Page 57 of Pretty Black

“Never!” Alister knocked my shoulder, a glint in his eyes.

I loved seeing him happy after all the shit he’d put up with from Alexander. If anyone deserved to have Alexander dead, it was Alister.

“Any word from the lawyer?” Aspen asked.

I shook my head, checking my phone. “He should be giving us an update any time now.” I was trying not to think about it and the real possibility I wouldn’t get to see him at all.

“If they don’t let him out, we should just kidnap him,” Aspen said offhandedly.

“And then what?” All I could do was laugh at the absurdity of it. “Go on the lam from the state with the most famous guy in the world? I don’t think that will work so well.”

“You’re right. The rest of us might have a chance, but Iris is fucked. He makes people lose their minds.” Aspen made a face, then smiled at me with sympathy. “And I mean that in the best way.”

“You’re right. I can’t deny it. I fall in love with him again all the time. He has a magic to him. I’ll never get over him.” I felt lighter saying it in a room full of people.

“How long did you two date in secret?” Aspen asked.

“Date or sleep together?” I asked, laughing at the distinction.

Aspen’s brows rose. “Both? I feel like I need a story time. I can’t believe none of the rest of the guys knew.”

“We started hooking up side by side, and then it turned into touching each other while hooking up with others, but there was always someone between us. I hated it, but it felt like the only way I could get close to him.” How stupid I’d been. So much time lost. “Then, when we were recording our second album, he seduced me.” I dragged my teeth over my lower lip, remembering.

“He seduced you?” Alister asked. “This I got to hear because we were all at the studio, and I feel like I would have fucking noticed.”

“Me too.” River came and sat on the arm of the sofa.

I’d attracted the attention of the entire room. I thought about telling them I’d have to ask Iris for consent to protect his privacy. I didn’t think he would care, though, and maybe all of it was stupid to hold back, considering Alexander could release any of it at any point.

“He shoved me against a wall when you all went to grab dinner and kissed me.” I grinned, loving that I could finally share some of our love with my friends.

“You bastards. I thought you were workaholics.” Alister shoved me playfully.

“Wait… I remember that night.” River narrowed his eyes. “Iris laid down the vocals for an entire track while we were gone. He had them so perfect we used them on the record if I recall.”

Guilt spread over my face, but I couldn’t fight the grin. “Yes.”

Aspen gasped and pulled out his phone. “What are you saying…which song is it?” he asked River.

“Star Dust Made Of You.”

He pushed play, and the whole room listened with a new understanding.

“Oh…my…fuck.” Lowe’s mouth hung open.

“Those moans!” Aspen stared. “You clearly give a wicked blow job.”

I shrugged with a grin.“I think I do.”

Kingsley lightly smacked his brother’s head. “Don’t you dare get ideas. He belongs to Iris.”

Royal let out a low growl, drawing my attention. He hadn’t said much from his place in the corner, but he was always watching. Did he not like anyone putting their hands on Aspen, even his brother?

“I wasn’t thinking that!” Aspen half fell over.

They all fell silent to listen to the ending, which was the crescendo of the entire song. Iris didn’t hold back, and I couldn’t unhear it. I didn’t know how anyone hadn’t put it together. But I’d never seen anything about it.

“It’s so obscene. I love it! Saint and I recorded a whole song with me inside him.” Lowe grinned like the secret had been eating at him.

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