Page 20 of Cherry Beats

The constant hum and throb physically hurt like he’d left some kind of calling card there that let him know whenever I was thinking about him, and the ghost of pre-famous Presley would come back to taunt me with his absence, pressing his gentle yet firm fingers right where he wanted them.

If I bite you here, you’ll feel it for life.

When the thoughts of him became too much, and my mind wouldn’t cooperate with my happiness, I would try to keep my hands busy. In bed, that meant masturbation. But masturbation always led to the very thoughts of him I wanted to avoid. So that morning, I avoided slipping my fingers between my thighs and I decided to reach for my Kindle to read instead. The first page I turned to on the latest novel I was reading mentioned the rock drumming legend from Led Zeppelin, and that reminded me of a conversation I’d had with Presley that had set my soul on fire. Led Zeppelin were his thing. The gods the god himself worshipped. A small smile tried to break free before I bit that traitorous bastard back. Without realising it, I’d launched my Kindle across my bed, and then I was holding my breath as it bounced one too many times and landed on the rug with a thud.

I threw my head back on my pillow in exasperation, pushing the heels of my hands into my already battered eyes, trying to rid him from my brain with force.

These days were the worst—the ones where I wanted peace, to stop the heavy twisting and gnawing of my gut, and to at least imagine what it must feel like to have a future that wasn’t based around a rock god and his magic hands.

“Fine!” I cried out to no one in particular as I threw the duvet back, slammed my feet on the floor and stood up. “You win! I’m up. I’m up. I’m up. God forbid I should actually stop for a minute. Or, you know, move the fuck on with my life.”

Readjusting the shoulders of my twisted Black Sabbath T-shirt, I made my way into the small kitchenette where I filled the kettle, flicking the switch on like I was angry. Iwasangry, frustrated, and horny as hell.

My phone rang—my best friend’s name lighting up the screen.

“Hey, Molly.”

“Morning, sunshine,” she cooed, clearly in a state of euphoria that could only mean one thing.

“Someone sounds like they had a head between their legs last night.”

The kettle clicked off, and I trapped the phone between my shoulder and cheek to free up both hands, scooping two teaspoons of coffee into my cup. I needed that extra hit.

“Trytwoheads.”

“Two?” I almost choked.

“Yep.” Molly laughed. “Taylor and Evan. Twins. Hot, hot twins, Tess.”

“Where the hell did you find two brothers willing to fuck each other?”

“Don’t be ridiculous.” Her laugh was hearty and made me feel like a damn juvenile speaking to the goddess of sex. “They didn’t touch each other. Well… not really. But they touched me. A lot. Oh, hell. I think I’m going to be tingling for days, Tess. Things like this don’t happen to girls like me.”

“Christ, are you kidding me? Things like thisalwayshappen to you! It’s me they never happen to.” I chuckled lightly.

“Says the girl who fucked the hottest rock star on the planet.” Just like that, my smile was stolen. “I still don’t get why you mope over him. I’d be taking an advert out in the local newspaper, telling everyone about that one night I discovered Nirvana.”

“Well, he sure banged like Dave Grohl.” I sighed as I stirred my milk in my coffee.

“You know what I meant. He was your paradise. Own it.”

“Yeah, yeah.”

“And don’t roll your eyes at me.”

“You’re bossy this morning.”

“I’m always bossy,” she cried out, her energy infectious. “I’m a bossy diva who got to screw a set of hot twins last night. You’re a quirky back chatter who will never screw anyone ever again if she doesn’t let go of Mr Leather and Drumsticks.”

“I’msoglad you called,” I said through a sarcastic smile. “I love you, and goodbye now.”

“No, no, no!” Molly called out. “Don’t hang up. I’m sorry. There’s another reason I called, I promise.”

I sighed. “This better be good.”

“Have you seen any of the news this morning?” Her voice changed instantly, now injected with caution.

“No.” I paused. “Why?”

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