Chapter Twenty Eight
Brit
The doctor smiled as he said goodbye, closing Fly's bedroom door behind him.
He'd checked me out as soon as we'd returned last night.
After instructions to sleep, under the watchful eye of Fly, he'd left me.
I'd been so exhausted, I'd done what he said, dosed up on painkillers and wrapped in a warm blanket.
When I'd awoken almost twenty-four hours later, Fly had informed me that the doctor was back, ready to re-check all my stats and sign me off, which he'd just done.
Although my face was painful, I was feeling a lot better now that I'd had a good sleep. Knowing that my father was dead had knocked me out, allowing me to sleep soundly for the first time in many weeks.
I got out of bed as soon as the door was closed and went to the mirror, shocked when I saw my reflection staring back at me.
My right eye was swollen and bruised purple.
A bright red graze lined the other side of my face, leaving a raised line across the cheek.
A cut accompanied a lump near my hairline and my lip was slightly swollen. I looked like crap.
A gentle knock sounded at the door and I called for Fly to come in. He was carrying a tray laden with breakfast and hot coffee. I smiled, wincing. The movement of my face was painful.
“What are you doing out of bed?” Fly asked, rushing to the bedside table to place the tray down. “You should be resting.”
He took my arm and guided me back to the bed. I sat on the edge, reaching for the coffee.
“No, sweetheart,” he said, batting my hand away. “It's too hot, it'll burn your sore mouth.”
Reaching down, he put a thumb on my bottom lip and pulled gently. A jolt of desire shot through me as I looked up at my hulking warrior. He was my savior and I'd fallen hard.
“I need to shower.” He released me and turned towards the door. “I'll be right back. If you're bored, you can turn on the television or read the lyrics of some of the songs I've been working on.”
He waved at his computer screen, which had an animated image of a guitar player bouncing around it. I hadn't been allowed access to a computer growing up, not until my father had wanted me to learn how to use one to learn my subjects. Even then, it was locked down so I couldn’t access the internet.
“Thanks,” I said, looking him in the eyes. “For everything.”
Smirking, he winked. “You can thank me later, when you're not hurting too much.”
He disappeared and I shook my head, getting straight up off the bed. I'd had enough of lazing around; I needed to move. Nearing the computer, I flicked the mouse, my eyes widening when the screen went off and a video came up. It was an animation, similar to the one on the save screen.
As soon as the shower clicked on next door, I pressed play and stood to watch.
The song was haunting, the words speaking of pain and death.
The music sunk into my skin and I shuddered, completely affected by the story it was telling.
The lyrics were under the video, so I clicked them open, reading them as the song continued.
Take away my authenticity, make my world and twist it up again.
Pray for darkness and relief in me, never be the man I meant to be.
The song was a stark reminder of what Chad had done to the men who were once boys. They'd been exposed to damage for the most formative years of their life, between thirteen and eighteen. And now, they wrote songs that told of that pain. It was dark, it was sexy, but most of all, it was relatable.
Scrolling down further, I read some of the comments under the video. There were several hundred thousand of them. Shit, Fly had mentioned he made music but I didn't realize that he was a star in his own right. How had he managed to stay under the radar when he was in the public eye?
I wish these guys would perform live, it's my lifelong dream to see them.
Another comment followed.
We know they're hiding somewhere; we should appreciate that they don't want to be found. We just love their music and will always support them.
My eyes scanned the love, and some hate, towards my man. Fly was so down to earth and wrapped up in his trauma, he hadn't come across as someone who had fascinated the world with his music.
The song suddenly changed and I jumped, scrolling back up to the top. A new video was playing now, even though I hadn't pressed anything. Shit, Fly would know I was watching his work.
This time, the characters on screen were playing out a story.
A man and a woman with bright pink hair.
Still animated, they danced before he turned away from her, the lyrics explaining that he could never be the man she wanted him to be.
Tears came to my eyes as I sat and watched the sad story unfold.
Until they appeared on a bridge, in the middle of the woods.
My heart pounded and I held my chest, letting the tears fall down my cheeks.
“Are you okay?” Fly leaned against the doorframe, watching me with his towel wrapped around his waist.
