CHAPTER 9
COVE
How many surreal moments can someone experience before convincing yourself that you’re in an alternate universe or some sort of living computer program? Right here and now, as I sit in one of the studios in the basement of WPF’s music mansion, this is peak surreal living. It doesn’t feel real.
All the guys from SO are sitting around while listening intensely to the five songs I helped to create with Langston fucking Phillips. Yeah, the same Langston Phillips that I’ve fallen in love with.
The real kicker?
I’m almost certain that he’s in love with me as well.
It wasn’t long ago that I was just a chick in Montana putting my music on social media. That woman could have never imagined ending up here. It’s even better than the dreams I held close to my heart. Hell, if this really is all a simulation or a dream, I never want to leave.
This is the life I want to live. I want to keep making music with Langston. I want to stand at his side and watch with pride as he conquers his past and his addiction to step back onto stage for the love of music and the memory of his best friend. I want to keep finding the moments of light and inspiration.
As the last notes of the fifth song we recorded fades in the room, quiet reigns. It has me shifting in my seat. Without thinking about it, my eyes find Langston’s dark green gaze. He’s already looking at me, love shining back at me and making me feel stronger than the timid little girl who never thought this kind of experience was really possible.
I don’t want to look at the guys in SO. What if they don’t like the songs? What if I’ve blown my one chance?
Langston’s muscles flex as if he’s reading my mind and wants to stride over to me to take me into his arms. With a shake of my head, he narrows his eyes at me. He wasn’t happy when I told him that I didn’t think it would be a good idea to put the relationship between us out there for everyone to see. It’s clear he’s still not happy about it.
“I’m not hiding you,” his voice was fierce as he tried to argue with the suggestion that we kept some distance between us. “You’re not some dirty little secret, Cove,” he growled my name, frustration filling his voice and contorting his features.
“I know,” I tried to soothe him with my voice, murmuring gently at him, “and you’re not mine.”
“Certainly fucking feels like it,” he grumbled.
We were standing in his room within the WPF mansion after arriving late last night about to head down to the studio to meet up with the guys and let them listen to what they were taking a chance on. I was filled with butterflies and nerves, but I knew we needed to talk about our relationship. It was killing me to even suggest not being upfront about it, but I was afraid.
I couldn’t help but laugh at the way he was pouting. “You’re not. I just,” I took a deep breath and let it out with a sigh, “I don’t know if there’s some sort of fraternization policy that we’ve broken. No one said there was, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t?” He stared at me, and I wanted to squirm under his gaze. “I just want them to listen to the music and not add anything personal to the mix.” His eyes softened, but only a fraction. “I think,” I shifted on my feet nervously, “we need to stand on our own.”
He deflated, but I could tell by the look in his eyes that he didn’t agree with me. I was okay with it. I didn’t need him to agree; I just needed him to go along with it.
Now, with Langston on the other side of the room and my nerves making me feel sick to my stomach, I wish I hadn’t made the suggestion in the first place. I would do just about anything to feel his strength and support right now.
His eyes burn into mine and it bolsters me. Not enough and not nearly as much as his touch would accomplish, but it’s something.
I’ll take it. For now.
Cole looks at his bandmates before looking at Langston and then me. His gaze goes back and forth between the man who owns me completely and me a few times. When a slow smile spreads across Cole’s face, my heart sinks.
“Well,” Booker holds the word out, a teasing lilt in his voice, “those were amazing.”
My gaze snaps to Booker and I blink a few times, having difficulty processing his words. My cheeks heat and I start to almost vibrate with excitement and adrenaline. Did he just? What?
When I take in the guys of SO, they’re now all grinning from ear to ear. “I knew this was going to work,” there’s a hint of smug amusement in Cole’s voice.
When Gavin and Elliot start to look between Langston and me, twin looks of pride cross their features. It has me narrowing my eyes at them. “In more way than one it seems,” Gavin teases.
My eyebrows shoot up to my hairline, but I shake off the feeling that they know the depth of what has happened while writing those songs. I clench my hands together to stop them from shaking, but there’s nothing I can do to hide the wobble in my voice, “You really like the songs?”
Elliot flashes me a big smile before doing the same with Langston. “They’re amazing.”
“Should have kept them out at the cabin longer,” Booker muses, almost sullenly, “then we’d have a whole album ready to be recorded.”
I bark out a laugh which is on the edge of hysterical. I can’t fucking believe it. My heart is beating so hard in my chest that it’s almost difficult to catch my breath.
Cole winks at me before turning toward Langston, his expression becoming serious. “We’ll get you working with a few songwriters to get the rest of the album together. This is a damn good start, though.”
“No,” Langston barks and the vehemence in that one word startled the fuck out of me. “I won’t be working with anyone other than Cove,” he snarls. “We’re a team. We’re doing this shit together or I walk.”
Cole throws his head back and laughs. I don’t even know what to think. My eyes widen when Booker grumbles something under his breath and pulls a few bills out of his wallet and slaps it into Gavin’s outstretched hand.
My voice is on this side of shrill when I ask, “What the hell is going on?”
Cole’s smile is wide, and his eyes are sparkling with warmth as he shrugs. Booker’s the one who answers me, and I almost fall off my seat; again. “I bet Gavin that nothing was going to happen between the two of you. I clearly lost,” he pouts.
