
I lost myself for eleven years, and now, I’ve found myself once again. I will do anything to have River by my side, even if it means kidnapping her to wherever we end up. I’ve only just found her, and I won’t lose her. Asher will throw a fit, but—fuck him.
The mid-August sun blares heat down on me like a fucking oven as I walk across the street toward the Tahoe sitting opposite the store. Sweat drips down my back, soaking through my shirt. Man. Screw this one-hundred-degree weather. I could use a dip in the lake. Maybe the boys will want to take the boat out and let loose. A couple of beers, loud music, and a quick dip? Sounds like a dream right now. Maybe River would want to come to hang out on the lake sometime?
As much as I try to imagine the cool water flowing over my skin and cooling me down, my brain wanders. Memories float, surfacing in my mind, of her moans echoing off the walls and her tight pussy contracting around my cock. Reaching down, I adjust myself. I have no fucking shame. They all know exactly what I did, especially by the stupid expressions lining their faces. And if they have something to say about it, well—they can shove it. I’m doing what Asher instructed and bringing her into our little web, except she’s mine. We may use her for her father’s influence and gain a little fame. But everything about River West is mine.
Next stop, I’ll kneel in her office, awaiting her every instruction. She can grip me by the balls and tell me to squawk like a chicken, and I’d do it if she lets me inside her again. And soon, our plan will all click into place. It’s all coming together as I’m coming apart.
Fuck. My dick jumps at that, twitching in my pants, waiting for the moment he can explode to her memory. But I won’t touch it until I get to her tonight. I’ll make good on my promise and kneel in her office until she allows me a taste and fuck.
I grin when I scoot into the passenger seat of Ash’s Tahoe, which is identical to mine. A light feeling falls over me, and my shadows fade away.
“What is Van doing?” Callum asks in a soft voice, eyeing the maniac throwing open the door to the record store with determination on his face.
From here, I can see River’s tight expression through the window when he stops in front of her. Concern bleeds from his facial expression as he speaks to her. Fuck him! He left her. He has no fucking right to march back in there like he owns her.
I fucking own her. Those marks on her neck are mine for the world to see who she belongs to. White hot jealousy runs through my damn veins, and I want nothing more than to rip every piece of his throat out and maybe break his face. Fuck him for thinking he could waltz back into her life when he was the dick who fucked her over. No, that’s my fucking job. Evil parents forced me away, but now I’m back and better than ever. Van needs to be dealt with.
“Daw look, little Van is trying to get back into her good graces,” Rad says mockingly, leaning across Callum to get a better view. He plasters his nose against the backseat window, earning a growl from Asher for leaving marks. Callum pats Rad’s back with a sigh as he drapes himself over Cal’s lap.
“He still wants to fuck her. He could be a problem,” Asher says matter-of-factly.
“Not by the look on her face. Oh, snap,” Rad cackles, pointing toward them. “He’s trying to hold her hand, and she looks like she wants to puke.” He snorts at that, howling with laughter at Van’s failures.
“I remember hearing about them, just didn’t realize it was her until now,” Callum says, shaking his head with furrowed brows. Light creeps into his eyes as he stares at her from afar, watching her every move with quiet intentions.
Our buddy may be a blushing virgin, but I always know when he’s interested in a chick. A look always passes over his eyes, and an interest forms. He’ll watch from the shadows, inspecting his crush from afar, but never seems to make the moves. I know his reasoning and why he’s held onto his V-card for so long, but I think he’ll give it up someday soon. Especially with the way he blushes and stumbles around River. Two down, two to go. Now, all I have to do is get Rad and Asher interested in our little mark, and my plan will come together. There will be no protests when I haul her into my lap and force her to California when we get our big break.
“Bleh. It’s hotter than my balls outside today,” Rad curses, rearranging his junk in his shorts, probably dreaming of the hour when he can drop them and be free. “Oh, fuck balls, we got a little guest coming.” Rad nods toward the figure marching his angry ass toward our vehicle.
“This should be interesting,” Asher says in a no-nonsense tone, rolling down his window. “Oh, Van, fancy seeing you here,” he drawls in a fake, respectful tone, lazily looking at the fuming man outside our window.
Van shakes his head, a deep scowl forming across his lips. “I don’t know what you assholes are up to, but you’re barking up the wrong fucking tree. Leave River alone. She’s not like these other Central girls,” he growls, leaning into Ash’s window.
“And have you sampled many Central Girls?” I ask, sitting back in my seat, enjoying the cool air-conditioning pouring from the vents.