Jumping, I tried to wipe the tears from my face, patting where it hurt the most. My eye was so swollen, the wetness sat on the bulge of my cheek. I must have looked horrendous to him, all bruised and ugly,
“Your music,” I said, sucking in a shaky breath. “It's gorgeous. So haunting and a beautiful way to tell your story.”
“Our story.” Fly walked into the room, pointing to the screen. “Spider writes the music, I sing, and Moth creates the videos. Ant isn't much involved. He's not the creative type and that's okay.”
“I hate that I prevented you from having this.” I pointed at the screen, which had paused at the end of the video this time, asking me if I wanted to keep watching.
The video had frozen on the animated image of the man and woman, reaching for one another, but too far apart to touch.
Frowning, he put a hand on my shoulder. “How did you…? Oh.”
I was talking about Melody. If I had let her leave with Fly, there was a chance she could've saved him from the years of torment he'd endured. And saved her too. Instead, he'd been alone, with his buddies who had gone through the same.
Dropping to his knees beside me, he turned my chair towards him, placing his hands on my thighs.
“You didn't prevent me from having this,” he said, his voice tight as he indicated the screen. “It just happened. Chad would have hunted us down if I'd taken his plaything.”
“Don't.” I placed a finger over his lips.
I didn't want to hear any more about Chad's disgusting obsession with my friend or what he might've done to her. Justice had been served and I hoped her spirit would meet his and torture him for eternity. It was what he deserved.
“You must forgive yourself for all of it.” He reached up to cup my cheek. “We all grew up in a fucked-up environment. It's made us who we are, but we're not that bad. Not really.”
“I like that you're bad,” I said softly, my gaze narrowing on him. “It turns me on.”
His eyebrows rose and I reached forward, resting my hand on his hard pec, swirling a finger around his nipple.
He caught my hand and brought it to his lips to kiss. “I won't touch you when you're hurt, sweetheart.”
“It's only my face that's hurt.”
He growled and buried his face in my lap, sniffing loudly.
I put an arm over his head to hug him to me, frowning to myself.
“Did you just smell me?”
Lifting his head, he looked up at me, his eyes darkening when our gaze met. “I didn't mean to, it just… happened.”
Leaning forward, I got closer to his face. He stopped me with a hand on my chest and a gentle smile on his face. “As much as I want to fuck your brains out, I'm going to resist. Let's go and watch a horror movie.”
He stood and offered his hand, waiting for me to take it. I did, letting him lead the way into the front of the apartment, where the couch was covered with a warm throw and several low-lit lamps cast a cozy glow over the room. He'd really made an effort to make me feel at home.
“Oh, the food,” he said, jumping towards the kitchen area and indicating that I sit.
“A horror?” I called as he limped back towards the bedroom. “Really?”
He paused by the archway and looked over his shoulder as I sat. “I need something to distract me from my rock-hard cock. A horror will do nicely.”
“Fly, will you just come here and fuck me?” I asked, my heart pounding in my ears. “Please? I need you to soothe me. To make me forget everything.”
His expression shifted from jokey to hungry. He turned slowly and limped back to me, coming to stand right in front of me. He looked down, his energy tense as he stared, his jaw popping as he clenched it.
I reached for his towel and flicked it off, throwing it onto the floor. His cock pointed towards me, hard and ready. My pussy ached with desire as I wrapped my fingers around it, wanting to play.
“No,” he stepped out of reach. “I'm fucking you, not the other way around. Not today, anyway, princess.”
His words sent jolts of desire through me and I leaned back, opening my legs for him. He took his invite seriously, getting on the floor on his knees before peeling off my jeans and underwear.
Our gaze was glued together and I bit my lip, instantly regretting it when it stung.
Before I could dwell on my pain, Fly opened my legs wide, forcing me to settle right back on the couch.
His head bent to me, his nostrils flaring as he inhaled.
I should've been grossed out, but the way his eyes almost rolled into the back of his head made me gush.
“You smell amazing.”
His mouth covered me and my head fell on the back of the couch.
He sucked me before flicking his tongue over me.
He was greedy, slipping across my pussy lips and over my clit.
Watching him only intensified the pleasure that spread from my clit.
He continued, his tongue swirling and his fingers teasing my pussy lips.