A startled laugh bursts from me and then the next thing I know I’m being hauled out of my chair and pressed against Langston’s chest.
“If you want an album,” Langston’s voice is strong and sure, “then we’ll work together to write the rest of it. I’ll record it here with whoever you want to round out the band. If a tour happens, Cove is going out on tour with me. I was serious, we’re a team.”
“Seems like you’re more than just a songwriting team,” Cole pokes, but there’s no malice in his voice and I start to relax a little.
None of the guys are looking at me like I’ve fucked up or broken a rule. No, they’re clearly amused and enjoying poking fun at us. I relax and allow myself to melt into Langston.
“I swear, everyone who meets you people finds their soulmate,” Kat, who I almost forgot was in the room, teases the guys who only chuckle.
“You found yours, Kat,” Booker lobs right back at her with a wink.
“Yeah,” she sighs and glances at her watch, “which means I have a family that I’d like to get back to sooner rather than later.” She looks at the guys and then at us. “You can work together,” she starts, and Langston grips me possessively, “but if Cove ever wants to work with other bands or artists, we’ll allow that as well.”
Langston looks down at me and searches my face. I don’t want to write music with anyone else, but I also don’t think I can turn my back on the possibility either. Someone else might need my help and the music is what matters here. But will Langston see it that way?
His shoulders slump and he kisses my forehead. “I’d never stifle your music, Songstress,” he murmurs against my skin, “as long as you always come home to me.”
“Always,” I promise and realize just how true it is.
“Go, take your woman and show her how proud you are of her,” Cole tells Langston. “We’ll get you on the studio schedule,” he starts to tell us and then pauses, worry flying across his face. “We should have asked, but will being in the mansion be a problem?”
“Why would it?” Langston’s eyebrows pull together before smoothing out in realization. “I’ll be fine. I’ve been keeping up with sessions and meetings. Now I’ll be able to find an in-person meeting. I’m good, man. Promise.”
Cole studies my man for a long moment before his eyes slide to me and soften. “Yeah, finding something better, something that fills the holes in your soul changes everything,” there’s a knowing in his voice and I can’t help but be filled with warmth.
The next thing I know, Langston has thrown me over his shoulder and starts to leave the studio. The sound of protest dies in my throat as his hand clamps down on my thighs and my pussy clenches around nothing. The guys laugh behind us, but Langston doesn’t slow down.
“We’ll just listen to the recording one more time,” Booker teases, “don’t worry about us.”
“Langston,” I hiss as his long strides take us farther from the studio and closer to his room in the mansion, “you have to go back. We were in a meeting.”
“Meeting’s over,” he growls.
He doesn’t stop until we’re in his room and I’m launched onto the bed. I bounce and find myself in a very unladylike lump. I probably look like a mess, but the way Langston is staring down at me with heat in his eyes tells a different story.
His hand wraps around my ankle and he pulls me to the edge of the bed as he falls to his knees.
My voice is breathless, “What are you doing?”
“Songstress,” he groans as his hands roam over my body and he follows until he’s hovering over me and staring down into my eyes. “Exploring,” he grunts, the glint in his eyes making me clench my thighs together. “And showing you how fucking proud I am of you.”
“Just proud?” The question slips free from my lips, and I clap a hand over my mouth. Not that it’ll suck the words back into my mouth.
Langston chuckles, the sound light and full of love. “I feel so much more when it comes to you, Cove,” his voice is so full of sincerity that it makes it hard for me to breathe. “I love you.”
I gasp, my eyes going wide, and I reach for him without even thinking about it. I cling to him, needing his strength to anchor myself to this moment, to make it real. As I look into his eyes, there is fear there, real fear. But it’s not because of what he feels for me. It’s the fear of loss, the fear of grief, the fear of being vulnerable and having the world you build blown up around you.
“I love you too, Langston Phillips.” There is strength in my words, in my soul. “I love you so fucking much. I want what you want—to make music with you, to stand beside you as we slay our demons, to see the world and to love you as we do. That’s my dream.”
His mouth claims mine, hot and wet, passion and fire. “I’m going to make all your dreams come true,” he promises.
I melt into the bed as he strips me down to nothing. I’ve never felt more beautiful than I do in this moment. I’ve never felt more seen.
He loves every curve of my body. I can feel it in the way he touches me, the way he kisses me, the way he looks at me from across a crowded room. Didn’t the meeting just moments ago prove it?
He stood up for me. For what we have found together. He wasn’t going to allow anyone to stand in the way and he was willing to fight.
My heart swells with love for this man.
“We’ll always make music together, Songstress,” he whispers.
“Always,” I echo as my back arches when he fills me to the hilt with one thrust of his hips.
When did he even undress?
Fuck it; it doesn’t matter.
I move my hips to meet him, finding the rhythm and the melody easily because it flows through my soul when I’m with this man.
My dreams were always bigger than I thought I was capable of. I figured they might as well be prayers.
But now I know, they weren’t nearly big enough because look at what I’ve found, at what I’ve been given.
My hands tighten on the shoulders of my man as he fucks me harder our pleasure building. No matter what happens, no matter where our life leads us I know I’ll never let go.
“Love you, Cove,” Langston groans, his cock thickening right before he comes.
I’m right there with him and moaning, “Love you, Langston.”