He scowls at me, shaking his head. “You know my answer. Leave River alone,” he growls again, exposing his gritted teeth like an actual threat.
Pfft. The only threat Van Drake poses is a road bump. He could warn River all he wanted about us and whatever else he might say, but she’d never believe him. From the moment River was born, so was her stubbornness.
“Tell me exactly why you care so much?” Ash asks in an even voice, leaning back in the driver’s seat with a relaxed and open pose. Casually, he raises a brow as Van’s face comically gets redder and redder by the minute.
“What’s so great about her, Donnie boy?” Rad asks through a manic grin, rubbing his hands together. “Why should we stay away? Maybe we need a new toy to play with, and maybe she already said yes.”
It’s a lie, of course. River isn’t just a toy to me, anyway. But by the way Van’s face falls from our admission; we’ve got him on our hook. That’s right, back off and eat our lie, fuckhead. My fingers curl into fists when he opens his mouth to speak again. I’d rather shove my fist down his throat than continue this tired conversation. There’s nothing on this planet he can do to keep us away from River.
Van scoffs. “You assholes may have this entire city fooled into believing you all are some sort of good guys. But I’ve seen the shit you used to pull back in high school. You’re nothing but users. And as for River? She won’t be able to help you in your quest for fame,” he growls his words, clenching his teeth. “You know it, and she knows it. Her daddy doesn’t talk to her. I know exactly what you’re up to. You’ve had this plan since fucking high school to get the hell out of here. But I’m here to stop you from using another person on your bullshit quest.”
Ah, there it is. Not only did Donnie Boy want to continue his own quest into music, but he wants her all to himself. Fat chance that’ll ever happen, pal. Kieran Knight is back in town and isn’t giving up his River Blue for anything, especially a piss ant like him.
“Tell me, Donnie,” Ash admonishes, clenching and unclenching his fists. “Does it eat you up? You can’t be with her still? Do you dream of the nights you had to hide her in the back of your Mustang, stealing her away and fuck her while introducing your parents to Whitley? You know, the girlfriend you have so cleverly hidden in the shadows while you come here and try to convince River to be your fuck toy in the back room?”
Van’s paling face completely falls as he looks at Asher in surprise. I’d say my malevolent brother hit the mark.
“What the fuck, man?” he gasps, dropping his arms from the edge of the window. “How...” He peers back at River through the storefront windows, who watches our exchange, kicking back into her chair. I can’t make out her expression, but I feel her eyes burning through me. That’s right, River Blue—eyes on me, baby.
“I have my ways,” Ash says, slowly turning his evil-ass face to look into Van’s dark eyes. “At this moment, I have a letter typed up in an email on a timer. If you don’t back away now, I will release everything to Whitley promptly. Not that I shouldn’t, anyway. What a despicable way to treat the woman you’re going to marry.”
“What the hell are you, some evil psycho?” Van says, taking another step back.
“Maybe,” Ash says with a grin and a shoulder shrug. “You leave River to us. No harm, no foul. We’ll both get what we want in the end.”
“Yeah? And what the fuck is that?” Van scolds, crossing his arms over his chest.
“We’ll get ours, and she’ll get hers. Besides, Kieran didn’t even need to beg her to fuck him by how loud and responsive she was. It looks like she doesn’t need you anymore, Donnie boy. That’s all I’m saying…”
“That’s right, Donnie Boy,” I interrupt, leaning over Asher to get a better view of the laughable rage consuming Van’s twisted face. “You see, it isn’t your name she screams anymore. It’s mine. My fingers were just knuckle deep in her tight pussy as she came all over them. And my teeth mark her skin as fucking mine. You leave my River alone. You have no rights over her. Not anymore. You lost those privileges. She. Is. Mine,” I growl, curling my fingers into fists.
Vivid images of pounding his face in as blood pours from his mouth and nose as he begs me to stop hurting him run through my mind. Make no mistake; if Van touched her again without my permission, he’s a dead man.
Through his narrow, dark eyes, hate brews toward me, and he snarls, readying his rebuttal, but nothing comes out.
“Now, if you’ll excuse us, we’re late for a very important meeting.” Ash doesn’t let Van respond as he closes the window and takes off.
“Meeting, huh?” I ask, blowing at my anger. Now that the danger has passed, my fingers tremble with the leftover adrenaline running through my veins.
“God, you handed him his ass. We left him sputtering and spitting in the middle of the street,” Rad cackles more, falling into the backseat. “I bet he’ll tuck tail and run back to mommy and daddy with tears in his pathetic eyes.”
