Chapter 38 Lily
THIRTY-EIGHT
LILY
I wake up to orange.
The culprit is the sunlight blinding me.
But I also wake up next to him—my childhood best friend.
With my back fused to his front, his veiny, sun-kissed arm is slung around my torso, holding me close.
So, last night wasn’t just a magical dream.
It was reality.
Without wanting to wake him, I turn very slowly and inspect his peaceful face. I slide a hand up to his neck, and his chest rises and falls with his breath.
Memories of last night come back in snippets. His body controlling mine, his sweet words talking me through it. Feeling everything he was doing to me physically and emotionally, I was so scared he might break me, but he kept me together the whole time.
I knew he would be perfect.
His hard body stretches slightly. Looking up, I find his tired eyes assessing me like a puzzle he can’t believe he solved.
“Good morning.” His voice is deep and rich with sleep.
I tremble.
My thumb brushes along his sharp jawline. Gripping his cheek, I pull his lips to mine. That seems to wake him. My touch, once soft and innocent, turns hungry and heated as he lets me take the lead.
Elijah groans low in his throat, hands in my bedhead, tugging just enough to make me gasp. He takes that opportunity to slide his tongue in my mouth, dominating my own to his dance.
One of his hands slides down to my waist, rocking me against his groin to a delicious rhythm. I finally break away when the heat is too much that I’m afraid I might burn.
Flushed, wide-eyed, lips swollen, he murmurs, “I want to wake up like that every day.”
My leg hooks around his hip, which I know tortures him. But I don’t care because I’ve found my new obsession—teasing him. “Only if you’re a good boy.”
His groan rumbles from his chest like a beast. Before he can say or do anything, someone bangs on the door, startling both of us.
“Get up and stop being lazy. We have sound check in thirty,” Leonidas barks through the door, killing all my hopes and dreams for having a blissful morning.
This time, Elijah groans for a whole different reason.
“So, you’re not going to spill.” Trinity inspects me closely, swinging her legs back and forth while lying down on her tummy.
“There’s nothing to tell.” I shrug, leaning on the headboard, willing myself to look calm, cool, and relaxed.
Amelia decides to gang up on me with Trinity. “Really? Are you sure about that?”
Batting her eyelashes, she tries to snuggle into my side, but I sink further into my bed.
“Positive,” I lie right through my teeth.
Spilling the beans about what happened two nights ago is something I’m sure I should do. What Elijah and I are is unclear—if we are even anything.
What if things go back to the way they were before he left ten years ago? Does he regret what happened between us? How will I be able to recover if it was just sex to him?
I won’t be able to continue on with the tour—that’s for sure.
“I could just tickle the answer right out of you.”
With my knees to my chest, I hug my legs and narrow my eyes at Trinity’s gloating face. “I’m not ticklish.”
“You look pretty scared,” she notes, wiggling her fingers, taunting me.
Amelia giggles at our back-and-forth arguing.
“I’m as cool as a cucumber, just hugging myself.”
“Amelia, hold her arms. I’ll get her legs.” Trinity bursts up from where she was lying down seconds ago and tackles me, landing on my stomach, causing a huff of air to explode out of my mouth.
“Stop!” I yelp, feeling both girls’ fingers tickling my sides, my neck, and even … the bottom of my foot? Someone is flexible.
The only response I get is giggling. Twisting and trying to escape, I realize the two of them combined is lethal. I fail miserably when Amelia grabs my wrist in one hand and sticks her tongue out, and Trinity straddles my waist, tickling the absolute shit out of me.
“Got you now. What are you going to do about it?”
“Didn’t know you girls liked it rough,” I say through gritted teeth, wiggling my eyebrows. I play them at their own game, hoping my teasing will distract them so I can attempt an escape.
“Is that what you were doing with Elijah? Rough sex—”
“What in the world did I just walk into?”
All three of our gasps fill the hotel room. Jumping off me, both girls turn and glare at the man of the hour. I find Elijah standing in the threshold of the now-open door, rubbing his eyes like he doesn’t believe what he just saw. I almost run to pick up his jaw from the floor.
