18. Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Seventeen
Aliko
“Aliko, Aliko, Aliko!”
The crowd chants my name through the silence, waiting for what they know is to come.
The drum solo for Haunted Desires isn’t on the soundtrack, but it’s become an important part of the show. It took the fans only a few shows to realize what was coming. Word spread. And they all knew, waited, cheered. Now I smile before they even start because I can’t help myself.
They’re cheering for me. They want to hear me.
The four of us make up the band and without one, we aren’t The Unbound.
The crowd wants us, our songs. But right now…
they just want me, and there is something about that that I could never replicate anywhere else.
There is nothing that could ever make me feel the way I do right this second with thousands of people calling out my name, wanting me to perform.
Except maybe the way Leif looks at me. But that’s a different situation. Apples and oranges, as they say.
I grip the sticks, every one of my arms hovering over a different drum. No one else on the planet could play what I’m about to play. That’s why it’s so damn special.
I start with a slow roll on the snare. It flows to the toms before ending with a sharp crash of the cymbal.
Silence.
The arena erupts.
I let them enjoy the excitement for a beat before striking again, adding another rhythm, another layer. Louder. Faster. Bigger. The cheers swell until they're almost as deafening as the drums.
Then I don't stop.
My arms become a blur, each limb working independently while somehow staying perfectly in sync.
The beat grows wilder, more impossible, pushing faster and harder until my muscles burn.
The crowd is on their feet now, screaming every time they think I've reached the end—only for me to throw them into another impossible run.
The guys smile at me from the sidelines, cheering me on silently. When I’m done, the crowd goes. Fucking. Wild.
The guys jump right into the last bit of the song.
We play the last two songs, get off stage as if they don’t know we’re coming back, but the fans always know which bands do encores and we’re one of them. So we go back on as if it wasn’t planned all along and play everyone’s favorite.
Then we leave and the crowd echoes for far too long until the arena is cleared out. The meet and greet takes forever because we’re in Syracuse, and we have only one night here, so they sold more tickets.
We have four shows in New York City, though.
We’re heading there first thing in the morning so we can have time to explore the city.
And I get to take Leif out for that dinner I promised him.
I’ve been researching different places to go, and I think I’ve found the perfect one.
It makes me nervous, but I think he’ll love it, and that’s all I care about.
Leif made plans with the crew tonight, and though I’m lonely in my room and maybe a little jealous, I don’t say anything about it. It’s not my place.
I order food, watch TV, and lie in bed, just taking a break while I can get it. I consider staying up since we have to be on the buses at five and it’s already almost two, but I fall asleep and before I know it, my alarm is going off and waking me up.
There’s a text from Leif that came in a couple hours ago. I groan when I open it and see a photo of him in the hotel bathroom mirror, completely naked.
Tattoos cover his body, his nipple rings glinting in the light. His cock is soft, hanging just slightly more to the left. He’s so hot. So fucking hot. And all mine. Which is what I text him, then think about it way too much.
We never said that. He said he wanted easy. Claiming him as mine… does that complicate things?
I don’t know, but I can’t take it back now, and I don’t have time to worry about it. I need to get up and pack the few things I have and get to the bus before I’m the asshole who makes everyone late.
Not that we need to be there at a certain time, but the guys want to get in early so we can enjoy as much of New York as possible. There’s a lot to see.
I am excited about New York, about this big city that everyone talks about, but what I’m mostly excited about is going to Rhode Island.
A state that is on the ocean. A state where I can get into the water and find a place to be myself for just a few moments.
I love being like this, but I’m starting to feel like I’m wearing clothes that are too tight, even though it has nothing to do with my clothes and everything to do with my skin.
The guys and I grab a late lunch at a restaurant that serves specialty burgers.
Fans bombard us immediately. We sign napkins and shirts, take photos, and chat with them and we do it happily.
But at some point, the owner seems to get pissed that they’re taking up all the space and not buying anything, so they get rid of them.
When we’re done eating, we walk around and explore the city. Not only are we stared at on the street, but people take photos and some stop us to talk. It’s all part of the job, and none of us hate it. We’re happy to do it.
After a couple of hours, we head back to our hotel, each with plans to do something different later on.
I’d made reservations at a rooftop restaurant that’s on the 20th floor.
I’ve never been up that high before, so that’s what’s making me nervous.
But of all the places I looked at, this one seemed like the place Leif would like the most.
I ask Leif if he wants to meet me there or if he wants to walk together. He suggests meeting around the corner from the hotel so we can walk together but not be seen by any of the crew or the band.
I won’t lie. That stings, even if I know why he doesn’t want us seen. I’m just getting tired of hiding. All I do is hide, even when I’m in front of thousands of people in an arena. I’m still hiding.