“He’ll keep his hands off what’s ours now,” Asher declares, narrowing his eyes in the rearview mirror. Shaking his head, he focuses on the long road ahead of us, navigating us back to Lakeview.
The record store disappears from behind us, replaced by the upscale side of Central City. Boutiques and restaurants become blurs of colors, and trees soon line the edges of the road. We may still be in Central City, but you wouldn’t know. The Lakeview District has wild hills with trees and tons of wildlife. A large lake sits to my right, expanding over the horizon. Boats putter along, pulling rafts, wake boarders, and skis, looking like a serene paradise. But it is anything but.
“How about a little music therapy?” Callum asks, eagerly leaning forward, tapping his fingers on the center console, aching to strum his bass.
So much better than taking out the boat. Sure, the sun, wind, and water would be a pleasant treat after such a sweltering day. But nothing compares to the music we’re about to create as one unit. I feel it in the depths of my gut. It’s the intense need to get my hands moving and create memorable tunes. We all feel it by the sharp nod Ash gives when we pull into our driveway. He throws the SUV into park, strumming his fingers along the steering wheel.
“It’s working, isn’t it?” he asks with a hint of uncertainty, which is so unlike himself. He twitches uncomfortably, eyeing my smirk.
“Smell Kieran’s finger and see if that gives you the answer,” Rad says, barking out a sharp laugh. The entire car shakes when he throws himself back into his seat, practically crying with laughter.
Asher scowls. “That’s not gonna—” Ash’s eyes widen as big as fucking saucers when my pussy-coated fingers slip into his mouth, giving him a taste. He’ll never tell Callum and Rad that the tip of his tongue poked against my fingers before he spits and sputters, forcing me out.
“You were saying?” I ask, cocking my head to the side with a feral grin. Nothing makes me happier than riling up my stepbrother. The angrier he gets, the funnier it is.
His teeth grind when he turns his glare directly at me. His nostrils flare wildly, and his fingers clench into a fist until he’s punching the steering wheel and grunting curses in my direction.
“I’ll be back,” he bites out, throwing his shirt off and into my face.
“We’ll warm up while you…” Rad says as Ash takes off down the road, jogging toward the only place that calms him down whenever he works himself up like this.
“So dramatic,” I mock, throwing his shirt into the passenger seat. “Now, let’s get some practice in before he gets back,” I say, getting out of the car with the guys on my heels.
“Think he’ll be back in time?” Callum asks, rubbing his chin and staring off into the distance. We all wonder the same thing. How long will he run for now? And when will he make it to his destination?
“Give him time,” I say, clutching his shoulder and chuckling. “He’ll be back. You know him; he always pushes himself to the brink. No matter if it’s ten minutes or two hours. He’ll be a sweaty fucking mess by the time he gets back.”
Asher may like to pretend he doesn’t like us, but deep down, he at least enjoys our presence enough to tolerate us regularly.
Walking up to the garage door, I punch in the four-number code with a sigh. This is it. The moment I’ve been aching for since I woke up this morning. The moment I’ve been dreaming about through my first classes of the year to finish up my business degree.
As the garage door slowly lifts, our paradise comes into view just as Ash’s sweaty form comes back into view. He heaves a breath, leaning his hands on his knees, and shakes the sweat off.
“You good?” I ask, staring down at him when he nods.
“As good as I’ll be for now,” he mumbles, standing tall. His eyes drift over our setup, and I see the moment the stress of the world rolls off his shoulders. “Just don’t fucking stick your pussy fingers in my mouth again,” he gripes, pushing my shoulder. “If I wanted a taste, I’d fucking take a taste.” And with that, he waltzes into our band space with sweat pouring from every inch of his skin after pushing himself for ten minutes straight. Throwing his guitar strap over his bare shoulder, he begins tuning his strings. Within a few plucks, guided by his natural ability, he’s all tuned up and ready to go.
“Why the fuck are you undressing? Again?” Ash asks, turning to Rad, who sits completely naked on his stool behind his drums, minus the combat boots secured to his feet.
“The boys gotta breathe, bro. It’s hot, and my balls are cooking inside my jeans,” he says, twirling a drumstick in both hands. “Duh.” Without another word, he counts us in, and we construct a new song we’ve felt in the pits of our dark souls for days, flowing out of us with ease.
This is where it’s at. Music brings us together, binding us in a friendship that will never fall apart. We may not always like each other. But we’re fucking brothers. As long as we have this. The chords. The melodies. And the words, we have it all—even River in the future.