“A threesome,” I answer bluntly. Noting the way his cheeks redden.
“Angry that you weren’t invited?” Trinity says nonchalantly, holding back a laugh.
His body grows hard, and a look of desperation crosses his perfect face. With eyes full of despair, he stares me down, like he’s trying to burn me. “Angry that I have to share.”
Now my jaw drops.
The girls squeal, jumping onto their knees and hitting each other’s arms. My body jolts on the bed from their excitement, but all I can seem to do is stare at him.
Stare at the man who looks like a fire that’s craving more land to burn to spread his heat.
Is it foolish that I’d let him burn me?
“So, you guys did bang!”
Elijah scowls at Trinity, keeping his mouth shut.
“Aw, he’s a respectful king who doesn’t spill all his secrets,” Amelia coos with hearts in her eyes, bringing her interlaced fingers to her chest.
“We love that for you, Lily.” Trinity winks, ignoring the man who seems to be full of nerves in the middle of the room. “By the way, we approve of your relationship.”
Elijah crosses his arms.
These girls—I swear they’d drag us to the altar right now if they could.
“Good to know.” Rising from the bed, I make my way to the bathroom, getting the sudden urge to pee.
“So, you are together!” Trinity yells to my back.
Rolling my eyes, I shake my head at Elijah, who seems flustered at all the attention.
Once I finally make it to the safety of the bathroom, I feel a tug on my arm. “What the—”
A hard, muscular body is pressed against my back, and the bathroom door is slammed shut. Twisting around, I’m met with a chest that’s huffing and puffing deeply with pent-up hunger.
“Gossiping about me?” His smile, which showcases his boyish dimples, makes my heart flip.
“Those two were, not me!” I whisper-yell. Defending myself is useless when he’s looking at me with a knowing grin.
“Don’t you worry. I’m used to people talking about me.” Reaching up, he tucks a piece of my wavy hair behind my ear. “It feels nice, hearing it’s nothing about drugs, alcohol, or sex for once.”
Well, that’s absolutely horrible.
I wind my arms around his neck, and he has to duck a little to get eye level with me. When I run my fingers through his silky locks, Elijah’s eyes close, and my lips peck the tip of his nose.
“I hate them all.”
“There’s not enough room in that little body of yours for hate.” Rubbing his nose along mine, he peppers kisses along my cheeks.
“Don’t ever underestimate a girl. We might look sweet, but deep down, we are secretly thinking of a hundred scenarios and the outcomes of them.”
“So, when I was deep inside y—”
“Oh my God!” I gasp as my hand flies and lands over his mouth, shushing him before the girls outside hear round three.
“Embarrassed?” his voice mumbles against my palm.
Forcing myself back before I climb him like a tree, I point to the door. “I need to use the bathroom. A little privacy would be nice.”
I know he’s up to something when he chuckles to himself, leaning back on the door, doing the complete opposite of what I asked. “I’m a man, Lily. I know girls pee. It’s okay if I hear it.”
Why does he have to be so cute but so infuriating?
I declare, “I’m going to strangle you.”
“I like it rough, just like you, apparently,” he chirps back, putting his hands casually in his pockets.
I lean my hip on the vanity, watching the way he follows my every move. “You know how you said you’re a man?”
All he does is nod and bite that stupid plump lip of his with a cheeky smirk.
“I think you still have a sixteen-year-old’s brain.”
Dead silence.
A look of disbelief crosses his face before two loud laughs burst from the other side of the door.
Should have known they would be listening. My girls are eavesdroppers.
“That’s a good one, Lily!” Amelia yells.
“How’s his face look after that?” Trinity snorts so loud that I almost laugh myself.
“Go away!” He pouts like a child. Not looking away from my gaze, he shouts, “I’m surrounded by a bunch of traitors!”
“And apparently, I’m surrounded by a bunch of kids.” Dismissing him by waving my hands, I reach around his back and twist the doorknob. “I need to pee.”
The last thing I see before I shut the door for a moment of peace is his wounded face.
“Don’t leave me with them!”
And I do, chuckling the whole time as they grill him like they did with me for hours prior.
Sucker.