Of course, I agree, though. I shift into my human form, get dressed, and head out. Leif is already waiting when I get there, looking hot as fucking hell in black slacks and a black button up with the sleeves rolled to his elbows, showing off his tattoos and muscled forearms.
“Nice pants,” he says.
I glance down at my maroon pants and smirk at him. “They’re my favorite.”
“Because of the color?”
“They’re stretchy.”
His eyes widen and he nods. “Always a bonus.”
We start walking toward the restaurant, which is only a few blocks away—but these are the biggest blocks I’ve ever seen, and the crowd is so thick we constantly dodge people, so it takes us more time than I thought it would.
They ask for the name on the reservation before letting us inside the building. The guy at the podium doesn’t bat an eye when I give him my name, and I don’t know if that’s because he was trained that way or he doesn’t know who I am. If he was, wouldn’t he wonder why I’m human and not a kraken?
We’re let through and shown to the private elevator that’ll take us up to the top floor. It’s not the tallest in the area, but not the shortest either. I can imagine it will have a good view. The photos were really nice.
“Have you ever been to something like this before?” I ask.
“Yeah, but never so high. Should be fun.”
“Sure.”
“Sure? You’re not scared, are you?” he asks with narrowed eyes.
“Scared? No. Nervous, a little. I’m used to being in the ocean where gravity doesn’t quite work the way it does here. You know… because of buoyancy and all.”
Leif laughs. “Don’t worry. I won’t let you fall off the edge.” He winks.
The doors open and we’re greeted by a woman in a tight red dress, her blonde hair wavy and pulled to one side.
“Good evening, Mr. Anson. Please, come this way.”
Leif and I share an impressed look as we follow after her.
She leads us between tables and up a few steps to reach another side of the bar.
Most tables are full, people laughing and smiling.
Eating and drinking. The seats at both bars are full of people, the bartenders hard at work making and serving fancy-looking drinks.
We’re led to the very back of the space, to a table set for two next to a fence decorated with vines and small white flowers. I can’t tell if they’re real or fake.
“I’m glad we’re not right up against the railing,” I say as we sit.
The hostess winks at me.
“Your waiter will be over soon. Enjoy your evening, gentlemen.”
My gaze meets Leif’s, who’s looking at me in a way I haven’t seen from him before. I can’t explain what it is. Happiness mixed with… something. Not quite lust, but… something.
“So, I have a favor to ask,” I say carefully.
His brow raises in question.
“What’s that?”
“I need to start looking at houses.”
He huffs a laugh. “Right. That makes sense.” Is that disappointment in his voice? No, why would that be? “Okay. What were you thinking?”
“The other guys live in California, so it makes sense to go there.”
“And you can be close to the ocean.”
I nod. “Yeah, and closer to my colony. In case I want to visit.”
He doesn’t comment on that.
“I will certainly help you with that, Aliko.”
The waiter comes, introduces himself and takes our drink order. Leif and I make small talk until he comes back with the wine and water, then we put in our food order.
“This is really nice,” Leif says when we’re alone again, giving me a soft smile.
I nod, looking around at the large space and the beautiful night. It’s clear, but the sky is almost impossible to see with all the buildings and lights.
“It really is,” I agree.
“Are you sure you’re okay being here with me?” he asks carefully.
I jerk my head back to him. “Why wouldn’t I be?”
“I don’t know.” He shrugs, looking away. It looks like he wants to say something else but doesn’t. So, I urge him to.
“Whatever it is, you can tell me. Why did you ask?”
“This feels like a date,” he says, looking at me cautiously.
“Yes, I suppose it is.”
“And… you’re okay with that?”
“Why wouldn’t I be?”
“Because we… you know. We’re just…”
I raise a brow, waiting for him to continue. He doesn’t.
“Because we what?” I ask seriously.
“I just thought we were… hooking up.”
“We do.”
“But this is more than that.”
I sigh. “Do you have a problem with it?”
“No. Not at all.”
“Because you’re the one who didn’t want the crew to see us together.”
“That’s just to keep things easy, Aliko. It’s not because I’m ashamed of you,” he says firmly.
“I don’t really know how to keep things easy with you anymore, Leif,” I admit.
He frowns. “What does that mean?”
“Nothing bad, if that’s what you’re thinking. The complete opposite, actually. Things with us? They’re… so good.” I breathe out a sigh of relief. “I like spending time with you. I like everything we do, and I just…” I shake my head.
Leif reaches across the table and takes my hand. “You just what?” His tone is soft. Gentle.
“I wish things could be easier without having to sacrifice what I’m feeling.”