Page 238 of Second Sets Omnibus
“Every day!” she squeals in confirmation when Kieran hands her the microphone.
Rad smirks in my direction. “I see you, Pretty Girl,” he quips, settling back on his stool.
“Why don’t you help us practice then, Little Blue? Sing with me?” He questions with pride, lighting up his eyes at the prospect of singing with his daughter.
Lyric frantically nods, screeching joyfully when Kieran pulls her into his arms.
“This one’s for you,” he says in a low voice, locking eyes with me, sending shivers down my spine at the intensity of his gaze. Fuck me. It’s the same look he gave me last night when he rested above me, with his fingers settled deep inside my aching core. My pussy clenches at the memory. I’m such a fucking goner. I need Ode’s advice before I jump in headfirst and drown in them. “How about River’s song? Rushing River?”
Double fuck.
Rad snorts, whooping. “Let’s do this! Get ready, Pretty Girl. I’m about to serenade your panties off.”
“Panties?!” Lyric giggles into the microphone, making everyone else chuckle.
“Cal?” Kieran asks, locking eyes with the silent bassist.
A grin tugs at Cal’s lip, lighting up his face. “It’s been a while,” he says, plucking two strings on his bass.
“Ash?” Kieran asks with a broken voice, catching the guitarist off guard.
Licking his lips, Ash gives an unsure nod. “Yeah, man. River’s song.”
And with that, Lyric belts out the song she shouldn’t know. The song they only played at the Battle of the Bands winning celebration and recorded for their demo became a short-lived radio hit. The song they swore—because I happened to catch an interview—that they’d never publicly play again. I heard it everywhere I went. It followed me like their betrayal clung on. The day I had lunch with Seger and Zeppelin at that shitty diner, this song buried knives in my back, forcing me to relive what they did to me. Over and fucking over. And for some strangereason, my fucking daughter loved the shit out of it, making me suffer further.
Here it is again. The words are the same. About a roaring River, breaking through and making a life for themself. It’s about strength and perseverance. Before, Kieran snarled every word until he refused to play it again. Now, their tone is different. Happier. Joyful. Full of life. And dare I say, love.
Their smiles light up the room when Lyric perfectly duets Kieran, matching his pitch changes. Sometimes she goes higher. Occasionally she dips lower. Together, they’re creating an out-of-this-world sound. Almost like this is their destiny, like they belong together.
“Holy fucking shit!” Rad shouts, jumping from his stool. “Little Pretty Girl, you’ve got some pipes on you!” Kissing her hair, she giggles at his words, thanking him with a big hug.
“You sounded amazing, Little One,” Asher marvels, staring at her with stars in his eyes.
“So damn good. Shall we go again?” Kieran asks, earning a yes from her.
“Again!” she screams like she used to, begging to continue.
I watch in awe for the next several hours as my daughter commands the makeshift stage. She prances around with the microphone, throwing out some ballet moves. She screams. She wails. And dear God, she sings, carrying the tune like a damn pro.
“When did that happen?” Kieran asks, sitting beside me on the couch after calling it quits for the night when Lyric showed signs of slowing down.
Do not look at his shirtless chest. Or his tight jeans. In fact, don’t look at any fucking thing regarding him, or you’ll jump his bones. There’s a child in the room, for God’s sake.
He guzzles a water bottle in two seconds flat before wiping his mouth after he’s done. Why something so simple sendsshivers directly to my pussy, has me questioning my sanity. I’ve gone without sex for so long without a thought. Now my body has reawakened, begging for more orgasms. Stupid body. It’s been two nights of orgasms, and suddenly, I want more.
I swallow hard, averting my eyes to my sleeping child snuggled beside me after too much activity. And stealthily avoid the half-naked man. If I don’t look at him, he’ll disappear, right? Before I do something stupid.
“When did what happen?” I ask, clearing my damn throat from all the lustful thoughts trying to break free and fulfill my damn fantasies.
Make it more obvious, would ya?
They’re already starting to cloud my thoughts with their manly scents, heated touches, and sinful looks. My stalker better be behind bars before long, or I’ll lose myself to them. Again. God, they’re like a fucking drug I can’t escape, infecting me with their beings.
I’m so fucking screwed, aren’t I?
I want to take it glacially slow and build something meaningful. Before I stupidly jump into the sack with them like I did before. Sure, sex sounds so wonderful now, but I want to be sure they’re in it for the long haul.
“Her singing.”
